reredos 
It was usually ornamented with panelling, &c., es- 
pecially behind an altar, and sometimes was enriched 
with a profusion of niches, buttresses, pinnacles, statues, 
and other decorations, which were often painted with 
brilliant colours : reredoies of this kind not unfrequently 
extended across the whole breadth of the church, and 
were sometimes carried up nearly to the ceiling. 
Oxford Glossary. 
3. In medieval armor, same as backpieee. 
reree (re-re'), [E. Ind.] The narrow-leafed 
cattail, Typha angusKfolia, whose leaves are 
used in northwest India for making mats and 
for other purposes. 
rerefief (rer'fef), . [< OF. rierefief, rerefief, 
abbr. of arriere fief, F. arriere-fef, < arriere, P. 
arriere, back (see rear 3 ), +ficf, fief: see fief.] 
In Scots law, a fief held of a superior feuda- 
tory; an under-fief, held by an under-tenant, 
reremouse, rearmouse (rer'mous), n. ; pi. rere- 
mice, rearmice (-mis). [Also reermouse ; (. ME. 
reremous (pi. rerermys), < AS. hreremuft, a bat, < 
hreran, move, shake, stir (see rear*, v.), + mus, 
mouse: see mouse. Of. flittermouse, flinder- 
mouse.] A bat. [Obsolete except in heraldic 
use.] 
[Not] to rewle as reremys and rest on the dales, 
And spende of the spicerie more than it nedid. 
Richard the Redden, ill. 272. 
Some war with rere-mice for their leathern wings, 
To make my small elves coats. 
Shak., M. N. D., ii. 2. 4. 
re-representative (re-rep-re-zen'ta-tiv), a. [< 
re- T representative.] See the quotation. 
He-representative cognitions ; or those in which the oc- 
cupation of consciousness is not by representations of 
special relations that have before been presented to con- 
sciousness; but those in which such represented special 
relations are thought of merely as comprehended in a 
general relation. H. Spencer, Prin. of Psychol., 480. 
rere-suppert (rer'sup'er), . [Also rearsupper; 
dial, resupper, as if < re- + supper; < ME. rere- 
souper, rere-soper, rere-sopere,<OF.*rere-souper, 
< rere, riere, behind, + souper, supper : see rear 3 
and supper.] A late supper, after the ordinary 
meal so called. 
Vse no surfetis neithir day ne nyght, 
Neither ony rere soupers, which is but excesse. 
Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 6. 
And also she wold haue rere sopers whanne her fader 
and moder was a bedde. 
Boo* of the Knight of La Tour Landry, p. 8. 
The rere-gupper, or banket where men syt downe to 
drynke and eate agayne after their meate. 
Palsgrave, Acolastus<a540). (HaUiwell.) 
If we ride not the faster the worthy Abbot Waltheoffs 
preparations for a rere-supper will be altogether spoiled. 
Scott, Ivanhoe, xviii. 
rerewardt, See rearward 1 . 
res (rez), n. [< L. res, a thing, property, sub- 
stance, affair, case; of doubtful origin; per- 
haps related to Skt. \/ rd, give, rai, property, 
wealth. Hence rebus, reafl, realism, etc. ; also 
the first element in republic, etc.] A thing; a 
matter; a point; a cause or action. Used in sun- 
dry legal phrases : as, res gestee, things done, material 
facts ; as in the rule that the conversation accompanying 
an act or forming part of a transaction may usually be 
given in evidence as part of the res gestec, when the act or 
transaction has been given in evidence, although such 
conversation would otherwise be incompetent because 
hearsay ; resjudicata, a matter already decided. 
resail (re-sal' ), v. i. [< re- + sain .] To sail back. 
Before he anchors in his native port, 
From Pyle retailing, and the Spartan court. 
Fenton, in Pope's Odyssey, iv. 931. 
resale (re-sal'), n. [< re- + sale 1 .] A second 
sale ; a sale of what was before sold to the pos- 
sessor ; a sale at second hand. 
Monopolies, and coemption of wares for resale, where 
they are not restrained, are great meanes to enrich. 
Bacon, Riches. 
resalgart, [< ME. resalgar, rysalgar, rosal- 
gar: see realgar.] Same as realgar. 
Resalgar, and our materes enbibing. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Canon's Yeoman's Tale, 1. 261. 
Our chirurgions and also ferrers do find both arsenicke 
and retalgar to be ... sharpe, hotte, and burning things. 
Topsell, Beasts (1607), p. 429. (HalliweU.) 
resalute (re-sa-luf), v. t. [< re- + salute.] 1. 
To salute or greet anew. 
To resolute the world with sacred light. 
Milton, P. L., xl. 134. 
2. To salute in return. 
They of the Court made obeisance to him, . . . and he 
in like order resaluted them. Halduyt's Voyages, II. 171. 
res angUSta domi (rez an-gus'ta do'mi). [L. : 
res, a thing, circumstance ; annusta, fern, of an- 
gustus, narrow ; domi, locative of domus, house : 
see res, angust, and dome 1 .] Straitened or nar- 
row circumstances. 
resarcele (re-sar-se-la'), a. Same as resar- 
celed. 
