Chapter 9

Raze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Razed (rzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Razing.] [F. raser. See Rase, v. t.] [Written also rase.] 1. To erase; to efface; to obliterate.

Razing the characters of your renown.

Shak.

2. To subvert from the foundation; to lay level with the ground; to overthrow; to destroy; to demolish.

The royal hand that razed unhappy Troy.

Dryden.

Syn. -- To demolish; level; prostrate; overthrow; subvert; destroy; ruin. See Demolish.

Razed (rzd), a. Slashed or striped in patterns. [Obs.] "Two Provincial roses on my razed shoes." Shak.

Ra*zee" (r*z"), n. [F. vaisseau rasé, fr. raser to raze, to cut down ships. See Raze, v. t., Rase, v. t.] (Naut.) An armed ship having her upper deck cut away, and thus reduced to the next inferior rate, as a seventy-four cut down to a frigate. Totten.

Ra*zee", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Razeed (r*zd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Razeeing.] To cut down to a less number of decks, and thus to an inferior rate or class, as a ship; hence, to prune or abridge by cutting off or retrenching parts; as, to razee a book, or an article.

Ra"zor (r"zr), n. [OE. rasour, OF. rasur, LL. rasor: cf. F. rasoir, LL. rasorium. See Raze, v. t., Rase, v. t.] 1. A keen-edged knife of peculiar shape, used in shaving the hair from the face or the head. "Take thee a barber's razor." Ezek. v. 1.

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2. (Zoöl.) A tusk of a wild boar.

Razor fish. (Zoöl.) (a) A small Mediterranean fish (Coryphæna novacula), prized for the table. (b) The razor shell. -- Razor grass (Bot.), a West Indian plant (Scleria scindens), the triangular stem and the leaves of which are edged with minute sharp teeth. -- Razor grinder (Zoöl.), the European goat-sucker. -- Razor shell (Zoöl.), any marine bivalve shell belonging to Solen and allied genera, especially Solen, or Ensatella, ensis, ∧ Americana, which have a long, narrow, somewhat curved shell, resembling a razor handle in shape. Called also razor clam, razor fish, knife handle. -- Razor stone. Same as Novaculite. -- Razor strap, or Razor strop, a strap or strop used in sharpening razors.

Ra"zor*a*ble (-*b'l), a. Ready for the razor; fit to be shaved. [R.] Shak.

Ra"zor*back` (-bk`), n. (Zoöl.) The rorqual.

Ra"zor-backed` (-bkt`), a. (Zoöl.) Having a sharp, lean, or thin back; as, a razor-backed hog, perch, etc.

Ra"zor*bill` (-bl`), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A species of auk (Alca torda) common in the Arctic seas. See Auk, and Illust. in Appendix. (b) See Cutwater, 3.

Ra"zure (r"zhr; 135), n. [See Rasure.] 1. The act of erasing or effacing, or the state of being effaced; obliteration. See Rasure. Shak.

2. An erasure; a change made by erasing.

||Raz"zi*a (rä"z*ä), n. [F., fr. Ar. ghza (pron. razia in Algeria).] A ||plundering and destructive incursion; a foray; a raid.

Re- (r-). [L. re-, older form (retained before vowels) red-: cf. F. re-, ré-.] A prefix signifying back, against, again, anew; as, recline, to lean back; recall, to call back; recede; remove; reclaim, to call out against; repugn, to fight against; recognition, a knowing again; rejoin, to join again; reiterate; reassure. Combinations containing the prefix re- are readily formed, and are for the most part of obvious signification.

Re (r). [It.] (Mus.) A syllable applied in solmization to the second tone of the diatonic scale of C; in the American system, to the second tone of any diatonic scale.

Re`ab*sorb" (r`b*sôrb"), v. 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.

Re`ab*sorp"tion (-sôrp"shn), n. The act or process of reabsorbing.

Re`ac*cess" (r`k*ss" or r*k"ss), n. A second access or approach; a return. Hakewill.

Re`ac*cuse" (r`k*kz"), v. t. To accuse again.

Reach (rch), v. i. To retch. Cheyne.

Reach, n. An effort to vomit. [R.]

Reach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reached (rcht) (Raught, the old preterit, is obsolete); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaching.] [OE. rechen, AS. rcan, rcean, to extend, stretch out; akin to D. reiken, G. reichen, and possibly to AS. rce powerful, rich, E. rich. √115.] 1. To extend; to stretch; to thrust out; to put forth, as a limb, a member, something held, or the like.

