RUN of people. (h) To proceed in succession; to extend through a period of time; to be kept up; to continue or be repeated for a certain time; as, the play ran for a hundred nights. She saw with joy the line immortal run, Each sire impress'd and glaring in his son. Pope. (i) To be carried to a pitch; to rise; as, debates run high. In popish countries the power of the clergy runs higher. Ayliffe. (1) To grow exuberantly; to proceed or tend in growing; as, young persons of ten or twelve years old soon run up to men and women. If the richness of the ground cause turnips to run to leaves, treading down the leaves will help their rooting. Mortimer. A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds. Bacon. (k) To continue in time before it becomes due and payable; as, a note runs thirty days; a bill has ninety days to run. (1) To pass by gradual changes; to shade; as, colours run one into another. (m) To have a general tendency; to incline. Temperate climates run into moderate governments. Swift. (n) To proceed, as on a ground or principle; to turn. Upon that the apostle's argument Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. Shak. (0) To be carried on or conducted, as an enterprise. [United States.] Every other important inn seemed now to be running under the name of an Imperial Hotel. Jenkins. -To run after, to pursue or follow; to endeavour to obtain; to search for. 'The mind.. runs after similes.' Locke.-To run against, (a) to come into collision with. (b) To be adverse to. Had the present war run against us.' Addison. To run at, to attack with sudden violence; to rush upon. -To run away, to flee; to escape; to elope. I cried upon my first wife's dying day, And also when my second ran away. -To run away with, (a) to convey away in a hurried or clandestine manner; to assist in escape or elopement. (b) To bolt with; to start off with at a great pace; as, the horse ran away with the carriage. (c) To hurry without deliberation; to carry away. Thoughts run away with a man.' Locke. To run before, (a) to flee before. (b) To pass in running; to outstrip; to surpass; to excel. Byron. But the scholar ran Before the master, and so far, that Bleys To run down a coast, to sail along it. To run foul of. See under FOUL-To run in or into, (a) to enter; to step in. (b) To come or get into (a state). Run into no further danger.' Shak.-To run in trust, to get credit; to run in debt. Swift.-To run in with, (a) to close; to comply; to agree with. (b) Naut. to sail close to; as, to run in with or to the land.-To run mad, to become mad. 'At his own shadow let the thief run mad.' Shak.-To run on, (a) to be continued; as, their accounts had run on for a year without settlement. (b) To talk incessantly. (c) To continue a course. (d) To joke or ridicule. (e) In printing, to be continued in the same line without making a break or beginning a new paragraph. To run on all fours, (a) to run on hands and feet. (b) To be coincident or concurrent; to be exactly analogous or similar to something else; to agree. I have a case in pint that runs on all fours with it, as brother Josiah the lawyer used to say, and if there was anything wantin' to prove that lawyers were not strait up and down in their dealings that expression would show it. Haliburton. [The expression is somewhat colloquial, but quite common.]-To run out, (a) to stop after running to the end of its time, as a watch or sand-glass. (b) To come to an end; to expire; as, a lease runs out at Michaelmas. (c) To spread exuberantly. 'Insectile animals run all out into legs.' Hammond. (d) To expatiate. She ran out extravagantly in praise of Hocus. Arbuthnot. (e) To be wasted or exhausted; as, the estate runs out, and mortgages are made. Dryden. (f) To become poor by extravagance. Had her stock been less, no doubt She must have long ago run out. Dryden. -To run over, (a) to overflow. 'His mouth runs o'er.' Dryden. (b) To go over, examine, or recount cursorily; as, I shall not run over all the particulars. Locke. (c) To ride or drive over; as, to run over a child.-To run through, to spend quickly; to dissipate; as, 745 he soon ran through his fortune.-To run to seed, a horticultural phrase applied to herbaceous plants, which, instead of developing the produce for which they are valued, in a juicy state, shoot or spindle up, become stringy, and yield, instead, flowers, and ultimately seed. Such plants, if not required for seed, are pulled up and cast to the refuse heap. Hence, to become impoverished, exhausted, or worn out; to go to waste. Better to me the meanest weed That blows upon its mountain, Beside its native fountain. Tennyson. -To run together, (a) to unite or mingle, as metals fused in the same vessel. (b) In mining, to fall in, as the walls of a lode, so as to render the shafts and levels impassable. Ansted. To run up, (a) to rise; to swell; to grow; to increase; as, accounts run up very fast. (b) To pass rapidly from top to bottom of in calculating; as, to run up a column of figures. Run (run), v. t. 1. To cause to run or go quickly; as, run a horse down the hill.2. To drive; to force; to cause to be driven; as, to run the head against obstacles. 'Ran the ship aground.' Acts xxvii. 41. A talkative person runs himself upon great inconveniences, by blabbing out his own or others' secrets. Ray. 3. To force into another way or form; to bring to a state; to make. This tongue that runs so roundly in thy head, Should run thy head from thy unreverent shoulders. Shak. Others accustomed to retired speculations, run natural philosophy into metaphysical notions. Locke. 4. To melt; to fuse. The purest gold must be run and washed. Felton. 5. To shape, form, or make in a mould; to cast; to mould; as, to run bullets or buttons. 6. To incur; to encounter. I shall run the danger of being suspected to have forgot what I am about. Locke. 7. To venture; to hazard. He would himself be in the Highlands to receive them, and run his fortune with them. Clarendon, 8. To break through or evade; as, to run a blockade; hence, to cause to pass or evade official restrictions; to smuggle; to import or export without paying the duties required by law. Heavy impositions lessen the import and are a strong temptation of running goods. Swift. 9. To pursue in thought; to carry in contemplation. 'To run the world back to its first original.' South. I would gladly understand the formation of a soul, and run it up to its punctum saliens. Jeremy Collier. 10. To push; to thrust; to put with force; as, to run the hand into the pocket or the bosom; to run a nail into the foot.-11. To pierce; to stab; as, to run a person through with a rapier. I'll run him up to the hilts, as I'm a soldier. Shak. 12. To draw or cause to be drawn or marked; to determine; as, to run a line. - 13. To cause to ply; to maintain in running or passing on a course or track; as, to run a stage-coach from London to Bristol; to run a train from Manchester.