5098 
resarceled, resarcelled (re-sar'seld), a. In 
licr., separated by the field showing within. See 
sarceled Cross sarceled, resarceled. See croai. 
resauntt, Same as resxtnit. 
resawing-machine (re-sa'ing-ma-shen*'), n. [< 
re + suicinfl, verbal n. of sair 1 , v., + machine.] 
Any machine for cutting up squared timber 
into small stuff or boards. E. H. Knight. 
resayvet, f . An obsolete variant of receive. 
rescaillet, " An obsolete variant of rascal. 
rescatet, t. [Also reescate, riscate (I) ; < It. ris- 
cattare, redeem, ransom, rescue, = Sp. rescatar 
= Pg. rcsgatar, ransom (cf. OF. rachater, rache- 
ter, F. raclieter, ransom, redeem, repurchase), 
< L. re-, back, + ex, out, + capture, take: see 
capacious.] To ransom. 
The great Honour you have acquired by your gallant 
Comportment in Algier, in reescating so many English 
Slave*. Howell, Letters, I. v. 30. 
rescatet, " [< It. riscatto = Sp. rescatc = Pg. 
restate, ransom, rescue; from the verb: seeres- 
cate, >.] Ransom; relief; rescue. 
Euery day wee were taken prisoners, by reason of the 
great dissension in that kingdome ; and euery morning at 
our departure we must pay reseat foure or flue pagies a 
man. Hakluyl's Voyages, II. 222. 
reschowet, . and . A Middle English form 
of rescue. 
rescind (re-sind'), v. t. [< OF. (and F.) re- 
scinder = Sp. Pg. rescindir = It. rescindere. cut 
off, cancel, < L. rescindere, cut off, annul, < re-, 
back, + scindere, pp. scissus, cut: see scission.] 
1. To cut off; cut short; remove. 
Contrarily, the great gifts of the king are judged void, 
his unnecessary expenses are rescinded, his superfluous 
cut off. Prynne, Treachery and Disloyalty, p. 168, App. 
2. To abrogate ; revoke ; annul ; vacate, as an 
act, by the enacting authority or by superior 
authority : as, to rescind a law, a resolution, or 
a vote ; to rescind an edict or decree ; to re- 
scind a judgment. 
Even in the worst times this power of parliament to re- 
peal and rescind charters has not often been exercised. 
Webster, Speech, March 10, 1818. 
Thesentence of exileagaiust Wheelwrightwasresct'wfed. 
Bancroft, Hist U. S., 1. 349. 
3. To avoid (avoidable contract). Bishop. =Syn. 
2. Repeal, Revoke, etc. (see abolish), reverse, take back. 
rescindable (re-sin'da-bl), n. [= F. rescinda- 
ble; as rescind + -able.] Capable of being re- 
scinded. Imp. Diet. 
rescindment (re-sind'ment),. [= F. rescinde- 
ment; as rescind + -meni.] The act of rescind- 
ing; rescission. Imp. Diet. 
rescission (re-sizh'on), n. [= F. rescision (for 
*rescission) = Sp. rescision = Pg. rescisSo = It. 
rescissione, < LL. rescissio(n-), a making void, 
annulling, rescinding, < L. rescindere, pp. rescis- 
sus, cutoff: see rescind.] 1. The act of rescind- 
ing or cutting off. 
If any man infer upon the words of the prophets follow- 
ing (which declare this rejection and, to use the words of 
the text, rescision of their estate to have been for their 
idolatry) that by this reason the governments of all idola- 
trous nations should be also dissolved . . . ; in my judg- 
ment it followeth not. Bacon, Holy War. 
2. The act of abrogating, annulling, or vacat- 
ing : as, the rescission of a law, decree, or judg- 
ment. 
No ceremonial and pompous rescission of our fathers' 
crimes can be sufficient to interrupt the succession of the 
curse. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1838), I. 778. 
He [the daimio of Cboshiu] would communicate with the 
mikado, and endeavour to obtain the rescission of the 
present orders. F. 0. Adams, Hist. Japan, I. 445. 
3. The avoiding of a voidable contract. 
He [the seller] was bound to suffer rescission or to give 
compensation at the option of the buyer if the thing sold 
had undisclosed faults which hindered the free possession 
of it. Encyc. Brit., XXI. 206. 
rescissory (re-sis'o-ri), a. [= F. resdsoire = Sp. 
Pg. rescisorio = It.' rescissorio, < LL. rescissorius, 
of or pertaining to rescinding, < L. rescindere, pp. 
rescissus, rescind: see rescind.] Having power 
to rescind, cut off, or abrogate; having the ef- 
fect of rescinding. 
To pass a general act rescissory (as it was called), annul- 
ling all the parliiimenU that had been held since the year 
1638. Bp. Burnet, Hist. Own Times, an. 1661. 
The general Act rescissory of 1661, which swept away the 
legislative enactments of the Covenanting Parliament. 
Second General Council of the Presbyterian Alliance, 1880, 
[p. 970. 
