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.
Ru'di-ment, n. p. 1154That which is unformed or undeveloped; the principle which lies at the bottom of any development; unfinished beginnings. But I will bring thee where thou shalt quit Those rudiments, and see before…Rū'di-ment, v. t. p. 1155To furnish with first principles or rules; to ground; to settle in first principles. [Obs.] Gayton.Ru'di-mĕnt'al or Ru'di-mĕnt'a-ry, a. p. 1155Pertaining to rudiments, or consisting in first principles; initial; as, rudimental essays. 2. (Nat. Hist.) In an early stage of development; imperfectly developed.Rud'ish, a. p. 1155More or less rude; somewhat rude; as, rudish workmanship.Ru'di-ty, n. p. 1155The state of being rude; rudeness; ignorance. [Rare.]Ru-dolph'ine, a. p. 1155Characterizing, or relating to, a set of astronomical tables, computed by Kepler, and founded on the observations of Tycho Brahe; — so named from Rudolph II., emperor of Bohemia.Rue, v. t. p. 1155To lament; to regret; to grieve for. I wept to see, and rued it from my heart. Chapman. Thy will Chose freely what it now so justly rues. Milton. 2. To cause to grieve; to afflict. Dear dame, your…Rue, v. i. p. 1155To have compassion; to sorrow. [Rare.] “Which stirred men's hearts to rue upon them.” Ridley. Old year, we'll dearly rue for you. Thompson.Rew, n. p. 1155Sorrow; repentance. [Obs.] Shak.Rue, n. p. 1155(Bot.) A plant, Ruta (R. graveolens), having a strong, heavy odor, and a bitter taste. It is used in medicine. They [the exorcists] are to try the devil by holy water, incense, sulphur, and rue…Rue'ful, a. p. 1155Causing one to rue or lament; woful; mournful; sorrowful; fit to be lamented. Spur them to rueful work. Shak. 2. Expressing sorrow. “Two rueful figures, with long black cloaks.” W. Scott. He sighed…Rue'ful-ly, adv. p. 1155In a rueful manner; mournfully; sorrowfully.Rue'ful-ness, n. p. 1155The state of being rueful; sorrowfulness; mournfulness.Ru'el-bōnes, n. pl. p. 1155(Anc. Costume.) Small rings or studs of bones, &c., affixed to the girdle or head-dress. Fairholt.Ru-ēlle’, n. p. 1155A private circle or assembly at a private house; a circle. [Obs.] Dryden.Ru-fĕs'cent, a. p. 1155Reddish; tinged with red.Rŭff, n. p. 1155That which is made rough; especially, a muslin or linen collar plaited, crimped, or fluted, worn formerly by both sexes, but now only by females. “Here to-morrow with his best ruff on.” Shak. His…Rŭff, v. t. p. 1155To ruffle; to disorder. Spenser. 2. To trump, as a card in playing whist, instead of following suit. Smart. 3. To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum. 4. (Hawking.) To hit, as the prey, without…Rŭffed, a. p. 1155Furnished with a ruff. Ruffed grouse (Ornith.), a bird of the genus Bonasa (B. umbellus, Tetrao umbellus, or T. togatus of Linnaeus), found in North America, especially in the northern parts of the…Rŭf'fian, n. p. 1155A pimp; a pander; a procurer; a paramour. [Obs.] He [her husband] is no sooner abroad than she is instantly at home, reveling with her ruffians. Reynolds. 2. A boisterous, brutal fellow; a fellow…Rŭf'fian, a. p. 1155Brutal; savagely boisterous; as, ruffian rage.Rŭf'fian, v. i. p. 1155To play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult. [Obs.] Shak.Rŭf'fian-ĭsh, a. p. 1155Having the qualities or manners of a ruffian.Rŭf'fi-an-ism, n. p. 1155The act or conduct of a ruffian.Rŭf'fi-an-ly, a. p. 1155Like a ruffian; bold in crimes; violent; licentious. Fulke.Rŭf'fian-oŭs, a. p. 1155Like a ruffian; ruffianly. [Obs.]Rŭf'fle, v. t. p. 1155To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into wrinkles, open plaits, or folds; to wrinkle. Addison. 2. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt. 3. To roughen or disturb the surface of; to make…Rŭf'fle, v. i. p. 1155To grow rough or turbulent. [Rare.] Bleak winds do ruffle sorely. Shak. 2. To play loosely; to flutter. On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined, Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind.