Chapter 2

Each one [of the Indians] has a bat curved like a crosier, and ending in a racket.

Bancroft.

2. A variety of the game of tennis played with peculiar long-handled rackets; -- chiefly in the plural. Chaucer.

3. A snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood. [Canada]

4. A broad wooden shoe or patten for a man or horse, to enable him to step on marshy or soft ground.

Racket court, a court for playing the game of rackets.

Rack"et, v. t. To strike with, or as with, a racket.

Poor man [is] racketed from one temptation to another.

Hewyt.

Rack"et, n. [Gael. racaid a noise, disturbance.]

1. Confused, clattering noise; din; noisy talk or sport.

2. A carouse; any reckless dissipation. [Slang]

Rack"et, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Racketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Racketing.] 1. To make a confused noise or racket.

2. To engage in noisy sport; to frolic. Sterne.

3. To carouse or engage in dissipation. [Slang]

Rack"et*er (-r), n. One who makes, or engages in, a racket.

Rack"ett (-t), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Mus.) An old wind instrument of the double bassoon kind, having ventages but not keys.

Rack"et-tail` (-tl`), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of humming birds of the genus Steganura, having two of the tail feathers very long and racket-shaped.

Rack"et-tailed` (-tld`), a. (Zoöl.) Having long and spatulate, or racket-shaped, tail feathers.

Rack"et*y (-), a. Making a tumultuous noise.

Rack"ing, n. (Naut.) Spun yarn used in racking ropes.

Rack"-rent` (-rnt`), n. A rent of the full annual value of the tenement, or near it; an excessive or unreasonably high rent. Blackstone.

Rack"-rent`, v. t. To subject to rack-rent, as a farm or tenant.

Rack"-rent`er (-r), n. 1. One who is subjected to paying rack- rent.

2. One who exacts rack-rent.

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Rack"tail` (rk"tl`), n. (Horol.) An arm attached to a swinging notched arc or rack, to let off the striking mechanism of a repeating clock.

Rack"work` (-wûrk`), n. Any mechanism having a rack, as a rack and pinion.

Ra"cle (rä"k'l), a. See Rakel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ra"cle*ness, n. See Rakelness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||Ra`con`teur" (r`kôN`tr"), n. [F.] A relater; a storyteller.

||Ra*coon"da (r*kn"d), n. [From a native name.] (Zoöl.) The coypu.

Ra*co"vi*an (r*k"v*an), n. [From Racow.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of Socinians or Unitarians in Poland.

Rac"quet (rk"kt), n. See Racket.

Ra"cy (r"s), a. [Compar. Racier (-s*r); superl. Raciest.] [From Race a tribe, family.] 1. Having a strong flavor indicating origin; of distinct characteristic taste; tasting of the soil; hence, fresh; rich.

The racy wine, Late from the mellowing cask restored to light.

Pope.

2. Hence: Exciting to the mental taste by a strong or distinctive character of thought or language; peculiar and piquant; fresh and lively.

Our raciest, most idiomatic popular words.

M. Arnold.

Burns's English, though not so racy as his Scotch, is generally correct.

H. Coleridge.

The rich and racy humor of a natural converser fresh from the plow.

Prof. Wilson.

Syn. -- Spicy; spirited; lively; smart; piquant. -- Racy, Spicy. Racy refers primarily to that peculiar flavor which certain wines are supposed to derive from the soil in which the grapes were grown; and hence we call a style or production racy when it "smacks of the soil," or has an uncommon degree of natural freshness and distinctiveness of thought and language. Spicy, when applied to style, has reference to a spirit and pungency added by art, seasoning the matter like a condiment. It does not, like racy, suggest native peculiarity. A spicy article in a magazine; a spicy retort. Racy in conversation; a racy remark.

Rich, racy verses, in which we The soil from which they come, taste, smell, and see.

Cowley.

Rad (rd), obs. imp. & p. p. of Read, Rede. Spenser.

Rad"de (rd"de), obs. imp. of Read, Rede. Chaucer.