-14. To accomplish by running; to pursue, as a course; to follow; to perform; to take. "When he doth run his course.' Shak. Run the wild-goose chase." Shak. Full merrily Hath this brave manage, this career been run. Shak 15. To cause to pass; as, to run a rope through a block.-16. To pour forth, as a stream; to let flow; to emit; to discharge; as, the rivers run gold. Milton. Even at the base of Pompey's statua, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. Shak 17. To carry on or conduct, as a hotel or other enterprise; to introduce and carry through, as a bill through congress or parliament; to start and support, as a candidate. [United States.] If any particular burglar had taken it into his head to crack that particular crib and got clear off with the swag he might have been run for... congress. Macmillan's Mag. 18. To sew by passing the needle through, back and forth in a continuous line, generally taking a series of stitches on the needle at the same time; as, to run a seam.-19. To make teasing remarks to; to nag; to worry. Goodrich. [Colloq.]- To run down, (a) in hunting, to chase to weariness; as, to run down a stag. (b) Naut. to run against and RUN sink, as a vessel. (c) To crush; to overthrow; to overwhelm; to overbear. Religion is run down by the license of these times. Berkeley. (d) To pursue with scandal or opposition.---To run hard, (a) to press hard in a race or other competition; to come very near beating. Livingstone headed the list, though Fallowfield ran him hard. Lawrence. (b) To press with jokes, sarcasm, or ridicule. (c) To urge or press importunately.-To run in, (a) in printing, to place the carriage, with the form of types, so as to obtain an impression. (b) To take into custody, as by a policeman; to lock up. [Slang.]-To run on, in printing, to carry on or continue, as a line, without break.-To run out, (a) to thrust or push out; to extend. (b) To waste; to exhaust; as, to run out an estate. (c) In printing, to withdraw the carriage with the form of types after taking an impression.To run riot. See under RIOT.-To run up, (a) to increase; to enlarge by additions; as, to run up a large account. (b) To thrust up, as anything long and slender. (c) To sew by taking a series of stitches on the needle at the same time; to repair temporarily by sewing. Dickens. He ran a match agin the constable and vun it. Run (run), n. 1. The act of running; a course run; as, a long run; a quick run.-2. A trip; a pleasure trip or excursion; as, to take a run to Paris. [Colloq.1-3. Course; progress; flow; especially, particular or distinctive course, progress, tenor, &c.; as, a run of verses to please the ear; the run of events. They who made their arrangements in the first run of misadventure. . . put a seal on their calamities. Burke. 4. Continued course; continued success or popularity; as, a run of ill luck; the play has had an extraordinary run; the run of a particular fashion, &c. It is impossible for detached papers to have a general run or long continuance, if not diversified with humour. Addison. 5. Clamour; outcry: followed by against; as, a violent run against university education. Swift.-6. A general or uncommon pressure or demand; specifically, on a bank or treasury for payment of its notes. 'A run upon the bank.' Warburton. 'Rather a run on Noah's Arks at present.' Dickens.-7. Naut. (a) the aftmost part of a ship's bottom. (b) The distance sailed by a ship; as, a run of 100 miles. (c) A voyage or trip; a passage from one place to another. Seamen are said to be engaged on the run when they are shipped for a single voyage out or homeward, or from one port to another.-8. Milit. the swiftest mode of advancing 9. A pair of millstones.-10. A small stream; a brook. --11. In cricket, one complete act of running from one wicket to the other by the batsThe match is won or lost according as one party makes more or fewer runs than the other. 12. Power of running; strength for running. man. They have too little run left in themselves to pull up for their own brothers. T. Hughes. 13. A place where animals run or may run; especially, a large extent of grazing ground, called variously a Cattle-run, a Sheep-run, &c., according to the animals pastured.14. In mining, the horizontal distance to which a level can be carried, either from the nature of the formation or in accordance with agreement with the proprietor.-15. In music, a succession of notes, either ascending or descending, played rapidly; a series of running notes.-The common run(or simply the run), that which passes under observation as usual or most general; the generality. In the common run of mankind, for one that is wise and good you find ten of a contrary character. Addison. -By the run, suddenly; quickly; at once: said of a fall, descent, and the like; as, the wall fell by the run; he came down the rope by the run. To let go by the run (naut.), to let go at once or entirely, in place of slacking the rope and tackle by which RUN anything is held fast.-In the long run (at the long run, not so generally used) signifies the whole process or course of things taken together; in the final result; in the conclusion or end.-To get the run upon, to make a butt of; to turn into ridicule. [American.] Run (run), a. 1. Liquefied; melted; clarified; as, run butter.-2. Run or conveyed ashore secretly; contraband; as, run brandy; a run cargo. Runagate (run'a-gat), n. [Corruption of Fr. renégat. See RENEGADE.] Afugitive; a vagabond; an apostate; a renegade. 'Wretched runagates from the jail.' De Quincey. Thou runagate, heretic, and traitor, hast thou heard what these honest gentlemen have witnessed against thee? Bunyan. Runaway (run'a-wa), n. 1. One that flies from danger or restraint; one that deserts lawful service; a fugitive. Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? Shak. 2. One that runs in the public ways; one that roves or rambles about. Shak. [This is no doubt the proper reading and meaning in Romeo and Juliet, iii. 2, 6.] Runaway (run'a-wa), a. 1. Acting the part of a runaway; escaping or breaking from restraint; defying or overcoming restraint; as, a runaway horse.-2. Accomplished or effected by running away or eloping; as, a runaway match. Runcationt (run-ka'shon), n. [L. runcatio.] A weeding. Evelyn. Runcinate (run'si-nāt), a. [L. runcina, a plane.] In bot. pinnatifid, with the lobes convex before and straight behind, pointing backwards, like the teethi of a double saw, as in the dandelion. Runcinato-dentate (runsi-na'to-den-tät), a. In bot. hooked back and toothed. Rund (rund), n. [See RAND.] Runcinate Leaf. A border; a selvage of broad-cloth; a shred; a remnant. [Scotch] Rundel (run'del), n. [A form of runnel.] A runlet; a moat with water in it. Rundle (run'dl), n. [From round.] 