Hypertext Webster Gateway: "rank"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Rank \Rank\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ranked}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Ranking},]
1. To place abreast, or in a line.

2. To range in a particular class, order, or division; to
class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable
classes or order; to classify.

Ranking all things under general and special heads.
--I. Watts.

Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers.
--Broome.

Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. --Dr.
H. More.

3. To take rank of; to outrank. [U.S.]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Rank \Rank\, a. [Compar. {Ranker}; superl. {Rankest}.] [AS. ranc
strong, proud; cf. D. rank slender, Dan. rank upright, erect,
Prov. G. rank slender, Icel. rakkr slender, bold. The meaning
seems to have been influenced by L. rancidus, E. rancid.]
1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown
to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.

And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one
stalk, rank and good. --Gen. xli. 5.

2. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter;
as, rank heresy. ``Rank nonsense.'' --Hare. ``I do forgive
thy rankest fault.'' --Shak.

3. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich
and fertile; as, rank land. --Mortimer.

4. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell;
rank-smelling rue. --Spenser.

5. Strong to the taste. ``Divers sea fowls taste rank of the
fish on which they feed.'' --Boyle.

6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [Obs.] --Shak.

{Rank modus} (Law), an excessive and unreasonable modus. See
{Modus}, 3.

{To set} (the iron of a plane, etc.) {rank}, to set so as to
take off a thick shaving. --Moxon.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Rank \Rank\, adv.
Rankly; stoutly; violently. [Obs.]

That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell.
--Fairfax.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Rank \Rank\, n. [OE. renk, reng, OF. renc, F. rang, fr. OHG.
hring a circle, a circular row, G. ring. See {Ring}, and cf.
{Range}, n. & v.]
1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of
osiers.

Many a mountain nigh Rising in lofty ranks, and
loftier still. --Byron.

2. (Mil.) A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed
to file. See 1st {File}, 1
(a) .

Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war.
--Shak.

3. Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or
nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral.

4. An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent
social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders
of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of
other intelligent beings.

5. Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in
civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer
of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank.

These all are virtues of a meaner rank. --Addison.

6. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social
position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank.

{Rank and file}.
(a) (Mil.) The whole body of common soldiers, including
also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes
sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Rank \Rank\, v. i.
1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, an in a particular
degree, class, order, or division.

Let that one article rank with the rest. --Shak.

2. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the
orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree
of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first
class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

rank
adj 1: very fertile; producing profuse growth; "rank earth"
2: very offensive in smell or taste; "a rank cigar"
3: conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible; "a
crying shame"; "an egregious lie"; "flagrant violation of
human rights"; "a glaring error"; "gross ineptitude";
"gross injustice"; "rank treachery" [syn: {crying(a)}, {egregious},
{flagrant}, {glaring}, {gross}]
4: complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes
used informally as intensifiers; "absolute freedom"; "an
absolute dimwit"; "a downright lie"; "out-and-out mayhem";
"an out-and-out lie"; "a rank outsider"; "many right-down
vices"; "got the job through sheer persistence"; "sheer
stupidity" [syn: {absolute}, {downright}, {out-and-out(a)},
{rank(a)}, {right-down}, {sheer(a)}]
5: growing profusely; "rank jungle vegetation"
n 1: a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police)
standing abreast of one another; "the entrance was
guarded by ranks of policemen"
2: relative status; "his salary was determined by his rank and
seniority"
3: the ordinary members of an organization (such as the
enlisted soldiers of an army); "the strike was supported
by the union rank and file"; "he rose from the ranks to
become a colonel" [syn: {rank and file}]
4: position in a social hierarchy; "the British are more aware
of social status than Americans are" [syn: {social station},
{social status}, {social rank}]
5: the body of members of an organization or group; "they
polled their membership"; "they found dissension in their
own ranks"; "he joined the ranks of the unemployed" [syn:
{membership}]
v 1: take or have a position relative to others; "This painting
ranks among the best in the Western World"
2: assign a rank or rating to; "how would you rank these
students?" [syn: {rate}, {range}, {order}, {grade}, {place}]
3: take precedence or surpass others in rank [syn: {outrank}]


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