Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/E Embalm



the fifth letter in our own and the cognate alphabets, with four sounds—e.g. e in evil, i in England, u in the last syllable of eleven, Italian e in prey. A subscript e is commonly used to lengthen the previous vowel, as in not, note; bit, bite; (mus.) the third note or sound of the natural diatonic scale, and the third above the tonic C.

Each, ēch, adj. every one in any number separately considered.—adv. , everywhere. [A.S. ǽlc, supposed to be for á-ge-líc, from á (=aye), pfx. ge-, and líc, like—i.e. aye-like.]

Eadish, obsolete form of Eddish.

Eager, ē′gėr, adj. excited by desire: ardent to do or obtain: (obs.) earnest: keen, severe, sour, acid, bitter.—adv. '.—n. '. [O. Fr. aigre—L. acer, acris, sharp.]

Eager. Same as Eagre.

Eagle, ē′gl, n. a name given to many birds of prey in the family Falconidæ: a military standard carrying the figure of an eagle: a gold coin of the United States, worth ten dollars.—adjs. ', ', having a piercing eye: discerning; ', mounting high.—ns. ', a name applied to several eagles of comparatively small size; ', a genus of large owls, the largest in Europe; ', a variety of argillaceous oxide of iron occurring in egg-shaped masses; ', a young or small eagle.—adj. ', having an eagle's wings.—ns. ', another name for agalloch or calambac; ' (see Spread). [O. Fr. aigle—L. aquila.]

Eagre, ē′gėr, n. rise of the tide in a river (same as Bore). [Ety. dub.; hardly from A.S. égor, flood.]

Ealdorman. See Alderman.

Ean, ēn, v.t. or v.i. (Shak.) to bring forth young.—n. , a young lamb. [A.S. éanian.]

Ear, ēr, n. a spike, as of corn.—v.i. to put forth ears.—n. , a disease of wheat.—adj. Eared, of corn, having ears. [A.S. éar; Ger. ähre.]

Ear, ēr, v.t. (obs.) to plough or till.—n.  (obs.), ploughing. [A.S. erian; cf. L. arāre, Gr. aroein.]

Ear, ēr, n. the organ of hearing, or the external part merely: the sense or power of hearing: the faculty of distinguishing sounds: attention: anything like an ear.—ns. ', an ache or pain in the ear; ', an earring; ', a covering to protect the ear from cold; ', an ornamental pendant hanging from the ear; ', the drum or middle cavity of the ear, tympanum (q.v.).—adj. Eared, having ears.—n. ', the aperture of the ear.—adj. ', whispered.—n. ', the tip of the ear: an ear-cap.—adj. ', wanting ears.—ns. ', a curl near the ear worn by Elizabethan dandies; ', a mark set on the ears of sheep whereby their owners may distinguish them: a distinctive mark.—v.t. to put an earmark on.—n. ', an instrument for clearing the ear.—adj. ', shrill, screaming.—ns. ', an ornamental ring worn in the ear; ', any shell of the family Haliotidæ; ', the distance at which a sound can be heard; ', a tube to aid in hearing; ', a waxy substance secreted by the glands of the ear; ', an insect which was supposed to creep into the brain through the ear: a flatterer.—v.t. to gain the ear of: to bias: to torment by private importunities (A.S. éarwicga, éare, ear, wicga, earwig).—n. ', a witness that can testify from his own hearing.—About one's ears, said of a house falling, &c.; Be all ears, to give every attention; Give ear, to attend; Go in at one ear and out at the other, used of words which make no permanent impression; Have a person's ear, to be secure of his favourable attention; Have itching ears, to be desirous of hearing novelties (2 Tim. iv. 3); Lend an ear, to listen; Over head and ears, overwhelmed: deeply engrossed or involved; Set by the ears, to set at strife; Speak in the ear, to whisper; Tickle the ear, to flatter; Turn a deaf ear, to refuse to listen; Walls have ears, a proverbial phrase implying that there may be listeners behind the wall. [A.S. éare; cf. L. auris, Ger. ohr.]



Earl, ėrl, n. an English nobleman ranking between a marquis and a viscount:—fem. '.—ns. ', the dominion or dignity of an earl; , an English officer of state, president of the Heralds' College—the Scotch form Earl-marischal. [A.S. eorl, a warrior, hero; cf. Ice. jarl.]

Earles-penny. See Arles.

Early, ėr′li, adj. in good season: at or near the beginning of the day: relating to the beginning: happening in the near future.—adv. near the beginning: soon.—n. .—Early and late, at all times; Early bird, an early riser; Early English (archit.), generally applied to the form of Gothic in which the pointed arch was first employed in Britain. The Early English succeeded the Norman towards the end of the 12th century, and merged into the Decorated at the end of the 13th.—Keep early hours, to rise and go to bed betimes; Small and early (coll.), applied to evening parties; The early bird catches the worm, a proverb in favour of early rising. [A.S. árlíce—ǽr, before.]

Earn, ėrn, v.t. to gain by labour: to acquire: to deserve.—n.pl. , what one has earned: money saved. [A.S. earnian, to earn; cog. with Old High Ger. aran, to reap; Ger. ernte, harvest.]

Earn, ėrn, v.i. to yearn. [A variant of yearn.]

Earnest, ėr′nest, adj. showing strong desire: determined: eager to obtain: intent: sincere: serious.—n. seriousness: reality.—adv. '.—n. '. [A.S. eornost, seriousness; Ger. ernst.]

Earnest, ėr′nest, n. money given in token of a bargain made—also ', ': a pledge: first-fruits. [Ety. obscure; possibly conn. with arles.]

Earst, obsolete form of Erst.

Earth, ėrth, n. the name applied to the third planet in order from the sun: the matter on the surface of the globe: soil: dry land, as opposed to sea: the world: the inhabitants of the world: dirt: dead matter: the human body: a fox's hole: (pl.) the name applied by the alchemists and earlier chemists to certain substances now known to be oxides of metal, which were distinguished by being infusible, and by insolubility in water.—v.t. to hide or cause to hide in the earth: to bury.—v.i. to burrow: to hide.—ns. ', a sack of earth used in fortifications; ', a bath of earth or mud; ', the board of a plough, or other implement, that turns over the earth.—adjs. ', born from or on the earth; ', bound or held by the earth, as a tree; ', mean, grovelling.—n. ', a system consisting of the application of earth to the deodorisation of fæcal matters.—adjs. ', made of earth; ', made of earth or clay: earthly.—ns. ', crockery; ', a landslide.—adj. ', contented with earthly things.—ns. ', asbestos; ' (see Aardvark); ', the name given to the ancient underground dwellings in Ireland and Scotland, also called Picts' houses; ', the passion for acquiring land; '; '; ', a dweller on the earth.—adjs. ', belonging to the earth: vile: worldly; ', having the mind intent on earthly things.—ns. '; ', the popular name of certain tuberous roots growing underground; ', the hog-peanut; ', a buried plate of metal forming the earth-connection of a telegraph-wire, lightning-conductor, &c.; ', a quaking or shaking of the earth: a heaving of the ground; ', the faint light visible on the part of the moon not illuminated by the sun; ', a slight earthquake.—adv. ', toward the earth.—ns. ', a fortification of earth; ', the common worm: a mean person, a poor creature.—adj. ', consisting of, relating to, or resembling earth: inhabiting the earth: gross: unrefined. [A.S. eorthe; cf. Dut. aarde, Ger. erde.]

Ease, ēz, n. freedom from pain or disturbance: rest from work: quiet: freedom from difficulty: naturalness.—v.t. to free from pain, trouble, or anxiety: to relieve: to calm.—adj. ', ease-giving: quiet, fit for rest.—n. ', relief: assistance: support: gratification.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. ', at ease: free from pain: tranquil: unconstrained: giving ease: not difficult: yielding: not straitened (in circumstances): not tight: not strict, as in 'easy virtue.'—interj. Easy! a command to lower, or to go gently, to stop rowing, &c.—n. ', an arm-chair for ease or rest.—adj. , good-natured: indolent.—Ease one's self, to relieve nature.—Chapel of ease (see Chapel); Free and easy (see Free).—Honours easy, when the honours are evenly divided at whist: Ill at ease, uncomfortable; Stand at ease, used of soldiers, when freed from 'attention;' Take it easy, to be quite unconcerned: to be in no hurry; Take one's ease, to make one's self comfortable. [O. Fr. aise; cog. with It. agio; Prov. ais, Port. azo.]

Easel, ēz′l, n. the frame on which painters support their pictures while painting. [Dut. ezel, or Ger. esel, an ass.]

Easle, ēs′l, n. (Burns) hot ashes. [A.S. ysle; cf. Ice. usli.]

Eassel, a Scotch form for eastward, easterly.

