Rap"id, n. [Cf. F. rapide. See Rapid, a.] The part of a river where the
current moves with great swiftness, but without actual waterfall or
cascade; -- usually in the plural; as, the Lachine rapids in the St.
Lawrence.
Row, brothers, row, the stream runs fast, The rapids are near, and
the daylight's past.
Moore.
Ra*pid"i*ty (r*pd"*t), n. [L. rapiditas: cf. F. rapidité.] The quality
or state of being rapid; swiftness; celerity; velocity; as, the
rapidity of a current; rapidity of speech; rapidity of growth or
improvement.
Syn. -- Rapidness; haste; speed; celerity; velocity; swiftness;
fleetness; quickness; agility.
Rap"id*ly (rp"d*l), adv. In a rapid manner.
Rap"id*ness, n. Quality of being rapid; rapidity.
Ra"pi*er (r"p*r), n. [F. rapière, perhaps for raspière, and ultimately
of German origin, akin to E. rasp, v.] A straight sword, with a narrow
and finely pointed blade, used only for thrusting.
Rapier fish (Zoöl.), the swordfish. [Obs.] Grew.
Ra"pi*ered (-rd), a. Wearing a rapier. "Scarletcoated, rapiered
figures." Lowell.
||Ra*pil"li (r*pl"l), n. pl. [It.] (Min.) Lapilli.
Rap"ine (rp"n), n. [F. rapine; cf. Pr. & It. rapina; all fr. L. rapina,
fr. rapere to seize and carry off by force. See Rapid, and cf. Raven
rapine.] 1. The act of plundering; the seizing and carrying away of
things by force; spoliation; pillage; plunder.
Men who were impelled to war quite as much by the desire of rapine
as by the desire of glory.
Macaulay.