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.
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.Rā'nīne, a. p. 1085Pertaining to frogs. Wright. 2. (Anat.) Pertaining or belonging to the lingual artery, and to a vein following the same course as the artery. Dunglison.Rānk, n. p. 1085A 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…Rānk, v. t. p. 1085To place abreast, or in a line. 2. 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.…Ränk, v. i. p. 1085To 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. 2. To…Rănk, a. p. 1085Luxuriant 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. 2. Raised to a high degree; excessive; violent…Rănk, adv. p. 1085Rankly; stoutly; violently. “That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell.” Fairfax.Rănk'er, n. p. 1085One who ranks, or disposes in ranks; one who arranges.Rănk'le, v. i. p. 1085To grow more rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester. “A malady that burns and rankles inward.” Rowe. 2. Hence, to become more violent; to be inflamed; to rage; as, rankling malice; rankling envy.…Rănk'le, v. t. p. 1085To cause to fester; to make more painful; to inflame. [Rare.] Beau. & Fl.Ränk'ly, adv. p. 1085With vigorous growth; luxuriantly; hence, coarsely; grossly; as, grass or weeds grow rankly.Rănk'ness, n. p. 1085The condition or quality of being rank; luxuriance; excess; great strength; extravagance; as, rankness of plants; rankness of pride. The crane's pride is in the rankness of her wing. L'Estrange. 2.…Ran-nee', n. p. 1085A queen or princess; the wife of a rajah. [Written also ranee, and ranny.] [Hindostan.]Răn'nel, n. p. 1085A prostitute; a strumpet. [Obs.]Rān'ny, n. p. 1085The shrew-mouse. Browne.Rän'sack, v. t. p. 1085To search thoroughly; to enter and search every place or part of. “To ransack every corner of their shifting and fallacious hearts.” South. 2. To plunder; to pillage completely; to ravage; as, to…Răn'sack, n. p. 1086The ransacking or being ransacked; pillage; devastation. [Rare.] Even your father's house Shall not be free from ransack. J. Webster.Răn'sŏm, n. p. 1086Release from captivity, bondage, or the possession of an enemy; as, they were unable to procure the ransom of the prisoners. 2. The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner, or for goods…Rān'sōn, v. t. p. 1086To redeem from captivity, punishment, or forfeit, by paying an equivalent; to buy out of servitude or penalty; to rescue; to deliver; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy. 2. To demand a ransom for…Rān'sóm-bĭll, n. p. 1086(Law.) A war contract, valid by the law of nations, for the ransom of property captured at sea, and its safe conduct into port. Kent.Rān'sŏm-er, n. p. 1086One who ransoms or redeems.Rān’sóm-less, a. p. 1086Incapable of being ransomed; without ransom. Shak.Rānt, v. i. p. 1086To rave in violent, high-sounding, or extravagant language, without correspondent dignity of thought; to be noisy and boisterous in words or declamation; as, a ranting preacher. Look where my ranting…Rānt, n. p. 1086High-sounding language without importance or dignity of thought; boisterous, empty declamation; as, the rant of fanatics. This is stoical rant, without any foundation in the nature of man, or reason…Rānt'er, n. p. 1086A noisy talker; a boisterous preacher. 2. (Eccl. Hist.) (a.) One of a religious sect which sprung up in 1645;—called also Seekers, from maintaining that its members were seeking for the true church…Rānt’er-ism, n. p. 1086The practice or tenets of ranters.Rānt'i-pōle, n. p. 1086A wild, romping child.Rānt'i-pōle, a. p. 1086Wild; roving; rakish. [Low.]Rānt'i-pōle, v. i. p. 1086To run about wildly. [Low.]Rānt'ism, n. p. 1086The practice or tenets of ranters.Rānt'y, a. p. 1086Wild; noisy; boisterous.Rān'ŭ-lā, n. p. 1086(Med.) A cyst formed under the tongue by obstruction of the duct of the sub-maxillary gland.Ra-nūn'cu-lā'ceoŭs, a. p. 1086(Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling plants of the butter-cup family.Ra-nŭn'cu-lūs, n. p. 1086(Bot.) A genus of plants, embracing many species, some of them beautiful flowering plants, diversified with many rich colors; crow foot; butter-cup;—so called by Pliny, because the aquatic species…Ranz-des-vaches p. 1086A simple melody of the Swiss mountaineers, commonly played on a long trumpet called the Alpine horn. ☞ This melody, when heard by Swiss soldiers away from home, is said to create, in a remarkable…Răp, v. i. p. 1086To strike with a quick, sharp blow; to knock; as, to rap on the door.Răp, v. t. p. 1086To strike with a quick blow; to knock on. With one great peal they rap the door. Prior. To rap out, to utter with sudden violence; as, to rap out an oath. In the United States, rip is often…Rāp, v. t. p. 1086To snatch away; to seize and hurry off. And through the Greeks and Ilians they rapt The whirring chariot. Chapman. To be rapt to the higher heaven remained the privilege of the apostle. Milman. 2. To…Rāp, n. p. 1086A quick, smart blow; as, a rap on the knuckles.Ra-pā’cious, a. p. 1086Given to plunder; disposed or accustomed to seize by violence; seizing by force. “The downfall of the rapacious and licentious knights templar.” Motley. Well may thy lord, appeased, Redeem thee quite…Ra-pā'ciōus-ly, adv. p. 1086In a rapacious manner; by rapine; by violent robbery or seizure.Ra-pā’ciōus-ness, n. p. 1086The quality of being rapacious; disposition to plunder, or to exact by oppression.Ra-păc'i-ty, n. p. 1086The quality of being rapacious; addictedness to plunder; seizure by force; rapaciousness; ravenousness; as, the rapacity of a conquering army; the rapacity of pirates; the rapacity of animals. 2. The…Rāp'a-ree', n. p. 1086See RAPPAREE.Rāpe, n. p. 1086The act of rapping or snatching by force; violent seizure; robbery. [Rare.] And ruined orphans of thy rapes complain. Sandys. 2. Specifically, violence done upon a woman; sexual intercourse with a…