Note: The largest and best known species is Ptiloris paradisea of Australia. Its general color is rich velvety brown, glossed with lilac; the under parts are varied with rich olive green, and the head, throat, and two middle tail feathers are brilliant metallic green.
RIFLEMANRi"fle*man, n.; pl. Rifleman (. (Mil.)
Defn: A soldier armed with a rifle.
RIFLERRi"fler, n.
Defn: One who rifles; a robber.
RIFLING Ri"fling, n. (a) The act or process of making the grooves in a rifled cannon or gun barrel. (b) The system of grooves in a rifled gun barrel or cannon. Shunt rifling, rifling for cannon, in which one side of the groove is made deeper than the other, to facilitate loading with shot having projections which enter by the deeper part of the grooves.
RIFTRift, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Rive. Spenser.
RIFTRift, n. [Written also reft.] Etym: [Dan. rift, fr. rieve to rend.See Rive.]
1. An opening made by riving or splitting; a cleft; a fissure. Spenser.
2. A shallow place in a stream; a ford.
RIFTRift, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rifting.]
Defn: To cleave; to rive; to split; as, to rift an oak or a rock; to rift the clouds. Longfellow. To dwell these rifted rocks between. Wordsworth.
RIFTRift, v. i.
1. To burst open; to split. Shak. Timber . . . not apt to rif with ordnance. Bacon.
2. To belch. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
RIFTERRift"er, n.
Defn: A rafter. [Obs.] Holland.
RIGRig, n. Etym: [See Ridge.]
Defn: A ridge. [Prov. or Scott.]
RIGRig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Rigging.] Etym:[Norweg. rigga to bind, particularly, to wrap round, rig; cf. AS.wrihan to cover.]
1. To furnish with apparatus or gear; to fit with tackling.
2. To dress; to equip; to clothe, especially in an odd or fanciful manner; — commonly followed by out. Jack was rigged out in his gold and silver lace. L'Estrange. To rig a purchase, to adapt apparatus so as to get a purchase for moving a weight, as with a lever, tackle, capstan, etc. — To rig a ship (Naut.), to fit the shrouds, stays, braces, etc., to their respective masts and yards.
RIGRig, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The peculiar fitting in shape, number, and arrangement of sails and masts, by which different types of vessels are distinguished; as, schooner rig, ship rig, etc. See Illustration in Appendix.
2. Dress; esp., odd or fanciful clothing. [Colloq.]
RIGRig, n Etym: [Cf. Wriggle.]
1. A romp; a wanton; one given to unbecoming conduct. [Obs.] Fuller.
2. A sportive or unbecoming trick; a frolic.
3. A blast of wind. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. That uncertain season before the rigs of Michaelmas were yet well composed. Burke. To run a rig, to play a trick; to engage in a frolic; to do something strange and unbecoming. He little dreamt when he set out Of running such a rig. Cowper.
RIGRig, v. i.
Defn: To play the wanton; to act in an unbecoming manner; to play tricks. "Rigging and rifling all ways." Chapman.
RIGRig, v. t.
Defn: To make free with; hence, to steal; to pilfer. [Obs. or Prov.] Tusser. To rig the market (Stock Exchange), to raise or lower market prices, as by some fraud or trick. [Cant]
RIGADOONRig`a*doon", n. Etym: [F. rigadon, rigaudon.]
Defn: A gay, lively dance for one couple, — said to have been borrowed from Provence in France. W. Irving. Whose dancing dogs in rigadoons excel. Wolcott.
RIGA FIRRi"ga fir` Etym: [So called from Riga, a city in Russia.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of pine (Pinus sylvestris), and its wood, which affords a valuable timber; — called also Scotch pine, and red or yellow deal. It grows in all parts of Europe, in the Caucasus, and in Siberia.
RIGARIONRi*ga"rion, n. Etym: [L. rigatio, fr. rigare to water.]
Defn: See Irrigation. [Obs.]
RIGELRi"gel, n. Etym: [Ar. rijl, properly, foot.] (Astron.)
Defn: A fixed star of the first magnitude in the left foot of the constellation Orion. [Written also Regel.]
RIGESCENT Ri*ges"cent, a. Etym: [L. rigescens, p. pr. fr. rigescere to grow stiff.]
Defn: Growing stiff or numb.
RIGGERRig"ger, n.
1. One who rigs or dresses; one whose occupation is to fit the rigging of a ship.
2. A cylindrical pulley or drum in machinery. [R.]
RIGGINGRig"ging, n.
Defn: DRess; tackle; especially (Naut.), the ropes, chains, etc., that support the masts and spars of a vessel, and serve as purchases for adjusting the sails, etc. See Illustr. of Ship and Sails. Running rigging (Naut.), all those ropes used in bracing the yards, making and shortening sail, etc., such as braces, sheets, halyards, clew lines, and the like. — Standing rigging (Naut.), the shrouds and stays.
RIGGISHRig"gish, a.
Defn: Like a rig or wanton. [Obs.] "Riggish and unmaidenly." Bp.Hall.
RIGGLERig"gle, v. i.
Defn: See Wriggle.
RIGGLERig"gle, n.
Defn: The European lance fish. [Prov. Eng.]
RIGHTRight, a. Etym: [OE. right, riht, AS. riht; akin to D. regt, OS. &OHG. reht, G. recht, Dan. ret, Sw. rätt, Icel. rëttr, Goth. raíhts,L. rectus, p. p. of regere to guide, rule; cf. Skr. straight, right.sq. root115. Cf. Adroit,Alert, Correct, Dress, Regular, Rector,Recto, Rectum, Regent, Region, Realm, Rich, Riyal, Rule.]
1. Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. "Right as any line." Chaucer
2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.
3. Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God, or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and just; according with truth and duty; just; true. That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is absolutely right, and is called right simply without relation to a special end. Whately.
2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right man in the right place; the right way from London to Oxford.
5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not spurious. "His right wife." Chaucer. In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly manifested themselves to be right barbarians. Milton.
6. According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous; correct; as, this is the right faith. You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well. Shak. If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the inference is . . . right, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." Locke.
7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate. The lady has been disappointed on the right side. Spectator.
8. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other side; — opposed to left when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. Also applied to the corresponding side of the lower animals. Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand. Longfellow.
Note: In designating the banks of a river, right and left are used always with reference to the position of one who is facing in the direction of the current's flow.
9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well regulated; correctly done.
10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side of a piece of cloth. At right angles, so as to form a right angle or right angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly. — Right and left, in both or all directions. [Colloq.] — Right and left coupling (Pipe fitting), a coupling the opposite ends of which are tapped for a right-handed screw and a left-handed screw, respectivelly. — Right angle. (a) The angle formed by one line meeting another perpendicularly, as the angles ABD, DBC. (b) (Spherics) A spherical angle included between the axes of two great circles whose planes are perpendicular to each other. — Right ascension. See under Ascension. — Right Center (Politics), those members belonging to the Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with the Right on political questions. See Center, n., 5. — Right cone, Right cylinder, Right prism, Right pyramid (Geom.), a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the axis of which is perpendicular to the base. — Right line. See under Line. — Right sailing (Naut.), sailing on one of the four cardinal points, so as to alter a ship's latitude or its longitude, but not both. Ham. Nav. Encyc. — Right sphere (Astron. & Geol.), a sphere in such a position that the equator cuts the horizon at right angles; in spherical projections, that position of the sphere in which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the equator.
Note: Right is used elliptically for it is right, what you say isright, true."Right," cries his lordship. Pope.
Syn. — Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful; rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper; suitable; becoming.
RIGHTRight, adv.
1. In a right manner.
2. In a right or straight line; directly; hence; straightway; immediately; next; as, he stood right before me; it went right to the mark; he came right out; he followed right after the guide. Unto Dian's temple goeth she right. Chaucer. Let thine eyes look right on. Prov. iv. 25. Right across its track there lay, Down in the water, a long reef of gold. Tennyson.
3. Exactly; just. [Obs. or Colloq.] Came he right now to sing a raven's note Shak.
4. According to the law or will of God; conforming to the standard of truth and justice; righteously; as, to live right; to judge right.
5. According to any rule of art; correctly. You with strict discipline instructed right. Roscommon.
6. According to fact or truth; actually; truly; really; correctly; exactly; as, to tell a story right. "Right at mine own cost." Chaucer. Right as it were a steed of Lumbardye. Chaucer. His wounds so smarted that he slept right naught. Fairfax.
7. In a great degree; very; wholly; unqualifiedly; extremely; highly; as, right humble; right noble; right valiant. "He was not right fat". Chaucer. For which I should be right sorry. Tyndale. [I] return those duties back as are right fit. Shak.
Note: In this sense now chiefly prefixed to titles; as, right honorable; right reverend. Right honorable, a title given in England to peers and peeresses, to the eldest sons and all daughters of such peers as have rank above viscounts, and to all privy councilors; also, to certain civic officers, as the lord mayor of London, of York, and of Dublin.
Note: Right is used in composition with other adverbs, as upright, downright, forthright, etc. Right along, without cessation; continuously; as, to work right along for several hours. [Colloq. U.S.] — Right away, or Right off, at once; straightway; without delay. [Colloq. U.S.] "We will . . . shut ourselves up in the office and do the work right off." D. Webster.
RIGHTRight, n. Etym: [AS. right. See Right, a.]
1. That which is right or correct. Specifically: (a) The straight course; adherence to duty; obedience to lawful authority, divine or human; freedom from guilt, — the opposite of moral wrong. (b) A true statement; freedom from error of falsehood; adherence to truth or fact. Seldom your opinions err; Your eyes are always in the right. Prior.
(c) A just judgment or action; that which is true or proper; justice; uprightness; integrity. Long love to her has borne the faithful knight, And well deserved, had fortune done him right. Dryden.
2. That to which one has a just claim. Specifically: (a) That which one has a natural claim to exact. There are no rights whatever, without corresponding duties. Coleridge.
(b) That which one has a legal or social claim to do or to exact; legal power; authority; as, a sheriff has a right to arrest a criminal. (c) That which justly belongs to one; that which one has a claim to possess or own; the interest or share which anyone has in a piece of property; title; claim; interest; ownership. Born free, he sought his right. Dryden. Hast thou not right to all created things Milton. Men have no right to what is not reasonable. Burke.
(d) Privilege or immunity granted by authority.
3. The right side; the side opposite to the left. Led her to the Souldan's right. Spenser.
4. In some legislative bodies of Europe (as in France), those members collectively who are conservatives or monarchists. See Center, 5.
5. The outward or most finished surface, as of a piece of cloth, a carpet, etc. At all right, at all points; in all respects. [Obs.] Chaucer. — Bill of rights, a list of rights; a paper containing a declaration of rights, or the declaration itself. See under Bill. — By right, By rights, or By good rights, rightly; properly; correctly. He should himself use it by right. Chaucer. I should have been a woman by right. Shak. — Divine right, or Divine right of kings, a name given to the patriarchal theory of government, especially to the doctrine that no misconduct and no dispossession can forfeit the right of a monarch or his heirs to the throne, and to the obedience of the people. — To rights. (a) In a direct line; straight. [R.] Woodward. (b) At once; directly. [Obs. or Colloq.] Swift. — To set to rights, To put to rights, to put in good order; to adjust; to regulate, as what is out of order. — Writ of right (Law), a writ which lay to recover lands in fee simple, unjustly withheld from the true owner. Blackstone.
RIGHTRight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Righted; p. pr. & vb. n. Righting.] Etym:[AS. rihtan. See Right, a.]
1. To bring or restore to the proper or natural position; to set upright; to make right or straight (that which has been wrong or crooked); to correct.
2. To do justice to; to relieve from wrong; to restore rights to; to assert or regain the rights of; as, to right the oppressed; to right one's self; also, to vindicate. So just is God, to right the innocent. Shak. All experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. Jefferson. To right a vessel (Naut.), to restore her to an upright position after careening. — To right the helm (Naut.), to place it in line with the keel.
RIGHTRight, v. i.
1. To recover the proper or natural condition or position; to become upright.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Hence, to regain an upright position, as a ship or boat, after careening.