East, ēst, n. that part of the heavens where the sun first shines or rises: one of the four cardinal points of the compass.—adj. toward the rising of the sun.—ns. ', the eastern part of London, the habitation of the poorer classes; '.—adjs. ', ', toward the east: connected with the east: dwelling in the east.—n. ', a native of the East: a trader from the shores of the Baltic.—adj. ', coming from the eastward: looking toward the east.—adv. on the east: toward the east.—adjs. ', ', situated farthest east.—ns. ', a vessel used in the East India trade; ', the course gained to the eastward: distance eastward from a given meridian; ', the land in the East.—adv. ', toward the east.—East-by-south (north), 11¼ degrees from due east; East-south (north)-east, 22½ degrees from due east.—Eastward position, the position of the celebrant at the Eucharist, when he stands in front of the altar and facing it, instead of the usual practice of standing at the north end of the altar, facing southward.—About east (slang), in proper manner; The East, the countries to the east of Europe; Turning to the east, a practice for both clergy and laity during service, esp. while singing the creeds, the Gloria Patri, and the Gloria in Excelsis. [A.S. east; Ger. ost; akin to Gr. ēōs, the dawn.]

Easter, ēst′ėr, n. a Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Christ, held on the Sunday after Good-Friday.—n. ', Easter Sunday.—ns.pl. ', ', 'customary sums' which from time immemorial have been paid to the parson by his people at Easter.—ns. ', eggs stained of various colours, given as presents on Easter; , Eastertime, either Easter week or the fifty days between Easter and Whitsuntide. [A.S. éastre; Ger. ostern. Bede derives the word from Eastre, a goddess whose festival was held at the spring equinox.]

Eat, ēt, v.t. to chew and swallow: to consume: to corrode.—v.i. to take food:—pr.p. pa.t. ate (āt or et); pa.p. eaten (ētn) or (obs.) eat (et).—adj. ', fit to be eaten.—n. anything used as food (chiefly pl.).—ns. ', grass or fodder for horses, &c.: the right to eat; ', one who, or that which, eats or corrodes; ', the act of taking food.—p.adj. that eats: corroding.—ns. ', a place where provisions are sold ready dressed: a restaurant; ', something good for food.—Eat away, to destroy gradually: to gnaw; Eat in, used of the action of acid; Eat its head off, used of an animal which costs as much for food as it is worth; Eat one's heart, to pine away, brooding over misfortune; Eat one's terms, to study for the bar, with allusion to the number of times in a term that a student must dine in the hall of an Inn of Court; Eat one's words, to retract: to recant; Eat out, to finish eatables: to encroach upon; Eat the air (Shak.) to be deluded with hopes; Eat up, to devour: to consume, absorb; Eat well, to have a good appetite. [A.S. etan; cf. Ger. essen, Ice. eta, L. edĕre, Gr. edein.]

Eath, ēth, adj. (obs.) easy.—adv. . [A.S. éathe, easily; cf. Old High Ger. odi, easy.]

Eau, ō, n. the French word for water, used in English in various combinations.—Eau Créole, a fine Martinique liqueur, made by distilling the flowers of the mammee-apple with spirit of wine; Eau de Cologne (see under Cologne-earth); Eau de vie, brandy.

Eaves, ēvz, n.pl. the projecting edge of the roof: anything projecting.—ns. ', ', the water which falls from the eaves of a house: the place where the drops fall.—v.i. and v.t. ', to stand under the eaves or near the windows of a house to listen: to listen for secrets.—ns. ', one who thus listens: one who tries to overhear private conversation; . [A.S. efes, the clipped edge of thatch; cf. Ice. ups.]

Ebb, eb, n. the going back or retiring of the tide: a decline or decay.—v.i. to flow back: to sink: to decay.—n. , the ebbing or retiring tide. [A.S. ebba; Ger. ebbe; cog. with even.]

Ebenezer, eb-en-ēz′er, n. a memorial stone set up by Samuel after the victory of Mizpeh (1 Sam. vii. 12): a name sometimes applied to a chapel or meeting-house. [Heb., 'stone of help.']

Ebionite, ē′bi-on-īt, n. a name applied to Jewish Christians who remained outside the Catholic Church down to the time of Jerome. They held the Mosaic laws binding on Christians, and denied the apostolate of Paul and the miraculous birth of Jesus.—v.t. '.—adj. '.—ns. ', '. [Heb. ebyōn, poor.]

Eblis, eb′lis, n. the chief of the fallen angels or wicked jinns in Mohammedan mythology.—Also .

Ebon, eb′on, Ebony, eb′on-i, n. a kind of wood almost as heavy and hard as stone, usually black, admitting of a fine polish.—adj. made of ebony: black as ebony.—v.t. ', to make furniture look like ebony.—ns. ', a worker in ebony; , vulcanite (see under Vulcan). [L.,—Gr. ebenos; cf. Heb. hodnīm, pl. of hobni, obni—eben, a stone.]

Éboulement, ā-bool′mong, n. the falling in of the wall of a fortification: a landslide or landslip. [Fr.]

Ebracteate, -d, e-brak′tē-āt, -ed, adj. (bot.) without bracts.

Ebriated, ē′bri-āt-ed, adj. intoxicated.—n. ', drunkenness.—adj. ', drunk.—n. . [L. ebriāre, -ātum, to make drunk.]

Ébrillade, ā-brē-lyad′, n. the sudden jerking of a horse's rein when he refuses to turn. [Fr.]

Ebullient, e-bul′yent, adj. boiling up or over: agitated: enthusiastic.—ns. ', ', a boiling over; , act of boiling: agitation: an outbreak. [L. ebullient-em, ebullīre—e, out, and bullīre, to boil.]

Eburnine, eb-ur′nin, adj. of or like ivory—also '.—ns. ', a morbid change of bone by which it becomes very hard and dense; , art of making like ivory. [L. ebur.]

Écarté, ā-kär′tā, n. a game for two, played with the thirty-two highest cards, one feature being the right to discard or throw out certain cards for others. [Fr.,—e, out, carte, a card.]

Ecaudate, ē-kaw′dāt, adj. tailless.

Ecbasis, ek′ba-sis, n. (rhet.) a figure in which the speaker treats of things according to their consequences.—adj. , denoting a mere result, not an intention. [Gr.]

Ecblastesis, ek-blas-tē′sis, n. (bot.) the production of buds within flowers.

Ecbole, ek′bo-lē, n. (rhet.) a digression: (mus.) the raising or sharping of a tone.—adj. , promoting parturition.—n. a drug with this quality. [Gr.]

Eccaleobion, ek-kal-e-ō′bi-on, n. a machine for the artificial hatching of eggs. [Gr., 'I call out life.']

Ecce, ek′si, Latin word for 'behold.'—Ecce homo, behold the man (John, xix. 5)—in art, a Christ crowned with thorns.

Eccentric, -al, ek-sen′trik, -al, adj. departing from the centre: not having the same centre as another, said of circles: out of the usual course: not conforming to common rules: odd.—n. ', a circle not having the same centre as another: (mech.) a contrivance for taking an alternating rectilinear motion from a revolving shaft: an eccentric fellow.—adv. '.—n. , the distance of the centre of a planet's orbit from the centre of the sun: singularity of conduct: oddness. [Fr.,—Low L. eccentricus—Gr. ek, out of, kentron, centre.]

Ecchymosis, ek-ki-mō′sis, n. a discoloration of the surface produced by blood effused below or in the texture of the skin.—adjs. ', '. [Gr.,—ek, out of, and chymos, juice.]

Ecclesia, e-klē′zi-a, n. a popular assembly, esp. of Athens, where the people exercised full sovereignty, and all above twenty years could vote: applied by the Septuagint commentators to the Jewish commonwealth, and from them to the Christian Church.—adj. '.—ns. ', a ruler of the church; ', the preacher—Solomon formerly considered as the author of Ecclesiastes: an ecclesiastic; ', one of the books of the Old Testament, traditionally ascribed to Solomon; ', one consecrated to the church, a priest, a clergyman.—adjs. ', ', belonging to the church.—adv. ', in an ecclesiastical manner.—ns. ', attachment to ecclesiastical observances, &c.: the churchman's temper or spirit; ', name of a book of the Apocrypha; ', excessive reverence for church forms and traditions.—adj. '.—ns. ', a student of church forms and traditions; ', the science of building and decorating churches: the science relating to the church. [Low L.,—Gr. ekklesia, an assembly called out of the world, the church—ek, out, and kalein, to call.]

Eccoprotic, ek-ō-prot′ik, adj. laxative, mildly cathartic.—n. a laxative.

Eccrinology, ek-ri-nol′ō-ji, n. the branch of physiology relating to the secretions.

Eccrisis, ek′ri-sis, n. expulsion of waste or morbid matter.—n. , a medicine having this property. [Gr.]

Ecdysis, ek′di-sis, n. the act of casting off an integument, as in serpents. [Gr.]

