\Raise\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Raised}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Raising}.] [OE. reisen, Icel. reisa, causative of r[=i]sa to
rise. See {Rise}, and cf. {Rear} to raise.]
1. To cause to rise; to bring from a lower to a higher place;
   to lift upward; to elevate; to heave; as, to raise a stone
   or weight. Hence, figuratively:
   (a) To bring to a higher condition or situation; to
       elevate in rank, dignity, and the like; to increase
       the value or estimation of; to promote; to exalt; to
       advance; to enhance; as, to raise from a low estate;
       to raise to office; to raise the price, and the like.
             This gentleman came to be raised to great
             titles.                           --Clarendon.
             The plate pieces of eight were raised three
             pence in the piece.               --Sir W.
                                               Temple.
   (b) To increase the strength, vigor, or vehemence of; to
       excite; to intensify; to invigorate; to heighten; as,
       to raise the pulse; to raise the voice; to raise the
       spirits or the courage; to raise the heat of a
       furnace.
   (c) To elevate in degree according to some scale; as, to
       raise the pitch of the voice; to raise the temperature
       of a room.
2. To cause to rise up, or assume an erect position or
   posture; to set up; to make upright; as, to raise a mast
   or flagstaff. Hence:
   (a) To cause to spring up from recumbent position, from a
       state of quiet, or the like; to awaken; to arouse.
             They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their
             sleep.                            --Job xiv. 12.
   (b) To rouse to action; to stir up; to incite to tumult,
       struggle, or war; to excite.
             He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind.
                                               --Ps. cvii.
                                               25.
             [AE]neas . . . employs his pains, In parts
             remote, to raise the Tuscan swains. --Dryden.
   (c) To bring up from the lower world; to call up, as a
       spirit from the world of spirits; to recall from
       death; to give life to.
             Why should it be thought a thing incredible with
             you, that God should raise the dead ? --Acts
                                               xxvi. 8.
3. To cause to arise, grow up, or come into being or to
   appear; to give to; to originate, produce, cause, effect,
   or the like. Hence, specifically:
   (a) To form by the accumulation of materials or
       constituent parts; to build up; to erect; as, to raise
       a lofty structure, a wall, a heap of stones.
             I will raise forts against thee.  --Isa. xxxix.
                                               3.
   (b) To bring together; to collect; to levy; to get
       together or obtain for use or service; as, to raise
       money, troops, and the like. ``To raise up a rent.''
       --Chaucer.
   (c) To cause to grow; to procure to be produced, bred, or
       propagated; to grow; as, to raise corn, barley, hops,
       etc.; toraise cattle. ``He raised sheep.'' ``He raised
       wheat where none grew before.'' --Johnson's Dict.
Note: In some parts of the United States, notably in the
      Southern States, raise in also commonly applied to the
      rearing or bringing up of children.
            I was raised, as they say in Virginia, among the
            mountains of the North.            --Paulding.
   (d) To bring into being; to produce; to cause to arise,
       come forth, or appear; -- often with up.
             I will raise them up a prophet from among their
             brethren, like unto thee.         --Deut. xviii.
                                               18.
             God vouchsafes to raise another world From him
             [Noah], and all his anger to forget. --Milton.
   (e) To give rise to; to set agoing; to occasion; to start;
       to originate; as, to raise a smile or a blush.
             Thou shalt not raise a false report. --Ex.
                                               xxiii. 1.
   (f) To give vent or utterance to; to utter; to strike up.
             Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry.
                                               --Dryden.
   (g) To bring to notice; to submit for consideration; as,
       to raise a point of order; to raise an objection.
4. To cause to rise, as by the effect of leaven; to make
   light and spongy, as bread.
         Miss Liddy can dance a jig, and raise paste.
                                               --Spectator.
5. (Naut.)
   (a) To cause (the land or any other object) to seem higher
       by drawing nearer to it; as, to raise Sandy Hook
       light.
   (b) To let go; as in the command, Raise tacks and sheets,
       i. e., Let go tacks and sheets.
6. (Law) To create or constitute; as, to raise a use that is,
   to create it. --Burrill.
{To raise a blockade} (Mil.), to remove or break up a
   blockade, either by withdrawing the ships or forces
   employed in enforcing it, or by driving them away or
   dispersing them.
{To raise a check}, {note}, {bill of exchange}, etc., to
   increase fraudulently its nominal value by changing the
   writing, figures, or printing in which the sum payable is
   specified.
{To raise a siege}, to relinquish an attempt to take a place
   by besieging it, or to cause the attempt to be
   relinquished.
{To raise steam}, to produce steam of a required pressure.
{To raise the wind}, to procure ready money by some temporary
   expedient. [Colloq.]
{To raise Cain}, or {To raise the devil}, to cause a great
   disturbance; to make great trouble. [Slang]
Syn: To lift; exalt; elevate; erect; originate; cause;
     produce; grow; heighten; aggravate; excite.