…Rŭf'fle, n. p. 1155That which is ruffed; specifically, a strip of plaited cambric, or other fine cloth, attached to some border of a garment, as to the wristband or bosom; a frill. 2. A state of being ruffled or…Rŭf'fle, n. p. 1155(Mil.) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll;—called also ruff. Scott.Rŭf'fle, v. t. p. 1155(Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.Rŭf'fle-less, a. p. 1155Having no ruffles.Rŭf'fle-ment, n. p. 1155The act of ruffling.Rŭf'fler, n. p. 1155A bully; a swaggerer; a ruffian. “Assaults, if not murders, done at his own doors by that crew of rufflers.” Milton.Rū'foŭs, a. p. 1155Reddish; of a reddish or brownish-red color.Rutt, n. p. 1155Eructation; belching. Dunglison.Rūf’ter-hōōd, n. p. 1155(Falconry.) A plain leather hood, large and open behind, to be worn by a hawk when she is first drawn. [Obs.]Rŭg, n. p. 1155A coarse, nappy, woolen fabric, used for various purposes;—as, (a.) For the cover of a bed. (b.) For protecting the carpet before a fire place, (c.) For protecting the legs against the cold in…Rŭg, v. t. p. 1155To pull roughly or hastily; to plunder; to spoil. [Scot.] The good old times of rugging . . . are come back again. W. Scott.Rū'gate, a. p. 1155Having alternate ridges and depressions; wrinkled. Dana.Rŭg'ged, a. p. 1155Full of asperities on the surface; broken into sharp or irregular points, or otherwise uneven; rough; as, a rugged mountain; a rugged road. “The rugged bark of some broad elm.” Milton. 2. Not neat or…Rŭg'ged-ly, adv. p. 1155In a rough or rugged manner.Rūg'ged-ness, n. p. 1155The quality or state of being rugged; roughness; harshness; surliness; coarseness; rudeness; storminess; boisterousness.Rūg'ging, n. p. 1155A coarse cloth, for wrapping blankets, &c. Simmonds.Rūg'-gown, n. p. 1155A gown of coarse cloth. B. Jonson.Rūg'-gowned, a. p. 1155Wearing a coarse gown or rug. Beau. & Fl.Rūg'gy, a. p. 1155Rugged; rough. [Obs.]Rūg'in, n. p. 1155A nappy cloth. [Obs.] Wiseman.Rū'gīne, n. p. 1155An instrument used for rasping bones to detach the periosteum, either in certain surgical operations or for anatomical purposes. Dunglison.Rū'gīne, v. t. p. 1155To scrape or rasp; to scale. [Rare.]Rū-gōse', a. p. 1155Wrinkled; full of wrinkles. Wiseman. 2. (Bot.) Having the veins more contracted than the disk, so that the latter rises into little inequalities, as in sage, primrose, cowslip, &c.;—said of leaves.Rū-gōs'i-ty, n. p. 1155The state of being rugose; a state of being wrinkled. [Rare.]Rū'gous, a. p. 1155The same as RUGOSE, q. v.Rū'gu-lōse', a. p. 1155Somewhat wrinkled. Henslow.Rūhm'kōrf's Coil p. 1155A machine for producing currents of induced electricity of great intensity, consisting of a coil or helix of stout copper wire insulated by being wound with silk, surrounded by another coil of fine…Rū'in, n. p. 1155The act of falling or tumbling down; fall. [Obs.] His ruin startled the other steeds. Chapman. 2. That change of any thing which destroys it, or entirely defeats its object, or unfits it for use…Ru'in, v. t. p. 1156To bring to ruin; to cause to fall to pieces and decay; to make to perish; to bring to destruction; to impair seriously; to damage essentially. This mortal house I'll ruin. Shak. By thee raised, I…Rŭ'in, v. i. p. 1156To fall to ruins; to become decayed or dilapidated; to perish. [Rare.] Though he his house of polished marble build, Yet shall it ruin like the moth's frail cell. Sandys. If we are idle, and disturb…Ru'in-a-ble, a. p. 1156Capable of being ruined.Ru'in-āte, v. t. p. 1156To demolish; to subvert; to destroy; to reduce to poverty. [Obs.] “To ruinate my father's house.” Shak. “Ruinating thereby the health of their bodies.” Burton.