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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Räck'-lash'ing, n. p. 1080(Mil.) A lashing where the rope is tightened and held tight by the use of a small stick of wood twisted around.Rāck'-rēnt, n. p. 1080An annual rent raised to the utmost, or to the full annual value of the premises, or near it.Răck'-rènt'ed, a. p. 1080Subjected to the payment of rack-rent. Franklin.Răck'-rĕnt'er, n. p. 1080One who is subjected to pay rack-rent. Locke.Hăck'-saw, n. p. 1080A saw having wide teeth.Răck'-stick, n. p. 1080(Mil.) The stick used in a rack-lashing.Ra-cō'vi-an, n. p. 1080(Eccl. Hist.) One of a certain sect of Unitarians in Poland;— so called from Racow, a city where was a public seminary for the inculcation of their doctrines.Ra-cō'vi-an, a. p. 1080Of, or pertaining to, the Racovians; as, the Racovian Catechism.Rā'cy, a. p. 1080Having a strong flavor indicating origin; tasting of the soil; hence, fresh; rich; as, racy cider; racy wine. 2. Hence, exciting to the mental taste by a strong or distinctive character of thought or…Rād, imp. p. 1080of read. [Obs.] Spencer.Rād'dle, v. t. p. 1080To interweave; to twist together. De Foe.Rād'dle, n. p. 1080A long stick used in hedging. 2. A hedge formed by interweaving the shoots and branches of trees or shrubs;—called also r'ad-dle-hedge. Todd. 3. An instrument consisting of a wooden bar, with a row…Răd'dock, n. p. 1080A certain bird, the redbreast of Europe. [Written also ruddock, q. v.]Rāde, n. p. 1080The same as RAID. See RAID.Ra-deau', n. p. 1080A float; a raft. “Three vessels under sail, and one at anchor, above Split Rock, and behind it the radeau Thunderer.” W. Irving.Rā'di-al, a. p. 1080Pertaining to a radius; shooting out as from a center; as, radial lines. 2. Pertaining to the radius, one of the bones of the fore-arm of the human body; as, the radial artery or nerve.Rā'di-al-ly, adv. p. 1080In the manner of a radius, or of rays; as, bars arranged radially.