RIGHT-ABOUTRight"-a*bout`, n. Etym: [Right, adv. + about, adv.]
Defn: A turning directly about by the right, so as to face in the opposite direction; also, the quarter directly opposite; as, to turn to the right-about. To send to the right-about, to cause to turn toward the opposite point or quarter; — hence, of troops, to cause to turn and retreat. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.
RIGHT-ANGLEDRight"-an`gled, a.
Defn: Containing a right angle or right angles; as, a right-angled triangle.
RIGHTENRight"en, v. t.
Defn: To do justice to. [Obs.]Relieve [marginal reading, righten] the opressed. Isa. i. 17.
RIGHTEOUS Right"eous, a. Etym: [OE. rightways, rightwise, AS.rightwis; riht right + wis wise, having wisdom, prudent. See Right, a., Wise, a.]
Defn: Doing, or according with, that which is right; yielding to all their due; just; equitable; especially, free from wrong, guilt, or sin; holy; as, a righteous man or act; a righteous retribution. Fearless in his righteous cause. Milton.
Syn. — Upright; just; godly; holy; uncorrupt; virtuous; honest; equitable; rightful.
RIGHTEOUSEDRight"eoused, a.
Defn: Made righteous. [Obs.]
RIGHTEOUSLYRight"eous*ly, adv. Etym: [AS. rightwislice.]
Defn: In a righteous manner; as, to judge righteously.
RIGHTEOUSNESSRight"eous*ness, n. Etym: [AS. rihtwisnes.]
1. The quality or state of being righteous; holiness; purity; uprightness; rectitude.
Note: Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it chiefly occurs, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law.
2. A righteous act, or righteous quality. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Isa. lxiv. 6.
3. The act or conduct of one who is righteous. Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth right at all times. Ps. cvi. 3.
4. (Theol.)
Defn: The state of being right with God; justification; the work of Christ, which is the ground justification. There are two kinds of Christian righteousness: the one without us, which we have by imputation; the other in us, which consisteth of faith, hope, and charity, and other Christian virtues. Hooker. Only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. Westminster Catechism.
Syn. — Uprightness; holiness; godliness; equity; justice; rightfulness; integryty; honesty; faithfulness.
RIGHTERRight"er, n.
Defn: One who sets right; one who does justice or redresses wrong.Shelton.
RIGHTFULRight"ful, a.
1. Righteous; upright; just; good; — said of persons. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Consonant to justice; just; as, a rightful cause.
3. Having the right or just claim according to established laws; being or holding by right; as, the rightful heir to a throne or an estate; a rightful king.
4. Belonging, held, or possessed by right, or by just claim; as, a rightful inheritance; rightful authority.
Syn.— Just; lawful; true; honest; equitable; proper.
RIGHTFULLYRight"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: According to right or justice.
RIGHTFULNESSRight"ful*ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being rightful; accordance with right and justice.
2. Moral rectitude; righteousness. [Obs.] Wyclif. We fail of perfect rightfulness. Sir P. Sidney.
RIGHT-HANDRight"-hand`, a.
1. Situated or being on the right; nearer the right hand than the left; as, the right-hand side, room, or road.
2. Chiefly relied on; almost indispensable. Mr. Alexander Truncheon, who is their right-hand man in the troop. Addison. Right-hand rope, a rope which is laid up and twisted with the sun, that is, in the same direction as plain-laid rope. See Illust. of Cordage.
RIGHT-HANDEDRight"-*hand`ed, a.
1. Using the right hand habitually, or more easily than the left.
2. Having the same direction or course as the movement of the hands of a watch seen in front; — said of the motion of a revolving object looked at from a given direction.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the whorls rising from left to right; dextral; — said of spiral shells. See Illust. of Scalaria. Right-handed screw, a screw, the threads of which, like those of a common wood screw, wind spirally in such a direction that screw advances away from the observer when turned with a right-handed movement in a fixed nut.
RIGHT-HANDEDNESSRight"-hand`ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being right-handed; hence, skill; dexterity.
RIGHT-HEARTEDRight"-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Having a right heart or disposition.— Right"-heart`ed*ness, n.
RIGHTLESSRight"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of right. Sylvester.
RIGHT-LINEDRight"-lined`, a.
Defn: Formed by right lines; rectilineal; as, a right-lined angle.
RIGHTLYRight"ly, adv. Etym: [AS. richtlice.]
1. Straightly; directly; in front. [Obs.] Shak.
2. According to justice; according to the divine will or moral rectitude; uprightly; as, duty rightly performed.
3. Properly; fitly; suitably; appropriately. Eve rightly called, Mother of all mankind. Milton.
4. According to truth or fact; correctly; not erroneously; exactly. "I can not rightly say." Shak. Thou didst not rightly see. Dryden.
RIGHT-MINDEDRight"-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having a right or honest mind.— Right"-mind`ed*ness, n.
RIGHTNESSRight"ness, n. Etym: [AS. richtnes.] .
Defn: Straightness; as, the rightness of a line. Bacon.
2. The quality or state of being right; right relation. The craving for rightness with God. J. C. Shairp.
RIGHT-RUNNINGRight"-run`ning, a.
Defn: Straight; direct.
RIGHTWARDRight"ward, adv.
Defn: Toward the right.Rightward and leftward rise the rocks. Southey.
RIGHT WHALE Right" whale`. (Zoöl.) (a) The bowhead, Arctic, or Greenland whale (Balæna mysticetus), from whose mouth the best whalebone is obtained. (b) Any other whale that produces valuable whalebone, as the Atlantic, or Biscay, right whale (Balæna cisarctica), and the Pacific right whale (B. Sieboldii); a bone whale. Pygmy right whale (Zoöl.), a small New Zealand whale (Neobalæna marginata) which is only about sixteen feet long. It produces short, but very elastic and tough, whalebone.
RIGHTWISERight"wise`, a.
Defn: Righteous. [Obs.] Wyclif.
RIGHTWISERight"wise`, v. t.
Defn: To make righteous. [Obs.]
RIGHTWISELYRight"wise`ly, adv.
Defn: Righteously. [Obs.]
