8 letter word starting with r

by
Words Parts of Speech Meaning/Definition/Similar Words
rabatine noun A collar or cape.
rabbeted imp. & past participle of Rabbet
rabbinic adjective Alt. of Rabbinical, The language or dialect of the rabbins; the later Hebrew.
rabbitry noun A place where rabbits are kept; especially, a collection of hutches for tame rabbits.
rabbling present participle & vb. noun of Rabble
rabidity noun Rabidness; furiousness.
racahout noun A preparation from acorns used by the Arabs as a substitute for chocolate, and also as a beverage for invalids.
racemate noun A salt of racemic acid.
racemose adjective Resembling a raceme; growing in the form of a raceme; as, (Bot.) racemose berries or flowers; (Anat.) the racemose glands, in which the ducts are branched and clustered like a raceme.
racemous adjective See Racemose.
racemule noun A little raceme.
rachilla noun Same as Rhachilla.
rachises plural of Rachis
rachides plural of Rachis
rachitic adjective Of or pertaining to rachitis; affected by rachitis; rickety.
rachitis noun Literally, inflammation of the spine, but commonly applied to the rickets. See Rickets., A disease which produces abortion in the fruit or seeds.
raciness noun The quality of being racy; peculiar and piquant flavor.
racketed imp. & past participle of Racket
racketer noun One who makes, or engages in, a racket.
racktail noun An arm attached to a swinging notched arc or rack, to let off the striking mechanism of a repeating clock.
rackwork noun Any mechanism having a rack, as a rack and pinion.
racoonda noun The coypu.
racovian noun One of a sect of Socinians or Unitarians in Poland.
radialia plural of Radiale
radially adverb In a radial manner.
radiance noun Alt. of Radiancy
radiancy noun The quality of being radiant; brilliancy; effulgence; vivid brightness; as, the radiance of the sun.
radiated imp. & past participle of Radiate, Emitted, or sent forth, in rays or direct lines; as, radiated heat., Formed of, or arranged like, rays or radii; having parts or markings diverging, like radii, from a common center or axis; as, a radiated structure; a radiated group of crystals., Belonging to the Radiata.
radiator noun That which radiates or emits rays, whether of light or heat; especially, that part of a heating apparatus from which the heat is radiated or diffused; as, a steam radiator.
radicant adjective Taking root on, or above, the ground; rooting from the stem, as the trumpet creeper and the ivy.
radicate adjective Radicated., To take root; to become rooted., To cause to take root; to plant deeply and firmly; to root.
radicule noun A radicle.
radiuses plural of Radius
raffling present participle & vb. noun of Raffle
raftsmen plural of Raftsman
raftsman noun A man engaged in rafting.
ragabash noun Alt. of Ragabrash
ragguled adjective Notched in regular diagonal breaks; — said of a line, or a bearing having such an edge.
raillery noun Pleasantry or slight satire; banter; jesting language; satirical merriment.
railleur noun A banterer; a jester; a mocker.
railroad noun Alt. of Railway
raindeer noun See Reindeer.
raindrop noun A drop of rain.
rainfall noun A fall or descent of rain; the water, or amount of water, that falls in rain; as, the average annual rainfall of a region.
rainless adjective Destitute of rain; as, a rainless region.
raisable adjective Capable of being raised.
raisonne adjective Arranged systematically, or according to classes or subjects; as, a catalogue raisonne. See under Catalogue.
rakehell noun A lewd, dissolute fellow; a debauchee; a rake., Alt. of Rakehelly
rakishly adverb In a rakish manner.
rallying present participle & vb. noun of Rally
ramayana noun The more ancient of the two great epic poems in Sanskrit. The hero and heroine are Rama and his wife Sita.
ramberge noun Formerly, a kind of large war galley.
rambling present participle & vb. noun of Ramble, Roving; wandering; discursive; as, a rambling fellow, talk, or building.
rambooze noun A beverage made of wine, ale (or milk), sugar, etc.
rambutan noun A Malayan fruit produced by the tree Nephelium lappaceum, and closely related to the litchi nut. It is bright red, oval in shape, covered with coarse hairs (whence the name), and contains a pleasant acid pulp. Called also ramboostan.
ramequin noun A mixture of cheese, eggs, etc., formed in a mold, or served on bread.
ramiform adjective Having the form of a branch.
ramified imp. & past participle of Ramify
rampancy noun The quality or state of being rampant; excessive action or development; exuberance; extravagance.
ramulose adjective Having many small branches, or ramuli.
ramulous adjective Ramulose.
ranchero noun A herdsman; a peasant employed on a ranch or rancho., The owner and occupant of a ranch or rancho.
ranchmen plural of Ranchman
ranchman noun An owner or occupant of, or laborer on, a ranch; a herdsman.
rancidly adverb In a rancid manner.
randomly adverb In a random manner.
ranedeer noun See Reindeer.
ranforce noun See Re/nforce.
rankling present participle & vb. noun of Rankle
rankness noun The condition or quality of being rank.
ransomed imp. & past participle of Ransom
ransomer noun One who ransoms or redeems.
rapacity noun The quality of being rapacious; rapaciousness; ravenousness; as, the rapacity of pirates; the rapacity of wolves., The act or practice of extorting or exacting by oppressive injustice; exorbitant greediness of gain.
rapfully adverb Violently.
raphides noun pl. See Rhaphides.
rapidity noun The quality or state of being rapid; swiftness; celerity; velocity; as, the rapidity of a current; rapidity of speech; rapidity of growth or improvement.
rapiered adjective Wearing a rapier.
rapinous adjective Given to rapine.
rapparee noun A wild Irish plunderer, esp. one of the 17th century; — so called from his carrying a half-pike, called a rapary.
raptores noun pl. Same as Accipitres. Called also Raptatores.
raptured imp. & past participle of Rapture
rarefied imp. & past participle of Rarefy
rareness noun The state or quality of being rare.
rareripe adjective Early ripe; ripe before others, or before the usual season., An early ripening fruit, especially a kind of freestone peach.
rarities plural of Rarity
rascally adjective Like a rascal; trickish or dishonest; base; worthless; — often in humorous disparagement, without implication of dishonesty.
rashling noun A rash person.
rashness noun The quality or state of being rash.
rasorial adjective Of or pertaining to the Rasores, or gallinaceous birds, as the peacock, domestic fowl, partridge, quail, and the like.
rataplan noun The iterative sound of beating a drum, or of a galloping horse.
rateable adjective See Ratable.
rathripe adjective Rareripe, or early ripe., A rareripe.
ratifier noun One who, or that which, ratifies; a confirmer.
ratified imp. & past participle of Ratify
rational adjective Relating to the reason; not physical; mental., Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with reason or understanding; reasoning., Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous, extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise; judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man., Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; — said of formulae. See under Formula., A rational being.
ratitate adjective Of or pertaining to the Ratitae.
ratlines noun pl. Alt. of Ratlins
ratsbane noun Rat poison; white arsenic.
rat-tail adjective Like a rat’s tail in form; as, a rat-tail file, which is round, slender, and tapering. See Illust. of File., An excrescence growing from the pastern to the middle of the shank of a horse., The California chimaera. See Chimaera., Any fish of the genus Macrurus. See Grenadier, 2.
rattinet noun A woolen stuff thinner than ratteen.
rattling present participle & vb. noun of Rattle
raunsoun noun Ransom.
ravaging present participle & vb. noun of Ravage
ravehook noun A tool, hooked at the end, for enlarging or clearing seams for the reception of oakum.
ravelled of Ravel
raveling present participle & vb. noun of Ravel, The act of untwisting or of disentangling., That which is raveled out; esp., a thread detached from a texture.
ravening present participle & vb. noun of Raven, Eagerness for plunder; rapacity; extortion., Greedily devouring; rapacious; as, ravening wolves.
ravenala noun A genus of plants related to the banana.
ravenous adjective Devouring with rapacious eagerness; furiously voracious; hungry even to rage; as, a ravenous wolf or vulture., Eager for prey or gratification; as, a ravenous appetite or desire.
ravished imp. & past participle of Ravish
ravisher noun One who ravishes (in any sense).
rawboned adjective Having little flesh on the bones; gaunt.
razeeing present participle & vb. noun of Razee
reabsorb verb t. To absorb again; to draw in, or imbibe, again what has been effused, extravasated, or thrown off; to swallow up again; as, to reabsorb chyle, lymph, etc.; — used esp. of fluids.
reaccess noun A second access or approach; a return.
reaccuse verb t. To accuse again.
reaching present participle & vb. noun of Reach
reaction noun Any action in resisting other action or force; counter tendency; movement in a contrary direction; reverse action., The mutual or reciprocal action of chemical agents upon each other, or the action upon such chemical agents of some form of energy, as heat, light, or electricity, resulting in a chemical change in one or more of these agents, with the production of new compounds or the manifestation of distinctive characters. See Blowpipe reaction, Flame reaction, under Blowpipe, and Flame., An action induced by vital resistance to some other action; depression or exhaustion of vital force consequent on overexertion or overstimulation; heightened activity and overaction succeeding depression or shock., The force which a body subjected to the action of a force from another body exerts upon the latter body in the opposite direction., Backward tendency or movement after revolution, reform, or great progress in any direction.
