Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Rank
Rank
(răṉk)
, Adj.
[
Com
par.
Ranker
(răṉk′ẽr)
; sup
erl.
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;
“Rank nonsense.” as,
. rank
heresyHare.
“I do forgive thy rankest fault.” Shak.
3.
Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile;
as,
. rank
landMortimer.
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.
Rank
,adv.
Rankly; stoutly; violently.
[Obs.]
That rides so
rank
and bends his lance so fell. Fairfax.
Rank
,Noun.
1.
A row or line; a range; an order; a tier;
as, a
. rank
of osiersMany a mountain nigh
Rising in lofty
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
In
ranks
and squadrons and right form of war. Shakespeare
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.
(b)
See under 1st
– File
. The ranks
, the order or grade of common soldiers;
– as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to
. the ranks
To fill the ranks
, to supply the whole number, or a competent number.
– To take rank of
, to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.
Rank
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Ranked
(răṉkt)
; 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.]
Rank
,Verb.
I.
1.
To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division.
Let that one article
rank
with the rest. Shakespeare
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.