Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M)

1908

EXPLANATIONS TO THE STUDENT.

The Arrangement of the Words.—Every word is given in its alphabetical order, except in cases where, to save space, derivatives are given after and under the words from which they are derived. Each uncompounded verb has its participles, when irregular, placed after it. Exceptional plurals are also given. When a word stands after another, with no meaning given, its meanings can be at once formed from those of the latter, by adding the signification of the affix: thus the meanings of Darkness are obtained by prefixing the meaning of ness, state of being, to those of Dark.

Many words from French and other tongues, current in English usage, but not yet fairly Anglicised, are inserted in the list of Foreign Phrases, &c., at the end, rather than in the body of the Dictionary.

The Pronunciation.—The Pronunciation is given immediately after each word, by the word being spelled anew. In this new spelling, every consonant used has its ordinary unvarying sound, no consonant being employed that has more than one sound. The same sounds are always represented by the same letters, no matter how varied their actual spelling in the language. No consonant used has any mark attached to it, with the one exception of th, which is printed in common letters when sounded as in thick, but in italics when sounded as in then. Unmarked vowels have always their short sounds, as in lad, led, lid, lot, but, book. The marked vowels are shown in the following line, which is printed at the top of each page:—

fāte, fär; mē, hėr; mīne; mōte; mūte; mōōn; then.

The vowel u when marked thus, ü, has the sound heard in Scotch bluid, gude, the French du, almost that of the German ü in Müller. Where more than one pronunciation of a word is given, that which is placed first is more accepted.

The Spelling.—When more than one form of a word is given, that which is placed first is the spelling in current English use. Unfortunately our modern spelling does not represent the English we actually speak, but rather the language of the 16th century, up to which period, generally speaking, English spelling was mainly phonetic, like the present German. The fundamental principle of all rational spelling is no doubt the representation of every sound by an invariable symbol, but in modern English the usage of pronunciation has drifted far from the conventional forms established by a traditional orthography, with the result that the present spelling of our written speech is to a large extent a mere exercise of memory, full of confusing anomalies and imperfections, and involving an enormous and unnecessary strain on the faculties of learners. Spelling reform is indeed an imperative necessity, but it must proceed with a wise moderation, for, in the words of Mr Sweet, 'nothing can be done without unanimity, and until the majority of the community are convinced of the superiority of some one system unanimity is impossible.' The true path of progress should follow such wisely moderate counsels as those of Dr J. A. H. Murray:—the dropping of the final or inflexional silent e; the restoration of the historical

-t

after breath consonants; uniformity in the employment of double consonants, as in traveler, &c.; the discarding of ue in words like demagogue and catalogue; the uniform levelling of the agent

-our

into

-or

; the making of ea = ĕ short into e and the long ie into ee; the restoration of some, come, tongue, to their old English forms, sum, cum, tung; a more extended use of z in the body of words, as chozen, praize, raize; and the correction of the worst individual monstrosities, as foreign, scent, scythe, ache, debt, people, parliament, court, would, sceptic, phthisis, queue, schedule, twopence-halfpenny, yeoman, sieve, gauge, barque, buoy, yacht, &c.

Already in America a moderate degree of spelling reform may be said to be established in good usage, by the adoption of

-or

for

-our

, as color, labor, &c.; of

-er

for

-re

, as center, meter, &c.;

-ize

for

-ise

, as civilize, &c.; the use of a uniform single consonant after an unaccented vowel, as traveler for traveller; the adoption of e for œ or æ in hemorrhage, diarrhea, &c.

The Meanings.—The current and most important meaning of a word is usually given first. But in cases like Clerk, Livery, Marshal, where the force of the word can be made much clearer by tracing its history, the original meaning is also given, and the successive variations of its usage defined.

The Etymology.—The Etymology of each word is given after the meanings, within brackets. Where further information regarding a word is given elsewhere, it is so indicated by a reference. It must be noted under the etymology that whenever a word is printed thus, Ban, Base, the student is referred to it; also that here the sign—is always to be read as meaning 'derived from.' Examples are generally given of words that are cognate or correspond to the English words; but it must be remembered that they are inserted merely for illustration. Such words are usually separated from the rest by a semicolon. For instance, when an English word is traced to its Anglo-Saxon form, and then a German word is given, no one should suppose that our English word is derived from the German. German and Anglo-Saxon are alike branches from a common Teutonic stem, and have seldom borrowed from each other. Under each word the force of the prefix is usually given, though not the affix. For fuller explanation in such cases the student is referred to the list of Prefixes and Suffixes in the Appendix.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DICTIONARY.

CHAMBERS'S

TWENTIETH CENTURY

DICTIONARY.

