Chapter D: Valve (1)

D" valve`. (Mech.)

Defn: A kind of slide valve. See Slide valve, under Slide.

DVERGR Dver"gr, n.; pl. Dvergar. Etym: [See Dwarf.] (Scand. Myth.)

Defn: A dwarf supposed to dwell in rocks and hills and to be skillful in working metals.

DWALE Dwale, n. Etym: [OE. dwale, dwole, deception, deadly nightshade, AS. dwala, dwola, error, doubt; akin to E. dull. See Dull, a.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The deadly nightshade (Atropa Belladonna), having stupefying qualities.

2. (Her.)

Defn: The tincture sable or black when blazoned according to the fantastic system in which plants are substituted for the tinctures.

3. A sleeping potion; an opiate. Chaucer.

DWANG Dwang, n. Etym: [Cf. D. dwingen to force, compel.]

1. (Carp.)

Defn: A piece of wood set between two studs, posts, etc., to stiffen and support them.

2. (Mech.) (a) A kind of crowbar. (b) A large wrench. Knight.

DWARF Dwarf, n.; pl Dwarfs. Etym: [OE. dwergh, dwerf, dwarf, AS. dweorg, dweorh; akin to D. dwerg, MHG. twerc, G. zwerg, Icel. dvergr, Sw. & Dan. dverg; of unknown origin.]

Defn: An animal or plant which is much below the ordinary size of its species or kind; especially, a diminutive human being.

Note: During the Middle Ages dwarfs as well as fools shared the favor of courts and the nobility.

Note: Dwarf is used adjectively in reference to anything much below the usual or normal size; as, dwarf tree; dwarf honeysuckle. Dwarf elder (Bot.), danewort. -- Dwarf wall (Arch.), a low wall, not as high as the story of a building, often used as a garden wall or fence. Gwilt.

DWARF Dwarf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dwarfed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dwarfing.]

Defn: To hinder from growing to the natural size; to make or keep small; to stunt. Addison. Even the most common moral ideas and affections . . . would be stunted and dwarfed, if cut off from a spiritual background. J. C. Shairp.

DWARF Dwarf, v. i.

Defn: To become small; to diminish in size. Strange power of the world that, the moment we enter it, our great conceptions dwarf. Beaconsfield.

DWARFISH Dwarf"ish, a.

Defn: Like a dwarf; below the common stature or size; very small; petty; as, a dwarfish animal, shrub. -- Dwarf"ish*ly, adv. -- Dwarf"ish*ness, n.

DWARFLING Dwarf"ling, n.

Defn: A diminutive dwarf.

DWARFY Dwarf"y, a.

Defn: Much undersized. [R.] Waterhouse.

DWAUL; DWAULE Dwaul, Dwaule, v. i. Etym: [See Dull, Dwell.]

Defn: To be delirious. [Obs.] Junius.

DWELL Dwell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwelled, usually contracted into Dwelt (p. pr. & vb. n. Dwelling.] Etym: [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dvæle to linger, and to E. dull. See Dull, and cf. Dwale.]

1. To delay; to linger. [Obs.]

2. To abide; to remain; to continue. I 'll rather dwell in my necessity. Shak. Thy soul was like a star and dwelt apart. Wordsworth.

3. To abide as a permanent resident, or for a time; to live in a place; to reside. The parish in which I was born, dwell, and have possessions. Peacham. The poor man dwells in a humble cottage near the hall where the lord of the domain resides. C. J. Smith. To dwell in, to abide in (a place); hence, to depend on. "My hopes in heaven to dwell." Shak. -- To dwell on or upon, to continue long on or in; to remain absorbed with; to stick to; to make much of; as, to dwell upon a subject; a singer dwells on a note. They stand at a distance, dwelling on his looks and language, fixed in amazement. Buckminster.

Syn. -- To inhabit; live; abide; sojourn; reside; continue; stay; rest.

DWELL Dwell, v. t.

Defn: To inhabit. [R.] Milton.

DWELLER Dwell"er, n.

Defn: An inhabitant; a resident; as, a cave dweller. "Dwellers at Jerusalem." Acts i. 19.

DWELLING Dwell"ing, n.

Defn: Habitation; place or house in which a person lives; abode; domicile. Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons. Jer. xlix. 33. God will deign To visit oft the dwellings of just men. Milton. Philip's dwelling fronted on the street. Tennyson. Dwelling house, a house intended to be occupied as a residence, in distinction from a store, office, or other building. -- Dwelling place, place of residence.

DWELT Dwelt, imp. & p. p.

Defn: of Dwell.

DWINDLE Dwin"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dwindling.] Etym: [From OE. dwinen to languish, waste away, AS. dwinan; akin to LG. dwinen, D. dwijnen to vanish, Icel. dvina to cease, dwindle, Sw. tvina; of uncertain origin. The suffix -le, preceded by d excrescent after n, is added to the root with a diminutive force.]

Defn: To diminish; to become less; to shrink; to waste or consume away; to become degenerate; to fall away. Weary sennights nine times nine Shall he dwindle, peak and pine. Shak. Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions, are said to have dwindled into factious clubs. Swift.

DWINDLE Dwin"dle, v. t.

1. To make less; to bring low. Our drooping days are dwindled down to naught. Thomson.

2. To break; to disperse. [R.] Clarendon.

DWINDLE Dwin"dle, n.

Defn: The process of dwindling; dwindlement; decline; degeneracy. [R.] Johnson.

DWINDLEMENT Dwin"dle*ment, n.

Defn: The act or process of dwindling; a dwindling. [R.] Mrs. Oliphant.

DWINE Dwine, v. i. Etym: [See Dwindle.]

Defn: To waste away; to pine; to languish. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Gower.

DYAD Dy"ad, n. Etym: [L. dyas, dyadis, the number two. Gr. dyade. See two, and cf. Duad.]

1. Two units treated as one; a couple; a pair.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: An element, atom, or radical having a valence or combining power of two.

