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.
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.Rā'di-ance or Rā'di-an-cy, n. p. 1080The quality of being radiant; brilliancy; vivid brightness; as, the radiance of the sun. The Son, Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crowned Of majesty divine. Milton. Syn.—Luster; brilliancy…Rā'di-ant, a. p. 1080Emitting or proceeding from a center; radiating; radiate. 2. Especially, emitting or darting rays of light or heat; issuing in beams or rays; beaming with brightness; emitting a vivid light or…Rā'di-ant, n. p. 1080(Opt.) The luminous point or object from which light emanates; or a body reflecting light brightly. 2. (Geom.) A straight line proceeding from a given point, or fixed pole, about which it is…Rā'di-ant-ly, adv. p. 1081In a radiant manner; with glittering splendor.Rā'di-a-ry, n. p. 1081One of the Radiata. Kirby.Rā'di-ā'tă, n. pl. p. 1081(Zoöl.) One of the subkingdoms of animals in which all the parts are arranged uniformly around the longitudinal axis of the body. See ANIMAL KINGDOM.Rā'di-āte, v. i. p. 1081To issue and proceed in direct lines from a point or surface, as heat or light. 2. To issue in rays, as light; to dart, as beams of brightness; to shine. Light radiates from luminous bodies directly…Rā'di-āte, v. t. p. 1081To emit or send out in direct lines from a point or points; as, to radiate heat. 2. To enlighten; to illuminate; to shed light or brightness on; to irradiate. [Rare.]Rā'di-ate, a. p. 1081Formed of rays diverging from a center; as, a radiate mineral; having the parts of a structure arranged radiately about a center; as, a radiate animal. 2. (Bot.) Having large ray-florets in a flower…Rā'di-ā'ted, a. p. 1081(Min.) Having crystals diverging from a center. 2. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the division Radiata.Rā'diā'ted-veined, a. p. 1081(Bot.) Having the principal veins radiating or diverging from the apex of the petiole; — said of certain reticulate leaves. Gray.Rā'di-ate-ly, adv. p. 1081In a radiate manner; with radiation or divergence from a center.Rā'di-ates, n. pl. p. 1081The same as RADIATA.Rā'di-ā'tion, n. p. 1081The act of radiating, or the state of being radiated; emission and diffusion of rays of light; beamy brightness. 2. The divergence or shooting forth of any thing from a point or surface, like the…Rā'di-ā'tor, n. p. 1081That which radiates or emits rays, whether of light or heat; especially, that part of a heating apparatus the use of which is to radiate heat.Rād'i-cal, a. p. 1081Pertaining to the root; proceeding directly from the root. 2. Hence, pertaining, or relating, to the root or origin; reaching to the center, to the foundation, to the ultimate sources, or the like…Rād'i-cal, n. p. 1081(Philology.) (a.) A primitive word; a radix, root, or simple, underived, uncompounded word; an etymon. (b.) A primitive letter; a letter that belongs to the radix. The words we at present make use…