[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

line \line\, n. oe. line, as. limacne cable, hawser, prob.
   from l. linea a linen thread, string, line, fr. linum flax,
   thread, linen, cable; but the english word was influenced by
   f. ligne line, from the same l. word linea. see linen.
   1. a linen thread or string; a slender, strong cord; also, a
      cord of any thickness; a rope; a hawser; as, a fishing
      line; a line for snaring birds; a clothesline; a towline.
      1913 webster

            who so layeth lines for to latch fowls. --piers
                                                  plowman.
      1913 webster

   2. a more or less threadlike mark of pen, pencil, or graver;
      any long mark; as, a chalk line.
      1913 webster

   3. the course followed by anything in motion; hence, a road
      or route; as, the arrow descended in a curved line; the
      place is remote from lines of travel.
      1913 webster

   4. direction; as, the line of sight or vision.
      1913 webster

   5. a row of letters, words, etc., written or printed; esp., a
      row of words extending across a page or column.
      1913 webster

   6. a short letter; a note; as, a line from a friend.
      1913 webster

   7. poet. a verse, or the words which form a certain number
      of feet, according to the measure.
      1913 webster

            in the preceding line ulysses speaks of nausicaa.
                                                  --broome.
      1913 webster

   8. course of conduct, thought, occupation, or policy; method
      of argument; department of industry, trade, or
      intellectual activity.
      1913 webster

            he is uncommonly powerful in his own line, but it is
            not the line of a first-rate man.     --coleridge.
      1913 webster

   9. math. that which has length, but not breadth or
      thickness.
      1913 webster

   10. the exterior limit of a figure, plat, or territory;
       boundary; contour; outline.
       1913 webster

             eden stretched her line
             from auran eastward to the royal towers
             of great seleucia.                   --milton.
       1913 webster

   11. a threadlike crease marking the face or the hand; hence,
       characteristic mark.
       1913 webster

             though on his brow were graven lines austere.
                                                  --byron.
       1913 webster

             he tipples palmistry, and dines
             on all her fortune-telling lines.    --cleveland.
       1913 webster

   12. lineament; feature; figure. "the lines of my boy's face."
       --shak.
       1913 webster

   13. a straight row; a continued series or rank; as, a line of
       houses, or of soldiers; a line of barriers.
       1913 webster

             unite thy forces and attack their lines. --dryden.
       1913 webster

   14. a series or succession of ancestors or descendants of a
       given person; a family or race; as, the ascending or
       descending line; the line of descent; the male line; a
       line of kings.
       1913 webster

             of his lineage am i, and his offspring
             by very line, as of the stock real.  --chaucer.
       1913 webster

   15. a connected series of public conveyances, and hence, an
       established arrangement for forwarding merchandise, etc.;
       as, a line of stages; an express line.
       1913 webster

   16. geog.
       a a circle of latitude or of longitude, as represented
           on a map.
       b the equator; -- usually called the line, or
           equinoctial line; as, to cross the line.
           1913 webster

   17. a long tape, or a narrow ribbon of steel, etc., marked
       with subdivisions, as feet and inches, for measuring; a
       tapeline.
       1913 webster

   18. script.
       a a measuring line or cord.
           1913 webster

                 he marketh it out with a line.   --is. xliv.
                                                  13.
       b that which was measured by a line, as a field or any
           piece of land set apart; hence, allotted place of
           abode.
           1913 webster

                 the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant
                 places; yea, i have a goodly heritage. --ps.
                                                  xvi. 6.
       c instruction; doctrine.
           1913 webster

                 their line is gone out through all the earth.
                                                  --ps. xix. 4.
           1913 webster

   19. mach. the proper relative position or adjustment of
       parts, not as to design or proportion, but with reference
       to smooth working; as, the engine is in line or out of
       line.
       1913 webster

   20. the track and roadbed of a railway; railroad.
       1913 webster

   21. mil.
       a a row of men who are abreast of one another, whether
           side by side or some distance apart; -- opposed to
           column.
       b the regular infantry of an army, as distinguished
           from militia, guards, volunteer corps, cavalry,
           artillery, etc.
           1913 webster

   22. fort.
       a a trench or rampart.
       b pl. dispositions made to cover extended positions,
           and presenting a front in but one direction to an
           enemy.
           1913 webster

