The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1348
What! I am rife a little yet. J. Webster.
-- Rife"ly , adv. -- Rife"ness , n.
Riffle <Xpage=1241>
Rif"fle (?) , n. [CF. G. riffeln , riefeln , to groove. Cf. Rifle a gun.] (Mining) A trough or sluice having cleats, grooves, or steps across the bottom for holding quicksilver and catching particles of gold when auriferous earth is washed; also, one of the cleats, grooves, or steps in such a trough. Also called ripple .
Riffler <Xpage=1241>
Rif"fler (?) , n. [See Riffle .] A curved file used in carving wool and marble.
Riffraff <Xpage=1241>
Riff"raff` (?) , n. [OE. rif and raf every particle, OF. rif et raf . CF. Raff , and 1st Rifle .] Sweepings; refuse; the lowest order of society.
Beau & Fl.
Rifle <Xpage=1241>
Ri"fle (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Rifled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Rifling (?) .] [F. rifler to rifle, sweep away; of uncertain origin. CF. Raff .] 1. To seize and bear away by force; to snatch away; to carry off.
Till time shall rifle every youthful grace. Pope.
2. To strip; to rob; to pillage.
Piers Plowman.
Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye: If not, we'll make you sit and rifle you. Shak.
3. To raffle. [Obs.]
J. Webster.
Rifle <Xpage=1241>
Ri"fle , v. i. 1. To raffle. [Obs.]
Chapman.
2. To commit robbery. [R.]
Bp. Hall.
Rifle <Xpage=1241>
Ri"fle , n. [Akin to Dan. rifle , or riffel , the rifle of a gun, a chamfer (cf. riffel , riffel b\'94sse, a rifle gun, rifle to rifle a gun, G. riefeln , riefen , to chamfer, groove), and E. rive . See Rive , and cf. Riffle , Rivel .] 1. A gun, the inside of whose barrel is grooved with spiral channels, thus giving the ball a rotary motion and insuring greater accuracy of fire. As a military firearm it has superseded the musket.
2. pl. (Mil.) A body of soldiers armed with rifles.
3. A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.
Rifle pit (Mil.) , a trench for sheltering sharpshooters.
Rifle <Xpage=1241>
Ri"fle (?) , v. t. 1. To grove; to channel; especially, to groove internally with spiral channels; as, to rifle a gun barrel or a cannon .
2. To whet with a rifle. See Rifle , n. , 3.
Riflebird <Xpage=1241>
Ri"fle*bird` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of beautiful birds of Australia and New Guinea, of the genera Ptiloris and Craspidophora , allied to the paradise birds.
&hand; The largest and best known species is Ptiloris paradisea of Australia. Its general color is rich velvety brown, glossed with lilac; the under parts are varied with rich olive green, and the head, throat, and two middle tail feathers are brilliant metallic green.
Rifleman <Xpage=1241>
Ri"fle*man (?) , n. ; pl. Rifleman (<?/) . (Mil.) A soldier armed with a rifle.
Rifler <Xpage=1241>
Ri"fler (?) , n. One who rifles; a robber.
Rifling <Xpage=1241>
Ri"fling (?) , n. (a) The act or process of making the grooves in a rifled cannon or gun barrel. (b) The system of grooves in a rifled gun barrel or cannon.
Shunt rifling , rifling for cannon, in which one side of the groove is made deeper than the other, to facilitate loading with shot having projections which enter by the deeper part of the grooves.
Rift <Xpage=1241>
Rift (?) , obs. p. p. of Rive .
Spenser.
Rift <Xpage=1241>
Rift , n. [Written also reft .] [Dan. rift , fr. rieve to rend. See Rive .] 1. An opening made by riving or splitting; a cleft; a fissure.
Spenser.
2. A shallow place in a stream; a ford.
Rift <Xpage=1241>
Rift , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Rifted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Rifting .] To cleave; to rive; to split; as, to rift an oak or a rock; to rift the clouds.
Longfellow.
To dwell these rifted rocks between. Wordsworth.
Rift <Xpage=1241>
Rift , v. i. 1. To burst open; to split.
Shak.
Timber . . . not apt to rif with ordnance. Bacon.
2. To belch. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Rifter <Xpage=1241>
Rift"er (?) , n. A rafter. [Obs.]
Holland.
Rig <Xpage=1241>
Rig (?) , n. [See Ridge .] A ridge. [Prov. or Scott.]
Rig <Xpage=1241>
Rig , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Rigged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Rigging (?) .] [Norweg. rigga to bind, particularly, to wrap round, rig; cf. AS. wr\'c6han to cover.] 1. To furnish with apparatus or gear; to fit with tackling.
2. To dress; to equip; to clothe, especially in an odd or fanciful manner; -- commonly followed by out .
Jack was rigged out in his gold and silver lace. L'Estrange.
To rig a purchase , to adapt apparatus so as to get a purchase for moving a weight, as with a lever, tackle, capstan, etc. -- To rig a ship (Naut.) , to fit the shrouds, stays, braces, etc., to their respective masts and yards.
