RANK, the old pret. of ring. [Nearly obsolete.]

1. Luxuriant in growth; being of vigorous growth; as, rank grass; rank weeds. Seven ears came up upon one stalk, rank and good. – Gen. xli.
2. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, land is rank. – Mortimer.
3. Strong scented; as, rank smelling rue. – Spenser.
4. Rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell.
5. Inflamed with venereal appetite. – Shak.
6. Strong to the taste; high tasted. Divers sea fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed. Boyle.
7. Rampant; high grown; raised to a high degree; excessive; as, rank pride; rank idolatry. I do forgive / Thy rankest faults. – Shak.
8. Gross; coarse. – Shak.
9. Strong; clinching. Take rank hold. Hence,
10. Excessive; exceeding the actual value; as, a rank modus in law. – Blackstone. To set rank, as the iron of a plane, to set it so as to take off a thick shaving. Moxon.

1. A row or line, applied to troops; a line of men standing abreast or side by side, and as opposed to file, a line running the length of a company, battalion or regiment. Keep your ranks; dress your ranks. Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds / In ranks and squadrons and right form of war. – Shak.
2. Ranks, in the plural, the order of common soldiers; as, to reduce an officer to the ranks.
3. A row; a line of things, or things in a line; as, a rank of osiers. – Shak.
4. Degree; grade; in military affairs; as, the rank of captain, colonel or general; the rank of vice-admiral.
5. Degree of elevation in civil life or station; the order of elevation or of subordination. We say, all ranks and orders of men; every man's dress and behavior should correspond with his rank; the highest and the lowest ranks of men or of other intelligent beings.
6. Class; order; division; any portion or number of things to which place, degree or order is assigned. Profligate men, by their vices, sometimes degrade themselves to the rank of brutes.
7. Degree of dignity, eminence or excellence; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank. These are all virtues of a theater rank. – Addison.
8. Dignity; high place or degree in the orders of men; as a man of rank. Rank and file, the order of common soldiers. Ten officers and three hundred rank and file fell in the action. To fill the ranks, to supply the whole number, or a competent number. To take rank, to enjoy precedence, or to have the right of taking a higher place. In Great Britain, the king's soul take rank of all the other nobles.

1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed; as in a particular degree, class, order or division. Let that one article rank with the vest. – Shak.
2. To be placed in a rank or ranks. Go, rank in tribes, and quit the savage wood. – Tate.
3. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life. He ranks with a major. He ranks with the first class of poets. He ranks high in public estimation.

1. To place abreast or in a line. – Milton.
2. To place in a particular class, order or division. Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers. – Broome. Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. – Decay of Piety.
3. To dispose methodically; to place in suitable order. Who now shall rear you to the sun, or rank your tribes? – Milton. Ranking all things under general and special heads. Watts.

1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.
   
   

   And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Gen. xli. 5.

2. Rankly; stoutly; violently.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell. Fairfax.

3. A row or line] a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers.
   
   

   Many a mountain nigh
   Rising in lofty ranks, and loftier still. Byron.

4. To place abreast, or in a line.
5. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division.
   
   

   Let that one article rank with the rest. Shak.

6. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy.
   
   
   "Rank nonsense." Hare. "I do forgive thy rankest fault." Shak.
7. A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a).
   
   

   Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
   In ranks and squadrons and right form of war. Shak.

8. To range in a particular class, order, or division] to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify.
   
   

   Ranking all things under general and special heads. I. Watts.

   Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers. Broome.

   Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft. Dr. H. More.

9. 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.
10. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land.
    
    
    Mortimer.
11. Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral.
12. To take rank of; to outrank.
    
    
    [U.S.]
13. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue.
    
    
    Spenser.
14. An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings.
15. Strong to the taste.
    
    
    "Divers sea fowls taste rank of the fish on which they feed." Boyle.
16. Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank.
    
    

    These all are virtues of a meaner rank. Addison.

17. Inflamed with venereal appetite.
    
    
    [Obs.] Shak.

    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.

18. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank.
    
    

    Rank and file. (a) (Mil.) The whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff. (b) See under 1st File. -- The ranks, the order or grade of common soldiers; as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks. -- To fill the ranks, to supply the whole number, or a competent number. -- To take rank of, to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.