Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 1184

Radiolaria

Ra`di*o*la"ri*a (?), 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.

Radiolarian

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

Radioli

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

Radiolite

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

Radiometer

Ra`di*om"e*ter (?), n. [L. radius radius + -meter: cf. F. radiom\'8atre.]

1. (Naut.) A forestaff.

2. (Physics) An instrument designed for measuring the mechanical effect of radiant energy. &hand; It consists of a number of light discs, blackened on one side, placed at the ends of extended arms, supported on an a pivot in an exhausted glass vessel. When exposed to rays of light or heat, the arms rotate.

Radiomicrometer

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

Radiophone

Ra"di*o*phone (?), [Radio- + Gr. 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. <-- 2. a telephone using radio waves -->

Radiophony

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

Radious

Ra"di*ous (?), a. [L. radiosus.]

1. Consisting of rays, and light. [R.] Berkeley.

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

Radish

Rad"ish (?), 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 (Paphanus 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.

Radius

Ra"di*us (?), n.; pl. L. Radii (#); E. Radiuses (#). [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. &hand; The radius is on the same side of the limb as the thumb, or pollex, and in man it 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. (b) Radiating organs, or color-markings, of the radiates.

5. The movable limb of a sextant or other angular instrument. Knight. Radius bar (Math.), 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.

Radius vector

Ra"di*us vec"tor (?).

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.

Radix

Ra"dix (?), n.; pl. Radices (#), E. Radixes (#). [L. radix, -icis, root. See Radish.]

1. (Philol.) A primitive, 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.

Radula

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

Raduliform

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

Raff

Raff (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raffed (?); 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

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.]

Raffaelesque

Raf`fa*el*esque" (?), a. Raphaelesque.

Raffia

Raf"fi*a (?), 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).

Raffinose

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

Raffish

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

A sad, raffish, disreputable character. Thackeray.

Raffle

Raf"fle (?), n. [F. rafle; faire rafle to sweep stakes, fr. rafter to carry or sweep away, rafler tout to sweep stakes; of German origin; cf. G. raffeln to snatch up, to rake. See Raff, v.]1. A kind of lottery, in which several persons pay, in shares, the value of something put up as a stake, and then determine by chance (as by casting dice) which one of them shall become the sole possessor. 2. A game of dice in which he who threw three alike won all the stakes. [Obs.] Cotgrave. Raffle Raf"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raffled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Raffling (?).] To engage in a raffle; as, to raffle for a watch.

Raffle

Raf"fle, v. t. To dispose of by means of a raffle; -- often followed by off; as, to raffle off a horse.

Raffler

Raf"fler (?), n. One who raffles.

Rafflesia

Raf*fle"si*a (?), n. [NL. Named from its discoverer, Sir S. Raffle.] (Bot.) A genus of stemless, leafless plants, living parasitically upon the roots and stems of grapevines in Malaysia. The flowers have a carrionlike odor, and are very large, in one species (Rafflesia Arnoldi) having a diameter of two or three feet.

Raft

Raft (?), obs. imp. & p. p. of Reave. Spenser.

Raft

Raft, n. [Originally, a rafter, spar, and fr. Icel. raptr a rafter; akin to Dan. raft, Prov. G. raff a rafter, spar; cf. OHG. rāfo, rāvo, a beam, rafter, Icel. rāf roof. Cf. Rafter, n.]1. A collection of logs, boards, pieces of timber, or the like, fastened, together, either for their own collective conveyance on the water, or to serve as a support in conveying other things; a float. 2. A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. (such as is formed in some Western rivers of the United States), which obstructs navigation. [U.S.] 3. [Perhaps akin to raff a heap.] A large collection of people or things taken indiscriminately. [Slang, U. S.] A whole raft of folks." W. D. Howells. Raft bridge. (a) A bridge whose points of support are rafts. (b) A bridge that consists of floating timbers fastened together. -- Raft duck. [The name alludes to its swimming in dense flocks.] (Zoöl.) (a) The bluebill, or greater scaup duck; -- called also flock duck. See Scaup. (b) The redhead. -- Raft port (Naut.), a large, square port in a vessel's side for loading or unloading timber or other bulky articles; a timber or lumber port. Raft Raft, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rafted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rafting.] To transport on a raft, or in the form of a raft; to make into a raft; as, to raft timber.