DYAD Dy"ad, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Having a valence or combining power of two; capable of being substituted for, combined with, or replaced by, two atoms of hydrogen; as, oxygen and calcium are dyad elements. See Valence.

DYADIC Dy*ad"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to the number two; of two parts or elements. Dyadic arithmetic, the same as binary arithmetic.

DYAKS Dy"aks, n. pl.

Defn: ; sing. Dyak. (Ethnol.) The aboriginal and most numerous inhabitants of Borneo. They are partially civilized, but retain many barbarous practices.

DYAS Dy"as, n. Etym: [L. dyas the number two.] (Geol.)

Defn: A name applied in Germany to the Permian formation, there consisting of two principal groups.

DYE Dye, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dyeing.] Etym: [OE. deyan, dyen, AS. deágian.]

Defn: To stain; to color; to give a new and permanent color to, as by the application of dyestuffs. Cloth to be dyed of divers colors. Trench. The soul is dyed by its thoughts. Lubbock. To dye in the grain, To dye in the wool (Fig.), to dye firmly; to imbue thoroughly. He might truly be termed a legitimate son of the revenue system dyed in the wool. Hawthorne.

Syn. -- See Stain.

DYE Dye, n.

1. Color produced by dyeing.

2. Material used for dyeing; a dyestuff.

DYE Dye, n.

Defn: Same as Die, a lot. Spenser.

DYEHOUSE Dye"house`, n.

Defn: A building in which dyeing is carried on.

DYEING Dye"ing, n.

Defn: The process or art of fixing coloring matters permanently and uniformly in the fibers of wool, cotton, etc.

DYER Dy"er, n.

Defn: One whose occupation is to dye cloth and the like. Dyer's broom, Dyer's rocket, Dyer's weed. See Dyer's broom, under Broom.

DYESTUFF Dye"stuff`, n.

Defn: A material used for dyeing.

DYEWOOD Dye"wood`, n.

Defn: Any wood from which coloring matter is extracted for dyeing.

DYING Dy"ing, a.

1. In the act of dying; destined to death; mortal; perishable; as, dying bodies.

2. Of or pertaining to dying or death; as, dying bed; dying day; dying words; also, simulating a dying state.

DYING Dy"ing, n.

Defn: The act of expiring; passage from life to death; loss of life.

DYINGLY Dy"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a dying manner; as if at the point of death. Beau. & Fl.

DYINGNESS Dy"ing*ness, n.

Defn: The state of dying or the stimulation of such a state; extreme languor; languishment. [R.] Tenderness becomes me best, a sort of dyingness; you see that picture, Foible, -- a swimmingness in the eyes; yes, I'll look so. Congreve.

DYKE Dyke, n.

Defn: See Dike. The spelling dyke is restricted by some to the geological meaning.

DYNACTINOMETER Dy*nac`ti*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. actinometer.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring the intensity of the photogenic (light-producing) rays, and computing the power of object glasses.

DYNAM Dy"nam, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dyname. See Dynamic.]

Defn: A unit of measure for dynamical effect or work; a foot pound. See Foot pound. Whewell.

DYNAMETER Dy*nam"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. dynamètre. Cf. Dynamometer.]

1. A dynamometer.

2. (Opt.)

Defn: An instrument for determining the magnifying power of telescopes, consisting usually of a doubleimage micrometer applied to the eye end of a telescope for measuring accurately the diameter of the image of the object glass there formed; which measurement, compared with the actual diameter of the glass, gives the magnifying power.

DYNAMETRICAL Dy`na*met"ric*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to a dynameter.

DYNAMIC; DYNAMICAL Dy*nam"ic, Dy*nam"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. durus hard, E. dure: cf. F. dynamique.]

1. Of or pertaining to dynamics; belonging to energy or power; characterized by energy or production of force. Science, as well as history, has its past to show, -- a past indeed, much larger; but its immensity is dynamic, not divine. J. Martineau. The vowel is produced by phonetic, not by dynamic, causes. J. Peile.

2. Relating to physical forces, effects, or laws; as, dynamical geology. As natural science has become more dynamic, so has history. Prof. Shedd. Dynamical electricity. See under Electricity.

DYNAMICALLY Dy*nam"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In accordance with the principles of dynamics or moving forces. J. Peile.

DYNAMICS Dy*nam"ics, n.

1. That branch of mechanics which treats of the motion of bodies (kinematics) and the action of forces in producing or changing their motion (kinetics). Dynamics is held by some recent writers to include statics and not kinematics.

2. The moving moral, as well as physical, forces of any kind, or the laws which relate to them.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: That department of musical science which relates to, or treats of, the power of tones.

DYNAMISM Dy"na*mism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dynamisme. See Dynamics.]

Defn: The doctrine of Leibnitz, that all substance involves force.

DYNAMIST Dy"na*mist, n.

Defn: One who accounts for material phenomena by a theory of dynamics. Those who would resolve matter into centers of force may be said to constitute the school of dynamists. Ward (Dyn. Sociol. ).

DYNAMITARD Dy"na*mi`tard, n.

Defn: A political dynamiter.

Note: [A form found in some newspapers.]

DYNAMITE Dy"na*mite, n. Etym: [Gr. Dynamic.] (Chem.)

Defn: An explosive substance consisting of nitroglycerin absorbed by some inert, porous solid, as infusorial earth, sawdust, etc. It is safer than nitroglycerin, being less liable to explosion from moderate shocks, or from spontaneous decomposition.

DYNAMITER Dy"na*mi`ter, n.

Defn: One who uses dynamite; esp., one who uses it for the destruction of life and property.

DYNAMITING Dy"na*mi`ting, n.

Defn: Destroying by dynamite, for political ends. Dynamiting is not the American way. The Century.

DYNAMITISM Dy"na*mi`tism, n.

Defn: The work of dynamiters.

DYNAMIZATION Dy"na*mi*za`tion, Etym: [Gr. Dynamic.] (Homeop.)

