1. A royal jurisdiction or domain; a region which is under the dominion of a king; a kingdom. The absolute master of realms on which the sun perpetually alone. Motley.
2. Hence, in general, province; region; country; domain; department; division; as, the realm of fancy.
REALMLESSRealm"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of a realm. Keats.
REALNESSRe"al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or condition of being real; reality.
REALTYRe"al*ty, n. Etym: [OF. réalté, LL. regalitas, fr. L. regalis. SeeRegal.]
1. Royalty. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Loyalty; faithfulness. [R.] Milton.
REALTYRe"al*ty, n. Etym: [Contr. from 1st Reality.]
1. Realty. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
2. (Law) (a) Immobility, or the fixed, permanent nature of real property; as, chattels which savor of the realty; — so written in legal language for reality. (b) Real estate; a piece of real property. Blackstone.
REAMReam, n. Etym: [AS. reám, akin to G. rahm.]
Defn: Cream; also, the cream or froth on ale. [Scot.]
REAMReam, v. i.
Defn: To cream; to mantle. [Scot.] A huge pewter measuring pot which, in the language of the hostess, reamed with excellent claret. Sir W. Scott.
REAMReam, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Reim.]
Defn: To stretch out; to draw out into thongs, threads, or filaments.
REAM Ream, n. Etym: [OE. reme, OF. rayme, F. rame (cf. Sp. resma), fr. Ar. rizma a bundle, especially of paper.]
Defn: A bundle, package, or quantity of paper, usually consisting of twenty quires or 480 sheets. Printer's ream, twenty-one and a half quires. [Eng.] A common practice is now to count five hundred sheets to the ream. Knight.
REAMReam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Reaming.] Etym:[Cf. G. räumen to remove, to clear away, fr. raum room. See Room.]
Defn: To bevel out, as the mouth of a hole in wood or metal; in modern usage, to enlarge or dress out, as a hole, with a reamer.
REAMEReame, n.
Defn: Realm. [Obs.] Chaucer.
REAMERReam"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, reams; specifically, an instrument with cutting or scraping edges, used, with a twisting motion, for enlarging a round hole, as a bore of a cannon, etc.
REAMPUTATIONRe*am`pu*ta"tion, n. (Surg.)
Defn: The second of two amputations performed upon the same member.
REANIMATERe*an"i*mate, v. t.
Defn: To animate anew; to restore to animation or life; to infuse new life, vigor, spirit, or courage into; to revive; to reinvigorate; as, to reanimate a drowned person; to reanimate disheartened troops; to reanimate languid spirits. Glanvill.
REANIMATIONRe*an"i*ma"tion, n.
Defn: The act or operation of reanimating, or the state of being reanimated; reinvigoration; revival.
REANNEXRe`an*nex", v. t.
Defn: To annex again or anew; to reunite. "To reannex that duchy."Bacon.
REANNEXATIONRe*an`nex*a"tion, n.
Defn: Act of reannexing.
REANSWERRe*an"swer, v. t. & i.
Defn: To answer in return; to repay; to compensate; to make amendsfor.Which in weight to reanswer, his pettiness would bow under. Shak.
REAP Reap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raped; p. pr. & vb. n. Reaping.] Etym: [OE. repen, AS. ripan to seize, reap; cf. D. rapen to glean, reap, G. raufen to pluck, Goth. raupjan, or E. ripe.]
1. To cut with a sickle, scythe, or reaping machine, as grain; to gather, as a harvest, by cutting. When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field. Lev.
2. To gather; to obtain; to receive as a reward or harvest, or as the fruit of labor or of works; — in a good or a bad sense; as, to reap a benefit from exertions. Why do I humble thus myself, and, suing For peace, reap nothing but repulse and hate Milton.
3. To clear or a crop by reaping; as, to reap a field.
4. To deprive of the beard; to shave. [R.] Shak. Reaping hook, an instrument having a hook-shaped blade, used in reaping; a sickle; — in a specific sense, distinguished from a sickle by a blade keen instead of serrated.
REAPReap, v. i.
Defn: To perform the act or operation of reaping; to gather aharvest.They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Ps. cxxvi. 5.
REAPReap, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. rip harvest. See Reap, v.]
Defn: A bundle of grain; a handful of grain laid down by the reaper as it is cut. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Wright.
REAPERReap"er, n.
1. One who reaps. The sun-burned reapers wiping their foreheads. Macaulay.
2. A reaping machine.
REAPPARELRe`ap*par"el, v. t.
Defn: To clothe again.
REAPPEARRe`ap*pear, v. i.
Defn: To appear again.
REAPPEARANCERe`ap*pear"ance, v. i.
Defn: A second or new appearance; the act or state of appearing again.
REAPPLICATIONRe*ap`pli*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act of reapplying, or the state of being reapplied.
REAPPLYRe`ap*ply", v. t. & i.
Defn: To apply again.
REAPPOINTRe`ap*point", v. t.
Defn: To appoint again.
REAPPOINTMENTRe`ap*point"ment, n.
Defn: The act of reappointing, or the state of being reappointed.
REAPPORTIONRe`ap*por"tion, v. t.
Defn: To apportion again.
REAPPORTIONMENTRe`ap*por"tion*ment, n.
Defn: A second or a new apportionment.
REAPPROACHRe`ap*proach", v. i. & t.
Defn: To approach again or anew.
REARRear, adv.
Defn: Early; soon. [Prov. Eng.]Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear! Gay.
REARRear, n. Etym: [OF. riere behind, backward, fr. L. retro. Cf.Arrear.]
1. The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; — opposed to Ant: front. Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost. Milton.
2. Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest. When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear. Milton.
REARRear, a.
