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Of an uncommon nature; unusually excellent; valuable to a degree seldom found. Rare work, all filled with terror and delight. Cowley. Above the rest I judge one beauty rare. Dryden.

In a rare manner or degree; seldom; not often; as, things rarely seen.

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 godl…

In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp. The rather, the more so; especially; for better reason; for particular cause. You are come to me in happy time, The rather for I have some sport in hand. Shak. -- Had rather, or Would rather, prefer to; prefers to; as, he had, or would, rat…

Hence, fixed relation of number, quantity, or degree; rate; proportion; as, the ratio of representation in Congress. Compound ratio, Duplicate ratio, Inverse ratio, etc. See under Compound, Duplicate, etc. -- Ratio of a geometrical progression, the constant quantity by which each term is multiplied to produce the succ…

A withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; retreat; as, the recess of the tides. Every degree of ignorance being so far a recess and degradation from rationality. South. My recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered. Eikon Basilike.

Right-angled; having one or more angles of ninety degrees. -- Rec*tan"gu*lar*ly (r, adv. -- Rec*tan"gu*lar*ness, n.

To adjust, or maintain, with respect to a desired rate, degree, or condition; as, to regulate the temperature of a room, the pressure of steam, the speed of a machine, etc. To regulate a watch or clock, to adjust its rate of running so that it will keep approximately standard time.

To feel joy; to experience gladness in a high degree; to have pleasurable satisfaction; to be delighted. "O, rejoice beyond a common joy." Shak. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. Ps. xxxi. 7.

d or alliance, particularly by consanguinity; as, persons related in the first or second degree.

Remaining; residual. That little hope that is remanent hath its degree according to the infancy or growth of the habit. Jer. Taylor. Remanent magnetism (Physics), magnetism which remains in a body that has little coercive force after the magnetizing force is withdrawn, as soft iron; -- called also residual magnetism.…

or space through which anything is removed; interval; distance; stage; hence, a step or degree in any scale of gradation; specifically, a division in an English public school; as, the boy went up two removes last year. A freeholder is but one remove from a legislator. Addison.

Distant by degrees in relationship; as, a cousin once removed. -- Re*mov"ed*ness (r, n. Shak.

To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do. First she relents With pity; of that pity then repents. Dryden.

The quality, state, or degree of being replaceable.

t variance; contrary; inconsistent; refractory; disobedient; also, distasteful in a high degree; offensive; -- usually followed by to, rarely and less properly by with; as, all rudeness was repugnant to her nature. [His sword] repugnant to command. Shak. There is no breach of a divine law but is more or less repugnant…

Moderate in degree of excellence or in number; as, a respectable performance; a respectable audience. --Re*spect"a*ble*ness,n. -- Re*spect"a*bly, adv.

Involving responsibility; involving a degree of accountability on the part of the person concerned; as, a responsible office.

d from its earlier stages or known relationship. Called also retrograde development, and regressive metamorphism.

from a higher to a lower condition; declining from a more perfect state of organization; regressive.