Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Rāb'bin-ite, n. p. 1079The same as RABBINIST.Răb'bit, n. p. 1079(Zoöl.) A small rodent mammal (the Lepus cuniculus) which burrows in the earth. It is a very prolific animal, and is kept in warrens for the sake of its flesh. It resembles the hare, but is smaller…Rāb’bit-ry, n. p. 1079A place where rabbits are kept; especially, a collection of hutches for tame rabbits.Răb'bit-sŭck'er, n. p. 1079A sucking rabbit. [Obs.] Shak.Răb'ble, n. p. 1079A tumultuous crowd of vulgar, noisy people; a mob; a confused, disorderly crowd. I saw, I say, some out of London, even unto the presence of the prince, a great rabble of mean and light persons.…Rāb'ble, v. t. p. 1079To insult or drive away by a mob; to mob; as, to rabble a curate. Macaulay.Rāb'ble, a. p. 1079Pertaining to, or suited to, a rabble; tumultuous; disorderly. [Rare.] Dryden.Răb'ble, v. i. p. 1079To speak in a confused manner. [Prov. Eng.]Rāb’ble-ment, n. p. 1079A tumultuous crowd of low people. [Obs.] And still, as he refused it, the Rabblement shouted. Shak.Rab-doid'al, a. p. 1079(Anat.) Of, or pertaining to, the sagittal suture, or that which unites the parietal bones. [Written also rhabdoidal.]Rab-dŏl'o-gy, n. p. 1079The method or art of performing arithmetical operations by means of little square rods, called Napier's-bones. [Written also rhabdology.]Răb'do-măn'cy, n. p. 1079Divination by means of rods or wands. [Written also rhabdomancy.] Browne.Răb'id, a. p. 1079Furious; raging; mad; as, a rabid dog or wolf; — especially applied to animals of the canine genus affected with the distemper called rabies, and whose bite communicates hydrophobia. With rabid…Răb'id-ly, adv. p. 1079In a rabid manner; madly; furiously.Răb'id-ness, n. p. 1079The condition of being rabid; furiousness; madness.Rā'bĭ-ēs, n. p. 1079Madness, as that of dogs; the condition produced by the bite of mad animals.Răb'in-et, n. p. 1079A kind of smaller ordnance. Ainsworth.Rā'că, a. p. 1079Empty; beggarly; foolish; worthless; loose in life and manners;—a term expressing contempt. Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. Matt. v. 25.Rac-coon', n. p. 1079(Zoöl.) A carnivorous mammal inhabiting North America, allied to the bear, but about the size of a common dog. There are two species in the United States: Procyon lotor, found east of the…Rāçe, n. p. 1079The descendants of a common ancestor; a family, tribe, people, or nation, believed or presumed to belong to the same stock; a lineage; a breed. Hence the long race of Alban fathers come. Dryden.…Rāçe, n. p. 1079A progress; a course; a movement or progression of any kind; hence, a method or course of action or effort; train; process. “My race of glory run.” Pope. The race of life becomes a hopeless flight To…Rāçe, v. i. p. 1079To run swiftly; to run or contend in running; as, the animals raced over the ground.Rāçe, v. t. p. 1079To cause to run rapidly, as a horse in a race; to drive swiftly.Rāçe'-cōurse, n. p. 1080The path, generally circular or elliptical, over which a race is run. Dickens. 2. The canal along which water is conveyed to or from a mill-wheel. Wright.Rāçe'-cūp, n. p. 1080A prize-cup run for at a race.Rāçe'-gīn'ger, n. p. 1080Ginger in the root, or not pulverized.Rāce'-hōrse, n. p. 1080A horse bred or kept for running in contest; a horse that runs in competition. 2. (Ornith.) A species of duck which moves very swiftly over the surface of the water; steamer-duck.Răç'e-mā'tion, n. p. 1080A cluster or bunch, as of grapes. Browne. 