Rig <Xpage=1241>
Rig , n. 1. (Naut.) The peculiar fitting in shape, number, and arrangement of sails and masts, by which different types of vessels are distinguished; as, schooner rig , ship rig , etc. See Illustration in Appendix.
2. Dress; esp., odd or fanciful clothing. [Colloq.]
Rig <Xpage=1241>
Rig , n [Cf. Wriggle .] 1. A romp; a wanton; one given to unbecoming conduct. [Obs.]
Fuller.
2. A sportive or unbecoming trick; a frolic.
3. A blast of wind. [Prov. Eng.]
Wright.
That uncertain season before the rigs of Michaelmas were yet well composed. Burke.
To run a rig , to play a trick; to engage in a frolic; to do something strange and unbecoming.
He little dreamt when he set out Of running such a rig . Cowper.
Rig <Xpage=1241>
Rig , v. i. To play the wanton; to act in an unbecoming manner; to play tricks. " Rigging and rifling all ways."
Chapman.
Rig <Xpage=1241>
Rig , v. t. To make free with; hence, to steal; to pilfer. [Obs. or Prov.]
Tusser.
To rig the market (Stock Exchange) , to raise or lower market prices, as by some fraud or trick. [Cant]
Rigadoon <Xpage=1241>
Rig`a*doon" (?) , n. [F. rigadon , rigaudon .] A gay, lively dance for one couple, -- said to have been borrowed from Provence in France.
W. Irving.
Whose dancing dogs in rigadoons excel. Wolcott.
Riga fir <Xpage=1241>
Ri"ga fir` (?) [So called from Riga , a city in Russia.] (Bot.) 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 <Xpage=1241>
Ri*ga"rion (?) , n. [L. rigatio , fr. rigare to water.] See Irrigation . [Obs.]
Rigel <Xpage=1241>
Ri"gel (?) , n. [Ar. rijl , properly, foot.] (Astron.) A fixed star of the first magnitude in the left foot of the constellation Orion. [Written also Regel .]
Rigescent <Xpage=1241>
Ri*ges"cent (?) , a. [L. rigescens , p. pr. fr. rigescere to grow stiff.] Growing stiff or numb.
Rigger <Xpage=1241>
Rig"ger (?) , n. 1. One who rigs or dresses; one whose occupation is to fit the rigging of a ship.
2. A cylindrical pulley or drum in machinery. [R.]
Rigging <Xpage=1241>
Rig"ging (?) , n. DRess; tackle; especially (Naut.) , the ropes, chains, etc., that support the masts and spars of a vessel, and serve as purchases for adjusting the sails, etc. See Illustr . of Ship and Sails .
Running rigging (Naut.) , all those ropes used in bracing the yards, making and shortening sail, etc., such as braces, sheets, halyards, clew lines, and the like. -- Standing rigging (Naut.) , the shrouds and stays.
Riggish <Xpage=1241>
Rig"gish (?) , a. Like a rig or wanton. [Obs.] " Riggish and unmaidenly."
Bp. Hall.
Riggle <Xpage=1241>
Rig"gle (?) , v. i. See Wriggle .
Riggle <Xpage=1241>
Rig"gle , n. The European lance fish. [Prov. Eng.]
Right <Xpage=1241>
Right (?) , a. [OE. right , riht , AS. riht ; akin to D. regt , OS. & OHG. reht , G. recht , Dan. ret , Sw. r\'84tt, Icel. r\'89ttr , Goth. ra\'a1hts , L. rectus , p. p. of regere to guide, rule; cf. Skr. <?/ju straight, right. &root;115. Cf. Adroit , Alert , Correct , Dress , Regular , Rector , Recto , Rectum , Regent , Region , Realm , Rich , Riyal , Rule .] 1. Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. " Right as any line ."
Chaucer
2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.
3. Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God, or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and just; according with truth and duty; just; true.
That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is absolutely right , and is called right simply without relation to a special end. Whately.
2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right man in the right place; the right way from London to Oxford.
5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not spurious. "His right wife."
Chaucer.
In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly manifested themselves to be right barbarians. Milton.
6. According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous; correct; as, this is the right faith .
You are right , Justice, and you weigh this well. Shak.
If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the inference is . . . right , "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." Locke.
7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate.
The lady has been disappointed on the right side. Spectator.
8. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other side; -- opposed to left when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm . Also applied to the corresponding side of the lower animals.
Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand. Longfellow.
&hand; In designating the banks of a river, right and left are used always with reference to the position of one who is facing in the direction of the current's flow.
9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well regulated; correctly done.
10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side of a piece of cloth .
At right angles , so as to form a right angle or right angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly. -- Right and left , in both or all directions. [Colloq.] -- Right and left coupling (Pipe fitting) , a coupling the opposite ends of which are tapped for a right-handed screw and a left-handed screw, respectivelly. -- Right angle . (a) The angle formed by one line meeting another perpendicularly, as the angles ABD , DBC . (b) (Spherics) A spherical angle included between the axes of two great circles whose planes are perpendicular to each other. -- Right ascension . See under Ascension . -- Right Center (Politics) , those members belonging to the Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with the Right on political questions. See Center , n. , 5. -- Right cone , Right cylinder , Right prism , Right pyramid (Geom.) , a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the axis of which is perpendicular to the base. -- Right line . See under Line . -- Right sailing (Naut.) , sailing on one of the four cardinal points, so as to alter a ship's latitude or its longitude, but not both. Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- Right sphere (Astron. & Geol.) , a sphere in such a position that the equator cuts the horizon at right angles; in spherical projections, that position of the sphere in which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the equator.