Defn: The act of setting free the dynamic powers of a medicine, as by shaking the bottle containing it.

DYNAMO Dy"na*mo, n.

Defn: A dynamo-electric machine.

DYNAMO-ELECTRIC Dy`na*mo-e*lec"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. electric. See Dynamic.]

Defn: Pertaining to the development of electricity, especially electrical currents, by power; producing electricity or electrical currents by mechanical power.

DYNAMOGRAPH Dy*nam"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph. See Dynamic.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A dynamometer to which is attached a device for automatically registering muscular power.

DYNAMOMETER Dy`na*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dynamomètre. See Dynameter.]

Defn: An apparatus for measuring force or power; especially, muscular effort of men or animals, or the power developed by a motor, or that required to operate machinery.

Note: It usually embodies a spring to be compressed or weight to be sustained by the force applied, combined with an index, or automatic recorder, to show the work performed.

DYNAMOMETRIC; DYNAMOMETRICAL Dy`na*mo*met"ric, Dy`na*mo*met"ric*al, a.

Defn: Relating to a dynamometer, or to the measurement of force doing work; as, dynamometrical instruments.

DYNAMOMETRY Dy`na*mom"e*try, n.

Defn: The art or process of measuring forces doing work.

DYNAST Dy"nast, n. Etym: [L. dynastes, Gr. dynaste. See Dynamic.]

1. A ruler; a governor; a prince.

2. A dynasty; a government. [Obs.]

DYNASTA Dy*nas"ta, n. Etym: [NL. See Dynast.]

Defn: A tyrant. [Obs.] Milton.

DYNASTIC Dy*nas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. dunastique.]

Defn: Of or relating to a dynasty or line of kings. Motley.

DYNASTICAL Dy*nas"tic*al, a.

Defn: Dynastic.

DYNASTIDAN Dy*nas"ti*dan, n. Etym: [Gr. Dynast. The name alludes to the immense size of some species.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a group of gigantic, horned beetles, including Dynastus Neptunus, and the Hercules beetle (D. Hercules) of tropical America, which grow to be six inches in length.

DYNASTY Dy"nas*ty, n.; pl. Dynasties. Etym: [Gr. dynastie dynasty. See Dynast.]

1. Sovereignty; lordship; dominion. Johnson.

2. A race or succession of kings, of the same line or family; the continued lordship of a race of rulers.

DYNE Dyne, n. Etym: [Formed fr. Gr. Dynamic.] (Physics)

Defn: The unit of force, in the C. G. S. (Centimeter Gram Second) system of physical units; that is, the force which, acting on a gram for a second, generates a velocity of a centimeter per second.

DYS- Dys-.

Defn: An inseparable prefix, fr. the Greek ill, bad, hard, difficult, and the like; cf. the prefixes, Skr. dus-, Goth. tuz-, OHG. zur-, G. zer-, AS. to-, Icel. tor-, Ir. do-.

DYSAESTHESIA Dys`æs*the"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Impairment of any of the senses, esp. of touch.

DYSCRASIA Dys*cra"si*a, n. Etym: [NL. dyscrasia, fr. Gr. dycrasie.] (Med.)

Defn: An ill habit or state of the constitution; -- formerly regarded as dependent on a morbid condition of the blood and humors.

DYSCRASITE Dys"cra*site, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral consisting of antimony and silver.

DYSCRASY Dys"cra*sy, n.; pl. Discrasies (.

Defn: Dycrasia. Sin is a cause of dycrasies and distempers. Jer. Taylor.

DYSENTERIC; DYSENTERICAL Dys`en*ter"ic, Dys`en*ter"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. dysentericus, Gr. dysentérigue.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to dysentery; having dysentery; as, a dysenteric patient. "Dysenteric symptoms." Copland.

DYSENTERY Dys"en*ter*y, n. Etym: [L. dysenteria, Gr. in: cf. F. dysenterie. See Dys, and In.] (Med.)

Defn: A disease attended with inflammation and ulceration of the colon and rectum, and characterized by griping pains, constant desire to evacuate the bowels, and the discharge of mucus and blood.

Note: When acute, dysentery is usually accompanied with high fevers. It occurs epidemically, and is believed to be communicable through the medium of the alvine discharges.

DYSGENESIC Dys`ge*nes"ic, a.

Defn: Not procreating or breeding freely; as, one race may be dysgenesic with respect to another. Darwin.

DYSGENESIS Dys*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Pref. dys- + genesis.] (Biol.)

Defn: A condition of not generating or breeding freely; infertility; a form homogenesis in which the hybrids are sterile among themselves, but are fertile with members of either parent race.

DYSLOGISTIC Dys`lo*gis"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Unfavorable; not commendatory; -- opposed to eulogistic. There is no course of conduct for which dyslogistic or eulogistic epithets may be found. J. F. Stephen. The paternity of dyslogistic -- no bantling, but now almost a centenarian -- is adjudged to that genius of common sense, Jeremy Bentham. Fitzed. Hall.

DYSLUITE Dys"lu*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of the zinc spinel or gahnite.

DYSLYSIN Dys"ly*sin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A resinous substance formed in the decomposition of cholic acid of bile; -- so called because it is difficult to solve.

DYSMENORRHEA Dys*men`or*rhe"a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Difficult and painful menstruation.

DYSNOMY Dys"no*my, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Bad legislation; the enactment of bad laws. Cockeram.

DYSODILE Dys"o*dile, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: An impure earthy or coaly bitumen, which emits a highly fetid odor when burning.

DYSPEPSIA; DYSPEPSY Dys*pep"si*a, Dys*pep"sy,Etym: [L. dyspepsia, Gr. cook: cf. F. dyspepsie. See Dys-, and 3d Cook.] (Med.)

Defn: A kind of indigestion; a state of the stomach in which its functions are disturbed, without the presence of other diseases, or, if others are present, they are of minor importance. Its symptoms are loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, acrid or fetid eructations, a sense of weight or fullness in the stomach, etc. Dunglison.

