R R, r, the 18th letter and the 14th con- sonant of the English language, is classed as a semi-vowel and a liquid. It is also called a trill. It is generally con- sidered to have two sounds: The first, when it begins a word or syllable, and when it is preceded by a consonant, be- ing then produced by an expulsion of vo- calized breath, as in ran, tree, morose, etc.; the second, less decidedly conson- antal, heard at the end of words and syl- lables, and when it is followed by a con- sonant, being formed by a vibration of the lower part of the tongue, as in, her, star, beard, etc. In Scotch and some di- alects, r has always the same sound, be- ing uttered with a strong vibration of the tongue, but less guttural than in French or German. By the Romans r was called the "dogs' letter," from its sound resembling the snarling of dogs. In words derived from the Greek we follow the custom of the Romans, who represented the aspirated sound with which r was pronounced by the Greeks, by rh, as in rhapsody, rhetoric, etc. In such words, however, the h has no influ- ence on the pronunciation of the English word, and is, therefore, entirely super- fluous. R and 1 are frequently inter- changed (see remarks under L). As an initial, R represents the Latin rea;=king, as George R.=George, king; or regina=queen, as Victoria R.=Vic- toria, queen. It also represents English royal, as R. N.=Royal Navy, R. A.= Royal Artillery. In astronomy it stands for right, as R. A.=Right Ascension; in proper names, for Richard, Robert, etc.; m monumental inscriptions, for reqiiies- eat, as R. I. 'P.^=requiescat in pace=may he (or she) rest in peace; in Biblical lit- erature for revised, as R. V.=revised ver- sion. As a syTnbol, R was formerly used to stand for 80, and with a dash over it, for 80,000. In medicine, R stands for Latin recipe— take. The three R's, a humorous and familiar designation for the three elementary subjects of edu- cation: reading, writing and arithmetic. RA (more properly Re), the name oi the god of the sun among the ancient Egyptians. He is represented, like Horus, with the head of a hawk, and bearing the disk of the sun on his head. RAASAY, one of the Inner Hebrides, lies between the isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland, and belongs to In- verness-shire. It is 13 miles in length from N. to S., 3% miles in greatest breadth, and 24 square miles in area. The W. side of the island is bare and un- interesting. On the E. and more shel- tered side there is some striking scenery. Dun Caan (1,456 feet) is the highest point, and Brochel Castle, on the E. shore — now a mere ruin — the chief ob- ject of interest. RABAT, or NEW SALLEE, a seaport of Morocco, on the S. side of the Bu- Ragreb, at its entrance into the Atlantic. It stands on cliffs in the midst of gar- dens, and is overlooked by a large cita- del. The most conspicuous object is, however, the tower of Beni-Hassan (180 feet high), near it is the ruined mosque of Almanzor. Carpets, shoes and mats are made, and woolens dyed. Formerly it was the center of the European trade with Morocco; it still exports olive oil, grain, hides, flax, wool, maize, and mil- let. Pop. (1917) 37,548. RABBI, in Jewish history and litera- ture, rabbi is the noun Rab with the pro- nominal suffix, and in Biblical Hebrew= great man, distinguished for age, rank, office or skill. In post-Biblical Hebrew it is used as a title indicating sundry degrees by its several terminations. Thus, the simple term Rab=teacher, master, and was the title which Babylon- ion Jews gave to a doctor of the law. RABBIT, the Lepus cuniculus, a well- known burrowing rodent, with a very wide geographical range. It probably had its home in the W. portion of the Mediterranean basin, but has spread over western Europe, Great Britain, 405