Eche, ēk, v.t. (Shak.) to eke out: to augment. [A.S. écan; akin to L. augēre, to increase. See Eke.]

Echelon, esh′e-long, n. an arrangement of troops in battalions or divisions placed parallel to one another, but no two on the same alignment, each having its front clear of that in advance. [Fr., from échelle, a ladder or stair. See Scale.]

Echidna, ek-id′na, n. a genus of Australian toothless burrowing monotremate mammals, armed with porcupine-like spines, laying eggs instead of bringing forth the young.—n. , serpent-poison. [Formed from Gr. echidna, a viper.]

Echinate, -d, ek′in-āt, -ed, adj. prickly like a hedgehog: set with prickles or bristles.—ns. ', a fossil sea-urchin; ', one of the ', a class of animals having the skin strengthened by calcareous plates, or covered with spikes.—adjs. ', relating to the Echinodermata; ', like a sea-urchin.—n. one of the '.—n. , a sea-urchin: (archit.) the convex projecting moulding of eccentric curve in Greek examples, supporting the abacus of the Doric capital. [Gr. echinos, a hedgehog, and derma, skin.]

Echo, ek′ō, n. the repetition of sound caused by a sound-wave coming against some opposing surface, and being reflected: a device in verse in which a line ends with a word which recalls the sound of the last word of the preceding line: imitation: an imitator:—pl. Echoes —v.i. to reflect sound: to be sounded back: to resound.—v.t. to send back the sound of: to repeat a thing said: to imitate: to flatter slavishly:—pr.p. pa.p. —ns. ', the formation of imitative words; ', one who repeats like an echo.—adj. ', giving no echo, unresponsive.—ns. ', an instrument for measuring the length of sounds; , the art of measuring such.—Cheer to the echo, to applaud most heartily, so that the room resounds. [L.,—Gr. ēchō, a sound.]

Éclaircissement, ek-lār-sis′mong, n. the act of clearing up anything: explanation.—Come to an éclaircissement, to come to an understanding: to explain conduct that seemed equivocal. [Fr. éclaircir, pr.p. -cissant, é—L. ex, out, clair—L. clarus, clear.]

Eclampsia, ek-lamp′si-a, n. a term often erroneously applied as synonymous with epilepsy, while it is really the equivalent of convulsions, but usually restricted to such as are due to such local or general causes as teething, child-bearing, &c.—also '.—adj. '. [Formed from Gr. eklampein, to shine forth.]

Éclat, ā-klä′, n. a striking effect: applause: splendour: social distinction, notoriety. [Fr. éclat, from O. Fr. esclater, to break, to shine.]

Eclectic, ek-lek′tik, adj. selecting or borrowing: choosing the best out of everything: broad, the opposite of exclusive.—n. one who selects opinions from different systems, esp. in philosophy.—adv. '.—n. ', the practice of an eclectic: the doctrine of the , a name applied to certain Greek thinkers in the 2d and 1st centuries B.C., later to Leibnitz and Cousin. [Gr. eklektikos—ek, out, legein, to choose.]

Eclipse, e-klips′, n. an obscuration of one of the heavenly bodies by the interposition of another, either between it and the spectator, or between it and the sun: loss of brilliancy: darkness.—v.t. to hide a luminous body wholly or in part: to darken: to throw into the shade, to cut out, surpass.—p.adjs. ', darkened, obscured; ', darkening, obscuring.—n. , the name given to the great circle of the heavens round which the sun seems to travel, from west to east, in the course of a year: a great circle on the globe corresponding to the celestial ecliptic.—adj. pertaining to an eclipse or the ecliptic. [Through O. Fr. and L. from Gr. ekleipsis—ek, out, leipein, to leave.]

Eclogite, ek′loj-īt, n. a crystalline rock, composed of smaragdite and red garnet. [Gr. eklogē, selection—ek, out, legein, to choose.]

Eclogue, ek′log, n. a short pastoral poem like Virgil's Bucolics. [L. ecloga—Gr. eklogē, a selection, esp. of poems—ek, out of, legein to choose.]

Economy, ek-on′o-mi, n. the management of a household or of money matters: a frugal and judicious expenditure of money: a system of rules or ceremonies: a dispensation, as 'the Christian economy:' regular operations, as of nature.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to economy: frugal: careful.—adv. '.—ns. ', the science of household management: political economy; ', act of economising.—v.i. ', to manage with economy: to spend money carefully: to save.—v.t. to use prudently: to spend with frugality.—ns. ', ', one who is economical: one who studies political economy.—Political economy (see under Politic). [L. œconomia—Gr. oikonomia—oikos, a house, nomos, a law.]

Écorché, ā-kor′shā, n. a figure in which the muscles are represented stripped of the skin, for purposes of artistic study. [Fr. écorcher, to flay.]

Écossaise, ā-ko-sāz′, n. a kind of country-dance of Scotch origin, or music appropriate to such.—Douche Écossaise, the alternation of hot and cold douches. [Fr., fem. of Écossais, Scotch.]

Ecostate, ē-kos′tāt, adj. (bot.) not costate: ribless.

Ecphlysis, ek′fli-sis, n. (path.) vesicular eruption.

Ecphonesis, ek-fō-nē′sis, n. (rhet.) a figure of speech which uses questions, interjections, &c., for variety: in Greek use, the part of the service spoken in an audible tone.

Ecphractic, ek-frak′tik, adj. (med.) serving to remove obstructions.—n. a drug with such properties.

Ecraseur, ā-kra-zėr, n. (surg.) an instrument for removing tumours. [Fr.]

Ecstasy, ek′sta-si, n. a word applied to states of mind marked by temporary mental alienation and altered or diminished consciousness: excessive joy: enthusiasm, or any exalted feeling.—v.t. to fill with joy.—adjs. ', enraptured; ', causing ecstasy: amounting to ecstasy: rapturous.—n. one given to ecstasy: something spoken in a state of ecstasy.—adv. . [Through O. Fr. and Low L. from Gr. ekstasis—ek, aside, histanai, to make to stand.]

Ectal, ek′tal, adj. (anat.) outer, external—opp. to Ental.—adv. . [Gr. ektos, without.]

Ectasis, ek′ta-sis, n. the pronunciation of a vowel as long.

Ecthlipsis, ek-thlip′sis, n. omission or suppression of a letter. [Gr.]

Ecthyma, ek-thī′ma, n. a pustular disease of the skin, in which the pustules often reach the size of a pea, and have a red, slightly elevated, hardish base. [Gr., ek, thyein, to boil.]

Ectoblast, ek′to-blast, n. the outer wall of a cell.—adj. .

Ectoderm, ek′to-dėrm, n. the external germinal layer of the embryo. [Gr. ektos, outside, derma, skin.]

Ectoparasite, ek-tō-par′a-sīt, n. an external parasite.

Ectopia, ek-tō′pi-a, n. (path.) morbid displacement of parts.—adj. .

Ectoplasm, ek′to-plasm, n. the exterior protoplasm or sarcode of a cell.—adjs. ', '.

Ectozoa, ek-tō-zō′a, n.pl. external parasites generally—opp. to Entozoa.—n. , one of the Ectozoa.

Ectropion, -um, ek-trōp′i-on, -um, n. eversion of the margin of the eyelid, so that the red inner surface is exposed.—adj. . [Gr. ek, out, and trepein, to turn.]

Ectype, ek′tīp, n. a reproduction or copy.—adj. '.—n. '. [Gr. ek, out, and typos, a figure.]

Écu, ā′kü, or ā-kū′, n. a French silver coin, usually considered as equivalent to the English crown—there were also gold écus weighing about 60 grains: a common name for the five-franc piece. [Fr.,—L. scutum, a shield.]

Ecumenic, -al, ek-ū-men′ik, -al, adj. general, universal, belonging to the entire Christian Church.—Also ', '.

Eczema, ek′ze-ma, n. a common skin disease, in which the affected portion of the skin is red, and is covered with numerous small papules, which speedily turn into vesicles.—adj. . [Gr., from ekzein—ek, out, zeein, to boil.]

Edacious, e-dā′shus, adj. given to eating: gluttonous.—adv. '.—ns. '; . [L. edax, edācis—edĕre, to eat.]

Edda, ed′a, n. the name of two Scandinavian books—the 'Elder' Edda, a collection of ancient mythological and heroic songs (9th-11th century); and the 'Younger' or prose Edda, by Snorri Sturluson (c. 1230), mythological stories, poetics, and prosody. [Ice., 'great-grandmother.']

Eddish, ed′dish, n. pasturage, or the eatable growth of grass after mowing. [Dubiously referred to A.S. edisc, a park.]

Eddy, ed′i, n. a current of water or air running back, contrary to the main stream, thus causing a circular motion: a whirlpool: a whirlwind.—v.i. to move round and round:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. , the action of the verb eddy. [Prob. from A.S. ed, back; cf. Ice. ida—id, back.]