Rad"dle (rd"d'l), n. [Cf. G. räder, rädel, sieve, or perhaps E. reed.] 1. A long, flexible stick, rod, or branch, which is interwoven with others, between upright posts or stakes, in making a kind of hedge or fence.

2. A hedge or fence made with raddles; -- called also raddle hedge. Todd.

3. An instrument consisting of a wooden bar, with a row of upright pegs set in it, used by domestic weavers to keep the warp of a proper width, and prevent tangling when it is wound upon the beam of the loom.

Rad"dle, v. t. To interweave or twist together.

Raddling or working it up like basket work.

De Foe.

Rad"dle, n. [Cf. Ruddle.] A red pigment used in marking sheep, and in some mechanical processes; ruddle. "A raddle of rouge." Thackeray.

Rad"dle, v. t. To mark or paint with, or as with, raddle. "Whitened and raddled old women." Thackeray.

Rad"dock (-dk), n. (Zoöl.) The ruddock. [Prov. Eng.]

Rade (rd), n. A raid. [Scot.]

||Ra`deau" (r`d"), n. [F.] A float; a raft.

Three vessels under sail, and one at anchor, above Split Rock, and behind it the radeau Thunderer.

W. Irving.

Ra"di*al (r"d*al), a. [Cf. F. radial. See Radius.] Of or pertaining to a radius or ray; consisting of, or like, radii or rays; radiated; as, (Bot.) radial projections; (Zoöl.) radial vessels or canals; (Anat.) the radial artery.

Radial symmetry. (Biol.) See under Symmetry.

||Ra`di*a"le (r`d*"l), n.; pl. Radialia (- l*) [NL. See Radial.] 1. ||(Anat.) The bone or cartilage of the carpus which articulates with ||the radius and corresponds to the scaphoid bone in man.

2. pl. (Zoöl.) Radial plates in the calyx of a crinoid.

Ra"di*al*ly (r"d*al*l), adv. In a radial manner.

Ra"di*an (-an), n. [From Radius.] (Math.) An arc of a circle which is equal to the radius, or the angle measured by such an arc.

{ Ra"di*ance (-ans), Ra"di*an*cy (- an*s), } n. The quality of being radiant; brilliancy; effulgence; vivid brightness; as, the radiance of the sun.

Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crowned.

Milton.

What radiancy of glory, What light beyond compare !

Neale.

Syn. -- Luster; brilliancy; splendor; glare; glitter.

Ra"di*ant (-ant), a. [L. radians, -antis, p. pr. of radiare to emit rays or beams, fr. radius ray: cf. F. radiant. See Radius, Ray a divergent line.] 1. Emitting or proceeding as from a center; resembling rays; radiating; radiate.

2. Especially, emitting or darting rays of light or heat; issuing in beams or rays; beaming with brightness; emitting a vivid light or splendor; as, the radiant sun.

Mark what radiant state she spreads.

Milton.

3. Beaming with vivacity and happiness; as, a radiant face.

4. (Her.) Giving off rays; -- said of a bearing; as, the sun radiant; a crown radiant.

5. (Bot.) Having a raylike appearance, as the large marginal flowers of certain umbelliferous plants; -- said also of the cluster which has such marginal flowers.

Radiant energy (Physics), energy given out or transmitted by radiation, as in the case of light and radiant heat. -- Radiant heat, heat proceeding in right lines, or directly from the heated body, after the manner of light, in distinction from heat conducted or carried by intervening media. -- Radiant point. (Astron.) See Radiant, n., 3.

Ra"di*ant, n. 1. (Opt.) The luminous point or object from which light emanates; also, a body radiating light brightly.

2. (Geom.) A straight line proceeding from a given point, or fixed pole, about which it is conceived to revolve.

3. (Astron.) The point in the heavens at which the apparent paths of shooting stars meet, when traced backward, or whence they appear to radiate.

Ra"di*ant*ly (r"d*ant*l), adv. In a radiant manner; with glittering splendor.