Defn: Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rearrank of a company. Rear admiral, an officer in the navy, next in rankbelow a vice admiral, and above a commodore. See Admiral.— Rear front (Mil.), the rear rank of a body of troops when facedabout and standing in that position.— Rear guard (Mil.), the division of an army that marches in therear of the main body to protect it; — used also figuratively.— Rear line (Mil.), the line in the rear of an army.— Rear rank (Mil.), the rank or line of a body of troops which isin the rear, or last in order.— Rear sight (Firearms), the sight nearest the breech.— To bring up the rear, to come last or behind.
REARRear, v. t.
Defn: To place in the rear; to secure the rear of. [R.]
REARRear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reared; p. pr. & vb. n. Rearing.] Etym:[AS. ræran to raise, rear, elevate, for ræsan, causative of risan torise. See Rise, and cf. Raise.]
1. To raise; to lift up; to cause to rise, become erect, etc.; to elevate; as, to rear a monolith. In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me. Milton. It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts. Barrow. Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner. Ld. Lytton.
2. To erect by building; to set up; to construct; as, to rear defenses or houses; to rear one government on the ruins of another. One reared a font of stone. Tennyson.
3. To lift and take up. [Obs. or R.] And having her from Trompart lightly reared, Upon his set the lovely load. Spenser.
4. To bring up to maturity, as young; to educate; to instruct; to foster; as, to rear offspring. He wants a father to protect his youth, And rear him up to virtue. Southern.
5. To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle.
6. To rouse; to strip up. [Obs.] And seeks the tusky boar to rear. Dryden.
Syn. — To lift; elevate; erect; raise, build; establish. See the Note under Raise, 3 (c).
REARRear, v. i.
Defn: To rise up on the hind legs, as a horse; to become erect. Rearing bit, a bit designed to prevent a horse from lifting his head when rearing. Knight.
REARDORSE; REARDOSSRear"dorse, Rear"doss, n.
Defn: A reredos.
REARERRear"er, n.
Defn: One he, or that which, rears.
REARGUERe*ar"gue, v. t.
Defn: To argue anew or again.
REARGUMENTRe*ar"gu*ment, n.
Defn: An arguing over again, as of a motion made in court.
REAR-HORSE Rear"-horse`, n. Etym: [So called because it rears up when disturbed.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mantis.
REARLYRear"ly, adv.
Defn: Early. [Obs.] Beau. & Ft.
REARMOSTRear"most`, a.
Defn: Farthest in the rear; last.
REARMOUSE; REREMOUSERear"mouse`, Rere"mouse`, n. Etym: [AS. hreremus; probably fr. hreranto agitate, stir (akin to G. rühren, Icel. hræra) + mus mouse.](Zoöl.)
Defn: The leather-winged bat (Vespertilio murinus). [Written also reermouse.]
REARRANGERe`ar*range", v. t.
Defn: To arrange again; to arrange in a different way.
REARRANGEMENTRe`ar*range"ment, n.
Defn: The act of rearranging, or the state of being rearranged.
REARWARDRear"ward`, n. Etym: [Rear + ward.]
Defn: The last troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard. Also used figuratively. Shak.
REARWARDRear"ward, a. & adv.
Defn: At or toward the rear.
REASCENDRe`as*cend", v. i.
Defn: To rise, mount, or climb again.
REASCENDRe`as*cend", v. t.
Defn: To ascend or mount again; to reach by ascending again.He mounts aloft, and reascends the skies. Addison.
REASCENSIONRe`as*cen"sion, n.
Defn: The act of reascending; a remounting.
REASCENTRe`as*cent", n.
Defn: A returning ascent or ascension; acclivity. Cowper.
REASON Rea"son, n. Etym: [OE. resoun, F. raison, fr. L. ratio (akin to Goth. rapj number, account, garapjan to count, G. rede speech, reden to speak), fr. reri, ratus, to reckon, believe, think. Cf. Arraign, Rate, Ratio, Ration.]
1. A thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; a just ground for a conclusion or an action; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation; the efficient cause of an occurrence or a phenomenon; a motive for an action or a determination; proof, more or less decisive, for an opinion or a conclusion; principle; efficient cause; final cause; ground of argument. I'll give him reasons for it. Shak. The reason of the motion of the balance in a wheel watch is by the motion of the next wheel. Sir M. Hale. This reason did the ancient fathers render, why the church was called "catholic." Bp. Pearson. Virtue and vice are not arbitrary things; but there is a natural and eternal reason for that goodness and virtue, and against vice and wickedness. Tillotson.
2. The faculty of capacity of the human mind by which it is distinguished from the intelligence of the inferior animals; the higher as distinguished from the lower cognitive faculties, sense, imagination, and memory, and in contrast to the feelings and desires. Reason comprises conception, judgment, reasoning, and the intuitional faculty. Specifically, it is the intuitional faculty, or the faculty of first truths, as distinguished from the understanding, which is called the discursive or ratiocinative faculty. We have no other faculties of perceiving or knowing anything divine or human, but by our five senses and our reason. P. Browne. In common and popular discourse, reason denotes that power by which we distinguish truth from falsehood, and right from wrong, and by which we are enabled to combine means for the attainment of particular ends. Stewart. Reason is used sometimes to express the whole of those powers which elevate man above the brutes, and constitute his rational nature, more especially, perhaps, his intellectual powers; sometimes to express the power of deduction or argumentation. Stewart. By the pure reason I mean the power by which we become possessed of principles. Coleridge. The sense perceives; the understanding, in its own peculiar operation, conceives; the reason, or rationalized understanding, comprehends. Coleridge.
3. Due exercise of the reasoning faculty; accordance with, or that which is accordant with and ratified by, the mind rightly exercised; right intellectual judgment; clear and fair deductions from true principles; that which is dictated or supported by the common sense of mankind; right conduct; right; propriety; justice. I was promised, on a time, To have reason for my rhyme. Spenser. But law in a free nation hath been ever public reason; the enacted reason of a parliament, which he denying to enact, denies to govern us by that which ought to be our law; interposing his own private reason, which to us is no law. Milton. The most probable way of bringing France to reason would be by the making an attempt on the Spanish West Indies. Addison.
