Rate \Rate\, n. [OF., fr. L. rata (sc. pars), fr. ratus reckoned, fixed by calculation, p. p. of reri to reckon, to calculate. Cf. Reason.]

1. Established portion or measure; fixed allowance.

The one right feeble through the evil rate, Of food which in her duress she had found. --Spenser.

2. That which is established as a measure or criterion; degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate of movement; rate of interest is the ratio of the interest to the principal, per annum.

Heretofore the rate and standard of wit was different from what it is nowadays. --South.

In this did his holiness and godliness appear above the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so . . . merciful. --Calamy.

Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor come up soon enough. --Clarendon.

3. Variation; prise fixed with relation to a standard; cost; charge; as, high or low rates of transportation.

They come at dear rates from Japan. --Locke.

4. A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income or value; esp., in England, a local tax; as, parish rates; town rates.

5. Order; arrangement. [Obs.]

Thus sat they all around in seemly rate. --Spenser.

6. Ratification; approval. [R.]

--Chapman.

7. (Horol.) The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of time; as, daily rate; hourly rate; etc.

8. (Naut.)
   (a) The order or class to which a war vessel belongs, determined according to its size, armament, etc.; as, first rate, second rate, etc.
   (b) The class of a merchant vessel for marine insurance, determined by its relative safety as a risk, as A1, A2, etc.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Rate \Rate\, v. t. & i. [Perh. fr. E. rate, v. t., to value at a certain rate, to estimate, but more prob. fr. Sw. rata to find fault, to blame, to despise, to hold cheap; cf. Icel. hrat refuse, hrati rubbish.]

To chide with vehemence; to scold; to censure violently. --Spencer.

Go, rate thy minions, proud, insulting boy! --Shak.

Conscience is a check to beginners in sin, reclaiming them from it, and rating them for it. --Barrow.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Rate \Rate\, v. i.

1. To be set or considered in a class; to have rank; as, the ship rates as a ship of the line.

2. To make an estimate.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Rate \Rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rated; p. pr. & vb. n. Rating.]

1. To set a certain estimate on; to value at a certain price or degree.

To rate a man by the nature of his companions is a rule frequent indeed, but not infallible. --South.

You seem not high enough your joys to rate. --Dryden.

2. To assess for the payment of a rate or tax.

3. To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount, value, or quality of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a seaman; to rate a pension.

4. To ratify. [Obs.]

``To rate the truce.'' --Chapman.

To rate a chronometer, to ascertain the exact rate of its gain or loss as compared with true time, so as to make an allowance or computation depended thereon.

Syn: To value; appraise; estimate; reckon.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)