The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Rear \Rear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reared (r[=e]rd); p. pr. &
   vb. n. Rearing.] [AS. r[=ae]ran to raise, rear, elevate,
   for r[=ae]san, causative of r[imac]san to rise. See Rise,
   and cf. Raise.]
   1. To raise; to lift up; to cause to rise, become erect,
      etc.; to elevate; as, to rear a monolith.
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            In adoration at his feet I fell
            Submiss; he reared me.                --Milton.
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            It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts. --Barrow.
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            Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner.
                                                  --Ld. Lytton.
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   2. To erect by building; to set up; to construct; as, to rear
      defenses or houses; to rear one government on the ruins of
      another.
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            One reared a font of stone.           --Tennyson.
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   3. To lift and take up. [Obs. or R.]
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            And having her from Trompart lightly reared,
            Upon his courser set the lovely load. --Spenser.
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   4. To bring up to maturity, as young; to educate; to
      instruct; to foster; as, to rear offspring.
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            He wants a father to protect his youth,
            And rear him up to virtue.            --Southern.
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   5. To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle.
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   6. To rouse; to stir up. [Obs.]
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            And seeks the tusky boar to rear.     --Dryden.
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   Syn: To lift; elevate; erect; raise; build; establish. See
        the Note under Raise, 3
      (c) .
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

rearing
    adj 1: rearing on left hind leg with forelegs elevated and head
           usually in profile; "a lion rampant" [syn: rampant(ip),
           rearing]
    n 1: the properties acquired as a consequence of the way you
         were treated as a child [syn: raising, rearing,
         nurture]
    2: helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the
       community; "they debated whether nature or nurture was more
       important" [syn: breeding, bringing up, fostering,
       fosterage, nurture, raising, rearing, upbringing]