DYSPEPTIC; DYSPEPTICAL Dys*pep"tic, Dys*pep"tic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to dyspepsia; having dyspepsia; as, a dyspeptic or dyspeptical symptom.

DYSPEPTIC Dys*pep"tic, n.

Defn: A person afflicted with dyspepsia.

DYSPEPTONE Dys*pep"tone, n. Etym: [Pref. dys- + peptone.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: An insoluble albuminous body formed from casein and other proteid substances by the action of gastric juice. Meissner.

DYSPHAGIA; DYSPHAGY Dys*pha"gi*a, Dys"pha*gy, n. Etym: [NL. dysphagia, fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Difficulty in swallowing.

DYSPHONIA; DYSPHONY Dys*pho"ni*a, Dys"pho*ny, n. Etym: [NL. dysphonia, Gr. dysphonie.] (Med.)

Defn: A difficulty in producing vocal sounds; enfeebled or depraved voice.

DYSPHORIA Dys*pho"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. dysphorie.] (Med.)

Defn: Impatience under affliction; morbid restlessness; dissatisfaction; the fidgets.

DYSPNEA; DYSPNOEA Dysp*nea, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. dyspnée.] (Med.)

Defn: Difficulty of breathing.

DYSPNOIC Dysp*no"ic, a. (Med.)

Defn: Affected with shortness of breath; relating to dyspn

DYSPROSIUM Dys*pro"si*um, n. [NL., fr. Gr. dyspro`sitos hard to get at.] (Chem.)

Defn: An element of the rare earth-group. Symbol Dy; at. wt., 162.5.

DYSTELEOLOGY Dys*te`le*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Pref. dys- + teleology.] (Biol.)

Defn: The doctrine of purposelessness; a term applied by Haeckel to that branch of physiology which treats of rudimentary organs, in view of their being useless to the life of the organism. To the doctrine of dysteleology, or the denial of final causes, a proof of the real existence of such a thing as instinct must necessarily be fatal. Word (Dynamic Sociology).

DYSTOCIA Dys*to"ci*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Difficult delivery pr parturition.

DYSTOME Dys"tome, a. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: Cleaving with difficulty.

Note: Datolite was called dystome spar by Mohs.

DYSURIA; DYSURY Dys*u"ri*a, Dys"u*ry, n. Etym: [L. dysuria, Gr. dysurie.] (Med.)

Defn: Difficult or painful discharge of urine.

DYSURIC Dys*u"ric, a. Etym: [Gr. dysurique.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or afflicted with, dysury.

DZEREN; DZERON Dze"ren, Dze"ron, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Chinese yellow antelope (Procapra gutturosa), a remarkably swift-footed animal, inhabiting the deserts of Central Asia, Thibet, and China.

DZIGGETAI Dzig"ge*tai, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The kiang, a wild horse or wild ass of Thibet (Asinus hemionus).

Note: The name is sometimes applied also to the koulan or onager. See Koulan.

E

1. The fifth letter of the English alphabet.

Note: It derives its form, name, and value from the Latin, the form and value being further derived from the Greek, into which it came from the Phoenician, and ultimately, probably, from the Egyptian. Its etymological relations are closest with the vowels i, a, and o, as illustrated by to fall, to fell; man, pl. men; drink, drank, drench; dint, dent; doom, deem; goose, pl. geese; beef, OF. boef, L. bos; and E. cheer, OF. chiere, LL. cara.

Note: The letter e has in English several vowel sounds, the two principal being its long or name sound, as in eve, me, and the short, as in end, best. Usually at the end of words it is silent, but serves to indicate that the preceding vowel has its long sound, where otherwise it would be short, as in mane, as in cane, m, which without the final e would be pronounced m, c, m. After c and g, the final e indicates that these letters are to be pronounced as s and j; respectively, as in lace, rage. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 74-97.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: E is the third tone of the model diatonic scale. E (E flat) is a tone which is intermediate between D and E.

E- E-.

Defn: A Latin prefix meaning out, out of, from; also, without. See Ex-.

EACH Each, a. or a. pron. Etym: [OE. eche, ælc, elk, ilk, AS. ælc; a always + gelic like; akin to OD. ieg, OHG. , MHG. iegelich. Aye, Like, and cf. Either, Every, Ilk.]

1. Every one of the two or more individuals composing a number of objects, considered separately from the rest. It is used either with or without a following noun; as, each of you or each one of you. "Each of the combatants." Fielding.

Note: To each corresponds other. "Let each esteem other better than himself." Each other, used elliptically for each the other. It is our duty to assist each other; that is, it is our duty, each to assist the other, each being in the nominative and other in the objective case. It is a bad thing that men should hate each other; but it is far worse that they should contract the habit of cutting one another's throats without hatred. Macaulay. Let each His adamantine coat gird well. Milton. In each cheek appears a pretty dimple. Shak. Then draw we nearer day by day, Each to his brethren, all to God. Keble. The oak and the elm have each a distinct character. Gilpin.

2. Every; -- sometimes used interchangeably with every. Shak. I know each lane and every alley green. Milton. In short each man's happiness depends upon himself. Sterne.

Note: This use of each for every, though common in Scotland and in America, is now un-English. Fitzed. Hall.

Syn. -- See Every.

EACHWHERE Each"where`, adv.

Defn: Everywhere. [Obs.] The sky eachwhere did show full bright and fair. Spenser.

EADISH Ead"ish, n.

Defn: See Eddish.

EAGER Ea"ger, a. Etym: [OE. egre sharp, sour, eager, OF. agre, aigre, F. aigre, fr. L. acer sharp, sour, spirited, zealous; akin to Gr. a point; fr. a root signifying to be sharp. Cf. Acrid, Edge.]

