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(rs), v. t.To raze. [Obs.] Spenser. Race (rs), n.[OF. raz, L. radix, -icis. See Radix.] A root. "A race or two of ginger." Shak. Race ginger, ginger in the root, or not pulverized. Race n.[F. race; cf. Pr. & Sp. raza, It. razza; all from OHG. reiza line, akin to E. write. See Write.] 1. The descendants of a common ancestor; a family, tribe, people, or nation, believed or presumed to belong to the same stock; a lineage; a breed. The whole race of mankind. Shak. Whence the long race of Alban fathers come. Dryden. Naturalists and ethnographers divide mankind into several distinct varieties, or races. Cuvier refers them all to three, Pritchard enumerates seven, Agassiz eight, Pickering describes eleven. One of the common classifications is that of Blumenbach, who makes five races: the Caucasian, or white race, to which belong the greater part of the European nations and those of Western Asia; the Mongolian, or yellow race, occupying Tartary, China, Japan, etc.; the Ethiopian, or negro race, occupying most of Africa (except the north), Australia, Papua, and other Pacific Islands; the American, or red race, comprising the Indians of North and South America; and the Malayan, or Race n.[OE. ras, res, rees, AS. rs a rush, running; akin to Icel. rs course, race. 118.] 1. A progress; a course; a movement or progression. 2. Esp., swift progress; rapid course; a running. The flight of many birds is swifter than the race of any beasts. Bacon. 3. Hence: The act or process of running in competition; a contest of speed in any way, as in running, riding, driving, skating, rowing, sailing; in the plural, usually, a meeting for contests in the running of horses; as, he attended the races. The race is not to the swift. Eccl. ix. 11. I wield the gauntlet, and I run the race. Pope. 4. Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life. My race of glory run, and race of shame. Milton. 5. A strong or rapid current of water, or the channel or passage for such a current; a powerful current or heavy sea, sometimes produced by the meeting of two tides; as, the Portland Race; the Race of Alderney. 6. The current of water that turns a water wheel, or Race v. i.[imp. & p. p.Raced (rst); p. pr. & vb. n.Racing (r"sng).] 1. To run swiftly; to contend in a race; as, the animals raced over the ground; the ships raced from port to port. 2. (Steam Mach.) To run too fast at times, as a marine engine or screw, when the screw is lifted out of water by the action of a heavy sea. Race v. t. 1. To cause to contend in a race; to drive at high speed; as, to race horses. 2. To run a race with. Con°sola"tion game match, pot, race, etc.} A game, match, etc., open only to losers in early stages of contests. スポンサード リンク
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