Rescissory actions, in Scots law, those actions whereby 
deeds, etc., are declared void. 
rescore (re-skor'), . t. [< re- + score.] In 
music, to score again ; arrange again or dif- 
ferently for voices or instruments. 
rescoust, . [< ME. rescous, rescouse, < OF. 
rescous, rescos, also rescousse, F. rescousse, re- 
rescue 
cousse = Pr. rescossa = It. riscossa (ML. reflex 
rescussa), a rescue, < ML. as if "reexcussa, fern, 
pp. of *reexcutere, rescue: see rescue, v.] Same 
as rescue. 
For none hate he to the Greke hadde, 
Ne also for the rescous of the town, 
Ne made him thus in armes for to madde. 
Chaucer, Troilns, i. 478. 
rescribe (re-skrib'), v. t. [= OF. rescrire = Hp. 
rescrilrir = Pg. rescrevcr = It. riscrivere, < L. 
rencribere, write back or again, < re-, again, 
back, + scribere, write : see syribe.] 1 . To write 
back. 
Whenever a prince on his being consulted rescribes or 
writes back toleramus, he dispenses with that act other- 
wise unlawful. Aylife, Parergon. 
2. To write again. 
Calling for more paper to rescribe them, he showed him 
the difference betwixt the ink-box and the sand-box. 
ffowell. 
rescribendary (re-skrib'en-da-ri). n.: pi. re- 
scribendaries (-riz). [< ML. rescribeiidariug, < 
L. rescribendus, gerundive of rescribere, write 
back: see rencribe.] In the Bom. Cath. Ch., an 
officer in the court of Rome who sets a value 
upon indulgences. 
rescript (re'skript), . [< OF. rescrit, rescript, 
F. rescrit = Pr. reschrich = Cat. rescrit = Sp. 
rescripto = Pg. rescripto, rescrito = It. rescritto, 
< L. rescriptum, a rescript, reply, neut. of re- 
scriptus, pp. of rescribere, write back : see re- 
scribe.] 1. The written answer of an emperor 
or a pope to questions of jurisprudence offi- 
cially propounded to him; hence, an edict or 
decree. 
Maximinus gave leave to rebuild [the churches). . . . 
Upon which rescript (saith the story) the Christians were 
overjoyed. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 156. 
The society was established as soon as possible after the 
receipt of the Papal rescript. 
E. A. Freeman, Norman Conquest, III. 74. 
2. A counterpart. Bouvier. 
rescription (re-skrip'shon), . [< OF. rescrip- 
tion, F. rescription, < LL. rescriptio(n-), a re- 
script, < L. rescribere, pp. rescriptus, answer in 
writing: see rescript and rescribe.] A writing 
back; the answering of a letter. 
You cannot oblige me more than to be punctual in re- 
scription. Lmeday, Letters (1662), p. 31. (Latham.) 
rescriptive (re-skrip'tiv), a. [< rescript + -ive.] 
Pertaining to' a rescript ; having the character 
of a rescript ; decisive. 
rescriptively (re-skrip'tiv-li), adr. By re- 
script. Burke. [Rare.] 
rescuable (res'ku-a-bl), a. [< OF. rescouable, < 
rescorre, rescourre, rescue : see rescue and -able.] 
Capable of being rescued. 
Everything under force is rescuable by my function. 
Oayton, Notes on Don Quixote, p. 116. 
rescue (res'ku), v. ; pret. and pp. rescued, ppr. 
rescuing. [Early mod. E. also reskue, rcskew; < 
ME. reskewen, rescouen, rescowen, < OF. rescorre, 
rescourre, reskeure, resquerre (ML. reflex res- 
cuere) = It. riscuotere (ML. reflex rescutere), 
rescue, < L. re-, again, + excutere (pp. excus- 
tsus), shake off, drive away, < ex-, off, + quatere, 
shake: see quash 1 . Cf. rescous.] I. trans. 1. 
To free or deliver from any confinement, vio- 
lence, danger, or evil; liberate from actual re- 
straint; remove or withdraw from a state of 
exposure to evil: as, to rescue seamen from 
destruction by shipwreck. 
Ercules rescoiced hire, parde, 
And brought hire out of belle agayne to blys. 
Chaucer, Good Women, 1. 515. 
That was cleped the rescouse, for that Vortiger was 
rescowed whan Aungis the saisne was slain and chaced 
oute of the place. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 586. 
Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves ; 
Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man. 
5Ao*., T. of the S., iii. 2. 238. 
2. In law, to liberate or take by forcible or il- 
legal means from lawful custody : as, to rescue 
a prisoner from a constable. =Syn. 1 and 2. To re- 
take, recapture. 
Il.t in trans. To go to the rescue. 
For when a chaumbere afire is or an halle, 
Wei more nede is it sodenly rescowe 
Than to dispute, and axe amonges alle, 
How is this candele in the strow yfalle. 
Chaucer, Troilus, Hi. 857. 
rescue (res'ku), . [Early mod. E. also reskue, 
reskew; from the verb. The earlier noun was 
rescous, q. v.] 1. The act of rescuing; deliv- 
erance from restraint, violence, danger, or any 
evil. 
Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot. 
Skat., 1 Hen. VI., iv. 3. 19. 
