Reacher (-ẽr) noun
1. One who reaches.

2. An exaggeration. [ Obsolete] Fuller.

Reachless adjective Being beyond reach; lofty.

Unto a reachless pitch of praises hight.

Bp. Hall.

React (rē*ăkt") transitive verb To act or perform a second time; to do over again; as, to react a play; the same scenes were reacted at Rome.

React (re*ăkt") intransitive verb
1. To return an impulse or impression; to resist the action of another body by an opposite force; as, every body reacts on the body that impels it from its natural state.

2. To act upon each other; to exercise a reciprocal or a reverse effect, as two or more chemical agents; to act in opposition.

Reactance noun [ React + -ance .] (Electricity) The influence of a coil of wire upon an alternating current passing through it, tending to choke or diminish the current, or the similar influence of a condenser; inductive resistance. Reactance is measured in ohms. The reactance of a circuit is equal to the component of the impressed electro-motive force at right angles to the current divided by the current, that is, the component of the impedance due to the self-inductance or capacity of the circuit.

Reactance coil (Electricity) A choking coil.

Reaction (re*ăk"shŭn) noun [ Confer French réaction .]
1. Any action in resisting other action or force; counter tendency; movement in a contrary direction; reverse action.

2. (Chemistry) The mutual or reciprocal action of chemical agents upon each other, or the action upon such chemical agents of some form of energy, as heat, light, or electricity, resulting in a chemical change in one or more of these agents, with the production of new compounds or the manifestation of distinctive characters. See Blowpipe reaction , Flame reaction , under Blowpipe , and Flame .

3. (Medicine) An action induced by vital resistance to some other action; depression or exhaustion of vital force consequent on overexertion or overstimulation; heightened activity and overaction succeeding depression or shock.

4. (Mech.) The force which a body subjected to the action of a force from another body exerts upon the latter body in the opposite direction.

Reaction is always equal and opposite to action, that is to say, the actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal and in opposite directions.

Sir I. Newton (3d Law of Motion).

5. (Politics) Backward tendency or movement after revolution, reform, or great progress in any direction.

The new king had, at the very moment at which his fame and fortune reached the highest point, predicted the coming reaction .

Macaulay.

Reaction time (Physiol.) , in nerve physiology, the interval between the application of a stimulus to an end organ of sense and the reaction or resulting movement; -- called also physiological time . -- Reaction wheel (Mech.) , a water wheel driven by the reaction of water, usually one in which the water, entering it centrally, escapes at its periphery in a direction opposed to that of its motion by orifices at right angles, or inclined, to its radii.

Reaction noun (Psycophysics) A regular or characteristic response to a stimulation of the nerves.

Reactionary (-a*rȳ) adjective Being, causing, or favoring reaction; as, reactionary movements.

Reactionary noun ; plural Reactionaries (-rĭz). One who favors reaction, or seeks to undo political progress or revolution.

Reactionist noun A reactionary. C. Kingsley.

Reactive (re*ăkt"ĭv) adjective [ Confer French réactif .] Having power to react; tending to reaction; of the nature of reaction. -- Re*act"ive*ly , adverb -- Re*act"ive*ness , noun

Reactor noun (Electricity) A choking coil.

Read (rēd) noun Rennet. See 3d Reed . [ Prov. Eng.]

Read (rēd) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Read (rĕd); present participle & verbal noun Reading .] [ Middle English reden , ræden , Anglo-Saxon rǣdan to read, advise, counsel, from rǣd advice, counsel, rǣdan (imperf. reord ) to advise, counsel, guess; akin to Dutch raden to advise, German raten , rathen , Icelandic rāða , Goth. rēdan (in comp.), and perhaps also to Sanskrit rādh to succeed. √116. Confer Riddle .]
1. To advise; to counsel. [ Obsolete] See Rede .

Therefore, I read thee, get thee to God's word, and thereby try all doctrine.

Tyndale.

2. To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle.

3. To tell; to declare; to recite. [ Obsolete]

But read how art thou named, and of what kin.

Spenser.

4. To go over, as characters or words, and utter aloud, or recite to one's self inaudibly; to take in the sense of, as of language, by interpreting the characters with which it is expressed; to peruse; as, to read a discourse; to read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read the notes of music, or to read music; to read a book.

Redeth [ read ye] the great poet of Itaille.

Chaucer.

Well could he rede a lesson or a story.

Chaucer.

5. Hence, to know fully; to comprehend.

Who is't can read a woman?