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.

Each′where

, 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.

Ea′gerly

.—n.

Ea′gerness

. [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.

Ea′gle-eyed

,

Ea′gle-sight′ed

, having a piercing eye: discerning;

Ea′gle-flight′ed

, mounting high.—ns.

Ea′gle-hawk

, a name applied to several eagles of comparatively small size;

Ea′gle-owl

, a genus of large owls, the largest in Europe;

Ea′gle-stone

, a variety of argillaceous oxide of iron occurring in egg-shaped masses;

Ea′glet

, a young or small eagle.—adj.

Ea′gle-winged

, having an eagle's wings.—ns.

Ea′gle-wood

, another name for agalloch or calambac;

Spread′-ea′gle

(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.

Ean′ling

, a young lamb. [A.S. éanian.]

Ear, ēr, n. a spike, as of corn.—v.i. to put forth ears.—n.

Ear′-cock′le

, 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.

Ear′ing

(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.

Ear′ache

, an ache or pain in the ear;

Ear′bob

, an earring;

Ear′-cap

, a covering to protect the ear from cold;

Ear′drop

, an ornamental pendant hanging from the ear;

Ear′drum

, the drum or middle cavity of the ear, tympanum (q.v.).—adj. Eared, having ears.—n.

Ear′-hole

, the aperture of the ear.—adj.

Ear′-kiss′ing

, whispered.—n.

Ear′lap

, the tip of the ear: an ear-cap.—adj.

Ear′less

, wanting ears.—ns.

Ear′lock

, a curl near the ear worn by Elizabethan dandies;

Ear′mark

, 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.

Ear′-pick

, an instrument for clearing the ear.—adj.

Ear′-pierc′ing

, shrill, screaming.—ns.

Ear′ring

, an ornamental ring worn in the ear;

Ear′-shell

, any shell of the family Haliotidæ;

Ear′shot

, the distance at which a sound can be heard;

Ear′-trum′pet

, a tube to aid in hearing;

Ear′wax

, a waxy substance secreted by the glands of the ear;

Ear′wig

, 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.

Ear′witness

, 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.

Count′ess

.—ns.

Earl′dom

, the dominion or dignity of an earl;

Earl′-mar′shal

, 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.

Ear′liness

.—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.

Earn′ings

, 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.

Ear′nestly

.—n.

Ear′nestness

. [A.S. eornost, seriousness; Ger. ernst.]

Earnest, ėr′nest, n. money given in token of a bargain made—also

Ear′nest-mon′ey

,

Ear′nest-penn′y

: 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.

Earth′-bag

, a sack of earth used in fortifications;

Earth′-bath

, a bath of earth or mud;

Earth′-board

, the board of a plough, or other implement, that turns over the earth.—adjs.

Earth′-born

, born from or on the earth;

Earth′-bound

, bound or held by the earth, as a tree;

Earth′-bred

, mean, grovelling.—n.

Earth′-clos′et

, a system consisting of the application of earth to the deodorisation of fæcal matters.—adjs.

Earth′-creā′ted

, made of earth;

Earth′en

, made of earth or clay: earthly.—ns.

Earth′enware

, crockery;

Earth′-fall

, a landslide.—adj.

Earth′-fed

, contented with earthly things.—ns.

Earth′flax

, asbestos;

Earth′-hog

(see Aardvark);

Earth′-house

, the name given to the ancient underground dwellings in Ireland and Scotland, also called Picts' houses;

Earth′-hung′er

, the passion for acquiring land;

Earth′iness

;

Earth′liness

;

Earth′ling

, a dweller on the earth.—adjs.

Earth′ly

, belonging to the earth: vile: worldly;

Earth′ly-mind′ed

, having the mind intent on earthly things.—ns.

Earth′ly-mind′edness

;

Earth′-nut

, the popular name of certain tuberous roots growing underground;

Earth′-pea

, the hog-peanut;

Earth′-plate

, a buried plate of metal forming the earth-connection of a telegraph-wire, lightning-conductor, &c.;

Earth′quake

, a quaking or shaking of the earth: a heaving of the ground;

Earth′-shine

, the faint light visible on the part of the moon not illuminated by the sun;

Earth′-trem′or

, a slight earthquake.—adv.

Earth′ward

, toward the earth.—ns.

Earth′work

, a fortification of earth;

Earth′-worm

, the common worm: a mean person, a poor creature.—adj.

Earth′y

, 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′ful

, ease-giving: quiet, fit for rest.—n.

Ease′ment

, relief: assistance: support: gratification.—adv.

Eas′ily

.—n.

Eas′iness

.—adj.

