rabid adj.#like a fanatic; furious. He was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go to the ballpark.#raconteur n.#storyteller. My father was a gifted raconteur with an unlimited supply of anecdotes.#rail v.#scold; rant. You may rail at him all you want; you will never change him.#raiment n.#clothing. "How can I go to the ball?" asked Cinderella. "I have no raiment fit to wear."#rally v.#call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate. Washington quickly rallied his troops to fight off the British attack. The patient had been sinking throughout the night, but at dawn she rallied and made a complete recovery.#ramble v.# wander aimlessly (physically or mentally). Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy wondered whether he'd ever get to his point.#ramification n.#branching out; subdivision. We must examine all the ramifications of this problem.#ramify v.#divide into branches or subdivisions. When the plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the new branches.#ramp n.#slope; inclined plane. The house was built with ramps instead of stairs in order to enable the man in the wheelchair to move easily from room to room and floor to floor.#rampant adj.#growing in profusion; unrestrained. The rampant weeds in the garden choked the flowers until they died.#ramshackle adj.#rickety; falling apart. The boys propped up the ramshackle clubhouse with a couple of boards.#rancid adj.#having the odor of stale fat. The rancid odor filling the ship's galley nauseated the crew.#rancor n.# bitterness; hatred. Thirty years after the war, she could not let go of the past but was still consumed with rancor against the foe.#random adj.#without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard. Although the sponsor of the raffle claimed all winners were chosen at random, people had their suspicions when the grand prize went to the sponsor's brother-in-law. #rankle v.#irritate; fester. The memory of having been jilted rankled him for years.#rant v.# rave; talk excitedly; scold; make a grandiloquent speech. When he heard that I'd totaled the family car, Dad began to rant at me like a complete madman.#rapacious adj.#excessively greedy; predatory. The rapacious brigands stripped the villagers of all their possessions. rapacity, n.#rapport n.#emotional closeness; harmony. In team teaching, it is important that all teachers in the group have good rapport with one another.#rapt adj.#absorbed; enchanted. Caught up in the wonder of the storyteller's tale, the rapt listeners sat motionless, hanging on his every word.#rarefied adj.#made less dense [of a gas#raspy adj.#grating; harsh. The sergeant's raspy voice grated on the recruits' ears.#ratify v.# approve formally; confirm; verify. Party leaders doubted that they had enough votes in both houses of Congress to ratify the constitutional amendment.#ratiocination n.#reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises. While Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for ratiocination made him a superb detective.#rationale n.#fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action. Her need to have someplace to hang her earring collection was Dora's rationale for piercing fifteen holes in each ear.#rationalize v.#give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable one; offer an excuse. When David told gabby Gabrielle he couldn't give her a ride to the dance because he had no room in the car, he was rationalizing; actually, he couldn't stand being cooped up in a car with anyone who talked as much as she did.#raucous adj.# harsh and shrill; disorderly and boisterous. The raucous crowd of New Year's Eve revelers got progressively noisier as midnight drew near.#rave n.#overwhelmingly favorable review. Though critic John Simon seldom has a good word to say about most contemporary plays, his review of All in the Timing was a total rave.#ravel v.#fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangle. A single thread pulled loose, and the entire scarf started to ravel.#ravenous adj.# extremely hungry. The ravenous dog upset several garbage pails in its search for food.#raze v.# destroy completely. Spelling is important: to raise a building is to put it up; to raze a building is to tear it down.#reactionary adj.#recoiling from progress; politically ultraconservative. Opposing the use of English in worship services, reactionary forces in the church fought to reinstate the mass in Latin.#realm n.#kingdom; field or sphere. In the animal realm, the lion is the king of beasts.#reaper n.#one who harvests grain. Death, the Grim Reaper, cuts down mortal men and women, just as a farmer cuts down the ripened grain. reap, v.#rebuff v.#snub; beat back. She rebuffed his invitation so smoothly that he did not realize he had been snubbed. also n.#rebuke v.#scold harshly; criticize severely. No matter how sharply Miss Watson rebuked Huck for his misconduct, he never talked back but just stood there like a stump. also n.