RIGHTWISENESSRight"wise`ness, n.
Defn: Righteousness. [Obs.]In doom and eke in rightwisnesse. Chaucer.
RIGID Rig"id, a. Etym: [L. rigidus, fr. rigere to be stiff or numb: cf. F. rigide. Cf. Rigor. ]
1. Firm; stiff; unyielding; not pliant; not flexible. Upright beams innumerable Of rigid spears. Milton.
2. Hence, not lax or indulgent; severe; inflexible; strict; as, a rigid father or master; rigid discipline; rigid criticism; a rigid sentence. The more rigid order of principles in religion and government. Hawthorne.
Syn. — Stiff; unpliant; inflexible; unyielding; strict; exact; severe; austere; stern; rigorous; unmitigated.
RIGIDITYRi*gid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. rigiditas: cf. F. rigidité. See Rigid.]
1. The quality or state of being rigid; want of pliability; the quality of resisting change of from; the amount of resistance with which a body opposes change of form; — opposed to flexibility, ductility, malleability, and softness.
2. Stiffness of appearance or manner; want of ease or elegance. Sir H. Wotton.
3. Severity; rigor. [Obs. orR.] Bp. Burnet.
Syn.— Stiffness; rigidness; inflexibility.
RIGIDLYRig"id*ly, v.
Defn: In a rigid manner; stiffly.
RIGIDNESSRig"id*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being rigid.
RIGIDULOUSRi*gid"u*lous, a. Etym: [Dim. from rigid.] (Bot.)
Defn: Somewhat rigid or stiff; as, a rigidulous bristle.
RIGLETRig"let, n. (Print.)
Defn: See Reglet.
RIGMAROLERig"ma*role, n. Etym: [For ragman roll. See Ragman's roll.]
Defn: A succession of confused or nonsencial statements; foolishtalk; nonsense. [Colloq.]Often one's dear friend talks something which one scruples to callrigmarole. De Quincey.
RIGMAROLERig"ma*role, a.
Defn: Consisting of rigmarole; frovolous; nonsensical; foolish.
RIGOLRig"ol, n. Etym: [OE. also ringol. Cf. Ring.]
Defn: A circle; hence, a diadem. [Obs.] Shak.
RIGOLETTE Rig`o*lette", n. [Prob. fr. Rigolette, name of a girl in Eugene Sue's novel "Mystères de Paris."]
Defn: A woman's light scarflike head covering, usually knit or crocheted of wool.
RIGOLLRig"oll, n. Etym: [Corruupted fr. regal.]
Defn: A musical instrument formerly in use, consisting of several sticks bound together, but separated by beads, and played with a stick with a ball at its end. Moore (Encyc. of Music. ).
RIGORRi"gor, n. Etym: [L. See Rigor., below.]
1. Rigidity; stiffness.
2. (ed.)
Defn: A sense of chilliness, with contraction of the skin; a convulsive shuddering or tremor, as in the chill preceeding a fever. Rigor caloris ( Etym: [L., rigor of heat] (Physiol.), a form of rigor mortis induced by heat, as when the muscle of a mammal is heated to about 50ºC. — Rigor mortis ( Etym: [L. , rigor of death] , death stiffening; the rigidity of the muscles that occurs at death and lasts till decomposition sets in. It is due to the formation of myosin by the coagulation of the contents of the individual muscle fibers.
RIGOR Rig"or, n. Etym: [OE. rigour, OF. rigour, F. rigueur, from L. rigor, fr. rigere to be stiff. See Rigid.] [Written also rigour.]
1. The becoming stiff or rigid; the state of being rigid; rigidity; stiffness; hardness. The rest his look Bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move. Milton.
2. (Med.)
Defn: See 1st Rigor, 2.
3. Severity of climate or season; inclemency; as, the rigor of the storm; the rigors of winter.
4. Stiffness of opinion or temper; rugged sternness; hardness; relentless severity; hard-heartedness; cruelty. All his rigor is turned to grief and pity. Denham. If I shall be condemn'd Upon surmises, . . . I tell you 'T is rigor and not law. Shak.
5. Exactness without allowance, deviation, or indulgence; strictness; as, the rigor of criticism; to execute a law with rigor; to enforce moral duties with rigor; — opposed to Ant: lenity.
6. Severity of life; austerity; voluntary submission to pain, abstinence, or mortification. The prince lived in this convent with all the rigor and austerity of a capuchin. Addison.
7. Violence; force; fury. [Obs.] Whose raging rigor neither steel nor brass could stay. Spenser.
Syn. — Stiffness; rigidness; inflexibility; severity; austerity; sternness; harshness; strictness; exactness.
RIGORISMRig"or*ism, n.
1. Rigidity in principle or practice; strictness; — opposed to laxity.
2. Severity, as of style, or the like. Jefferson.
RIGORISTRig"or*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rigoriste.]
Defn: One who is rigorous; — sometimes applied to an extremeJansenist.
RIGOROUSRig"or*ous, a. Etym: [F. rigoureux, LL. rigorosus. See Rigor.]
1. Manifesting, exercising, or favoring rigor; allowing no abatement or mitigation; scrupulously accurate; exact; strict; severe; relentless; as, a rigorous officer of justice; a rigorous execution of law; a rigorous definition or demonstration. He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian Rock With rigorous hands. Shak. We do not connect the scattered phenomena into their rigorous unity. De Quincey.
2. Severe; intense; inclement; as, a rigorous winter.
3. Violent. [Obs.] "Rigorous uproar." Spenser.
Syn.— Rigid; inflexible; unyielding; stiff; severe; austere; stern;harsh; strict; exact.— Rig"or*ous*ly, adv.— Rig"or*ous*ness, n.
RIGSDAGRigs"dag, n. [Dan. Cf. Reichstag.]
Defn: See Legislature, Denmark.
RIGSDALERRigs"da`ler, n. Etym: [Dan. See Rix-dollar.]
Defn: A Danish coin worth about fifty-four cents. It was former unit of value in Denmark.
RIG-VEDARig`-Ve"da.
Defn: See Veda.
