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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



773 words match “RECTION”

PUT v. 2 definitions
To move in any direction; to impel; to thrust; to push; -- nearly obsolete, except with adverbs, as with by (to put by = to thrust aside; to divert); or with forth (to put forth = to thrust out). His chief designs are . . . to put thee by from thy spiritual employment. Jer. Taylor.
QUADRANT n.
, and usually having a plumb line or spirit level for fixing the vertical or horizontal direction. Gunner's quadrant, an instrument consisting of a graduated limb, with a plumb line or spirit level, and an arm by which it is applied to a cannon or mortar in adjusting it to the elevation required for attaining the desir…
QUADRUPLEX a.
e. Quadruplex system (Electric Telegraph), a system by which four messages, two in each direction, may be sent simultaneously over the wire.
QUAQUAVERSAL a.
Turning or dipping in any or every direction.
QUARTER n.
Fifth quarter, the hide and fat; -- a butcher's term. -- On the quarter (Naut.), in a direction between abeam and astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter. -- Quarter aspect. (Astrol.) Same as Quadrate. -- Quarter back (Football), the player who has position next behind center rush, and receives the…
QUARTERMASTER n.
A petty officer who attends to the helm, binnacle, signals, and the like, under the direction of the master. Totten. Quartermaster general (Mil.), in the United States a staff officer, who has the rank of brigadier general and is the chief officer in the quartermaster's department; in England, an officer of high rank s…
QUINCUNX n.
trees repeated indefinitely, so as to form a regular group with rows running in various directions.
RAKE v. 3 definitions
To enfilade; to fire in a direction with the length of; in naval engagements, to cannonade, as a ship, on the stern or head so that the balls range the whole length of the deck. To rake up. (a) To collect together, as the fire (live coals), and cover with ashes. (b) To bring up; to search out an bring to notice again;…
RALLENTANDO a.
Slackening; -- a direction to perform a passage with a gradual decrease in time and force; ritardando.
RAMP n.
A short bend, slope, or curve, where a hand rail or cap changes its direction.
RANDOM n. 3 definitions
A roving motion; course without definite direction; want of direction, rule, or method; hazard; chance; -- commonly used in the phrase at random, that is, without a settled point of direction; at hazard. Counsels, when they fly At random, sometimes hit most happily. Herrick. O, many a shaft, at random sent, Finds mark…
RANGE v. 3 definitions
To sail or pass in a direction parallel to or near; as, to range the coast.
RAY n.
diverging lines passing through a point, and regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions. See Half-ray. Bundle of rays. (Geom.) See Pencil of rays, below. -- Extraordinary ray (Opt.), that one or two parts of a ray divided by double refraction which does not follow the ordinary law of refraction. -- Ordinar…
REACTION n. 3 definitions
Any action in resisting other action or force; counter tendency; movement in a contrary direction; reverse action.
REBELLION n.
rpose of coercing or overthrowing their lawful ruler or government by force; revolt; insurrection. No sooner is the standard of rebellion displayed than men of desperate principles resort to it. Ames.
RECEIPT n.
A formulary according to the directions of which things are to be taken or combined; a recipe; as, a receipt for making sponge cake. She had a receipt to make white hair black. Sir T. Browne.
RECIPROCATE v.
-- in distinction from a rotary engine, in which the piston travels continuously in one direction in a circular path. -- Reciprocating motion (Mech.), motion alternately backward and forward, or up and down, as of a piston rod.
RECURVE v.
To curve in an opposite or unusual direction; to bend back or down.
RECURVED a.
Curved in an opposite or uncommon direction; bent back; as, a bird with a recurved bill; flowers with recurved petals.
REDRESS n.
The act of redressing; a making right; reformation; correction; amendment. [R.] Reformation of evil laws is commendable, but for us the more necessary is a speedy redress of ourselves. Hooker.
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