Her tresses yellow, and long straughten, Unto her heeles down they raughten.

Rom. of R.

Reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side.

John xx. 27.

Fruit trees, over woody, reached too far Their pampered boughs.

Milton.

2. Hence, to deliver by stretching out a member, especially the hand; to give with the hand; to pass to another; to hand over; as, to reach one a book.

He reached me a full cup.

2 Esd. xiv. 39.

3. To attain or obtain by stretching forth the hand; to extend some part of the body, or something held by one, so as to touch, strike, grasp, or the like; as, to reach an object with the hand, or with a spear.

O patron power, . . . thy present aid afford, Than I may reach the beast.

Dryden.

4. To strike, hit, or touch with a missile; as, to reach an object with an arrow, a bullet, or a shell.

5. Hence, to extend an action, effort, or influence to; to penetrate to; to pierce, or cut, as far as.

If these examples of grown men reach not the case of children, let them examine.

Locke.

6. To extend to; to stretch out as far as; to touch by virtue of extent; as, his land reaches the river.

Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches blame.

Milton.

7. To arrive at; to come to; to get as far as.

Before this letter reaches your hands.

Pope.

8. To arrive at by effort of any kind; to attain to; to gain; to be advanced to.

The best account of the appearances of nature which human penetration can reach, comes short of its reality.

Cheyne.

9. To understand; to comprehend. [Obs.]

Do what, sir? I reach you not.

Beau. & Fl.

10. To overreach; to deceive. [Obs.] South.

Reach, v. i. 1. To stretch out the hand.

Goddess humane, reach, then, and freely taste!

Milton.

2. To strain after something; to make efforts.

Reaching above our nature does no good.

Dryden.

3. To extend in dimension, time, amount, action, influence, etc., so as to touch, attain to, or be equal to, something.

And behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven.

Gen. xxviii. 12.

The new world reaches quite across the torrid zone.

Boyle.

4. (Naut.) To sail on the wind, as from one point of tacking to another, or with the wind nearly abeam.

To reach after or at, to make efforts to attain to or obtain.

He would be in the posture of the mind reaching after a positive idea of infinity.

Locke.

Reach, n. 1. The act of stretching or extending; extension; power of reaching or touching with the person, or a limb, or something held or thrown; as, the fruit is beyond my reach; to be within reach of cannon shot.

2. The power of stretching out or extending action, influence, or the like; power of attainment or management; extent of force or capacity.

Drawn by others who had deeper reaches than themselves to matters which they least intended.

Hayward.

Be sure yourself and your own reach to know.

Pope.

3. Extent; stretch; expanse; hence, application; influence; result; scope.

And on the left hand, hell, With long reach, interposed.

Milton.

I am to pray you not to strain my speech To grosser issues, nor to larger reach Than to suspicion.

Shak.

4. An extended portion of land or water; a stretch; a straight portion of a stream or river, as from one turn to another; a level stretch, as between locks in a canal; an arm of the sea extending up into the land. "The river's wooded reach." Tennyson.

The coast . . . is very full of creeks and reaches.

Holland.

5. An artifice to obtain an advantage.

The Duke of Parma had particular reaches and ends of his own underhand to cross the design.

Bacon.

6. The pole or rod which connects the hind axle with the forward bolster of a wagon.

Reach"a*ble (-*b'l), a. Being within reach.

Reach"er (-r), n. 1. One who reaches.

2. An exaggeration. [Obs.] Fuller.

Reach"less, a. Being beyond reach; lofty.

Unto a reachless pitch of praises hight.

Bp. Hall.

Re*act" (r*kt"), v. t. To act or perform a second time; to do over again; as, to react a play; the same scenes were reacted at Rome.

Re*act" (r*kt"), v. i. 1. To return an impulse or impression; to resist the action of another body by an opposite force; as, every body reacts on the body that impels it from its natural state.

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2. To act upon each other; to exercise a reciprocal or a reverse effect, as two or more chemical agents; to act in opposition.

Re*ac"tion (r*k"shn), n. [Cf. F. réaction.] 1. Any action in resisting other action or force; counter tendency; movement in a contrary direction; reverse action.

2. (Chem.) 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.

3. (Med.) 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.

4. (Mech.) The force which a body subjected to the action of a force from another body exerts upon the latter body in the opposite direction.

