rank

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 ]

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 ]

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 ]