RIKSDALERRiks"da`ler, n. Etym: [Sw. See Rix-dollar.]
Defn: A Swedish coin worth about twenty-seven cents. It was formerly the unit of value in Sweden.
RILERile, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Riled; p. pr. & vb. n. Riling.] Etym: [SeeRoil.]
1. To render turbid or muddy; to stir up; to roil.
2. To stir up in feelings; to make angry; to vex.
Note: In both senses provincial in England and colloquial in theUnited States.
RILIEVORi*lie"vo, n.Etym: [It. See Relief.] (Sculp. & Arch.)
Defn: Same as Relief, n.,5.
RILL Rill, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. rille a small channel or brook, a furrow, a chamfer, OE. rigol a small brook, F. rigole a trench or furrow for water, W. rhill a row, rhigol a little ditch. sq. root11.]
1. A very small brook; a streamlet.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: See Rille.
RILLRill, v. i.
Defn: To run a small stream. [R.] Prior.
RILLERille, n. Etym: [G. rille a furrow.] (Astron.)
Defn: One of certain narrow, crooked valleys seen, by aid of the telescope, on the surface of the moon.
RILLETRill"et, n.
Defn: A little rill. Burton.
RILYRi"ly, a.
Defn: Roily. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]
RIM Rim, n. Etym: [As. rima, reoma, edge; cf. W. rhim, rhimp, a rim, edge, boundary, termination, Armor, rim. Cf. Rind.]
1. The border, edge, or margin of a thing, usually of something circular or curving; as, the rim of a kettle or basin.
2. The lower part of the abdomen. [Obs.] Shak. Arch rim (Phonetics),the line between the gums and the palate.— Rim-fire cartridge. (Mil.) See under Cartridge.— Rim lock. See under Lock.
RIMRim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rimming.]
Defn: To furnish with a rim; to border.
RIMARi"ma, n.; pl. Rimæ. Etym: [L.] (Anat.)
Defn: A narrow and elongated aperture; a cleft; a fissure.
RIMAU DAHANRi"mau da"han. Etym: [From the native Oriental name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The clouded tiger cat (Felis marmorata) of Southern Asia and the East Indies.
RIMBASERim"base`, n. (Mil.)
Defn: A short cylinder connecting a trunnion with the body of a cannon. See Illust. of Cannon.
RIMERime, n. Etym: [L. rima.]
Defn: A rent or long aperture; a chink; a fissure; a crack. Sir T.Browne.
RIME Rime, n. Etym: [AS. hrim; akin to D. rijm, Icel. hrim, Dan. rim, Sw. rim; cf. D. rijp, G. reif, OHG. rifo, hrifo.]
Defn: White frost; hoarfrost; congealed dew or vapor.The trees were now covered with rime. De Quincey.
RIMERime, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Riming.]
Defn: To freeze or congeal into hoarfrost.
RIMERime, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A step or round of a ladder; a rung.
RIMERime, n.
Defn: Rhyme. See Rhyme. Coleridge. Landor.
Note: This spelling, which is etymologically preferable, is coming into use again.
RIMERime, v. i. & t.
Defn: To rhyme. See Rhyme.
RIMERRim"er, n.
Defn: A rhymer; a versifier.
RIMERRim"er, n.
Defn: A tool for shaping the rimes of a ladder.
RIMEYRim"ey, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. rimoier. See Ryime.]
Defn: To compose in rhyme; to versify. [Obs.][Lays] rimeyed in their first Breton tongue. Chaucer.
RIM-FIRERim"-fire`, a.
Defn: Having the percussion fulminate in a rim surrounding the base, distinguished from center-fire; — said of cartridges; also, using rim-fire cartridges; as, a rim-fire gun. Such cartridges are now little used.
RIMMERRim"mer, n.
Defn: An implement for cutting, trimming, or ornamenting the rim of anything, as the edges of pies, etc.; also, a reamer. Knight.
RIMOSERi*mose", a. Etym: [L. rimosus, fr. rima a chink: cf. F. rimeux.]
1. Full of rimes, fissures, or chinks.
2. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Having long and nearly parallel clefts or chinks, like those in the bark of trees.
RIMOSELYRi*mose"ly, adv.
Defn: In a rimose manner.
RIMOSITYRi*mos"i*ty, n.
Defn: State of being rimose.
RIMOUSRim"ous, a.
Defn: Rimose.
RIMPLERim"ple, n. Etym: [AS. hrimpele, or rimpel. See Rumple.]
Defn: A fold or wrinkle. See Rumple.
RIMPLERim"ple, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Rimpled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rimpling.]
Defn: To rumple; to wrinkle.
RIMYRim"y, a.
Defn: Abounding with rime; frosty.
RINCONRin*con", n.; pl. Rincones (#). [Sp. rincón.]
Defn: An interior corner; a nook; hence, an angular recess or hollow bend in a mountain, river, cliff, or the like. [Western & Southern U. S.] D. S. Jordan.
RIND Rind, n. Etym: [AS. rind bark, crust of bread; akin rinta, G. rinde, and probably to E. rand, rim; cf. Skr. ram to end, rest.]
Defn: The external covering or coat, as of flesh, fruit, trees, etc.; skin; hide; bark; peel; shell. Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind With all thy charms, although this corporal rind Thou hast immanacled. Milton. Sweetest nurind. Shak.
RINDRind, v. t.
Defn: To remove the rind of; to bark. [R.]
RINDERPEST Rin"der*pest, n. Etym: [G., fr. rind, pl. rinder, cattle + pest pest, plague.]
Defn: A highly contagious distemper or murrain, affecting neat cattle, and less commonly sheep and goats; — called also cattle plague, Russian cattle plague, and steppe murrain.
RINDLERin"dle, n. Etym: [AS. rynele. sq. root11. See Run.]
Defn: A small water course or gutter. Ash.
RINDLESSRind"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of a rind.
RINDYRind"y, a.
Defn: Having a rind or skin. Ash.
RINERine, n.
Defn: See Rind. [Obs.] Spenser.
RINEDRined, a.
Defn: Having a rind [Obs.] Milton.
RINFORZANDORin`for*zan"do, a. Etym: [It., fr. rinfor to reënforce, strengthen.](Mus.)