#rebuttal n.# refutation; response with contrary evidence. The defense lawyer confidently listened to the prosecutor sum up his case, sure that she could answer his arguments in her rebuttal.#recalcitrant adj.#obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly. Which animal do you think is more recalcitrant, a pig or a mule?#recant v.# disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error. Those who can, keep true to their faith; those who can't, recant. Hoping to make Joan of Arc recant her sworn testimony, her English captors tried to convince her that her visions had been sent to her by the Devil.#recapitulate v.#summarize. Let us recapitulate what has been said thus far before going ahead.#recast v.#reconstruct (a sentence, story, etc.); fashion again. Let me recast this sentence in terms your feeble brain can grasp: in words of one syllable, you are a fool.#receptive adj.#quick or willing to receive ideas, suggestions, etc. Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a receptive audience for Tom's tales of buried treasure and piracy.#recession n.#withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity. The slow recession of the flood waters created problems for the crews working to restore power to the area. recede, v.#recidivism n.#habitual return to crime. Prison reformers in the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism; the number of men serving second and third terms in prison indicates the failure of prisons to rehabilitate the inmates.#recipient n.#receiver. Although he had been the recipient of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor.#reciprocal adj.#mutual; exchangeable; interacting. The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement. #reciprocate v.#repay in kind. If they attack us, we shall be compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory. reciprocity, n.#recluse n.# hermit; loner. Disappointed in love, Miss Emily became a recluse; she shut herself away in her empty mansion and refused to see another living soul. reclusive, adj. #reconcile v.#correct inconsistencies; become friendly after a quarrel. Each month when we try to reconcile our checkbook with the bank statement, we quarrel. However, despite these monthly lovers' quarrels, we always manage to reconcile.#reconnaissance n.#survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering. If you encounter any enemy soldiers during your reconnaissance, capture them for questioning.#recount v.# narrate or tell; count over again. A born storyteller, my father loved to recount anecdotes about his early years in New York.#recourse n.#resorting to help when in trouble. The boy's only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid.#recrimination n.#countercharges. Loud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations.#rectify v.# set right; correct. You had better send a check to rectify your account before American Express cancels your credit card.#rectitude n.#uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment. The Eagle Scout was a model of rectitude.#recumbent adj.#reclining; lying down completely or in part. The command "AT EASE" does not permit you to take a recumbent position. #recuperate v.#recover. The doctors were worried because the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had expected.#recurrent adj.#occurring again and again. Richard's recurrent asthma attacks disturbed us and we consulted a physician.#redolent adj.#fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor. Even though it is February, the air is redolent of spring.#redoubtable adj.#formidable; causing fear. During the Cold War period, neighboring countries tried not to offend the Russians because they could be redoubtable foes.#redress n.#remedy; compensation. Do you mean to tell me that I can get no redress for my injuries? also v.#redundant adj.# superfluous; repetitious; excessively wordy. The bottle of wine I brought to Bob's was certainly redundant: how was I to know Bob owned a winery? In your essay, you repeat several points unnecessarily; try to be less redundant in the future. redundancy, n.#reek v.#emit (odor). The room reeked of stale tobacco smoke. also n.#refraction n.#bending of a ray of light. When you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water.#refractory adj.#stubborn; unmanageable. Though his jockey whipped him, the refractory horse stubbornly refused to enter the starting gate.#refrain v.#abstain from; resist. n. chorus. Whenever he heard a song with a lively chorus, Sol could never refrain from joining in on the refrain.#refurbish v.#renovate; make bright by polishing. The furniture in the lobby was worn, the paint faded; clearly, it was time to refurbish the lobby.#refute v.# disprove. The defense called several respectable witnesses who were able to refute the false testimony of the prosecution's sole witness. refutation, n.