rash
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ɹæʃ/
rhymes: -æʃ
Forms: form: rasher
form: rashest
Etymology: The adjective is derived from Middle English rash, rasch (“hasty, headstrong, rash”) [and other forms], probably from Old English *ræsċ (“rash”) (found in derivatives such as ræsċan (“to move rapidly; to flicker; to flash; to glitter; to quiver”), ræsċettan (“to crackle, sparkle”), etc.), from Proto-West Germanic *rask, *raskī, *rasku, from Proto-Germanic *raskaz, *raskuz, *raþskaz, *raþskuz (“rash; rapid”), from Proto-Indo-European *Hreth₂- (“to run, roll”). The Middle English word was probably influenced by the cognates listed below.
The adverb is derived from Middle English rashe (“quickly, rapidly”), from rash, rasch (adjective) (see above).
Cognates
* Dutch ras, rasch (“rash”)
* Middle Low German rasch (“rash”)
* Old Danish rask (“agile, nimble; fast; healthy, vigorous”) (modern Danish rask (“agile, nimble; fast; healthy, vigorous; hasty, rash”))
* Old High German reski (“impetuous, rash”) (Middle High German rasch, resch (“agile, nimble; fast; lively; healthy, vigorous”), modern German rasch, räsch, resch (“agile, nimble; fast; hasty, rash; healthy, vigorous; of food: crisp, crusty”))
* Old Norse rǫskr (“brave; healthy, vigorous”) (Icelandic röskur (“strong; healthy, vigorous”))
* Old Swedish rasker (“agile, nimble; brave; fast; vigorous”) (modern Swedish rask (“agile, nimble; fast; healthy, vigorous”))
Senses: examples: text: rash words spoken in the heat of debate
text: […] Eusebius doth report that Ireneus dyd reprooue Victor byshop of Rome for his rash sentēce in excōmunicating the Churches of Grece, concerning the obseruation of the feast of Easter.
ref: 1563 March 30 (Gregorian calendar), John Foxe, “Examinations and Martyrdom of John Philpot”, in Actes and Monuments of These Latter and Perillous Dayes, […], London: […] Iohn Day, […], →OCLC, book V, page [1470]:
text: For ſitting in his [Marcus Junius Brutus's] tent, penſive and troubled vvith the horrour of his raſh act, it vvas not hard for him, ſlumbering in the cold, to dream of that vvhich moſt affrighted him; […]
ref: 1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of Imagination”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Of Man), page 7:
text: [T]hrough the raſh adventure and fool-hardineſs of ſome fevv, an overture only made, and ſome advantage got of performing a great piece of ſervice and vvorthy exploit.
ref: 1659, T[itus] Livius [i.e., Livy], “[Book X]”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Romane Historie […], London: […] W. Hunt, for George Sawbridge, […], →OCLC, page 310:
text: I vvas a fool, too raſh, and quite miſtaken / In vvhat I thought vvould have ſucceeded beſt.
ref: 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 57, lines 8–9:
text: He will tell you in how few moments ſhe repented of the raſh meſſage ſhe had ſent you— […]
ref: 1761, [Laurence Sterne], “Slawkenbergius’s Tale”, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume IV, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 65:
text: So ſhould an ideot vvhile at large he ſtrays, / Find the ſvveet lyre on vvhich an artiſt plays, / VVith raſh and aukvvard force the chords he ſhakes, / And grins vvith vvonder at the jar he makes; […]
ref: 1782, William Cowper, “Conversation”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 257:
text: Take then no vow at random: ta'en, with faith / Preserve it; yet not bent, as Jephthah once, / Blindly to execute a rash resolve, / Whom better it had suited to exclaim, / 'I have done ill,' than to redeem his pledge / By doing worse: […]
ref: 1814, Dante Alighieri, “Canto V”, in H[enry] F[rancis] Cary, transl., The Vision; or, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, of Dante Alighieri. […], volume III (Paradise), London: […] [J. Barfield] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, pages 21–22, lines 63–68:
text: She did a rash thing. She sent a letter to Ivy Bolton, enclosing a note to the keeper, and asking Mrs Bolton to give it to him.
ref: 1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XVIII, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC, page 283:
synonyms: word: foolhardy
word: heady
word: impulsive
word: precipitate
word: daring
word: devil-may-care
word: headstrong
word: heedless
word: impetuous
word: imprudent
word: impulsive
word: precipitant
word: precipitate
word: precipitous
word: quick-and-dirty
word: rash
word: reckless
word: sudden
word: temeritous
antonyms: prudent
unrash
shy
timid
cautious
careful
glosses: Acting too quickly without considering the consequences and risks; not careful; hasty.
glosses: Of corn or other grains: so dry as to fall out of the ear with handling.
examples: text: My Lord, I ſcarce haue leiſure to ſalute you, / My matter is ſo raſh: […]
ref: c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
glosses: Requiring swift action; pressing; urgent.
examples: text: [T]he vnited veſſel of their bloud, / […] / Shall neuer leake, though it doe vvorke as ſtrong, / As Aconitum, or raſh gunpovvder.
ref: c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
text: Sir (my Lord) / I could doe this, and that vvith no raſh Potion, / But with a lingring Dram, that ſhould not vvorke / Maliciouſly, like Poyſon.
ref: c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 280, column 1:
text: [T]he inboard seas run swirling and hawling; / The rash smart sloggering brine / Blinds her; […]
ref: 1875–1876, Gerard Manley Hopkins, “The Wreck of the Deutschland”, in Robert Bridges, editor, Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins: Now First Published […], London: Humphrey Milford, published 1918, →OCLC, part 2, stanza 19, page 17:
glosses: Taking effect quickly and strongly; fast-acting.
Derived terms: rashly
rashness
unrash