rear

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the back of a military formation or procession

   infantrymen were in the rear

2. 2
   noun

   the side of an object that is opposite its front

   My room was toward the rear of the hotel.

3. 3
   verb

   stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds

   The horse reared in terror

4. 4
   verb

   To bring up to maturity, as offspring; to educate; to instruct; to foster.

   He wants a father to protect his youth, and rear him up to virtue.

5. 5
   verb

   To breed and raise.

   The family has been rearing cattle for 200 years.

6. 6
   verb

   To rise up on the hind legs.

   The horse was shocked, and thus reared.

7. 7
   verb

   To rise high above, tower above.

   1923, Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados By my side reared a solid stone wall, and beneath was simply the room we stood in, for the space below the stairway was not enclosed.

8. 8
   verb

   To raise physically or metaphorically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate.

   Poverty reared its ugly head. (appeared, started, began to have an effect)

Etymology

From Middle English reren (“to raise”), from Old English rǣran (“to raise, set upright, promote, exalt, begin, create, give rise to, excite, rouse, arouse, stir up”), from Proto-West Germanic *raiʀijan, from Proto-Germanic *raizijaną, *raisijaną (“to cause to rise, raise”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rey- (“to lift oneself, rise”). Cognate with Scots rere (“to construct, build, rear”), Icelandic reisa (“to raise”), Gothic 𐍂𐌰𐌹𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (raisjan, “to cause to rise, lift up, establish”), German reisen (“to travel”, literally “to rear up and depart”); and a doublet of raise. More at rise. Related to r…