Random Ran"dom adjective Going at random or by chance; done or made at hazard, or without settled direction, aim, or purpose; hazarded without previous calculation; left to chance; haphazard; as, a random guess.

Some random truths he can impart.

Wordsworth.

So sharp a spur to the lazy, and so strong a bridle to the random .

H. Spencer.

Random courses (Masonry) , courses of stone of unequal thickness. -- Random shot , a shot not directed or aimed toward any particular object, or a shot with the muzzle of the gun much elevated. -- Random work (Masonry) , stonework consisting of stones of unequal sizes fitted together, but not in courses nor always with flat beds.

Randomly Ran"dom·ly (răn"dŭm*lȳ) adverb In a random manner.

Randon Ran"don (-dŭn) noun Random. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Randon Ran"don intransitive verb To go or stray at random. [ Obsolete]

Ranedeer Rane"deer` (rān"dēr`) noun See Reindeer . [ Obsolete]

Ranee Ra"nee (rä"nē) noun Same as Rani .

Ranforce Ran"force` (răn"fōrs`) noun [ Confer French renforcer .] See Reënforce . [ Obsolete] Bailey.

Rang Rang (răng), imperfect of Ring , transitive verb & i.

Range Range (rānj) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Ranged (rānjd); present participle & verbal noun Ranging (rān"jĭng).] [ Middle English rengen , Old French rengier , French ranger , Old French renc row, rank, French rang ; of German origin. See Rank , noun ] 1. To set in a row, or in rows; to place in a regular line or lines, or in ranks; to dispose in the proper order; to rank; as, to range soldiers in line.

Maccabeus ranged his army by bands.

2 Macc. xii. 20.

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

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

Burke.

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

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

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

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

Gay.

6. To sail or pass in a direction parallel to or near; as, to range the coast.

» Compare the last two senses (5 and 6) with the French ranger une côte.

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

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

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

Burton.

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

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

And range with humble livers in content.

Shak.

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

Which way the forests range .

Dryden.

5. (Biol.) To be native to, or live in, a certain district or region; as, the peba ranges from Texas to Paraguay.

Syn. -- To rove; roam; ramble; wander; stroll.

Range Range noun [ From Range , v. : confer French rangée .] 1. A series of things in a line; a row; a rank; as, a range of buildings; a range of mountains.

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

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

Sir M. Hale.

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

4. A kitchen grate. [ Obsolete]

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

L'Estrange.

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

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

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

He may take a range all the world over.

South.

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

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

Far as creation's ample range extends.

Pope.

The range and compass of Hammond's knowledge filled the whole circle of the arts.

Bp. Fell.

A man has not enough range of thought.

Addison.

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

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

12. In the public land system of the United States, a row or line of townships lying between two successive meridian lines six miles apart.

» The meridians included in each great survey are numbered in order east and west from the "principal meridian" of that survey, and the townships in the range are numbered north and south from the "base line," which runs east and west; as, township No. 6, N., range 7, W., from the fifth principal meridian.

13. (Nautical) See Range of cable , below.

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

Rangement Range"ment (rānj"m e nt) noun [ Confer French rangement .] Arrangement. [ Obsolete] Waterland.

Ranger Ran"ger (rān"jẽr) noun 1. One who ranges; a rover; sometimes, one who ranges for plunder; a roving robber.

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

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

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

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

Rangership Ran"ger·ship noun The office of the keeper of a forest or park. [ Eng.]

Rangle Ran"gle (răn"g'l) intransitive verb To range about in an irregular manner. [ Obsolete or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Rangy Ran"gy adjective [ From Range , intransitive verb ] Inclined or able to range, or rove about, for considerable distances; apt or suited for much roving, -- chiefly used of cattle.

Rani Ra"ni (rä"nē) noun [ Hind. rānī , Sanskrit rājnī . See Rajah .] A queen or princess; the wife of a rajah. [ Written also ranee .] [ India]

Ranine Ra"nine (rā"nīn) adjective [ Latin rana a frog.] 1. (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the frogs and toads.

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

Rank Rank (rănk) adjective [ Compar. Ranker (-ẽr); superl. Rankest .] [ Anglo-Saxon ranc strong, proud; confer Dutch rank slender, Danish rank upright, erect, Prov. German rank slender, Icelandic rakkr slender, bold. The meaning seems to have been influenced by Latin rancidus , English rancid .] 1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.

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

Gen. xli. 5.

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

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

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

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

6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Rank modus (Law) , an excessive and unreasonable modus. See Modus , 3. -- To set (the iron of a plane, etc.) rank , to set so as to take off a thick shaving. Moxon.

Rank Rank adverb Rankly; stoutly; violently. [ Obsolete]

That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell.

Fairfax.

Rank Rank noun [ Middle English renk , reng , Old French renc , French rang , from Old High German hring a circle, a circular row, German ring . See Ring , and confer Range , noun & v. ] 1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers.

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

Byron.

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

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

Shak.

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

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

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

These all are virtues of a meaner rank .

Addison.

6. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank .

Rank and file . (a) (Mil.) The whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff. (b) See under 1st File . -- The ranks , the order or grade of common soldiers; as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks . -- To fill the ranks , to supply the whole number, or a competent number. -- To take rank of , to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.

