Rase \Rase\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rased; p. pr. & vb. n. Rasing.]

[F. raser, LL. rasare to scrape often, v. freq. fr. L. radere, rasum, to scrape, shave; cf. Skr. rad to scratch, gnaw, L. rodere to gnaw. Cf. Raze, Razee, Razor, Rodent.]

1. To rub along the surface of; to graze. [Obsoles.]

Was he not in the . . . neighborhood to death? and might not the bullet which rased his cheek have gone into his head? --South.

Sometimes his feet rased the surface of water, and at others the skylight almost flattened his nose. --Beckford.

2. To rub or scratch out; to erase. [Obsoles.]

Except we rase the faculty of memory, root and branch, out of our mind. --Fuller.

3. To level with the ground; to overthrow; to destroy; to raze. [In this sense rase is generally used.]

Till Troy were by their brave hands rased, They would not turn home. --Chapman.

Note: This word, rase, may be considered as nearly obsolete; graze, erase, and raze, having superseded it.

Rasing iron, a tool for removing old oakum and pitch from the seams of a vessel.

Syn: To erase; efface; obliterate; expunge; cancel; level; prostrate; overthrow; subvert; destroy; demolish; ruin.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)