1. Sharp; sour; acid. [Obs.] "Like eager droppings into milk." Shak.

2. Sharp; keen; bitter; severe. [Obs.] "A nipping and an eager air." "Eager words." Shak.

3. Excited by desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were eager in the chase. And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes. Shak. How eagerly ye follow my disgraces! Shak. When to her eager lips is brought Her infant's thrilling kiss. Keble. A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys. Hawthorne. Conceit and grief an eager combat fight. Shak.

4. Brittle; inflexible; not ductile. [Obs.] Gold will be sometimes so eager, as artists call it, that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself. Locke.

Syn. -- Earnest; ardent; vehement; hot; impetuous; fervent; intense; impassioned; zealous; forward. See Earnest. -- Eager, Earnest. Eager marks an excited state of desire or passion; thus, a child is eager for a plaything, a hungry man is eager for food, a covetous man is eager for gain. Eagerness is liable to frequent abuses, and is good or bad, as the case may be. It relates to what is praiseworthy or the contrary. Earnest denotes a permanent state of mind, feeling, or sentiment. It is always taken in a good sense; as, a preacher is earnest in his appeals to the conscience; an agent is earnest in his solicitations.

EAGER Ea"ger, n.

Defn: Same as Eagre.

EAGERLY Ea"ger*ly, adv.

Defn: In an eager manner.

EAGERNESS Ea"ger*ness, n.

1. The state or quality of being eager; ardent desire. "The eagerness of love." Addison.

2. Tartness; sourness. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Ardor; vehemence; earnestness; impetuosity; heartiness; fervor; fervency; avidity; zeal; craving; heat; passion; greediness.

EAGLE Ea"gle, n. Etym: [OE. egle, F. aigle, fr. L. aquila; prob. named from its color, fr. aquilus dark-colored, brown; cf. Lith. aklas blind. Cf. Aquiline.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any large, rapacious bird of the Falcon family, esp. of the genera Aquila and Haliæetus. The eagle is remarkable for strength, size, graceful figure, keenness of vision, and extraordinary flight. The most noted species are the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaëtus); the imperial eagle of Europe (A. mogilnik or imperialis); the American bald eagle (Haliæetus leucocephalus); the European sea eagle (H. albicilla); and the great harpy eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia). The figure of the eagle, as the king of birds, is commonly used as an heraldic emblem, and also for standards and emblematic devices. See Bald eagle, Harpy, and Golden eagle.

2. A gold coin of the United States, of the value of ten dollars.

3. (Astron.)

Defn: A northern constellation, containing Altair, a star of the first magnitude. See Aquila.

4. The figure of an eagle borne as an emblem on the standard of the ancient Romans, or so used upon the seal or standard of any people. Though the Roman eagle shadow thee. Tennyson.

Note: Some modern nations, as the United States, and France under the Bonapartes, have adopted the eagle as their national emblem. Russia, Austria, and Prussia have for an emblem a double-headed eagle. Bald eagle. See Bald eagle. -- Bold eagle. See under Bold. -- Double eagle, a gold coin of the United States worth twenty dollars. -- Eagle hawk (Zoöl.), a large, crested, South American hawk of the genus Morphnus. -- Eagle owl (Zoöl.), any large owl of the genus Bubo, and allied genera; as the American great horned owl (Bubo Virginianus), and the allied European species (B. maximus). See Horned owl. -- Eagle ray (Zoöl.), any large species of ray of the genus Myliobatis (esp. M. aquila). -- Eagle vulture (Zoöl.), a large West African bid (Gypohierax Angolensis), intermediate, in several respects, between the eagles and vultures.

EAGLE-EYED Ea"gle-eyed`, a.

Defn: Sharp-sighted as an eagle. "Inwardly eagle-eyed." Howell.

EAGLE-SIGHTED Ea"gle-sight`ed, a.

Defn: Farsighted and strong-sighted; sharp-sighted. Shak.

EAGLESS Ea"gless, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aiglesse.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A female or hen eagle. [R.] Sherwood.

EAGLESTONE Ea"gle*stone, n. (Min.)

Defn: A concretionary nodule of clay ironstone, of the size of a walnut or larger, so called by the ancients, who believed that the eagle transported these stones to her nest to facilitate the laying of her eggs; aëtites.

EAGLET Ea"glet, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aiglet.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young eagle, or a diminutive eagle.

EAGLE-WINGED Ea"gle-winged`, a.

Defn: Having the wings of an eagle; swift, or soaring high, like an eagle. Shak.

EAGLEWOOD Ea"gle*wood`, n. Etym: [From Skr. aguru, through Pg. aguila; cf. F. bois d'aigle.]

Defn: A kind of fragrant wood. See Agallochum.

EAGRASS Ea"grass, n.

Defn: See Eddish. [Obs.]

EAGRE Ea"gre, n. Etym: [AS. eágor, , in comp., water, sea, eágor-streám water stream, sea.]

Defn: A wave, or two or three successive waves, of great height and violence, at flood tide moving up an estuary or river; -- commonly called the bore. See Bore.

EALDERMAN; EALDORMAN Eal"der*man, Eal"dor*man, n.

Defn: An alderman. [Obs.]

EALE Eale, n. Etym: [See Ale.]

Defn: Ale. [Obs.] Shak.

EAME Eame, n. Etym: [AS. eám; akin to D. oom, G. ohm, oheim; cf. L. avunculus.]

Defn: Uncle. [Obs.] Spenser.

EAN Ean, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. eánian. See Yean.]

Defn: To bring forth, as young; to yean. "In eaning time." Shak.

EANLING Ean"ling, n. Etym: [See Ean, Yeanling.]

Defn: A lamb just brought forth; a yeanling. Shak.

EAR Ear, n. Etym: [AS. eáre; akin to OFries. áre, ár, OS. , D. oor, OHG. , G. ohr, Icel. eyra, Sw. öra, Dan. öre, Goth. auso, L. auris, Lith. ausis, Russ. ukho, Gr. audire to hear, Gr. av to favor , protect. Cf. Auricle, Orillon.]

