Chapter 1265

Ra`ti*oc"i*na"tion (?) , n. [L. ratiocinatio : cf. F. ratiocination .] The process of reasoning, or deducing conclusions from premises; deductive reasoning.

Ratiocinative <Xpage=1191>

Ra`ti*oc"i*na*tive (?) , a. [L. ratiocinativus .] Characterized by, or addicted to, ratiocination; consisting in the comparison of proportions or facts, and the deduction of inferences from the comparison; argumentative; as, a ratiocinative process .

The ratiocinative meditativeness of his character. Coleridge.

Ratiocinatory <Xpage=1191>

Ra`ti*oc"i*na*to*ry (?) , a. Ratiocinative. [R.]

Ration <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion (?) , n. [F., fr. L. ratio a reckoning, calculation, relation, reference, LL. ratio ration. See Ratio .] 1. A fixed daily allowance of provisions assigned to a soldier in the army, or a sailor in the navy, for his subsistence.

&hand; Officers have several rations, the number varying according to their rank or the number of their attendants.

2. Hence, a certain portion or fixed amount dealt out; an allowance; an allotment.

Ration <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion , v. t. To supply with rations, as a regiment.

Rational <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion*al (?) , a. [L. rationalis : cf. F. rationnel . See Ratio , Reason , and cf. Rationale .] 1. Relating to reason; not physical; mental.

Moral philosophy was his chiefest end; for the rational , the natural, and mathematics . . . were but simple pastimes in comparison of the other. Sir T. North.

2. Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with reason or understanding; reasoning.

It is our glory and happiness to have a rational nature. Law.

3. Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous, extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise; judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man.

4. (Chem.) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; -- said of formul\'91. See under Formula .

Rational horizon . (Astron.) See Horizon , 2 (b) . -- Rational quantity (Alg. ) , one that can be expressed without the use of a radical sign, or in extract parts of unity; -- opposed to irrational or radical quantity . -- Rational symptom (Med.) , one elicited by the statements of the patient himself and not as the result of a physical examination. <-- rational drug design. -->

Syn. -- Sane; sound; intelligent; reasonable; sensible; wise; discreet; judicious. -- Rational , reasonable . Rational has reference to reason as a faculty of the mind, and is opposed to traditional; as, a rational being, a rational state of mind, rational views, etc . In these cases the speculative reason is more particularly, referred to. Reasonable has reference to the exercise of this faculty for practical purposes, and means, governed or directed by reason; as, reasonable prospect of success .

What higher in her society thou find'st Attractive, human, rational , love still. Milton.

A law may be reasonable in itself, although a man does not allow it, or does not know the reason of the lawgivers. Swift.

Rational <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion*al , n. A rational being.

Young.

Rationale <Xpage=1191>

Ra`tion*a"le (?) , n. [L. rationalis , neut. rationale . See Rational , a. ] An explanation or exposition of the principles of some opinion, action, hypothesis, phenomenon, or like; also, the principles themselves.

Rationalism <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion*al*ism (?) , n. [Cf. F. rationalisme .] 1. (Theol.) The doctrine or system of those who deduce their religious opinions from reason or the understanding, as distinct from, or opposed to, revelation.

2. (Philos.) The system that makes rational power the ultimate test of truth; -- opposed to sensualism , or sensationalism , and empiricism .

Fleming.

Rationalist <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion*al*ist , n. [Cf. F. rationaliste .] One who accepts rationalism as a theory or system; also, disparagingly, a false reasoner. See Citation under Reasonist .

Rationalistic, Rationalistical <Xpage=1191>

Ra`tion*al*is"tic (?) , Ra`tion*al*is"tic*al (?) a. Belonging to, or in accordance with, the principles of rationalism. -- Ra`tion*al*is"tic*al*ly , adv.

Rationality <Xpage=1191>

Ra`tion*al"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. -ties (#) . [F. rationalit\'82 , or L. rationalitas .] The quality or state of being rational; agreement with reason; possession of reason; due exercise of reason; reasonableness.

When God has made rationality the common portion of mankind, how came it to be thy inclosure? Gov. of Tongue.

Well-directed intentions, whose rationalities will never bear a rigid examination. Sir T. Browne.