Rafte

Raf"te (?), obs. imp. of Reave. Chaucer.

Rafter

Raft"er (?), n. A raftsman.

Rafter

Raft"er, n. [AS. ræfter; akin to E. raft, n. See Raft.] (Arch.) Originally, any rough and somewhat heavy piece of timber. Now, commonly, one of the timbers of a roof which are put on sloping, according to the inclination of the roof. See Illust. of Queen-post.

[Courtesy] oft is sooner found in lowly sheds, With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls. Milton.

Rafter

Raft"er, v. t.

1. To make into rafters, as timber.

2. To furnish with rafters, as a house.

3. (Agric.) To plow so as to turn the grass side of each furrow upon an unplowed ridge; to ridge. [Eng.]

Rafting

Raft"ing, n. The business of making or managing rafts.

Raftsman

Rafts"man (?), n.; pl. Raftsmen (). A man engaged in rafting.

Rafty

Raf"ty (?), a. [Perhaps akin to G. reif hoarfrost.] Damp; musty. [Prov. Eng.]

Rag

Rag (?), v. t. [Cf. Icel. rægja to calumniate, OHG, ruogen to accuse, G. r\'81gen to censure, AS. wr&emac;gan, Goth. wr&omac;hjan to accuse.] To scold or rail at; to rate; to tease; to torment; to banter. [Prov. Eng.] Pegge.

Rag

Rag, n. [OE. ragge, probably of Scand, origin; cf. Icel. rögg rough hair. Cf. Rug, n.]1. A piece of cloth torn off; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred; a tatter; a fragment. Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tossed, And fluttered into rags. Milton. Not having otherwise any rag of legality to cover the shame of their cruelty. Fuller. 2. pl. Hence, mean or tattered attire; worn-out dress. And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm. Dryden. 3. A shabby, beggarly fellow; a ragamuffin. The other zealous rag is the compositor. B. Jonson. Upon the proclamation, they all came in, both tag and rag. Spenser. 4. (Geol.) A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture. 5. (Metal Working) A ragged edge. 6. A sail, or any piece of canvas. [Nautical Slang] Our ship was a clipper with every rag set. Lowell. Rag bolt, an iron pin with barbs on its shank to retain it in place. -- Rag carpet, a carpet of which the weft consists of narrow of cloth sewed together, end to end. -- Rag dust, fine particles of ground-up rags, used in making papier-maché and wall papers. -- Rag wheel. (a) A chain wheel; a sprocket wheel. (b) A polishing wheel made of disks of cloth clamped together on a mandrel. -- Rag wool, wool obtained by tearing woolen rags into fine bits, shoddy. Rag Rag (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ragged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ragging (?).] To become tattered. [Obs.]

Rag

Rag, v. t.

1. To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.

2. To cut or dress roughly, as a grindstone.

Ragabash, Ragabrash

Rag"a*bash` (?), Rag"a*brash` (?), n. An idle, ragged person. Nares. Grose.
Ragamuffin
Rag`a*muf"fin (?), n. [Cf. Ragamofin, the name of a demon in some of the old mysteries.]
1. A paltry or disreputable fellow; a mean which. Dryden.
2. A person who wears ragged clothing. [Colloq.]
3. (Zoöl.) The long-tailed titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]
Rage
Rage (?), n. [F., fr. L. rabies, fr. rabere to rave; cf. Skr. rabh to seize, rabhas violence. Cf. Rabid, Rabies, Rave.]
1. Violent excitement; eager passion; extreme vehemence of desire, emotion, or suffering, mastering the will. In great rage of pain." Bacon.
He appeased the rage of hunger with some scraps of broken meat. Macaulay.

Convulsed with a rage of grief. Hawthorne.

2. Especially, anger accompanied with raving; overmastering wrath; violent anger; fury.
torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Milton.

