RATE, n. [L. ratus, reor, contracted from retor, redor, or resor. See Ratio and Reason.]

1. The proportion or standard by which quantity or value is adjusted; as, silver valued at the rate of six shillings and eight pence the ounce. The rate and standard of wit was different then from what it is in these days. – South.
2. Price or amount stated or on any thing. A king may purchase territory at too dear a rate. The rate of interest is prescribed by law.
3. Settled allowance; as, a daily rate of provisions. – 2 Kings xxv.
4. Degree; comparative highth or value. I am a spirit of no common rate. – Shak. In this did his holiness and godliness appear above the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so infinitely merciful. – Calamy.
5. Degree in which any thing is done. The ship sails at the rate of seven knots an hour. Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor come up soon enough. – Clarendon.
6. Degree of value; price. Wheat in England is often sold at the rate of fifty shillings the quarter. Wit may be purchased at too dear a rate.
7. A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income or value; as, parish rates; town rates; highway rates.
8. In the navy, the order or class of a ship, according to its magnitude or force. Ships of the first rate mount a hundred guns or upward; those of the second rate carry from 90 to 98 guns; those of the third rate carry from 64 to 80 guns; those of the fourth rate from 50 to 60 guns; those of the fifth rate from 32 to 44 guns; those of the sixth rate from 20 to 30 guns. Those of the two latter rates are called frigates. – Mar. Dict.

1. To be set or considered in a class, as a ship. The ship rates as a ship of the line.
2. To make an estimate.

1. To set a certain value on; to value at a certain price or degree of excellence. You seem not high enough your joys to rate. – Dryden. Instead of rating the man by his performances, we too frequently rate the performance by the man. – Rambler.
2. To fix the magnitude, force or order, as of ships. A ship is rated in the first class, or as a ship of the line.

To chide with vehemence; to reprove; to scold; to censure violently. Go, rate thy minions, proud insulting boy. – Shak. An old lord of the council rated me the other day in the street above you, sir. – Shak.

1. To chide with vehemence; to scold; to censure violently.
   
   
   Spenser.

   Go, rate thy minions, proud, insulting boy! Shak.

   Conscience is a check to beginners in sin, reclaiming them from it, and rating them for it. Barrow.

2. Established portion or measure; fixed allowance.
   
   

   The one right feeble through the evil rate
   Of food which in her duress she had found. Spenser.

3. To set a certain estimate on] to value at a certain price or degree.
   
   

   To rate a man by the nature of his companions is a rule frequent indeed, but not infallible. South.

   You seem not high enough your joys to rate. Dryden.

4. To be set or considered in a class; to have rank; as, the ship rates as a ship of the line.
5. That which is established as a measure or criterion; degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate of movement; rate of interest is the ratio of the interest to the principal, per annum.
   
   

   Heretofore the rate and standard of wit was different from what it is nowadays. South.

   In this did his holiness and godliness appear above the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so . . . merciful. Calamy.

   Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor come up soon enough. Clarendon.

6. To assess for the payment of a rate or tax.
7. To make an estimate.
8. Valuation; price fixed with relation to a standard; cost; charge; as, high or low rates of transportation.
   
   

   They come at dear rates from Japan. Locke.

9. To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount, value, or quality of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a seaman; to rate a pension.
10. A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income or value; esp., in England, a local tax; as, parish rates; town rates.
11. To ratify.
    
    
    [Obs.] "To rate the truce." Chapman.

    To rate a chronometer, to ascertain the exact rate of its gain or loss as compared with true time, so as to make an allowance or computation dependent thereon.

    Syn. -- To value; appraise; estimate; reckon.

12. Order; arrangement.
    
    
    [Obs.]

    Thus sat they all around in seemly rate. Spenser.

13. Ratification; approval.
    
    
    [R.] Chapman.
14. The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of time; as, daily rate; hourly rate; etc.
15. The order or class to which a war vessel belongs, determined according to its size, armament, etc.; as, first rate, second rate, etc.
    
    
    (b)