Read \Read\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Read; p. pr. & vb. n. Reading.]

[OE. reden, r[ae]den, AS. r[=ae]dan to read, advice, counsel, fr. r[=ae]d advise, counsel, r[=ae]dan (imperf. reord) to advice, counsel, guess; akin to D. raden to advise, G. raten, rathen, Icel. r[=a][eth]a, Goth. r[=e]dan (in comp.), and perh. also to Skr. r[=a]dh to succeed. [root]116. Cf. Riddle.]

1. To advise; to counsel. [Obs.]

See Rede.

Therefore, I read thee, get to God's word, and thereby try all doctrine. --Tyndale.

2. To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle.

3. To tell; to declare; to recite. [Obs.]

But read how art thou named, and of what kin. --Spenser.

4. To go over, as characters or words, and utter aloud, or recite to one's self inaudibly; to take in the sense of, as of language, by interpreting the characters with which it is expressed; to peruse; as, to read a discourse; to read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read the notes of music, or to read music; to read a book.

Redeth [read ye] the great poet of Itaille. --Chaucer.

Well could he rede a lesson or a story. --Chaucer.

5. Hence, to know fully; to comprehend.

Who is't can read a woman? --Shak.

6. To discover or understand by characters, marks, features, etc.; to learn by observation.

An armed corse did lie, In whose dead face he read great magnanimity. --Spenser.

Those about her From her shall read the perfect ways of honor. --Shak.

7. To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as, to read theology or law.

To read one's self in, to read about the Thirty-nine Articles and the Declaration of Assent, -- required of a clergyman of the Church of England when he first officiates in a new benefice.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Reading \Read"ing\, n.

1. The act of one who reads; perusal; also, printed or written matter to be read.

2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of extensive reading.

3. A lecture or prelection; public recital.

The Jews had their weekly readings of the law. --Hooker.

4. The way in which anything reads; force of a word or passage presented by a documentary authority; lection; version.

5. Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on the stage; way of rendering. [Cant]

6. An observation read from the scale of a graduated instrument; as, the reading of a barometer.

Reading of a bill (Legislation), its normal recital, by the proper officer, before the House which is to consider it.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Reading \Read"ing\, a.

1. Of or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.

2. Addicted to reading; as, a reading community.

Reading book, a book for teaching reading; a reader.

Reading desk, a desk to support a book while reading; esp., a desk used while reading the service in a church.

Reading glass, a large lens with more or less magnifying power, attached to a handle, and used in reading, etc.

Reading man, one who reads much; hence, in the English universities, a close, industrious student.

Reading room, a room appropriated to reading; a room provided with papers, periodicals, and the like, to which persons resort.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)