Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE'AL, a. [Low L. realis; It. reale; Sp. real; Fr. reel; from L. res, rei, Ir. raod, red, rod. Res is of the Class Rd, from the root of read, ready, from rushing, driving or falling. Res, like thing, is primarily that which comes, falls out or happens, corresponding with event, from L. evenio. Res then denotes that which actually exists. The L. res and Eng. thing coincide exactly in signification with the Heb. דבר, a word, a thing, an event. See Read and Thing.]

1. Actually being or existing; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a description of real life. The author describes a real scene or transaction.
2. True; genuine; not artificial, counterfeit or factitious; as, real Madeira wine; real ginger.
3. True; genuine; not affected; not assumed. The woman appears in her real character.
4. Relating to things, not to persons; not personal. Many are perfect in men's humors, that are not greatly capable of the real part of business. [Little used or obsolete.] – Bacon.
5. In law, pertaining to things fixed, permanent or immovable, as to lands and tenements; as, real estate, opposed to personal or movable property. – Blackstone. Real action, in law, is an action which concerns real property. Real assets, assets consisting in real estate, or lands and tenements descending to an heir, sufficient to answer the charges upon the estate created by the ancestor. Chattels real, are such chattels as concern or savor of the realty; as a term for years of land, wardships in chivalry, the next presentation to a church, estate by statute-merchant, elegit, &c. Real composition, is when an agreement is made between the owner of lands and the parson or vicar, with consent of the ordinary, that such lands shall be discharged from payment of tithes, in consequence of other land or recompense given to the parson in lieu and satisfaction thereof. – Blackstone. Real presence, in the Romish Church, the actual presence of the body and blood of Christ in the eucharist, or the conversion of the substance of the bread and wine into the real body and blood of Christ. – Encyc.