Ra"di*a*ry (-*r), n. [Cf. F. radiaire.] (Zoöl.) A radiate. [Obs.]

||Ra`di*a"ta (-"t), n. pl. [NL., fr. radiatus, p. p. See Radiate.] ||(Zoöl.) An extensive artificial group of invertebrates, having all ||the parts arranged radially around the vertical axis of the body, and ||the various organs repeated symmetrically in each ray or spheromere.

It includes the cœlenterates and the echinoderms. Formerly, the group was supposed to be a natural one, and was considered one of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom.

Ra"di*ate (r"d*t), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Radiated (- `td); p. pr. & vb. n. Radiating.] [L. radiatus, p. p. of radiare to furnish with spokes or rays, to radiate, fr. radius ray. See Radius, Ray a divergent line.] 1. To emit rays; to be radiant; to shine.

Virtues shine more clear In them [kings], and radiate like the sun at noon.

Howell.

2. To proceed in direct lines from a point or surface; to issue in rays, as light or heat.

Light radiates from luminous bodies directly to our eyes.

Locke.

Ra"di*ate, v. t. 1. To emit or send out in direct lines from a point or points; as, to radiate heat.

2. To enlighten; to illuminate; to shed light or brightness on; to irradiate. [R.]

Ra"di*ate (-t), a. [L. radiatus, p. p.] 1. Having rays or parts diverging from a center; radiated; as, a radiate crystal.

2. (Bot.) Having in a capitulum large ray florets which are unlike the disk florets, as in the aster, daisy, etc.

3. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Radiata.

Ra"di*ate, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Radiata.

Ra"di*a`ted (-`td), a. 1. Emitted, or sent forth, in rays or direct lines; as, radiated heat.

2. 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.

3. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Radiata.

Ra"di*ate*ly (-t*l), adv. In a radiate manner; with radiation or divergence from a center.

Ra"di*ate-veined` (-vnd`), a. (Bot.) Having the principal veins radiating, or diverging, from the apex of the petiole; -- said of such leaves as those of the grapevine, most maples, and the castor-oil plant.

Ra`di*at"i*form (-t"*fôrm), a. (Bot.) Having the marginal florets enlarged and radiating but not ligulate, as in the capitula or heads of the cornflower. Gray.

Ra`di*a"tion (-"shn), n. [L. radiatio: cf. F. radiation.] 1. The act of radiating, or the state of being radiated; emission and diffusion of rays of light; beamy brightness.

2. The shooting forth of anything from a point or surface, like the diverging rays of light; as, the radiation of heat.

Ra"di*a*tive (r"d**tv), a. Capable of radiating; acting by radiation. Tyndall.

Ra"di*a`tor (-`tr), n. 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.

Rad"i*cal (rd"*kal), a. [F., fr. L. radicalis having roots, fr. radix, -icis, a root. See Radix.] 1. Of or pertaining to the root; proceeding directly from the root.

2. Hence: Of or pertaining to the root or origin; reaching to the center, to the foundation, to the ultimate sources, to the principles, or the like; original; fundamental; thorough-going; unsparing; extreme; as, radical evils; radical reform; a radical party.

The most determined exertions of that authority, against them, only showed their radical independence.

Burke.

3. (Bot.) (a) Belonging to, or proceeding from, the root of a plant; as, radical tubers or hairs. (b) Proceeding from a rootlike stem, or one which does not rise above the ground; as, the radical leaves of the dandelion and the sidesaddle flower.

4. (Philol.) Relating, or belonging, to the root, or ultimate source of derivation; as, a radical verbal form.

5. (Math.) Of or pertaining to a radix or root; as, a radical quantity; a radical sign. See below.

Radical axis of two circles. (Geom.) See under Axis. -- Radical pitch, the pitch or tone with which the utterance of a syllable begins. Rush. -- Radical quantity (Alg.), a quantity to which the radical sign is prefixed; specifically, a quantity which is not a perfect power of the degree indicated by the radical sign; a surd. -- Radical sign (Math.), the sign &radic; (originally the letter r, the initial of radix, root), placed before any quantity, denoting that its root is to be extracted; thus, &radic;a, or &radic;(a + b). To indicate any other than the square root, a corresponding figure is placed over the sign; thus, a, indicates the third or cube root of a. -- Radical stress (Elocution), force of utterance falling on the initial part of a syllable or sound. -- Radical vessels (Anat.), minute vessels which originate in the substance of the tissues.

