Emily Dickinson Lexicon

roll, n. [OFr roolle.]

List; census; register of individuals; record enumerating members of a group; scroll that accounts for people; list of the covenant people of the Lord (see Jeremiah 36:6); [fig.] scripture; biblical text; [metaphor] judgment; book of life; [word play on “role”] conscription; draft; muster list; enlistment paper for military duty.

roll (-ed), v. [OFr roler.]

rolling, adj. [see roll, v.]

romance, n. [ME < OFr romanz.]

Romeo, proper n. [It. < L. Romaeus, pilgrim to Rome.]

Juliet's lover; main male character in Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet; [fig.] man; husband; male protagonist; tragic hero.

roof (-s), n. [OE hróf < OFris. rhoof.]

room (-s), n. [OE rúm.]

1. Chamber or apartment in a building such as a house; a dwelling; a place.
2. Space; dimensional extent.
3. Tomb.
4. Stead; place of another.
5. Unoccupied opportunities.
6. Parlor.
7. Floor [as noted by NW in his etymology.]
8. [Fig.] Power of the king.

root, n. [Late OE rót < ON rót.]

1. The part of a plant which enters and fixes itself in the earth, supporting the plant in an erect position, while it imbibes nutrients.
2. Origin; cause.

root, v. [see root, n.]

Fix firmly; establish oneself.

rope (-s), n. [OE ráp.]

String; line; cord.