Rhopalocera
(||Rhop`a*loc"e*ra) n. pl. [NL., from Gr. a club + ahorn.] (Zoöl.) A division of Lepidoptera
including all the butterflies. They differ from other Lepidoptera in having club-shaped antennæ.
Rhotacism
(Rho"ta*cism) n. [Gr. "rwtaki`zein to use the letter r (&rho) overmuch: cf. F. rhotacisme.]
An oversounding, or a misuse, of the letter r; specifically (Phylol.), the tendency, exhibited in the Indo-
European languages, to change s to r, as wese to were.
Rhubarb
(Rhu"barb) n. [F. rhubarbe, OF. rubarbe, rheubarbe, reubarbare, reobarbe, LL. rheubarbarum
for rheum barbarum, Gr. (and ) rhubarb, from the river Rha (the Volga) on whose banks it grew. Originally,
therefore, it was the barbarian plant from the Rha. Cf. Barbarous, Rhaponticine.]
1. (Bot.) The name of several large perennial herbs of the genus Rheum and order Polygonaceæ.
2. The large and fleshy leafstalks of Rheum Rhaponticum and other species of the same genus. They
are pleasantly acid, and are used in cookery. Called also pieplant.
3. (Med.) The root of several species of Rheum, used much as a cathartic medicine.
Monk's rhubarb. (Bot.) See under Monk. — Turkey rhubarb (Med.), the roots of Rheum Emodi.
Rhubarby
(Rhu"barb*y) a. Like rhubarb.
Rhumb
(Rhumb) n. [F. rumb, Sp. rumbo, or Pg. rumbo, rumo, probably fr. Gr. a magic wheel, a
whirling motion, hence applied to a point of the compass. See Rhomb.] (Navigation) A line which
crosses successive meridians at a constant angle; — called also rhumb line, and loxodromic curve.
See Loxodromic.
To sail on a rhumb, to sail continuously on one course, following a rhumb line.
Rhus
(||Rhus) n. [L., sumac, fr. Gr. .] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs and small treets. See Sumac.
Rhusma
(Rhus"ma) n. [See Rusma.] A mixtire of caustic lime and orpiment, or tersulphide of arsenic,
— used in the depilation of hides. Knight.
Rhyme
(Rhyme) n. [OE. ryme, rime, AS. rim number; akin to OHG. rim number, succession, series,
G. reim rhyme. The modern sense is due to the influence of F. rime, which is of German origin, and
originally the same word.] [The Old English spelling rime is becoming again common. See Note under
Prime.]
1. An expression of thought in numbers, measure, or verse; a composition in verse; a rhymed tale; poetry; harmony
of language. "Railing rhymes." Daniel.
A ryme I learned long ago.
Chaucer.
He knew
Himself to sing, and build the lofty rime.
Milton. 2. (Pros.) Correspondence of sound in the terminating words or syllables of two or more verses, one
succeeding another immediately or at no great distance. The words or syllables so used must not begin
with the same consonant, or if one begins with a vowel the other must begin with a consonant. The
vowel sounds and accents must be the same, as also the sounds of the final consonants if there be any.
For rhyme with reason may dispense,
And sound has right to govern sense.
Prior. 3. Verses, usually two, having this correspondence with each other; a couplet; a poem containing rhymes.
4. A word answering in sound to another word.