Eas′y

, 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.

Eas′y-chair

, an arm-chair for ease or rest.—adj.

Eas′y-gō′ing

, 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.

East′-end

, the eastern part of London, the habitation of the poorer classes;

East′-end′er

.—adjs.

East′er

,

East′ern

, toward the east: connected with the east: dwelling in the east.—n.

East′erling

, a native of the East: a trader from the shores of the Baltic.—adj.

East′erly

, coming from the eastward: looking toward the east.—adv. on the east: toward the east.—adjs.

East′ernmost

,

East′most

, situated farthest east.—ns.

East′-In′diaman

, a vessel used in the East India trade;

East′ing

, the course gained to the eastward: distance eastward from a given meridian;

East′land

, the land in the East.—adv.

East′ward

, 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.

East′er-day

, Easter Sunday.—ns.pl.

East′er-dues

,

-off′erings

, 'customary sums' which from time immemorial have been paid to the parson by his people at Easter.—ns.

East′er-egg

, eggs stained of various colours, given as presents on Easter;

East′ertide

, 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.

eat′ing;

pa.t. ate (āt or et); pa.p. eaten (ētn) or (obs.) eat (et).—adj.

Eat′able

, fit to be eaten.—n. anything used as food (chiefly pl.).—ns.

Eat′age

, grass or fodder for horses, &c.: the right to eat;

Eat′er

, one who, or that which, eats or corrodes;

Eat′ing

, the act of taking food.—p.adj. that eats: corroding.—ns.

Eat′ing-house

, a place where provisions are sold ready dressed: a restaurant;

Good′-eat′ing

, 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.

Eath′ly

. [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.

Eaves′drip

,

Eaves′drop

, the water which falls from the eaves of a house: the place where the drops fall.—v.i. and v.t.

Eaves′drop

, to stand under the eaves or near the windows of a house to listen: to listen for secrets.—ns.

Eaves′dropper

, one who thus listens: one who tries to overhear private conversation;

Eaves′dropping

. [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.

Ebb′-tide

, 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.

E′bionise

.—adj.

Ebionit′ic

.—ns.

Ebionīt′ism

,

E′bionism

. [Heb. ebyōn, poor.]

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

Ib′lees

.

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.

Eb′onise

, to make furniture look like ebony.—ns.

Eb′onist

, a worker in ebony;

Eb′onite

, 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.

Ebrī′ety

, drunkenness.—adj.

E′briōse

, drunk.—n.

Ebrios′ity

. [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.

Ebull′ience

,

Ebull′iency

, a boiling over;

Ebulli′tion

, 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

Ebur′nean

.—ns.

Eburnā′tion

, a morbid change of bone by which it becomes very hard and dense;

Eburnificā′tion

, 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.

Ecbat′ic

, 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.

Ecbol′ic

, 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.

Eccen′tric

, 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.

Eccen′trically

.—n.

Eccentric′ity

, 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.

Ec′chymosed

,

Ecchymot′ic

. [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.

Ecclē′sial

.—ns.

Ecclē′siarch

, a ruler of the church;

Ecclē′siast

, the preacher—Solomon formerly considered as the author of Ecclesiastes: an ecclesiastic;

Ecclē′siastes

, one of the books of the Old Testament, traditionally ascribed to Solomon;

Ecclesias′tic

, one consecrated to the church, a priest, a clergyman.—adjs.

Ecclē′siastic

,

-al

, belonging to the church.—adv.

Ecclesias′tically

, in an ecclesiastical manner.—ns.

Ecclesias′ticism

, attachment to ecclesiastical observances, &c.: the churchman's temper or spirit;

Ecclesias′ticus

, name of a book of the Apocrypha;

Ecclesiol′atry

, excessive reverence for church forms and traditions.—adj.

Ecclesiolog′ical

.—ns.

Ecclesiol′ogist

, a student of church forms and traditions;

Ecclesiol′ogy

, 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.

Eccrit′ic

, 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.

Echid′nine

, 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.

Echī′nite

, a fossil sea-urchin;

Echī′noderm

, one of the

Echinoder′mata

, a class of animals having the skin strengthened by calcareous plates, or covered with spikes.—adjs.

Echinoder′matous

, relating to the Echinodermata;

Ech′inoid

, like a sea-urchin.—n. one of the

Echinoi′dea

.—n.

Echī′nus

, 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

(ek′ōz).

—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.

ech′ōing;

pa.p.

ech′ōed.

—ns.

Ech′oism

, the formation of imitative words;

Ech′oist

, one who repeats like an echo.—adj.

Ech′oless

, giving no echo, unresponsive.—ns.

