Ratel, rā′tel, n. a genus of quadrupeds of the bear family, nearly allied to the gluttons, and very like the badgers. [Fr., dim. of rat.]
Rat-goose, rat′-gōōs, n. the brent or brant goose.
Rath, räth, adj. early, soon—also Rathe.—adv. Rath (arch.), early, soon.—adj. Rath′erest (Shak.), superl. of Rath.—adv. Rath′ly, suddenly.—adj. Rath′ripe, early ripe. [A.S. hræth, quickly; Ice. hradhr, swift, Mid. High Ger. hrad, quick.]
Rath, rath, n. a prehistoric hill-fort. [Ir.]
Rath, rät, n. a name given to some Indian rock-cut Buddhist temples.
Rath, rät, n. a Burmese state-carriage.
Rather, räth′ėr, adv. more willingly: in preference: especially: more so than otherwise: on the contrary: somewhat, in some degree: more properly: (coll.) considerably, very much.—adj. Rath′erish, to a slight degree, somewhat.—Rather better than, somewhat in excess of.—The rather, by so much the more. [A.S. hrathor, comp. of hrathe, early.]
Ratify, rat′i-fī, v.t. to approve and sanction: to settle:—pa.t. and pa.p. rat′ified.—ns. Ratificā′tion, act of ratifying or confirming: confirmation; Rat′ifier, one who, or that which, ratifies or sanctions. [Fr. ratifier—L. ratus, fixed by calculation—rēri, ratus, to think, facĕre, to make.]
Ratio, rā′shi-o, n. the relation or the proportion of one thing to another: reason, cause: (mus.) the relation between the vibration-numbers of two tones. [L. ratio, reason—rēri, ratus, to think.]
Ratiocinate, rash-i-os′i-nāt, v.i. to reason:—pr.p. ratioc′inating; pa.p. ratioc′inated.—n. Ratiocinā′tion, the process of reasoning: deduction from premises.—adjs. Ratioc′inātive, Ratioc′inātory. [L. ratiocināri, -ātus—ratio, reason.]