raise

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Raised p. pr. & vb. n. Raising. ] [ OE. reisen, Icel. reisa, causative of rīsa to rise. See Rise, and cf. Rear to raise. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To cause to rise; to bring from a lower to a higher place; to lift upward; to elevate; to heave; as, to raise a stone or weight. Hence, figuratively: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) To bring to a higher condition or situation; to elevate in rank, dignity, and the like; to increase the value or estimation of; to promote; to exalt; to advance; to enhance; as, to raise from a low estate; to raise to office; to raise the price, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

This gentleman came to be raised to great titles. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

The plate pieces of eight were raised three pence in the piece. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To increase the strength, vigor, or vehemence of; to excite; to intensify; to invigorate; to heighten; as, to raise the pulse; to raise the voice; to raise the spirits or the courage; to raise the heat of a furnace. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To elevate in degree according to some scale; as, to raise the pitch of the voice; to raise the temperature of a room. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to rise up, or assume an erect position or posture; to set up; to make upright; as, to raise a mast or flagstaff. Hence: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) To cause to spring up from a recumbent position, from a state of quiet, or the like; to awaken; to arouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. Job xiv. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To rouse to action; to stir up; to incite to tumult, struggle, or war; to excite. [ 1913 Webster ]

He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind. Ps. cvii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aeneas . . . employs his pains,
In parts remote, to raise the Tuscan swains. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To bring up from the lower world; to call up, as a spirit from the world of spirits; to recall from death; to give life to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead ? Acts xxvi. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to arise, grow up, or come into being or to appear; to give rise to; to originate, produce, cause, effect, or the like. Hence, specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) To form by the accumulation of materials or constituent parts; to build up; to erect; as, to raise a lofty structure, a wall, a heap of stones. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will raise forts against thee. Isa. xxix. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To bring together; to collect; to levy; to get together or obtain for use or service; as, to raise money, troops, and the like. “To raise up a rent.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To cause to grow; to procure to be produced, bred, or propagated; to grow; as, to raise corn, barley, hops, etc.; toraise cattle. “He raised sheep.” “He raised wheat where none grew before.” Johnson's Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In some parts of the United States, notably in the Southern States, raise is also commonly applied to the rearing or bringing up of children. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was raised, as they say in Virginia, among the mountains of the North. Paulding. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) To bring into being; to produce; to cause to arise, come forth, or appear; -- often with up. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee. Deut. xviii. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

God vouchsafes to raise another world
From him [ Noah ], and all his anger to forget. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

(e) To give rise to; to set agoing; to occasion; to start; to originate; as, to raise a smile or a blush. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt not raise a false report. Ex. xxiii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

(f) To give vent or utterance to; to utter; to strike up. [ 1913 Webster ]

Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(g) To bring to notice; to submit for consideration; as, to raise a point of order; to raise an objection. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To cause to rise, as by the effect of leaven; to make light and spongy, as bread. [ 1913 Webster ]

Miss Liddy can dance a jig, and raise paste. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Naut.) (a) To cause (the land or any other object) to seem higher by drawing nearer to it; as, to raise Sandy Hook light. (b) To let go; as in the command, Raise tacks and sheets, i. e., Let go tacks and sheets. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) To create or constitute; as, to raise a use, that is, to create it. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

To raise a blockade (Mil.), to remove or break up a blockade, either by withdrawing the ships or forces employed in enforcing it, or by driving them away or dispersing them. --
To raise a check,
note,
bill of exchange, etc., to increase fraudulently its nominal value by changing the writing, figures, or printing in which the sum payable is specified. --
To raise a siege, to relinquish an attempt to take a place by besieging it, or to cause the attempt to be relinquished. --
To raise steam, to produce steam of a required pressure. --
To raise the wind, to procure ready money by some temporary expedient. [ Colloq. ] --
To raise Cain, or
To raise the devil, to cause a great disturbance; to make great trouble. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To lift; exalt; elevate; erect; originate; cause; produce; grow; heighten; aggravate; excite. [ 1913 Webster ]