#regal adj.#royal. Prince Albert had a regal manner.#regale v.#entertain. John regaled us with tales of his adventures in Africa.#regeneration n.#renewal or restoration (of a bodily part); spiritual rebirth. Hoping for insights into healing human injuries, biologists study the process of regeneration in lizards that regrow lost tails.#regime n.#method or system of government. When the French mention the Old Regime, they refer to the government existing before the revolution.#regimen n.#prescribed diet and habits. I doubt whether the results warrant our living under such a strict regimen.#rehabilitate v.#restore to proper condition. We must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison. #reimburse v.#repay. Let me know what you have spent and I will reimburse you.#reiterate v.#repeat. He reiterated the warning to make sure everyone understood it.#rejoinder n.#retort; comeback; reply. When someone has been rude to me, I find it particularly satisfying to come up with a quick rejoinder.#rejuvenate v.#make young again. The charlatan claimed that his elixir would rejuvenate the aged and weary.#relegate v.# banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign. After Ralph dropped his second tray of drinks that week, the manager swiftly relegated him to a minor post cleaning up behind the bar.#relent v.#give in. When her stern father would not relent and allow her to marry Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett eloped with her suitor. relentless, adj. #relevant adj.#pertinent; referring to the case in hand. How relevant Virginia Woolf's essays are to women writers today! It's as if Woolf in the 1930s foresaw our current literary struggles. relevancy, n. #relic n.#surviving remnant; memento. Egypt's Department of Antiquities prohibits tourists from taking mummies and other ancient relics out of the country. Mike keeps his photos of his trip to Egypt in a box with other relics of his travels.#relinquish v.#give up something with reluctance; yield. Denise never realized how hard it would be for her to relinquish her newborn son to the care of his adoptive parents. Once you get used to fringe benefits like expense account meals and a company car, it's very hard to relinquish them.#relish v.#savor; enjoy. Watching Peter enthusiastically chow down, I thought, "Now there's a man who relishes a good dinner!" also n.#remediable adj.#reparable. Let us be grateful that the damage is remediable.#remedial adj.#curative; corrective. Because he was a slow reader, he decided to take a course in remedial reading.#reminiscence n.#recollection. Her reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book.#remiss adj.#negligent. The guard was accused of being remiss in his duty when the prisoner escaped. #remission n.# temporary moderation of disease symptoms; cancellation of a debt; forgiveness or pardon. Though the senator had been treated for cancer, his symptoms were in remission, and he was considered fit enough to handle the strains of a presidential race.#remnant n.#remainder. I suggest that you wait until the store places the remnants of these goods on sale.#remonstrance n.#protest; objection. The authorities were deaf to the pastor's remonstrances about the lack of police protection in the area. remonstrate, v.#remorse n.# guilt; self-reproach. The murderer felt no remorse for his crime.#remunerative adj.#compensating; rewarding. I find my new work so remunerative that I may not return to my previous employment. remuneration, n.#rend v.#split; tear apart. In his grief, he tried to rend his garments. rent, n.#render v.#deliver; provide; represent. He rendered aid to the needy and indigent.#rendition n.#translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc. The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria.#renegade n.#deserter; traitor. Because he had abandoned his post and joined forces with the Indians, his fellow officers considered the hero of Dances with Wolves a renegade. also adj. #renege v.#deny; go back on. He reneged on paying off his debt.#renounce v.# abandon; disown; repudiate. Even though she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch, Joan of Arc refused to renounce her belief that her voices came from God. renunciation, n.#renovate v.#restore to good condition; renew. We renovated our kitchen, replacing the old cabinets and countertop and installing new appliances.#renown n.#fame. For many years an unheralded researcher, Barbara McClintock gained international renown when she won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. renowned, adj. #rent n.#rip; split. Kit did an excellent job of mending the rent in the lining of her coat.#reparable adj.#capable of being repaired. Fortunately, the damage to our car was reparable, and after two weeks in the shop it looks brand new.#reparation n.#amends; compensation. At the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations to the victors.