Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Rear?

\Rear\, adv. Early; soon. [Prov. Eng.] Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear! --Gay.
\Rear\, n. [OF. riere behind, backward, fr. L. retro. Cf. {Arrear}.] 1. The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; -- opposed to {front}. Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost. --Milton. 2. Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest. When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear. --Milton.
\Rear\, a. Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company. {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.
\Rear\, v. t. To place in the rear; to secure the rear of. [R.]
\Rear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reared}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Rearing}.] [AS. r[=ae]ran to raise, rear, elevate, for r[=ae]san, causative of r[=i]san 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. In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me. --Milton. It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts. --Barrow. Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner. --Ld. Lytton. 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. One reared a font of stone. --Tennyson. 3. To lift and take up. [Obs. or R.] And having her from Trompart lightly reared, Upon his set the lovely load. --Spenser. 4. To bring up to maturity, as young; to educate; to instruct; to foster; as, to rear offspring. He wants a father to protect his youth, And rear him up to virtue. --Southern. 5. To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle. 6. To rouse; to strip up. [Obs.] And seeks the tusky boar to rear. --Dryden. Syn: To lift; elevate; erect; raise, build; establish. See the Note under {Raise}, 3 (c) .
\Rear\, v. i. To rise up on the hind legs, as a horse; to become erect. {Rearing bit}, a bit designed to prevent a horse from lifting his head when rearing. --Knight.