Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RANGE, v.t. [Fr. ranger; Arm. rencqa, ranqein; W. rhenciaw, from rhenc, reng, rank, – which see.]

1. To set in a row or in rows; to place in a regular line, lines, or ranks; to dispose in the proper order; as, to range troops in a body; to range men or ships in the order of battle.
2. To dispose in proper classes, orders or divisions; as, to range plants and animals in genera and species.
3. To dispose in a proper manner; to place in regular method; in a general sense. Range and Arrange are used indifferently in the same sense.
4. To rove over; to pass over. Teach him to range the ditch and force the brake. – Gay. [This use is elliptical, over being omitted.]
5. To sail or pass in a direction parallel to or near; as, to range the coast, that is, along the coast.