RH

1.
symb. Chem. the element rhodium.
2.
abbr.
1 Rhesus.
2 Rhesus factor.

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noun

any of several hormones produced in the hypothalamus and carried by a vein to the anterior pituitary gland where they stimulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones; each of these hormones causes the anterior pituitary to secrete a specific hormone

• Syn: ↑releasing hormone, ↑releasing factor, ↑hypothalamic releasing hormone, ↑hypothalamic releasing factor

• Hypernyms: ↑hormone, ↑endocrine, ↑internal secretion

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Usage: usually capitalized R

variant of rh factor

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Meteorol. See relative humidity.

Also, rh.

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abbrev

1. Republic of Haiti (IVR)

2. Royal Highness

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r.h.,

1. relative humidity.

2. Music. right hand.

Rh (no period),

1. Rh factor.

2. rhodium (chemical element).

R.H.,

1. Royal Highlanders.

2. Royal Highness.

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1.

abbr. Rhesus (factor)

2.

symbol the chemical element rhodium

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abbr

right hand

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rh

a consonantal digraph used in Latin, and hence in English, French, and other languages, to represent Gr. initial ῥ (with spiritus asper); in English it has the same phonetic value as the simple r. In med.L., OF., and consequently in ME., the h was frequently dropped (see rhetoric, rheum¹), and in a few instances (e.g. rachis, raphe) custom has sanctioned its omission in mod.English. Gr. medial ρρ (formerly often printed ῤῥ) is normally represented by rrh (as in diarrhœa).

While OE. initial hr is rarely represented in later periods by rh, a large number of variant spellings are found with rh where it is etymologically inappropriate (cf. rhine¹).