Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Răm'mer, n. p. 1084One who, or that which, rams or drives; as, (a.) An instrument for driving any thing with force; as, a rammer for driving stones or piles, or for beating the earth to more solidity. (b.) A rod for…Rām'mish, a. p. 1084Ram-like; rank; strong-scented.Rām'mish-ness, n. p. 1084Rankness of scent.Rām'my, a. p. 1084Like a ram; strong-scented; rammish. Burton.Rām'ol-lĕs'cence, n. p. 1084A softening or mollifying. [Rare.] Caldwell.Ra-moon', n. p. 1084(Bot.) A small West Indian tree of the genus Trophis, whose leaves and twigs are used as fodder for cattle. P. Cyc.Ra-mōse' or Rā'mōūs, a. p. 1084(Bot.) Branched, as a stem or root; having lateral divisions; consisting of branches; full of branches; branchy.Rāmp, v. i. p. 1084To climb, as a plant; to creep up. Plants furnished with tendrils catch hold, and so ramping on trees, they mount to a great height. Ray. 2. To spring; to leap; to bound; to prance; to frolic; to…Rāmp, n. p. 1084A leap; a spring; a bound. The bold Ascalonite Fled from his lion ramp. Milton. 2. A highwayman; a robber. [Prov. Eng.] 3. A ramping woman; a prostitute. [Low.] Nares. 4. (Arch.) A concave bend or…Rām'p'age, v. i. p. 1084To scour up and down; to prance about in a riotous manner. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Răm'pāge, n. p. 1084Violent or riotous behavior; a state of excitement or passion; as, to be on the rampage. [Prov. Eng.] Dickens.Ram-pāl'ian, n. p. 1084A mean wretch. [Obs.] Shak.Răm'p'an-cy, n. p. 1084The quality or state of being rampant; excessive growth or practice; excessive prevalence; exuberance; extravagance. “This height and rampancy of vice.” South.Rām'p'ant, a. p. 1084Springing or climbing unchecked; leaping; ramping; overgrowing the usual bounds; rank in growth; exuberant. The rampant stalk is of unusual altitude. I. Taylor. 2. Overleaping restraint. The lion…Răm'p'ant-ly, adv. p. 1084In a rampant manner.Rām'pārt, n. p. 1084That which fortifies and defends from assault; that which secures safety. 2. (Fort.) An elevation or mound of earth round a place, upon which the parapet is raised. Mahan. Syn. — Bulwark; fence…Rām'pārt, v. t. p. 1084To fortify with ramparts. These grassy hills, those glittering dells, Proudly ramparted with rocks. Coleridge. Rampart gun (Fort.), a cannon or large gun fitted for rampart use, and not used for…Rām'piēr, n. p. 1084The same as RAMPART.Rām'pi-on, n. p. 1084(Bot.) A plant of the genus Campanula (C. rapunculus), having an esculent root somewhat resembling a small turnip. Eng. Cyc. Crested rampion, a species of Lobelia. — Horned rampion, a species of…Rām'pīre, n. p. 1084The same as RAMPART; — seldom used except in poetry. The Trojans round the place a rampire cast. Dryden.Rām′pīre, v. t. p. 1084To fortify with a rampire: to form into a rampire. [Obs.] Chapman.Rām'rŏd, n. p. 1084The rod used in ramming down the charge in a musket, pistol, or other fire-arm.Rām’shăck-le, a. p. 1084Loose; old; falling to pieces. [Prov. Eng.] “A squeezed house with a ramshackle bowed front.” Dickens.Răm’shăck-le, v. t. p. 1084To search or ransack. [Prov. Eng.]Rām'son, n. p. 1084(Bot.) A species of garlic (Allium ursinum), formerly cultivated in gardens. P. Cyc.Rām'ū-lōse or Rām'ū-lōus, a. p. 1084(Bot.) Having many small branches.Rān, imp. p. 1084of run. See RUN.Rām, n. p. 1084Open robbery. [Obs.] Lombard.Rā'na, n. p. 1084(Zoöl.) A genus of tailless batrachians; the frog.Ran-çēs'cent, a. p. 1084Becoming rancid or sour.Rānch, v. t. p. 1084To sprain; to wrench; to injure by violent straining or contortion. [Rare.] Dryden.Rānch, n. p. 1084The same as RANCHO.Ran-chē'ro, n. p. 1084A