Rashest

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Rash \Rash\, a. [Compar. {Rasher} (-[~e]r); superl. {Rashest}.]
     [Probably of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. rask quick, brisk,
     rash, Icel. r["o]skr vigorous, brave, akin to D. & G. rasch
     quick, of uncertain origin.]
     1. Sudden in action; quick; hasty. [Obs.] "Strong as aconitum
        or rash gunpowder." --Shak.


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     2. Requiring sudden action; pressing; urgent. [Obs.]
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              I scarce have leisure to salute you,
              My matter is so rash.                 --Shak.
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     3. Esp., overhasty in counsel or action; precipitate;
        resolving or entering on a project or measure without due
        deliberation and caution; opposed to prudent; said of
        persons; as, a rash statesman or commander.
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     4. Uttered or undertaken with too much haste or too little
        reflection; as, rash words; rash measures.
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     5. So dry as to fall out of the ear with handling, as corn.
        [Prov. Eng.] --Grose.
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     Syn: Precipitate; headlong; headstrong; foolhardy; hasty;
          indiscreet; heedless; thoughtless; incautious; careless;
          inconsiderate; unwary.
  
     Usage: {Rash}, {Adventurous}, {Foolhardy}. A man is
            adventurous who incurs risk or hazard from a love of
            the arduous and the bold. A man is rash who does it
            from the mere impulse of his feelings, without
            counting the cost. A man is foolhardy who throws
            himself into danger in disregard or defiance of the
            consequences.
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                  Was never known a more adventurous knight.
                                                    --Dryden.
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                  Her rash hand in evil hour
                  Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she
                  eat.                              --Milton.
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                  If any yet be so foolhardy
                  To expose themselves to vain jeopardy;
                  If they come wounded off, and lame,
                  No honor's got by such a maim.    --Hudibras.
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