   23. pl. shipbuilding form of a vessel as shown by the
       outlines of vertical, horizontal, and oblique sections.
       1913 webster

   24. mus. one of the straight horizontal and parallel
       prolonged strokes on and between which the notes are
       placed.
       1913 webster

   25. stock exchange a number of shares taken by a jobber.
       1913 webster

   26. trade a series of various qualities and values of the
       same general class of articles; as, a full line of
       hosiery; a line of merinos, etc. --mcelrath.
       1913 webster

   27. the wire connecting one telegraphic station with another,
       or the whole of a system of telegraph wires under one
       management and name.
       1913 webster

   28. pl. the reins with which a horse is guided by his driver.
       u. s.
       1913 webster

   29. a measure of length; one twelfth of an inch.
       1913 webster

   hard lines, hard lot. --c. kingsley. see def. 18.

   line breeding stockbreeding, breeding by a certain family
      line of descent, especially in the selection of the dam or
      mother.

   line conch zool., a spiral marine shell fasciolaria
      distans, of florida and the west indies. it is marked by
      narrow, dark, revolving lines.

   line engraving.
       a engraving in which the effects are produced by lines
           of different width and closeness, cut with the burin
           upon copper or similar material; also, a plate so
           engraved.
       b a picture produced by printing from such an
           engraving.

   line of battle.
       a mil. tactics the position of troops drawn up in
           their usual order without any determined maneuver.
       b naval the line or arrangement formed by vessels of
           war in an engagement.

   line of battle ship. see ship of the line, below.

   line of beauty fine arts,an abstract line supposed to be
      beautiful in itself and absolutely; -- differently
      represented by different authors, often as a kind of
      elongated s like the one drawn by hogarth.

   line of centers. mach.
       a a line joining two centers, or fulcra, as of wheels
           or levers.
       b a line which determines a dead center. see dead
           center, under dead.

   line of dip geol., a line in the plane of a stratum, or
      part of a stratum, perpendicular to its intersection with
      a horizontal plane; the line of greatest inclination of a
      stratum to the horizon.

   line of fire mil., the direction of fire.

   line of force physics, any line in a space in which
      forces are acting, so drawn that at every point of the
      line its tangent is the direction of the resultant of all
      the forces. it cuts at right angles every equipotential
      surface which it meets. specifically magnetism, a line
      in proximity to a magnet so drawn that any point in it is
      tangential with the direction of a short compass needle
      held at that point. --faraday.

   line of life palmistry, a line on the inside of the hand,
      curving about the base of the thumb, supposed to indicate,
      by its form or position, the length of a person's life.

   line of lines. see gunter's line.

   line of march. mil.
       a arrangement of troops for marching.
       b course or direction taken by an army or body of
           troops in marching.

   line of operations, that portion of a theater of war which
      an army passes over in attaining its object. --h. w.
      halleck.

   line of sight firearms, the line which passes through the
      front and rear sight, at any elevation, when they are
      sighted at an object.

   line tub naut., a tub in which the line carried by a
      whaleboat is coiled.

   mason and dixon's line, mason-dixon line, the boundary
      line between pennsylvania and maryland, as run before the
      revolution 1764-1767 by two english astronomers named
      charles mason and jeremiah dixon. in an extended sense,
      the line between the free and the slave states; as, below
      the mason-dixon line, i.e. in the south.

   on the line,
       a on a level with the eye of the spectator; -- said of
           a picture, as hung in an exhibition of pictures.
       b at risk dependent upon success in a contest or
           enterprise; as, the survival of the company is on the
           line in this project.

   right line, a straight line; the shortest line that can be
      drawn between two points.

   ship of the line, formerly, a ship of war large enough to
      have a place in the line of battle; a vessel superior to a
      frigate; usually, a seventy-four, or three-decker; --
      called also line of battle ship or battleship.
      --totten.

   to cross the line, to cross the equator, as a vessel at
      sea.

   to give a person line, to allow him more or less liberty
      until it is convenient to stop or check him, like a hooked
      fish that swims away with the line.

