rapture, the act of carrying off as prey or plunder; ‘Spite of all the rapture of the sea’, Pericles, ii. 1. 161; the condition of being carried onward, ‘Our Ship . . . ’gainst a Rocke . . . her keele did dash With headlong rapture’, Chapman, tr. of Odyssey, xiv. 428; the act of carrying off a woman, Dekker, Fortunatus (Wks., ed. 1873, i. 151).
rare, early. ‘Rare and late’, Chapman, tr. of Odyssey, vi. 422. Still in prov. use in the south and south-west counties, see EDD. adj.2. See [rear].
rascal, a lean deer not fit to hunt. As You like It, iii. 3. 58; Beaumont and Fl., Knt. of the B. Pestle, iv. 5 (Ralph); Turbervile, Hunting, c. 28; p. 73. See Nares.
rash, to strike like a boar, with a glancing stroke, to tear with violence. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Humour, iv. 4 (Fastidious Brisk); Spenser, F. Q. iv. 2. 17. See NED. (s.v. Rash, vb.2 1).
rash, to tear, pull, drag. Surrey, tr. of Aeneid, iv, l. 826; Dryden, tr. of Aeneid, ix. 1094. See NED. (s.v. Rash, vb.3).
ratch, a dog that hunts by scent. Skelton, Magnyfycence, 592. Still in use in the north country, see EDD. sb.4. ME. ratche, hownde, odorinsecus’ (Prompt.). OE. ræce (B. T.); related to Icel. rakki, a dog.
ratches, a mass of scudding clouds; ‘From all the heauen the ratches flies’, Phaer, Aeneid v, 821 (L. nimbi).
rathe, early; ‘The rathe morning’, Drayton, Robert, Duke of Normandy, 8; Milton, Lycidas, 142; ‘The rather lambs’ (i.e. the lambs born in the earlier part of the year), Spenser, Shep. Kal., Feb., 83; rathe, soon, id., Dec, 98; ‘All to rathe’ (all too soon). Sir T. Wyatt, The Lover waileth (Wks., ed. Bell, 98). Still in use in various parts of the British Isles (EDD.). ME. rathe, early, soon; rather, sooner, more willingly (Chaucer). OE. hræð, quick, hraðe, quickly.
raught, reached; pt. t. and pp. of to reach. L. L. L. iv. 2. 41; Hen. V, iv. 6. 21; 2 Hen. VI, ii. 3. 43. Still in prov. use, see EDD. (s.v. Reach, vb.1 3).
raump, to ramp, rear up; said of a lion. Morte Arthur, leaf 170. 30; bk. ix, c. 1. See [ramp] (3).