Part 337

All can be play on gittern or ribible.

Chaucer.

Rib"less, a. Having no ribs.

Rib"roast` (?), v. t. To beat soundly. [Slang]

Rib"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A species of plantain (Plantago lanceolata) with long, narrow, ribbed leaves; -- called also rib grass, ripple grass, ribwort plantain.

-ric (?). [AS rce kingdom, dominion. See Rich.] A suffix signifying dominion, jurisdiction; as, bishopric, the district over which a bishop exercises authority.

Rice (?), n. [F. riz (cf. Pr. ris, It. riso), L. oryza, Gr. &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, probably from the Persian; cf. OPers. brzi, akin to Skr. vrhi; or perh. akin to E. rye. Cf. Rye.] (Bot.) A well-known cereal grass (Oryza sativa) and its seed. This plant is extensively cultivated in warm climates, and the grain forms a large portion of the food of the inhabitants. In America it grows chiefly on low, moist land, which can be overflowed.

Ant rice. (Bot.) See under Ant. -- French rice. (Bot.) See Amelcorn. -- Indian rice., a tall reedlike water grass (Zizania aquatica), bearing panicles of a long, slender grain, much used for food by North American Indians. It is common in shallow water in the Northern States. Called also water oat, Canadian wild rice, etc. -- Mountain rice, any species of an American genus (Oryzopsis) of grasses, somewhat resembling rice. -- Rice bunting. (Zoöl.) Same as Ricebird. -- Rice hen (Zoöl.), the Florida gallinule. -- Rice mouse (Zoöl.), a large dark-colored field mouse (Calomys palistris) of the Southern United States. - - Rice paper, a kind of thin, delicate paper, brought from China, -- used for painting upon, and for the manufacture of fancy articles. It is made by cutting the pith of a large herb (Fatsia papyrifera, related to the ginseng) into one roll or sheet, which is flattened out under pressure. Called also pith paper. -- Rice troupial (Zoöl.), the bobolink. -- Rice water, a drink for invalids made by boiling a small quantity of rice in water. -- Rice-water discharge (Med.), a liquid, resembling rice water in appearance, which is vomited, and discharged from the bowels, in cholera. -- Rice weevil (Zoöl.), a small beetle (Calandra, or Sitophilus, oryzæ) which destroys rice, wheat, and Indian corn by eating out the interior; -- called also black weevil.

Rice"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The Java sparrow. (b) The bobolink.

Rice"-shell` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small white polished marine shells of the genus Olivella.

Rich, (rch), a. [Compar. Richer (&?;); superl. Richest.] [OE. riche, AS. rce rich, powerful; akin to OS. rki, D. rijk, G. reich, OHG. rhhi, Icel. rkr, Sw. rik, Dan. rig, Goth. reiks; from a word meaning, ruler, king, probably borrowed from Celtic, and akin to L. rex, regis, king, regere to guide, rule. √283. See Right, and cf. Derrick, Enrich, Rajah, Riches, Royal.] 1. Having an abundance of material possessions; possessed of a large amount of property; well supplied with land, goods, or money; wealthy; opulent; affluent; -- opposed to poor. "Rich merchants." Chaucer.

The rich [person] hath many friends.

Prov. xiv. 20.

As a thief, bent to unhoard the cash Of some rich burgher.

Milton.

2. Hence, in general, well supplied; abounding; abundant; copious; bountiful; as, a rich treasury; a rich entertainment; a rich crop.

If life be short, it shall be glorious; Each minute shall be rich in some great action.

Rowe.

The gorgeous East with richest hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.

Milton.

3. Yielding large returns; productive or fertile; fruitful; as, rich soil or land; a rich mine.

4. Composed of valuable or costly materials or ingredients; procured at great outlay; highly valued; precious; sumptuous; costly; as, a rich dress; rich silk or fur; rich presents.

Like to rich and various gems.

Milton.

5. Abounding in agreeable or nutritive qualities; -- especially applied to articles of food or drink which are high-seasoned or abound in oleaginous ingredients, or are sweet, luscious, and high-flavored; as, a rich dish; rich cream or soup; rich pastry; rich wine or fruit.

Sauces and rich spices are fetched from India.

Baker.

6. Not faint or delicate; vivid; as, a rich color.