Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)


Page 1188

Randomly

Ran"dom*ly (?), adv. In a random manner.

Randon

Ran"don (?), n. Random. [Obs.] Spenser.

Randon

Ran"don, v. i. To go or stray at random. [Obs.]

Ranedeer

Rane"deer` (?), n. See Reindeer. [Obs.]

Ranee

Ra"nee (?), n. Same as Rani.

Ranforce

Ran"force` (?), n. [Cf. F. renforcer.] See Re&eum;nforce. [Obs.] Bailey.

Rang

Rang (?), imp. of Ring, v. t. & i.

Range

Range (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ranged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ranging (?).] [OE. rengen, OF. rengier, F. ranger, OF. renc row, rank, F. rang; of German origin. See Rane, n.]

1. To set in a row, or in rows; to place in a regular line or lines, or in ranks; to dispose in the proper order; to rank; as, to range soldiers in line.

Maccabeus ranged his army by hands. 2 Macc. xii. 20.

2. To place (as a single individual) among others in a line, row, or order, as in the ranks of an army; -- usually, reflexively and figuratively, (in the sense) to espouse a cause, to join a party, etc.

It would be absurd in me to range myself on the side of the Duke of Bedford and the corresponding society. Burke.

3. To separate into parts; to sift. [Obs.] Holland.

4. To dispose in a classified or in systematic order; to arrange regularly; as, to range plants and animals in genera and species.

5. To rove over or through; as, to range the fields.

Teach him to range the ditch, and force the brake. Gay.

6. To sail or pass in a direction parallel to or near; as, to range the coast. &hand; Compare the last two senses (5 and 6) with the French ranger une c\'93te.

7. (Biol.) To be native to, or to live in; to frequent.

Range

Range, v. i.

1. To rove at large; to wander without restraint or direction; to roam.

Like a ranging spaniel that barks at every bird he sees. Burton.

2. To have range; to change or differ within limits; to be capable of projecting, or to admit of being projected, especially as to horizontal distance; as, the temperature ranged through seventy degrees Fahrenheit; the gun ranges three miles; the shot ranged four miles.

3. To be placed in order; to be ranked; to admit of arrangement or classification; to rank.

And range with humble livers in content. Shak.

4. To have a certain direction; to correspond in direction; to be or keep in a corresponding line; to trend or run; -- often followed by with; as, the front of a house ranges with the street; to range along the coast.

Which way the forests range. Dryden.

5. (Biol.) To be native to, or live in, a certain district or region; as, the peba ranges from Texas to Paraguay. Syn. -- To rove; roam; ramble; wander; stroll.

Range

Range, n.
[From Range, v.: cf. F. rangée.]

1. A series of things in a line; a row; a rank; as, a range of buildings; a range of mountains.

2. An aggregate of individuals in one rank or degree; an order; a class.

The next range of beings above him are the immaterial intelligences. Sir M. Hale.

3. The step of a ladder; a rung. Clarendon.

4. A kitchen grate. [Obs.]

He was bid at his first coming to take off the range, and let down the cinders. L'Estrange.

5. Am extended cooking apparatus of cast iron, set in brickwork, and affording conveniences for various ways cooking; also, a kind of cooking stove.

6. A bolting sieve to sift meal. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

7. A wandering or roving; a going to and fro; an excursion; a ramble; an expedition.

He may take a range all the world over. South.

8. That which may be ranged over; place or room for excursion; especially, a region of country in which cattle or sheep may wander and pasture.

9. Extent or space taken in by anything excursive; compass or extent of excursion; reach; scope; discursive; as, the range of one's voice, or authority.

Far as creation's ample range extends. Pope.
The range and compass of Hammond's knowledge filled the whole circle of the arts. Bp. Fell.
A man has not enough range of thought. Addison.

10. (Biol.) The region within which a plant or animal naturally lives.

11. (Gun.) (a) The horizontal distance to which a shot or other projectile is carried. (b) Sometimes, less properly, the trajectory of a shot or projectile. (c) A place where shooting, as with cannons or rifles, is practiced.

12. In the public land system of the United States, a row or line of townships lying between two succession meridian lines six miles apart. &hand; The meridians included in each great survey are numbered in order east and west from the principal meridian" of that survey, and the townships in the range are numbered north and south from the base line," which runs east and west; as, township No. 6, N., range 7, W., from the fifth principal meridian.

13. (Naut.) See Range of cable, below. Range of accommodation (Optics), the distance between the near point and the far point of distinct vision, -- usually measured and designated by the strength of the lens which if added to the refracting media of the eye would cause the rays from the near point to appear as if they came from the far point. -- Range finder (Gunnery), an instrument, or apparatus, variously constructed, for ascertaining the distance of an inaccessible object, -- used to determine what elevation must be given to a gun in order to hit the object; a position finder. -- Range of cable (Naut.), a certain length of slack cable ranged along the deck preparatory to letting go the anchor. -- Range work (Masonry), masonry of squared stones laid in courses each of which is of even height throughout the length of the wall; -- distinguished from broken range work, which consists of squared stones laid in courses not continuously of even height. -- To get the range of (an object) (Gun.), to find the angle at which the piece must be raised to reach (the object) without carrying beyond.