4. (Math.)
Defn: Ratio; proportion. [Obs.] Barrow. By reason of, by means of; on account of; because of. "Spain is thin sown of people, partly by reason of the sterility of the soil." Bacon. In reason, In all reason, in justice; with rational ground; in a right view. When anything is proved by as good arguments as a thing of that kind is capable of, we ought not, in reason, to doubt of its existence. Tillotson. — It is reason, it is reasonable; it is right. [Obs.] Yet it were great reason, that those that have children should have greatest care of future times. Bacon.
Syn. — Motive; argument; ground; consideration; principle; sake; account; object; purpose; design. See Motive, Sense.
REASONRea"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reasoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Reasoning.]Etym: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]
1. To exercise the rational faculty; to deduce inferences from premises; to perform the process of deduction or of induction; to ratiocinate; to reach conclusions by a systematic comparison of facts.
2. Hence: To carry on a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to formulate and set forth propositions and the inferences from them; to argue. Stand still, that I may reason with you, before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord. 1 Sam. xii. 7.
3. To converse; to compare opinions. Shak.
REASONRea"son, v. t.
1. To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend. When they are clearly discovered, well digested, and well reasoned in every part, there is beauty in such a theory. T. Burnet.
2. To support with reasons, as a request. [R.] Shak.
3. To persuade by reasoning or argument; as, to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan. Men that will not be reasoned into their senses. L'Estrange.
4. To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons; — with down; as, to reason down a passion.
5. To find by logical process; to explain or justify by reason or argument; — usually with out; as, to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon.
REASONABLE Rea"son*a*ble, a. Etym: [OE. resonable, F. raisonnable, fr. L. rationabilis. See Reason, n.]
1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; rational; as, a reasonable being.
2. Governed by reason; being under influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally, or according to the dictates of reason; agreeable to reason; just; rational; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men. By indubitable certainty, I mean that which doth not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting. Bp. Wilkins. Men have no right to what is not reasonable. Burke.
3. Not excessive or immoderate; within due limits; proper; as, a reasonable demand, amount, price. Let . . . all things be thought upon That may, with reasonable swiftness, add More feathers to you wings. Shak.
Syn. — Rational; just; honest; equitable; fair; suitable; moderate; tolerable. See Rational.
REASONABLERea"son*a*ble, adv.
Defn: Reasonable; tolerably. [Obs.]I have a reasonable good ear in music. Shak.
REASONABLENESSRea"son*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being reasonable.
REASONABLYRea"son*a*bly, adv.
1. In a reasonable manner.
2. Moderately; tolerably. "Reasonably perfect in the language." Holder.
REASONERRea"son*er, n.
Defn: One who reasons or argues; as, a fair reasoner; a close reasoner; a logical reasoner.
REASONINGRea"son*ing, n.
1. The act or process of adducing a reason or reasons; manner of presenting one's reasons.
2. That which is offered in argument; proofs or reasons when arranged and developed; course of argument. His reasoning was sufficiently profound. Macaulay.
Syn. — Argumentation; argument. — Reasoning, Argumentation. Few words are more interchanged than these; and yet, technically, there is a difference between them. Reasoning is the broader term, including both deduction and induction. Argumentation denotes simply the former, and descends from the whole to some included part; while reasoning embraces also the latter, and ascends from a part to a whole. See Induction. Reasoning is occupied with ideas and their relations; argumentation has to do with the forms of logic. A thesis is set down: you attack, I defend it; you insist, I prove; you distinguish, I destroy your distinctions; my replies balance or overturn your objections. Such is argumentation. It supposes that there are two sides, and that both agree to the same rules. Reasoning, on the other hand, is often a natural process, by which we form, from the general analogy of nature, or special presumptions in the case, conclusions which have greater or less degrees of force, and which may be strengthened or weakened by subsequent experience.
REASONISTRea"son*ist, n.
Defn: A rationalist. [Obs.]Such persons are now commonly called "reasonists" and "rationalists,"to distinguish them from true reasoners and rational inquirers.Waterland.
REASONLESSRea"son*less, a.
1. Destitute of reason; as, a reasonless man or mind. Shak.
2. Void of reason; not warranted or supported by reason; unreasonable. This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak.
REASSEMBLAGERe`as*sem"blage, n.
Defn: Assemblage a second time or again.
REASSEMBLERe`as*sem"ble, v. t. & i.
Defn: To assemble again.
REASSERTRe`as*sert", v. t.
Defn: To assert again or anew; to maintain after an omission to doso.Let us hope . . . we may have a body of authors who will reassert ourclaim to respectability in literature. Walsh.
REASSERTIONRe`as*ser"tion, n.
Defn: A second or renewed assertion of the same thing.
REASSESSMENTRe`as*sess"ment, n.
Defn: A renewed or second assessment.
REASSIGNRe`as*sign", v. t.
Defn: To assign back or again; to transfer back what has been assigned.
REASSIGNMENTRe`as*sign"ment, n.
Defn: The act of reassigning.
REASSIMILATERe`as*sim"i*late, v. t. & i.
Defn: To assimilate again.— Re`as*sim`i*la"tion, n.
REASSOCIATERe`as*so"ci*ate, v. t. & i.
Defn: To associate again; to bring again into close relatoins.
REASSUMERe`as*sume", v. t.
Defn: To assume again or anew; to resume.— Re`as*sump"tion, n.
REASSURANCERe`as*sur"ance, n.
1. Assurance or confirmation renewed or repeated. Prynne.
2. (Law)
Defn: Same as Reinsurance.
REASSURERe`as*sure", v. t.