1. A round; a step of a ladder.-2. Something put round an axis. 'An axis or cylinder having a rundle about it. Bp. Wilkins. 3. A ball. Holland.-4. Something round or circular; a circle. Rundlet, n. See RUNLET. Rune (ron), n. [A. Sax. rún, a letter, a mysterious or magical character, a mystery; the word has substantially the same form and meaning in the other Teutonic tongues. The original meaning (as seen in Goth. runa) seems to be that of mystery, secret conversation; and the word is by some connected with Gr. ereunao, to inquire. Grimm and Mone derive it from O. Sax. runen, to scratch, cut-the letters being scratched or cut in sticks.] 1. A letter of the alphabet peculiar to the ancient northern nations of Europe. There were three leading classes of runes-the Scandinavian, the German, 746 The characters are formed almost entirely of straight lines, either single or in composition. Various opinions are held in regard to the origin of the runes. The resemblance of some of the runic characters to the Phonician alphabet has led some to suppose they were introduced by the Phoenicians in their trading excursions to England or the Baltic. Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon tradition ascribe the runes to Odin. The priests kept the knowledge of the runes as much as possible a mystery, and cut them on pieces of smoothed wood, generally willow, called (in A. Sax.) rún-stafas, which they used for the purposes of sorcery. Runes were inscribed on monuments, rocks, medals, rings, hilts and blades of swords, and the like. Runic monuments occur in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Britain, and some parts of France and Spain. Three fine examples of Anglo-Saxon runic monuments occur at Bewcastle Cross, Cumberland; Hartlepool, Northumberland; and Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire. The earliest mention made of the runes by any writer is of the sixth century.-2. The rhymes or poetry expressed in runic characters. A bard or learned man Runer (rön'èr), n. among the ancient Goths. Sir W. Temple. Rung (rung), pp. of ring. Rung (rung), n. [Icel. röng, a rib in a ship; O.D. ronghe, a prop, a support; G. runge, a short piece of iron or wood.] 1. A floor timber in a ship, whence the end is called a rung-head, more properly a floor-head.2. Any long piece of wood, but most commonly a coarse heavy staff. [Scotch and provincial English.]-3. The round or step of a ladder. [Local.] Rung-head (rung'hed), n. Naut. the upper - Runic knot, in arch. a peculiar_twisted ornament belonging to early Anglo-Saxon or Danish times. Called also Danish Knot.Runic wand, runic staff, a willow wand inscribed with runes. See RUNE. Runkled (rung'kld), a. Wrinkled. [Scotch.] A little rivulet or Runlet (run'let), n. stream; a runnel. Tennyson. Runlet, Rundlet (run'let, rund'let), n. [From round. A small barrel of no certain dimensions. It may contain from 3 to 20 gallons, but usually contains about 15 gallons. A rundlet of verjuice.' Bacon. A stoup of sack, or a runlet of Canary.' Sir W. Scott. Run-man (run'man), n. A runaway from a ship of war. Runnel (run'l), n. [From run.] A rivulet or small brook. The babbling runnel.' Tennyson. 1. One who runs; a Runner (run'èr), n. racer; that which runs. -2. A messenger; one who seeks to pick up intelligence; an old name for a criminal detective. For this their runners ramble day and night, To drag each lurking deep to open light. Crabbe. Stump it, my cove, that's a Bow Street runner. Lord Lytton. 3. One whose business it is to solicit passengers for railways, steamboats, and the like. [United States.1-4. A slender prostrate stem, having a bud at the end which sends out leaves and roots, as in the strawberry. In every root there will be one runner with little buds on it. Mortimer. 5. The moving stone of a grain-mill.-6. A bird belonging to the order Cursores.7. Naut. a rope belonging to the garnet, and to the two bolt-tackles. It is received in a single block joined to the end of a pennant, and is used to increase the mechanical power of the tackle.-8. That on which a thing runs or slides; as, the runner or keel of a sleigh, skate, or the like.-9. A ship which risks every danger or impediment as to privateers or blockade to get a profitable market for its cargo. Runnet (run'et), n. Same as Rennet. Running (run'ing), p. and a. 1. Kept for racing; as, a running horse.-2. [A semiadverbial usage.] In succession; without any intervening day, year, &c.; as, to visit two days running; to sow land two years running.-3. Discharging pus or matter; as, a running sore.Running board, a narrow platform extending along the side of a locomotive.-Running days, a chartering term for consecutive days occupied on a voyage, &c., including Sundays, and not being therefore limited to working days.-Running fight, RUPIA a fight kept up by the party pursuing and the party pursued.-Running fire, a constant fire of musketry or artillery.-Running gear, the wheels and axles of a vehicle, and their attachments, as distinguished from the body; all the working parts of a locomotive.Running hand, the style of handwriting or penmanship in which the letters are formed without the pen being lifted from the paper. -Running rigging, that part of a ship's rigging or ropes which passes through blocks, &c., and is used for hoisting the sails, moving the yards, and the like: in distinction from standing rigging.-Running title, in printing, the title of a book that is continued from page to page on the upper margin; the heads. Running (run'ing), n. 1. The act of one who or that which runs.-2. That which runs or flows; quantity run; as, the first running of a still or of cider at the mill. to run. And from the dregs of life think to receive What the first sprightly running could not give. Dryden. 3. In racing, &c., power, ability, or strength He thinks I've running in me yet. Lever. -To make the running, to force the pace at the beginning of a race, by causing a second class horse to set off at a high speed, with the view of giving a better chance to a staying horse of the same owner. Ben Caunt was to make the running for Haphazard. Macmillan's Mag. -To take up the running, to go off at full speed from a slower pace; to take the lead; to take the most active part in any undertaking. But silence was not dear to the heart of the honourable John, and so he took up the running Trollepe. -To make good one's running, to run as well as one's rival; to keep abreast with; to prove one's self a match for a rival. The world esteemed him when he first made good his running with Lady Fanny. Cornhill Mag. Running-thrush (run'ing-thrush), n. A disease in the feet of horses. Runniont (run'yon), n. Same as Ronyon. Runrig-lands (run rig-landz), n. pl. In Scotland, lands the alternate ridges of which belong to different proprietors. Runt (runt), n. [Origin doubtful; comp. Sc. kail-runt, the stalk of colewort; Prov. E. runt, stump of underwood, the dead stump of a tree, the rump; also D. rund, a bullock or cow.] 1. Any animal small or short or below the usual size of the breed; hence, a shrivelled, sapless, withered animal. Your hung beef was the worst I ever tasted; and as hard as the very horn the old runt wore when she lived. Abp. Laud 2. A dwarf; a mean, despicable person. Before I buy a bargain of such runts I'll buy a college for bears and live among 'em. Beau. & Fl 3. The dead stump of a tree; the stem of a plant. Burns.