reactive adjective Having power to react; tending to reaction; of the nature of reaction.
readable adjective Such as can be read; legible; fit or suitable to be read; worth reading; interesting.
readjust verb t. To adjust or settle again; to put in a different order or relation; to rearrange.
reaffirm verb t. To affirm again.
realized imp. & past participle of Realize
realizer noun One who realizes.
reallege verb t. To allege again.
realness noun The quality or condition of being real; reality.
reanswer verb t. & i. To answer in return; to repay; to compensate; to make amends for.
reappear verb i. To appear again.
reardoss noun A reredos.
rearmost adjective Farthest in the rear; last.
rearward noun The last troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard. Also used figuratively., At or toward the rear.
reascend verb i. To rise, mount, or climb again., To ascend or mount again; to reach by ascending again.
reascent noun A returning ascent or ascension; acclivity.
reasoned imp. & past participle of Reason
reasoner noun One who reasons or argues; as, a fair reasoner; a close reasoner; a logical reasoner.
reassert verb t. To assert again or anew; to maintain after an omission to do so.
reassign verb t. To assign back or again; to transfer back what has been assigned.
reassume verb t. To assume again or anew; to resume.
reassure verb t. To assure anew; to restore confidence to; to free from fear or terror., To reinsure.
reattach verb t. To attach again.
reattain verb t. To attain again.
rebanish verb t. To banish again.
rebelled imp. & past participle of Rebel
rebeldom noun A region infested by rebels; rebels, considered collectively; also, conduct or quality characteristic of rebels.
rebeller noun One who rebels; a rebel.
rebellow verb i. To bellow again; to repeat or echo a bellow.
rebiting noun The act or process of deepening worn lines in an etched plate by submitting it again to the action of acid.
rebucous adjective Rebuking.
rebuffed imp. & past participle of Rebuff
rebuking present participle & vb. noun of Rebuke
rebutted imp. & past participle of Rebut
rebuttal noun The giving of evidence on the part of a plaintiff to destroy the effect of evidence introduced by the defendant in the same suit.
rebutter noun The answer of a defendant in matter of fact to a plaintiff’s surrejoinder.
recanted imp. & past participle of Recant
recanter noun One who recants.
recapper noun A tool used for applying a fresh percussion cap or primer to a cartridge shell in reloading it.
recaptor noun One who recaptures; one who takes a prize which had been previously taken.
receding present participle & vb. noun of Recede
received imp. & past participle of Receive
receiver noun One who takes or receives in any manner., A person appointed, ordinarily by a court, to receive, and hold in trust, money or other property which is the subject of litigation, pending the suit; a person appointed to take charge of the estate and effects of a corporation, and to do other acts necessary to winding up its affairs, in certain cases., One who takes or buys stolen goods from a thief, knowing them to be stolen., A vessel connected with an alembic, a retort, or the like, for receiving and condensing the product of distillation., A vessel for receiving and containing gases., The glass vessel in which the vacuum is produced, and the objects of experiment are put, in experiments with an air pump. Cf. Bell jar, and see Illust. of Air pump., A vessel for receiving the exhaust steam from the high-pressure cylinder before it enters the low-pressure cylinder, in a compound engine., A capacious vessel for receiving steam from a distant boiler, and supplying it dry to an engine., That portion of a telephonic apparatus, or similar system, at which the message is received and made audible; — opposed to transmitter.
recenter verb t. To center again; to restore to the center.
recently adverb Newly; lately; freshly; not long since; as, advices recently received.
recessed imp. & past participle of Recess, Having a recess or recesses; as, a recessed arch or wall., Withdrawn; secluded.
rechange verb t. & i. To change again, or change back.
recharge verb t. & i. To charge or accuse in return., To attack again; to attack anew.
rechless adjective Reckless.
rechoose verb t. To choose again.
reciprok adjective Reciprocal.
recision noun The act of cutting off.
reciting present participle & vb. noun of Recite
reckless adjective Inattentive to duty; careless; neglectful; indifferent., Rashly negligent; utterly careless or heedless.
reckling adjective Needing care; weak; feeble; as, a reckling child., A weak child or animal.
reckoned imp. & past participle of Reckon
reckoner noun One who reckons or computes; also, a book of calculations, tables, etc., to assist in reckoning.
reclined imp. & past participle of Recline, Falling or turned downward; reclinate.
recliner noun One who, or that which, reclines.
reclothe verb t. To clothe again.
recoiled imp. & past participle of Recoil
recoiler noun One who, or that which, recoils.
recollet noun Same as Recollect, n.
recommit verb t. To commit again; to give back into keeping; specifically, to refer again to a committee; as, to recommit a bill to the same committee.
reconvey verb t. To convey back or to the former place; as, to reconvey goods., To transfer back to a former owner; as, to reconvey an estate.
recorded imp. & past participle of Record
recorder noun One who records; specifically, a person whose official duty it is to make a record of writings or transactions., The title of the chief judical officer of some cities and boroughs; also, of the chief justice of an East Indian settlement. The Recorder of London is judge of the Lord Mayor’s Court, and one of the commissioners of the Central Criminal Court., A kind of wind instrument resembling the flageolet.
recouper noun One who recoups.
recourse noun A coursing back, or coursing again, along the line of a previous coursing; renewed course; return; retreat; recurence., Recurrence in difficulty, perplexity, need, or the like; access or application for aid; resort., Access; admittance., To return; to recur., To have recourse; to resort.
recovery noun The act of recovering, regaining, or retaking possession., Restoration from sickness, weakness, faintness, or the like; restoration from a condition of mistortune, of fright, etc., The obtaining in a suit at law of a right to something by a verdict and judgment of court., The getting, or gaining, of something not previously had., In rowing, the act of regaining the proper position for making a new stroke.
recreant adjective Crying for mercy, as a combatant in the trial by battle; yielding; cowardly; mean-spirited; craven., Apostate; false; unfaithful., One who yields in combat, and begs for mercy; a mean-spirited, cowardly wretch.
recreate verb t. To give fresh life to; to reanimate; to revive; especially, to refresh after wearying toil or anxiety; to relieve; to cheer; to divert; to amuse; to gratify., To take recreation.
rectitis noun Proctitis.
rectoral adjective Pertaining to a rector or governor.
rectress noun A rectoress.
recurred imp. & past participle of Recur
recurved adjective Curved in an opposite or uncommon direction; bent back; as, a bird with a recurved bill; flowers with recurved petals.
recusant adjective Obstinate in refusal; specifically, in English history, refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in the churc, or to conform to the established rites of the church; as, a recusant lord., One who is obstinate in refusal; one standing out stubbornly against general practice or opinion., A person who refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in matters of religion; as, a Roman Catholic recusant, who acknowledges the supremacy of the pope., One who refuses communion with the Church of England; a nonconformist.
redactor noun One who redacts; one who prepares matter for publication; an editor.
redargue verb t. To disprove; to refute; toconfute; to reprove; to convict.
redbelly noun The char.
reddened imp. & past participle of Redden
redeemed imp. & past participle of Redeem
redeemer noun One who redeems., Specifically, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.
redeless adjective Without rede or counsel.
redemand verb t. To demand back; to demand again., A demanding back; a second or renewed demand.
redemise verb t. To demise back; to convey or transfer back, as an estate., The transfer of an estate back to the person who demised it; reconveyance; as, the demise and redemise of an estate. See under Demise.
redented adjective Formed like the teeth of a saw; indented.
redfinch noun The European linnet.
red-hand adjective / adverb Alt. of Red-handed
redigest verb t. To digest, or reduce to form, a second time.
redirect adjective Applied to the examination of a witness, by the party calling him, after the cross-examination.
redition noun Act of returning; return.
redivide verb t. To divide anew.
redmouth noun Any one of several species of marine food fishes of the genus Diabasis, or Haemulon, of the Southern United States, having the inside of the mouth bright red. Called also flannelmouth, and grunt.
redolent adjective Diffusing odor or fragrance; spreading sweet scent; scented; odorous; smelling; — usually followed by of.
redouble verb t. To double again or repeatedly; to increase by continued or repeated additions; to augment greatly; to multiply., To become greatly or repeatedly increased; to be multiplied; to be greatly augmented; as, the noise redoubles.
redshank noun A common Old World limicoline bird (Totanus calidris), having the legs and feet pale red. The spotted redshank (T. fuscus) is larger, and has orange-red legs. Called also redshanks, redleg, and clee., The fieldfare., A bare-legged person; — a contemptuous appellation formerly given to the Scotch Highlanders, in allusion to their bare legs.
redstart noun A small, handsome European singing bird (Ruticilla phoenicurus), allied to the nightingale; — called also redtail, brantail, fireflirt, firetail. The black redstart is P.tithys. The name is also applied to several other species of Ruticilla amnd allied genera, native of India., An American fly-catching warbler (Setophaga ruticilla). The male is black, with large patches of orange-red on the sides, wings, and tail. The female is olive, with yellow patches.
red-tape adjective Pertaining to, or characterized by, official formality. See Red tape, under Red, a.