Defn: Increasing; strengthening; — a direction indicating a sudden increase of force (abbreviated rf., rfz.) Cf. Forzando, and Sforzando.
RINGRing, v. t. [imp. Rang or Rung (; p. p. Rung; p. pr. & vb. n.Ringing.] Etym: [AS. hringan; akin to Icel. hringja, Sw. ringa, Dan.ringe, OD. ringhen, ringkelen. sq. root19.]
1. To cause to sound, especially by striking, as a metallic body; as, to ring a bell.
2. To make (a sound), as by ringing a bell; to sound. The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums, Hath rung night's yawning peal. Shak.
3. To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly. To ring a peal, to ring a set of changes on a chime of bells. — To ring the changes upon. See under Change. — To ring in or out, to usher, attend on, or celebrate, by the ringing of bells; as, to ring out the old year and ring in the new. Tennyson. — To ring the bells backward, to sound the chimes, reversing the common order; — formerly done as a signal of alarm or danger. Sir W. Scott.
RINGRing, v. i.
1. To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly ametallic one.Now ringen trompes loud and clarion. Chaucer.Why ring not out the bells Shak.
2. To practice making music with bells. Holder.
3. To sound loud; to resound; to be filled with aWith sweeter notes each rising temple rung. Pope.The hall with harp and carol rang. Tennyson.My ears still ring with noise. Dryden.
4. To continue to sound or vibrate; to resound. The assertion is still ringing in our ears. Burke.
5. To be filled with report or talk; as, the whole town rings with his fame.
RINGRing, n.
1. A sound; especially, the sound of vibrating metals; as, the ring of a bell.
2. Any loud sound; the sound of numerous voices; a sound continued, repeated, or reverberated. The ring of acclamations fresh in his ears. Bacon
3. A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned. As great and tunable a ring of bells as any in the world. Fuller.
RINGRing, n. Etym: [AS. hring, hrinc; akin to Fries. hring, D. & G. ring,OHG. ring, hring, Icel. hringr, DAn. & SW. ring; cf. Russ. krug'. Cf.Harangue, Rank a row,Rink.]
Defn: A circle, or a circular line, or anything in the form of a circular line or hoop.
2. Specifically, a circular ornament of gold or other precious material worn on the finger, or attached to the ear, the nose, or some other part of the person; as, a wedding ring. Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. Chaucer. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you. Shak.
3. A circular area in which races are or run or other sports are performed; an arena. Place me. O, place me in the dusty ring, Where youthful charioteers contened for glory. E. Smith.
4. An inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence, figuratively, prize fighting. "The road was an institution, the ring was an institution." Thackeray.
5. A circular group of persons. And hears the Muses in a Aye round about Jove's alter sing. Milton.
6. (Geom.) (a) The plane figure included between the circumferences of two concentric circles. (b) The solid generated by the revolution of a circle, or other figure, about an exterior straight line (as an axis) lying in the same plane as the circle or other figure.
7. (Astron. & Navigation)
Defn: An instrument, formerly used for taking the sun's altitude, consisting of a brass ring suspended by a swivel, with a hole at one side through which a solar ray entering indicated the altitude on the graduated inner surface opposite.
8. (Bot.)
Defn: An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of Sporangium.
9. A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc. The ruling ring at Constantinople. E. A. Freeman. Ring armor, armor composed of rings of metal. See Ring mail, below, and Chain mail, under Chain. — Ring blackbird (Zoöl.), the ring ousel. — Ring canal (Zoöl.), the circular water tube which surrounds the esophagus of echinoderms. — Ring dotterel, or Ringed dotterel. (Zoöl.) See Dotterel, and Illust. of Pressiroster. — Ring dropper, a sharper who pretends to have found a ring (dropped by himself), and tries to induce another to buy it as valuable, it being worthless. — Ring fence. See under Fence. — Ring finger, the third finger of the left hand, or the next the little finger, on which the ring is placed in marriage. — Ring formula (Chem.), a graphic formula in the shape of a closed ring, as in the case of benzene, pyridine, etc. See Illust. under Benzene. — Ring mail, a kind of mail made of small steel rings sewed upon a garment of leather or of cloth. — Ring micrometer. (Astron.) See Circular micrometer, under Micrometer. — Saturn's rings. See Saturn. — Ring ousel. (Zoöl.) See Ousel. — Ring parrot (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Old World parrakeets having a red ring around the neck, especially Palæornis torquatus, common in India, and P. Alexandri of Java. — Ring plover. (Zoöl.) (a) The ringed dotterel. (b) Any one of several small American plovers having a dark ring around the neck, as the semipalmated plover (Ægialitis semipalmata). — Ring snake (Zoöl.), a small harmless American snake (Diadophis punctatus) having a white ring around the neck. The back is ash- colored, or sage green, the belly of an orange red. — Ring stopper. (Naut.) See under Stopper. — Ring thrush (Zoöl.), the ring ousel. — The prize ring, the ring in which prize fighters contend; prize fighters, collectively. — The ring. (a) The body of sporting men who bet on horse races. [Eng.] (b) The prize ring.
RINGRing, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ringed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ringing.]
1. To surround with a ring, or as with a ring; to encircle. "Ring these fingers." Shak.
2. (Hort.)
Defn: To make a ring around by cutting away the bark; to girdle; as, to ring branches or roots.
3. To fit with a ring or with rings, as the fingers, or a swine's snout.
RINGRing, v. i. (Falconry)
Defn: To rise in the air spirally.
RING ARMATURERing armature. (Elec.)
Defn: An armature for a dynamo or motor having the conductors wound on a ring.
RINGBILLRing"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ring-necked scaup duck; — called also ring-billed blackhead. See Scaup.
RINGBIRDRing"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The reed bunting. It has a collar of white feathers. Called also ring bunting.
RINGBOLTRing"bolt`, n.
Defn: An eyebolt having a ring through the eye.
RINGBONERing"bone`, n. (Far.)
Defn: A morbid growth or deposit of bony matter between or on the small pastern and the great pastern bones. J. H. Walsh.
