R (är). R, the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal
consonant. It is sometimes called a semivowel, and a liquid. See Guide
to Pronunciation, §§ 178, 179, and 250-254. "R is the dog's letter and
hurreth in the sound." B. Jonson.
In words derived from the Greek language the letter h is generally
written after r to represent the aspirated sound of the Greek "r, but
does not affect the pronunciation of the English word, as rhapsody,
rhetoric.
The English letter derives its form from the Greek through the Latin,
the Greek letter being derived from the Phœnician, which, it is
believed, is ultimately of Egyptian origin. Etymologically, R is most
closely related to l, s, and n; as in bandore, mandole; purple, L.
purpura; E. chapter, F. chapitre, L. capitulum; E. was, were; hare, G.
hase; E. order, F. ordre, L. ordo, ordinis; E. coffer, coffin.
The three Rs, a jocose expression for reading, (w)riting, and
(a)rithmetic, -- the fundamentals of an education.
Ra (rä), n. A roe; a deer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ra-. A prefix, from the Latin re and ad combined, coming to us through
the French and Italian. See Re-, and Ad-.
Raash (räsh), n. [Cf. Ar. ra'ash trembling, tremor.] (Zoöl.) The
electric catfish. [Written also raasch.]
Rab (rb), n. A rod or stick used by masons in mixing hair with mortar.
Rab"at (rb"t), n. [See Rabot.] A polishing material made of potter's
clay that has failed in baking.
Ra*bate" (r*bt"), v. t. [F. rabattre to beat down; pref. re- + abattre.
See Abate, and cf. Rebate, v.] (Falconry) To recover to the fist, as a
hawk. [Obs.]
Rab"a*tine (rb"*tn), n. [See Rabato.] A collar or cape. [Obs.] Sir W.
Scott.
Ra*ba"to (r*b"t), n. [F. rabat, fr. rabattre. See Rabate.] A kind of
ruff for the neck; a turned-down collar; a rebato. [Obs.] Shak.
Rab*bate" (rb*bt"), v. t. [See Rabate.] To abate or diminish. [Obs.] --
n. Abatement. [Obs.]
Rab"bet (rb"bt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rabbeted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Rabbeting.] [F. raboter to plane, plane down,rabot a plane; pref. re-
re- + OF. abouter, aboter. See Abut, and cf. Rebut.] 1. To cut a rabbet
in; to furnish with a rabbet.