Rank Rank transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Ranked (rănkt); present participle & verbal noun Ranking .] 1. To place abreast, or in a line.

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

Ranking all things under general and special heads.

I. Watts.

Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers.

Broome.

Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft.

Dr. H. More.

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

Rank Rank intransitive verb 1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division.

Let that one article rank with the rest.

Shak.

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

Ranker Rank"er (-ẽr) noun One who ranks, or disposes in ranks; one who arranges.

Rankle Ran"kle (răn"k'l) intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Rankled (-k'ld); present participle & verbal noun Rankling (-klĭng).] [ From Rank , adjective ] 1. To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively.

A malady that burns and rankles inward.

Rowe.

This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts of the people.

Burke.

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

Rankle Ran"kle (răn"k'l) transitive verb To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame. [ R.] Beau. & Fl.

Rankly Rank"ly (rănk"lȳ) adverb With rank or vigorous growth; luxuriantly; hence, coarsely; grossly; as, weeds grow rankly .

Rankness Rank"ness noun [ Anglo-Saxon rancness pride.] The condition or quality of being rank.

Rannel Ran"nel (răn"nĕl) noun A prostitute. [ Obsolete]

Ranny Ran"ny (-nȳ) noun [ Latin araneus mus , a kind of small mouse.] (Zoology) The erd shrew. [ Scot.]

Ransack Ran"sack (-săk) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Ransacked (-săkt); present participle & verbal noun Ransacking .] [ Middle English ransaken , Icelandic rannsaka to explore, examine; rann a house (akin to Goth. razn house, Anglo-Saxon ræsn plank, beam) + the root of sækja to seek, akin to English seek . See Seek , and confer Rest repose.] 1. To search thoroughly; to search every place or part of; as, to ransack a house.

To ransack every corner of their . . . hearts.

South.

2. To plunder; to pillage completely.

Their vow is made
To ransack Troy.

Shak.

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

Rich spoil of ransacked chastity.

Spenser.

Ransack Ran"sack intransitive verb To make a thorough search.

To ransack in the tas [ heap] of bodies dead.

Chaucer.

Ransack Ran"sack noun The act of ransacking, or state of being ransacked; pillage. [ R.]

Even your father's house
Shall not be free from ransack .

J. Webster.

Ransom Ran"som (răn"sŭm) noun [ Middle English raunson , raunsoun , Old French rançon , raençon , raançon , French rançon , from Latin redemptio , from redimere to redeem. See Redeem , and confer Redemption .] 1. The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom . Dryden.

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

Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems.

Milton.

His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty.

Sir J. Davies.

3. (O. Eng. Law) A sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment. Blackstone.

Ransom bill (Law) , a war contract, valid by the law of nations, for the ransom of property captured at sea and its safe conduct into port. Kent.

Ransom Ran"som transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Ransomed (-sŭmd); present participle & verbal noun Ransoming .] [ Confer French rançonner . See Ransom , noun ] 1. To redeem from captivity, servitude, punishment, or forfeit, by paying a price; to buy out of servitude or penalty; to rescue; to deliver; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy.

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

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

Berners.

Ransomable Ran"som·a·ble (-ȧ*b'l) adjective Such as can be ransomed.

Ransomer Ran"som·er (-ẽr) noun One who ransoms or redeems.

Ransomless Ran"som·less adjective Incapable of being ransomed; without ransom. Shak.

Rant Rant (rănt) intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Ranted ; present participle & verbal noun Ranting .] [ OD. ranten , randen , to dote, to be enraged.] To rave in violent, high-sounding, or extravagant language, without dignity of thought; to be noisy, boisterous, and bombastic in talk or declamation; as, a ranting preacher.

Look where my ranting host of the Garter comes!

Shak.

Rant Rant noun High-sounding language, without importance or dignity of thought; boisterous, empty declamation; bombast; as, the rant of fanatics.

This is a stoical rant , without any foundation in the nature of man or reason of things.

Atterbury.

Ranter Rant"er (-ẽr) noun 1. A noisy talker; a raving declaimer.

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

Ranterism Rant"er·ism (-ĭz'm) noun (Eccl. Hist.) The practice or tenets of the Ranters.

Rantingly Rant"ing·ly adverb In a ranting manner.

Rantipole Rant"i·pole (-ĭ*pōl) noun [ Ranty + pole , poll , head.] A wild, romping young person. [ Low] Marryat.

Rantipole Rant"i·pole adjective Wild; roving; rakish. [ Low]

Rantipole Rant"i·pole intransitive verb To act like a rantipole. [ Low]

She used to rantipole about the house.

Arbuthnot.

Rantism Rant"ism (-ĭz'm) noun (Eccl. Hist.) Ranterism.

Ranty Rant"y (-ȳ) adjective Wild; noisy; boisterous.

Ranula Ran"u·la (răn"u*lȧ) noun [ Latin , a little frog, a little swelling on the tongue of cattle, dim. of rana a frog.] (Medicine) A cyst formed under the tongue by obstruction of the duct of the submaxillary gland.

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

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