1. To assure anew; to restore confidence to; to free from fear orterror.They rose with fear, . . . Till dauntless Pallas reassured the rest.Dryden.
2. To reinsure.
REASSURERRe`as*sur"er, n.
Defn: One who reassures.
REASTYReas"ty, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Rusty and rancid; — applied to salt meat. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Tusser.— Reas"ti*ness, n. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
REATARe*a"ta, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A lariat.
REATTACHRe`at*tach, v. t.
Defn: To attach again.
REATTACHMENTRe`at*tach"ment, n.
Defn: The act of reattaching; a second attachment.
REATTAINRe`at*tain", v. t.
Defn: To attain again.
REATTAINMENTRe`at*tain"ment, n.
Defn: The act of reattaining.
REATTEMPTRe`at*tempt", v. t.
Defn: To attempt again.
REAUMERe`aume, n.
Defn: Realm. [Obs.] Chaucer.
REAUMURRé`au`mur", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur; conformed to the scale adopted by Réaumur in graduating the thermometer he invented. — n.
Defn: A Réaumur thermometer or scale.
Note: The Réaumur thermometer is so graduated that 0º marks the freezing point and 80º the boiling point of water. Frequently indicated by R. Cf. Centigrade, and Fahrenheit. See Illust. of Thermometer.
REAVE Reave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reaved, Reft (, or Raft ( (obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaving.] Etym: [AS. reáfian, from reáf spoil, plunder, clothing, reófan to break (cf. bireófan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob, Icel. raufa to rob, rjufa to break, violate, Goth. biráubon to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to break. sq. root114. Cf. Bereave, Rob, v. t., Robe, Rove, v. t., Rupture.]
Defn: To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to rob;to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. "To reave his life." Spenser.He golden apples raft of the dragon. Chaucer.By privy stratagem my life at home. Chapman.To reave the orphan of his patrimony. Shak.The heaven caught and reft him of his tongue. Tennyson.
REAVERReav"er, n.
Defn: One who reaves. [Archaic]
REAWAKERe`a*wake", v. i.
Defn: To awake again.
REBANISHRe*ban"ish, v. t.
Defn: To banish again.
REBAPTISATION; REBAPTIZATION Re*bap`ti*sa"tion, Re*bap`ti*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rebaptisation.]
Defn: A second baptism. [Obs.] Hooker.
REBAPTISMRe*bap"tism, n.
Defn: A second baptism.
REBAPTIZE Re`bap*tize", v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + baptist: of F. rebaptiser, L. rebaptizare.]
Defn: To baptize again or a second time.
REBAPTIZERRe`bap*tiz"er, n.
Defn: One who rebaptizes.
REBARBARIZERe*bar"ba*rize, v. t.
Defn: To reduce again to barbarism.— Re*bar`ba*ri*za"tion, n.Germany . . . rebarbarized by polemical theology and religious wars.Sir W. Hamilton.
REBATE Re*bate", v. t. Etym: [F. rebattre to beat again; pref re- re- + battre to beat, L. batuere to beat, strike. See Abate.]
1. To beat to obtuseness; to deprive of keenness; to blunt; to turn back the point of, as a lance used for exercise. But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge. Shak.
2. To deduct from; to make a discount from, as interest due, or customs duties. Blount. Rebated cross, a cross which has the extremities of the arms bent back at right angles, as in the fylfot.
REBATERe*bate", v. i.
Defn: To abate; to withdraw. [Obs.] Foxe.
REBATERe*bate", n.
1. Diminution.
2. (Com.)
Defn: Deduction; abatement; as, a rebate of interest for immediate payment; a rebate of importation duties. Bouvier.
REBATERe*bate", n. Etym: [See Rabbet.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A restangular longitudinal recess or groove, cut in the corner or edge of any body; a rabbet. See Rabbet.
2. A piece of wood hafted into a long stick, and serving to beat out mortar. Elmes.
3. An iron tool sharpened something like a chisel, and used for dressing and polishing wood. Elmes.
4. Etym: [Perhaps a different word.]
Defn: A kind of hard freestone used in making pavements. [R.] Elmes.
REBATERe*bate", v. t.
Defn: To cut a rebate in. See Rabbet, v.
REBATEMENTRe*bate"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. rabatement, fr. rabatre to diminish,F. rabatre.]
Defn: Same as 3d Rebate, v.
REBATORe*ba"to, n.
Defn: Same as Rabato. Burton.
REBEC Re"bec, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. ribeca, ribeba, fr. Ar. rabab a musical instrument of a round form.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument formerly used which somewhat resembled theviolin, having three strings, and being played with a bow. [Writtenalso rebeck.] Milton.He turn'd his rebec to a mournful note. Drayton.
2. A contemptuous term applied to an old woman. [Obs.] Chaucer.
REBELReb"el, a. Etym: [F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. t.]
Defn: Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt;rebellious; as, rebel troops.Whoso be rebel to my judgment. Chaucer.Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. Milton.
REBELReb"el, n. Etym: [F. rebelle.]
Defn: One who rebels.
Syn. — Revolter; insurgent. — Rebel, Insurgent. Insurgent marks an early, and rebel a more advanced, stage of opposition to government. The former rises up against his rulers, the latter makes war upon them.
REBELRe*bel", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rebelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebelling.]Etym: [F. rebeller, fr. L. rebellare to make war again; pref. re-again + bellare to make war, fr. bellum war. See Bellicose, and cf.Revel to carouse.]
1. To renounce, and resist by force, the authority of the ruler or government to which one owes obedience. See Rebellion. The murmur and the churl's rebelling. Chaucer. Ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord. Josh. xxii. 16.
2. To be disobedient to authority; to assume a hostile or insubordinate attitude; to revolt. Hoe could my hand rebel against my heart How could you heart rebel against your reason Dryden.
REBELDOMReb"el*dom, n.
