1. \Riv"er\, n.
   One who rives or splits.
   
   

2. \Riv"er\, n. [F. riv[`e]re a river, LL. riparia river,
   bank of a river, fr. L. riparius belonging to a bank or
   shore, fr. ripa a bank or shore; of uncertain origin. Cf.
   {Arrive}, {Riparian}.]
   1. A large stream of water flowing in a bed or channel and
      emptying into the ocean, a sea, a lake, or another stream;
      a stream larger than a rivulet or brook.
   
            Transparent and sparkling rivers, from which it is
            delightful to drink as they flow.     --Macaulay.
   
   2. Fig.: A large stream; copious flow; abundance; as, rivers
      of blood; rivers of oil.
   
   {River chub} (Zo["o]l.), the hornyhead and allied species of
      fresh-water fishes.
   
   {River crab} (Zo["o]l.), any species of fresh-water crabs of
      the genus {Thelphusa}, as {T. depressa} of Southern
      Europe.
   
   {River dragon}, a crocodile; -- applied by Milton to the king
      of Egypt.
   
   {River driver}, a lumberman who drives or conducts logs down
      rivers. --Bartlett.
   
   {River duck} (Zo["o]l.), any species of duck belonging to
      {Anas}, {Spatula}, and allied genera, in which the hind
      toe is destitute of a membranous lobe, as in the mallard
      and pintail; -- opposed to sea duck.
   
   {River god}, a deity supposed to preside over a river as its
      tutelary divinity.
   
   {River herring} (Zo["o]l.), an alewife.
   
   {River hog}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) Any species of African wild hogs of the genus
          {Potamoch[oe]rus}. They frequent wet places along the
          rivers.
      (b) The capybara.
   
   {River horse} (Zo["o]l.), the hippopotamus.
   
   {River jack} (Zo["o]l.), an African puff adder ({Clotho
      nasicornis}) having a spine on the nose.
   
   {River limpet} (Zo["o]l.), a fresh-water, air-breathing
      mollusk of the genus {Ancylus}, having a limpet-shaped
      shell.
   
   {River pirate} (Zo["o]l.), the pike.
   
   {River snail} (Zo["o]l.), any species of fresh-water
      gastropods of {Paludina}, {Melontho}, and allied genera.
      See {Pond snail}, under {Pond}.
   
   {River tortoise} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous fresh-water
      tortoises inhabiting rivers, especially those of the genus
      {Trionyx} and allied genera. See {Trionyx}.
   
   

3. \Riv"er\, v. i.
   To hawk by the side of a river; to fly hawks at river fowl.
   [Obs.] --Halliwell.
   
   

(1.) Heb. 'aphik, properly the channel or ravine that holds water (2 Sam. 22:16), translated "brook," "river," "stream," but not necessarily a perennial stream (Ezek. 6:3; 31:12; 32:6; 34:13).

(2.) Heb. nahal, in winter a "torrent," in summer a "wady" or valley (Gen. 32:23; Deut. 2:24; 3:16; Isa. 30:28; Lam. 2:18; Ezek. 47:9).

These winter torrents sometimes come down with great suddenness and with desolating force. A distinguished traveller thus describes his experience in this matter:, "I was encamped in Wady Feiran, near the base of Jebel Serbal, when a tremendous thunderstorm burst upon us. After little more than an hour's rain, the water rose so rapidly in the previously dry wady that I had to run for my life, and with great difficulty succeeded in saving my tent and goods; my boots, which I had not time to pick up, were washed away. In less than two hours a dry desert wady upwards of 300 yards broad was turned into a foaming torrent from 8 to 10 feet deep, roaring and tearing down and bearing everything upon it, tangled masses of tamarisks, hundreds of beautiful palmtrees, scores of sheep and goats, camels and donkeys, and even men, women, and children, for a whole encampment of Arabs was washed away a few miles above me. The storm commenced at five in the evening; at half-past nine the waters were rapidly subsiding, and it was evident that the flood had spent its force." (Comp. Matt. 7:27; Luke 6:49.)

(3.) Nahar, a "river" continuous and full, a perennial stream, as the Jordan, the Euphrates (Gen. 2:10; 15:18; Deut. 1:7; Ps. 66:6; Ezek. 10:15).

(4.) Tel'alah, a conduit, or water-course (1 Kings 18:32; 2 Kings 18:17; 20:20; Job 38:25; Ezek. 31:4).

(5.) Peleg, properly "waters divided", i.e., streams divided, throughout the land (Ps. 1:3); "the rivers [i.e., 'divisions'] of waters" (Job 20:17; 29:6; Prov. 5:16).

(6.) Ye'or, i.e., "great river", probably from an Egyptian word (Aur), commonly applied to the Nile (Gen. 41:1-3), but also to other rivers (Job 28:10; Isa. 33:21).

(7.) Yubhal, "a river" (Jer. 17:8), a full flowing stream.

(8.) 'Ubhal, "a river" (Dan. 8:2).