Syn. -- Primitive; original; natural; underived; fundamental; entire. -- Radical, Entire. These words are frequently employed as interchangeable in describing some marked alteration in the condition of things. There is, however, an obvious difference between them. A radical cure, reform, etc., is one which goes to the root of the thing in question; and it is entire, in the sense that, by affecting the root, it affects in an appropriate degree the entire body nourished by the root; but it may not be entire in the sense of making a change complete in its nature, as well as in its extent. Hence, we speak of a radical change; a radical improvement; radical differences of opinion; while an entire change, an entire improvement, an entire difference of opinion, might indicate more than was actually intended. A certain change may be both radical and entire, in every sense.

Rad"i*cal (rd"*kal), n. 1. (Philol.) (a) A primitive word; a radix, root, or simple, underived, uncompounded word; an etymon. (b) A primitive letter; a letter that belongs to the radix.

The words we at present make use of, and understand only by common agreement, assume a new air and life in the understanding, when you trace them to their radicals, where you find every word strongly stamped with nature; full of energy, meaning, character, painting, and poetry.

Cleland.

2. (Politics) One who advocates radical changes in government or social institutions, especially such changes as are intended to level class inequalities; -- opposed to conservative.

In politics they [the Independents] were, to use the phrase of their own time, "Root-and-Branch men," or, to use the kindred phrase of our own, Radicals.

Macaulay.

3. (Chem.) (a) A characteristic, essential, and fundamental constituent of any compound; hence, sometimes, an atom.

As a general rule, the metallic atoms are basic radicals, while the nonmetallic atoms are acid radicals.

J. P. Cooke.

(b) Specifically, a group of two or more atoms, not completely saturated, which are so linked that their union implies certain properties, and are conveniently regarded as playing the part of a single atom; a residue; -- called also a compound radical. Cf. Residue.

4. (Alg.) A radical quantity. See under Radical, a.

An indicated root of a perfect power of the degree indicated is not a radical but a rational quantity under a radical form.

Davies & Peck (Math. Dict.)

5. (Anat.) A radical vessel. See under Radical, a.

Rad"i*cal*ism (-z'm), n. [Cf. F. radicalisme.] The quality or state of being radical; specifically, the doctrines or principles of radicals in politics or social reform.

Radicalism means root work; the uprooting of all falsehoods and abuses.

F. W. Robertson.

Rad`i*cal"i*ty (-kl"*t), n. 1. Germinal principle; source; origination. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. Radicalness; relation to a root in essential nature or principle.

Rad"i*cal*ly (rd"*kal*l), adv. 1. In a radical manner; at, or from, the origin or root; fundamentally; as, a scheme or system radically wrong or defective.

2. Without derivation; primitively; essentially. [R.]

These great orbs thus radically bright.

Prior.

Rad"i*cal*ness, n. Quality or state of being radical.

Rad"i*cant (-kant), a. [L. radicans, p. pr.: cf. F. radicant. See Radicate, a.] (Bot.) Taking root on, or above, the ground; rooting from the stem, as the trumpet creeper and the ivy.

Rad"i*cate (-kt), a. [L. radicatus, p. p. of radicari to take root, fr. radix. See Radix.] Radicated.

Rad"i*cate (-kt), v. i. To take root; to become rooted. Evelyn.

Rad"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Radicated (-k`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Radicating.] To cause to take root; to plant deeply and firmly; to root.

Time should . . . rather confirm and radicate in us the remembrance of God's goodness.

Barrow.

Rad"i*ca`ted (-k`td), a. Rooted; specifically: (a) (Bot.) Having roots, or possessing a well-developed root. (b) (Zoöl.) Having rootlike organs for attachment.

Rad`i*ca"tion (-k"shn), n. [Cf. F. radication.] 1. The process of taking root, or state of being rooted; as, the radication of habits.

2. (Bot.) The disposition of the roots of a plant.