3. A violent or raging wind. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. The subject of eager desire; that which is sought after, or prosecuted, with unreasonable or excessive passion; as, to be all the rage. Syn. -- Anger; vehemence; excitement; passion; fury. See Anger.
Rage
Rage, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Raging (?).] [OF. ragier. See Rage, n.]1. To be furious with anger; to be exasperated to fury; to be violently agitated with passion. Whereat he inly raged." Milton. When one so great begins to rage, he a hunted Even to falling. Shak. 2. To be violent and tumultuous; to be violently driven or agitated; to act or move furiously; as, the raging sea or winds. Why do the heathen rage ? Ps. ii. 1. The madding wheels Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise. Milton. 3. To ravage; to prevail without restraint, or with destruction or fatal effect; as, the plague raged in Cairo. 4. To toy or act wantonly; to sport. [Obs.] Chaucer. Syn. -- To storm; fret; chafe; fume. Rage Rage, v. t. To enrage. [Obs.] Shak. Rageful Rage"ful (?), a. Full of rage; expressing rage. [Obs.] Rageful eyes." Sir P. Sidney.
Ragery
Ra"ger*y (?), n. Wantonness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ragged
Rag"ged (?), a. [From Rag, n.]1. Rent or worn into tatters, or till the texture is broken; as, a ragged coat; a ragged sail. 2. Broken with rough edges; having jags; uneven; rough; jagged; as, ragged rocks. 3. Hence, harsh and disagreeable to the ear; dissonant. [R.] A ragged noise of mirth." Herbert. 4. Wearing tattered clothes; as, a ragged fellow. 5. Rough; shaggy; rugged. What shepherd owns those ragged sheep ? Dryden. Ragged lady (Bot.), the fennel flower (Nigella Damascena). -- Ragged robin (Bot.), a plant of the genus Lychnis (L. Flos-cuculi), cultivated for its handsome flowers, which have the petals cut into narrow lobes. -- Ragged sailor (Bot.), prince's feather (Polygonum orientale). -- Ragged school, a free school for poor children, where they are taught and in part fed; -- a name given at first because they came in their common clothing. [Eng.] -- Rag"ged*ly, adv. -- Rag"ged*ness, n.
Raggie, ∨ Raggy
Rag"gie (?), ∨ Rag"gy, a. Ragged; rough. [Obs.] A stony and raggie hill." Holland.
Raghuvansa
Ragh`u*van"sa (?), n. [Skr. Raguva&msdot;&cced;a.] A celebrated Sanskrit poem having for its subject the Raghu dynasty.
Raging
Ra"ging (?), a. & n. from Rage, v. i. -- Ra"*ging*ly, adv.
Ragious
Ra"gious (?), a. Raging; furious; rageful. [Obs.] -- Ra"gious*ness, n. [Obs.]
Raglan
Rag"lan (?), n. A loose overcoat with large sleeves; -- named from Lord Raglan, an English general.
Ragman
Rag"man (?), n.; pl. Ragmen (). A man who collects, or deals in, rags.
Ragman
Rag"man, n. [See Ragman's roll.] A document having many names or numerous seals, as a papal bull. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
Ragman's roll
Rag"man's roll` (?). [For ragman roll a long list of names, the devil's roll or list; where ragman is of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. ragmenni a craven person, Sw. raggen the devil. Icel. ragmenni is fr. ragr cowardly (another form of argr, akin to AS. earg cowardly, vile, G. arg bad) + menni (in comp.) man, akin to E. man. See Roll, and cf. Rigmarole.] The rolls of deeds on parchment in which the Scottish nobility and gentry subscribed allegiance to Edward I. of England, A. D. 1296. [Also written ragman-roll.]
Ragout
Ra*gout" (?), n. [F. rago\'96t, fr. rago\'96ter to restore one's appetite, fr. L. pref. re- re- + ad to + gustare to taste, gustus taste. See Gust relish.] A dish made of pieces of meat, stewed, and highly seasoned; as, a ragout of mutton.
Ragpicker
Rag"pick`er (?), n. One who gets a living by picking up rags and refuse things in the streets.
Raguled, Ragguled
Ra*guled" (?), Rag*guled" (?), a. [Cf. F. raguer to chafe, fret, rub, or E. rag.] (Her.) Notched in regular diagonal breaks; -- said of a line, or a bearing having such an edge.