1. The organ of hearing; the external ear.

Note: In man and the higher vertebrates, the organ of hearing is very complicated, and is divisible into three parts: the external ear, which includes the pinna or auricle and meatus or external opening; the middle ear, drum, or tympanum; and the internal ear, or labyrinth. The middle ear is a cavity connected by the Eustachian tube with the pharynx, separated from the opening of the external ear by the tympanic membrane, and containing a chain of three small bones, or ossicles, named malleus, incus, and stapes, which connect this membrane with the internal ear. The essential part of the internal ear where the fibers of the auditory nerve terminate, is the membranous labyrinth, a complicated system of sacs and tubes filled with a fluid (the endolymph), and lodged in a cavity, called the bony labyrinth, in the periotic bone. The membranous labyrinth does not completely fill the bony labyrinth, but is partially suspended in it in a fluid (the perilymph). The bony labyrinth consists of a central cavity, the vestibule, into which three semicircular canals and the canal of the cochlea (spirally coiled in mammals) open. The vestibular portion of the membranous labyrinth consists of two sacs, the utriculus and sacculus, connected by a narrow tube, into the former of which three membranous semicircular canals open, while the latter is connected with a membranous tube in the cochlea containing the organ of Corti. By the help of the external ear the sonorous vibrations of the air are concentrated upon the tympanic membrane and set it vibrating, the chain of bones in the middle ear transmits these vibrations to the internal ear, where they cause certain delicate structures in the organ of Corti, and other parts of the membranous labyrinth, to stimulate the fibers of the auditory nerve to transmit sonorous impulses to the brain.

2. The sense of hearing; the perception of sounds; the power of discriminating between different tones; as, a nice ear for music; -- in the singular only. Songs . . . not all ungrateful to thine ear. Tennyson.

3. That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal; any prominence or projection on an object, -- usually one for support or attachment; a lug; a handle; as, the ears of a tub, a skillet, or dish. The ears of a boat are outside kneepieces near the bow. See Illust. of Bell.

4. (Arch.) (a) Same as Acroterium (a). (b) Same as Crossette.

5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention. Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit. Bacon. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Shak. About the ears, in close proximity to; near at hand. -- By the ears, in close contest; as, to set by the ears; to fall together by the ears; to be by the ears. -- Button ear (in dogs), an ear which falls forward and completely hides the inside. -- Ear finger, the little finger. -- Ear of Dionysius, a kind of ear trumpet with a flexible tube; -- named from the Sicilian tyrant, who constructed a device to overhear the prisoners in his dungeons. -- Ear sand (Anat.), otoliths. See Otolith. -- Ear snail (Zoöl.), any snail of the genus Auricula and allied genera. -- Ear stones (Anat.), otoliths. See Otolith. -- Ear trumpet, an instrument to aid in hearing. It consists of a tube broad at the outer end, and narrowing to a slender extremity which enters the ear, thus collecting and intensifying sounds so as to assist the hearing of a partially deaf person. -- Ear vesicle (Zoöl.), a simple auditory organ, occurring in many worms, mollusks, etc. It consists of a small sac containing a fluid and one or more solid concretions or otocysts. -- Rose ear (in dogs), an ear which folds backward and shows part of the inside. -- To give ear to, to listen to; to heed, as advice or one advising. "Give ear unto my song." Goldsmith. -- To have one's ear, to be listened to with favor. -- Up to the ears, deeply submerged; almost overwhelmed; as, to be in trouble up to one's ears. [Colloq.]

EAR Ear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eared; p. pr. & vb. n. Earing.]

Defn: To take in with the ears; to hear. [Sportive] "I eared her language." Two Noble Kinsmen.

EAR Ear, n. Etym: [AS. ear; akin to D. aar, OHG. ahir, G. ähre, Icel., Sw., & Dan. ax, Goth. ahs. . Cf. Awn, Edge.]

Defn: The spike or head of any cereal (as, wheat, rye, barley, Indian corn, etc.), containing the kernels. First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Mark iv. 28.

EAR Ear, v. i.

Defn: To put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain; as, this corn ears well.

EAR Ear, v. t. Etym: [OE. erien, AS. erian; akin to OFries. era, OHG. erran, MHG. eren, ern, Prov. G. aren, ären, Icel. erja, Goth. arjan, Lith. arti, OSlav. orati, L. arare, Gr. Arable.]

Defn: To plow or till; to cultivate. "To ear the land." Shak.

EARABLE Ear"a*ble, a.

Defn: Arable; tillable. [Archaic]

EARACHE Ear"ache`, n.

Defn: Ache or pain in the ear.

EARAL Ear"al, a.

Defn: Receiving by the ear. [Obs.] Hewyt.

EAR-BORED Ear"-bored`, a.

Defn: Having the ear perforated.

EARCAP Ear"cap`, n.

Defn: A cap or cover to protect the ear from cold.

EARCOCKLE Ear"coc`kle, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A disease in wheat, in which the blackened and contracted grain, or ear, is filled with minute worms.

EARDROP Ear"drop`, n.

1. A pendant for the ear; an earring; as, a pair of eardrops.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A species of primrose. See Auricula.

EARDRUM Ear"drum`, n. (Anat.)

Defn: The tympanum. See Illust. of Ear.

EARED Eared, a.

1. Having (such or so many) ears; -- used in composition; as, long- eared-eared; sharp-eared; full-eared; ten-eared.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having external ears; having tufts of feathers resembling ears. Eared owl (Zoöl.), an owl having earlike tufts of feathers, as the long-eared owl, and short-eared owl. -- Eared seal (Zoöl.), any seal of the family Otariidæ, including the fur seals and hair seals. See Seal.

EARINESS Ear"i*ness, n. Etym: [Scotch ery or eiry affected with fear.]

Defn: Fear or timidity, especially of something supernatural. [Written also eiryness.] The sense of eariness, as twilight came on. De Quincey.