-4. A variety of pigeon. Of tame pigeons are croppers, carriers, and runts. Is. Walten. Rupee (rö-pe'), n. [Hind. rúpiyu, a rupee, from Skr. rúpya, silver.] A silver coin current in India and in the islands of the Eastern Archipelago. For ordinary calculations it may be taken as equivalent to 28. Rupellary + (rö'pel-la-ri), a. [L. rupes, a rock.] Rocky. In this rupellary nidary do the fowl lay eggs and breed. Evelyn. Rupert's Drop (rö'pèrts drop), n. A drop of glass thrown while in a state of fusion into water, and thus suddenly consolidated, taking generally a form somewhat like a tadpole. The thick end may be subjected to the smart blow of a hammer without breaking, but should the smallest part of the tail be nipped off, or the surface scratched with a diamond, the whole flies into fine dust with an almost explosive force. This phenomenon is due to the state of strain in the interior of the mass of glass, caused by the sudden consolidation of the crust which is formed while the internal mass is still liquid. This tends to contract on cooling, but is prevented by the molecular forces which attach it to the crust. This philosophical toy receives its name from being invented or brought first into notice by Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I. Rupia (ro'pi-a). n. (Gr. rhupos, filth.] A skin disease, consisting of an eruption of small flattened and distinct vesicles, surrounded by inflamed areolæ, containing a serous, purulent, sanious, or dark bloody fluid, and followed by thick, dark-coloured RUPICAPRA scabs over unhealthy ulcers. Several series of these scabs may follow before healing sets in. Rupicapra (rö'pi-ka-pra), n. [L. rupes, a rock, and capra, a goat. A genus of antelopes, so named from their frequenting rocks and mountain cliffs. The chamois (R. tragus) is an example. See CHAMOIS. Rupicola (rö-pik'o-la), n. [L. rupes, rupis, a rock, and colo, to inhabit.] A genus of insessorial birds termed rock manakins or cocks of the rock. The species are remark Rupicola aurantia (Orange Rock Cock). able for possessing an elevated crest of feathers on the head, and for the extreme freshness and delicacy of the colour of their plumage. Two species (R. aurantia and R. peruviana) inhabit South America. The adult males are of a most splendid orange colour. Rupicoline (rö'pi-ko-li'nē), n. pl. A subfamily of insessorial birds, allied to the manakins, generally arranged under the family Pipridae. The genus Rupicola is the type. Ruppia (rup'i-a), n. [In honour of H. B. Ruppius, a German botanist.] A genus of plants, nat. order Naiadaceae. There is only a single species, a native of temperate and tropical regions, occurring also in Britain, viz. R. maritima, or sea-tassel grass, found in salt-water pools and ditches. It has a slender filiform leafy stem, with linear leaves which are furnished with sheaths. Its flowers, which are two in number, and green, are seated one above another on opposite sides of a short spadix. Ruption (rup'shon), n. [L. ruptio, ruptionis, from rumpo, ruptum, to break.] Breach; a break or bursting open. [Rare.] Plethora causes an extravasation of blood, by ruption or apertion. Wiseman. Ruptuary (rup'tū-a-ri), n. A roturier; a member of the ignoble class, as contrasted with the nobles. 'The exclusion of the French ruptuaries ('roturiers,' for history must find a word for this class when it speaks of other nations) from the order of nobility.' Chenevix. [Rare.] Rupture (rup'tür), n. [Fr., from L. L. ruptura, a breaking, from L. rumpo, ruptum, to break.] 1. The act of breaking or bursting; the state of being broken or violently parted; as, the rupture of the skin; the rupture of a vessel or fibre. The egg, that soon 2. In med. same as Hernia, especially abdominal hernia. See HERNIA.-3. A breach of peace or concord, either between individuals or nations; between nations, open hostility or war; a quarrel. When the parties that divide the commonwealth come to a rupture, it seems every man's duty to choose a side. Swift. SYN. Breach, break, burst, disruption, dissolution. Rupture (rup'tür), v. t. pret. & pp. ruptured; ppr. rupturing. 1. To break; to burst; to part by violence; as, to rupture a bloodvessel.-2. To affect with or cause to suffer from rupture or hernia. Rupture (rup'tür), v. i. To suffer a breach or disruption. Rupture-wort (rup'tür-wèrt), n. A genus of plants, Herniaria (which see). Rupturing (rup'tür-ing), n. In bot. the spontaneous contraction of a portion of the pericarp, by which its texture is broken through, and holes formed for the discharge of the seeds, as in Campanula. Called also Solubility. 747 Rural (rö'ral), a. [L. ruralis, from rus, ruris, the country.] 1. Pertaining to the country, as distinguished from a city or town; suiting the country or resembling it; as, rural scenes; a rural prospect; a rural situation; rural music. Nor rural sight alone, but rural sounds, Cowper. 2. Pertaining to agriculture or farming; as, rural economy.-3. Living in the country; rustic. 'A rural fellow.' Shak.-Rural dean, an ecclesiastic under the bishop and the archdeacon, who has the peculiar care and inspection of the clergy and laity of a district.-Rural deanery, the circuit of jurisdiction of the archdeacons and rural deans. Every rural deanery is divided into parishes. The duties of rural deans are now generally discharged by archdeacons, the order of rural deans being now almost extinct, though their deaneries still subsist as an ecclesiastical division of the diocese or archdeanery. Ruralism (rö'ral-izm), n. 1. The state of being rural.