reducing present participle & vb. noun of Reduce, a & n. from Reduce.
reducent adjective Tending to reduce., A reducent agent.
redwithe noun A west Indian climbing shrub (Combretum Jacquini) with slender reddish branchlets.
reedbird noun The bobolink., One of several small Asiatic singing birds of the genera Sch/nicola and Eurycercus; — called also reed babbler.
reedbuck noun See Rietboc.
reedless adjective Destitute of reeds; as, reedless banks.
reedling noun The European bearded titmouse (Panurus biarmicus); — called also reed bunting, bearded pinnock, and lesser butcher bird.
reedwork noun A collective name for the reed stops of an organ.
reembark verb t. & i. To put, or go, on board a vessel again; to embark again.
reembody verb t. To embody again.
reemerge verb i. To emerge again.
reengage verb t. & i. To engage a second time or again.
reenlist verb t. & i. To enlist again.
reestate verb t. To reestablish.
reexport verb t. To export again, as what has been imported., Any commodity reexported; — chiefly in the plural.
refasten verb t. To fasten again.
referred imp. & past participle of Refer
referrer noun One who refers.
refigure verb t. To figure again.
refining present participle & vb. noun of Refine
refinery noun The building and apparatus for refining or purifying, esp. metals and sugar., A furnace in which cast iron is refined by the action of a blast on the molten metal.
reflexed adjective Bent backward or outward.
reflexly adverb In a reflex manner; reflectively.
reflower verb i. & t. To flower, or cause to flower, again.
refluent adjective Flowing back; returning; ebbing.
reflueus adjective Refluent.
refoment verb t. To foment anew.
reforger noun One who reforges.
reformed adjective Corrected; amended; restored to purity or excellence; said, specifically, of the whole body of Protestant churches originating in the Reformation. Also, in a more restricted sense, of those who separated from Luther on the doctrine of consubstantiation, etc., and carried the Reformation, as they claimed, to a higher point. The Protestant churches founded by them in Switzerland, France, Holland, and part of Germany, were called the Reformed churches., Amended in character and life; as, a reformed gambler or drunkard., Retained in service on half or full pay after the disbandment of the company or troop; — said of an officer.
reformer noun One who effects a reformation or amendment; one who labors for, or urges, reform; as, a reformer of manners, or of abuses., One of those who commenced the reformation of religion in the sixteenth century, as Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, and Calvin.
reformly adverb In the manner of a reform; for the purpose of reform.
refunder noun One who refunds.
refusing present participle & vb. noun of Refuse
refusion noun New or repeated melting, as of metals., Restoration.
refuting present participle & vb. noun of Refute
regaling present participle & vb. noun of Regale
regalian adjective Pertaining to regalia; pertaining to the royal insignia or prerogatives.
regalism noun The doctrine of royal prerogative or supremacy.
regality noun Royalty; sovereignty; sovereign jurisdiction., An ensign or badge of royalty.
regarded imp. & past participle of Regard
regarder noun One who regards., An officer appointed to supervise the forest.
regather verb t. To gather again.
regattas plural of Regatta
regelate verb i. To freeze together again; to undergo regelation, as ice.
regicide noun One who kills or who murders a king; specifically (Eng.Hist.), one of the judges who condemned Charles I. to death., The killing or the murder of a king.
regiment noun Government; mode of ruling; rule; authority; regimen., A region or district governed., A body of men, either horse, foot, or artillery, commanded by a colonel, and consisting of a number of companies, usually ten., To form into a regiment or into regiments.
regional adjective Of or pertaining to a particular region; sectional.
register noun A written account or entry; an official or formal enumeration, description, or record; a memorial record; a list or roll; a schedule., A record containing a list and description of the merchant vessels belonging to a port or customs district., A certificate issued by the collector of customs of a port or district to the owner of a vessel, containing the description of a vessel, its name, ownership, and other material facts. It is kept on board the vessel, to be used as an evidence of nationality or as a muniment of title., One who registers or records; a registrar; a recorder; especially, a public officer charged with the duty of recording certain transactions or events; as, a register of deeds., That which registers or records., A contrivance for automatically noting the performance of a machine or the rapidity of a process., The part of a telegraphic apparatus which records automatically the message received., A machine for registering automatically the number of persons passing through a gateway, fares taken, etc.; a telltale., A lid, stopper, or sliding plate, in a furnace, stove, etc., for regulating the admission of air to the fuel; also, an arrangement containing dampers or shutters, as in the floor or wall of a room or passage, or in a chimney, for admitting or excluding heated air, or for regulating ventilation., The inner part of the mold in which types are cast., The correspondence of pages, columns, or lines on the opposite or reverse sides of the sheet., The correspondence or adjustment of the several impressions in a design which is printed in parts, as in chromolithographic printing, or in the manufacture of paper hangings. See Register, v. i. 2., The compass of a voice or instrument; a specified portion of the compass of a voice, or a series of vocal tones of a given compass; as, the upper, middle, or lower register; the soprano register; the tenor register., A stop or set of pipes in an organ., To enter in a register; to record formally and distinctly, as for future use or service., To enroll; to enter in a list., To enroll one’s name in a register., To correspond in relative position; as, two pages, columns, etc. , register when the corresponding parts fall in the same line, or when line falls exactly upon line in reverse pages, or (as in chromatic printing) where the various colors of the design are printed consecutively, and perfect adjustment of parts is necessary.
registry noun The act of recording or writing in a register; enrollment; registration., The place where a register is kept., A record; an account; a register.
regnancy noun The condition or quality of being regnant; sovereignty; rule.
regrated imp. & past participle of Regrate
regrater noun One who regrates.
regrator noun One guilty of regrating.
regrowth noun The act of regrowing; a second or new growth.
regulate verb t. To adjust by rule, method, or established mode; to direct by rule or restriction; to subject to governing principles or laws., To put in good order; as, to regulate the disordered state of a nation or its finances., To adjust, or maintain, with respect to a desired rate, degree, or condition; as, to regulate the temperature of a room, the pressure of steam, the speed of a machine, etc.
reguline adjective Of or pertaining to regulus.
regulize verb t. To reduce to regulus; to separate, as a metal from extraneous matter; as, to regulize antimony.
rehearse verb t. To repeat, as what has been already said; to tell over again; to recite., To narrate; to relate; to tell., To recite or repeat in private for experiment and improvement, before a public representation; as, to rehearse a tragedy., To cause to rehearse; to instruct by rehearsal., To recite or repeat something for practice.
reigning present participle & vb. noun of Reign
reillume verb t. To light again; to cause to shine anew; to relume; to reillumine.
reimbark verb t. & i. See Reembark.
reimbody verb t. & i. To imbody again.
reimport verb t. To import again; to import what has been exported; to bring back.
reimpose verb t. To impose anew.
reindeer noun Any ruminant of the genus Rangifer, of the Deer family, found in the colder parts of both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, and having long irregularly branched antlers, with the brow tines palmate.
reinduce verb t. To induce again.
reinette noun A name given to many different kinds of apples, mostly of French origin.
reinfect verb t. To infect again.
reinfund verb i. To flow in anew.
reinless adjective Not having, or not governed by, reins; hence, not checked or restrained.
reinsert verb t. To insert again.
reinsure verb t. To insure again after a former insuranse has ceased; to renew insurance on., To insure, as life or property, in favor of one who has taken an insurance risk upon it.
reinvest verb t. To invest again or anew.
rejected imp. & past participle of Reject
rejecter noun One who rejects.
rejoiced imp. & past participle of Rejoice
rejoicer noun One who rejoices.
rejoined imp. & past participle of Rejoin
rekindle verb t. & i. To kindle again.
relapsed imp. & past participle of Relapse
relapser noun One who relapses.
relating present participle & vb. noun of Relate
relation noun The act of relating or telling; also, that which is related; recital; account; narration; narrative; as, the relation of historical events., The state of being related or of referring; what is apprehended as appertaining to a being or quality, by considering it in its bearing upon something else; relative quality or condition; the being such and such with regard or respect to some other thing; connection; as, the relation of experience to knowledge; the relation of master to servant., Reference; respect; regard., Connection by consanguinity or affinity; kinship; relationship; as, the relation of parents and children., A person connected by cosanguinity or affinity; a relative; a kinsman or kinswoman., The carrying back, and giving effect or operation to, an act or proceeding frrom some previous date or time, by a sort of fiction, as if it had happened or begun at that time. In such case the act is said to take effect by relation., The act of a relator at whose instance a suit is begun.
relative adjective Having relation or reference; referring; respecting; standing in connection; pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject., Arising from relation; resulting from connection with, or reference to, something else; not absolute., Indicating or expressing relation; refering to an antecedent; as, a relative pronoun., Characterizing or pertaining to chords and keys, which, by reason of the identify of some of their tones, admit of a natural transition from one to the other., One who, or that which, relates to, or is considered in its relation to, something else; a relative object or term; one of two object or term; one of two objects directly connected by any relation., A person connected by blood or affinity; strictly, one allied by blood; a relation; a kinsman or kinswoman., A relative pronoun; a word which relates to, or represents, another word or phrase, called its antecedent; as, the relatives “who”, “which”, “that”.
relatrix noun A female relator.