Rad"i*cel (rd"*sl), n. [Dim. of radix.] (Bot.) A small branch of a root; a rootlet.

Ra*dic`i*flo"rous (r*ds`*fl"rs), a. [L. radix, -icis, root + flos, floris, a flower.] (Bot.) Rhizanthous.

Ra*dic"i*form (r*ds"*fôm), a. (Bot.) Having the nature or appearance of a radix or root.

Rad"i*cle (rd"*k'l), n. [L. radicula, dim. of radix, -icis, root: cf. F. radicule. See Radix.] (Bot.) (a) The rudimentary stem of a plant which supports the cotyledons in the seed, and from which the root is developed downward; the stem of the embryo; the caulicle. (b) A rootlet; a radicel.

Ra*dic"u*lar (r*dk"*lr), a. Of or pertaining to roots, or the root of a plant.

Rad"i*cule (rd"*kl), n. (Bot.) A radicle.

Ra*dic"u*lose` (r*dk"*ls`), a. (Bot.) Producing numerous radicles, or rootlets.

Ra"di*i (r"d*), n., pl. of Radius.

Ra"di*o- (r"d*-). A combining form indicating connection with, or relation to, a radius or ray; specifically (Anat.), with the radius of the forearm; as, radio-ulnar, radio- muscular, radio-carpal.

||Ra`di*o-flag`el*la"ta (- flj`l*l"t), n. pl. [NL. See Radiate, and ||Flagellata.] (Zoöl.) A group of Protozoa having both flagella and ||pseudopodia.

Ra"di*o*graph (r"d**grf), n. [Radio- + -graph.] (Phys.) A picture produced by the Röntgen rays upon a sensitive surface, photographic or fluorescent, especially a picture of opaque objects traversed by the rays.

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||Ra`di*o*la"ri*a (r`d**l"r*), n. pl. [NL. See Radioli.] (Zoöl.) Order ||of rhizopods, usually having a siliceous skeleton, or shell, and ||sometimes radiating spicules. The pseudopodia project from the body ||like rays. It includes the polycystines. See Polycystina.

Ra`di*o*la"ri*an (r`d**l"r*an), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Radiolaria. -- n. One of the Radiolaria.

||Ra*di"o*li (r*d"*l), n. pl.; sing. Radiolus (-ls). [NL., dim. of L. ||radius radius: cf. L. radiolus a feeble sunbeam.] (Zoöl.) The barbs ||of the radii of a feather; barbules.

Ra"di*o*lite (r"d**lt), n. [L. radius ray + -lite: cf. F. radiolithe.] (Paleon.) A hippurite.

Ra`di*om"e*ter (-m"*tr), n. [L. radius radius + -meter: cf. F. radiomètre.] 1. (Naut.) A forestaff.

2. (Physics) An instrument designed for measuring the mechanical effect of radiant energy.

It consists of a number of light disks, blackened on one side, placed at the ends of extended arms, supported on a pivot in an exhausted glass vessel. When exposed to rays of light or heat, the arms rotate.

Ra`di*o*mi*crom"e*ter (- *m*krm"*tr), n. [Radio- + micrometer.] (Physics) A very sensitive modification or application of the thermopile, used for indicating minute changes of radiant heat, or temperature.

Ra"di*o*phone (r"d**fn), n. [Radio- + Gr. fwnh` sound.] (Physics) An apparatus for the production of sound by the action of luminous or thermal rays. It is essentially the same as the photophone.

Ra`di*oph"o*ny (-f"*n), n. (Physics) The art or practice of using the radiophone.

Ra"di*ous (r"d*s), a. [L. radiosus.] 1. Consisting of rays, as light. [R.] Berkeley.

2. Radiating; radiant. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.

Rad"ish (rd"sh), n. [F. radis; cf. It. radice, Pr. raditz; all fr. L. radix, -icis, a root, an edible root, especially a radish, akin to E. wort. See Wort, and cf. Eradicate, Race a root, Radix.] (Bot.) The pungent fleshy root of a well-known cruciferous plant (Raphanus sativus); also, the whole plant.

