rank scale

American  

noun

Linguistics.

1. (in systemic linguistics) a hierarchical ordering of grammatical units such that a unit of a given rank normally consists of units of the next lower rank, as, in English, the ordering sentence, clause, group or phrase, word, morpheme.

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Example Sentences

Rate, rāt, n. a ratio or proportion: allowance: standard: value: price: the class of a ship and of seamen: movement, as fast or slow: a tax.—v.t. to calculate: to estimate: to settle the relative rank, scale, or position of.—v.i. to make an estimate: to be placed in a certain class: to ratify.—ns.

From Project Gutenberg