Rani, Ranee, ran′ē, n. the wife of a rajah. [Hind. rānī—Sans. rājñi, queen, fem. of rājan.]
Ranidæ, ran′i-dē, n.pl. the largest family of batrachians, including about 250 species, of several genera.—adjs. Ran′iform, frog-like; Rā′nine, pertaining to frogs; Rāniv′orous, frog-eating. [L. rana, a frog.]
Rank, rangk, n. a row or line, esp. of soldiers standing side by side: class or order: grade or degree: station: high social position or standing.—v.t. to place in a line: to range in a particular class: to place methodically: to take rank over.—v.i. to be placed in a rank or class: to have a certain degree of distinction: to be admitted as a claim against the property of a bankrupt.—n. Rank′er, one who arranges or disposes in ranks: an officer who has risen from the ranks.—Rank and file, the whole body of common soldiers.—Take rank of, to have the right to take a higher place than; Take rank with, to take the same rank as; The ranks, the order of common soldiers. [O. Fr. renc (Fr. rang)—Old High Ger. hring or hrinc, Eng. ring.]
Rank, rangk, adj. growing high and luxuriantly: coarse from excessive growth: raised to a high degree: excessive: very fertile: strong-scented: strong-tasted: rancid: utter, as rank nonsense: coarse: indecent: (Shak.) ruttish: (slang) eager: (law) excessive: (mech.) cutting deeply.—adv. (Spens.) rankly, fiercely.—v.i. Rank′le, to be inflamed: to fester: to be a source of disquietude or excitement: to rage.—v.t. to irritate.—adv. Rank′ly, offensively: to an inordinate degree.—n. Rank′ness, exuberant growth: (Shak.) insolence.—adjs. Rank′-rī′ding, hard-riding; Rank′-scent′ed (Shak.), strong-scented: rancid. [A.S. ranc, fruitful, rank; Ice. rakkr, bold, Dan. rank, lank, slender.]
Ransack, ran′sak, v.t. to search thoroughly: to plunder: to pillage.—n. eager search.—n. Ran′sacker. [Scand. rannsaka—rann, a house, sak (sækja), Eng. seek.]
Ransom, ran′sum, n. price paid for redemption from captivity or punishment: release from captivity: atonement: expiation.—v.t. to redeem from captivity, punishment, or ownership: (Shak.) to set free for a price: (Shak.) to expiate.—adj. Ran′somable.—n. Ran′somer.—adj. Ran′somless, without ransom: incapable of being ransomed. [Fr. rançon—L. redemptio; cf. Redemption.]
Rant, rant, v.i. to use extravagant language: to be noisy in words: to be noisily merry.—n. empty declamation: bombast: (Scot.) a frolic.—ns. Rant′er, a noisy talker: a jovial fellow: a boisterous preacher: a byname for the Primitive Methodists: a nickname applied to the members of a sect of the Commonwealth time; Rant′erism.—adv. Rant′ingly, boisterously.—adj. Rant′ipole, wild.—n. a reckless fellow. [Old Dut. ranten, to rave; Low Ger. randen, Ger. ranzen.]
Rantle-tree, ran′tl-trē, n. (Scot.) a beam built into the gable of a cottage.
Ranula, ran′ū-la, n. a tumour on the tongue of cattle.—adj. Ran′ūlar. [L.]
Ranunculus, rā-nung′kū-lus, n. a genus of plants, including the crowfoot, buttercup, &c.:—pl. Rānun′culī, Rānun′culuses.—adj. Rānunculā′ceous, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the order of which the ranunculus is the typical genus. [L., a dim. of rana, a frog.]