Ridicule - Right

Prev Next

Ridicule (?), a. [F.] Ridiculous. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

This action . . . became so ridicule. Aubrey.
[ Webster]

Ridiculer (?), n. One who ridicules.
[ Webster]

Ridiculize (?), v. t. To make ridiculous; to ridicule. [Obs.] Chapman.
[ Webster]

Ridiculosity (?), n. The quality or state of being ridiculous; ridiculousness; also, something ridiculous. [Archaic] Bailey.
[ Webster]

Ridiculous (?), a. [L. ridiculosus, ridiculus, fr. ridere to laigh. Cf. .] 1. Fitted to excite ridicule; absurd and laughable; unworthy of serious consideration; as, a ridiculous dress or behavior.
[ Webster]

Agricola, discerning that those little targets and unwieldy glaives ill pointed would soon become ridiculous against the thrust and close, commanded three Batavian cohorts . . . to draw up and come to handy strokes. Milton.
[ Webster]

2. Involving or expressing ridicule. [R.]
[ Webster]

[It] provokes me to ridiculous smiling. Shak.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Ludicrous; laughable; risible; droll; comical; absurd; preposterous. See .
[ Webster]

--- Ridiculously, adv. -- Ridiculousness, n.
[ Webster]

Riding (rīdĭng), n. [For thriding, Icel. þriðjungr the third part, fr. þriði third, akin to E. third. See .] One of the three jurisdictions into which the county of York, in England, is divided; -- formerly under the government of a reeve. They are called the North, the East, and the West, Riding. Blackstone.
[ Webster]

Riding, a. 1. Employed to travel; traveling; as, a riding clerk. “One riding apparitor.” Ayliffe.
[ Webster]

2. Used for riding on; as, a riding horse.
[ Webster]

3. Used for riding, or when riding; devoted to riding; as, a riding whip; a riding habit; a riding day.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Riding clerk . (a) A clerk who traveled for a commercial house. [Obs. Eng.] (b) One of the “six clerks” formerly attached to the English Court of Chancery. -- Coloq. Riding hood . (a) A hood formerly worn by women when riding. (b) A kind of cloak with a hood. -- Coloq. Riding master , an instructor in horsemanship. -- Coloq. Riding rhyme (Pros.), the meter of five accents, with couplet rhyme; -- probably so called from the mounted pilgrims described in the Canterbury Tales. Dr. Guest. -- Coloq. Riding school , a school or place where the art of riding is taught.
[ Webster]

Riding, n. 1. The act or state of one who rides.
[ Webster]

2. A festival procession. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

When there any riding was in Cheap. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

3. Same as , n., 3. Sir P. Sidney.
[ Webster]

4. A district in charge of an excise officer. [Eng.]
[ Webster]

Ridotto (?), n. [It., fr. LL. reductus a retreat. See .] 1. A favorite Italian public entertainment, consisting of music and dancing, -- held generally on fast eves. Brande & C.
[ Webster]

There are to be ridottos at guinea tickets. Walpole.
[ Webster]

2. (Music) An arrangement or abridgment of a piece from the full score.
[Webster Suppl.]

Ridotto, v. i. To hold ridottos. [R.] J. G. Cooper.
[ Webster]

Rie (?), n. See . [Obs.] Holland.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Rie grass . (Bot.) (a) A kind of wild barley (Hordeum pratense). Dr. Prior. (b) Ray grass. Dr. Prior.
[ Webster]

Rief (?), n. [See .] Robbery. [Obs. or Scot.]
[ Webster]

Rietboc (?), n. [D. riet reed + bok buck.] (Zoöl.) The reedbuck, a South African antelope (Cervicapra arundinacea); -- so called from its frequenting dry places covered with high grass or reeds. Its color is yellowish brown. Called also inghalla, and rietbok.
[ Webster]

Rifacimento (?), n.; pl. Rifacimenti (#). [It.] A remaking or recasting; an adaptation, esp. of a literary work or musical composition.
[Webster Suppl.]

Rife (?), a. [AS. rīf abundant, or Icel. rīfr munificent; akin to OD. riff, rijve, abundant.] 1. Prevailing; prevalent; abounding.
[ Webster]

Before the plague of London, inflammations of the lungs were rife and mortal. Arbuthnot.
[ Webster]

Even now the tumult of loud mirth
Was rife, and perfect in may listening ear. Milton.
[ Webster]

2. Having power; active; nimble. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

What! I am rife a little yet. J. Webster.
[ Webster]

-- Rifely, adv. -- Rifeness, n.
[ Webster]

Riffle (rĭff'l), n. [CF. G. riffeln, riefeln, to groove. Cf. a gun.] 1. (Mining) A trough or sluice having cleats, grooves, or steps across the bottom for holding quicksilver and catching particles of gold when auriferous earth is washed; also, one of the cleats, grooves, or steps in such a trough. Also called ripple.
[ Webster]

2. A ripple in a stream or current of water; also, a place where the water ripples, as on a shallow rapid. [Local, U. S.]

