The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Raise \Raise\ (r[=a]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raised (r[=a]zd);
p. pr. & vb. n. Raising.] [OE. reisen, Icel. reisa,
causative of r[imac]sa to rise. See Rise, and cf. Rear to
raise.]
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1. To cause to rise; to bring from a lower to a higher place;
to lift upward; to elevate; to heave; as, to raise a stone
or weight. Hence, figuratively:
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(a) To bring to a higher condition or situation; to
elevate in rank, dignity, and the like; to increase
the value or estimation of; to promote; to exalt; to
advance; to enhance; as, to raise from a low estate;
to raise to office; to raise the price, and the like.
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This gentleman came to be raised to great
titles. --Clarendon.
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The plate pieces of eight were raised three
pence in the piece. --Sir W.
Temple.
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(b) To increase the strength, vigor, or vehemence of; to
excite; to intensify; to invigorate; to heighten; as,
to raise the pulse; to raise the voice; to raise the
spirits or the courage; to raise the heat of a
furnace.
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(c) To elevate in degree according to some scale; as, to
raise the pitch of the voice; to raise the temperature
of a room.
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2. To cause to rise up, or assume an erect position or
posture; to set up; to make upright; as, to raise a mast
or flagstaff. Hence:
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(a) To cause to spring up from a recumbent position, from
a state of quiet, or the like; to awaken; to arouse.
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They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their
sleep. --Job xiv. 12.
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(b) To rouse to action; to stir up; to incite to tumult,
struggle, or war; to excite.
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He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind.
--Ps. cvii.
25.
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Aeneas . . . employs his pains,
In parts remote, to raise the Tuscan swains.
--Dryden.
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(c) To bring up from the lower world; to call up, as a
spirit from the world of spirits; to recall from
death; to give life to.
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Why should it be thought a thing incredible with
you, that God should raise the dead ? --Acts
xxvi. 8.
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3. To cause to arise, grow up, or come into being or to
appear; to give rise to; to originate, produce, cause,
effect, or the like. Hence, specifically:
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(a) To form by the accumulation of materials or
constituent parts; to build up; to erect; as, to raise
a lofty structure, a wall, a heap of stones.
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I will raise forts against thee. --Isa. xxix.
3.
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(b) To bring together; to collect; to levy; to get
together or obtain for use or service; as, to raise
money, troops, and the like. "To raise up a rent."
--Chaucer.
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(c) To cause to grow; to procure to be produced, bred, or
propagated; to grow; as, to raise corn, barley, hops,
etc.; toraise cattle. "He raised sheep." "He raised
wheat where none grew before." --Johnson's Dict.
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Note: In some parts of the United States, notably in the
Southern States, raise is also commonly applied to the
rearing or bringing up of children.
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I was raised, as they say in Virginia, among the
mountains of the North. --Paulding.
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(d) To bring into being; to produce; to cause to arise,
come forth, or appear; -- often with up.
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I will raise them up a prophet from among their
brethren, like unto thee. --Deut. xviii.
18.
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God vouchsafes to raise another world
From him [Noah], and all his anger to forget.
--Milton.
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(e) To give rise to; to set agoing; to occasion; to start;
to originate; as, to raise a smile or a blush.
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Thou shalt not raise a false report. --Ex.
xxiii. 1.
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(f) To give vent or utterance to; to utter; to strike up.
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Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry.
--Dryden.
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(g) To bring to notice; to submit for consideration; as,
to raise a point of order; to raise an objection.
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4. To cause to rise, as by the effect of leaven; to make
light and spongy, as bread.
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Miss Liddy can dance a jig, and raise paste.
--Spectator.
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5. (Naut.)
(a) To cause (the land or any other object) to seem higher
by drawing nearer to it; as, to raise Sandy Hook
light.
(b) To let go; as in the command, Raise tacks and sheets,
i. e., Let go tacks and sheets.
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6. (Law) To create or constitute; as, to raise a use, that
is, to create it. --Burrill.
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To raise a blockade (Mil.), to remove or break up a
blockade, either by withdrawing the ships or forces
employed in enforcing it, or by driving them away or
dispersing them.
To raise a check, note, bill of exchange, etc., to
increase fraudulently its nominal value by changing the
writing, figures, or printing in which the sum payable is
specified.
To raise a siege, to relinquish an attempt to take a place
by besieging it, or to cause the attempt to be
relinquished.
To raise steam, to produce steam of a required pressure.
To raise the wind, to procure ready money by some temporary
expedient. [Colloq.]
To raise Cain, or To raise the devil, to cause a great
disturbance; to make great trouble. [Slang]
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Syn: To lift; exalt; elevate; erect; originate; cause;
produce; grow; heighten; aggravate; excite.
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