Rangement

Range"ment (?)
, n.
[Cf. F. rangement.] Arrangement. [Obs.] Waterland.

Ranger

Ran"ger (?), n.

1. One who ranges; a rover; sometimes, one who ranges for plunder; a roving robber.

2. That which separates or arranges; specifically, a sieve. [Obs.] The tamis ranger." Holland.

3. A dog that beats the ground in search of game.

4. One of a body of mounted troops, formerly armed with short muskets, who range over the country, and often fight on foot.

5. The keeper of a public park or forest; formerly, a sworn officer of a forest, appointed by the king's letters patent, whose business was to walk through the forest, recover beasts that had strayed beyond its limits, watch the deer, present trespasses to the next court held for the forest, etc. [Eng.]<-- similar function for U.S. national parksand antional monuments. -->

Rangership

Ran"ger*ship, n. The office of the keeper of a forest or park. [Eng.]

Rangle

Ran"gle (?), v. i. To range about in an irregular manner. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Rani

Ra"ni (?), n. [Hind. rānī, Skr. rājnī. See Rajah.] A queen or princess; the wife of a rajah. [Written also ranee.] [India]

Ranine

Ra"nine (?), a. [L. rana a frog.]

1. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the frogs and toads.

2. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or designating, a swelling under the tongue; also, pertaining to the region where the swelling occurs; -- applied especially to branches of the lingual artery and lingual vein.

Rank

Rank (?), a. [Compar. Ranker (?); superl. Rankest.] [AS. ranc strong, proud; cf. D. rank slender, Dan. rank upright, erect, Prov. G. rank slender, Icel. rakkr slender, bold. The meaning seems to have been influenced by L. rancidus, E. rancid.]

1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.

And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Gen. xli. 5.

2. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy. Rank nonsense." Hare. I do forgive thy rankest fault." Shak.

3. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land. Mortimer.

4. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue. Spenser.

5. Strong to the taste. Divers sea fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed." Boyle.

6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [Obs.] Shak. Rank modus (Law), an excessive and unreasonable modus. See Modus, 3. -- To set (the iron of a plane, etc.) rank, to set so as to take off a thick shaving. Moxon.

Rank

Rank, adv. Rankly; stoutly; violently. [Obs.]
That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell. Fairfax.

Rank

Rank, n. [OE. renk, reng, OF. renc, F. rang, fr. OHG. hring a circle, a circular row, G. ring. See Ring, and cf. Range, n. & v.]

1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers.

Many a mountain nigh Rising in lofty ranks, and loftier still. Byron.

2. (Mil.) A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a).

Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war. Shak.

3. Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral.

4. An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings.

5. Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank.

These all are virtues of a meaner rank. Addison.

6. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank. Rank and file. (a) (Mil.) The whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff.<-- analogously, the lowest ranking members of any organization --> (b) See under 1st File. -- The ranks, the order or grade of common soldiers; as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks. -- To fill the ranks, to supply the whole number, or a competent number. -- To take rank of, to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.<-- pull rank, to insist on one's own prerogative or plan of action, by right of a higher rank than that of one suggesting a different plan -->

Rank

Rank, v. t.
[imp. & p. p.
Ranked (?)
; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranking,]

1. To place abreast, or in a line.

2. To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify.

Ranking all things under general and special heads. I. Watts.
Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers. Broome.
Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. Dr. H. More.

3. To take rank of; to outrank. [U.S.]

Rank

Rank, v. i.

1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, an in a particular degree, class, order, or division.

Let that one article rank with the rest. Shak.

2. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation.

Ranker

Rank"er (?), n. One who ranks, or disposes in ranks; one who arranges.

Rankle

Ran"kle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rankled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Rankling (?).] [From Rank, a.]

1. To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively.

A malady that burns and rankles inward. Rowe.
This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts of the people. Burke.

2. To produce a festering or inflamed effect; to cause a sore; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a splinter rankles in the flesh; the words rankled in his bosom.

Rankle

Ran"kle (?)
, v. t.
To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame. [R.] Beau. & Fl.

Rankly

Rank"ly (?), adv. With rank or vigorous growth; luxuriantly; hence, coarsely; grossly; as, weeds grow rankly.

Rankness

Rank"ness, n. [AS. rancness pride.] The condition or quality of being rank.

Rannel

Ran"nel (?), n. A prostitute. [Obs.]