relaxing present participle & vb. noun of Relax
relaxant noun A medicine that relaxes; a laxative.
relaying present participle & vb. noun of Relay
released imp. & past participle of Release
releasee noun One to whom a release is given.
releaser noun One who releases, or sets free.
releasor noun One by whom a release is given.
relegate verb t. To remove, usually to an inferior position; to consign; to transfer; specifically, to send into exile; to banish.
relented imp. & past participle of Relent
relessee noun See Releasee.
relessor noun See Releasor.
relevant adjective Relieving; lending aid or support., Bearing upon, or properly applying to, the case in hand; pertinent; applicable., Sufficient to support the cause.
reliable adjective Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependance or reliance; trustworthy.
reliance noun The act of relying, or the condition or quality of being reliant; dependence; confidence; trust; repose of mind upon what is deemed sufficient support or authority., Anything on which to rely; dependence; ground of trust; as, the boat was a poor reliance.
relicted adjective Left uncovered, as land by recession of water.
relieved imp. & past participle of Relieve
reliever noun One who, or that which, relieves.
religion noun The outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a god or of gods having power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love, fear, or awe of some superhuman and overruling power, whether by profession of belief, by observance of rites and ceremonies, or by the conduct of life; a system of faith and worship; a manifestation of piety; as, ethical religions; monotheistic religions; natural religion; revealed religion; the religion of the Jews; the religion of idol worshipers., Specifically, conformity in faith and life to the precepts inculcated in the Bible, respecting the conduct of life and duty toward God and man; the Christian faith and practice., A monastic or religious order subject to a regulated mode of life; the religious state; as, to enter religion., Strictness of fidelity in conforming to any practice, as if it were an enjoined rule of conduct.
relished imp. & past participle of Relish
relocate verb t. To locate again.
relucent adjective Reflecting light; shining; glittering; glistening; bright; luminous; splendid.
reluming present participle & vb. noun of Relume
relumine verb t. To light anew; to rekindle., To illuminate again.
remained imp. & past participle of Remain
remanded imp. & past participle of Remand
remanent adjective That which remains; a remnant; a residue., Remaining; residual.
remarked imp. & past participle of Remark
remarker noun One who remarks.
remberge noun See Ramberge.
remedial adjective Affording a remedy; intended for a remedy, or for the removal or abatement of an evil; as, remedial treatment.
remedies plural of Remedy
remedied imp. & past participle of Remedy
remember verb t. To have ( a notion or idea) come into the mind again, as previously perceived, known, or felt; to have a renewed apprehension of; to bring to mind again; to think of again; to recollect; as, I remember the fact; he remembers the events of his childhood; I cannot remember dates., To be capable of recalling when required; to keep in mind; to be continually aware or thoughtful of; to preserve fresh in the memory; to attend to; to think of with gratitude, affection, respect, or any other emotion., To put in mind; to remind; — also used reflexively and impersonally., To mention., To recall to the mind of another, as in the friendly messages, remember me to him, he wishes to be remembered to you, etc., To execise or have the power of memory; as, some remember better than others.
remenant noun A remnant.
remercie verb t. Alt. of Remercy
remiform adjective Shaped like an oar.
reminder noun One who, or that which, reminds; that which serves to awaken remembrance.
remising present participle & vb. noun of Remise
remissly adverb In a remiss or negligent manner; carelessly.
remitted imp. & past participle of Remit
remittal noun A remitting; a giving up; surrender; as, the remittal of the first fruits.
remittee noun One to whom a remittance is sent.
remitter noun One who remits., One who pardons., One who makes remittance., The sending or placing back of a person to a title or right he had before; the restitution of one who obtains possession of property under a defective title, to his rights under some valid title by virtue of which he might legally have entered into possession only by suit.
remittor noun One who makes a remittance; a remitter.
remodify verb t. To modify again or anew; to reshape.
remolade noun Alt. of Remoulad
remoulad noun A kind of piquant sauce or salad dressing resembling mayonnaise.
remorate verb t. To hinder; to delay.
remorsed adjective Feeling remorse.
remotion noun The act of removing; removal., The state of being remote; remoteness.
removing present participle & vb. noun of Remove
remuable adjective That may be removed; removable.
remurmur verb t. & i. To murmur again; to utter back, or reply, in murmurs.
rendered imp. & past participle of Render
renderer noun One who renders., A vessel in which lard or tallow, etc., is rendered.
rendible adjective Capable of being rent or torn., Capable, or admitting, of being rendered.
rendrock noun A kind of dynamite used in blasting.
renegade noun One faithless to principle or party., An apostate from Christianity or from any form of religious faith., One who deserts from a military or naval post; a deserter., A common vagabond; a worthless or wicked fellow.
renegado noun See Renegade.
renewing present participle & vb. noun of Renew
reniform adjective Having the form or shape of a kidney; as, a reniform mineral; a reniform leaf.
renitent adjective Resisting pressure or the effect of it; acting against impulse by elastic force., Persistently opposed.
renneted adjective Provided or treated with rennet.
renounce verb t. To declare against; to reject or decline formally; to refuse to own or acknowledge as belonging to one; to disclaim; as, to renounce a title to land or to a throne., To cast off or reject deliberately; to disown; to dismiss; to forswear., To disclaim having a card of (the suit led) by playing a card of another suit., To make renunciation., To decline formally, as an executor or a person entitled to letters of administration, to take out probate or letters., Act of renouncing.
renovate verb t. To make over again; to restore to freshness or vigor; to renew.
renowmed adjective Renowned.
renowned adjective Famous; celebrated for great achievements, for distinguished qualities, or for grandeur; eminent; as, a renowned king.
renowner noun One who gives renown.
rentable adjective Capable of being rented, or suitable for renting.
rentered imp. & past participle of Renter
renterer noun One who renters.
renverse verb t. To reverse., Alt. of Renverse, Reversed; set with the head downward; turned contrary to the natural position.
reobtain verb t. To obtain again.
reoccupy verb t. To occupy again.
reometer noun Same as Rheometer.
reoppose verb t. To oppose again.
reordain verb t. To ordain again, as when the first ordination is considered defective.
reorient adjective Rising again.
reotrope noun See Rheotrope.
repacify verb t. To pacify again.
repacker noun One who repacks.
repaired imp. & past participle of Repair
repairer noun One who, or that which, repairs, restores, or makes amends.
repartee noun A smart, ready, and witty reply., To make smart and witty replies.
repaster noun One who takes a repast.
repaying present participle & vb. noun of Repay
repealed imp. & past participle of Repeal
repealer noun One who repeals; one who seeks a repeal; specifically, an advocate for the repeal of the Articles of Union between Great Britain and Ireland.
repeated imp. & past participle of Repeat
repeater noun One who, or that which, repeats., A watch with a striking apparatus which, upon pressure of a spring, will indicate the time, usually in hours and quarters., A repeating firearm., An instrument for resending a telegraphic message automatically at an intermediate point., A person who votes more than once at an election., See Circulating decimal, under Decimal., A pennant used to indicate that a certain flag in a hoist of signal is duplicated.
repelled imp. & past participle of Repel
repeller noun One who, or that which, repels.
repented imp. & past participle of Repent
repenter noun One who repents.
repeople verb t. To people anew.
reperuse verb t. To peruse again.
repetend noun That part of a circulating decimal which recurs continually, ad infinitum: — sometimes indicated by a dot over the first and last figures; thus, in the circulating decimal .728328328 + (otherwise .7/8/), the repetend is 283.
replevin noun A personal action which lies to recover possession of goods and chattle wrongfully taken or detained. Originally, it was a remedy peculiar to cases for wrongful distress, but it may generally now be brought in all cases of wrongful taking or detention., The writ by which goods and chattels are replevied., To replevy.
replying present participle & vb. noun of Reply
repolish verb t. To polish again.
reported imp. & past participle of Report
reporter noun One who reports., An officer or person who makes authorized statements of law proceedings and decisions, or of legislative debates., One who reports speeches, the proceedings of public meetings, news, etc., for the newspapers.
reposing present participle & vb. noun of Repose
reposure noun Rest; quiet.
repousse adjective Formed in relief, as a pattern on metal., Ornamented with patterns in relief made by pressing or hammering on the reverse side; — said of thin metal, or of a vessel made of thin metal., Repousse work.
repriefe noun Repreve.
reprieve verb t. To delay the punishment of; to suspend the execution of sentence on; to give a respite to; to respite; as, to reprieve a criminal for thirty days., To relieve for a time, or temporarily., A temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence, especially of a sentence of death., Interval of ease or relief; respite.
reprimer noun A machine or implement for applying fresh primers to spent cartridge shells, so that the shells be used again.
reprisal noun The act of taking from an enemy by way of reteliation or indemnity., Anything taken from an enemy in retaliation., The act of retorting on an enemy by inflicting suffering or death on a prisoner taken from him, in retaliation for an act of inhumanity., Any act of retaliation.
reprizes noun pl. See Reprise, n., 2.