-2. An idiom or expression peculiar to the country as opposed to the town. Ruralist (rö'ral-ist), n. One that leads a rural life. Rurality (rö-ral'i-ti), n. Ruralness. [Rare.] Ruralize (rö'ral-iz), v.i. To go into the country; to go to dwell in the country; to rusticate. to. Ruralize (rö'ral-iz), v. t. To render rural; to give a rural character or appearance Rurally (rö'ral-li), adv. In a rural manner; as in the country; as, the cottage is rurally situated at some distance from the body of the town. The quality of Ruralness (rö'ral-nes), n. being rural. Ruricolist + (rö-rik'ol-ist), n. [L. ruricolarus, ruris, the country, and colo, to inhabit.] An inhabitant of the country. Bailey. Rurigenoust (rö-rij'en-us), a. [L. rus, ruris, the country, and gignor, to be born.] Born in the country. Bailey. Rusa (rö'za), n. [Malay russa, a stag.] A genus of Cervidæ, or sub-genus of Cervus, containing several species of deer, natives of the forests of India and the Eastern Archipelago. They may be described as large stags with round antlers, having an anterior basal snag, and the top forked, but the antlers not otherwise branched. The great rusa (R. hippelaphus), supposed by some to be the hippelaphus of Aristotle, is a native of Java, Sumatra, &c. ; it has brown, rough hair, the neck in the male being covered with a mane. The sambur or samboo of India (R. Aristotelis) is a similarly powerful animal, having a sooty brown coat and a long mane. See SAMBUR. Ruscus (rus'kus), n. [L. ruscum, butcher'sbroom.] A small genus of plants, nat. order Liliaceae, section Asparageæ, and known by the common name of butcher's-broom. The species of this genus are evergreen, and on this account are frequently introduced for undergrowth in shrubberies. The leaves are reduced to minute scales, the apparent foliage being small leaf-like branches, on the face of which the small yellowish flowers are often borne. R. aculeatus (common butcher's-broom) is found wild in Britain. Ruse (röz), n. [Fr. ruse, from ruser, to dodge; O. Fr. reüser, to get out of the way; Pr. reüsar; from L. recusare, to refuse.] An artifice, trick, or stratagem; a wile. "The wiles and ruses which these timid creatures use to save themselves.' Ray. -Ruse de guerre, a trick of war; a stratagem. Rush (rush), n. [O.E. rishe, ryshe, rusche, reshe; A. Sax. risce, ricse, Sc. rash, a rush; L.G. rush, rische; comp. L. ruscum, butcher'sbroom.] 1. The common name of the species of Juncus, a genus of plants, nat. order Juncaceæ. The genus is distinguished by its inferior perianth, composed of six glumaceous leaves; its three-celled, threevalved capsules; the seed-bearing dissepiments of the valves being in their middle. The species are numerous, and found chiefly in moist boggy situations in the colder parts of the world. (See JUNCACEE and JUNOUS.) About twenty species of rush are enumerated by British botanists. Various species are frequently very troublesome weeds in agriculture. The term rush is also applied to plants of various other genera beside Juncus, and by no means to all of the genus Juncus. Rushes were formerly used to RUSKIE strew floors by way of carpets; thus, Shakspere says: Let wantons light of heart Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels. 2. Used typically of anything weak, worthless, or of trivial value; the merest trifle; a straw. 'Hews down oaks with rushes.' Shak. John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush. Rush (rush), v.i. [A word of somewhat Arbuthnot. doubtful pedigree, and probably arising from more than one word blended together, as A. Sax. hreôsan, to rush, to fall, hrysian, and hriscian, to shake; comp. Dan. ruske, Sw. ruska, to shake; D. ruischen, G. rauschen, to rustle, to sound as the wind in the bushes. The word was formerly transitive as well as intransitive.] 1. To move or drive forward with impetuosity, violence, and tumultuous rapidity; as, armies rush to battle; waters rush down a precipice; winds rush through the forest. They all rush by and leave you. Shak. Campbell. 2. To enter with undue eagerness, or without due deliberation and preparation; as, to rush into business or speculation; to rush into the ministry. Rusht (rush), v.t. To push forward with violence. Rush (rush), n. 1. A driving forward with eagerness and haste; a violent motion or course; as, a rush of troops; a rush of winds. "The shrieking rush of the wainscot mouse.' Tennyson.-2. An eager demand; a run; as, there is a rush upon that commodity. Rush-bearing (rush'bar-ing), a. Bearing or producing rushes. Rush-bearing (rush'bar-ing), n. A name in some parts of England for the country wake or Feast of Dedication, when the parishioners strewed the church with rushes and sweetsmelling flowers. Rush-bottomed (rush'bot-omd), a. Having a bottom or seat made with rushes; as, a rush-bottomed chair. Rush-bucklert (rush'buk-lèr), n. A bullying violent fellow; a swashbuckler. "That flock of stout, bragging rush-bucklers.' Sir T. More. Rush-candle (rush'kan-dl), n. A small taper made by stripping a rush, except one small strip of the bark which holds the pith together, and dipping it in tallow. Some gentle taper, though a rush-candle.' Milton. Rushed (rusht), a. 1. Abounding with rushes. 'The rushed marge of Cherwell's flood.' T. Warton. 2. Covered with rushes. 'And rushed floors, whereon our children play'd.' J. Baillie. Rusher (rush'èr), n. One who rushes; one who acts with undue haste and violence. Rushert (rush'èr), n. One who, in former times, strewed rushes on the floors at dances, and the like. B. Jonson. Rushiness (rush'i-nes), n. The state of being Rush-light (rush'lit), n. rushy or abounding with rushes. A rush-candle, or its light; hence, any weak flickering light 'Smoking and staring at the rush-light.' Dickens. Rush-like (rush'lik), a. Resembling a rush; weak. Only tilting with a rush-like lance." Mir. for Mags. Rush-mat (rush'mat), n. A mat composed of rushes. Rush-nut (rush'nut), n. A plant, the Cyperus esculentus. The tubers, called by the French souchet comestible or amande de terre, are used as food in the south of Europe, and have been proposed as a substitute for coffee and cocoa when roasted. Rush-ring (rush'ring), n. A ring made of a rush, used formerly in mock-marriages. I'll crown thee with a garland of straw then, And I'll marry thee with a rush-ring. Sir W. Davenant. Rushy (rush'i), a. 1. Abounding with rushes. 'Or dimple in the dark of rushy coves." Tennyson.-2. Made of rushes. My rushy couch and frugal fare.' Goldsmith. Rusk (rusk), n. [Comp. L.G. rusken, to crackle, and cracknel, a biscuit.] 1. A kind of light cake; or a kind of soft, sweetened biscuit. 2. A kind of small cake or loaf which has been rasped.-3. A kind of light, hard cake or bread, as for ships' stores. Ruskie (ruski), n. [Scotch word. O.Fr. rusche (Mod. Fr. ruche), from Armor. rusken, a hive, from rusk, bark, which was used for making hives.] 1. A twig or straw basket for corn or meal.-2. A coarse straw-hat.3. A bee-hive. RUSMA Rusma (ruz'ma), n. [Turk. khyrysma, a kind of depilatory.] A brown and light iron substance, with half as much quicklime steeped in water, used by the Turkish women as a depilatory. N. Grew. Russ (rös), a. Pertaining to the Russ or Russians. Russ (rös), n. 1. The language of the Russ or Russians.