Rankly

rank ¹  (rngk)

n.

1.

a. A relative position in a society.

b. An official position or grade: the rank of sergeant.

c. A relative position or degree of value in a graded group.

d. High or eminent station or position: persons of rank.

2. A row, line, series, or range.

3.

a. A line of soldiers, vehicles, or equipment standing side by side in close order.

b. ranks The armed forces.

c. ranks Personnel, especially enlisted military personnel.

4. ranks A body of people classed together; numbers: joined the ranks of the unemployed.

5. Games Any of the rows of squares running crosswise to the files on a playing board in chess or checkers.

v. ranked, rank·ing, ranks

v.tr.

1. To place in a row or rows.

2. To give a particular order or position to; classify.

3. To outrank or take precedence over.

v.intr.

1. To hold a particular rank: ranked first in the class.

2. To form or stand in a row or rows.

3. Slang

a. To complain.

b. To engage in carping criticism. Often used with on: Stop ranking on me all the time.

Idiom:

pull rank

To use one's superior rank to gain an advantage.

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[Middle English, line, row, from Old French ranc, renc, of Germanic origin; see sker-² in Indo-European roots.]

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rank ²  (rngk)

adj. rank·er, rank·est

1. Growing profusely or with excessive vigor: rank vegetation in the jungle.

2. Yielding a profuse, often excessive crop; highly fertile: rank earth.

3. Strong and offensive in odor or flavor.

4. Conspicuously offensive: rank treachery. See Synonyms at flagrant.

5. Absolute; complete: a rank amateur; a rank stranger.

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[Middle English ranc, from Old English, strong, overbearing; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]

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rankly adv.

rankness n.