Edelweiss, ā′del-vīs, n. a small white composite, with pretty white flower, found growing in damp places at considerable altitudes (5000-7000 feet) throughout the Alps. [Ger. edel, noble, weiss, white.]

Edematose, -ous. Same as Œdematose,  (q.v. under Œdema).

Eden, ē′den, n. the garden where Adam and Eve lived: a paradise.—adj. . [Heb. ēden, delight, pleasure.]

Edentate, -d, e-den′tāt, -ed, adj. without teeth: wanting front teeth—also '.—ns. ', a Cuvierian order of mammals, having no teeth or very imperfect ones; ', toothlessness.—adj. ', edentate. [L. edentātus, toothless—e, out of, dens, dentis, a tooth.]

Edge, ej, n. the border of anything: the brink: the cutting side of an instrument: something that wounds or cuts: sharpness of mind or appetite: keenness.—v.t. to put an edge on: to place a border on: to exasperate: to urge on: to move by little and little.—v.i. to move sideways.—n. ', the haunch-bone.—adjs. Edged; ', without an edge: blunt.—ns. ', a rail of such form that the carriage-wheels roll on its edges, being held there by flanges; ', Edged tool, a tool with a sharp edge.—advs. ', ', in the direction of the edge: sideways.—ns. ', angularity, over-sharpness of outline; ', any border or fringe round a garment: a border of box, &c., round a flower-bed.—adj. , with edges, sharp, hard in outline.—Edge in a word, to get a word in with difficulty; Edge of the sword, a rhetorical phrase for the sword as the symbol of slaughter.—Outside edge, figure in skating, made on the outer edge of the skate.—Play with edge-tools, to deal carelessly with dangerous matters.—Set on edge, to excite; Set the teeth on edge, to cause a strange grating feeling in the teeth; to rouse an instinctive dislike. [A.S. ecg; cf. Ger. ecke, L. acies.]

Edible, ed′i-bl, adj. fit to be eaten.—n. something for food.—ns. ', ', fitness for being eaten. [L. edibilis—edĕre, to eat.]

Edict, ē′dikt, n. something proclaimed by authority: an order issued by a king or lawgiver.—adj. '.—adv. '. [L. edictum—e, out, dicĕre, dictum, to say.]

Edify, ed′i-fī, v.t. to build: to build up the faith of: to strengthen spiritually towards faith and holiness: to comfort: to improve the mind:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. ', instruction: progress in knowledge or in goodness.—adj. ', tending to edification.—n. ', a large building or house.—adj. ', structural.—n. ', one who edifies.—adj. ', instructive: improving.—adv. . [Fr. édifier—L. ædificāre—ædes, a house, facĕre, to make.]

Edile. See Ædile.

Edit, ed′it, v.t. to prepare the work of an author for publication: to superintend the publication of (a newspaper, &c.): to compile, garble, or cook up materials into literary shape.—ns. ', the publication of a book: the number of copies of a book printed at a time; ', one who edits a book: one who conducts a newspaper or journal:—fem. '.—adj. ', of or belonging to an editor.—n. an article in a newspaper written by the editor, a leading article.—adv. '.—n. '. [L. edĕre, edĭtum—e, out, dăre, to give.]

Educate, ed′ū-kāt, v.t. to bring up children: to train: to teach: to cultivate any power.—adj. '.—n. ', the bringing up or training, as of a child: instruction: strengthening of the powers of body or mind.—adj. '.—adv. '.—n. ', one skilled in methods of educating or teaching: one who promotes education.—adj. ', of or pertaining to education: calculated to teach.—n. . [L. educāre, -ātum—educĕre—e, out, ducĕre, to lead.]

Educe, ē-dūs′, v.t. to draw out: to extract: to cause to appear.—n. inference.—adj. ', that may be educed or brought out and shown.—ns. ', what is educed; ', the act of educing; ', the pipe by which the exhaust steam is led from the cylinder of a steam-engine into the condenser or the atmosphere; , he who, or that which, educes. [L. educĕre, eductum—e, out, and ducĕre, to lead.]

Edulcorate, ē-dul′kō-rāt, v.t. to sweeten: to free from acids, &c.—adj. '.—n. '.—adj. '.—n. '.

Ee, ē, Scotch form of eye:—pl. Een.

Eel, n. a name widely applied in popular usage, but justifiably extended to all the members of the family Murænidæ—the body is much elongated, cylindrical or ribbon-shaped.—ns. ', a basket for catching eels; ', in England, a Burbot (q.v.); in parts of Scotland, a Blenny (q.v.): a well-known fish, with a slimy body, living chiefly in mud; , an instrument with broad prongs for catching eels. [A.S. ǽl; Ger., Dut. aal.]

E′en, ēn, a contraction of even.

E′er, ār, a contraction of ever.

Eerie, Eery, ē′ri, adj. exciting fear: weird: affected with fear: timorous.—adv. '.—n. ' (Scot.). [M. E. arh, eri—A.S. earg, timid.]

Effable, ef′a-bl, adj. capable of being expressed. [Fr.,—L. effāri—ex, out, fāri, to speak.]

Efface, ef-fās′, v.t. to destroy the surface of a thing: to rub out: to obliterate, wear away.—adj. ', that can be rubbed out.—n. '. [Fr. effacer—L. ex, out, facies, face.]

Effect, ef-fekt′, n. the result of an action: impression produced: reality: the consequence intended: (pl.) goods: property.—v.t. to produce: to accomplish.—ns. ', '.—adjs. ', that may be effected; ', having power to effect: causing something: powerful: serviceable.—adv. '.—n. '.—adjs. ', without effect, useless; ', successful in producing the desired effect: (Shak.) decisive.—n. '.—adv. '.—v.t. ', to accomplish.—n. '.—Effectual calling (theol.), the invitation to come to Christ which the elect receive.—For effect, so as to make a telling impression; General effect, the effect produced by a picture, &c., as a whole; Give effect to, to accomplish, perform; In effect, in truth, really: substantially.—Leave no effects, to die without property to bequeath.—Take effect, to begin to operate: to come into force. [Fr.,—L. efficĕre, effectum, to accomplish—ex, out, facĕre, to make.]

Effeir, Effere, e-fēr′, n. Scotch form of affair.

Effeminate, ef-fem′in-āt, adj. womanish: unmanly: weak: cowardly: voluptuous.—n. an effeminate person.—v.t. to make womanish: to unman: to weaken.—v.i. to become effeminate.—n. ', womanish softness or weakness: indulgence in unmanly pleasures.—adv. '.—n. . [L. effemināre, -ātum, to make womanish—ex, out, and femina, a woman.]

Effendi, ef-fen′di, n. a Turkish title for civil officials and educated persons generally. [Turk.; from Gr. authentēs, an absolute master.]

Efferent, ef′e-rent, adj. conveying outward or away.

Effervesce, ef-fėr-ves′, v.i. to boil up: to bubble and hiss: to froth up.—ns. '; '.—adjs. ', boiling or bubbling from the disengagement of gas; '. [L. effervescĕre—ex, inten., and fervēre, to boil.]

Effete, ef-fēt′, adj. exhausted: worn out with age. [L. effētus, weakened by having brought forth young—ex, out, fetus, a bringing forth young.]

Efficacious, ef-fi-kā′shus, adj. able to produce the result intended.—adv. '.—ns. '; '; ', virtue: energy. [Fr.,—L. efficax, efficacis—efficĕre.]

Efficient, ef-fish′ent, adj. capable of producing the desired result: effective.—n. the person or thing that effects.—ns. ', ', power to produce the result intended, adequate fitness.—adv. . [Fr.,—L. efficiens, -entis, pr.p. of efficĕre—ex, out, facĕre, to make.]

Effierce, ef-fērs′, v.t. (Spens.) to make fierce.

Effigy, ef′fi-ji, n. a likeness or figure of a person: the head or impression on a coin: resemblance—(arch.) .—Burn in effigy, to burn a figure of a person, expressing dislike or contempt. [Fr.,—L. effigies—effingĕre—ex, inten., fingĕre, to form.]

Effloresce, ef-flo-res′, v.i. to blossom forth: (chem.) to become covered with a white dust: to form minute crystals.—ns. ', ', production of flowers: the time of flowering: a redness of the skin: the formation of a white powder on the surface of bodies, or of minute crystals.—adj. , forming a white dust on the surface: shooting into white threads. [L. efflorescĕre—ex, out, florescĕre, to blossom—flos, floris, a flower.]

Effluent, ef′floo-ent, adj. flowing out.—n. a stream that flows out of another stream or lake.—n. , a flowing out: that which flows from any body: issue. [L. effluens, -entis, pr.p. of effluĕre—ex, out, fluĕre, to flow.]

Effluvium, ef-flōō′vi-um, n. minute particles that flow out from bodies: disagreeable vapours rising from decaying matter:—pl. '.—adj. '. [Low L.,—L. effluĕre.]

