n. [ AS. rest, ræst, rest; akin to D. rust, G. rast. OHG. rasta, Dan. & Sw. rast rest, repose, Icel. röst the distance between two resting places, a mole, Goth. rasta a mile, also to Goth. razn house, Icel. rann, and perhaps to G. ruhe rest, repose, AS. rōw, Gr. 'erwh`. Cf. Ransack. ] 1. A state of quiet or repose; a cessation from motion or labor; tranquillity; as, rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] Sleep give thee all his rest! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Hence, freedom from everything which wearies or disturbs; peace; security. [ 1913 Webster ] And the land had rest fourscore years. Judges iii. 30. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Sleep; slumber; hence, poetically, death. [ 1913 Webster ] How sleep the brave who sink to rest, By all their country's wishes blest. Collins. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. That on which anything rests or leans for support; as, a rest in a lathe, for supporting the cutting tool or steadying the work. [ 1913 Webster ] He made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house. 1 Kings vi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Anc. Armor) A projection from the right side of the cuirass, serving to support the lance. [ 1913 Webster ] Their visors closed, their lances in the rest. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. A place where one may rest, either temporarily, as in an inn, or permanently, as, in an abode. “Halfway houses and travelers' rests.” J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ] In dust our final rest, and native home. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] Ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you. Deut. xii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Pros.) A short pause in reading verse; a caesura. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. The striking of a balance at regular intervals in a running account. “An account is said to be taken with annual or semiannual rests.” Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. A set or game at tennis. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 10. (Mus.) Silence in music or in one of its parts; the name of the character that stands for such silence. They are named as notes are, whole, half, quarter, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] Rest house, an empty house for the accomodation of travelers; a caravansary. [ India ] -- To set one's rest or To set up one's rest, to have a settled determination; -- from an old game of cards, when one so expressed his intention to stand or rest upon his hand. [ Obs. ] Shak. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Cessation; pause; intermission; stop; stay; repose; slumber; quiet; ease; quietness; stillness; tranquillity; peacefulness; peace. -- Rest, Repose. Rest is a ceasing from labor or exertion; repose is a mode of resting which gives relief and refreshment after toil and labor. The words are commonly interchangeable. [ 1913 Webster ] |