Ranny

Ran"ny (?), n. [L. araneus mus, a kind of small mouse.] (Zoöl.) The erd shrew. [Scot.]

Ransack

Ran"sack (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransacked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ransacking.] [OE. ransaken, Icel, rannsaka to explore, examine; rann a house (akin to Goth. razn house, AS. ræsn plank, beam) + the root of sækja to seek, akin to E. seek. See Seek, and cf. Rest repose.]

1. To search thoroughly; to search every place or part of; as, to ransack a house.

To ransack every corner of their . . . hearts. South.

2. To plunder; to pillage completely.

Their vow is made To ransack Troy. Shak.

3. To violate; to ravish; to defiour. [Obs.]

Rich spoil of ransacked chastity. Spenser.

Ransack

Ran"sack, v. i. To make a thorough search.
To ransack in the tas [heap] of bodies dead. Chaucer.

Ransack

Ran"sack, n. The act of ransacking, or state of being ransacked; pillage. [R.]
Even your father's house Shall not be free fromransack. J. Webster.

Ransom

Ran"som (?), n. [OE. raunson, raunsoun, OF. ran&cced;on, raen&cced;on, raan&cced;on, F. ran&cced;on, fr. L. redemptio, fr. redimere to redeem. See Redeem, and cf. Redemption.]

1. The release of a captive, or of captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom. Dryden.

2. The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner, or for goods captured by an enemy; payment for freedom from restraint, penalty, or forfeit.

Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems. Milton.
His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty. Sir J. Davies/.

3. (O. Eng. Law) A sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment. Blackstone. Ransom bill (Law), a war contract, valid by the law of nations, for the ransom of property captured at sea and its safe conduct into port. Kent.

Ransom

Ran"som, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransomed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ransoming.] [Cf. F. ran&cced;onner. See Ransom, n.]

1. To redeem from captivity, servitude, punishment, or forfeit, by paying a price; to buy out of servitude or penalty; to rescue; to deliver; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy.

2. To exact a ransom for, or a payment on. [R.]

Such lands as he had rule of he ransomed them so grievously, and would tax the men two or three times in a year. Berners.

Ransomable

Ran"som*a*ble (?)
, a.
Such as can be ransomed.

Ransomer

Ran"som*er (?), n. One who ransoms or redeems.

Ransomless

Ran"som*less, a. Incapable of being ransomed; without ransom. Shak.

Rant

Rant (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ranted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranting.] [OD. ranten, randen, to dote, to be enraged.] To rave in violent, high-sounding, or extravagant language, without dignity of thought; to be noisy, boisterous, and bombastic in talk or declamation; as, a ranting preacher.
Look where my ranting host of the Garter comes! Shak.

Rant

Rant, n. High-sounding language, without importance or dignity of thought; boisterous, empty declamation; bombast; as, the rant of fanatics.
This is a stoical rant, without any foundation in the nature of man or reason of things. Atterbury.

Ranter

Rant"er (?), n.

1. A noisy talker; a raving declaimer.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) (a) One of a religious sect which sprung up in 1645; -- called also Seekers. See Seeker. (b) One of the Primitive Methodists, who seceded from the Wesleyan Methodists on the ground of their deficiency in fervor and zeal; -- so called in contempt.

Ranterism

Rant"er*ism (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) The practice or tenets of the Ranters.

Rantingly

Rant"ing*ly, adv. In a ranting manner.

Rantipole

Rant"i*pole (?), n. [Ranty + pole, poll, head.] A wild, romping young person. [Low] Marrya.

Rantipole

Rant"i*pole, a. Wild; roving; rakish. [Low]

Rantipole

Rant"i*pole, v. i. To act like a rantipole. [Low]
She used to rantipole about the house. Arbuthnot.

Rantism

Rant"ism (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) Ranterism.

Ranty

Rant"y (?), a. Wild; noisy; boisterous.

Ranula

Ran"u*la (?), n. [L., a little frog, a little swelling on the tongue of cattle, dim. of rana a frog.] (Med.) A cyst formed under the tongue by obstruction of the duct of the submaxillary gland.

Ranunculaceous

Ra*nun`cu*la"ceous (?), a. [See Ranunculus.] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (Ranunculaceæ), of which the buttercup is the type, and which includes also the virgin's bower, the monkshood, larkspur, anemone, meadow rue, and peony.

Ranunculus

Ra*nun`cu*lus (?), n.; pl. E. Ranunculuses (#), L. Ranunculi (#). [L., a little frog, a medicinal plant, perhaps crowfoot, dim. of rana a frog; cf. raccare to roar.] (Bot.) A genus of herbs, mostly with yellow flowers, including crowfoot, buttercups, and the cultivated ranunculi (R. Asiaticus, R. aconitifolius, etc.) in which the flowers are double and of various colors.