reproach verb t. To come back to, or come home to, as a matter of blame; to bring shame or disgrace upon; to disgrace., To attribute blame to; to allege something disgraceful against; to charge with a fault; to censure severely or contemptuously; to upbraid., The act of reproaching; censure mingled with contempt; contumelious or opprobrious language toward any person; abusive reflections; as, severe reproach., A cause of blame or censure; shame; disgrace., An object of blame, censure, scorn, or derision.
reproved imp. & past participle of Reprove
reprover noun One who, or that which, reproves.
reptilia noun pl. A class of air-breathing oviparous vertebrates, usually covered with scales or bony plates. The heart generally has two auricles and one ventricle. The development of the young is the same as that of birds.
republic adjective Common weal., A state in which the sovereign power resides in the whole body of the people, and is exercised by representatives elected by them; a commonwealth. Cf. Democracy, 2.
repugner noun One who repugns.
repulsed imp. & past participle of Repulse
repulser noun One who repulses, or drives back.
repurify verb t. To purify again.
reputing present participle & vb. noun of Repute
required imp. & past participle of Require
requirer noun One who requires.
requital noun The act of requiting; also, that which requites; return, good or bad, for anything done; in a good sense, compensation; recompense; as, the requital of services; in a bad sense, retaliation, or punishment; as, the requital of evil deeds.
requited imp. & past participle of Requite
requiter noun One who requites.
rerefief noun A fief held of a superior feudatory; a fief held by an under tenant.
rereward noun The rear guard of an army.
resalgar noun Realgar.
resalute verb t. To salute again.
rescribe verb t. To write back; to write in reply., To write over again.
rescript verb t. The answer of an emperor when formallyconsulted by particular persons on some difficult question; hence, an edict or decree., The official written answer of the pope upon a question of canon law, or morals., A counterpart.
rescuing present participle & vb. noun of Rescue
research noun Diligent inquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles; laborious or continued search after truth; as, researches of human wisdom., To search or examine with continued care; to seek diligently.
resected imp. & past participle of Resect
reseizer noun One who seizes again., The taking of lands into the hands of the king where a general livery, or oustre le main, was formerly mis-sued, contrary to the form and order of law.
resemble verb t. To be like or similar to; to bear the similitude of, either in appearance or qualities; as, these brothers resemble each other., To liken; to compare; to represent as like., To counterfeit; to imitate., To cause to imitate or be like.
resented imp. & past participle of Resent
resenter noun One who resents.
reserate verb t. To unlock; to open.
reserved imp. & past participle of Reserve, Kept for future or special use, or for an exigency; as, reserved troops; a reserved seat in a theater., Restrained from freedom in words or actions; backward, or cautious, in communicating one’s thoughts and feelings; not free or frank.
reservee noun One to, or for, whom anything is reserved; — contrasted with reservor.
reserver noun One who reserves.
reservor noun One who reserves; a reserver.
resetter noun One who receives or conceals, as stolen goods or criminal., One who resets, or sets again.
resettle verb t. To settle again., To settle again, or a second time.
resiance noun Residence; abode.
residing present participle & vb. noun of Reside
resident adjective Dwelling, or having an abode, in a place for a continued length of time; residing on one’s own estate; — opposed to nonresident; as, resident in the city or in the country., Fixed; stable; certain., One who resides or dwells in a place for some time., A diplomatic representative who resides at a foreign court; — a term usualy applied to ministers of a rank inferior to that of ambassadors. See the Note under Minister, 4.
residual adjective Pertaining to a residue; remaining after a part is taken., The difference of the results obtained by observation, and by computation from a formula., The difference between the mean of several observations and any one of them.
residuum noun That which is left after any process of separation or purification; that which remains after certain specified deductions are made; residue.
resigned imp. & past participle of Resign, Submissive; yielding; not disposed to resist or murmur.
resignee noun One to whom anything is resigned, or in whose favor a resignation is made.
resigner noun One who resigns.
resiling present participle & vb. noun of Resile
resinate noun Any one of the salts the resinic acids.
resinoid adjective Somewhat like resin.
resinous adjective Of or pertaining to resin; of the nature of resin; resembling or obtained from resin.
resisted imp. & past participle of Resist
resister noun One who resists.
resolute verb t. & i. Having a decided purpose; determined; resolved; fixed in a determination; hence, bold; firm; steady., Convinced; satisfied; sure., Resolving, or explaining; as, the Resolute Doctor Durand., One who is resolute; hence, a desperado., Redelivery; repayment.
resolved imp. & past participle of Resolve, Having a fixed purpose; determined; resolute; — usually placed after its noun; as, a man resolved to be rich.
resolver noun That which decomposes, or dissolves., That which clears up and removes difficulties, and makes the mind certain or determined., One who resolves, or formal a firm purpose.
resonant adjective Returning, or capable of returning, sound; fitted to resound; resounding; echoing back.
resorcin noun A colorless crystalline substance of the phenol series, obtained by melting certain resins, as galbanum, asafetida, etc., with caustic potash. It is also produced artificially and used in making certain dyestuffs, as phthalein, fluorescein, and eosin.
resorted imp. & past participle of Resort
resorter noun One who resorts; a frequenter.
re-sound verb t. & i. To sound again or anew.
resource noun That to which one resorts orr on which one depends for supply or support; means of overcoming a difficulty; resort; expedient., Pecuniary means; funds; money, or any property that can be converted into supplies; available means or capabilities of any kind.
resperse verb t. To sprinkle; to scatter.
respired imp. & past participle of Respire
respited imp. & past participle of Respite
response noun The act of responding., An answer or reply., Reply to an objection in formal disputation., The answer of the people or congregation to the priest or clergyman, in the litany and other parts of divine service., A kind of anthem sung after the lessons of matins and some other parts of the office., A repetition of the given subject in a fugue by another part on the fifth above or fourth below.
restless adjective Never resting; unquiet; uneasy; continually moving; as, a restless child., Not satisfied to be at rest or in peace; averse to repose or quiet; eager for change; discontented; as, restless schemers; restless ambition; restless subjects., Deprived of rest or sleep., Passed in unquietness; as, the patient has had a restless night., Not affording rest; as, a restless chair.
restoral noun Restoration.
re-store verb t. To store again; as, the goods taken out were re-stored.
restored imp. & past participle of Restore
restorer noun One who, or that which, restores.
restrain verb t. To draw back again; to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force, or by any interposing obstacle; to repress or suppress; to keep down; to curb., To draw back toghtly, as a rein., To hinder from unlimited enjoiment; to abridge., To limit; to confine; to restrict., To withhold; to forbear.
restrict adjective Restricted., To restrain within bounds; to limit; to confine; as, to restrict worlds to a particular meaning; to restrict a patient to a certain diet.
restrive verb i. To strive anew.
resulted imp. & past participle of Result
resuming present participle & vb. noun of Resume
resummon verb t. To summon again.
resupine adjective Lying on the back; supine; hence, careless.
resupply verb t. To supply again.
resurvey verb t. To survey again or anew; to review., A second or new survey.
retailed imp. & past participle of Retail
retailer noun One who retails anything; as, a retailer of merchandise; a retailer of gossip.
retained imp. & past participle of Retain
retainal noun The act of retaining; retention.
retainer noun One who, or that which, retains., One who is retained or kept in service; an attendant; an adherent; a hanger-on., Hence, a servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master’s livery., The act of a client by which he engages a lawyer or counselor to manage his cause., The act of withholding what one has in his hands by virtue of some right., A fee paid to engage a lawyer or counselor to maintain a cause, or to prevent his being employed by the opposing party in the case; — called also retaining fee., The act of keeping dependents, or the state of being in dependence.
retarded imp. & past participle of Retard
retarder noun One who, or that which, retards.
retching present participle & vb. noun of Retch
retentor noun A muscle which serves to retain an organ or part in place, esp. when retracted. See Illust. of Phylactolemata.
retepore noun Any one of several species of bryozoans of the genus Retepora. They form delicate calcareous corals, usually composed of thin fenestrated fronds.
reticent adjective Inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative.
reticule noun. A little bag, originally of network; a woman’s workbag, or a little bag to be carried in the hand., A system of wires or lines in the focus of a telescope or other instrument; a reticle.
reticula plural of Reticulum
retiform adjective Composed of crossing lines and interstices; reticular; netlike; as, the retiform coat of the eye.
retineum noun That part of the eye of an invertebrate which corresponds in function with the retina of a vertebrate.
retinite noun An inflammable mineral resin, usually of a yellowish brown color, found in roundish masses, sometimes with coal.
retinoid adjective Resinlike, or resinform; resembling a resin without being such.
retinula noun One of the group of pigmented cells which surround the retinophorae of invertebrates. See Illust. under Ommatidium.
retiracy noun Retirement; — mostly used in a jocose or burlesque way.
retirade noun A kind of retrenchment, as in the body of a bastion, which may be disputed inch by inch after the defenses are dismantled. It usually consists of two faces which make a reentering angle.
retiring present participle & vb. noun of Retire, Reserved; shy; not forward or obtrusive; as, retiring modesty; retiring manners., Of or pertaining to retirement; causing retirement; suited to, or belonging to, retirement.
retorted imp. & past participle of Retort
retorter noun One who retorts.
retraict noun Retreat.
retraxit noun The withdrawing, or open renunciation, of a suit in court by the plaintiff, by which he forever lost his right of action.
