from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Read \Read\ (r[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Read} (r[e^]d); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Reading}.] [OE. reden, r[ae]den, AS. r[=ae]dan
to read, advise, counsel, fr. r[=ae]d advice, counsel,
r[=ae]dan (imperf. reord) to advise, counsel, guess; akin to
D. raden to advise, G. raten, rathen, Icel. r[=a][eth]a,
Goth. r[=e]dan (in comp.), and perh. also to Skr. r[=a]dh to
succeed. [root]116. Cf. {Riddle}.]
1. To advise; to counsel. [Obs.] See {Rede}.
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Therefore, I read thee, get thee to God's word, and
thereby try all doctrine. --Tyndale.
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2. To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle.
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3. To tell; to declare; to recite. [Obs.]
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But read how art thou named, and of what kin.
--Spenser.
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4. To go over, as characters or words, and utter aloud, or
recite to one's self inaudibly; to take in the sense of,
as of language, by interpreting the characters with which
it is expressed; to peruse; as, to read a discourse; to
read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read
the notes of music, or to read music; to read a book.
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Redeth [read ye] the great poet of Itaille.
--Chaucer.
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Well could he rede a lesson or a story. --Chaucer.
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5. Hence, to know fully; to comprehend.
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Who is't can read a woman? --Shak.
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6. To discover or understand by characters, marks, features,
etc.; to learn by observation.
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An armed corse did lie,
In whose dead face he read great magnanimity.
--Spenser.
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Those about her
From her shall read the perfect ways of honor.
--Shak.
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7. To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as,
to read theology or law.
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{To read one's self in}, to read aloud the Thirty-nine
Articles and the Declaration of Assent, -- required of a
clergyman of the Church of England when he first
officiates in a new benefice.
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