Shak.

6. To discover or understand by characters, marks, features, etc.; to learn by observation.

An armed corse did lie,
In whose dead face he read great magnanimity.

Spenser.

Those about her
From her shall read the perfect ways of honor.

Shak.

7. To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as, to read theology or law.

To read one's self in , to read aloud the Thirty-nine Articles and the Declaration of Assent, -- required of a clergyman of the Church of England when he first officiates in a new benefice.

Read intransitive verb
1. To give advice or counsel. [ Obsolete]

2. To tell; to declare. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

3. To perform the act of reading; to peruse, or to go over and utter aloud, the words of a book or other like document.

So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense.

Neh. viii. 8.

4. To study by reading; as, he read for the bar.

5. To learn by reading.

I have read of an Eastern king who put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence.

Swift.

6. To appear in writing or print; to be expressed by, or consist of, certain words or characters; as, the passage reads thus in the early manuscripts.

7. To produce a certain effect when read; as, that sentence reads queerly.

To read between the lines , to infer something different from what is plainly indicated; to detect the real meaning as distinguished from the apparent meaning.

Read noun [ Anglo-Saxon rǣd counsel, from rǣdan to counsel. See Read , transitive verb ]
1. Saying; sentence; maxim; hence, word; advice; counsel. See Rede . [ Obsolete]

2. [ Read , v. ] Reading. [ Colloq.] Hume.

One newswoman here lets magazines for a penny a read .

Furnivall.

Read (rĕd), imperfect & past participle of Read , transitive verb & i.

Read (rĕd) adjective Instructed or knowing by reading; versed in books; learned.

A poet . . . well read in Longinus.

Addison.

Readability (rēd`ȧ*bĭl"ĭ*tȳ) noun The state of being readable; readableness.

Readable (rēd"ȧ*b'l) adjective Such as can be read; legible; fit or suitable to be read; worth reading; interesting. -- Read"a*ble*ness , noun -- Read"a*bly , adverb

Readdress (rē`ăd*drĕs") transitive verb To address a second time; -- often used reflexively.

He readdressed himself to her.

Boyle.

Readept (-ȧ*dĕpt") transitive verb [ Prefix re- + Latin adeptus , past participle of adipisci to obtain.] To regain; to recover. [ Obsolete]

Readeption (-dĕp"shŭn) noun A regaining; recovery of something lost. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Reader (rēd"ẽr) noun [ Anglo-Saxon rǣdere .]
1. One who reads. Specifically: (a) One whose distinctive office is to read prayers in a church. (b) (University of Oxford, Eng.) One who reads lectures on scientific subjects. Lyell. (c) A proof reader. (d) One who reads manuscripts offered for publication and advises regarding their merit.

2. One who reads much; one who is studious.

3. A book containing a selection of extracts for exercises in reading; an elementary book for practice in a language; a reading book.

Readership noun The office of reader. Lyell.

Readily (rĕd"ĭ*lȳ) adverb
1. In a ready manner; quickly; promptly. Chaucer.

2. Without delay or objection; without reluctance; willingly; cheerfully.

How readily we wish time spent revoked!

Cowper.

Readiness noun The state or quality of being ready; preparation; promptness; aptitude; willingness.

They received the word with all readiness of mind.

Acts xvii. 11.

Syn. -- Facility; quickness; expedition; promptitude; promptness; aptitude; aptness; knack; skill; expertness; dexterity; ease; cheerfulness. See Facility .

Reading (rēd"ĭng) noun
1. The act of one who reads; perusal; also, printed or written matter to be read.

2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of extensive reading .

3. A lecture or prelection; public recital.

The Jews had their weekly readings of the law.

Hooker.

4. The way in which anything reads; force of a word or passage presented by a documentary authority; lection; version.

5. Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on the stage; way of rendering. [ Cant]

6. An observation read from the scale of a graduated instrument; as, the reading of a barometer.

Reading of a bill (Legislation) , its formal recital, by the proper officer, before the House which is to consider it.

Reading adjective
1. Of or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.

2. Addicted to reading; as, a reading community.

Reading book , a book for teaching reading; a reader. -- Reading desk , a desk to support a book while reading; esp., a desk used while reading the service in a church. -- Reading glass , a large lens with more or less magnifying power, attached to a handle, and used in reading, etc. -- Reading man , one who reads much; hence, in the English universities, a close, industrious student. -- Reading room , a room appropriated to reading; a room provided with papers, periodicals, and the like, to which persons resort.