Reaction is always equal and opposite to action, that is to say, the actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal and in opposite directions.

Sir I. Newton (3d Law of Motion).

5. (Politics) Backward tendency or movement after revolution, reform, or great progress in any direction.

The new king had, at the very moment at which his fame and fortune reached the highest point, predicted the coming reaction.

Macaulay.

Reaction time (Physiol.), in nerve physiology, the interval between the application of a stimulus to an end organ of sense and the reaction or resulting movement; -- called also physiological time. -- Reaction wheel (Mech.), a water wheel driven by the reaction of water, usually one in which the water, entering it centrally, escapes at its periphery in a direction opposed to that of its motion by orifices at right angles, or inclined, to its radii.

Re*ac"tion*a*ry (-*r), a. Being, causing, or favoring reaction; as, reactionary movements.

Re*ac"tion*a*ry, n.; pl. Reactionaries (-rz). One who favors reaction, or seeks to undo political progress or revolution.

Re*ac"tion*ist, n. A reactionary. C. Kingsley.

Re*act"ive (r*kt"v), a. [Cf. F. réactif.] Having power to react; tending to reaction; of the nature of reaction. -- Re*act"ive*ly, adv. -- Re*act"ive*ness, n.

Read (rd), n. Rennet. See 3d Reed. [Prov. Eng.]

Read (rd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Read (rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Reading.] [OE. reden, ræden, AS. rdan to read, advise, counsel, fr. rd advice, counsel, rdan (imperf. reord) to advise, counsel, guess; akin to D. raden to advise, G. raten, rathen, Icel. rða, Goth. rdan (in comp.), and perh. also to Skr. rdh to succeed. &radic;116. Cf. Riddle.] 1. To advise; to counsel. [Obs.] See Rede.

Therefore, I read thee, get thee to God's word, and thereby try all doctrine.

Tyndale.

2. To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle.

3. To tell; to declare; to recite. [Obs.]

But read how art thou named, and of what kin.

Spenser.

4. To go over, as characters or words, and utter aloud, or recite to one's self inaudibly; to take in the sense of, as of language, by interpreting the characters with which it is expressed; to peruse; as, to read a discourse; to read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read the notes of music, or to read music; to read a book.

Redeth [read ye] the great poet of Itaille.

Chaucer.

Well could he rede a lesson or a story.

Chaucer.

5. Hence, to know fully; to comprehend.

Who is't can read a woman?

Shak.

6. To discover or understand by characters, marks, features, etc.; to learn by observation.

An armed corse did lie, In whose dead face he read great magnanimity.

Spenser.

Those about her From her shall read the perfect ways of honor.

Shak.

7. To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as, to read theology or law.

To read one's self in, to read aloud the Thirty-nine Articles and the Declaration of Assent, -- required of a clergyman of the Church of England when he first officiates in a new benefice.

Read, v. i. 1. To give advice or counsel. [Obs.]

2. To tell; to declare. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. To perform the act of reading; to peruse, or to go over and utter aloud, the words of a book or other like document.

So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense.

Neh. viii. 8.

4. To study by reading; as, he read for the bar.

5. To learn by reading.

I have read of an Eastern king who put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence.

Swift.

6. To appear in writing or print; to be expressed by, or consist of, certain words or characters; as, the passage reads thus in the early manuscripts.

7. To produce a certain effect when read; as, that sentence reads queerly.

To read between the lines, to infer something different from what is plainly indicated; to detect the real meaning as distinguished from the apparent meaning.

Read, n. [AS. rd counsel, fr. rdan to counsel. See Read, v. t.] 1. Saying; sentence; maxim; hence, word; advice; counsel. See Rede. [Obs.]

2. [Read, v.] Reading. [Colloq.] Hume.

One newswoman here lets magazines for a penny a read.

Furnivall.

Read (rd), imp. & p. p. of Read, v. t. & i.

Read (rd), a. Instructed or knowing by reading; versed in books; learned.

A poet . . . well read in Longinus.

Addison.

Read`a*bil"i*ty (rd`*bl"*t), n. The state of being readable; readableness.

Read"a*ble (rd"*b'l), a. Such as can be read; legible; fit or suitable to be read; worth reading; interesting. -- Read"a*ble*ness, n. -- Read"a*bly, adv.

Re`ad*dress" (r`d*drs"), v. t. To address a second time; -- often used reflexively.

He readdressed himself to her.

Boyle.