Defn: A region infested by rebels; rebels, considered collectively; also, conduct o Thackeray.
REBELLERRe*bel"ler, n.
Defn: One who rebels; a rebel.
REBELLION Re*bel"lion, n. Etym: [F. rébellion, L. rebellio. See Rebel, v. t. Among the Romans rebellion was originally a revolt or open resistance to their government by nations that had been subdued in war. It was a renewed war.]
1. The act of rebelling; open and avowed renunciation of the authority of the government to which one owes obedience, and resistances to its officers and laws, either by levying war, or by aiding others to do so; an organized uprising of subjects for the purpose of coercing or overthrowing their lawful ruler or government by force; revolt; insurrection. No sooner is the standard of rebellion displayed than men of desperate principles resort to it. Ames.
2. Open resistances to, or defiance of, lawful authority. Commission of rebellion (Eng. Law), a process of contempt on the nonappearance of a defendant, — non abolished. Wharton. Burrill.
Syn.— Insurrection; sedition; revolt; mutiny; resistances; contumacy.See Insurrection.
REBELLIOUSRe*bel"lious, a.
Defn: Engaged in rebellion; disposed to rebel of the nature of rebelsor of rebellion; resisting government or lawful authority by force."Thy rebellious crew." "Proud rebellious arms." Milton.— Re*bel"lious*ly, adv.— Re*bel"lious*ness, n.
REBELLOWRe*bel"low, v. i.
Defn: To bellow again; to repeat or echo a bellow.The cave rebellowed, and the temple shook. Dryden.
REBITINGRe*bit"ing, n. (Etching)
Defn: The act or process of deepening worn lines in an etched plate by submitting it again to the action if acid. Fairholt.
REBLOOMRe*bloom", v. i.
Defn: To bloom again. Crabbe.
REBLOSSOMRe*blos"som, v. i.
Defn: To blossom again.
REBOANT Re*bo"ant, a. Etym: [L. reboans, p. pr. of reboare; pref. re- re- + boare to cry aloud.]
Defn: Rebellowing; resounding loudly. [R.] Mrs. Browning.
REBOATIONRe`bo*a"tion, n.
Defn: Repetition of a bellow. [R.] Bp. Patrick.
REBOILRe*boil", v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. re- + boil: cf. F. rebouillir.]
1. To boil, or to cause to boil, again.
2. Fig.: To make or to become hot. [Obs.] Some of his companions thereat reboyleth. Sir T. Elyot.
REBORNRe*born", p. p.
Defn: Born again.
REBOUNDRe*bound", v. i. Etym: [Pref. re- + bound: cf. F. rebondir.]
1. To spring back; to start back; to be sent back or reverberated by elastic force on collision with another body; as, a rebounding echo. Bodies which are absolutely hard, or so soft as to be void of elasticity, will not rebound from one another. Sir I. Newton.
2. To give back an echo. [R.] T. Warton.
3. To bound again or repeatedly, as a horse. Pope. Rebounding lock (Firearms), one in which the hammer rebounds to half cock after striking the cap or primer.
REBOUNDRe*bound", v. t.
Defn: To send back; to reverberate.Silenus sung; the vales his voice rebound. Dryden.
REBOUNDRe*bound", n.
Defn: The act of rebounding; resilience.Flew . . . back, as from a rock, with swift rebound. Dryden.
REBOZORe*bo"zo, n. [Sp. rebozo.]
Defn: A kind of mantilla worn by women over the head and shoulders, and sometimes over part of the face. [Mexico & Sp. Amer.]
REBRACERe*brace", v. t.
Defn: To brace again. Gray.
REBREATHERe*breathe", v. t.
Defn: To breathe again.
REBUCOUSRe*bu"cous, a.
Defn: Rebuking. [Obs.]She gave unto him many rebucous words. Fabyan.
REBUFF Re*buff", n. Etym: [It. ribuffo, akin to ribuffare to repulse; pref. ri- (L. re-) + buffo puff. Cf. Buff to strike, Buffet a blow.]
1. Repercussion, or beating back; a quick and sudden resistance. The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud. Milton.
2. Sudden check; unexpected repulse; defeat; refusal; repellence; rejection of solicitation.
REBUFFRe*buff", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebuffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuffing.]
Defn: To beat back; to offer sudden resistance to; to check; to repel or repulse violently, harshly, or uncourteously.
REBUILDRe*build", v. t.
Defn: To build again, as something which has been demolished; to construct anew; as, to rebuild a house, a wall, a wharf, or a city.
REBUILDERRe*build"er, n.
Defn: One who rebuilds. Bp. Bull.
REBUKABLERe*buk"a*ble, a.
Defn: Worthy of rebuke or reprehension; reprehensible. Shak.
REBUKE Re*buke", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebuked; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuking.] Etym: [OF. rebouquier to dull, blunt, F. reboucher; perhaps fr. pref. re- re- + bouche mouth, OF. also bouque, L. bucca cheek; if so, the original sense was, to stop the mouth of; hence, to stop, obstruct.]
Defn: To check, silence, or put down, with reproof; to restrain by expression of disapprobation; to reprehend sharply and summarily; to chide; to reprove; to admonish. The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered, Nor to rebuke the rich offender feared. Dryden.
Syn.— To reprove; chide; check; chasten; restrain; silence. SeeReprove.
REBUKERe*buke", n.
1. A direct and pointed reproof; a reprimand; also, chastisement;punishment.For thy sake I have suffered rebuke. Jer. xv. 15.Why bear you these rebukes and answer not Shak.
2. Check; rebuff. [Obs.] L'Estrange. To be without rebuke, to live without giving cause of reproof or censure; to be blameless.
REBUKEFULRe*buke"ful, a.
Defn: Containing rebuke; of the nature of rebuke. [Obs.] —Re*buke"ful*ly, adv. [Obs.]
REBUKERRe*buk"er, n.