-2. sing, and pl. A native or the natives of Russia. [Chiefly poetical.] Russel (rus), n. A woollen cloth, first manufactured at Norwich, probably so named from its russet colour. See RUSSET. ---Dan Russel, a name formerly given to the fox from his red colour. Russet (rus'et), a. [0. Fr. rousset, from L. russus, red, akin to L. ruber, Gr. erythros, red.] 1. Of a reddish brown colour; as, a russet mantle. The morn in russet mantle clad.' Shak.-2. Coarse; homespun; rustic: from the general colour of homespun cloth. 'In russet yeas, and honest kersey noes.' Shak His muse had no objection to a russet attire; but she turned in disgust from the finery of Guarini, as tawdry and as paltry as the rags of a chimney-sweeper on May-day. Macaulay. Russet (rus'et), n. 1. A country dress. 2. A kind of apple of a russet colour and rough skin. Courtly silks in cares are spent When country's russet breeds content. Heywood. 3. A pigment of a rich transparent brown colour obtained from madder, and used in water-colour painting. Russet (rus'et), v.t. To give a russet hue to; to change into russet. Thomson. The blossom blows, the summer ray Russets the plain. Russeting+ (rus'et-ing), n. 1. A clown; a low person whose clothes were of a russet colour.-2. Same as Russet, 2. Russet-pated (rus'et-pät-ed), a. Having a russet or reddish head or pate. Shak. Russety (rus'et-i), a. Of a russet colour. Russia, Russia-leather (rush'ya, rush'yaleti'er), n. A strong, pliant, and waterproof leather, usually coloured red or black, and having a peculiar penetrating odour, due to the oil of birch used in its preparation. The best kinds are made in the Russian provinces from the hides of young cattle, but sometimes horse, sheep, goat, and calf skins are employed. This leather is specially useful in binding books, the oil of birch repelling insects. Russian (rush'yan), a. Pertaining to Russia. Russian (rush'yan), n. 1. A native of Russia. 2. The language of Russia; Russ. Russniak (rus'ni-ak), n. A member of a branch of the Slavic race, inhabiting Galicia, Hungary, Podolia, Volhynia, and Lithuania, distinguished from Russians proper, or Muscovites, by their language and mode of life. They are still somewhat uncultivated and devoted almost entirely to agriculture. Russophile, Russophilist (rus'o-fil, rus-ofil-ist), n. [Russ, and Gr. philos, a friend] One whose sympathies lie towards Russia or her policy. Russophilism (rus-of'il-izm), n. The doctrines, sentiments, or principles of a Russophilist. Russophobia (rus-o-fō'bi-a), n. [Russ, and Gr. phobos, fear.] A dread of Russia or of her policy; a strong feeling against Russia or the Russians. One who Russophobist (rus-of'ob-ist), n. dreads the Russians or their policy; one whose feelings are strongly against Russia, her people, or policy. Russud (rus'ud), n. In the East Indies, a progressively increasing land-tax. Rust (rust), n. [A. Sax. rust, rust, rustiness; cog. D. roest, Dan. rust, Sw. and G. rost, Icel. ryd (ryth), so called from its red colour, the root being that of red, ruddy, L. ruber, red (whence rubigo, rust), russus, reddish. See RUSSET.] 1. The red or orange-yellow coating which is formed on the surface of iron, when exposed to air and moisture. It is an oxide of iron, and in point of fact other metallic oxides may be considered as rusts of the peculiar metals on which they are formed, but the term rust in the common acceptation is limited to the red oxide or peroxide of iron. Oil-paint, varnish, plumbago, a film of caoutchouc, or a coating of tin may be employed, according to circumstances, to prevent the rusting of iron utensils. 2. A composition of iron-filings and sal-ammoniac, with sometimes a little sulphur, moistened with water and used for filling fast joints. Oxidation rapidly sets 748 in, and the composition, after a time, becomes very hard, and takes thorough hold of the surfaces between which it is placed. A joint formed in this way is called a rustjoint.-3. That which resembles rust in appearance or effects, as (a) a parasitic fungus Uredo rubigo vera), which attacks the leaves, glumes, stalks, &c., of cereals and grasses, showing itself in the form of orange and brown spots and blotches breaking out from the internal tissue of the plant. It is most common on barley, wheat, oats, and many pasture grasses. (b) Any foul extraneous matter; corrosive or injurious accretion or influence. rust. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. Shak. 2. To impair by time and inactivity. Rustful (rust'ful), a. Rusty; tending to produce rust; characterized by rust. Rustful sloth.' Quarles. Rustic (rus'tik), a. [L. rusticus, from rus, the country.] 1. Pertaining to the country; living in or found in the country; rural; as, the rustic gods of antiquity. Our rustic revelry.' Shak. And many a holy text around she strews, 2. Rude; unpolished; rough; awkward; as, Fig. 2. Rustic or Rusticated Work. 1, With chamfered joints. 2, With rectangular joints. walls. Rustic work, in a building, is when the stones, &c., in the face of it are hacked or picked in holes, so as to give them a natural rough appearance. This sort of work is however now more usually called rock-work, and the term rustic is applied to masonry worked with grooves between the courses, to look like open joints, of which there are several varieties. The same term is applied to walls built of stones of different sizes and shapes. In woodwork the term is used to designate summer houses and garden furniture made from rough limbs of trees, and arranged in fanciful forms. SYN. Rural, country, rude, unpolished, inelegant, untaught, awkward, rough, coarse, plain, unadorned, simple, artless, honest. Rustic (rus'tik), n. An inhabitant of the country; a clown; a swain. Hence to your fields, ye rustics!' Pope. Rustical (rus'tik-al), a. Rustic. 'Such rustical rudeness of shepherds.' Spenser. Rustical (rus'tik-al), n. A rustic. Entreat you not to be wroth with this rustical.' Sir W. Scott. Rustically (rus'tik-al-li), adv. In a rustic manner; rudely; coarsely; without refinement or elegance. The pulpit style of Germany has been always rustically negligent, or bristling with pedantry. De Quincey. RUSTY Rusticalness (rus'tik-al-nes), n. The quality of being rustical; rudeness; coarseness; want of refinement. Rusticate (rus'ti-kāt), v.i. [L. rusticor, rusticatus, from rus, the country.] To dwell or reside in the country. My lady Scudamore, from having rusticated in your company too long, pretends to open her eyes for the sake of seeing the sun, and to sleep because it is night. Pofe. Rusticate (rus'ti-kāt), v.t. pret. & pp. rusticated; ppr. rusticating. To compel to reside in the country; to send to the country; specifically, to suspend from studies at a college or university and send away for a time by way of punishment. See RUSTICATION. James, then a hobbadehoy, was now become a young man, having had the benefit of a university education, and acquired the inestimable polish which is gained by living in a fast set at a small college, and contracting debts and being rusticated and being plucked. Thackeray. Rusticated (rus'ti-kāt-ed), a. In building, same as Rustic. See under RUSTIC. Rustication (rus-ti-kā'shon), n. 1. The act of rusticating, or the state of being rusticated; residence in the country. In the universities and colleges, the punishment of a student for some offence, by compelling him to leave the institution and reside for a time in the country.