Rear

Table of contents

1 Pronunciation 2 Adverb 3 Noun 4 Adjective 5 Verb 5.1 Transitive 5.2 Intransitive

Pronunciation

\Rear\

Adverb

1.Early; soon. Prov. Eng.

Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear! --Gay.

Noun

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.                                                --

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.

Adjective

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.

Verb

Transitive

To place in the rear; to secure the rear of. (R.).

• imp. & p. p.: reared
• p. pr. & vb. n. : rearing

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.

Intransitive

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. --.