Read \Read\ (r[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Read (r[e^]d); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Reading.] [OE. reden, r[ae]den, AS. r[=ae]dan
   to read, advise, counsel, fr. r[=ae]d advice, counsel,
   r[=ae]dan (imperf. reord) to advise, 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.
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            Therefore, I read thee, get thee to God's word, and
            thereby try all doctrine.             --Tyndale.
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   2. To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle.
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   3. To tell; to declare; to recite. [Obs.]
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            But read how art thou named, and of what kin.
                                                  --Spenser.
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   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.
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            Redeth [read ye] the great poet of Itaille.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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            Well could he rede a lesson or a story. --Chaucer.
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   5. Hence, to know fully; to comprehend.
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            Who is't can read a woman?            --Shak.
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   6. To discover or understand by characters, marks, features,
      etc.; to learn by observation.
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            An armed corse did lie,
            In whose dead face he read great magnanimity.
                                                  --Spenser.
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            Those about her
            From her shall read the perfect ways of honor.
                                                  --Shak.
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   7. To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as,
      to read theology or law.
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   To read one's self in, to read aloud 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.
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