RINGDOVERing"dove`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European wild pigeon (Columba palumbus) having a white crescent on each side of the neck, whence the name. Called also wood pigeon, and cushat.
RINGEDRinged, a.
1. Encircled or marked with, or as with, a ring or rings.
2. Wearning a wedding ring; hence, lawfully wedded. "A ringed wife." Tennyson. Ringed seal (Zoöl.), a North Pacific seal (Phoca foetida) having ringlike spots on the body. — Ringed snake (Zoöl.), a harmless European snake (Tropidonotus natrix) common in England. — Ringed worm (Zoöl.), an annelid.
RINGENT Rin"gent, a. Etym: [L. ringens, -entis, p. pr. of ringi to open wide the mouth: cf. F. ringent.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the lips widely separated and gaping like an open mouth; as a ringent bilabiate corolla.
RINGERRing"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, rings; especially, one who rings chimes on bells.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A crowbar. Simmonds.
RINGERRing"er, n. (Horse Racing)
Defn: A horse that is not entitled to take part in a race, but is fraudulently got into it.
RINGHEADRing"head`, n. (Cloth Manuf.)
Defn: An instrument used for stretching woolen cloth.
RINGINGRing"ing,
Defn: a & n. from Ring, v. Ringing engine, a simple form of pile driver in which the monkey is lifted by men pulling on ropes.
RINGINGLYRing"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a ringing manner.
RINGLEADERRing"lead`er, n.
1. The leader of a circle of dancers; hence, the leader of a number of persons acting together; the leader of a herd of animals. A primacy of order, such an one as the ringleader hath in a dance. Barrow.
2. Opprobriously, a leader of a body of men engaged in the violation of law or in an illegal enterprise, as rioters, mutineers, or the like. The ringleaders were apprehended, tried, fined, and imprisoned. Macaulay.
RINGLESTONERing"le*stone`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ringed dotterel, or ring plover. [Prov.Eng.]
RINGLETRing"let, n. Etym: [Ring + -let.]
1. A small ring; a small circle; specifically, a fairy ring. You demi-puppets, that By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make, Whereof the ewe not bites. Shak.
2. A curl; especially, a curl of hair. [Her golden tresses] in wanton ringlets waved. Milton.
RINGMANRing"man, n.; pl. Ringmen (.
Defn: The ring finger. [Obs.] Ascham
RINGMASTERRing"mas`ter, n.
Defn: One in charge of the performances (as of horses) within the ring in a circus.
RINGNECKRing"neck`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small plovers of the genusÆgialitis, having a ring around the neck. The ring is black insummer, but becomes brown or gray in winter. The semipalmated plover(Æ. semipalmata) and the piping plover (Æ. meloda) are common NorthAmerican species. Called also ring plover, and ring-necked plover.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ring-necked duck.
RING-NECKEDRing"-necked`, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a well defined ring of color around the neck. Ring- necked duck (Zool.), an American scaup duck (Aythya collaris). The head, neck, and breast of the adult male are black, and a narrow, but conspicuous, red ring encircles the neck. This ring is absent in the female. Called also ring-neck, ring-necked blackhead, ringbill, tufted duck, and black jack.
RINGSAILRing"sail`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Ringtail,2.
RINGSTRAKEDRing"straked`, a.
Defn: Ring-streaked.Cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. Gen. xxx. 39.
RING-STREAKEDRing"-streaked`, a.
Defn: Having circular streaks or lines on the body; as, ring-streaked goats.
RINGTAILRing"tail`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird having a distinct band of color across the tail, as the hen harrier.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A light sail set abaft and beyong the leech of a boom-and-gaff sail; — called also ringsail. Ringtail boom (Naut.), a spar which is rigged on a boom for setting a ringtail.
RING-TAILEDRing"-tailed`, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the tail crossed by conspicuous bands of color. Ring- tailed cat (Zoöl.), the cacomixle. — Ring-tailed eagle (Zoöl.), a young golden eagle.
RINGTOSSRing"toss`, n.
Defn: A game in which the object is to toss a ring so that it will catch upon an upright stick.
RING WINDINGRing winding. (Elec.)
Defn: Armature winding in which the wire is wound round the outer and inner surfaces alternately of an annular or cylindrical core.
RINGWORMRing"worm", n. (Med.)
Defn: A contagious affection of the skin due to the presence of a vegetable parasite, and forming ring-shaped discolored patches covered with vesicles or powdery scales. It occurs either on the body, the face, or the scalp. Different varieties are distinguished as Tinea circinata, Tinea tonsurans, etc., but all are caused by the same parasite (a species of Trichophyton).
RINK Rink, n. Etym: [Scot. renk, rink, rynk, a course, a race; probably fr. AS. hring a ring. See Ring.]
1. The smooth and level extent of ice marked off for the game of curling.
2. An artificial sheet of ice, generally under cover, used for skating; also, a floor prepared for skating on with roller skates, or a building with such a floor.
RINKERRink"er, n.
Defn: One who skates at a rink. [Colloq.]
RINKINGRink"ing, n.
Defn: Skating in a rink. [Colloq.]
RINSERinse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rinsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rinsing.] Etym:[OE., fr. OF. rincer, rimser, reinser, raïncier, F. rincer; ofuncertain origin.]
1. To wash lightly; to cleanse with a second or repeated application of water after washing.
2. To cleancse by the introduction of water; — applied especially to hollow vessels; as, to rinse a bottle. "Like a glass did break i' the rinsing." Shak.
RINSERinse, n.
Defn: The act of rinsing.
RINSERRins"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, rinses.
RIOT Ri"ot, n. Etym: [OF. riote, of uncertain origin; cf. OD. revot, ravot.]
1. Wanton or unrestrained behavior; uproar; tumult. His headstrong riot hath no curb. Shak.
2. Excessive and exxpensive feasting; wild and loose festivity;revelry.Venus loveth riot and dispense. Chaucer.The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day. Pope.
3. (Law)
Defn: The tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by an unlawful assembly of three or more persons in the execution of some private object. To run riot, to act wantonly or without restraint.
RIOTRi"ot, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rioted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rioting.] Etym:[OF. rioter; cf. OD. ravotten.]