#repast n.#meal; feast; banquet. The caterers prepared a delicious repast for Fred and Judy's wedding day.#repeal v.#revoke; annul. What would the effect on our society be if we decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws against the possession and sale of narcotics?#repel v.# drive away; disgust. At first, the Beast's ferocious appearance repelled Beauty, but she came to love the tender heart hidden behind that beastly exterior.#repellent adj.#driving away; unattractive. Mosquitoes find the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed. also n.#repercussion n.#result or impact (of an event, etc.); rebound; reverberation. The brothers' quarrel had serious repercussions, for it led to their estrangement.#repertoire n.#list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present. The opera company decided to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season.#replenish v.#fill up again. Before she could take another backpacking trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of freeze-dried foods.#replete adj.# filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied. The movie star's memoir was replete with juicy details about the love life of half of Hollywood.#replica n.#copy. Are you going to hang this replica of the Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in the auditorium?#replicate v.#reproduce; duplicate. Because he had always wanted a palace, Donald decided to replicate the Taj Mahal in miniature on his estate.#repository n.#storehouse. Libraries are repositories of the world's best thoughts.#reprehensible adj.# deserving blame. Shocked by the viciousness of the bombing, politicians of every party uniformly condemned the terrorists' reprehensible deed.#repress v.#restrain; crush; oppress. Anne's parents tried to curb her impetuosity without repressing her boundless high spirits.#reprieve n.#temporary stay. During the twenty-four-hour reprieve, the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution permanent. also v.#reprimand v.# reprove severely; rebuke. Every time Ermengarde made a mistake in class, she was afraid that Miss Minchin would reprimand her and tell her father how badly she was doing in school. also n.#reprisal n.#retaliation. I am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake.#reprise n.#musical repetition; repeat performance; recurrent action. We enjoyed the soprano's solo in Act I so much that we were delighted by its reprise in the finale.#reproach v.#express disapproval or disappointment. He never could do anything wrong without imagining how the look on his mother's face would reproach him afterwards. reproachful, adj. #reprobate n.#person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency. I cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is.#reprove v.# censure; rebuke. Though Aunt Bea at times had to reprove Opie for inattention in church, she believed he was at heart a God-fearing lad.#repudiate v.# disown; disavow. On separating from Tony, Tina announced that she would repudiate all debts incurred by her soon-to-be ex-husband.#repugnant adj.# Ioathsome; hateful. Whereas some people like earthworms, others find them repugnant and view them with disgust.#repulsion n.#distaste; act of driving back. Hating bloodshed, she viewed war with repulsion. Even defensive battles distressed her, for the repulsion of enemy forces is never accomplished bloodlessly.#reputable adj.#respectable. If you want to buy antiques, look for a reputable dealer; far too many dealers today pass off fakes as genuine antiques.#reputed adj.#supposed. Though he is the reputed father of the child, no one can be sure. repute, n.#requiem n.#mass for the dead; dirge. They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral.#requisite n.#necessary requirement. Many colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission.#requite v.#repay; revenge. The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them.#rescind v.# cancel. Because of the public outcry against the new taxes, the senator proposed a bill to rescind the unpopular financial measure.#resentment n.#indignation; bitterness; displeasure. Not wanting to appear a sore loser, Bill tried to hide his resentment of Barry's success.#reserve n.# self-control; formal but distant manner. Although some girls were attracted by Mark's air of reserve, Judy was put off by it, for she felt his aloofness indicated a lack of openness. reserved, adj. #residue n.#remainder; balance. In his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the residue be given to his wife. residual, adj. #resigned adj.# accepting one's fate; unresisting; patiently submissive. Resigned to his downtrodden existence, Bob Cratchit was too meek to protest Scrooge's bullying. resignation, n.#resilient adj.#elastic; having the power of springing back. Highly resilient, steel makes excellent bedsprings. resilience, n.#resolution n.