from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rude \Rude\, a. [Compar. {Ruder}; superl. {Rudest}.] [F., fr. L.
rudis.]
1. Characterized by roughness; umpolished; raw; lacking
delicacy or refinement; coarse.
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Such gardening tools as art, yet rude, . . . had
formed. --Milton.
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2. Hence, specifically:
(a) Unformed by taste or skill; not nicely finished; not
smoothed or polished; -- said especially of material
things; as, rude workmanship. "Rude was the cloth."
--Chaucer.
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Rude and unpolished stones. --Bp.
Stillingfleet.
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The heaven-born child
All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies.
--Milton.
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(b) Of untaught manners; unpolished; of low rank; uncivil;
clownish; ignorant; raw; unskillful; -- said of
persons, or of conduct, skill, and the like. "Mine
ancestors were rude." --Chaucer.
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He was but rude in the profession of arms. --Sir
H. Wotton.
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the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
--Gray.
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(c) Violent; tumultuous; boisterous; inclement; harsh;
severe; -- said of the weather, of storms, and the
like; as, the rude winter.
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[Clouds] pushed with winds, rude in their shock.
--Milton.
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The rude agitation [of water] breaks it into
foam. --Boyle.
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(d) Barbarous; fierce; bloody; impetuous; -- said of war,
conflict, and the like; as, the rude shock of armies.
(e) Not finished or complete; inelegant; lacking
chasteness or elegance; not in good taste;
unsatisfactory in mode of treatment; -- said of
literature, language, style, and the like. "The rude
Irish books." --Spenser.
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Rude am I in my speech. --Shak.
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Unblemished by my rude translation. --Dryden.
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Syn: Impertinent; rough; uneven; shapeless; unfashioned;
rugged; artless; unpolished; uncouth; inelegant; rustic;
coarse; vulgar; clownish; raw; unskillful; untaught;
illiterate; ignorant; uncivil; impolite; saucy;
impudent; insolent; surly; currish; churlish; brutal;
uncivilized; barbarous; savage; violent; fierce;
tumultuous; turbulent; impetuous; boisterous; harsh;
inclement; severe. See {Impertiment}.
[1913 Webster] -- {Rude"ly}, adv. -- {Rude"ness}, n.
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