Efflux, ef′fluks, n. act of flowing out: that which flows out.—Also . [L. effluĕre, effluxum.]

Effodient, e-fō′di-ent, adj. (zool.) habitually digging.

Effoliation, e-fō-li-ā′shun, n. the removal or fall of the leaves of a plant.

Efforce, ef-fōrs′, v.t. (Spens.) to compel. [Fr. efforcer—Late L. effortiāre—ex, out, fortis, strong.]

Effort, ef′fort, n. a putting forth of strength: attempt: struggle.—adj. , making no effort: passive. [Fr.,—L. ex, out, fortis, strong.]

Effray, an obsolete form of affray.

Effrontery, ef-frunt′ėr-i, n. shamelessness: impudence: insolence. [O. Fr.,—L. effrons, effrontis—ex, out, frons, frontis, the forehead.]

Effulge, ef-fulj′, v.i. to shine forth: to beam:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. ', great lustre or brightness: a flood of light.—adj. ', shining forth: extremely bright: splendid.—adv. . [L. effulgēre, to shine out, pr.p. effulgens, -entis—ex, out, fulgēre, to shine.]

Effuse, ef-fūz′, v.t. to pour out: to pour forth, as words: to shed.—n. effusion, loss.—adj. loosely spreading, not compact, expanded.—n. ', act of pouring out: that which is poured out or forth: quality of being effusive.—adj. ', pouring forth abundantly: gushing: expressing emotion in a pronounced manner.—adv. '.—n. '. [L. effundĕre, effusum—ex, out, fundĕre, to pour.]

Eft, eft, n. a kind of lizard: a newt. [A.S. efeta. Origin obscure. See Newt.]

Eft, eft, adj. ready (Shak., Much Ado, IV. ii. 38).

Eft, eft, adv. (Spens.) afterwards, again, forthwith, moreover.—adv.  (obs.), soon afterwards, forthwith. [A.S. æft, eft, after, again. See Aft.]

Egad, ē-gad′, interj. a minced oath. [By God.]

Egal, ē′gal, adj. (Shak.) equal.—n. , equality. [Fr. égalité—égal—L. æquus, equal.]

Eger, ē′gėr, n. Same as Eagre.

Egence, ē′jens, n. exigence.

Egestion, ej-est′yun, n. the passing off of excreta from within the body.—v.t. ', to discharge.—n.pl. ', things thrown out, excrements.—adj. . [L. egerĕre—e, out, gerĕre, to carry.]

Egg, eg, n. an oval body laid by birds and certain other animals, from which their young are produced: anything shaped like an egg.—ns. ', or plant, the brinjal or aubergine, an East Indian annual with egg-shaped fruit; ', a sooty tern; ', a covering put over boiled eggs to keep in the heat after being taken from the pot: ', a cup for holding an egg at table; ', ', one who collects eggs; ', a place where eggs are laid; ', a hot drink made of ale, with eggs, sugar, spice, &c.; ', a small sand-glass for regulating the boiling of eggs; ', a drink compounded of eggs and hot beer, spirits, &c.; ', the shell or calcareous substance which covers the eggs of birds; ', a kitchen utensil for lifting fried eggs out of a pan; , a small spoon used in eating eggs from the shell.—A bad egg (coll.), a worthless person; Put all one's eggs into one basket, to risk all on one enterprise; Take eggs for money, to be put off with mere promises of payment; Teach your grandmother to suck eggs, spoken contemptuously to one who would teach those older and wiser than himself; Tread upon eggs, to walk warily, to steer one's way carefully in a delicate situation. [A.S. æg; cf. Ice. egg, Ger. ei, perh. L. ovum, Gr. ōon.]

Egg, eg, v.t. to instigate. [Ice. eggja—egg, an edge; cog. with A.S. ecg. See Edge.]

Egis. See Ægis.

Eglandular, ē-glan′dū-lar, adj. having no glands.

Eglantine, eg′lan-tīn, n. a name given to the sweet-brier, and some other species of rose, whose branches are covered with sharp prickles. [Fr.,—O. Fr. aiglent, as if from a L. aculentus, prickly—acus, a needle, and suff. lentus.]

Eglatere, eg-la-tēr′, n. (Tenn.) eglantine.

Egma, eg′ma, n. (Shak.) a corruption of enigma.

Ego, ē′gō, n. the &apos;I,' that which is conscious and thinks.—ns. ' (phil.), the doctrine that we have proof of nothing but our own existence: (ethics), the theory of self-interest as the principle of morality: selfishness; ', one who holds the doctrine of egoism: one who thinks and speaks too much of himself.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to or manifesting egoism.—ns. ', the essential element of the ego; ', the deification of self.—v.i. ', to talk much of one's self.—ns. ', a frequent use of the pronoun I: speaking much of one's self: self-exaltation; ', one full of egotism.—adjs. ', ', showing egotism: self-important: conceited.—adv. '. [L. ego, I.]

Egophony, ē-gof′o-ni, n. a tremulous resonance heard in auscultation in cases of pleurisy.—Also . [Gr. aix, a goat, phonē, voice.]

Egregious, e-grē′ji-us, adj. prominent: distinguished: outrageous: enormous (in bad sense).—adv. '.—n. '. [L. egregius, chosen out of the flock—e, out, grex, gregis, a flock.]

Egress, ē′gres, n. act of going out: departure: the way out: the power or right to depart.—n. , the act of going out. [L. egredi, egressus—e, out, forth, and gradi, to go.]

Egret, ē′gret, n. a form of aigrette.

Egyptian, ē-jip′shi-an, adj. belonging to Egypt.—n. a native of Egypt: a gipsy.—adj. '.—ns. '; , the science of Egyptian antiquities.—Egyptian darkness, darkness like that of Exod. x. 22.

Eh, ā, interj. expressing inquiry or slight surprise.—v.i. to say 'Eh.'

Eident, ī′dent, adj. busy: (Scot.) diligent. [M. E. ithen—Ice. iðinn, diligent.]

Eider, ī′dėr, n. the eider-duck, a northern sea-duck, sought after for its fine down.—n. , the soft down of the eider-duck, used for stuffing quilts. [Prob. through Sw. from Ice. æðar, gen. of æðr, an eider-duck.]

Eidograph, ī′do-graf, n. an instrument for copying drawings. [Gr. eidos, form, graphein, to write.]

Eidolon, ī-dō′lon, n. an image: a phantom or apparition: a confusing reflection or reflected image:—pl. . [Gr. See Idol.]

Eiffel-tower, īf′el-tow′ėr, n. a colossal building—from the iron structure, 985 feet high, erected (1887-89) in the Champ-de-Mars at Paris by Gustave Eiffel.

Eight, āt, n. the cardinal number one above seven: the figure (8 or viii.) denoting eight.—adj. noting the number eight.—adjs. and ns. ', eight and ten, twice nine; ', same as Octodecimo (q.v.); ', the ordinal number corresponding to eighteen.—n. ' (her.), an eight-leaved grass.—adjs. ', eight times any quantity; Eighth, the ordinal number corresponding to eight.—n. an eighth part.—adv. ', in the eighth place.—adjs. and ns. ', the ordinal number corresponding to eighty; ', eight times ten, fourscore.—An eight, a crew of a rowing-boat, consisting of eight oarsmen; An eight-oar, or simply Eight, the boat itself; An eight days, a week; Figure of eight, a figure shaped like an 8 made in skating; Piece of eight, a Spanish coin; The eights, annual bumping boat-races which take place in the summer term in Oxford and Cambridge between the various colleges. [A.S. eahta; Ger. acht, L. octo, Gr. oktō.]

Eigne, ān, adj. first-born. [Corrupt spelling of ayne—Fr. aîné.]

Eikon, ī′kon, n. Same as Icon.

Eild, ēld, adj. (Scot.) not yielding milk. [See Yeld.]

Eild. Same as Eld (q.v.).

Eine, ēn, n.pl. (obs.) eyes. [See Een, under Ee.]

Eirack, ē′rak, n. (Scot.) a young hen.

Eirenicon, ī-rē′ni-kon, n. a proposal calculated to promote peace.—adj. . [Gr.,—eirēnē, peace.]

Eirie, ē′ri, n. Same as Eerie.

Eisteddfod, es-teth′vod, n. a congress of Welsh bards and musicians held in various towns for the preservation and cultivation of national poetry and music. [W.; lit. 'session,' eistedd, to sit.]

Either, ē′thėr, or ī′thėr, adj. or pron. the one or the other: one of two: each of two.—conj. correlative to or: (B.) or. [A.S. ǽgðer, a contr. of ǽghthwæðer=á, aye, the pfx. ge-, and hwæther, the mod. whether. See also Each.]