# determination; resolve. Nothing could shake his resolution that his children would get the best education that money could buy. resolute, adj. #resolve n.# determination; firmness of purpose. How dare you question my resolve to take up sky-diving! Of course I haven't changed my mind!#resolve v.#decide; settle; solve. Holmes resolved to travel to Bohemia to resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and the king.#resonant adj.#echoing; resounding; deep and full in sound. The deep, resonant voice of the actor James Earl Jones makes him particularly effective when he appears on stage.#respiration n.#breathing; exhalation. The doctor found that the patient's years of smoking had adversely affected both his lung capacity and his rate of respiration.#respite n.# interval of relief; time for rest; delay in punishment. After working nonstop on this project for three straight months, I need a respite! For David, the two weeks vacationing in New Zealand were a delightful respite from the pressures of his job.#resplendent adj.# dazzling; glorious; brilliant. While all the adults were commenting how glorious the emperor looked in his resplendent new clothes, one little boy was heard to say, "But he's naked!"#responsiveness n.#state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc. The audience cheered and applauded, delighting the performers by its responsiveness.#restitution n.#reparation; indemnification. He offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son.#restive adj.#restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control. Waiting impatiently in line to see Santa Claus, even the best-behaved children grow restive and start to fidget.#restraint n.# moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction. Control yourself, young lady! Show some restraint!#resumption n.#taking up again; recommencement. During summer break, Don had not realized how much he missed university life; at the resumption of classes, however, he felt marked excitement and pleasure. resume, v.#resurge v.#rise again; flow to and fro. It was startling to see the spirit of nationalism resurge as the Soviet Union disintegrated into a loose federation of ethnic and national groups. resurgence, n.#retain v.#keep; employ. Fighting to retain his seat in Congress, Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to head his reelection campaign.#retaliation n.#repayment in kind (usually for bad treatment). Because everyone knew the Princeton Band had stolen Brown's mascot, the whole Princeton student body expected some sort of retaliation from Brown. retaliate, v.#retentive adj.#able to retain or keep; able to remember. Priding herself on her retentive memory, she claimed she never forgot a face.#reticence n.# reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to silence. Fearing his competitors might get advance word about his plans from talkative staff members, Hughes preferred reticence from his employees to loquacity. reticent, adj. #retinue n.#following; attendants. The queen's retinue followed her down the aisle.#retiring adj.#modest; shy. Given Susan's retiring personality, no one expected her to take up public speaking; surprisingly enough, she became a star of the school debate team.#retort n.#quick sharp reply. Even when it was advisable for her to keep her mouth shut, she was always ready with a quick retort. also v.#retract v.# withdraw; take back. When I saw how Fred and his fraternity brothers had trashed the frat house, I decided to retract my offer to let them use our summer cottage for the weekend. retraction, n.#retrench v.#cut down; economize. In order to be able to afford to send their children to college, they would have to retrench. retrenchment, n.#retribution n.#vengeance; compensation; punishment for offenses. The evangelist maintained that an angry deity would exact retribution from the sinners.#retrieve v.#recover; find and bring in. The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter.#retroactive adj.#taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax). Because the new pension law was retroactive to the first of the year, even though Martha had retired in February she was eligible for the pension.#retrograde v.#go backwards; degenerate. instead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture. also adj. #retrospective adj.#looking back on the past. The Museum of Graphic Arts is holding a retrospective showing of the paintings of Michael Whelan over the past two decades.#revelry n.#boisterous merrymaking. New Year's Eve is a night of revelry#reverent adj.# respectful; worshipful. Though I bow my head in church and recite the prayers, sometimes I don't feel properly reverent. revere, v.#reverie n.#daydream; musing. He was awakened from his reverie by the teacher's question.#revert v.#relapse; backslide; turn back to. Most of the time Andy seemed sensitive and mature, but occasionally he would revert to his smart-alecky, macho, adolescent self.