&hand; Right is used elliptically for it is right , what you say is right , true .
" Right ," cries his lordship. Pope.
Syn. -- Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful; rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper; suitable; becoming.
Right <Xpage=1241>
Right , adv. 1. In a right manner.
2. In a right or straight line; directly; hence; straightway; immediately; next; as, he stood right before me; it went right to the mark; he came right out; he followed right after the guide.
Unto Dian's temple goeth she right . Chaucer.
Let thine eyes look right on. Prov. iv. 25.
Right across its track there lay, Down in the water, a long reef of gold. Tennyson.
3. Exactly; just. [Obs. or Colloq.]
Came he right now to sing a raven's note? Shak.
4. According to the law or will of God; conforming to the standard of truth and justice; righteously; as, to live right ; to judge right .
5. According to any rule of art; correctly.
You with strict discipline instructed right . Roscommon.
6. According to fact or truth; actually; truly; really; correctly; exactly; as, to tell a story right . " Right at mine own cost."
Chaucer.
Right as it were a steed of Lumbardye. Chaucer.
His wounds so smarted that he slept right naught. Fairfax.
7. In a great degree; very; wholly; unqualifiedly; extremely; highly; as, right humble; right noble; right valiant . "He was not right fat".
Chaucer.
For which I should be right sorry. Tyndale.
[I] return those duties back as are right fit. Shak.
&hand; In this sense now chiefly prefixed to titles; as, right honorable; right reverend.
Right honorable , a title given in England to peers and peeresses, to the eldest sons and all daughters of such peers as have rank above viscounts, and to all privy councilors; also, to certain civic officers, as the lord mayor of London, of York, and of Dublin.
<page="1242"> Page 1242
&hand; Right is used in composition with other adverbs, as up right , down right , forth right , etc.
Right along , without cessation; continuously; as, to work right along for several hours. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Right away , ∨ Right off , at once; straightway; without delay. [Colloq. U.S.] "We will . . . shut ourselves up in the office and do the work right off ." D. Webster.
Right <Xpage=1242>
Right (?) , n. [AS. right . See Right , a. ] 1. That which is right or correct. Specifically: (a) The straight course; adherence to duty; obedience to lawful authority, divine or human; freedom from guilt, -- the opposite of moral wrong . (b) A true statement; freedom from error of falsehood; adherence to truth or fact.
Seldom your opinions err; Your eyes are always in the right . Prior.
(c) A just judgment or action; that which is true or proper; justice; uprightness; integrity .
Long love to her has borne the faithful knight, And well deserved, had fortune done him right . Dryden.
2. That to which one has a just claim. Specifically: (a) That which one has a natural claim to exact.
There are no rights whatever, without corresponding duties. Coleridge.
(b) That which one has a legal or social claim to do or to exact; legal power; authority; as, a sheriff has a right to arrest a criminal . (c) That which justly belongs to one; that which one has a claim to possess or own; the interest or share which anyone has in a piece of property; title; claim; interest; ownership .
Born free, he sought his right . Dryden.
Hast thou not right to all created things? Milton.
Men have no right to what is not reasonable. Burke.
(d) Privilege or immunity granted by authority .
3. The right side; the side opposite to the left.
Led her to the Souldan's right . Spenser.
4. In some legislative bodies of Europe (as in France), those members collectively who are conservatives or monarchists. See Center , 5.
5. The outward or most finished surface, as of a piece of cloth, a carpet, etc.
At all right , at all points; in all respects. [Obs.] Chaucer . -- Bill of rights , a list of rights; a paper containing a declaration of rights, or the declaration itself. See under Bill . -- By right , By rights , ∨ By good rights , rightly; properly; correctly.
He should himself use it by right . Chaucer.
I should have been a woman by right . Shak.
-- Divine right , ∨ Divine right of kings , a name given to the patriarchal theory of government, especially to the doctrine that no misconduct and no dispossession can forfeit the right of a monarch or his heirs to the throne, and to the obedience of the people. -- To rights . (a) In a direct line; straight. [R.] Woodward . (b) At once; directly. [Obs. or Colloq.] Swift . -- To set to rights , To put to rights , to put in good order; to adjust; to regulate, as what is out of order. -- Writ of right (Law) , a writ which lay to recover lands in fee simple, unjustly withheld from the true owner. Blackstone .
Right <Xpage=1242>
Right , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Righted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Righting .] [AS. rihtan . See Right , a. ] 1. To bring or restore to the proper or natural position; to set upright; to make right or straight (that which has been wrong or crooked); to correct.
2. To do justice to; to relieve from wrong; to restore rights to; to assert or regain the rights of; as, to right the oppressed ; to right one's self ; also, to vindicate.
So just is God, to right the innocent. Shak.