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Rear vs Drear - What's the difference?

rear | drear |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between rear and drear

is that rear is (obsolete) to rouse; to strip up while drear is (obsolete) gloom; sadness.

As adjectives the difference between rear and drear

is that rear is (of eggs) underdone; nearly raw or rear can be being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company while drear is (poetic) dreary.

As nouns the difference between rear and drear

is that rear is the back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; - opposed to front while drear is (obsolete) gloom; sadness.

As a verb rear

is to raise physically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate or rear can be to move; stir or rear can be to place in the rear; to secure the rear of.

As an adverb rear

is (british|dialect) early; soon.

rear

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) reren, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Alternative forms

* (l), (l), (l)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To raise physically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate.
  • * (rfdate)
    • In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me.
  • * (rfdate)
    • Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner.
  • To construct by building; to set up
    • to rear defenses or houses
    to rear one government on the ruins of another.
  • * (rfdate)
    • One reared a font of stone.
  • To raise spiritually; to lift up; to elevate morally.
  • * (rfdate)
    • It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts.
  • (obsolete) To lift and take up.
  • * (rfdate)
    • And having her from Trompart lightly reared , Upon his set the lovely load.
  • To bring up to maturity, as offspring; to educate; to instruct; to foster.
  • * (rfdate)
    • He wants a father to protect his youth, and rear him up to virtue.
  • To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle (cattle-rearing).
  • (obsolete) To rouse; to strip up.
  • * (rfdate),
    • And seeks the tusky boar to rear.
  • To rise up on the hind legs, as a bolting horse.
    • Usage notes
    See note under raise.
    Synonyms
    * (rise up on the hind legs) prance * build * elevate * erect * establish * lift * raise
    Derived terms
    * raring

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) reren, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To move; stir.
  • (of geese) To carve.
    • Rere that goose!
    Related terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) rere, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l) * (l) (US)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • (of eggs) Underdone; nearly raw.
  • (of meats) Rare.
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 4

    (etyl) rere, ultimately from (etyl) retro. Compare arrear.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company.
    • Antonyms
    * front

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (British, dialect) early; soon
  • * (rfdate) .
    • Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear !

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; - opposed to front.
  • * (rfdate)
    • Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost.
  • (military) Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest.
  • * (rfdate) Milton
    • When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear.
  • (anatomy) The buttocks, a creature's bottom
    • Synonyms
    * (buttocks) rear end

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To place in the rear; to secure the rear of.
  • (transitive, vulgar, British) To sodomize (perform anal sex)
    • Derived terms
    * rear admiral * rear echelon * rear end * rear front - (military), the rear rank of a body of troops when faced about and standing in that position. * rear guard * rearhorse * rear line - (military), the line in the rear of an army. * rearmost * rearmouse * rear rank - (military), the rank or line of a body of troops which is in the rear, or last in order. * rear sight - (firearms ), the sight nearest the breech. * rearward * bring up the rear - to come last or behind. * rearing bit - a bit designed to prevent a horse from lifting his head when rearing.

    Anagrams

    * ----

    drear

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (poetic) Dreary.
  • * 1794, , lines 1-2
    • Earth raised up her head
    From the darkness dread and drear ,
  • * 1874 ,
    • I spoke, perplexed by something in the signs
    Of desolation I had seen and heard
    In this drear pilgrimage to ruined shrines:
  • * 1922 , , XXVIII, lines 1-2
    • Now dreary dawns the eastern light,
    And fall of eve is drear ,

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Gloom; sadness.
  • *1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , VI.2:
  • *:She thankt him deare / Both for that newes he did to her impart, / And for the courteous care which he did beare / Both to her love and to her selfe in that sad dreare .

    • Anagrams

    * *