retrench verb t. To cut off; to pare away., To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses., To confine; to limit; to restrict., To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench bastions., To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.
retrieve verb t. To find again; to recover; to regain; to restore from loss or injury; as, to retrieve one’s character; to retrieve independence., To recall; to bring back., To remedy the evil consequence of, to repair, as a loss or damadge., To discover and bring in game that has been killed or wounded; as, a dog naturally inclined to retrieve., A seeking again; a discovery., The recovery of game once sprung; — an old sporting term.
retroact verb i. To act backward, or in return; to act in opposition; to be retrospective.
retrorse adjective Bent backward or downward.
retruded imp. & past participle of Retrude
returned imp. & past participle of Return
returner noun One who returns.
revealed imp. & past participle of Reveal
revealer noun One who, or that which, reveals.
reveille noun The beat of drum, or bugle blast, about break of day, to give notice that it is time for the soldiers to rise, and for the sentinels to forbear challenging.
revelled of Revel
reveling present participle & vb. noun of Revel
revelate verb t. To reveal.
revelous adjective Fond of festivity; given to merrymaking or reveling.
revenged imp. & past participle of Revenge
revenger noun One who revenges.
revering present participle & vb. noun of Revere
reverend adjective Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; venerable.
reverent adjective Disposed to revere; impressed with reverence; submissive; humble; respectful; as, reverent disciples., Expressing reverence, veneration, devotion, or submission; as, reverent words; reverent behavior.
reveries plural of Revery
reversal adjective Intended to reverse; implying reversal., The act of reversing; the causing to move or face in an opposite direction, or to stand or lie in an inverted position; as, the reversal of a rotating wheel; the reversal of objects by a convex lens., A change or overthrowing; as, the reversal of a judgment, which amounts to an official declaration that it is false; the reversal of an attainder, or of an outlawry, by which the sentence is rendered void.
reversed imp. & past participle of Reverse, Turned side for side, or end for end; changed to the contrary; specifically (Bot. & Zool.), sinistrorse or sinistral; as, a reversed, or sinistral, spiral or shell., Annulled and the contrary substituted; as, a reversed judgment or decree.
reverser noun One who reverses.
reversis noun A certain game at cards.
reverted imp. & past participle of Revert, Turned back; reversed. Specifically: (Her.) Bent or curved twice, in opposite directions, or in the form of an S.
reverter noun One who, or that which, reverts., Reversion.
revestry noun Same as Revestiary.
revetted imp. & past participle of Revet
review/d imp. & past participle of Review
reviewal noun A review.
reviewer noun One who reviews or reexamines; an inspector; one who examines publications critically, and publishes his opinion upon their merits; a professional critic of books.
reviling present participle & vb. noun of Revile, Reproach; abuse; vilification., Uttering reproaches; containing reproaches.
revising present participle & vb. noun of Revise
revision noun The act of revising; reexamination for correction; review; as, the revision of a book or writing, or of a proof sheet; a revision of statutes., That which is made by revising.
revisory adjective Having the power or purpose to revise; revising.
reviving present participle & vb. noun of Revive, Returning or restoring to life or vigor; reanimating.
revivify verb t. To cause to revive.
revocate verb t. To recall; to call back.
revoking present participle & vb. noun of Revoke
revolted imp. & past participle of Revolt
revolter noun One who revolts.
revolute adjective Rolled backward or downward.
revolved imp. & past participle of Revolve
revolver noun One who, or that which, revolves; specifically, a firearm ( commonly a pistol) with several chambers or barrels so arranged as to revolve on an axis, and be discharged in succession by the same lock; a repeater.
rewarded imp. & past participle of Reward
rewarder noun One who rewards.
rhabdite noun A minute smooth rodlike or fusiform structure found in the tissues of many Turbellaria., One of the hard parts forming the ovipositor of insects.
rhamadan noun See Ramadan.
rhapsode noun A rhapsodist.
rhapsody noun A recitation or song of a rhapsodist; a portion of an epic poem adapted for recitation, or usually recited, at one time; hence, a division of the Iliad or the Odyssey; — called also a book., A disconnected series of sentences or statements composed under excitement, and without dependence or natural connection; rambling composition., A composition irregular in form, like an improvisation; as, Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsodies.”
rhatanhy noun The powerfully astringent root of a half-shrubby Peruvian plant (Krameria triandra). It is used in medicine and to color port wine.
rhematic adjective Having a verb for its base; derived from a verb; as, rhematic adjectives., The doctrine of propositions or sentences.
rheostat noun A contrivance for adjusting or regulating the strength of electrical currents, operating usually by the intercalation of resistance which can be varied at will.
rheotome noun An instrument which periodically or otherwise interrupts an electric current.
rhetoric noun The art of composition; especially, elegant composition in prose., Oratory; the art of speaking with propriety, elegance, and force., Hence, artificial eloquence; fine language or declamation without conviction or earnest feeling., Fig. : The power of persuasion or attraction; that which allures or charms.
rhinitis noun Infllammation of the nose; esp., inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nostrils.
rhizogan adjective Prodicing roots.
rhizogen noun One of a proposed class of flowering plants growning on the roots of other plants and destitute of green foliage.
rhizopod noun One of the Rhizopoda.
rhodanic adjective Pertaining to, or designating, an acid (commonly called sulphocyanic acid) which frms a red color with ferric salts.
rhomboid noun An oblique-angled parallelogram like a rhomb, but having only the opposite sides equal, the length and with being different., Same as Rhomboidal.
rhonchal adjective Rhonchial.
rhonchus noun An adventitious whistling or snoring sound heard on auscultation of the chest when the air channels are partially obstructed. By some writers the term rhonchus is used as equivalent to rale in its widest sense. See Rale.
rhopalic adjective Applied to a line or verse in which each successive word has one more syllable than the preceding.
rhopalia plural of Rhopalium
rhubarby adjective Like rhubarb.
rhyolite noun A quartzose trachyte, an igneous rock often showing a fluidal structure.
rhythmer noun One who writes in rhythm, esp. in poetic rhythm or meter.
rhythmic adjective Alt. of Rhythmical
rhythmus noun Rhythm.
ribaldry noun The talk of a ribald; low, vulgar language; indecency; obscenity; lewdness; — now chiefly applied to indecent language, but formerly, as by Chaucer, also to indecent acts or conduct.
ribanded adjective Ribboned.
ribaudry noun Ribaldry.
ribboned imp. & past participle of Ribbon
ribroast verb t. To beat soundly.
ricebird noun The Java sparrow., The bobolink.
richesse noun Wealth; riches. See the Note under Riches.
richness noun The quality or state of being rich (in any sense of the adjective).
richweed noun An herb (Pilea pumila) of the Nettle family, having a smooth, juicy, pellucid stem; — called also clearweed.
ricinine noun A bitter white crystalline alkaloid extracted from the seeds of the castor-oil plant.
rickrack noun A kind of openwork edging made of serpentine braid.
ricochet noun A rebound or skipping, as of a ball along the ground when a gun is fired at a low angle of elevation, or of a fiat stone thrown along the surface of water., To operate upon by ricochet firing. See Ricochet, n., To skip with a rebound or rebounds, as a flat stone on the surface of water, or a cannon ball on the ground. See Ricochet, n.
riddance noun The act of ridding or freeing; deliverance; a cleaning up or out., The state of being rid or free; freedom; escape.
riddling present participle & vb. noun of Riddle, Speaking in a riddle or riddles; containing a riddle.
ridgelet noun A little ridge.
ridicule noun An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter., Remarks concerning a subject or a person designed to excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making a person an object of laughter; banter; — a term lighter than derision., Quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness., To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting., Ridiculous.
riffraff noun Sweepings; refuse; the lowest order of society.
rifleman plural of Rifleman, A soldier armed with a rifle.
rigadoon noun A gay, lively dance for one couple, — said to have been borrowed from Provence in France.
riga fir A species of pine (Pinus sylvestris), and its wood, which affords a valuable timber; — called also Scotch pine, and red / yellow deal. It grows in all parts of Europe, in the Caucasus, and in Siberia.
rigarion noun See Irrigation.
righting present participle & vb. noun of Right
rightful adjective Righteous; upright; just; good; — said of persons., Consonant to justice; just; as, a rightful cause., Having the right or just claim according to established laws; being or holding by right; as, the rightful heir to a throne or an estate; a rightful king., Belonging, held, or possessed by right, or by just claim; as, a rightful inheritance; rightful authority.
rigidity noun The quality or state of being rigid; want of pliability; the quality of resisting change of form; the amount of resistance with which a body opposes change of form; — opposed to flexibility, ductility, malleability, and softness., Stiffness of appearance or manner; want of ease or elegance., Severity; rigor.
rigorism noun Rigidity in principle or practice; strictness; — opposed to laxity., Severity, as of style, or the like.
rigorist noun One who is rigorous; — sometimes applied to an extreme Jansenist.
rigorous adjective Manifesting, exercising, or favoring rigor; allowing no abatement or mitigation; scrupulously accurate; exact; strict; severe; relentless; as, a rigorous officer of justice; a rigorous execution of law; a rigorous definition or demonstration., Severe; intense; inclement; as, a rigorous winter., Violent.