The bass have left the cool depth beside the rock and are on the riffle or just below it. James A. Henshall.
[Webster Suppl.]

Riffler (?), n. [See .] A curved file used in carving wool and marble.
[ Webster]

Riffraff (?), n. [OE. rif and raf every particle, OF. rif et raf. CF. , and 1st .] Sweepings; refuse; the lowest order of society. Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]

Rifle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rifled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Rifling (?).] [F. rifler to rifle, sweep away; of uncertain origin. CF. .] 1. To seize and bear away by force; to snatch away; to carry off.
[ Webster]

Till time shall rifle every youthful grace. Pope.
[ Webster]

2. To strip; to rob; to pillage. Piers Plowman.
[ Webster]

Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye:
If not, we'll make you sit and rifle you. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. To raffle. [Obs.] J. Webster.
[ Webster]

Rifle, v. i. 1. To raffle. [Obs.] Chapman.
[ Webster]

2. To commit robbery. [R.] Bp. Hall.
[ Webster]

Rifle, n. [Akin to Dan. rifle, or riffel, the rifle of a gun, a chamfer (cf. riffel, riffelbösse, a rifle gun, rifle to rifle a gun, G. riefeln, riefen, to chamfer, groove), and E. rive. See , and cf. , .] 1. A gun, the inside of whose barrel is grooved with spiral channels, thus giving the ball a rotary motion and insuring greater accuracy of fire. As a military firearm it has superseded the musket.
[ Webster]

2. pl. (Mil.) A body of soldiers armed with rifles.
[ Webster]

3. A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Rifle pit (Mil.), a trench for sheltering sharpshooters.
[ Webster]

Rifle (?), v. t. 1. To grove; to channel; especially, to groove internally with spiral channels; as, to rifle a gun barrel or a cannon.
[ Webster]

2. To whet with a rifle. See , n., 3.
[ Webster]

Riflebird (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of beautiful birds of Australia and New Guinea, of the genera Ptiloris and Craspidophora, allied to the paradise birds.
[ Webster]

☞ 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.
[ Webster]

Rifleman (?), n.; pl. Rifleman (�). (Mil.) A soldier armed with a rifle.
[ Webster]

Rifler (?), n. One who rifles; a robber.
[ Webster]

Rifling (?), 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.
[ Webster]

Coloq. 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.
[ Webster]

Rift (?), obs. p. p. of . Spenser.
[ Webster]

Rift, n. [Written also reft.] [Dan. rift, fr. rieve to rend. See .] 1. An opening made by riving or splitting; a cleft; a fissure. Spenser.
[ Webster]

2. A shallow place in a stream; a ford.
[ Webster]

Rift, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rifting.] To cleave; to rive; to split; as, to rift an oak or a rock; to rift the clouds. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

To dwell these rifted rocks between. Wordsworth.
[ Webster]

Rift, v. i. 1. To burst open; to split. Shak.
[ Webster]

Timber . . . not apt to rif with ordnance. Bacon.
[ Webster]

2. To belch. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
[ Webster]

Rifter (?), n. A rafter. [Obs.] Holland.
[ Webster]

Rig (?), n. [See .] A ridge. [Prov. or Scott.]
[ Webster]

Rig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rigged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Rigging (?).] [Norweg. rigga to bind, particularly, to wrap round, rig; cf. AS. wrīhan to cover.] 1. To furnish with apparatus or gear; to fit with tackling.
[ Webster]

2. To dress; to equip; to clothe, especially in an odd or fanciful manner; -- commonly followed by out.
[ Webster]

Jack was rigged out in his gold and silver lace. L'Estrange.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To rig a purchase , to adapt apparatus so as to get a purchase for moving a weight, as with a lever, tackle, capstan, etc. -- Coloq. To rig a ship (Naut.), to fit the shrouds, stays, braces, etc., to their respective masts and yards.
[ Webster]

Rig, n. 1. (Naut.) 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.
[ Webster]

2. Dress; esp., odd or fanciful clothing. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Rig, n. [Cf. .] 1. A romp; a wanton; one given to unbecoming conduct. [Obs.] Fuller.
[ Webster]

2. A sportive or unbecoming trick; a frolic.
[ Webster]

3. A blast of wind. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
[ Webster]

That uncertain season before the rigs of Michaelmas were yet well composed. Burke.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To run a rig , to play a trick; to engage in a frolic; to do something strange and unbecoming.
[ Webster]

