Rank | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Rānk, n.

noun

n. [Fr. rang, O. Fr. & Pr. renc, It. rango, from O. H. Ger. hring, M. & N. H. Ger. ring, a circle, a circular row; N. H. Ger., D., Dan., & Sw. rang, W. rhenc, Armor. renk, Ir. ranc.] 1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier. Many a mountain high Rising in loftier ranks, and loftier still. Byron. 2. (Mil.) A line of soldiers; a row of troops reckoned from side to side, or in breadth;—opposed to file. Fierce, fiery warriors fight upon the clouds In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war. Shak.

(Mil. & Naval.) Degree; grade; as, the rank of captain, colonel, or general; the rank of rear admiral.
An aggregate of individuals together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings.
Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil, military, or social life; comparative station; relative quality; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank.

These are all virtues of a meaner rank. Addison. 6. High degree; high social position; elevated rank; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank. Rank and file (Mil.), the whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the non-commissioned staff.—The ranks, the order of common soldiers; as, to reduce an officer to the ranks.—To fill the ranks, to supply the whole number, or a competent number.—To take rank of, to enjoy precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.

Rānk, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. RANKED (răngkt); p. pr. & vb. n. RANKING.]

To place abreast, or in a line.
To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class.

Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers. Broome. Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. Decay of Piety. 3. To dispose methodically; to place in suitable order. “Ranking all things under general and special heads.” Watts. Who now shall rear you to the sun, or rank your tribes? Milton. 4. To take precedence of by virtue of superior rank; to outrank. [Recent.]

Ränk, v. i.

verbintransitive

Sense 1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division.

Let that one article rank with the rest. Shak.

Go, rank in tribes, and quit the savage wood. Tate.

Sense 2. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to be esteemed as equal or deserving equal consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation.

Rănk, a.

adjective

a. [compar. RANKER; superl. RANKEST.] [A.-S. ranc, proud, haughty, fruitful, rank; D. rank, slender, graceful; Dan. rank, upright, erect, Prov. Ger. rank, slender, rank. Cf. also RANCID.]

Sense 1. Luxuriant in growth; exuberant; of vigorous growth; as, rank grass; rank weeds.

Seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Gen. xli. 5.

Sense 2. Raised to a high degree; excessive; violent; gross; exceeding the actual value; as, a rank modus, in law. “Rank nonsense.” Hare.

I do forgive Thy rankest faults. Shak.

Sense 3. Strong; clinching; as, to take a rank hold.

Sense 4. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile.

Where land is rank, ’tis not good to sow wheat after a fallow. Mortimer.

Sense 5. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue. Spenser.

Sense 6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [Obs.] Shak.

Sense 7. Strong to the taste; high-tasted.

Divers sea-fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed. Boyle.

To set rank, as the iron of a plane, to set it so as to take off a thick shaving. Moxon.

Rănk, adv.

adverb

adv. Rankly; stoutly; violently. “That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell.” Fairfax.