Ejaculate, e-jak′ū-lāt, v.t. to eject: to utter with suddenness.—v.i. to utter ejaculations.—n. ', a sudden utterance in prayer or otherwise: what is so uttered.—adjs. '; , uttered in short, earnest sentences. [L. e, out, and jaculāri, -ātus—jacĕre, to throw.]

Eject, e-jekt′, v.t. to cast out: to dismiss: to dispossess of: to expel.—ns. ', a coinage of Prof. Clifford for an inferred existence, a thing thrown out of one's own consciousness, as distinguished from object, a thing presented in one's consciousness; ', discharge: expulsion: state of being ejected: vomiting: that which is ejected.—adj. '.—ns. ', expulsion; dispossession: (law) an action for the recovery of the possession of land; , one who ejects or dispossesses another of his land: any mechanical apparatus for ejecting. [L. ejectāre, freq. of ejicĕre, ejectum—e, out, jacĕre, to throw.]

Eke, ēk, v.t. to add to or increase: to lengthen.—n. , act of adding: what is added.—Eke out, to supplement: to prolong. [A.S. écan, akin to L. augēre, to increase.]

Eke, ēk, adv. in addition to: likewise. [A.S. éac; Ger. auch; from root of eke, v.t.]

Elaborate, e-lab′or-āt, v.t. to labour on: to produce with labour: to take pains with: to improve by successive operations.—adj. wrought with labour: done with fullness and exactness: highly finished.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', act of elaborating: refinement: the process by which substances are formed in the organs of animals or plants.—adj. '.—ns. ', one who elaborates; '=Laboratory. [L. elaborāre, -ātum—e, out, laborāre—labor, labour.]

Élan, ā-long′, n. impetuosity, dash. [Fr.]

Elance, e-lans′, v.t. to throw out, as a lance. [Fr. élancer.]

Eland, ē′land, n. the South African antelope, resembling the elk in having a protuberance on the larynx. [Dut.; Ger. elend, the elk—Lith. élnis, the elk.]

Elapse, e-laps′, v.i. to slip or glide away: to pass silently, as time.—n. . [L. elapsus, elabi—e, out, away, labi, lapsus, to slide.]

Elasmobranchiate, e-las-mo-brang′ki-āt, adj. pertaining to a class, subclass, or order of fishes including sharks and skates, having lamellar branchiæ or plate-like gills.

Elastic, e-las′tik, adj. having a tendency to recover the original form: springy: able to recover quickly a former state or condition after a shock: flexible: yielding.—n. a piece of string, cord, &c. made elastic by having india-rubber woven in it.—adv. '.—ns. ', springiness: power to recover from depression; . [Coined from Gr. elastikos, elaunein, fut. elasein, to drive.]

Elate, e-lāt′, adj. lifted up: puffed up with success: exalted.—v.t. to raise or exalt: to elevate: to make proud.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', an elastic filament in certain liverworts and scale-mosses: a skip-jack beetle; ', a substance contained in the juice of the fruit of the squirting cucumber, yielding the purgative '; ', pride resulting from success. [L. elātus, pa.p. of efferre—e, out, ferre, to carry.]

Elbow, el′bō, n. the joint where the arm bows or bends: any sharp turn or bend.—v.t. to push with the elbow: to jostle.—ns. ', an arm-chair; ', humorously applied to vigorous rubbing; , room to extend the elbows: space enough for moving or acting: freedom.—At one's elbow, close at hand; Be out at elbow, to wear a coat ragged at the elbows; Up to the elbows, completely engrossed. [A.S. elnboga—el-, allied to L. ulna, the arm, boga, a bend—bugan, to bend. See Ell; Bow, n. and v.t.]

Elchee, elt′shi, n. an ambassador.—Also ', '. [Turk.]

Eld, eld, n. old age, senility: former times, antiquity.

Elder, eld′ėr, n. a genus of plants consisting chiefly of shrubs and trees, with pinnate leaves, small flowers (of which the corolla is wheel-shaped and five-cleft), and three-seeded berries—the Common Elder is the Scotch Bourtree.—ns. ', the acidulous purple-black drupaceous fruit of the elder; ', a popgun made of elder-wood by extracting the pith; , a pleasant wine made from elder-berries.—Elder-flower water, distilled water, with an agreeable odour, made from the flowers. [A.S. ellærn, ellen.]

Elder, eld′ėr, adj. older: having lived a longer time: prior in origin.—n. one who is older: an ancestor: one advanced to office on account of age: one of a class of office-bearers in the Presbyterian Church—equivalent to the presbyters of the New Testament.—n. '.—adj. ', somewhat old: bordering on old age.—n. ', state of being older: the office of an elder.—adj. ', oldest. [A.S. eldra, yldra, comp. of eald, old.]

Elding, el′ding, n. (prov.) fuel. [Ice.,—eldr, fire.]

El Dorado, el dō-rä′dō, the golden land of imagination of the Spanish conquerors of America: any place where wealth is easily to be made. [Sp. el, the, dorado, pa.p. of dorar, to gild.]

Eldritch, el′drich, adj. (Scot.) weird, hideous. [Der. obscure: perh. conn. with elf.]

Eleatic, el-e-at′ik, adj. noting a school of philosophers, specially connected with Elea, a Greek city of Lower Italy, and including Zenophanes, Parmenides, and Zeno.—n. one belonging to this school.

Elecampane, el′e-kam-pān′, n. a composite plant allied to Aster, formerly much cultivated for its medicinal root. [Formed from Low L. enula campana.]

Elect, e-lekt′, v.t. to choose out: to select for any office or purpose: to select by vote.—adj. chosen: taken by preference from among others: chosen for an office but not yet in it (almost always after the noun, as 'consul elect').—n. one chosen or set apart.—n. ', the act of electing or choosing: the public choice of a person for office, usually by the votes of a constituent body: freewill: (theol.) the exercise of God's sovereign will in the predetermination of certain persons to salvation: (B.) those who are elected.—v.i. ', to labour to secure the election of a candidate.—n. '.—n. and adj. ', the soliciting of votes and other business of an election.—adj. ', pertaining to, dependent on, or exerting the power of choice.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', one who elects: one who has a vote at an election: the title formerly belonging to those princes and archbishops of the German Empire who had the right to elect the Emperor:—fem. ', '.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to elections or to electors: consisting of electors.—ns. ', the dignity or the territory of an elector: the body of electors; '.—The elect (theol.), those chosen by God for salvation. [L. e, out, legĕre, to choose.]

Electric, e-lek′trik, adj. pertaining to or produced by electricity.—n. any electric substance: a non-conductor of electricity, as amber, glass, &c.—adj. '.—adv. '.—ns. ' (see Gymnotus); ', one who studies, or is versed in, the science of electricity; ', name of the cause of certain phenomena of attraction and repulsion: the phenomena themselves: the science which investigates the nature and laws of these phenomena.—adj. '.—n. '.—v.t. ', to communicate electricity to: to excite suddenly: to astonish: to adapt to electricity as the motive power:—pa.p. —n. '.—v.t. ', to electrify.—ns. ', either of the poles of a galvanic battery; ', a device for suspending a group of incandescent lamps; , amber: an alloy of gold and silver.—Electric railway, a railway on which electricity is the motive-power; Electric spark, one of the forms in which accumulated electricity discharges itself; Electric storm, a violent disturbance in the electrical condition of the earth. [L. electrum—Gr. elektron, amber, in which electricity was first observed.]

Electro-biology, e-lek′tro-bī-ol′o-ji, n. the science which treats of the electricity developed in living organisms: that view of animal magnetism according to which the actions, feelings, &c. of a person are controlled by the will of the operator.—adj. ', of an apparatus for determining by electricity the velocity of a projectile.—ns. '; ', that branch of chemical science which treats of the agency of electricity in effecting chemical changes.—v.t. ', to inflict a death penalty by means of electricity.—ns. ', capital punishment by electricity; ', the branch of physics which treats of the action of electricity; ', an instrument for measuring the strength of electro-dynamic action; ', an etching process in which the etched plate is placed in an electro-bath to deepen the 'bite;' ', electroplating with gold; ', that branch of science which treats of electricity in motion; ', the science of applied electricity.—v.t. ', to subject to electrolysis.—ns. ', the process of chemical decomposition by electricity; ', a body which admits of electrolysis.—adj. '.—n. ', a piece of soft iron rendered magnetic by a current of electricity passing through a coil of wire wound round it.—adj. '.—ns. ', a branch of science which treats of the relation of electricity to magnetism; ', a name given to certain processes by which electricity is applied to the working of metals, as in electroplating and electrotyping; ', an instrument for measuring the quantity of electricity.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to the measurement of electricity.—ns. ', the science of electrical measurements; ', the passage of an electric current in a voltaic circuit: motion produced by electricity employed as power.—adjs. ', pertaining to the motion of electricity or the laws governing it.—n. ', an apparatus for applying electricity as a motive-power.—adj. ', appearing, as an element in electrolysis, at the positive electrode: having the property of becoming negatively electrified by contact with a dissimilar substance.—ns. ', an instrument for producing sounds resembling trumpet-tones by electric currents of high tension; ', an instrument for obtaining statical electricity by means of induction; ', the study of the electric phenomena of living organisms.—v.t. ', to plate or cover with silver by electrolysis.—n. '.—adjs. ', having, as an electrical conductor, one end or surface positive and the other negative; ', attracted by bodies negatively electrified, or by the negative pole of a voltaic battery: assuming positive potential when in contact with another substance.—ns. ', an instrument for detecting the presence of electricity in a body and the nature of it; ', that branch of science which treats of electricity at rest; ', a style of etching by means of galvanism; ', the art of copying an engraving or type on a metal deposited by electricity.—adj. '.—ns. '; ', the art of copying.—adj. ', electrical and dependent upon vital processes.

