KJV Dictionary Definition: read

read

READ, n. See the Verb.

1. Counsel. Obs.

2. Saying; sentence. Obs.

READ, v.t. The preterit and pp. read, is pronounced red. Gr. to say or tell, to flow; a speaker, a rhetorician. The primary sense of read is to speak, to utter, that is, to push, drive or advance. This is also the primary sense of ready, that is, prompt or advancing, quick. L. gratia, the primary sense of which is prompt to favor, advancing towards, free. The elements of these words are the same as those of ride and L. gradior, &c. The sense of reason is secondary, that which is uttered, said or set forth; hence counsel also. See Ready.

1. To utter or pronounce written or printed words, letters or characters in the proper order; to repeat the names or utter the sounds customarily annexed to words, letters or characters; as, to read a written or printed discourse; to read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read the notes of music, or to read music.

2. To inspect and understand words or characters; to peruse silently; as, to read a paper or letter without uttering the words; to read to one's self.

3. To discover or understand by characters, marks or features; as, to read a man's thoughts in his countenance.

To read the interior structure of the globe.

An armed corse did lie, in whose dead face he read great magnanimity.

4. To learn by observation.

Those about her from her shall read the perfect ways of honor.

5. To know fully.

Who is't can read a woman?

6. To suppose; to guess. Obs.

7. To advise. Obs.

READ, v.i.

1. To perform the act of reading.

So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense. Neh. 8.

2. To be studious; to practice much reading.

It is sure that Fleury roads.

3. To learn by reading.

I have read of an eastern king who put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence.

4. To tell; to declare. Not in use.

READ, pp. red.

1. Uttered; pronounced, as written words in the proper order; as, the letter was read to the family.

2. Silently perused.

READ, a. red. Instructed or knowing by reading; versed in books; learned. Well read is the phrase commonly used; as well read in history; well read in the classics.

A poet well read in Longinus -

reading

RE'ADING, ppr.

1. Pronouncing or perusing written or printed words or characters of a book or writing.

2. Discovering by marks; understanding.

RE'ADING, n.

1. The act of reading; perusal.

2. Study of books; as a man of extensive reading.

3. A lecture or prelection.

4. Public recital.

The Jews had their weekly readings of the law.

5. In criticism, the manner of reading the manuscripts of ancient authors, where the words or letters are obscure. No small part of the business of critics is to settle the true reading, or real words used by the author; and the various readings of different critics are often perplexing.

6. A commentary or gloss on a law, text or passage.

7. In legislation, the formal recital of a bill by the proper officer, before the house which is to consider it. In Congress and in the state legislatures, a bill must usually have three several readings on different days, before it can be passed into a law.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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