Rear

(rēr), n. [O. Fr. rier, riere, Pr. reire, behind, backward, from Lat. retro, id.] 1. The back or hindmost part; that which is behind;—opposed to front. *The first-born bloom of Spring Nipped with the lagging rear of Winter’s frost. Milton.* 2. Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is behind the rest. “When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear.” Milton.

v. t. To place in the rear. [Obs.]

a. [Cf. A.-S. hrēran, to move, agitate, raise, O. Sax. hrorian, Icel. hrāra, Sw. röra, Dan. røre, O. H. Ger. hrōjan, N. H. Ger. rühren, L. Ger. rören.] Little cooked; raw; rare. See RARE.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. REARED; p. pr. & vb. n. REARING.] [A-S. rǣran, to raise, rear, elevate, allied to rāsian, ārāsian, to raise, q. v.] 1. To raise; to lift up; to cause to rise, become erect, &c.; to elevate. [Obs. or rare.] In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me. Milton. It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts. Barrow. 2. To lift and take up. [Obs. and rare.] Having her from Troupart lightly reared, Upon his courser set the lovely load. Spenser. 3. To bring up or to raise to maturity, as young; to educate; to instruct; as, to rear a numerous offspring. He wants a father to protect his youth, And rear him up to virtue. Southern. 4. To set up; to establish; to construct; to make. [Obs. and rare.] By what means did they at first it rear. Spenser. 5. To rouse; to stir up. “And seeks the tusky boar to rear.” Dryden. To rear one's steps, to ascend; to move upward. [Obs. or rare.] Milton. Syn.—To raise; lift; elevate; erect; set up; establish. See RAISE.

Being behind or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company.

To rise up on the hind legs, as a horse.