raphidIa

[RHAPHIDIA.] răph-i-dif-er-ous, a. [Mod. Lat. raphides, and Lat. fero to bear.] Bot.: Containing raphides. răph-Id-1-õph-rys, subst. [Gr. rhaphis (gen it. rhaphidos) =a needle, and ophrys an eyebrow.] Zool.: A genus of Heliozoa, of the order Chalarothoraca. Skeleton in the form of numerous slightly curved spicules placed tangentially in the superficial protoplasm. răph'-il-ite, subst. [Gr. rhaphis a needle, and lithos a stone.] Min.: A grayish-white, acicular variety of Tremolite (q. v.), occurring at Lanark, Canada. răph-i-o-sâu-rus, s . [Prefix raphio- , and Gr. sauros a lizard.] Paleont .: Agenus of Lacer til i a, with two species from the Chalk. ( Ethe ridge .) răp-Id, a. & 8. [Fr. rapide, from Lat. rapid us rapid, from rapio to snatch, to seize; Sp. & Ital. rapido.] A. As adjective : 1. Very swift or quick; moving quickly; speedy; as, a rapid river. 2. Advancing or moving on quickly or speedily; as, rapid growth. 3. Quick or swift in performance; as, a rapid speaker, a rapid writer. 4. Done or completed in a short time; performed with rapidity; as, a rapid voyage. B. As subst .: A swift current in a river, where the channel is descending; a sudden descent of the surface of a stream, without a fall or cascade. (Usually in plural.) "There are no rapids or falls upon the Ka ai."- St. James' Gazette, Sept. 23, 1885.