Radish fly (Zoöl.), a small two- winged fly (Anthomyia raphani) whose larvæ burrow in radishes. It resembles the onion fly. -- Rat-tailed radish (Bot.), an herb (Raphanus caudatus) having a long, slender pod, which is sometimes eaten. -- Wild radish (Bot.), the jointed charlock.

Ra"di*us (r"d*s), n.; pl. L. Radii (- ); E. Radiuses (-s*z). [L., a staff, rod, spoke of a wheel, radius, ray. See Ray a divergent line.] 1. (Geom.) A right line drawn or extending from the center of a circle to the periphery; the semidiameter of a circle or sphere.

2. (Anat.) The preaxial bone of the forearm, or brachium, corresponding to the tibia of the hind limb. See Illust. of Artiodactyla.

The radius is on the same side of the limb as the thumb, or pollex, and in man it is so articulated that its lower end is capable of partial rotation about the ulna.

3. (Bot.) A ray, or outer floret, of the capitulum of such plants as the sunflower and the daisy. See Ray, 2.

4. pl. (Zoöl.) (a) The barbs of a perfect feather. (b) Radiating organs, or color-markings, of the radiates.

5. The movable limb of a sextant or other angular instrument. Knight.

Radius bar (Mach.), a bar pivoted at one end, about which it swings, and having its other end attached to a piece which it causes to move in a circular arc. -- Radius of curvature. See under Curvature.

||Ra"di*us vec"tor (vk"tr). 1. (Math.) A straight line (or the length ||of such line) connecting any point, as of a curve, with a fixed ||point, or pole, round which the straight line turns, and to which it ||serves to refer the successive points of a curve, in a system of ||polar coördinates. See Coördinate, n.

2. (Astron.) An ideal straight line joining the center of an attracting body with that of a body describing an orbit around it, as a line joining the sun and a planet or comet, or a planet and its satellite.

Ra"dix (r"dks), n.; pl. L. Radices (rd"*sz), E. Radixes (r"dks*z). [L. radix, -icis, root. See Radish.] 1. (Philol.) A primitive word, from which spring other words; a radical; a root; an etymon.

2. (Math.) (a) A number or quantity which is arbitrarily made the fundamental number of any system; a base. Thus, 10 is the radix, or base, of the common system of logarithms, and also of the decimal system of numeration. (b) (Alg.) A finite expression, from which a series is derived. [R.] Hutton.

3. (Bot.) The root of a plant.

||Rad"u*la (rd"*l), n.; pl. Radulæ (- l). [L., a scraper, fr. radere to ||scrape.] (Zoöl.) The chitinous ribbon bearing the teeth of mollusks; ||-- called also lingual ribbon, and tongue. See Odontophore.

Ra*du"li*form (r*d"l*fôrm), a. [L. radula a scraper + -form.] Rasplike; as, raduliform teeth.

Raff (rf), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raffed (rft); p. pr. & vb. n. Raffing.] [OF. raffer, of German origin; cf. G. raffen; akin to E. rap to snatch. See Rap, and cf. Riffraff, Rip to tear.] To sweep, snatch, draw, or huddle together; to take by a promiscuous sweep. [Obs.]

Causes and effects which I thus raff up together.

Carew.

Raff, n. 1. A promiscuous heap; a jumble; a large quantity; lumber; refuse. "A raff of errors." Barrow.

2. The sweepings of society; the rabble; the mob; -- chiefly used in the compound or duplicate, riffraff.

3. A low fellow; a churl.

Raff merchant, a dealer in lumber and odd refuse. [Prov. Eng.]

Raf`fa*el*esque" (rf`f*l*sk"), a. Raphaelesque.

Raf"fi*a (rf"f*), n. (Bot.) A fibrous material used for tying plants, said to come from the leaves of a palm tree of the genus Raphia. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).

Raf"fi*nose` (rf"f*ns`), n. [F. raffiner to refine.] (Chem.) A colorless crystalline slightly sweet substance obtained from the molasses of the sugar beet.

Raff"ish (rf"sh), a. Resembling, or having the character of, raff, or a raff; worthless; low.

A sad, raffish, disreputable character.

Thackeray.