   water line shipbuilding, the outline of a horizontal
      section of a vessel, as when floating in the water.
      1913 webster
see also:
linen column hard lines line breeding line conch fasciolaria distans 
line engraving line of battle line of battle ship ship of the line line of beauty 
line of centers dead center dead line of dip line of fire 
line of force line of life line of lines gunter's line line of march 
line of operations line of sight line tub mason and dixon's line mason-dixon line 
on the line right line line of battle ship battleship to cross the line 
to give a person line water line 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

right \right\ rimact, a. oe. right, riht, as. riht; akin to
   d. regt, os.  ohg. reht, g. recht, dan. ret, sw. raumtt,
   icel. rettr, goth. ra'ihts, l. rectus, p. p. of regere to
   guide, rule; cf. skr. .rju straight, right. root115. cf.
   adroit,alert, correct, dress, regular, rector,
   recto, rectum, regent, region, realm, rich,
   royal, rule.
   1. straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. "right as
      any line." --chaucer
      1913 webster

   2. upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not
      oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.
      1913 webster

   3. conformed to the constitution of man and the will of god,
      or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and
      just; according with truth and duty; just; true.
      1913 webster

            that which is conformable to the supreme rule is
            absolutely right, and is called right simply without
            relation to a special end.            --whately.
      1913 webster

   2. fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right
      man in the right place; the right way from london to
      oxford.
      1913 webster

   5. characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not
      spurious. "his right wife." --chaucer.
      1913 webster

            in this battle, . . . the britons never more plainly
            manifested themselves to be right barbarians.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   6. according with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming
      to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous;
      correct; as, this is the right faith.
      1913 webster

            you are right, justice, and you weigh this well.
                                                  --shak.
      1913 webster

            if there be no prospect beyond the grave, the
            inference is . . . right, "let us eat and drink, for
            to-morrow we die."                    --locke.
      1913 webster

   7. most favorable or convenient; fortunate.
      1913 webster

            the lady has been disappointed on the right side.
                                                  --spectator.
      1913 webster

   8. of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which
      the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other
      side; -- opposed to left when used in reference to a part
      of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. also applied
      to the corresponding side of the lower animals.
      1913 webster

            became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand.
                                                  --longfellow.
      1913 webster

   note: in designating the banks of a river, right and left are
         used always with reference to the position of one who
         is facing in the direction of the current's flow.
         1913 webster

   9. well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well
      regulated; correctly done.
      1913 webster

   10. designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side
       of a piece of cloth.
       1913 webster

   at right angles, so as to form a right angle or right
      angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly.
      

   right and left, in both or all directions. colloq.

   right and left coupling pipe fitting, a coupling the
      opposite ends of which are tapped for a right-handed screw
      and a left-handed screw, respectivelly.

   right angle.
       a the angle formed by one line meeting another
           perpendicularly, as the angles abd, dbc.
       b spherics a spherical angle included between the
           axes of two great circles whose planes are
           perpendicular to each other.

   right ascension. see under ascension.

   right center politics, those members belonging to the
      center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with
      the right on political questions. see center, n., 5.

   right cone, right cylinder, right prism, right
   pyramid geom., a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the
      axis of which is perpendicular to the base.

   right line. see under line.

   right sailing naut., sailing on one of the four cardinal
      points, so as to alter a ship's latitude or its longitude,
      but not both. --ham. nav. encyc.

   right sphere astron.  geol., a sphere in such a position
      that the equator cuts the horizon at right angles; in
      spherical projections, that position of the sphere in
      which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the
      equator.
      1913 webster

   note: right is used elliptically for it is right, what you
         say is right, true.
         1913 webster

               "right," cries his lordship.       --pope.
         1913 webster

   syn: straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful;
        rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper;
        suitable; becoming.
        1913 webster
see also:
adroit alert correct dress regular rector 
recto rectum regent region realm 
rich royal rule at right angles right and left 
right and left coupling right angle right ascension ascension right center 
center right cone right cylinder right prism right pyramid 
right line line right sailing right sphere 

All Right >> A Words
All Right, definition of term: All Right
all+right_pag1.html

Air Line >> A Words
Air Line, definition of term: Air Line
air+line_pag1.html

Agate Line >> A Words
Agate Line, definition of term: Agate Line
agate+line_pag1.html

Aclinic Line >> A Words
Aclinic Line, definition of term: Aclinic Line
aclinic+line_pag1.html