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)
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.
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) aeneas . . . Employs his pains, In parts remote, to raise the tuscan swains. (Dryden)
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)
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)
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)
6. To create or constitute; as, to raise a use that is, to create it. To raise a blockade, 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. To raise Cain, or To raise the devil, to cause a great disturbance; to make great trouble.
Origin: OE. Reisen, Icel. Reisa, causative of risa to rise. See Rise, and cf. Rear to raise.