Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Rate
Rate
,Noun.
 [OF., fr. L. 
rata 
(sc. pars
), fr. ratus 
reckoned, fixed by calculation, p. p. of reri 
to reckon, to calculate. Cf. Reason
.] 1. 
Established portion or measure; fixed allowance. 
The one right feeble through the evil 
Of food which in her duress she had found.
rate
Of food which in her duress she had found.
Spenser.
2. 
That which is established as a measure or criterion; degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; 
as, a slow 
 rate 
of movement; rate 
of interest is the ratio of the interest to the principal, per annum.Heretofore the 
rate 
and standard of wit was different from what it is nowadays. South.
In this did his holiness and godliness appear above the 
rate 
and pitch of other men’s, in that he was so . . . merciful. Calamy.
Many of the horse could not march at that 
rate
, nor come up soon enough. Clarendon.
3. 
Valuation; price fixed with relation to a standard; cost; charge; 
as, high or low 
. rates 
of transportationThey come at dear 
rates 
from Japan. Locke.
4. 
A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income or value; esp., in England, a local tax; 
as, parish 
 rates
; town rates
.5. 
Order; arrangement. 
[Obs.] 
Thus sat they all around in seemly 
rate
. Spenser.
6. 
Ratification; approval. 
[R.] 
Chapman.
 7. 
(Horol.) 
The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of time; 
as, daily 
 rate
; hourly rate
; etc.8. 
(Naut.) 
(a) 
The order or class to which a war vessel belongs, determined according to its size, armament, etc.; 
as, first 
rate
, second rate
, etc. (b) 
The class of a merchant vessel for marine insurance, determined by its relative safety as a risk, as A1, A2, etc. 
 Rate
,Verb.
 T.
 [
imp. & p. p. 
Rated
; p. pr. & vb. n. 
Rating
.] 1. 
To set a certain estimate on; to value at a certain price or degree. 
To 
rate 
a man by the nature of his companions is a rule frequent indeed, but not infallible. South.
You seem not high enough your joys to 
rate
. Dryden.
2. 
To assess for the payment of a rate or tax. 
3. 
To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount, value, or quality of; 
as, to 
 rate 
a ship; to rate 
a seaman; to rate 
a pension.4. 
To ratify. 
[Obs.] 
“To rate the truce.” Chapman. 
To rate a chronometer
, to ascertain the exact rate of its gain or loss as compared with true time, so as to make an allowance or computation dependent thereon.
 
Syn. – To value; appraise; estimate; reckon. 
 Rate
,Verb.
 I.
 1. 
To be set or considered in a class; to have rank; 
as, the ship 
. rates 
as a ship of the line2. 
To make an estimate. 
Webster 1828 Edition
Rate
RATE
,Noun.
  1.
  The proportion or standard by which quantity or value is adjusted; as silver valued at the rate of six shillings and eight pence the ounce.The rate and standard of wit was different then from what it is in these days.
2.
  Price or amount stated or fixed on any thing.  A king may purchase territory at too dear a rate.  The rate of interest is prescribed by law.3.
  Settled allowance; as a daily rate of provisions.  2Kings 25.4.
  Degree; comparative height or value.I am a spirit of no common rate.
In this did his holiness and godliness apear above the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so infintely merciful.
5.
  Degree in which any thing is done.  the ship sails at the rate of seven knots an hour.Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor come lup soon enough.
6.
  Degree of value; price.  Wheat in England is often sold at the rate of fifty shillings the quarter.  wit may be purchased at too dear a rate.7.
  a tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income or value; as parish rates; town rates; highway rates.8.
  In the navy, the order or class of a ship, according to its magnitude or force.  Ships of the first rate mount a hundred guns or upwards; those of the second rate carry from 90 to 98 guns; those of the third rate carry from 64 to 80 guns; those of the fourth rate from 50 to 60 guns; those of the fifth rate from 32 to 44 guns; those of the sixth rate from 20 to 30 guns.  Those of the two latter rates are called frigates.RATE
, v.t.1.
  To set a certain value on; to value at a certain price or degree of excellence.You seem not high enough your joys to rate.
Instead of rating the man by his performances, we too frequently rate the performance by the man.
2.
  To fix the magnitude, force or order, as of ships.  A ship is rated in the first class, or as a ship of the line.RATE
, v.i.1.
  To be set or considered in a class, as a ship.  The ship rates as a ship of the line.2.
  To make an estimate.RATE
,Verb.
T.
  To chide with vehemence; to reprove; to scold; to censure violently.
Go, rate thy minions, proud insulting boy.
An old lord of the council rated me the other day in the street about you, sir.