Rationalization <Xpage=1191>

Ra`tion*al*i*za"tion (?) , n. The act or process of rationalizing.

Rationalize <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion*al*ize (?) , v. t. 1. To make rational; also, to convert to rationalism.

2. To interpret in the manner of a rationalist.

3. To form a rational conception of.

4. (Alg.) To render rational; to free from radical signs or quantities.

Rationalize <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion*al*ize , v. i. To use, and rely on, reason in forming a theory, belief, etc., especially in matters of religion: to accord with the principles of rationalism.

Theodore . . . is just considered the chief rationalizing doctor of antiquity. J. H. Newman.

Rationally <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion*al*ly , adv. In a rational manner.

Rationalness <Xpage=1191>

Ra"tion*al*ness , n. The quality or state of being rational; rationality.

Ratit\'91 <Xpage=1191>

Ra*ti"t\'91 (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. L. ratis a raft; cf. L. ratitus marked with the figure of a raft.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of birds in which the wings are small, rudimentary, or absent, and the breastbone is destitute of a keel. The ostrich, emu, and apteryx are examples.

Ratitate <Xpage=1191>

Rat"i*tate (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Ratit\'91.

Ratite <Xpage=1191>

Rat"ite (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Ratit\'91. -- n. One of the Ratit\'91.

Ratlines, ratlins <Xpage=1191>

Rat"lines , rat"lins , n. pl. [Of uncertain origin.] (Naut.) The small transverse ropes attached to the shrouds and forming the steps of a rope ladder. [Written also ratlings , and rattlings .]

Totten.

Raton <Xpage=1191>

Rat"on (?) , n. [Cf. Raccoon .] A small rat. [Obs.]

Piers Plowman.

Ratoon <Xpage=1191>

Ra*toon" (?) , n. 1. Same as Rattoon , n.

2. A rattan cane. [Obs.]

Pepys.

Ratoon <Xpage=1191>

Ra*toon" , v. i. Same as Rattoon , v. i.

Ratsbane <Xpage=1191>

Rats"bane (?) , n. [ Rat + bane .] Rat poison; white arsenic.

Ratsbaned <Xpage=1191>

Rats"baned` (?) , a. Poisoned by ratsbane.

Rat-tail <Xpage=1191>

Rat"-tail` (?) , a. Like a rat's tale in form; as, a rat-tail file, which is round, slender, and tapering . See Illust . of File .

Rat-tail <Xpage=1191>

Rat"-tail` , n. 1. (Far.) pl. An excrescence growing from the pastern to the middle of the shank of a horse.

2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The California chim\'91ra. See Chim\'91ra . (b) Any fish of the genus Macrurus . See Grenadier , 2.

Rat-tailed <Xpage=1191>

Rat"-tailed` (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having a long, tapering tail like that of a rat.

Rat-tailed larva (Zo\'94l.) , the larva of a fly of the genus Eristalis. See Eristalis . -- Rat-tailed serpent (Zo\'94l.) , the fer-de-lance. -- Rat-tailed shrew (Zo\'94l.) , the musk shrew.

Rattan <Xpage=1191>

Rat*tan" (?) , n. [Malay r&omac;tan .] [Written also ratan .] (Bot. ) One of the long slender flexible stems of several species of palms of the genus Calamus , mostly East Indian, though some are African and Australian. They are exceedingly tough, and are used for walking sticks, wickerwork, chairs and seats of chairs, cords and cordage, and many other purposes.

Ratteen <Xpage=1191>

Rat*teen" (?) , n. [F. ratine .] A thick woolen stuff quilled or twilled.

Ratten <Xpage=1191>

Rat"ten (?) , v. t. [Prov. E. ratten a rat, hence the verb literally means, to do mischief like a rat.] To deprive feloniously of the tools used in one's employment (as by breaking or stealing them), for the purpose of annoying; as, to ratten a mechanic who works during a strike . [Trades-union Cant]

J. McCarthy.

Ratter <Xpage=1191>

Rat"ter (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, rats, as one who deserts his party.

2. Anything which catches rats; esp., a dog trained to catch rats; a rat terrier. See Terrier .

Rattinet <Xpage=1191>

Rat`ti*net" (?) , n. A woolen stuff thinner than ratteen.

