Search the Dictionary

The construction of a railroad; the business of managing or operating a railroad. [Colloq. U. S.]

A going or moving from place to place without any determinate business or object; an excursion or stroll merely for recreation. Coming home, after a short Christians ramble. Swift.

t; formerly, a sworn officer of a forest, appointed by the king's letters patent, whose business was to walk through the forest, recover beasts that had strayed beyond its limits, watch the deer, present trespasses to the next court held for the forest, etc. [Eng.]

Sore, as if by being galled. And all his sinews waxen weak and raw Through long imprisonment. Spenser.

Obs.] Many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the real part of business. Bacon.

Remission or suspension of business or procedure; intermission, as of a legislative body, court, or school. The recess of . . . Parliament lasted six weeks. Macaulay.

or accusation with another; to chargeback fault or crime upon an accuser. It is not my business to recriminate, hoping sufficiently toBp. Stillingfleet.

o it from a vacuum. -- Relative refractive index (of two media) (Opt.), the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction for a ray passing out of one of the media into the other.

ike; to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews. Horror . . . all his joints relaxed. Milton. Nor served it to relax their serried files. Milton.

That which removes or lessenc evil, pain, discomfort, uneasiness, etc.; that which gives succor, aid, or comfort; also, the person who relieves from performance of duty by taking the place of another; a relay.

Not energetic or exact in duty or business; not careful or prompt in fulfilling engagements; negligent; careless; tardy; behindhand; lagging; slack; hence, lacking earnestness or activity; languid; slow. Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness. Milton. These nervous, bold; those languid and remiss. Roscommon. Its m…

h a person regarding his habits; to remonstrate against proposed taxation. It is proper business of a divine to state cases of conscience, and to remonstrate against any growing corruptions in practice, and especially in principles. Waterland.

The transfer of one's business, or of one's domestic belongings, from one location or dwelling house to another; -- in the United States usually called a move. It is an English proverb that three removes are as bad as a fire. J. H. Newman.

Affording remuneration; as, a remunerative payment for services; a remunerative business. -Re*mu"ner*a*tive*ly, adv. -- Re*mu"ner*a*tive*ness, n.

Rest of mind; tranquillity; freedom from uneasiness; also, a composed manner or deportment.

To renew the impression of. The whole business of our redemption is . . . to reprint God's image upon the soul. South.

has declared the requisites on ours; what we must do to obtain blessings, is the great business of us all to know. Wake.

ower or movement; spring. [A Gallicism] [Obs.] Some . . . know the resorts and falls of business that can not sink into the main of it. Bacon.

To withdraw from a public station, or from business; as, having made a large fortune, he retired. And from Britannia's public posts retire. Addison.

Withdrawn from active duty or business; as, a retired officer; a retired physician. Retired flank (Fort.), a flank bent inward toward the rear of the work. -- Retired list (Mil. & Naval), a list of officers, who, by reason of advanced age or other disability, are relieved from active service, but still receive a speci…