#revile v.#attack with abusive language; vilify. Though most of his contemporaries reviled Captain Kidd as a notorious, bloody-handed pirate, some of his fellow merchant-captains believed him innocent of his alleged crimes.#revoke v.#cancel; retract. Repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver's licenses permanently revoked.#revulsion n.#sudden violent change of feeling; reaction. Many people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were trying to do.#rhapsodize v.#to speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner. She greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation and rhapsodized about it for weeks.#rhetoric n.#art of effective communication; insincere language. All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric.#rhetorical adj.# pertaining to effective communication; insincere in language. To win his audience, the speaker used every rhetorical trick in the book.#ribald adj.#wanton; profane. He sang a ribald song that offended many of the more prudish listeners.#riddle v.#pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout. With his machine gun, Tracy riddled the car with bullets till it looked like a slice of Swiss cheese. During the proofreaders' strike, the newspaper was riddled with typos.#rider n.#amendment or clause added to a legislative bill. Senator Foghorn said he would support Senator Filibuster's tax reform bill only if Filibuster agreed to add an antipollution rider to the bill.#rife adj.#abundant; current. Discontent was rife among the early settlers, who had not foreseen the harshness of life in the New World.#rift n.#opening; break. The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds.#rig v.#fix or manipulate. The ward boss was able to rig the election by bribing people to stuff the ballot boxes with ballots marked in his candidate's favor.#rigid adj.#stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbending. By living with a man to whom she was not married, George Eliot broke Victorian society's most rigid rule of respectable behavior.#rigor n.# severity. Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters.#rigorous adj.#severe; harsh; demanding; exact. Disliked by his superiors, the officer candidate in An Officer and a Gentleman endured an extremely rigorous training program.#rile v.#vex; irritate; muddy. Red had a hair-trigger temper: he was an easy man to rile.#riveting adj.#absorbing; engrossing. The reviewer described Byatt's novel Possession as a riveting tale, one so absorbing that he had finished it in a single night.#rivulet n.#small stream. As the rains continued, the small trickle of water running down the hillside grew into a rivulet that threatened to wash away a portion of the slope.#robust adj.# vigorous; strong. After pumping iron and taking karate for six months, the little old lady was so robust that she could break a plank with her fist.#roil v.#to make liquids murky by stirring up sediment. Be careful when you pour not to roil the wine; if you stir up the sediment you'll destroy the flavor.#roster n.#list. They print the roster of players in the season's program.#rostrum n.#platform for speech-making; pulpit. The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum.#rote n.#repetition. He recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying.#rotundity n.#roundness; sonorousness of speech. Short, squat, and round as a bowling ball, he was the very model of rotundity.#rousing adj.#lively; stirring. "And now, let's have a rousing welcome for TV's own Roseanne Barr, who'll lead us in a rousing rendition of ÔThe Star-Spangled Banner.'"#rout v.#stampede; drive out. The reinforcements were able to rout the enemy. also n.#rubble n.#broken fragments. Ten years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen.#ruddy adj.#reddish; healthy-looking. Santa Claus's ruddy cheeks nicely complement Rudolph the Reindeer's bright red nose.#rudimentary adj.#not developed; elementary; crude. Although my grandmother's English vocabulary was limited to a few rudimentary phrases, she always could make herself understood.#rue v.#regret; lament; mourn. Tina rued the night she met Tony and wondered how she ever fell for such a jerk. rueful, adj. #ruffian n.#bully; scoundrel. The ruffians threw stones at the police.#ruminate v.#chew over and over (mentally, or, like cows, physically); mull over; ponder. Unable to digest quickly the baffling events of the day, Reuben ruminated about them till four in the morning.#rummage v.#ransack; thoroughly search. When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days. also n.#ruse n.#trick; stratagem. You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse.#rustic adj.#pertaining to country people; uncouth. The backwoodsman looked out of place in his rustic attire.#ruthless adj.#pitiless; cruel. Captain Hook was a dangerous, ruthless villain who would stop at nothing to destroy Peter Pan.#