Ratting <Xpage=1191>

Rat"ting (?) , n. 1. The conduct or practices of one who rats. See Rat , v. i. , 1.

Sydney Smith.

2. The low sport of setting a dog upon rats confined in a pit to see how many he will kill in a given time.

Rattle <Xpage=1191>

Rat"tle (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rattled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Rattling (?) .] [Akin to D. ratelen , G. rasseln , AS. hr\'91tele a rattle, in hr\'91tel wyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. <?/ to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.] 1. To make a quick succession of sharp, inharmonious noises, as by the collision of hard and not very sonorous bodies shaken together; to clatter.

And the rude hail in rattling tempest forms. Addison.

'T was but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street. Byron.

<page="1192"> Page 1192

2. To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering; as, we rattled along for a couple of miles . [Colloq.]

3. To make a clatter with a voice; to talk rapidly and idly; to clatter; -- with on or away ; as, she rattled on for an hour . [Colloq.]

Rattle <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle (?) , v. t. 1. To cause to make a ratting or clattering sound; as, to rattle a chain .

2. To assail, annoy, or stun with a ratting noise .

Sound but another [drum], and another shall As loud as thine rattle the welkin's ear. Shak.

3. Hence, to disconcert; to confuse; as, to rattle one's judgment; to rattle a player in a game. [Colloq.]

4. To scold; to rail at.

L'Estrange.

To rattle off . (a) To tell glibly or noisily; as, to rattle off a story . (b) To rail at; to scold . "She would sometimes rattle off her servants sharply." Arbuthnot.

Rattle <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle , n. 1. A rapid succession of sharp, clattering sounds; as, the rattle of a drum .

Prior.

2. Noisy, rapid talk.

All this ado about the golden age is but an empty rattle and frivolous conceit. Hakewill.

3. An instrument with which a ratting sound is made; especially, a child's toy that rattle when shaken.

The rattles of Isis and the cymbals of Brasilea nearly enough resemble each other. Sir W. Raleigh.

Pleased with a rattle , tickled with a straw. Pope.

4. A noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer.

It may seem strange that a man who wrote with so much perspicuity, vivacity, and grace, should have been, whenever he took a part in conversation, an empty, noisy, blundering rattle . Macaulay.

5. A scolding; a sharp rebuke. [Obs.]

Heylin.

6. (Zo\'94l.) Any organ of an animal having a structure adapted to produce a ratting sound.

&hand; The rattle of the rattlesnake is composed of the hardened terminal scales, loosened in succession, but not cast off, and so modified in form as to make a series of loose, hollow joints.

7. The noise in the throat produced by the air in passing through mucus which the lungs are unable to expel; -- chiefly observable at the approach of death, when it is called the death rattle . See R&acir;le .

To spring a rattle , to cause it to sound. -- Yellow rattle (Bot.) , a yellow-flowered herb ( Rhinanthus Crista-galli ), the ripe seeds of which rattle in the inflated calyx.

Rattlebox <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*box` (?) , n. 1. A toy that makes a rattle sound; a rattle.

2. (Bot.) (a) An American herb ( Crotalaria sagittalis ), the seeds of which, when ripe, rattle in the inflated pod. (b) Any species of Crotalaria , a genus of yellow-flowered herbs, with inflated, many-seeded pods.

Rattle-brained <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle-brained` (?) , a. Giddy; rattle-headed.

Rattlehead <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*head` (?) , n. An empty, noisy talker.

Rattle-headed <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle-head`ed , a. Noisy; giddy; unsteady.

Rattlemouse <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*mouse` (?) , n. A bat. [Obs.]

Puttenham.

Rattlepate <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*pate` (?) , n. A rattlehead.

C. Kingsley.

Rattle-pated <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle-pat`ed , a. Rattle-headed. "A noisy, rattle-pated fellow."

W. Irving.

Rattler <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tler (?) , n. One who, or that which, rattles.