Electuary, e-lek′tū-ar-i, n. a composition of medicinal powders with honey or sugar. [Low L. electuarium—Gr. ekleikton—ekleichein, to lick up.]

Electron. See page 1208.

Eleemosynary, el-e-mos′i-nar-i, adj. relating to charity or almsgiving: dependent on charity: given in charity. [Gr. eleēmosynē, compassionateness, alms—eleos, pity. See Alms.]

Elegant, el′e-gant, adj. pleasing to good taste: graceful: neat: refined: nice: richly ornamental.—ns. ', ', the state or quality of being elegant: the beauty of propriety: refinement: that which is elegant; Elegante a lady of fashion.—adv. . [Fr.,—L. elegans, -antis—e, out, and root of legĕre, to choose.]

Elegy, el′e-ji, n. a song of mourning: a funeral-song: a poem written in elegiac metre.—adj. ', belonging to elegy: mournful: used in elegies, esp. noting the kind of metre, alternate hexameter and pentameter lines.—n. elegiac verse.—adj. '.—ns. ', ', a writer of elegies.—v.i. , to write an elegy.—v.t. to write an elegy on. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. elegos, a lament.]

Element, el′e-ment, n. a first principle: one of the essential parts of anything: an ingredient: the proper state or sphere of any thing or being: (pl.) the rudiments of learning: the bread and wine used in the Eucharist: fire, air, earth, and water, supposed by the ancients to be the foundation of everything: (chem.) the simplest known constituents of all compound substances: (astron.) those numerical quantities, and those principles deduced from astronomical observations and calculations, which are employed in the construction of tables exhibiting the planetary motions.—adj. ', pertaining to elements or first principles: fundamental: belonging to or produced by elements.—n. ', the theory which resolves the divinities of antiquity into the elemental powers.—adv. '.—adj. ', of a single element: primary: uncompounded: pertaining to the elements: treating of first principles.—Elemental spirits, beings in medieval belief who presided over the four 'elements,' living in and ruling them. [Fr.,—L. elementum, pl. elementà, first principles.]

Elemi, el′em-i, n. a fragrant resinous substance, obtained from the Manila pitch-tree, Arbol de la Brea.—n. , the crystallisable portion of elemi. [Cf. Fr. élémi, Sp. elemi; perh. Ar.]

Elench, e-lengk′, Elenchus, e-lengk′us, n. refutation: a sophism.—adjs. ', ', . [L.,—Gr. elengchos—elengchein, to refute.]

Elephant, el′e-fant, n. the largest quadruped, having a very thick skin, a trunk, and two ivory tusks: a special size of paper.—ns. ', one affected with elephantiasis; ', a disease chiefly of tropical climates, consisting of an overgrowth of the skin and connective tissue of the parts affected, with occasional attacks of inflammation resembling erysipelas.—adjs. ', pertaining to an elephant: like an elephant: very large or ungainly; ', elephant-like.—ns. ', the largest of the seals, the male measuring about 20 feet in length; ', a plant of which the root-stock forms a large fleshy mass resembling an elephant's foot, used as food by the Hottentots; , name applied to a number of long-nosed, long-legged Insectivora, natives of Africa, and notable for their agile jumping over loose sand.—A white elephant, a gift which occasions the recipient more trouble than it is worth—a white elephant being a common gift of the kings of Siam to a courtier they wished to ruin. [M. E. olifaunt—O. Fr. olifant—L. elephantum, elephas, -antis—Gr. elephas, acc. to some from Heb. eleph, aleph, an ox.]

Eleusinian, el-ū-sin′i-an, adj. relating to Eleusis in Attica.—Eleusinian mysteries, the mysteries of Demeter celebrated at Eleusis.

Eleutherian, el-ū-thē′ri-an, adj. bountiful.

Eleutheromania, el-ūth-er-o-mā′ni-a, n. mad zeal for freedom.—n.  (Carlyle), one possessed with such. [Formed from Gr. eleutheros, free, and mania.]

Elevate, el′e-vāt, v.t. to raise to a higher position: to raise in mind and feelings: to improve: to cheer: to exhilarate: to intoxicate.—p.adjs. ', ', raised: dignified: exhilarated.—ns. ', the act of elevating or raising, or the state of being raised: exaltation: an elevated place or station: a rising ground: height: (archit.) a representation of the flat side of a building, drawn with mathematical accuracy, but without any attention to effect: (astron., geog.) the height above the horizon of an object on the sphere, measured by the arc of a vertical circle through it and the zenith: (gun.) the angle made by the line of direction of a gun with the plane of the horizon; ', the person or thing that lifts up: a lift or machine for raising grain, &c., to a higher floor: a muscle raising a part of the body.—adj. , able or tending to raise. [L. elevāre, -ātum—e, out, up, levāre, to raise—levis, light. See Light (2).]

Elève, ā-lev′, n. a pupil. [Fr.]

Eleven, e-lev′n, n. the cardinal number next above ten: the figure (11 or xi.) denoting eleven: a team of eleven cricketers.—adj. noting the number eleven.—adj. and n. , the ordinal number corresponding to eleven.—Eleventh hour, the very last moment, referring to Matt. xx. 6, 9. [A.S. endleofon; cf. Goth. ainlif.]

Elf, elf, n. in European folklore, a supernatural being, generally of human form but diminutive size, more malignant than a fairy: a dwarf: a tricky being:—(pl.) Elves.—v.t. (Shak.) of the hair, to entangle.—n. ', a changeling, or a child supposed to have been left by elves in place of one stolen by them.—adj. ', of or relating to elves.—n. a little elf: a child.—adjs. ', ', ', elf-like, mischievous: tricky: disguised.—n. ', the land of the elves or fairies.—n.pl. ' (Shak.) locks of hair clotted together, supposed to have been done by elves.—ns. ', ', ', an arrow-head of flint or stone. [A.S. ælf; cf. Ice. álfr, Sw. elf.]

Elgin marbles. See Marble.

Elicit, e-lis′it, v.t. to entice: to bring to light: to deduce.—n. . [L. elicĕre, elicitum.]

Elide, e-līd′, v.t. to rebut: to cut off, as a syllable.—n. , the suppression of a vowel or syllable. [L. elidĕre, elisum—e, out, lædĕre, to strike.]

Eligible, el′i-ji-bl, adj. fit or worthy to be chosen: legally qualified: desirable.—n. (coll.) a person or thing eligible.—ns. ', ', fitness to be elected or chosen: the state of being preferable to something else: desirableness.—adv. . [Fr.,—L. eligĕre. See Elect, v.t.]

Eliminate, ē-lim′in-āt, v.t. to thrust out: to remove, cancel: to leave out of consideration.—adj. '.—n. '. [L. eliminăre, -ātum—e, out, limen, liminis, a threshold.]

Eliquation, same as Liquation. See Liquate.

Elision. See Elide.

Elite, ā-lēt, n. a chosen or select part: the best of anything. [Fr. élite—L. electa (pars, a part, understood). See Elect, v.t.]

Elixir, e-liks′ėr, n. more fully, Elixir vitæ, or Elixir of life, a liquor once supposed to have the power of indefinitely prolonging life or of transmuting metals: the quintessence of anything: a substance which invigorates: (med.) a compound tincture. [Low L.,—Ar. al-iksīr, the philosopher's stone, from al-, the, iksīr, prob. from Late Gr. xērion, a desiccative powder for wounds—Gr. xēros, dry.]

Elizabethan, e-liz-a-beth′an, adj. pertaining to Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603) or her time—of dress, manners, literature, &c.—n. a poet or dramatist of that age.—Elizabethan architecture, a name applied to the mixed style which sprang up on the decline of Gothic, marked by Tudor bow-windows and turrets decorated with classic cornices and pilasters, long galleries, enormous square windows, large apartments, plaster ceilings wrought into compartments, &c.

Elk, elk, n. the largest species of deer, found in the north of Europe and in North America.—Irish elk, a giant deer now extinct, known from the remains found in the Pleistocene diluvium, esp. of Ireland. [Perh. from the Scand., Ice. elgr, Sw. elg.]

