Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rest \Rest\, n. [AS. rest, r[ae]st, rest; akin to D. rust, G.
   rast. OHG. rasta, Dan. & Sw. rast rest, repose, Icel. r["o]st
   the distance between two resting places, a mole, Goth. rasta
   a mile, also to Goth. razn house, Icel. rann, and perhaps to
   G. ruhe rest, repose, AS. r[=o]w, Gr. 'erwh`. Cf. {Ransack}.]
   1. A state of quiet or repose; a cessation from motion or
      labor; tranquillity; as, rest from mental exertion; rest
      of body or mind. --Chaucer.

            Sleep give thee all his rest!         --Shak.

   2. Hence, freedom from everything which wearies or disturbs;
      peace; security.

            And the land had rest fourscore years. --Judges iii.
                                                  30.

   3. Sleep; slumber; hence, poetically, death.

            How sleep the brave who sink to rest, By all their
            country's wishes blest.               --Collins.

   4. That on which anything rests or leans for support; as, a
      rest in a lathe, for supporting the cutting tool or
      steadying the work.

            He made narrowed rests round about, that the beams
            should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
                                                  --1 Kings vi.
                                                  6.

   5. (Anc. Armor) A projection from the right side of the
      cuirass, serving to support the lance.

            Their visors closed, their lances in the rest.
                                                  --Dryden.

   6. A place where one may rest, either temporarily, as in an
      inn, or permanently, as, in an abode. ``Halfway houses and
      travelers' rests.'' --J. H. Newman.

            In dust our final rest, and native home. --Milton.

            Ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the
            inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you.
                                                  --Deut. xii.
                                                  9.

   7. (Pros.) A short pause in reading verse; a c[ae]sura.

   8. The striking of a balance at regular intervals in a
      running account. ``An account is said to be taken with
      annual or semiannual rests.'' --Abbott.

   9. A set or game at tennis. [Obs.]

   10. (Mus.) Silence in music or in one of its parts; the name
       of the character that stands for such silence. They are
       named as notes are, whole, half, quarter,etc.

   {Rest house}, an empty house for the accomodation of
      travelers; a caravansary. [India]

   {To set, or To set up}, {one's rest}, to have a settled
      determination; -- from an old game of cards, when one so
      expressed his intention to stand or rest upon his hand.
      [Obs.] --Shak. Bacon.

   Syn: Cessation; pause; intermission; stop; stay; repose;
        slumber; quiet; ease; quietness; stillness;
        tranquillity; peacefulness; peace.

   Usage: {Rest}, {Repose}. Rest is a ceasing from labor or
          exertion; repose is a mode of resting which gives
          relief and refreshment after toil and labor. The words
          are commonly interchangeable.