adv. Early; soon. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear? Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. riere behind, backward, fr. L. retro. Cf. Arrear. ] 1. The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last in order; -- opposed to front. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To rise up on the hind legs, as a horse; to become erect. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rearing bit, a bit designed to prevent a horse from lifting his head when rearing. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Reared p. pr. & vb. n. Rearing. ] [ AS. r&aemacr_;ran to raise, rear, elevate, for r&aemacr_;san, causative of rīsan to rise. See Rise, and cf. Raise. ] 1. To raise; to lift up; to cause to rise, become erect, etc.; to elevate; as, to rear a monolith. [ 1913 Webster ]

In adoration at his feet I fell
Submiss; he reared me. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mine [ shall be ] the first hand to rear her banner. Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To erect by building; to set up; to construct; as, to rear defenses or houses; to rear one government on the ruins of another. [ 1913 Webster ]

One reared a font of stone. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To lift and take up. [ Obs. or R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And having her from Trompart lightly reared,
Upon his courser set the lovely load. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To bring up to maturity, as young; to educate; to instruct; to foster; as, to rear offspring. [ 1913 Webster ]

He wants a father to protect his youth,
And rear him up to virtue. Southern. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To rouse; to stir up. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And seeks the tusky boar to rear. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To lift; elevate; erect; raise; build; establish. See the Note under Raise, 3 (c). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To place in the rear; to secure the rear of. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rear admiral, an officer in the navy, next in rank below a vice admiral and above a commodore. See Admiral. --
Rear front (Mil.), the rear rank of a body of troops when faced about and standing in that position. --
Rear guard (Mil.), the division of an army that marches in the rear of the main body to protect it; -- used also figuratively. --
Rear line (Mil.), the line in the rear of an army. --
Rear rank (Mil.), the rank or line of a body of troops which is in the rear, or last in order. --
Rear sight (Firearms), the sight nearest the breech. --
To bring up the rear, to come last or behind. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. A reredos. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, rears. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To argue anew or again; as, This politician will be forced into re-arguing an old national campaign. Usually used without the hyphen. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. An arguing over again, as of a motion made in court. [ 1913 Webster ]