Ell, el, n. a measure of length originally taken from the arm: a cloth measure equal to 1¼ yd.—n. , a measuring rod.—Give him an inch and he'll take an ell, a proverb, signifying that to yield one point entails the yielding of all. [A.S. eln; Dut. el, Ger. elle, L. ulna, Gr. ōlenē.]

Ellagic, e-laj′ik, adj. pertaining to gall-nuts.

Elleborin, el′ē-bō-rin, n. a very acrid resin found in winter hellebore.

Ellipse, el-lips′, n. an oval: (geom.) a figure produced by the section of a cone by a plane passing obliquely through the opposite sides.—ns. ' (gram.), a figure of syntax by which a word or words are left out and implied:—pl. '; ', an instrument for describing ellipses; ' (math.), a surface every plane section of which is an ellipse.—adjs. '; ', ', pertaining to an ellipse: oval: pertaining to ellipsis: having a part understood.—adv. '.—n. , deviation from the form of a circle or sphere: of the earth, the difference between the equatorial and polar diameters. [L.,—Gr. elleipsis—elleipein, to fall short—en, in, leipein, to leave.]

Ellops, el′ops, n. a kind of serpent or fish. [Gr.]

Elm, elm, n. a genus of trees of the natural order Ulmaceæ, with serrated leaves unequal at the base, and small flowers growing in clusters appearing before the leaves.—adjs. ', made of elm; ', abounding with elms. [A.S. elm; Ger. ulme, L. ulmus.]

Elmo's fire, el′mōz fīr, n. the popular name of an electric appearance sometimes seen like a brush or star of light at the tops of masts, spars, &c.—Also known as the Fire of St Elias, of St Clara, of St Nicholas, and of Helena, as well as composite or composant (corpus sanctum) on the Suffolk sea-board. [Explained as a corr. of Helena, name of the sister of Castor and Pollux, or of St Erasmus, a 3d-cent. bishop, Italianised as Ermo, Elmo.]

Elocution, el-o-kū′shun, n. the art of effective speaking, more esp. of public speaking, regarding solely the utterance or delivery: eloquence.—adj. '.—n. ', one versed in elocution: a teacher of elocution. [Fr.,—L. elocution-em, eloqui, elocūtus—e, out, loqui, to speak.]

Éloge, ā-lōzh′, Elogium, ē-lō′ji-um, Elogy, n. a funeral oration: a panegyric.—n. , one who delivers an éloge. [Fr. éloge—L. elogium, a short statement, an inscription on a tomb, perh. confused with eulogy.]

Elohim, e-lō′him, n. the Hebrew name for God.—n. ', the writer or writers of the Elohistic passages of the Old Testament.—adj. ', relating to Elohim—said of those passages in the Old Testament in which Elohim is used as the name for the Supreme Being instead of Jehovah. [Heb., pl. of Eloah—explained by Delitzsch as a plural of intensity.]

Eloin, Eloign, e-loin′, v.t. to convey to a distance, to separate and remove.—ns. ', '. [O. Fr. esloignier (Fr. éloigner)—Low L. elongāre. See Elongate.]

Elongate, e-long′gāt, v.t. to make longer: to extend.—p.adjs. ', '.—n. , act of lengthening out: distance. [Low L. elongāre, -ātum—e, out, longus, long.]

Elope, e-lōp, v.i. to escape privately, said esp. of a woman, either married or unmarried, who runs away with a lover: to run away, bolt.—n. , a secret departure, esp. of a woman with a man. [Cf. Old Dut. ontlōpen, Ger. entlaufen, to run away.]

Eloquent, el′o-kwent, adj. having the power of speaking with fluency, elegance, and force: containing eloquence: persuasive.—n. ', the utterance of strong emotion in correct, appropriate, expressive, and fluent language: the art which produces fine speaking: persuasive speech.—adv. '. [L. eloquens, -entis, pr.p. of eloqui.]

Else, els, pron. other.—adv. otherwise: besides: except that mentioned.—advs. ', in or to another place; ', in a different manner: otherwise. [A.S. elles, otherwise—orig. gen. of el, other; cf. Old High Ger. alles or elles.]

Elsin, el′sin, n. (Scot.) an awl. [From Old Dut. elssene (mod. els), from same root as awl.]

Eltchi. Same as Elchee.

Elucidate, e-lū′si-dāt, v.t. to make lucid or clear: to throw light upon: to illustrate.—n. '.—adjs. ', ', making clear: explanatory.—n. '. [Low L. elucidāre, -ātum—e, inten., lucidus, clear.]

Elucubration. Same as Lucubration.

Elude, e-lūd′, v.t. to escape by stratagem: to baffle.—adj. '.—n. ', act of eluding: evasion.—adj. ', practising elusion: deceptive.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. ', tending to elude or cheat: evasive: deceitful. [L. eludĕre, elusum—e, out, ludĕre, to play.]

Elul, ē′lul, n. the 12th month of the Jewish civil year, and 6th of the ecclesiastical. [Heb.,—âlal, to reap.]

Elutriate, e-lū′tri-āt, v.t. to separate by means of water the finer particles of earth and pigments from the heavier portions.—ns. ', washing from impurity; '. [L. elutriāre, -ātum, to wash out, eluĕre—e, out, luĕre, to wash.]

Elvan, elv′an, n. the miner's name in the south-west of England for a granular crystalline rock, composed of quartz and orthoclase, which forms veins associated with granite.—Also . [Prob. Corn. elven, spark.]

Elvan, Elves, Elvish. See under Elf.

Elysium, e-lizh′i-um, n. (myth.) among the Greeks, the abode of the blessed after death: any delightful place.—adj. , pertaining to Elysium: delightful: glorious. [L.,—Gr. ēlysion (pedion), the Elysian (plain).]

Elytrum, el′it-rum, n. the fore-wing of beetles, modified to form more or less hard coverings for the hind pair—also ':—pl. '.—adjs. '; '; . [Gr. elytron, a sheath.]

Elzevir, el′ze-vir, adj. published by the Elzevirs, a celebrated family of printers at Amsterdam, Leyden, and other places in Holland, whose small neat editions were chiefly published between 1592 and 1681: pertaining to the type used in their 12mo and 16mo editions of the Latin classics.—n. a special form of printing types.

Em, em, n. the name of the letter M: (print.) the unit of measurement in estimating how much is printed on a page.

&apos;Em, ėm, pron. him: (coll.) them. [Orig. the unstressed form of hem, dat. and accus. pl. of he; but now used coll. as an abbreviation of them.]

Emaciate, e-mā′shi-āt, v.t. to make meagre or lean: to deprive of flesh: to waste.—v.i. to become lean: to waste away.—p.adjs. ', '.—n. , the condition of becoming emaciated or lean: leanness. [L. emaciāre, -ātum—e, inten., maciāre, to make lean—macies, leanness.]

Emanate, em′a-nāt, v.i. to flow out or from: to proceed from some source: to arise.—adj. ', flowing from.—ns. ', a flowing out from a source, as the universe considered as issuing from the essence of God: the generation of the Son and the procession of the Spirit, as distinct from the origination of created beings: that which issues or proceeds from some source; '.—adjs. ', ', '. [L. emanāre, -ātum—e, out from, manāre, to flow.]

Emancipate, e-man′si-pāt, v.t. to set free from servitude: to free from restraint or bondage of any kind.—ns. ', the act of setting free from bondage or disability of any kind: the state of being set free; ', an advocate of the emancipation of slaves; '; ', a convict who has served his time of punishment in a penal colony. [L. emancipāre, -ātum—e, away from, mancipāre, to transfer property—manceps, -cipis, one who gets property, from manus, the hand, capĕre, to take.]

Emarginate, e-mär′jin-āt, v.t. to take away the margin of.—p.adj. (bot.) depressed and notched instead of pointed at the summit, as a leaf: (min.) having all the edges of the primitive form crossed by a face: (zool.) having the margin broken by a notch or segment of a circle.—n. . [L. emargināre, -ātum—e, out, margināre, to provide with a margin—margo, a margin.]

Emasculate, e-mas′kū-lāt, v.t. to deprive of the properties of a male: to castrate: to deprive of masculine vigour: to render effeminate.—ns. '; '.—adj. . [Low L. emasculāre, -ātum—e, neg., masculus, dim. of mas, a male.]

Embace, em-bās′, v.t. (Spens.). Same as Embase.

Embale, em-bāl′, v.t. to make up, as into a bale: to bind up: to enclose. [Fr. emballer—em—L. in, balle, a bale.]

Emball, em-bawl′, v.t. to encircle: ensphere.—n. .

Embalm, em-bäm′, v.t. to preserve from decay by aromatic drugs, as a dead body: to perfume: to preserve with care and affection.—ns. '; '; . [Fr. embaumer, from em, in, and baume. See Balm.]