Part 325

||Rhaph"i*des (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a needle, ||F. raphides.] (Bot.) Minute transparent, often needle-shaped, ||crystals found in the tissues of plants. [Written also raphides.]

Rha*pon"ti*cine (&?;), n. [L. rhaponticum rhubarb. See Rhubarb.] (Chem.) Chrysophanic acid.

Rhap"sode (rp"sd), n. [Gr. "rapsw,do`s. See Rhapsody.] (Gr. Antiq.) A rhapsodist. [R.] Grote.

Rhap"so*der (?), n. A rhapsodist. [Obs.]

{ Rhap*sod"ic (?), Rhap*sod"ic (?) }, a. [Gr. "rapsw,diko`s: cf. F. rhapsodique.] Of or pertaining to rhapsody; consisting of rhapsody; hence, confused; unconnected. -- Rhap*sod"ic*al*ly, adv.

Rhap"so*dist (?), n. [From Rhapsody.] 1. Anciently, one who recited or composed a rhapsody; especially, one whose profession was to recite the verses of Hormer and other epic poets.

2. Hence, one who recites or sings poems for a livelihood; one who makes and repeats verses extempore.

The same populace sit for hours listening to rhapsodists who recite Ariosto.

Carlyle.

3. One who writes or speaks disconnectedly and with great excitement or affectation of feeling. I. Watts.

Rhap"so*dize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rhapsodized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Rhapsodizing.] To utter as a rhapsody, or in the manner of a rhapsody Sterne.

Rhap"so*dize, v. i. To utter rhapsodies. Jefferson.

Rhap"so*do*man`cy (?), n. [Rhapsody + -mancy.] Divination by means of verses.

Rhap"so*dy (?), n.; pl. Rhapsodies (#). [F. rhapsodie, L. rhapsodia, Gr. "rapsw,di`a, fr. "rapsw,do`s a rhapsodist; "ra`ptein to sew, stitch together, unite + 'w,dh` a song. See Ode.] 1. A recitation or song of a rhapsodist; a portion of an epic poem adapted for recitation, or usually recited, at one time; hence, a division of the Iliad or the Odyssey; -- called also a book.

2. A disconnected series of sentences or statements composed under excitement, and without dependence or natural connection; rambling composition. "A rhapsody of words." Shak. "A rhapsody of tales." Locke.

3. (Mus.) A composition irregular in form, like an improvisation; as, Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsodies."

{ Rhat"a*ny, Rhat"an*hy } (?), n. [Sp. ratania, rataña, Peruv. rataña.] The powerfully astringent root of a half- shrubby Peruvian plant (Krameria triandra). It is used in medicine and to color port wine. [Written also ratany.]

Savanilla rhatany, the root of Krameria Ixina, a native of New Granada.

Rhe"a (?), n. (Bot.) The ramie or grass-cloth plant. See Grass-cloth plant, under Grass.

Rhe"a, n. [L., a proper name.] (Zoöl.) Any one of three species of large South American ostrichlike birds of the genera Rhea and Pterocnemia. Called also the American ostrich.

The common rhea, or nandou (Rhea Americana), ranges from Brazil to Patagonia. Darwin's rhea (Pterocnemia Darwinii), of Patagonia, is smaller, and has the legs feathered below the knee.

||Rhe"æ (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A suborder of struthious birds ||including the rheas.

Rhee"boc (?), n. [D. reebok roebuck.] (Zoöl.) The peele. [Written also reebok.]

Rhe"ic (?), a. [NL. Rheum rhubarb, Gr. &?;&?;&?; See Rhubarb.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid (commonly called chrysophanic acid) found in rhubarb (Rheum). [Obsoles.]

Rhe"in (?), n. (Chem.) Chrysophanic acid.

Rhein"ber*ry (?), n. [G. rheinbeere.] (Bot.) One of the berries or drupes of the European buckthorn; also, the buckthorn itself.

Rhe*mat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; of or for a verb, fr. &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a sentence. See Rhetoric.] (Gram.) Having a verb for its base; derived from a verb; as, rhematic adjectives. Ftzed. Hall.

Rhe*mat"ic, n. The doctrine of propositions or sentences. Coleridge.