v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Read p. pr. & vb. n. Reading. ] [ OE. reden, ræden, AS. r&aemacr_;dan to read, advise, counsel, fr. r&aemacr_;d advice, counsel, r&aemacr_;dan (imperf. reord) to advise, counsel, guess; akin to D. raden to advise, G. raten, rathen, Icel. rāða, Goth. rēdan (in comp.), and perh. also to Skr. rādh to succeed. √116. Cf. Riddle. ] 1. To advise; to counsel. [ Obs. ] See Rede. [ 1913 Webster ] Therefore, I read thee, get thee to God's word, and thereby try all doctrine. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To tell; to declare; to recite. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] But read how art thou named, and of what kin. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Redeth [ read ye ] the great poet of Itaille. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] Well could he rede a lesson or a story. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Hence, to know fully; to comprehend. [ 1913 Webster ] Who is't can read a woman? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. To discover or understand by characters, marks, features, etc.; to learn by observation. [ 1913 Webster ] An armed corse did lie, In whose dead face he read great magnanimity. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] Those about her From her shall read the perfect ways of honor. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as, to read theology or law. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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