-2. In arch that species of building called rustic work. See under RUSTIC. Rusticialt (rus-ti'shal), a. Rustic; homely. "The plain and rusticial discourse of our fathers.' Sir W. Scott. Rusticity (rus- tis'i-ti), n. [L. rusticitas, from rusticus. See RUSTIC.] The state or quality of being rustic; smack of country life; rustic manners; rudeness; coarseness: simplicity; artlessness. The truth of it is, the sweetness and rusticity of a pastoral cannot be so well expressed in any other tongue as in the Greek, when rightly mixed and Addison. qualified by the Doric dialect. The Saxons were refined from their rusticity. Sir W. Scott. Rusticly (rus'tik-li), adv. In a rustic manner; rustically. Chapman. Rustily (rust'i-li), adv. In a rusty state; in a manner to suggest rustiness. Lowten was in conversation with a rustily-clad, miserable man, in boots without toes, and gloves without fingers. Dickens. Rustiness (rust'i-nes), n. The state of being rusty. Johnson. Rust-joint (rust'joint), n. See under RUST. Rustle (rus'l), v.i. pret. & pp. rustled; ppr. rustling. [A. Sax. hristlan, to rustle, a dim. freq. form as if from the Scandinavian verb: Icel. hrista, Dan. ryste, Sw. rysta, to shake, to tremble.] To make a quick succession of small sounds, like the rubbing of silk cloth or dry leaves; to give out a slightly sibilant sound when shaken; as, a rustling silk; rustling leaves or trees; rustling wings. 'Rustling in unpaid-for silks.' Shak He is coming, I hear the straw rustle. Shak Rustle (rus'l), n. The noise made by one who or that which rustles; a rustling. Rustle (rus'l), v.t. To cause to rustle. Lozenge rustre. Rusty (rust'i), a. 1. Covered or affected with rust; as, a rusty knife or sword.-2. Having the colour of rust; appearing as if covered with a substance resembling rust; rubiginous; as, rusty wheat.-3. Dull; impaired by inaction or neglect of use; rusted; as, to become rusty on a subject. Hector in his dull and long-continued truce Is rusty grown. Shak 4. Ill-natured; surly; morose; contumacious; insubordinate. [Slang.] He takes her round the neck, and tries to pull her down, and if then she turns rusty, he's good to go behind her. Mayhew. -To ride rusty, to be contumaciously or surlily insubordinate or insolent; to resist or refuse to obey, with surliness or violence. And how the devil am I to get the crew to obey me? Why, even Dick Fletcher rides rusty on me now and then. Sir H. Scott. 5. Rough; hoarse; grating; as, a rusty voice. RUSTY-DAB Rusty-dab (rust'i-dab), n. The popular name of a flat-fish of the genus Platessa, found on the coast of Massachusetts and New York in deep water. Rut (rut), n. [Fr. rut, O. Fr. ruit, the noise which deer make when they desire to come together, from L. rugitus, a roaring, from rugio, to roar, to bellow.] The copulation of deer and some other animals; the time during which they are under the sexual excitement. Rut (rut), v.i. To desire to come together for copulation: said of deer. Rut (rut), v.t. To cover in copulation. Rut (rut), n. [O. Fr. rote, Mod. Fr. route, Sc. rot, rit, a line drawn on the soil as a guide in planting. See ROUTE.] 1. The track of a wheel-2. A line cut on the soil with a spade. Rut (rut), v.t. pret. & pp. rutted; ppr. rutting. 1. To make ruts in or on with cartwheels.-2. To cut a line on, as on the soil, with a spade. Ruta (rö'ta), n. [L.] A genus of plants, the type of the order Rutaceæ. See RUE and RUTACEE. Rutabaga (rö-ta-bā'ga), n. The Swedish turnip, or Brassica campestris. Rutacea (ro-ta'sē-ē),n.pl. [From L. ruta,rue.] A nat. order of polypetalous exogens. They are shrubs or trees, rarely herbs, the simple or compound leaves dotted with glands, often having a strong heavy smell. About 650 species are known, occurring most abundantly in Australia and South Africa. The diosmas or buchu plants of the Cape are well known for their powerful and usually offensive odour; they are recommended as antispasmodics. A South American species produces the Angostura-bark. The bark of one of the quinas of Brazil, the Ticorea febrifuga, is a powerful medicine in intermittent fevers. Dictamnus abounds in volatile oil to such a degree that the atmosphere surrounding it actually becomes inflammable in hot weather. Rutaceous (rö-ta'shus), a. Of or belonging to or resembling plants of the nat. order Rutaces. Rute (röt), n. A miner's term for very small threads of ore. Rutelidæ (rö- tel'i-dē), n. pl. The treebeetles, a group of beetles allied to Melolonthidæ and Cetoniadæ. The body is shorter, rounder, and more polished than in the Scarabaeidae, and ornamented with brilliant colours, and the head and thorax are closely united. With few exceptions they belong to the warmer parts of America. One of the most common and most beautiful of the group is the goldsmith's-beetle (Areoda lanigera). It is about in length, of a lemon-yellow colour above, the top of the head and thorax glittering like gold. In Massachusetts they appear about the middle of May, flying with a humming or rustling sound among the branches of the trees, the young leaves of which they devour. inch Ruth (röth), n. [From rue; comp. truth from true.] 1. Mercy; pity; tenderness; sorrow for the misery of another; sorrowful or tender regret. Looking with pretty ruth upon my pain. Shak. [Now mainly poetical.] Ruth began to work Against his anger in him. Tennyson. Cheeks in which was yet a rose Of perished summers, like a rose in a book Kept more for ruth than pleasure. E. B. Browning. 2.† Misery; sorrow. Spenser. 749 Rutha (rut'a), n. [Skr. ratha, a chariot.] In the East Indies, a carriage on two low wheels, and sometimes highly ornamented. Ruthenium (rö-the'ni-um), n. Sym. Ru. At. wt. 1044; sp. gr. 113. A rare metal, discovered by Claus in 1846. It occurs in platinum ore, and chiefly in osmiridium. It is exceedingly refractory. It may, however, be fused in the oxyhydrogen flame. It is of a gray colour, and has a stronger attraction for oxygen than any other of its class. Ruthful (röth'ful), a. 1. Full of ruth or pity; merciful; compassionate. 'He (God) ruthful is to man.' Turberville. ---2. Causing ruth or pity; piteous. These ruthful deeds." Shak.