ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Rout

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ɹaʊt/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Rout is a noun meaning (countable) A group of disorganized things.

Meaning

(countable) A group of disorganized things.

(countable, dated) A fashionable assembly; a large evening party, a soirée.
(intransitive, obsolete) To assemble in a crowd, whether orderly or disorderly; to collect in company.
(countable, obsolete) A group of people; a crowd, a throng, a troop; in particular (archaic), a group of people accompanying or travelling with someone.
(countable, archaic) A group of animals, especially one which is lively or unruly, or made up of wild animals such as wolves; a flock, a herd, a pack.
(countable, archaic) A noisy disturbance; also, a disorderly argument or fight, a brawl; (uncountable) disturbance of the peace, commotion, tumult.
(countable) A group of (often violent) criminals or gangsters; such people as a class; (more generally) a disorderly and tumultuous crowd, a mob; hence (archaic, preceded by the), the common people as a group, the rabble.
(countable, law, historical) An illegal assembly of people; specifically, three or more people who have come together intending to do something illegal, and who have taken steps towards this, regarded as more serious than an unlawful assembly but not as serious as a riot; the act of assembling in this manner.

'Is there anyone in this rout with authority to treat with me?' he asked.

A route of people there aſſembled were, / Of euery ſort and nation vnder skye, [...]

Nor do I name of men the common rout, / That wandring looſe about / Grow up and periſh, as the ſummer flie, [...]

The Ring-leader and Head of all this Rout, / Haue practis'd dangerouſly againſt your State, / Dealing with Witches and with Coniurers, [...]

Depending on context, synonyms include company, gathering, road-goose, rot-goose, root, expel.

Related dictionary entries include mob, expel, spread-eagle, rabble, discomfiture, discomfit.

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