Rate , v. i. 1. To
be set or
considered in a class; to have rank; as,
the ship rates as a ship of the line.
2. To make an estimate.
Rate , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Rating.]
1. To set a certain
estimate on; to value at a certain price or degree.
To rate a
man by the nature of his
companions is a rule frequent indeed, but not infallible.
South. You seem not
high enough your joys to rate.
Dryden.
2. To assess for the payment of a rate or tax.
3. To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount, value, or quality of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a seaman; to rate a pension.
4. To ratify. [Obs.] "To rate the truce." Chapman.
To rate a chronometer, to ascertain the exact rate of
its gain or
loss as compared with true time, so as to make an allowance or computation dependent
thereon.
Syn. -- To value; appraise; estimate; reckon.
Rate , n. [OF., fr. L. rata (sc. pars), fr. ratus reckoned,
fixed by calculation, p. p. of reri to reckon, to
calculate. Cf. Reason.]
1. Established portion or measure; fixed allowance.
The one right
feeble through the evil rate
Of food which in
her duress she had found.
Spenser.
2. That which is established as a measure
or criterion; degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate of movement; rate of interest is the ratio of
the interest to the principal, per
annum.
Heretofore the rate and standard of wit was different from what it is nowadays.
South. In this did his
holiness and godliness appear above the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so . . . merciful.
Calamy.
Many of the horse could not march at that
rate, nor come up soon
enough.
Clarendon. 3. Valuation; price fixed with relation to a
standard; cost; charge; as, high or low
rates of transportation.
They come at
dear rates from Japan.
Locke.
4. A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income
or value; esp., in England, a local tax; as,
parish rates; town
rates.
5. Order; arrangement.
[Obs.]
Thus sat they all
around in seemly rate.
Spenser. 6. Ratification; approval. [R.] Chapman.
7.
(Horol.) The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of time; as, daily rate; hourly rate;
etc.
8. (Naut.) (a) The order or class to which a war vessel belongs, determined
according to its size, armament, etc.; as, first rate, second rate, etc.
(b) The class of a merchant vessel for marine insurance, determined
by its relative safety as a risk, as A1, A2, etc.
Rate (rāt),
v. t. & i. [Perh. fr. E. rate, v. t.,
to value at
a certain rate, to estimate, but more prob. fr. Sw. rata to find fault, to blame, to despise, to hold cheap; cf. Icel. hrat
refuse, hrati rubbish.]
To chide with vehemence; to scold; to censure violently.
Spenser.
Go, rate thy minions, proud, insulting boy!
Shak. Conscience is a check to
beginners in sin, reclaiming them from it,
and rating them for it.
Barrow.
Hear it pronounced