herdsman; a peasant employed on a rancho. [Mexico.]Rānch'o, n. p. 1084A rude hut, as of posts, covered with branches or thatch, where herdsmen or farm-laborers may live or lodge at night; also, a large farming establishment on which are many ranchos; especially, an…Rān'çid, a. p. 1084Having a rank smell; strong-scented; sour; musty; as, rancid oil or butter.Ran-cid'i-ty, n. p. 1085The quality of being rancid; a strong, sour scent, as of old oil. The rancidity of oils may be analogous to the oxidation of metals. Ure.Răn'çid-ly, adv. p. 1085With a strong scent; mustily.Răn'çid-ness, n. p. 1085The quality of being rancid; rancidity.Răn'cor, n. p. 1085The deepest malignity or spite; deep-seated and malignant enmity; inveterate hatred. It would not be easy to conceive the passion, rancor, and malice of their tongues and hearts. Burke. Syn.—Enmity…Răn'cor-ous, a. p. 1085Full of rancor; evincing rancor; deeply malignant; implacably spiteful or malicious; intensely virulent. So flamed his eyes with rage and rancorous ire. Spencer. Syn.—Malignant; malicious; bitter…Răn'cor-ous-ly, adv. p. 1085In a rancorous manner; with deep malignity or spiteful malice.Rănd, n. p. 1085A border; edge; margin. 2. A long, fleshy piece, as of beef cut from the flank or leg; a sort of steak. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. 3. A thin, inner sole for a shoe. Simmonds.Rănd, v. i. p. 1085To rant; to storm. [Obs.] I wept, and sighed, . . . and raved, and randed, and railed. J. Webster.Răn'dan, n. p. 1085The product of a second sifting of meal; the finest part of the bran. [Prov. Eng.]Răn'dŏm, n. p. 1085A roving motion; course without definite direction; want of direction, rule, or method; hazard; chance;—used especially in the phrase at random, that is, without a settled point of direction; at…Răn'dŏm, a. p. 1085Done at hazard, or without settled aim or purpose; done without previous calculation; left to chance; as, a random guess. Some random truths he can impart. Wordsworth. Random shot, a shot not…Răn'dŏm, n. p. 1085Random. [Obs.] Spencer.Răn'dŏm, v. i. p. 1085To stray or rove wildly; to go at random. [Obs.]Răn'dy, a. p. 1085Disorderly; riotous. [Scot.] “The mad, randy gipsy.” W. Scott.Rāne, n. p. 1085[A.-S. hrān, hræn, wild goat, rein-Rāne'deer or deer p. 1085hrāndēor, Icel. hreinn, hreindyr, Dan. rensdyr, Sw. ren, rendjur, D. rendier, Ger. rennthier, Lap. & Finn. raingo.] The same as REINDEER. [Rare.] See REINDEER.Răn'fōrce, n. p. 1085See RE-ENFORCE. [Obs.] Bailey.Răng, imp. p. 1085of ring. [Rare.]Rănge, v. t. p. 1085To set in a row or in rows; to place in a regular line, lines, or ranks; to dispose in the proper order; to rank; as, to range troops in a body. It would be absurd in me to range myself on the side…Range, v. i. p. 1085To rove at large; to wander without restraint or direction; to roam. Like a ranging spaniel that barks at every bird he sees. Burton. 2. To have range; to be capable of projecting, or to admit of…Rānge, n. p. 1085A series of things in a line; a row; a rank; as, a range of buildings; a range of mountains. 2. An aggregate of individuals of like rank or degree; an order; a class. The next range of beings above…Rānge'ment, n. p. 1085The act of ranging, or the state of being ranged or arranged; arrangement. [Obs.]Rān'ger, n. p. 1085One who ranges; a rover; a robber. [Rare.] Spenser. 2. That which separates into parts; specifically, a sieve. [Obs.] “The tamis ranger.” Holland. 3. A dog that beats the ground. Gay. 4. One of a…Rān'ger-shīp, n. p. 1085The office of the keeper of a forest or park.Rān'gle, v. i. p. 1085To range about in an irregular manner. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.