Emily Dickinson Lexicon

REX, n. [L.]

A king.

REYS, n.

The master of an Egyptian bark or ship.

RHA-BAR'BA-RATE, a. [See Rhubarb.]

Impregnated or tinctured with rhuharb. – Floyer.

RHA-BAR'BA-RINE, n. [L. rhabarbarum. Generally and more correctly called rheine, – which see.]

A proximate principle of rhubarb, which appears to possess the properties of an acid. It has been supposed to be the active principle of rhubarb; but this is not well settled.

RHAB-DOL'O-GY, n. [Gr. ῥαβδος, a staff or wand, and λογος, discourse.]

The act or art of computing or numbering by Napier's rods or Napier's bones.

RHAB'DO-MAN-CY, n. [Gr. ῥαβδος, a rod, and μαντεια, divination.]

Divination by a rod or wand. – Brown.

RHA-PON'TI-CINE, n. [L. rhaponticum.]

A proximate principle of Rheum rhaponticum; perhaps the same as rheine.

RHAP-SOD'IC, or RHAP-SOD'IC-AL, a. [from rhapsody.]

Pertaining to or consisting of rhapsody; unconnected. – Mason. Martin.

RHAP'SO-DIST, n. [from rhapsody.]

1. One that writes or speaks without regular dependence of one part of his discourse on another. – Watts.
2. One who recites or sings rhapsodies for a livelihood; or one who makes and repeats verses extempore.
3. Anciently, one whose profession was to recite the verses of Homer and other poets.

RHAP'SO-DIZE, v.i.

To utter rhapsodies. – Jefferson.

RHAP'SO-DY, n. [Gr. ῥαψωδια; ῥαπτω, to sew or unite, and ωδη, a song.]

Originally, a discourse in verse, sung or rehearsed by a rhapsodist; or a collection of verses, particularly those of Homer. In modern usage, a collection of passages, thoughts or authorities, composing a new piece, but without necessary dependence or natural connection. – Locke. Watts.

RHEIN-BER-RY, n.

Buckthorn, a plant. – Johnson.

RHE'INE, n. [L. rheum, rhubarb.]

A proximate principle of the officinal rhubarb, which appears to be an acid, and as such, has been called rheic acid. It has been supposed to be the active principle of rhubarb, but this is doubtful.

RHEN-ISH, a.

Pertaining to the river Rhine, or to Rheims in France; as, Rhenish wine; as a noun, the wine produced on the hills about Rheims, which is remarkable as solvent of iron. – Encyc.

RHE'TIAN, a.

Pertaining to the ancient Rhæti, or to Rhætia, their country; as, the Rhetian Alps, now the country of Tyrol and the Grisons.

RHE'TOR, n. [L. from Gr. ῥητωρ, an orator or speaker.]

A rhetorician. [Little used.] – Hammond.

RHET'OR-IC, n. [Gr. ῥητορικη, from ῥεω, to speak, to flow, contracted from ῥετω or ῥεθω, Eng. to read. The primary sense is to drive or send. See Read.]

1. The art of speaking with propriety, elegance and force. – Locke. Dryden. Encyc.
2. The power of persuasion or attraction; that which allures or charms. We speak of the rhetoric of the tongue, and the rhetoric of the heart or eyes. Sweet silent rhetoric of persuading eyes. – Daniel.

RHE-TOR'IC-AL, a.

1. Pertaining to rhetoric; as, the rhetorical art.
2. Containing the rules of rhetoric; as, a rhetorical treatise.
3. Oratorial; a rhetorical flourish. – More.

RHE-TOR'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In the manner of rhetoric; according to the rules of rhetoric; as, to treat a subject rhetorically; a discourse rhetorically delivered.

RHE-TOR'IC-ATE, v.i.

To play the orator. [Not in use.] – Decay of Piety.

RHE-TOR-IC-A'TION, n.

Rhetorical amplification. [Not in use.] – Waterland.

RHET-O-RI'CIAN, a. [See the Noun.]

Suiting a master of rhetoric. [Not in use.] – Blackmore.

RHET-O-RI'CIAN, n. [Fr. rhetoricien.]

1. One who teaches the art of rhetoric, or the principles and rules of correct and elegant speaking. The ancient sophists and rhetoricians, who had young auditors, lived till they were a hundred years old. – Bacon.
2. One well versed in the rules and principles of rhetoric.
3. An orator. [Less proper.] – Dryden.

RHET'OR-IZE, v.i.

To play the orator. – Cotgrave.

RHET'OR-IZE, v.t.

To represent by a figure of oratory. – Milton.