2. The cultivation of clusters of grapes. Burnet.Ra-cēme', n. p. 1080(Bot.) A flower-cluster with short and equal lateral one-flowered pedicels, as in the currant. Lindley. Compound raceme, one having pedicels more than one-flowered.Ra-cēmed', a. p. 1080Having a raceme.Ra-cē'mic, a. p. 1080(Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, grapes;—said of a certain acid found in the juice of grapes, obtained from certain vineyards on the Rhine. Gregory.Răç'e-mĭf'er-oŭs, a. p. 1080Bearing racemes, as the currant.Răçe'-mōse', a. p. 1080(Bot.) (a.) Racemosus. (b.) Resembling a raceme.Rāçe'-moŭs or Ra-çē'moŭs, a. p. 1080(Bot.) Growing in racemes.Ra-cĕm'ū-lōse', a. p. 1080(Bot.) Bearing very small racemes. Henslow.Rā'cer, n. p. 1080One who races, or contends in a race. And bade the nimblest racer seize the prize. Pope. 2. (Zoöl.) A kind of black snake of the genus Coluber, especially C. getulus, found in the United States…Rāch, n. p. 1080A setting dog or pointer.Ra-chīl'la, n. p. 1080(Bot.) A branch of inflorescence; the zig-zag center on which the florets are arranged in the spikelets of grasses.Rā'chis, n. p. 1080(Anat.) The vertebral column. 2. (Bot.) The axis of several kinds of inflorescence;—sometimes applied to the stipe of a fern, but not properly. Lindley.Ra-chīt'ic, a. p. 1080(Med.) Pertaining to, or affected by, rachitis; rickety.Ra-chī'tis, n. p. 1080(Med.) Inflammation of the spine;—most commonly applied to a disease of early childhood, in which the bones soften, become swollen and distorted, and the body deformed; the rickets. 2. (Bot.) A…Rā'ci-ly, adv. p. 1080In a racy manner.Rā'ci-ness, n. p. 1080The quality of being racy; peculiar and piquant flavor. The general characteristics of his [Cobbett's] style were perspicuity, unequaled and inimitable; a homely, muscular vigor; a purity always…Răck, v. t. p. 1080To stretch or strain; to extend by violence or force; hence, to submit to violent treatment; to wrest. Grant that I may never rack a Scripture simile beyond the true intent thereof. Fuller. 2.…Răck, n. p. 1080An instrument for racking, stretching, or extending any thing; as, (a.) An engine of torture, consisting of a large frame, upon which the body of the person under examination is gradually stretched…Răck, v. i. p. 1080To move or travel with a quick amble, as a horse.Răck, v. i. p. 1080To steam; to rise, as vapor; to reek, to fly as vapor or broken clouds. Shak.Răck, n. p. 1080Properly, moisture; dampness; hence, thin, flying, broken clouds, or any portion of floating vapor in the sky. The winds in the upper region, which move the clouds above, which we call the rack.…Răck, n. p. 1080The neck and spine of a fore quarter of veal or mutton.Răck, n. p. 1080The same as ARRACK, q. v. Rack-punch, punch made with arrack. Thackeray.Răck, n. p. 1080A wreck; destruction. [Obs. or colloq.] Rack and ruin, destruction; utter ruin. [Colloq.]—To go to rack, to perish; to be destroyed. [Colloq.] We felt to talk largely of the want of some persons…Răck'-blŏck, n. p. 1080(Naut.) A rack.Răck'er, n. p. 1080One who racks, tortures, or torments. 2. A horse that racks, or moves with a racking pace.Răck'et, n. p. 1080A thin strip of wood, &c., having the ends brought together, forming a somewhat elliptical hoop, from side to side of which a net-work of cord is stretched, and furnished with a handle. It is used…Răck'et, v. i. p. 1080To make a confused noise or clamor; to frolic. Gray.Răck'et, v. t. p. 1080To strike as with a racket. Hewyt.Răck'et-cōurt, n. p. 1080A tennis-court.Răck'et-y, a. p. 1080Making a tumultuous noise.Răck'ing, a. p. 1080Tormenting; excruciating; as, a racking pain.Räck'ing-căn, n. p. 1080A metal vessel containing sour beer, in which iron wire is steeped for wire-drawing. 2. A vessel for clearing wine from the lees.