Defn: One who rebukes.
REBUKINGLYRe*buk"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of rebuke.
REBULLITIONRe`bul*li"tion, n.
Defn: The act of boiling up or effervescing. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
REBURYRe*bur"y, v. t.
Defn: To bury again. Ashmole.
REBUS Re"bus, n.; pl. Rebuses. Etym: [L. rebus by things, abl. pl. of res a thing: cf. F. rébus. Cf. 3d things, abl. pl. of res a thing: cf. F. rébus. Cf. 3d Real.]
1. A mode of expressing words and phrases by pictures of objects whose names resemble those words, or the syllables of which they are composed; enigmatical representation of words by figures; hence, a peculiar form of riddle made up of such representations.
Note: A gallant, in love with a woman named Rose Hill, had, embroidered on his gown, a rose, a hill, an eye, a loaf, and a well, signifying, Rose Hill I love well.
2. (Her.)
Defn: A pictorial suggestion on a coat of arms of the name of the person to whom it belongs. See Canting arms, under Canting.
REBUSRe"bus, v. t.
Defn: To mark or indicate by a rebus. He [John Morton] had a fair library rebused with More in text and Tun under it. Fuller.
REBUTRe*but", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebutting.]Etym: [OF. reb to repulse, drive back; pref. re- + bouter to push,thrust. See 1st Butt, Boutade.]
1. To drive or beat back; to repulse. Who him, recount'ring fierce, as hawk in flight, Perforce rebutted back. Spenser.
2. (Law)
Defn: To contradict, meet, or oppose by argument, plea, or countervailing proof. Abbott.
REBUTRe*but", v. i.
1. To retire; to recoil. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. (Law)
Defn: To make, or put in, an answer, as to a plaintiff'ssurrejoinder.The plaintiff may answer the rejoinder by a surrejoinder; on whichthe defendant. Blackstone.
REBUTTABLERe*but"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being rebutted.
REBUTTALRe*but"tal, n. (Law)
Defn: The giving of evidence on the part of a plaintiff to destroy the effect of evidence introduced by the defendant in the same suit.
REBUTTERRe*but"ter, n. (Law)
Defn: The answer of a defendant in matter of fact to a plaintiff's surrejoinder.
RECADENCYRe*ca"den*cy, n.
Defn: A falling back or descending a second time; a relapse. W.Montagu.
RECALCITRANTRe*cal"ci*trant, a. Etym: [L. recalcitrans, p. pr. of recalcitrare tokick back; pref. re- re- + calcitrare to kick, fr. calx heel. Cf.Inculcate.]
Defn: Kicking back; recalcitrating; hence, showing repugnance or opposition; refractory.
RECALCITRATERe*cal"ci*trate, v. t.
Defn: To kick against; to show repugnance to; to rebuff. The more heartily did one disdain his disdain, and recalcitrate his tricks. De Quincey.
RECALCITRATERe*cal"ci*trate, v. i.
Defn: To kick back; to kick against anything; hence, to express repugnance or opposition.
RECALCITRATIONRe*cal`ci*tra"tion, n.
Defn: A kicking back again; opposition; repugnance; refractoriness.
RECALLRe*call", v. t.
1. To call back; to summon to return; as, to recall troops; to recall an ambassador.
2. To revoke; to annul by a subsequent act; to take back; to withdraw; as, to recall words, or a decree. Passed sentence may not be recall'd. Shak.
3. To call back to mind; to revive in memory; to recollect; to remember; as, to recall bygone days.
RECALLRe*call", n.
1. A calling back; a revocation. 'T his done, and since 't is done, 't is past recall. Dryden.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A call on the trumpet, bugle, or drum, by which soldiers are recalled from duty, labor, etc. Wilhelm.
RECALLABLERe*call"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being recalled.
RECALLMENTRe*call"ment, n.
Defn: Recall. [R.] R. Browning.
RECANTRe*cant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Recanting.]Etym: [L. recantare, recantatum, to recall, recant; pref. re- re- +cantare to sing, to sound. See 3d Cant, Chant.]
Defn: To withdraw or repudiate formally and publicly (opinions formerly expressed); to contradict, as a former declaration; to take back openly; to retract; to recall. How soon . . . ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void! Milton.
Syn.— To retract; recall; revoke; abjure; disown; disavow. SeeRenounce.
RECANTRe*cant", v. i.
Defn: To revoke a declaration or proposition; to unsay what has been said; to retract; as, convince me that I am wrong, and I will recant. Dryden.
RECANTATIONRe`can*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of recanting; a declaration that contradicts a former one; that which is thus asserted in contradiction; retraction. The poor man was imprisoned for this discovery, and forced to make a public recantation. Bp. Stillingfleet.
RECANTERRe*cant"er, n.
Defn: One who recants.
RECAPACITATERe`ca*pac"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To qualify again; to confer capacity on again. Atterbury.
RECAPITULATE Re*ca*pit"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. recapitulare, recapitulatum; pref. re- re- + capitulum a small head, chapter, section. See Capitulate.]
Defn: To repeat, as the principal points in a discourse, argument, or essay; to give a summary of the principal facts, points, or arguments of; to relate in brief; to summarize.
RECAPITULATERe`ca*pit"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To sum up, or enumerate by heads or topics, what has been previously said; to repeat briefly the substance.
RECAPITULATION Re`ca*pit`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. recapitulatio: cf. F. recapitulation.]
Defn: The act of recapitulating; a summary, or concise statement or enumeration, of the principal points, facts, or statements, in a preceding discourse, argument, or essay.
RECAPITULATORRe`ca*pit"u*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who recapitulates.
RECAPITULATORYRe`ca*pit"u*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of a recapitulation; containing recapitulation.
RECAPPERRe*cap"per, n. (Firearms)
Defn: A tool used for applying a fresh percussion cap or primer to a cartridge shell in reloading it.