Echom′eter

, an instrument for measuring the length of sounds;

Echom′etry

, 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

Eclamp′sy

.—adj.

Eclamp′tic

. [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.

Eclec′tically

.—n.

Eclec′ticism

, the practice of an eclectic: the doctrine of the

Eclec′tics

, 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.

Eclipsed′

, darkened, obscured;

Eclips′ing

, darkening, obscuring.—n.

Eclip′tic

, 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.

Econom′ic

,

-al

, pertaining to economy: frugal: careful.—adv.

Econom′ically

.—ns.

Econom′ics

, the science of household management: political economy;

Economisā′tion

, act of economising.—v.i.

Econ′omise

, to manage with economy: to spend money carefully: to save.—v.t. to use prudently: to spend with frugality.—ns.

Economī′ser

,

Econ′omist

, 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.

Ec′stasied

, enraptured;

Ecstat′ic

, causing ecstasy: amounting to ecstasy: rapturous.—n. one given to ecstasy: something spoken in a state of ecstasy.—adv.

Ecstat′ically

. [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.

Ec′tad

. [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.

Ectoblas′tic

.

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.

Ectop′ic

.

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

Ectoplas′mic

,

Ectoplas′tic

.

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

Ectozō′an

, 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.

Ectrop′ic

. [Gr. ek, out, and trepein, to turn.]

Ectype, ek′tīp, n. a reproduction or copy.—adj.

Ec′typal

.—n.

Ectypog′raphy

. [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

Œcumen′ic

,

-al

.

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.

Eczem′atous

. [Gr., from ekzein—ek, out, zeein, to boil.]

Edacious, e-dā′shus, adj. given to eating: gluttonous.—adv.

Edā′ciously

.—ns.

Edā′ciousness

;

Edac′ity

. [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.

edd′ying;

pa.p.

edd′ied.

—n.

Edd′ying

, 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,

-ous

(q.v. under Œdema).

Eden, ē′den, n. the garden where Adam and Eve lived: a paradise.—adj.

Eden′ic

. [Heb. ēden, delight, pleasure.]

Edentate, -d, e-den′tāt, -ed, adj. without teeth: wanting front teeth—also

Eden′tal

.—ns.

Edentā′ta

, a Cuvierian order of mammals, having no teeth or very imperfect ones;

Edentā′tion

, toothlessness.—adj.

Eden′tulous

, 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.

Edge′-bone

, the haunch-bone.—adjs. Edged;

Edge′less

, without an edge: blunt.—ns.

Edge′-rail

, a rail of such form that the carriage-wheels roll on its edges, being held there by flanges;

Edge′-tool

, Edged tool, a tool with a sharp edge.—advs.

Edge′ways

,

Edge′wise

, in the direction of the edge: sideways.—ns.

Edg′iness

, angularity, over-sharpness of outline;

Edg′ing

, any border or fringe round a garment: a border of box, &c., round a flower-bed.—adj.

Edg′y

, 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.

Edibil′ity

,

Ed′ibleness

, 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.

Edict′al

.—adv.

Edict′ally

. [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.

ed′ifying;

pa.p.

ed′ified.

—n.

Edificā′tion

, instruction: progress in knowledge or in goodness.—adj.

Ed′ificatory

, tending to edification.—n.

Ed′ifice

, a large building or house.—adj.

Edific′ial

, structural.—n.

Ed′ifier

, one who edifies.—adj.

Ed′ifying

, instructive: improving.—adv.

Ed′ifyingly

. [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.

Edi′tion

, the publication of a book: the number of copies of a book printed at a time;

Ed′itor

, one who edits a book: one who conducts a newspaper or journal:—fem.

Ed′itress

.—adj.

Editō′rial

, of or belonging to an editor.—n. an article in a newspaper written by the editor, a leading article.—adv.

Editō′rially

.—n.

Ed′itorship

. [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.

Ed′ucable

.—n.

Educā′tion

, the bringing up or training, as of a child: instruction: strengthening of the powers of body or mind.—adj.

Educā′tional

.—adv.

Educā′tionally

.—n.

Educā′tionist

, one skilled in methods of educating or teaching: one who promotes education.—adj.

Ed′ucative

, of or pertaining to education: calculated to teach.—n.

Ed′ucator

. [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.

Educ′ible

, that may be educed or brought out and shown.—ns.

E′duct

, what is educed;

Educ′tion

, the act of educing;

Educ′tion-pipe

, the pipe by which the exhaust steam is led from the cylinder of a steam-engine into the condenser or the atmosphere;

Educ′tor

, he who, or that which, educes. [L. educĕre, eductum—e, out, and ducĕre, to lead.]