rankness

noun

1. a row, line, or series
2. an orderly arrangement
3. a social division or class; stratum of society: people from all ranks of life
4. a high position in society; high degree; eminence: a person of rank
5. an official grade or position: the rank of captain
6. a relative position, usually in a scale classifying persons or things; grade; degree: a poet of the first rank
7. any of the rows of squares on a chessboard extending from side to side, perpendicular to the files
8. Mil.
   1. a row of soldiers, vehicles, etc. placed side by side, or abreast of one another
   2. the body of soldiers of an army, as distinguished from the officers [to rise from the ranks]: often used metaphorically to refer to the ordinary members of any group, as opposed to its leaders
9. Music stop ()

Origin: MFr renc < OFr ranc, renc: see range

transitive verb

1. to place in a rank or ranks
2. to assign a certain rank, or position, to
3. ☆ to have a higher rank than; outrank

intransitive verb

1. to hold a certain rank, or position: to rank third on a list
2. Archaic to form a rank or move in ranks