Re`a*dept" (-*dpt"), v. t. [Pref. re- + L. adeptus, p. p. of adipisci to obtain.] To regain; to recover. [Obs.]

Re`a*dep"tion (-dp"shn), n. A regaining; recovery of something lost. [Obs.] Bacon.

Read"er (rd"r), n. [AS. rdere.] 1. One who reads. Specifically: (a) One whose distinctive office is to read prayers in a church. (b) (University of Oxford, Eng.) One who reads lectures on scientific subjects. Lyell. (c) A proof reader. (d) One who reads manuscripts offered for publication and advises regarding their merit.

2. One who reads much; one who is studious.

3. A book containing a selection of extracts for exercises in reading; an elementary book for practice in a language; a reading book.

Read"er*ship, n. The office of reader. Lyell.

Read"i*ly (rd"*l), adv. 1. In a ready manner; quickly; promptly. Chaucer.

2. Without delay or objection; without reluctance; willingly; cheerfully.

How readily we wish time spent revoked!

Cowper.

Read"i*ness, n. The state or quality of being ready; preparation; promptness; aptitude; willingness.

They received the word with all readiness of mind.

Acts xvii. 11.

Syn. -- Facility; quickness; expedition; promptitude; promptness; aptitude; aptness; knack; skill; expertness; dexterity; ease; cheerfulness. See Facility.

Read"ing (rd"ng), n. 1. The act of one who reads; perusal; also, printed or written matter to be read.

2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of extensive reading.

3. A lecture or prelection; public recital.

The Jews had their weekly readings of the law.

Hooker.

4. The way in which anything reads; force of a word or passage presented by a documentary authority; lection; version.

5. Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on the stage; way of rendering. [Cant]

6. An observation read from the scale of a graduated instrument; as, the reading of a barometer.

Reading of a bill (Legislation), its formal recital, by the proper officer, before the House which is to consider it.

Read"ing, a. 1. Of or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.

2. Addicted to reading; as, a reading community.

Reading book, a book for teaching reading; a reader. -- Reading desk, a desk to support a book while reading; esp., a desk used while reading the service in a church. -- Reading glass, a large lens with more or less magnifying power, attached to a handle, and used in reading, etc. -- Reading man, one who reads much; hence, in the English universities, a close, industrious student. -- Reading room, a room appropriated to reading; a room provided with papers, periodicals, and the like, to which persons resort.

Re`ad*journ" (r`d*jûrn"), v. t. To adjourn a second time; to adjourn again.

Re`ad*journ"ment (-ment), n. The act of readjourning; a second or repeated adjournment.

Re`ad*just" (-jst"), v. t. To adjust or settle again; to put in a different order or relation; to rearrange.

Re`ad*just"er (-r), n. One who, or that which, readjusts; in some of the States of the United States, one who advocates a refunding, and sometimes a partial repudiation, of the State debt without the consent of the State's creditors.

Re`ad*just"ment (-ment), n. A second adjustment; a new or different adjustment.

Re`ad*mis"sion (-msh"n), n. The act of admitting again, or the state of being readmitted; as, the readmission of fresh air into an exhausted receiver; the readmission of a student into a seminary.

Re`ad*mit" (-mt"), v. t. To admit again; to give entrance or access to again.

Whose ear is ever open, and his eye Gracious to readmit the suppliant.

Milton.

Re`ad*mit"tance (-tans), n. Allowance to enter again; a second admission.

Re`a*dopt" (r`*dpt"), v. t. To adopt again. Young.

Re`a*dorn" (-dôrn"), v. t. To adorn again or anew.

Re`ad*vance" (r`d*vns"), v. i. To advance again.

Re`ad*vert"en*cy (-vrt"en*s), n. The act of adverting to again, or of reviewing. [R.] Norris.

Read"y (rd"), a. [Compar. Readier (-*r); superl. Readiest.] [AS. rde; akin to D. gereed, bereid, G. bereit, Goth. garáids fixed, arranged, and possibly to E. ride, as meaning originally, prepared for riding. Cf. Array, 1st Curry.] 1. Prepared for what one is about to do or experience; equipped or supplied with what is needed for some act or event; prepared for immediate movement or action; as, the troops are ready to march; ready for the journey. "When she redy was." Chaucer.

2. Fitted or arranged for immediate use; causing no delay for lack of being prepared or furnished. "Dinner was ready." Fielding.

My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

Matt. xxii. 4.