1. To engage in riot; to act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge in excess of luxury, feasting, or the like; to revel; to run riot; to go to excess. Now he exact of all, wastes in delight, Riots in pleasure, and neglects the law. Daniel. No pulse that riots, and no blood that glows. Pope.
2. (Law)
Defn: To disturb the peace; to raise an uproar or sedition. See Riot, n., 3. Johnson.
RIOTRi"ot, v. t.
Defn: To spend or pass in riot.[He] had rioted his life out. Tennyson.
RIOTERRi"ot*er, n.
1. One who riots; a reveler; a roisterer. Chaucer.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who engages in a riot. See Riot, n., 3.
RIOTISERi"ot*ise, n.
Defn: Excess; tumult; revelry. [Obs.]His life he led in lawless riotise. Spenser.
RIOTOURRi"ot*our (-oor), n.
Defn: A rioter. [Obs.] Chaucer.
RIOTOUSRi"ot*ous, a. Etym: [OF. rioteux.]
1. Involving, or engaging in, riot; wanton; unrestrained; luxurious. The younger son . . . took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. Luke xv. 13.
2. Partaking of the nature of an unlawful assembly or its acts;seditious.— Ri"ot*ous*ly, adv.— Ri"ot*ous*ness, n.
RIOTRYRi"ot*ry, n.
Defn: The act or practice of rioting; riot. "Electioneering riotry."Walpole.
RIP Rip, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. hrip a box or basket; perhaps akin to E. corb. Cf. Ripier.]
Defn: A wicker fish basket.
RIPRip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ripped; p. pr. & vb. n. Ripping.] Etym: [Cf.AS. rypan, also Sw. repa to ripple flax, D. repelen, G. reffen,riffeln, and E. raff, raffle. Cf. Raff, Ripple of flax.]
1. To divide or separate the parts of, by cutting or tearing; to tear or cut open or off; to tear off or out by violence; as, to rip a garment by cutting the stitches; to rip off the skin of a beast; to rip up a floor; — commonly used with up, open, off.
2. To get by, or as by, cutting or tearing. He 'll rip the fatal secret from her heart. Granville.
3. To tear up for search or disclosure, or for alteration; to search to the bottom; to discover; to disclose; — usually with up. They ripped up all that had been done from the beginning of the rebellion. Clarendon. For brethern to debate and rip up their falling out in the ear of a common enemy . . . is neither wise nor comely. Milton.
4. To saw (wood) lengthwise of the grain or fiber. Ripping chisel(Carp.), a crooked chisel for cleaning out mortises. Knight.— Ripping iron. (Shipbuilding) Same as Ravehook.— Ripping saw. (Carp.) See Ripsaw.— To rip out, to rap out, to utter hastily and violently; as, torip out an oath. [Colloq.] See To rap out, under Rap, v. t.
RIPRip, n.
1. A rent made by ripping, esp. by a seam giving way; a tear; a place torn; laceration.
2. Etym: [Perh. a corruption of the first syllable of reprobate.]
Defn: A term applied to a mean, worthless thing or person, as to a scamp, a debauchee, or a prostitute, or a worn-out horse. [Slang.]
3. A body of water made rough by the meeting of opposing tides or currents.
RIPARIAN Ri*pa"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. riparius, fr. ripa a bank. See River, and cf. Arrive.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the bank of a river; as, riparian rights.
RIPARIOUSRi*pa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. riparius.]
Defn: Growing along the banks of rivers; riparian.
RIP CORDRip cord. (Aëronautics)
Defn: A cord by which the gas bag of a balloon may be ripped open for a limited distance to release the gas quickly and so cause immediate descent.
RIPERipe, n. Etym: [L. ripa.]
Defn: The bank of a river. [Obs.]
RIPERipe, a. [Compar. Riper; superl. Ripest.] Etym: [AS. ripe; akin toOS. ripi, D. rijp, G. rief, OHG. rift; cf. AS. rip harvest, ripan toreap. Cf. Reap.]
1. Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature; — said of fruits, seeds, etc.; as, ripe grain. So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop Into thy mother's lap. Milton.
2. Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow; as, ripe cheese; ripe wine.
3. Having attained its full development; mature; perfected; consummate. "Ripe courage." Chaucer. He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one. Shak.
4. Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge; — said of sores, tumors, etc.
5. Ready for action or effect; prepared. While things were just ripe for a war. Addison. I am not ripe to pass sentence on the gravest public bodies. Burke.
6. Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness. Those happy smilets, That played on her ripe lip. Shak.
7. Intoxicated. [Obs.] "Reeling ripe." Shak.
Syn.— Mature; complete; finished. See Mature.
RIPERipe, v. i. Etym: [AS. ripian.]
Defn: To ripen; to grow ripe. [Obs.]
RIPERipe, v. t.
Defn: To mature; to ripen. [Obs.] Shak.
RIPELYRipe"ly, adv.
Defn: Maturely; at the fit time. Shak.
RIPENRip"en, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ripened;p. pr. & vb. n. Ripening.]
1. To grow ripe; to become mature, as grain, fruit, flowers, and the like; as, grapes ripen in the sun.
2. To approach or come to perfection.
RIPENRip"en, v. t.
1. To cause to mature; to make ripe; as, the warm days ripened the corn.
2. To mature; to fit or prepare; to bring to perfection; as, to ripen the judgment. When faith and love, which parted from thee never, Had ripined thy iust soul to dwell with God. Milton.
RIPENESSRipe"ness, n. Etym: [AS. ripness.]
Defn: The state or quality of being ripe; maturity;; completeness; perfection; as, the ripeness of grain; ripeness of manhood; ripeness of judgment. Time, which made them their fame outlive, To Cowley scarce did ripeness give. Denham.
RIPIDOLITERi*pid"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A translucent mineral of a green color and micaceous structure, belonging to the chlorite group; a hydrous silicate of alumina, magnesia, and iron; — called also clinochlore.
RIPIENISTRi*pi*e"nist, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A player in the ripieno portion of an orchestra. See Ripieno.
RIPIENORi*pi*e"no, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)