EARING Ear"ing, n. (Naut.) (a) A line used to fasten the upper corners of a sail to the yard or gaff; -- also called head earing. (b) A line for hauling the reef cringle to the yard; -- also called reef earing. (c) A line fastening the corners of an awning to the rigging or stanchions.

EARING Ear"ing, n.

Defn: Coming into ear, as corn.

EARING Ear"ing, n.

Defn: A plowing of land. [Archaic] Neither earing nor harvest. Gen. xlv. 6.

EARL Earl, n. Etym: [OE. eorl, erl, AS. eorl man, noble; akin to OS. erl boy, man, Icel. jarl nobleman, count, and possibly to Gr. arshan man. Cf. Jarl.]

Defn: A nobleman of England ranking below a marquis, and above a viscount. The rank of an earl corresponds to that of a count (comte) in France, and graf in Germany. Hence the wife of an earl is still called countess. See Count.

EARL Earl, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The needlefish. [Ireland]

EARLAP Ear"lap`, n.

Defn: The lobe of the ear.

EARLDOM Earl"dom, n. Etym: [AS. eorl-d; eorl man, noble + -d -dom.]

1. The jurisdiction of an earl; the territorial possessions of an earl.

2. The status, title, or dignity of an earl. He [Pulteney] shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom. Chesterfield.

EARLDORMAN Earl"dor*man, n.

Defn: Alderman. [Obs.]

EARLDUCK Earl"duck`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The red-breasted merganser (Merganser serrator).

EARLES PENNY Earles" pen`ny. Etym: [Cf. Arles, 4th Earnest.]

Defn: Earnest money. Same as Arles penny. [Obs.]

EARLESS Ear"less, a.

Defn: Without ears; hence, deaf or unwilling to hear. Pope.

EARLET Ear"let, n. Etym: [Ear + -let.]

Defn: An earring. [Obs.] The Ismaelites were accustomed to wear golden earlets. Judg. viii. 24 (Douay version).

EARLINESS Ear"li*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being early or forward; promptness.

EARL MARSHAL Earl" mar"shal.

Defn: An officer of state in England who marshals and orders all great ceremonials, takes cognizance of matters relating to honor, arms, and pedigree, and directs the proclamation of peace and war. The court of chivalry was formerly under his jurisdiction, and he is still the head of the herald's office or college of arms.

EARLOCK Ear"lock`, n. Etym: [AS. eár-locca.]

Defn: A lock or curl of hair near the ear; a lovelock. See Lovelock.

EARLY Ear"ly, adv. Etym: [OE. erli, erliche, AS. ; sooner + lic like. See Ere, and Like.]

Defn: Soon; in good season; seasonably; betimes; as, come early. Those that me early shall find me. Prov. viii. 17. You must wake and call me early. Tennyson.

EARLY Ear"ly, a. [Compar. Earlier; superl. Earliest.] Etym: [OE. earlich. Early, adv.]

1. In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to Ant: late; as, the early bird; an early spring; early fruit. Early and provident fear is the mother of safety. Burke. The doorsteps and threshold with the early grass springing up about them. Hawthorne.

2. Coming in the first part of a period of time, or among the first of successive acts, events, etc. Seen in life's early morning sky. Keble. The forms of its earlier manhood. Longfellow. The earliest poem he composed was in his seventeenth summer. J. C. Shairp. Early English (Philol.) See the Note under English. -- Early English architecture, the first of the pointed or Gothic styles used in England, succeeding the Norman style in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Syn. -- Forward; timely; not late; seasonable.

EARMARK Ear"mark`, n.

1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or slitting.

2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark. Money is said to have no earmark. Wharton. Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the rounding of his head, and his earmark. Robynson (More's Utopia). A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor. Burrow.

EARMARK Ear"mark`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earmarked; p. pr. & vb. n. Earmarking.]

Defn: To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.

EAR-MINDED Ear"-mind"ed, a. (Physiol. Psychol.)

Defn: Thinking chiefly or most readily through, or in terms related to, the sense of hearing; specif., thinking words as spoken, as a result of familiarity with speech or of mental peculiarity; -- opposed to eye-minded.

EARN Earn, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Ern, n. Sir W. Scott.

EARN Earn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earned; p. pr. & vb. n. Earning.] Etym: [AS. earnian; akin to OHG. arn to reap, aran harvest, G. ernte, Goth. asans harvest, asneis hireling, AS. esne; cf. Icel. önn working season, work.]

1. To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that which entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is received or not). The high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn. Milton.

2. To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good living; to earn honors or laurels. I earn that [what] I eat. Shak. The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my brow. Burke. Earned run (Baseball), a run which is made without the assistance of errors on the opposing side.

Syn. -- See Obtain.

EARN Earn, v. t. & i. Etym: [See 1st Yearn.]

Defn: To grieve. [Obs.]

EARN Earn, v. i. Etym: [See 4th Yearn.]

Defn: To long; to yearn. [Obs.] And ever as he rode, his heart did earn To prove his puissance in battle brave. Spenser.

EARN Earn, v. i. Etym: [AS. irnan to run. Rennet, and cf. Yearnings.]

Defn: To curdle, as milk. [Prov. Eng.]

EARNEST Ear"nest, n. Etym: [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. oriri to rise.]

Defn: Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness. Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. Sir P. Sidney. And given in earnest what I begged in jest. Shak. In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.

EARNEST Ear"nest, a.

1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; -- used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers. An earnest advocate to plead for him. Shak.

2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.

3. Serious; important. [Obs.] They whom earnest lets do often hinder. Hooker.

Syn. -- Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager.

EARNEST Ear"nest, v. t.

Defn: To use in earnest. [R.] To earnest them [our arms] with men. Pastor Fido (1602).

EARNEST Ear"nest, n. Etym: [Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra, arrha, arrhabo, Gr. ; or perh. fr. W. ernes, akin to Gael. earlas, perh. fr. L. arra. Cf. Arles, Earles penny.]

1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Cor. i. 22. And from his coffers Received the golden earnest of our death. Shak.

