RARITY
Rar"i*ty, n.; pl. Rarities. Etym: [L. raritas: cf. F. rareté. See
Rare.]
1. The quality or state of being rare; rareness; thinness; as, the rarity (contrasted with the density) of gases.
2. That which is rare; an uncommon thing; a thing valued for its scarcity. I saw three rarities of different kinds, which pleased me more than any other shows in the place. Addison.
RAS
Ras, n.
Defn: See 2d Reis.
RASANTE
Ra`sante", a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of raser to graze.] (Fort.)
Defn: Sweeping; grazing; — applied to a style of fortification in which the command of the works over each other, and over the country, is kept very low, in order that the shot may more effectually sweep or graze the ground before them. H. L. Scott.
RASCAL Ras"cal, n. Etym: [OE. rascaille rabble, probably from an OF. racaille, F. racaille the rabble, rubbish, probably akin to F. racler to scrape, (assumed) LL. rasiculare, rasicare, fr. L. radere, rasum. See Rase, v.]
1. One of the rabble; a low, common sort of person or creature; collectively, the rabble; the common herd; also, a lean, ill- conditioned beast, esp. a deer. [Obs.] He smote of the people seventy men, and fifty thousand of the rascal. Wyclif (1 Kings [1 Samuel] vi. 19). Poor men alone No, no; the noblest deer hath them [horns] as huge as the rascal. Shak.
2. A mean, trickish fellow; a base, dishonest person; a rogue; a scoundrel; a trickster. For I have sense to serve my turn in store, And he's a rascal who pretends to more. Dryden.