RECAPTIONRe*cap"tion, n. (Law)
Defn: The act of retaking, as of one who has escaped after arrest; reprisal; the retaking of one's own goods, chattels, wife, or children, without force or violence, from one who has taken them and who wrongfully detains them. Blackstone. Writ of recaption (Law), a writ to recover damages for him whose goods, being distrained for rent or service, are distrained again for the same cause.Wharton.
RECAPTORRe*cap"tor, n.
Defn: One who recaptures; one who takes a prize which had been previously taken.
RECAPTURERe*cap"ture, n.
1. The act of retaking or recovering by capture; especially, the retaking of a prize or goods from a captor.
2. That which is captured back; a prize retaken.
RECAPTURERe*cap"ture, v. t.
Defn: To capture again; to retake.
RECARBONIZERe*car"bon*ize, v. t. (Metal.)
Defn: To restore carbon to; as, to recarbonize iron in converting it into steel.
RECARNIFYRe*car"ni*fy, v. t.
Defn: To convert again into flesh. [Obs.] Howell.
RECARRIAGERe*car"riage, n.
Defn: Act of carrying back.
RECARRYRe*car"ry, v. t.
Defn: To carry back. Walton.
RECASTRe*cast", v. t.
1. To throw again. Florio.
2. To mold anew; to cast anew; to throw into a new from a shape; to reconstruct; as, to recast cannon; to recast an argument or a play.
3. To compute, or cast up, a second time.
RECCHERec"che, v. i.
Defn: To reck. [Obs.] Chaucer.
RECCHELESRec"che*les, a.
Defn: Reckless. [Obs.] Chaucer.
RECEDERe*cede", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Receded; p. pr. & vb. n. Receding.]Etym: [L. recedere, recessum; pref. re- re- + cedere to go, to goalong: cf. F. recéder. See Cede.]
1. To move back; to retreat; to withdraw.Like the hollow roar Of tides receding from the instituted shore.Dryden.All bodies moved circularly endeavor to recede from the center.Bentley.
2. To withdraw a claim or pretension; to desist; to relinquish what had been proposed or asserted; as, to recede from a demand or proposition.
Syn.— To retire; retreat; return; retrograde; withdraw; desist.
RECEDERe*cede", v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + cede. Cf. Recede, v. t.]
Defn: To cede back; to grant or yield again to a former possessor; as, to recede conquered territory.
RECEIPT Re*ceipt", n. Etym: [OE. receite, OF. recete, recepte, F. recette, fr. L. recipere, receptum, to receive. See Receive.]
1. The act of receiving; reception. "At the receipt of your letter." Shak.
2. Reception, as an act of hospitality. [Obs.] Thy kind receipt of me. Chapman.
3. Capability of receiving; capacity. [Obs.] It has become a place of great receipt. Evelyn.
4. Place of receiving. [Obs.] He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom. Matt. ix. 9.
5. Hence, a recess; a retired place. [Obs.] "In a retired receipt together lay." Chapman.
6. A formulary according to the directions of which things are to be taken or combined; a recipe; as, a receipt for making sponge cake. She had a receipt to make white hair black. Sir T. Browne.
7. A writing acknowledging the taking or receiving of goods delivered; an acknowledgment of money paid.
8. That which is received; that which comes in, in distinction from what is expended, paid out, sent away, and the like; — usually in the plural; as, the receipts amounted to a thousand dollars. Cross receipts. See under Gross, a.
RECEIPTRe*ceipt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Receipted; p. pr. & vb. n.Receipting.]
1. To give a receipt for; as, to receipt goods delivered by a sheriff.
2. To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; as, to receipt a bill.
RECEIPTRe*ceipt", v. i.
Defn: To give a receipt, as for money paid.
RECEIPTMENTRe*ceipt"ment, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: The receiving or harboring a felon knowingly, after the commission of a felony. Burrill.
RECEIPTORRe*ceipt"or, n.
Defn: One who receipts; specifically (Law), one who receipts for property which has been taken by the sheriff.
RECEITRe*ceit", n.
Defn: Receipt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
RECEIVABILITYRe*ceiv`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being receivable; receivableness.
RECEIVABLERe*ceiv"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. recevable.]
Defn: Capable of being received.— Re*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n. Bills receivable. See under 6th Bill.
RECEIVERe*ceive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Received; p. pr. & vb. n. Receiving.]Etym: [OF. receiver, recevoir, F. recevoir, fr. L. recipere; pref.re- re- + capere to take, seize. See See Capable, Heave, and cf.Receipt, Reception, Recipe.]
1. To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a message, or a letter. Receyven all in gree that God us sent. Chaucer.
2. Hence: To gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion, notion, etc.; to embrace. Our hearts receive your warnings. Shak. The idea of solidity we receives by our touch. Locke.
3. To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to. Many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots. Mark vii. 4.
4. To give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc. They kindled a fire, and received us every one. Acts xxviii. 2.
5. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity fro; to be able to take in. The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings. 1 Kings viii. 64.
6. To be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or a blow; to receive damage. Against his will he can receive no harm. Milton.
7. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
8. (Lawn Tennis)
Defn: To bat back (the ball) when served. Receiving ship, one on board of which newly recruited sailors are received, and kept till drafted for service.
Syn. — To accept; take; allow; hold; retain; admit. — Receive, Accept. To receive describes simply the act of taking. To accept denotes the taking with approval, or for the purposes for which a thing is offered. Thus, we receive a letter when it comes to hand; we receive news when it reaches us; we accept a present when it is offered; we accept an invitation to dine with a friend. Who, if we knew What we receive, would either not accept Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down. Milton.
RECEIVERe*ceive", v. i.
1. To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.
2. (Lawn Tennis)
Defn: To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive.
RECEIVEDNESSRe*ceiv"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being received, accepted, or current; as, the receivedness of an opinion. Boyle.