He little dreamt when he set out
Of running such a rig. Cowper.
[ Webster]

Rig, v. i. To play the wanton; to act in an unbecoming manner; to play tricks. “Rigging and rifling all ways.” Chapman.
[ Webster]

Rig, v. t. To make free with; hence, to steal; to pilfer. [Obs. or Prov.] Tusser.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To rig the market (Stock Exchange), to raise or lower market prices, as by some fraud or trick. [Cant]
[ Webster]

Rigadoon (?), n. [F. rigadon, rigaudon.] A gay, lively dance for one couple, -- said to have been borrowed from Provence in France. W. Irving.
[ Webster]

Whose dancing dogs in rigadoons excel. Wolcott.
[ Webster]

Riga fir (?), [So called from Riga, a city in Russia.] (Bot.) A species of pine (Pinus sylvestris), and its wood, which affords a valuable timber; -- called also Scotch pine, and red deal or yellow deal. It grows in all parts of Europe, in the Caucasus, and in Siberia.
[ Webster]

Rigarion (?), n. [L. rigatio, fr. rigare to water.] See . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Rigel (?), n. [Ar. rijl, properly, foot.] (Astron.) A fixed star of the first magnitude in the left foot of the constellation Orion. [Written also Regel.]
[ Webster]

Rigescent (?), a. [L. rigescens, p. pr. fr. rigescere to grow stiff.] Growing stiff or numb.
[ Webster]

Rigger (?), n. 1. One who rigs or dresses; one whose occupation is to fit the rigging of a ship.
[ Webster]

2. A cylindrical pulley or drum in machinery. [R.]
[ Webster]

3. (Painting) A long slender, and pointed sable brush for making fine lines, etc.; -- said to be so called from its use by marine painters for drawing the lines of the rigging.
[Webster Suppl.]

Rigging (?), n. 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 and .
[ Webster]

Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Standing rigging (Naut.), the shrouds and stays.
[ Webster]

Riggish (?), a. Like a rig or wanton. [Obs.] “Riggish and unmaidenly.” Bp. Hall.
[ Webster]

Riggle (?), v. i. See .
[ Webster]

Riggle, n. The European lance fish. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Right (rīt), a. [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. ṛju straight, right. √115. Cf. , , , , , , , , , , , , , .] 1. Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. “Right as any line.” Chaucer
[ Webster]

2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is absolutely right, and is called right simply without relation to a special end. Whately.
[ Webster]

2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right man in the right place; the right way from London to Oxford.
[ Webster]

5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not spurious. “His right wife.” Chaucer.
[ Webster]

In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly manifested themselves to be right barbarians. Milton.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well. Shak.
[ Webster]

If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the inference is . . . right, “Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” Locke.
[ Webster]

7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate.
[ Webster]

The lady has been disappointed on the right side. Spectator.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

☞ 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.
[ Webster]

9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well regulated; correctly done.
[ Webster]

10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side of a piece of cloth.
[ Webster]

Coloq. At right angles , so as to form a right angle or right angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly. -- Coloq. Right and left , in both or all directions. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Right ascension . See under . -- Coloq. Right Center (Politics), those members belonging to the Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with the Right on political questions. See , n., 5. -- Coloq. Right cone , Coloq. Right cylinder , Coloq. Right prism , Coloq. Right pyramid (Geom.), a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the axis of which is perpendicular to the base. -- Coloq. Right line . See under . -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. 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.
[ Webster]

☞ Right is used elliptically for it is right, what you say is right, true.
[ Webster]

“Right,” cries his lordship. Pope.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful; rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper; suitable; becoming.
[ Webster]

Right, adv. 1. In a right manner.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

Unto Dian's temple goeth she right. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Let thine eyes look right on. Prov. iv. 25.
[ Webster]

Right across its track there lay,
Down in the water, a long reef of gold. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

3. Exactly; just. [Obs. or Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Came he right now to sing a raven's note? Shak.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

5. According to any rule of art; correctly.
[ Webster]

You with strict discipline instructed right. Roscommon.
[ Webster]

6. According to fact or truth; actually; truly; really; correctly; exactly; as, to tell a story right. “Right at mine own cost.” Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Right as it were a steed of Lumbardye. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

His wounds so smarted that he slept right naught. Fairfax.
[ Webster]

7. In a great degree; very; wholly; unqualifiedly; extremely; highly; as, right humble; right noble; right valiant. “He was not right fat”. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

For which I should be right sorry. Tyndale.
[ Webster]

[I] return those duties back as are right fit. Shak.
[ Webster]

☞ In this sense now chiefly prefixed to titles; as, right honorable; right reverend.
[ Webster]

Coloq. 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.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z