Rattlesnake <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*snake` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of venomous American snakes belonging to the genera Crotalus and Caudisona , or Sistrurus . They have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp ratting sound when shaken. The common rattlesnake of the Northern United States ( Crotalus horridus ), and the diamond rattlesnake of the south ( C. adamanteus ), are the best known. See Illust . of Fang . <-- also called rattler, and C. adamateus, and C. atrox are also called the diamondback rattler, or diamondback. -->

Ground rattlesnake (Zo\'94l.) , a small rattlesnake ( Caudisona, &or; Sistrurus, miliaria ) of the Southern United States, having a small rattle. It has nine large scales on its head. -- Rattlesnake fern (Bot.) , a common American fern ( Botrychium Virginianum ) having a triangular decompound frond and a long-stalked panicle of spore cases rising from the middle of the frond. -- Rattlesnake grass (Bot.) , a handsome American grass ( Glyceria Canadensis ) with an ample panicle of rather large ovate spikelets, each one composed of imbricated parts and slightly resembling the rattle of the rattlesnake. Sometimes called quaking grass . -- Rattlesnake plantain (Bot.) , See under Plantain . -- Rattlesnake root (Bot.) , a name given to certain American species of the composite genus Prenanthes ( P. alba and P. serpentaria ), formerly asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Calling also lion's foot , gall of the earth , and white lettuce . -- Rattlesnake's master (Bot.) (a) A species of Agave ( Agave Virginica ) growing in the Southern United States . (b) An umbelliferous plant ( Eryngium yucc\'91folium ) with large bristly-fringed linear leaves . (c) A composite plant, the blazing star ( Liatris squarrosa ). -- Rattlesnake weed (Bot.) , a plant of the composite genus Hieracium ( H. venosum ); -- probably so named from its spotted leaves. See also Snakeroot .

Rattletrap <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*trap` (?) , n. Any machine or vehicle that does not run smoothly. [Colloq.]

A. Trollope.

Rattleweed <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*weed` (?) , n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Astragalus . See Milk vetch .

Rattlewings <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*wings` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The golden-eye.

Rattlewort <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tle*wort` (?) , n. [AS. hr\'91telwyrt .] (Bot.) Same as Rattlebox .

Rattlings <Xpage=1192>

Rat"tlings (?) , n. pl. (Naut.) Ratlines.

Rattoon <Xpage=1192>

Rat*toon" (?) , n. [Sp. reto\'a4o .] One of the stems or shoots of sugar cane of the second year's growth from the root, or later. See Plant-cane .

Rattoon <Xpage=1192>

Rat*toon" , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rattooned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Rattooning .] [Cf. Sp. reto\'a4ar .] To sprout or spring up from the root, as sugar cane of the previous year's planting.

Raucid <Xpage=1192>

Rau"cid (?) , a. [L. raucus hoarse; cf. LL. raucidus .] Hoarse; raucous [R.]

Lamb.

Raucity <Xpage=1192>

Rau"ci*ty (?) , n. [L. rausitas , from raucus hoarse: cf. F. raucit\'82 .] Harshness of sound; rough utterance; hoarseness; as, the raucity of a trumpet, or of the human voice .

Raucous <Xpage=1192>

Rau"cous (?) , a. [L. raucus .] Hoarse; harsh; rough; as, a raucous , thick tone . "His voice slightly raucous ." Aytoun . -- Rau"cous*ly , adv.

Raught <Xpage=1192>

Raught (?) , obs. imp. & p. p. of Reach .

Shak.

Raught <Xpage=1192>

Raught , obs. imp. & p. p. of Reck .

Chaucer.

Raunch <Xpage=1192>

Raunch (?) , v. t. See Ranch .

Spenser.

Raunsoun <Xpage=1192>

Raun*soun" (?) , n. Ransom. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Ravage <Xpage=1192>

Rav"age (?; 48) , n. [F., fr. (assumed) L. rapagium , rapaticum , fr. rapere to carry off by force, to ravish. See Rapacious , Ravish .] Desolation by violence; violent ruin or destruction; devastation; havoc; waste; as, the ravage of a lion; the ravages of fire or tempest; the ravages of an army, or of time. <-- ravages of time -->

Would one think 't were possible for love To make such ravage in a noble soul? Addison.

Syn. -- Despoilment; devastation; desolation; pillage; plunder; spoil; waste; ruin.

Ravage <Xpage=1192>

Rav"age , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ravaged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ravaging (?) .] [F. ravager . See Ravage , n. ] To lay waste by force; to desolate by violence; to commit havoc or devastation upon; to spoil; to plunder; to consume.