Part 30

Ra"me*ous (r"m*s), a. [L. rameus, from ramus branch, bough.] (Bot.) Ramal.

Ram"e*quin (rm"*kn), n. [F.] (Cookery) A mixture of cheese, eggs, etc., formed in a mold, or served on bread. [Written also ramekin.]

Ram"ie (rm"), n. [From Malay.] (Bot.) The grass-cloth plant (Bœhmeria nivea); also, its fiber, which is very fine and exceedingly strong; -- called also China grass, and rhea. See Grass-cloth plant, under Grass.

Ram`i*fi*ca"tion (rm`*f*k"shn), n. [Cf. F. ramification. See Ramify.] 1. The process of branching, or the development of branches or offshoots from a stem; also, the mode of their arrangement.

2. A small branch or offshoot proceeding from a main stock or channel; as, the ramifications of an artery, vein, or nerve.

3. A division into principal and subordinate classes, heads, or departments; also, one of the subordinate parts; as, the ramifications of a subject or scheme.

4. The production of branchlike figures. Crabb.

Ram`i*flo"rous (-fl"rs), a. [L. ramus branch + flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.) Flowering on the branches.

Ram"i*form (rm"*fôrm), a. [L. ramus branch + -form.] (Bot.) Having the form of a branch.

Ram"i*fy (rm"*f), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ramified (rm"*fd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ramifying (rm"*f`ng).] [F. ramifier, LL. ramificare, fr. L. ramus a branch + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.] To divide into branches or subdivisions; as, to ramify an art, subject, scheme.

Ram"i*fy, v. i. 1. To shoot, or divide, into branches or subdivisions, as the stem of a plant.

When they [asparagus plants] . . . begin to ramify.

Arbuthnot.

2. To be divided or subdivided, as a main subject.

Ra*mig"er*ous (r*mj"r*s), a. [L. ramus a branch + -gerous.] (Bot.) Bearing branches; branched.

Ra*mip"a*rous (r*mp"*rs), a. [L. ramus + parere to bear.] (Bot.) Producing branches; ramigerous.

Ra"mist (r"mst), n. A follower of Pierre Ramé, better known as Ramus, a celebrated French scholar, who was professor of rhetoric and philosophy at Paris in the reign of Henry II., and opposed the Aristotelians.

Ram"line (rm"ln), n. A line used to get a straight middle line, as on a spar, or from stem to stern in building a vessel.

Ram"mel (rm"ml), n. Refuse matter. [Obs.]

Filled with any rubbish, rammel and broken stones.

Holland.

Ram"mer (-mr), n. One who, or that which, rams or drives. Specifically: (a) An instrument for driving anything with force; as, a rammer for driving stones or piles, or for beating the earth to more solidity. (b) A rod for forcing down the charge of a gun; a ramrod. (c) (Founding) An implement for pounding the sand of a mold to render it compact.

Ram"mish (-msh), a. Like a ram; hence, rank; lascivious. "Their savor is so rammish." Chaucer.

Ram"mish*ness, n. The quality of being rammish.

Ram"my (-m), a. Like a ram; rammish. Burton.

Ram`ol*les"cence (rm`l*ls"sens), n. [F. ramollir to make soft, to soften; pref. re- re- + amollir to soften; a (L. ad) + mollir to soften, L. mollire, fr. mollis soft.] A softening or mollifying. [R.]

Ra*moon" (r*mn"), n. (Bot.) A small West Indian tree (Trophis Americana) of the Mulberry family, whose leaves and twigs are used as fodder for cattle.

Ra*mose" (r*ms"), a. [L. ramosus, from ramus a branch.] Branched, as the stem or root of a plant; having lateral divisions; consisting of, or having, branches; full of branches; ramifying; branching; branchy.