RECEIVERRe*ceiv"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. receveur.]
1. One who takes or receives in any manner.
2. (Law)
Defn: A person appointed, ordinarily by a court, to receive, and hold in trust, money or other property which is the subject of litigation, pending the suit; a person appointed to take charge of the estate and effects of a corporation, and to do other acts necessary to winding up its affairs, in certain cases. Bouvier.
3. One who takes or buys stolen goods from a thief, knowing them to be stolen. Blackstone.
4. (Chem.) (a) A vessel connected with an alembic, a retort, or the like, for receiving and condensing the product of distillation. (b) A vessel for receiving and containing gases.
5. (Pneumatics)
Defn: The glass vessel in which the vacuum is produced, and the objects of experiment are put, in experiments with an air pump. Cf. Bell jar, and see Illust. of Air pump.
6. (Steam Engine) (a) A vessel for receiving the exhaust steam from the high-pressure cylinder before it enters the low-pressure cylinder, in a compound engine. (b) A capacious vessel for receiving steam from a distant boiler, and supplying it dry to an engine.
7. That portion of a telephonic apparatus, or similar system, at which the message is received and made audible; — opposed to transmitter. Exhausted receiver (Physics), a receiver, as that used with the air pump, from which the air has been withdrawn; a vessel the interior of which is a more or less complete vacuum.
RECEIVER'S CERTIFICATERe*ceiv"er's cer*tif"i*cate.
Defn: An acknowledgement of indebtedness made by a receiver under order of court to obtain funds for the preservation of the assets held by him, as for operating a railroad. Receivers' certificates are ordinarily a first lien on the assets, prior to that of bonds or other securities.
RECEIVERSHIPRe*ceiv"er*ship, n.
Defn: The state or office of a receiver.
RECELEBRATERe*cel"e*brate, v. t.
Defn: To celebrate again, or anew.— Re*cel`e*bra"tion, n.
RECENCYRe"cen*cy, n. Etym: [LL. recentia, fr. L. recens. See Recent.]
Defn: The state or quality of being recent; newness; new state; late origin; lateness in time; freshness; as, the recency of a transaction, of a wound, etc.
RECENSE Re*cense", v. t. Etym: [L. recensere; pref. re- again + censere to value, estimate: cf. F. recenser.]
Defn: To review; to revise. [R.] Bentley.
RECENSIONRe*cen"sion, n. Etym: [L. recensio: cf. F. recension.]
1. The act of reviewing or revising; review; examination; enumeration. Barrow.
2. Specifically, the review of a text (as of an ancient author) by an editor; critical revisal and establishment.
3. The result of such a work; a text established by critical revision; an edited version.
RECENSIONISTRe*cen"sion*ist, n.
Defn: One who makes recensions; specifically, a critical editor.
RECENTRe"cent, a. Etym: [L. recens, -entis: cf. F. récent.]
1. Of late origin, existence, or occurrence; lately come; not of remote date, antiquated style, or the like; not already known, familiar, worn out, trite, etc.; fresh; novel; new; modern; as, recent news. The ancients were of opinion, that a considerable portion of that country [Egypt] was recent, and formed out of the mud discharged into the neighboring sea by the Nile. Woodward.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the present or existing epoch; as, recent shells.
RECENTERRe*cen"ter, v. t. Etym: [Pref. re- + center.]
Defn: To center again; to restore to the center. Coleridge.
RECENTLYRe"cent*ly, adv.
Defn: Newly; lately; freshly; not long since; as, advices recently received.
RECENTNESSRe"cent*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being recent.
RECEPTACLE Re*cep"ta*cle, n. Etym: [F. réceptacle, L. receptaculum, fr. receptare, v. intens. fr. recipere to receive. See Receive.]
1. That which serves, or is used, fro receiving and containing something, as a basket, a vase, a bag, a reservoir; a repository. O sacred receptacle of my joys! Shak.
2. (Bot.) (a) The apex of the flower stalk, from which the organs of the flower grow, or into which they are inserted. See Illust. of Flower, and Ovary. (b) The dilated apex of a pedicel which serves as a common support to a head of flowers. (c) An intercellular cavity containing oil or resin or other matters. (d) A special branch which bears the fructification in many cryptogamous plants.
RECEPTACULARRec`ep*tac"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. réceptaculaire.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to the receptacle, or growing on it; as, the receptacular chaff or scales in the sunflower.
RECEPTACULUMRec`ep*tac"u*lum, n.; pl. Receptacula. Etym: [L.] (Anat.)
Defn: A receptacle; as, the receptaculum of the chyle.
RECEPTARYRec"ep*ta*ry, a.
Defn: Generally or popularly admitted or received. [Obs.] Sir T.Browne.
RECEPTARYRec"ep*ta*ry, n.
Defn: That which is received. [Obs.] "Receptaries of philosophy." SirT. Browne.
RECEPTIBILITYRe*cep`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
1. The quality or state of being receptible; receivableness.
2. A receptible thing. [R.] Glanvill.
RECEPTIBLERe*cep"ti*ble, a. Etym: [L. receptibilis.]
Defn: Such as may be received; receivable.
RECEPTION Re*cep"tion, n. Etym: [F. réception, L. receptio, fr. recipere, receptum. See Receive.]
1. The act of receiving; receipt; admission; as, the reception of food into the stomach; the reception of a letter; the reception of sensation or ideas; reception of evidence.
2. The state of being received.
3. The act or manner of receiving, esp. of receiving visitors; entertainment; hence, an occasion or ceremony of receiving guests; as, a hearty reception; an elaborate reception. What reception a poem may find. Goldsmith.
4. Acceptance, as of an opinion or doctrine. Philosophers who have quitted the popular doctrines of their countries have fallen into as extravagant opinions as even common reception countenanced. Locke.