rig-veda See Veda.
rimosely adverb In a rimose manner.
rimosity noun State of being rimose.
rimpling present participle & vb. noun of Rimple
rindless adjective Destitute of a rind.
ringbill noun The ring-necked scaup duck; — called also ring-billed blackhead. See Scaup.
ringbird noun The reed bunting. It has a collar of white feathers. Called also ring bunting.
ringbolt noun An eyebolt having a ring through the eye.
ringbone noun A morbid growth or deposit of bony matter between or on the small pastern and the great pastern bones.
ringdove noun A European wild pigeon (Columba palumbus) having a white crescent on each side of the neck, whence the name. Called also wood pigeon, and cushat.
ringhead noun An instrument used for stretching woolen cloth.
ringneck noun Any one of several species of small plovers of the genus Aegialitis, having a ring around the neck. The ring is black in summer, but becomes brown or gray in winter. The semipalmated plover (Ae. semipalmata) and the piping plover (Ae. meloda) are common North American species. Called also ring plover, and ring-necked plover., The ring-necked duck.
ringsail noun See Ringtail, 2.
ringtail noun A bird having a distinct band of color across the tail, as the hen harrier., A light sail set abaft and beyong the leech of a boom-and-gaff sail; — called also ringsail.
ringtoss noun A game in which the object is to toss a ring so that it will catch upon an upright stick.
ringworm noun A contagious affection of the skin due to the presence of a vegetable parasite, and forming ring-shaped discolored patches covered with vesicles or powdery scales. It occurs either on the body, the face, or the scalp. Different varieties are distinguished as Tinea circinata, Tinea tonsurans, etc., but all are caused by the same parasite (a species of Trichophyton).
riparian adjective Of or pertaining to the bank of a river; as, riparian rights.
ripening present participle & vb. noun of Ripen
ripeness noun The state or quality of being ripe; maturity;; completeness; perfection; as, the ripeness of grain; ripeness of manhood; ripeness of judgment.
rippling present participle & vb. noun of Ripple
riptowel noun A gratuity given to tenants after they had reaped their lord’s corn.
risorial adjective Pertaining to, or producing, laughter; as, the risorial muscles.
ritenuto adjective Held back; holding back; ritardando.
ritratto noun A picture.
ritually adverb By rites, or by a particular rite.
rivalled of Rival
rivaling present participle & vb. noun of Rival
rivaless noun A female rival.
rivality noun Rivalry; competition., Equality, as of right or rank.
riveling present participle & vb. noun of Rivel
riveting present participle & vb. noun of Rivet, The act of joining with rivets; the act of spreading out and clinching the end, as of a rivet, by beating or pressing., The whole set of rivets, collectively.
rixation noun A brawl or quarrel.
rixatrix noun A scolding or quarrelsome woman; a scold.
rixdaler noun A Dutch silver coin, worth about $1.00.
roadless adjective Destitute of roads.
roadside noun Land adjoining a road or highway; the part of a road or highway that borders the traveled part. Also used ajectively.
roadster noun A clumsy vessel that works its way from one anchorage to another by means of the tides., A horse that is accustomed to traveling on the high road, or is suitable for use on ordinary roads., A bicycle or tricycle adapted for common roads rather than for the racing track., One who drives much; a coach driver., A hunter who keeps to the roads instead of following the hounds across country.
roasting present participle & vb. noun of Roast, a. & n., from Roast, v.
roborant adjective Strengthening., A strengthening medicine; a tonic.
roborate verb t. To give strength or support to; to confirm.
roborean adjective Alt. of Roboreous
robustly adverb In a robust manner.
rochelle noun A seaport town in France.
rockaway Formerly, a light, low, four-wheeled carriage, with standing top, open at the sides, but having waterproof curtains which could be let down when occasion required; now, a somewhat similar, but heavier, carriage, inclosed, except in front, and having a door at each side.
rockelay noun Alt. of Rocklay
rockered adjective Shaped like a rocker; curved; as, a rockered keel.
rocketed imp. & past participle of Rocket
rocketer noun A bird, especially a pheasant, which, being flushed, rises straight in the air like a rocket.
rockfish noun Any one of several California scorpaenoid food fishes of the genus Sebastichthys, as the red rockfish (S. ruber). They are among the most important of California market fishes. Called also rock cod, and garrupa., The striped bass. See Bass., Any one of several species of Florida and Bermuda groupers of the genus Epinephelus., An American fresh-water darter; the log perch.
rockless adjective Being without rocks.
rockling noun Any species of small marine fishes of the genera Onos and Rhinonemus (formerly Motella), allied to the cod. They have three or four barbels.
rockrose noun A name given to any species of the genus Helianthemum, low shrubs or herbs with yellow flowers, especially the European H. vulgare and the American frostweed, H. Canadense.
rockweed noun Any coarse seaweed growing on sea-washed rocks, especially Fucus.
rockwood noun Ligniform asbestus; also, fossil wood.
rockwork noun Stonework in which the surface is left broken and rough., A rockery.
rodentia adjective An order of mammals having two (rarely four) large incisor teeth in each jaw, distant from the molar teeth. The rats, squirrels, rabbits, marmots, and beavers belong to this order.
rodomont noun A vain or blustering boaster; a braggart; a braggadocio., Bragging; vainly boasting.
roestone noun Same as Oolite.
rogation noun The demand, by the consuls or tribunes, of a law to be passed by the people; a proposed law or decree., Litany; supplication.
rogatory adjective Seeking information; authorized to examine witnesses or ascertain facts; as, a rogatory commission.
rollable adjective Capable of being rolled.
romanced imp. & past participle of Romance
romancer noun One who romances.
romanish adjective Pertaining to Romanism.
romanism noun The tenets of the Church of Rome; the Roman Catholic religion.
romanist noun One who adheres to Romanism.
romanize verb t. To Latinize; to fill with Latin words or idioms., To convert to the Roman Catholic religion., To use Latin words and idioms., To conform to Roman Catholic opinions, customs, or modes of speech.
romansch noun The language of the Grisons in Switzerland, a corruption of the Latin.
romantic adjective Of or pertaining to romance; involving or resembling romance; hence, fanciful; marvelous; extravagant; unreal; as, a romantic tale; a romantic notion; a romantic undertaking., Entertaining ideas and expectations suited to a romance; as, a romantic person; a romantic mind., Of or pertaining to the style of the Christian and popular literature of the Middle Ages, as opposed to the classical antique; of the nature of, or appropriate to, that style; as, the romantic school of poets., Characterized by strangeness or variety; suggestive of adventure; suited to romance; wild; picturesque; — applied to scenery; as, a romantic landscape.
romeward adverb Toward Rome, or toward the Roman Catholic Church., Tending or directed toward Rome, or toward the Roman Catholic Church.
roncador noun Any one of several species of California sciaenoid food fishes, especially Roncador Stearnsi, which is an excellent market fish, and the red roncador (Corvina, / Johnius, saturna).
rondache noun A circular shield carried by foot soldiers.
roodebok noun The pallah.
roofless adjective Having no roof; as, a roofless house., Having no house or home; shelterless; homeless.
rooftree noun The beam in the angle of a roof; hence, the roof itself.
roomfuls plural of Roomful
roomless adjective Being without room or rooms.
roommate noun One of twe or more occupying the same room or rooms; one who shares the occupancy of a room or rooms; a chum.
roomsome adjective Roomy.
roorback noun Alt. of Roorbach
roorbach noun A defamatory forgery or falsehood published for purposes of political intrigue.
roosting present participle & vb. noun of Roost
rootless adjective Destitute of roots.
ropeband noun A small piece of spun yarn or marline, used to fasten the head of the sail to the spar.
ropewalk adjective A long, covered walk, or a low, level building, where ropes are manufactured.
ropiness noun Quality of being ropy; viscosity.
roration noun A falling of dew.
rorulent adjective Full of, or abounding in, dew., Having the surface appearing as if dusty, or covered with fine dew.
rosalgar noun realgar.
rosarian noun A cultivator of roses.
rosaries plural of Rosary
rosebush noun The bush or shrub which bears roses.
rose-cut adjective Cut flat on the reverse, and with a convex face formed of triangular facets in rows; — said of diamonds and other precious stones. See Rose diamond, under Rose. Cf. Brilliant, n.
rosedrop noun A lozenge having a rose flavor., A kind of earring., A ruddy eruption upon the nose caused by drinking ardent spirits; a grog blossom.
rosefish noun A large marine scorpaenoid food fish (Sebastes marinus) found on the northern coasts of Europe and America. called also red perch, hemdurgan, Norway haddok, and also, erroneously, snapper, bream, and bergylt.
rosehead noun See Rose, n., 4., A many-sided pyramidal head upon a nail; also a nail with such a head.
roselite noun A hydrous arsenite of cobalt, occuring in small red crystals, allied to erythrite.
rosemary noun A labiate shrub (Rosmarinus officinalis) with narrow grayish leaves, growing native in the southern part of France, Spain, and Italy, also in Asia Minor and in China. It has a fragrant smell, and a warm, pungent, bitterish taste. It is used in cookery, perfumery, etc., and is an emblem of fidelity or constancy.