-3. Rueful; woful; sorrowful. What sad and ruthful faces.' Beau. & Fl. Ruthfully (röth'ful-li), adv. Wofully; sadly; piteously; mournfully. The flower of horse and foot... ruthfully perished.' Knolles. Ruthless (röth'les), a. Having no ruth or pity; cruel; pitiless; barbarous; insensible to the miseries of others. 'As ruthless as a baby with a worm.' Tennyson. Their rage the hostile bands restrain, All but the ruthless monarch of the main. Pope. Ruthlessly (röth'les-li), adv. In a ruthless manner; without pity; cruelly; barbarously. Ruthlessness (röth'les-nes), n. The state or quality of being ruthless; want of compassion; insensibility to the distresses of others. Rutil (rö'til), n. Same as Rutile. Rutilant (rö'ti-lant), a. [L. rutilans, rutilantis. See below.] Shining. Evelyn. Rutilate (rö'ti-lāt), v.i. [L. rutilo, rutilatum, to be reddish, to shine, from rutilus, of a reddish yellow colour.] To shine; to emit rays of light. Rutile (rö'til), n. [L. rutilus, red, inclining to yellow.] Native titanic oxide, an ore of reddish brown colour passing into red. It occurs in four- or eight-sided prisms, and massive. It is found in Scotland. A black variety, containing a little oxide of iron, is called nigrin. Rutilite (rö'til-it), n. [L. rutilus, red.] Na tive oxide of titanium. Rutter (rut'êr), n. One that ruts. Rutter (rut'ér), n. [D. ruiter, G. reiter, a rider. A horseman or trooper. A guard of ruffling rutters.' Bale. Rutterkint (rut'ér-kin), n. A word of contempt; an old crafty fox or beguiler. Cotgrave. Ruttiert (rut'i-ér), n. [Fr. routier, from route.] 1. A direction for the route or road, whether by land or sea.-2. An old traveller acquainted with roads; an old soldier. Ruttish (rut'ish), a. [From rut.] Lustful; libidinous. Shak. Ruttishness (rut'ish-nes), n. The state or quality of being ruttish. Ruttle (rut1), n. Rattle: rare, except as applied to the death-rattle. The last agonies, the fixed eyes, and the dismal ruttle." Burnet. Rutty (rut'i), a. Full of ruts; cut by wheels. Ryacolite (ri-ak'ō-lit), n. [Gr.rhyax, a stream, and lithos, a stone.] A name given to glossy felspar. Ryal (ri'al), n. A coin. See RIAL. Rye (ri), n. [A. Sax. ryge; Icel. rúgr, Dan. rug, Sw. rog, D. rogge, G. roggen,rocken. Similar forms also appear in Celtic and Slavonic, but how far borrowing has taken place is doubtful.] 1. A plant of the genus Secale, the S. cereale, nat. order Gramines. It is an esculent grain which bears naked seeds on a flat ear, furnished with awns like barley. It has been cultivated from time immemorial, and is considered as coming nearer in its properties to wheat than any other grain. It is more common than wheat in many parts of the Continent, being a more certain crop, and requiring less culture and manure. It is the bread-corn of Germany and Russia. It was formerly raised in considerable quantities as a bread-corn in England, but now it is mostly sown as a greencrop for food to sheep and cattle in spring. In the Netherlands it is the chief grain from which the spirit called Hollands is distilled, and when malted it makes excellent beer. Two parts of wheat and one of rye ground together make an excellent bread. Rye straw is useless as fodder, but forms an excellent material for thatching. It is also used for stuffing horse-collars or mattresses, and for making straw hats and bonnets. The meal of rye differs from that of wheat in containing a much smaller proportion of gluten.Spurred rye, rye affected with ergot. See ERGOT.-2. A disease in a hawk. Rye-grass (rï'gras), n. One of the most common of the artificial grasses, belonging to the genus Lolium. There are several varieties, some annual, others perennial; some producing a strong juicy grass, and others a small diminutive plant. In the present system of husbandry rye-grass performs a very essential part, especially the perennial sort, which, mixed with different varieties of clover and other grass-seeds, produces a rich and close herbage, which may be either mown for hay or depastured. Called also Ray-grass. Ryke (ryk), v.i. To reach. [Scotch.] Rye (Secale cereale). Burns. Let me ryke up to dight that tear. Rynchops (ring'kops), n. See RHYNCHOPS. Rynd (rind), n. A strong piece of iron inserted in the hole in the centre of the upper and moving millstone in corn-mills. The upper end of the spindle, which passes through the nether millstone, and which is driven by the machinery, is fixed into the rynd, and thus gives motion to the upper millstone. Ryot (rï'ot), n. [Ar. ra'iyat, the governed, a subject, a peasant.] A Hindu cultivator of the soil, or peasant, who holds land under the mode of assessment termed ryotwar. Ryotwar (ri'ot-wär), n. [Hind. See RYOT.] The stipulated arrangement in regard to rent made annually in parts of Hindustan, especially in the Madras Presidency, by government officials with the ryots or actual cultivators of the soil, without the intervention of middlemen. Ryth† (rith), n. A ford. S. S, the nineteenth letter of the English alphabet, represents a hissing sound made by emitting the breath between the roof of the mouth and the tip of the tongue placed just above the upper teeth. It may be reckoned among the linguals (as the tongue is essential in its pronunciation), and also among the dentals (as the teeth co-operate in producing the hissing sound). More descriptively it is classed as a sibilant, from its hissing sound. Properly speaking, two sounds belong to this character in English, the one surd, or uttered with breath merely, the other sonant, or uttered with voice. The first is a mere hissing, like c soft, as in sack, sin, this, thus; the other is a hissing accompanied by a vocal murmur, precisely like that of z, as in muse, wise, pronounced muze, wize. S generally has its hissing sound at the beginning of all proper English words, but in the middle and end of words its sound is to be known only by usage. In a few words it is silent, as in isle and viscount. S is closely allied to r, and there are many instances of its change into that letter. (See R.) In some words ce is now written for a former s or es, as in mice, hence, whence, Along with a following hit forms once. a digraph representing a distinct sound, which, like that of ch, is comparatively modern, being a weakening of an older and stronger sound, sc (sk). This sound is now very common in English words, both initially and finally, as in shape (A. Sax. scapan), sheath (A. Sax. sceath), ship (A. Sax. scip), fish (A. Sax. fisc), ash (Á. Sax. cesc), &c. Formerly sc and sp were often transposed to es ps; thus O.E. axe=ask, clapsed = clasped, lipsed-lisped. S is an exceedingly common letter in English words, both initially and finally, singly or in conjunction with other consonants. The chief initial combinations and |