Readjourn (rē`ăd*jûrn") transitive verb To adjourn a second time; to adjourn again.

Readjournment (-m e nt) noun The act of readjourning; a second or repeated adjournment.

Readjust (-jŭst") transitive verb To adjust or settle again; to put in a different order or relation; to rearrange.

Readjuster (-ẽr) noun One who, or that which, readjusts; in some of the States of the United States, one who advocates a refunding, and sometimes a partial repudiation, of the State debt without the consent of the State's creditors.

Readjustment (-m e nt) noun A second adjustment; a new or different adjustment.

Readmission (-mĭsh"ŭn) noun The act of admitting again, or the state of being readmitted; as, the readmission of fresh air into an exhausted receiver; the readmission of a student into a seminary.

Readmit (-mĭt") transitive verb To admit again; to give entrance or access to again.

Whose ear is ever open, and his eye
Gracious to readmit the suppliant.

Milton.

Readmittance (-t a ns) noun Allowance to enter again; a second admission.

Readopt (rē`ȧ*dŏpt") transitive verb To adopt again. Young.

Readorn (-dôrn") transitive verb To adorn again or anew.

Readvance (rē`ăd*vȧns") intransitive verb To advance again.

Readvertency (-vẽrt" e n*sȳ) noun The act of adverting to again, or of reviewing. [ R.] Norris.

Ready (rĕd"ȳ) adjective [ Compar. Readier (-ĭ*ẽr); superl. Readiest .] [ Anglo-Saxon rǣde ; akin to D. ge reed , be reid , G. be reit , Goth. ga ráids fixed, arranged, and possibly to English ride , as meaning originally, prepared for riding. Confer Array , 1st Curry .]
1. Prepared for what one is about to do or experience; equipped or supplied with what is needed for some act or event; prepared for immediate movement or action; as, the troops are ready to march; ready for the journey. "When she redy was." Chaucer.

2. Fitted or arranged for immediate use; causing no delay for lack of being prepared or furnished. "Dinner was ready ." Fielding.

My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready : come unto the marriage.

Matt. xxii. 4.

3. Prepared in mind or disposition; not reluctant; willing; free; inclined; disposed.

I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts xxi. 13.

If need be, I am ready to forego
And quit.

Milton.

4. Not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception of any kind; dexterous; prompt; easy; expert; as, a ready apprehension; ready wit; a ready writer or workman. " Ready in devising expedients." Macaulay.

Gurth, whose temper was ready , though surly.

Sir W. Scott.

5. Offering itself at once; at hand; opportune; convenient; near; easy. "The readiest way." Milton.

A sapling pine he wrenched from out the ground,
The readiest weapon that his fury found.

Dryden.

6. On the point; about; on the brink; near; -- with a following infinitive.

My heart is ready to crack.

Shak.

7. (Mil.) A word of command, or a position, in the manual of arms, at which the piece is cocked and held in position to execute promptly the next command, which is, aim .

All ready , ready in every particular; wholly equipped or prepared. "[ I] am all redy at your hest." Chaucer. -- Ready money , means of immediate payment; cash. "'T is all the ready money fate can give." Cowley. -- Ready reckoner , a book of tables for facilitating computations, as of interest, prices, etc. -- To make ready , to make preparation; to get in readiness.

Syn. -- Prompt; expeditious; speedy; unhesitating; dexterous; apt; skillful; handy; expert; facile; easy; opportune; fitted; prepared; disposed; willing; free; cheerful. See Prompt .

Ready (rĕd"ȳ) adverb In a state of preparation for immediate action; so as to need no delay.

We ourselves will go ready armed.

Num. xxxii. 17.

Ready noun Ready money; cash; -- commonly with the ; as, he was well supplied with the ready . [ Slang]

Lord Strut was not flush in ready , either to go to law, or to clear old debts.

Arbuthnot.

Ready transitive verb To dispose in order. [ Obsolete] Heywood.

Ready-made (-mād`) adjective Made already, or beforehand, in anticipation of need; not made to order; as, ready-made clothing; ready-made jokes.

Ready-witted (-wĭt`tĕd) adjective Having ready wit.

Reaffirm (rē`ăf*fẽrm") transitive verb To affirm again.

Reaffirmance (rē`ăf*fẽrm" a ns), Re*af`fir*ma"tion (rē*ăf`fẽr*mā"shŭn) noun A second affirmation.