from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rest \Rest\, n. [AS. rest, r[ae]st, rest; akin to D. rust, G.
rast. OHG. rasta, Dan. & Sw. rast rest, repose, Icel. r["o]st
the distance between two resting places, a mole, Goth. rasta
a mile, also to Goth. razn house, Icel. rann, and perhaps to
G. ruhe rest, repose, AS. r[=o]w, Gr. 'erwh`. Cf. {Ransack}.]
1. A state of quiet or repose; a cessation from motion or
labor; tranquillity; as, rest from mental exertion; rest
of body or mind. --Chaucer.
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Sleep give thee all his rest! --Shak.
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2. Hence, freedom from everything which wearies or disturbs;
peace; security.
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And the land had rest fourscore years. --Judges iii.
30.
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3. Sleep; slumber; hence, poetically, death.
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How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest. --Collins.
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4. That on which anything rests or leans for support; as, a
rest in a lathe, for supporting the cutting tool or
steadying the work.
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He made narrowed rests round about, that the beams
should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
--1 Kings vi.
6.
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5. (Anc. Armor) A projection from the right side of the
cuirass, serving to support the lance.
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Their visors closed, their lances in the rest.
--Dryden.
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6. A place where one may rest, either temporarily, as in an
inn, or permanently, as, in an abode. "Halfway houses and
travelers' rests." --J. H. Newman.
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In dust our final rest, and native home. --Milton.
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Ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the
inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you.
--Deut. xii.
9.
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7. (Pros.) A short pause in reading verse; a caesura.
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8. The striking of a balance at regular intervals in a
running account. "An account is said to be taken with
annual or semiannual rests." --Abbott.
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9. A set or game at tennis. [Obs.]
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10. (Mus.) Silence in music or in one of its parts; the name
of the character that stands for such silence. They are
named as notes are, whole, half, quarter,etc.
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{Rest house}, an empty house for the accomodation of
travelers; a caravansary. [India]
{To set one's rest} or {To set up one's rest}, to have a
settled determination; -- from an old game of cards, when
one so expressed his intention to stand or rest upon his
hand. [Obs.] --Shak. --Bacon.
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Syn: Cessation; pause; intermission; stop; stay; repose;
slumber; quiet; ease; quietness; stillness;
tranquillity; peacefulness; peace.
Usage: {Rest}, {Repose}. Rest is a ceasing from labor or
exertion; repose is a mode of resting which gives
relief and refreshment after toil and labor. The words
are commonly interchangeable.
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