rose-red adjective Red as a rose; specifically (Zool.), of a pure purplish red color.
roseroot noun A fleshy-leaved herb (Rhodiola rosea); rosewort; — so called because the roots have the odor of roses.
rosewood noun A valuable cabinet wood of a dark red color, streaked and variegated with black, obtained from several tropical leguminous trees of the genera Dalbergia and Machaerium. The finest kind is from Brazil, and is said to be from the Dalbergia nigra.
roseworm noun The larva of any one of several species of lepidopterous insects which feed upon the leaves, buds, or blossoms of the rose, especially Cacaecia rosaceana, which rolls up the leaves for a nest, and devours both the leaves and buds.
rosewort noun Roseroot., Any plant nearly related to the rose.
rosiness noun The quality of being rosy.
rosselly adjective Loose; light.
rostella plural of Rostellum
rostrate adjective Alt. of Rostrated
rostrula plural of Rostrulum
rostrums plural of Rostrum
rosulate adjective Arranged in little roselike clusters; — said of leaves and bracts.
rotacism noun See Rhotacism.
rotalite noun Any fossil foraminifer of the genus Rotalia, abundant in the chalk formation. See Illust. under Rhizopod.
rotating present participle & vb. noun of Rotate
rotation noun The act of turning, as a wheel or a solid body on its axis, as distinguished from the progressive motion of a revolving round another body or a distant point; thus, the daily turning of the earth on its axis is a rotation; its annual motion round the sun is a revolution., Any return or succesion in a series., Pertaining to, or resulting from, rotation; of the nature of, or characterized by, rotation; as, rotational velocity.
rotative adjective turning, as a wheel; rotary; rotational.
rotatory adjective Turning as on an axis; rotary., Going in a circle; following in rotation or succession; as, rotatory assembles., Producing rotation of the plane of polarization; as, the rotatory power of bodies on light. See the Note under polarization., A rotifer.
rotifera noun An order of minute worms which usually have one or two groups of vibrating cilia on the head, which, when in motion, often give an appearance of rapidly revolving wheels. The species are very numerous in fresh waters, and are very diversified in form and habits.
rotiform adjective Wheel-shaped; as, rotiform appendages., Same as Rotate.
roturier noun A person who is not of noble birth; specif., a freeman who during the prevalence of feudalism held allodial land.
roughdry verb t. in laundry work, to dry without smoothing or ironing.
roughhew verb t. To hew coarsely, without smoothing; as, to roughhew timber., To give the first form or shape to; to form rudely; to shape approximately and rudely; to roughcast.
roughish adjective Somewhat rough.
roughleg noun Any one of several species of large hawks of the genus Archibuteo, having the legs feathered to the toes. Called also rough-legged hawk, and rough-legged buzzard.
rouleaux plural of Rouleau
rouleaus plural of Rouleau
roulette noun A game of chance, in which a small ball is made to move round rapidly on a circle divided off into numbered red and black spaces, the one on which it stops indicating the result of a variety of wagers permitted by the game., A small toothed wheel used by engravers to roll over a plate in order to order to produce rows of dots., A similar wheel used to roughen the surface of a plate, as in making alterations in a mezzotint., the curve traced by any point in the plane of a given curve when the latter rolls, without sliding, over another fixed curve. See Cycloid, and Epycycloid.
rounding present participle & vb. noun of Round, Round or nearly round; becoming round; roundish., Small rope, or strands of rope, or spun yarn, wound round a rope to keep it from chafing; — called also service., Modifying a speech sound by contraction of the lip opening; labializing; labialization. See Guide to Pronunciation, / 11.
roundish adjective Somewhat round; as, a roundish seed; a roundish figure.
roundlet noun A little circle.
roundtop noun A top; a platform at a masthead; — so called because formerly round in shape.
round-up noun The act of collecting or gathering together scattered cattle by riding around them and driving them in.
roundure noun Roundness; a round or circle.
rovingly adverb In a wandering manner.
rowdydow noun Hubbub; uproar.
rowdyish adjective Resembling a rowdy in temper or conduct; characteristic of a rowdy.
rowdyism noun the conduct of a rowdy.
rowelled of Rowel
roweling present participle & vb. noun of Rowel
roxburgh noun A style of bookbinding in which the back is plain leather, the sides paper or cloth, the top gilt-edged, but the front and bottom left uncut.
royalism noun the principles or conduct of royalists.
royalist noun An adherent of a king (as of Charles I. in England, or of the Bourbons in france); one attached to monarchical government.
royalize verb t. to make royal.
roytelet noun A little king.
ruba-dub noun The sound of a drum when continuously beaten; hence, a clamorous, repeated sound; a clatter.
rubbidge noun Rubbish.
rubiacin noun A substance found in madder root, and probably identical with ruberythrinic acid.
rubianic adjective pertaining to, or derived from, rubian; specifically, designating an acid called also ruberythrinic acid.
ru bible noun A ribble.
rubicund adjective Inclining to redness; ruddy; red.
rubidine noun A nitrogenous base homologous with pyridine, obtained from coal tar as an oily liquid, C11H17N; also, any one of the group od metameric compounds of which rubidine is the type.
rubidium noun A rare metallic element. It occurs quite widely, but in small quantities, and always combined. It is isolated as a soft yellowish white metal, analogous to potassium in most of its properties. Symbol Rb. Atomic weight, 85.2.
rubiform adjective Having the nature or quality of red; as, the rubiform rays of the sun.
rubrical adjective Colored in, or marked with, red; placed in rubrics., Of or pertaining to the rubric or rubrics.
rubstone noun A stone for scouring or rubbing; a whetstone; a rub.
rubytail noun A European gold wasp (Chrysis ignita) which has the under side of the abdomen bright red, and the other parts deep bluish green with a metallic luster. The larva is parasitic in the nests of other wasps and of bees.
rubywood noun red sandalwood. See under Sandalwood.
ruderary adjective Of or pertaining to rubbish..
rudiment noun That which is unformed or undeveloped; the principle which lies at the bottom of any development; an unfinished beginning., Hence, an element or first principle of any art or science; a beginning of any knowledge; a first step., An imperfect organ or part, or one which is never developed., To furnish with first principles or rules; to insrtuct in the rudiments.
rudistes noun pl. An extinct order or suborder of bivalve mollusks characteristic of the Cretaceous period; — called also Rudista. See Illust. under Hippurite.
ruffling present participle & vb. noun of Ruffle
rufiopin noun A yellowish red crystalline substance related to anthracene, and obtained from opianic acid.
rugosity noun The quality or state of being rugose.
rugulose adjective Somewhat rugose.
ruinable adjective Capable of being ruined.
ruleless adjective Destitute of rule; lawless.
rulingly adverb In a ruling manner; so as to rule.
rumbling a. & n. from Rumble, v. i.
ruminant adjective Chewing the cud; characterized by chewing again what has been swallowed; of or pertaining to the Ruminantia., A ruminant animal; one of the Ruminantia.
ruminate verb i. To chew the cud; to chew again what has been slightly chewed and swallowed., To think again and again; to muse; to meditate; to ponder; to reflect., To chew over again., To meditate or ponder over; to muse on., Alt. of Ruminated
rummaged imp. & past participle of Rummage
rummager noun One who rummages., A person on shipboard whose business was to take charge of stowing the cargo; — formerly written roomager, and romager.
rumoring present participle & vb. noun of Rumor
rumorous adjective Of or pertaining to a rumor; of the nature of rumors., Famous; notorious., Murmuring.
rump-fed adjective A Shakespearean word of uncertain meaning. Perhaps “fattened in the rump, pampered.”
rumpling present participle & vb. noun of Rumple
rumpless adjective Destitute of a rump.
runagate noun A fugitive; a vagabond; an apostate; a renegade. See Renegade.
runghead noun The upper end of a floor timber in a ship.
runology noun The science of runes.
runround noun A felon or whitlow.
rupicola noun A genus of beautiful South American passerine birds, including the cock of the rock.
ruptuary noun One not of noble blood; a plebeian; a roturier.
ruptured imp. & past participle of Rupture, Having a rupture, or hernia.
ruralism noun The quality or state of being rural; ruralness., A rural idiom or expression.
ruralist noun One who leads a rural life.
rurality noun The quality or state of being rural., A rural place.
ruralize verb t. To render rural; to give a rural appearance to., To become rural; to go into the country; to rusticate.
rushlike adjective Resembling a rush; weak.
rustical adjective Rustic.
rusticly adverb In a rustic manner; rustically.
rustling present participle & vb. noun of Rustle
rustless adjective Free from rust.
ruthenic adjective Pertaining to, or containing, ruthenium; specifically, designating those compounds in which it has a higher valence as contrasted with ruthenious compounds.
ruthless adjective Having no ruth; cruel; pitiless.
rutilant adjective Having a reddish glow; shining.
rutilate verb i. To shine; to emit rays of light.
rutilian noun Any species of lamellicorn beetles belonging to Rutila and allied genera, as the spotted grapevine beetle (Pelidnota punctata).
rutylene noun A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H18, of the acetylene series. It is produced artificially.