3. Prepared in mind or disposition; not reluctant; willing; free; inclined; disposed.

I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts xxi. 13.

If need be, I am ready to forego And quit.

Milton.

4. Not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception of any kind; dexterous; prompt; easy; expert; as, a ready apprehension; ready wit; a ready writer or workman. "Ready in devising expedients." Macaulay.

Gurth, whose temper was ready, though surly.

Sir W. Scott.

5. Offering itself at once; at hand; opportune; convenient; near; easy. "The readiest way." Milton.

A sapling pine he wrenched from out the ground, The readiest weapon that his fury found.

Dryden.

6. On the point; about; on the brink; near; -- with a following infinitive.

My heart is ready to crack.

Shak.

7. (Mil.) A word of command, or a position, in the manual of arms, at which the piece is cocked and held in position to execute promptly the next command, which is, aim.

All ready, ready in every particular; wholly equipped or prepared. "[I] am all redy at your hest." Chaucer. -- Ready money, means of immediate payment; cash. "'T is all the ready money fate can give." Cowley. -- Ready reckoner, a book of tables for facilitating computations, as of interest, prices, etc. -- To make ready, to make preparation; to get in readiness.

Syn. -- Prompt; expeditious; speedy; unhesitating; dexterous; apt; skillful; handy; expert; facile; easy; opportune; fitted; prepared; disposed; willing; free; cheerful. See Prompt.

Read"y (rd"), adv. In a state of preparation for immediate action; so as to need no delay.

We ourselves will go ready armed.

Num. xxxii. 17.

Read"y, n. Ready money; cash; -- commonly with the; as, he was well supplied with the ready. [Slang]

Lord Strut was not flush in ready, either to go to law, or to clear old debts.

Arbuthnot.

Read"y, v. t. To dispose in order. [Obs.] Heywood.

Read"y-made` (-md`), a. Made already, or beforehand, in anticipation of need; not made to order; as, ready-made clothing; ready-made jokes.

Read"y-wit`ted (-wt`td), a. Having ready wit.

Re`af*firm" (r`f*frm"), v. t. To affirm again.

{ Re`af*firm"ance (r`f*frm"ans), Re*af`fir*ma"tion (r*f`fr*m"shn), } n. A second affirmation.

Re`af*for"est (r`f*fr"st), v. t. To convert again into a forest, as a region of country.

Re`af*for`es*ta"tion (-s*t"shn), n. The act or process of converting again into a forest.

Re*a"gent (r*"jent), n. (Chem.) A substance capable of producing with another a reaction, especially when employed to detect the presence of other bodies; a test.

Re*ag`gra*va"tion (- g`gr*v"shn), n. (R. C. Ch.) The last monitory, published after three admonitions and before the last excommunication.

Re`a*gree" (r`*gr"), v. i. To agree again.

Reak (rk), n. [&radic;115. Cf. Wrack seaweed.] A rush. [Obs.] "Feeds on reaks and reeds." Drant.

Reak, n. [Cf. Icel. hrekkr, or E. wreak vengeance.] A prank. [Obs.] "They play such reaks." Beau. & Fl.

Re"al (r"al), n. [Sp., fr. real royal, L. regalis. See Regal, and cf. Ree a coin.] A small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.

A real of plate (coin) varied in value according to the time of its coinage, from 12½ down to 10 cents, or from 6½ to 5 pence sterling. The real vellon, or money of account, was nearly equal to five cents, or 2½ pence sterling. In 1871 the coinage of Spain was assimilated to that of the Latin Union, of which the franc is the unit.

Re*al" (r*äl"), a. Royal; regal; kingly. [Obs.] "The blood real of Thebes." Chaucer.

Re"al (r"al), a. [LL. realis, fr. L. res, rei, a thing: cf. F. réel. Cf. Rebus.] 1. Actually being or existing; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a description of real life.

Whereat I waked, and found Before mine eyes all real, as the dream Had lively shadowed.

Milton.

2. True; genuine; not artificial, counterfeit, or factitious; often opposed to ostensible; as, the real reason; real Madeira wine; real ginger.

Whose perfection far excelled Hers in all real dignity.

Milton.

3. Relating to things, not to persons. [Obs.]

Many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the real part of business.

Bacon.

4. (Alg.) Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or meaning; not imaginary.

5. (Law) Pertaining to things fixed, permanent, or immovable, as to lands and tenements; as, real property, in distinction from personal or movable property.