n. [ OE. renk, reng, OF. renc, F. rang, fr. OHG. hring a circle, a circular row, G. ring. See Ring, and cf. Range, n. & v. ] 1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many a mountain nigh
Rising in lofty ranks, and loftier still. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a). [ 1913 Webster ]

Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank. [ 1913 Webster ]

These all are virtues of a meaner rank. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rank and file. (a) (Mil.) The whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff. (b) See under 1st File. --
The ranks, the order or grade of common soldiers; as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks. --
To fill the ranks, to supply the whole number, or a competent number. --
To take rank of, to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ranked p. pr. & vb. n. Ranking. ] 1. To place abreast, or in a line. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ranking all things under general and special heads. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers. Broome. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To take rank of; to outrank. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let that one article rank with the rest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Ranker superl. Rankest. ] [ AS. ranc strong, proud; cf. D. rank slender, Dan. rank upright, erect, Prov. G. rank slender, Icel. rakkr slender, bold. The meaning seems to have been influenced by L. rancidus, E. rancid. ] 1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds. [ 1913 Webster ]

And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Gen. xli. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy. “Rank nonsense.” Hare. “I do forgive thy rankest fault.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Strong to the taste. “Divers sea fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rank modus (Law), an excessive and unreasonable modus. See Modus, 3. --
To set (the iron of a plane, etc.)
rank, to set so as to take off a thick shaving. Moxon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Rankly; stoutly; violently. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who ranks, or disposes in ranks; one who arranges. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rankled p. pr. & vb. n. Rankling ] [ From Rank, a. ] 1. To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

A malady that burns and rankles inward. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts of the people. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To produce a festering or inflamed effect; to cause a sore; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a splinter rankles in the flesh; the words rankled in his bosom. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame. [ R. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With rank or vigorous growth; luxuriantly; hence, coarsely; grossly; as, weeds grow rankly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. rancness pride. ] The condition or quality of being rank. [ 1913 Webster ]