2. (Law)

Defn: Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. Kent. Ayliffe. Benjamin. Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.

Syn. -- Earnest, Pledge. These words are here compared as used in their figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest, like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability, that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited, affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their ultimate triumph.

EARNESTFUL Ear"nest*ful, a.

Defn: Serious. [Obs.] Chaucer.

EARNESTLY Ear"nest*ly, adv.

Defn: In an earnest manner.

EARNESTNESS Ear"nest*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being earnest; intentness; anxiety. An honest earnestness in the young man's manner. W. Irving.

EARNFUL Earn"ful, a. Etym: [From Earn to yearn.]

Defn: Full of anxiety or yearning. [Obs.] P. Fletcher.

EARNING Earn"ing, n.; pl. Earnings (.

Defn: That which is earned; wages gained by work or services; money earned; -- used commonly in the plural. As to the common people, their stock is in their persons and in their earnings. Burke.

EARPICK Ear"pick`, n.

Defn: An instrument for removing wax from the ear.

EAR-PIERCER Ear"-pier`cer, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The earwig.

EARREACH Ear"reach`, n.

Defn: Earshot. Marston.

EARRING Ear"ring`, n.

Defn: An ornament consisting of a ring passed through the lobe of the ear, with or without a pendant.

EARSH Earsh, n.

Defn: See Arrish.

EAR-SHELL Ear"-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A flattened marine univalve shell of the genus Haliotis; -- called also sea-ear. See Abalone.

EARSHOT Ear"shot`, n.

Defn: Reach of the ear; distance at which words may be heard. Dryden.

EARSHRIFT Ear"shrift`, n.

Defn: A nickname for auricular confession; shrift. [Obs.] Cartwright.

EARSORE Ear"sore`, n.

Defn: An annoyance to the ear. [R.] The perpetual jangling of the chimes . . . is no small earsore Sir T. Browne.

EAR-SPLITTING Ear"-split`ting, a.

Defn: Deafening; disagreeably loud or shrill; as, ear-splitting strains.

EARST Earst, adv.

Defn: See Erst. [Obs.] Spenser.

EARTH Earth, n. Etym: [AS. eor; akin to OS. ertha, OFries. irthe, D. aarde, OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel. jör, Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. airpa, OHG. ero, Gr. ear to plow.]

1. The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits. That law preserves the earth a sphere And guides the planets in their course. S. Rogers. In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell. Milton.

2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land. God called the dry land earth. Gen. i. 10. He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him. Shak.

3. The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth. Give him a little earth for charity. Shak.

4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land. Would I had never trod this English earth. Shak.

5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life. Our weary souls by earth beguiled. Keble.

6. The people on the globe. The whole earth was of one language. Gen. xi. 1.

7. (Chem.) (a) Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. (b) A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta.

8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. Macaulay. They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. Holland.

Note: Earth is used either adjectively or in combination to form compound words; as, earth apple or earth-apple; earth metal or earth- metal; earth closet or earth-closet. Adamic earth, Bitter earth, Bog earth, Chian earth, etc. See under Adamic, Bitter, etc. -- Alkaline earths. See under Alkaline. -- Earth apple. (Bot.) (a) A potato. (b) A cucumber. -- Earth auger, a form of auger for boring into the ground; -- called also earth borer. -- Earth bath, a bath taken by immersing the naked body in earth for healing purposes. -- Earth battery (Physics), a voltaic battery the elements of which are buried in the earth to be acted on by its moisture. -- Earth chestnut, the pignut. -- Earth closet, a privy or commode provided with dry earth or a similar substance for covering and deodorizing the fæcal discharges. -- Earth dog (Zoöl.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter holes of foxes, etc. -- Earth hog, Earth pig (Zoöl.), the aard-vark. -- Earth hunger, an intense desire to own land, or, in the case of nations, to extend their domain. -- Earth light (Astron.), the light reflected by the earth, as upon the moon, and corresponding to moonlight; -- called also earth shine. Sir J. Herschel. -- Earth metal. See 1st Earth,

7. (Chem.) -- Earth oil, petroleum. -- Earth pillars or pyramids (Geol.), high pillars or pyramids of earth, sometimes capped with a single stone, found in Switzerland. Lyell. -- Earth pitch (Min.), mineral tar, a kind of asphaltum. -- Earth quadrant, a fourth of the earth's circumference. -- Earth table (Arch.), the lowest course of stones visible in a building; the ground table. -- On earth, an intensive expression, oftenest used in questions and exclamations; as, What on earth shall I do Nothing on earth will satisfy him. [Colloq.]

EARTH Earth, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earthed; p. pr. & vb. n. Earthing.]

1. To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den. "The fox is earthed." Dryden.

2. To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; -- sometimes with up. The miser earths his treasure, and the thief, Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon. Young. Why this in earthing up a carcass R. Blair.

EARTH Earth, v. i.

Defn: To burrow. Tickell.

EARTH Earth, n. Etym: [From Ear to plow.]

Defn: A plowing. [Obs.] Such land as ye break up for barley to sow, Two earths at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow. Tusser.

EARTHBAG Earth"bag`, n. (Mil.)

Defn: A bag filled with earth, used commonly to raise or repair a parapet.

EARTHBANK Earth"bank`, n.

Defn: A bank or mound of earth.

EARTHBOARD Earth"board`, n. (Agric.)

Defn: The part of a plow, or other implement, that turns over the earth; the moldboard.

EARTHBORN Earth"born`, a.

1. Born of the earth; terrigenous; springing originally from the earth; human. Some earthborn giant. Milton.

2. Relating to, or occasioned by, earthly objects. All earthborn cares are wrong. Goldsmith.

EARTHBRED Earth"bred`, a.

Defn: Low; grovelling; vulgar.

EARTHDIN Earth"din`, n.

Defn: An earthquake. [Obs.]

EARTHDRAKE Earth"drake`, n.

Defn: A mythical monster of the early Anglo-Saxon literature; a dragon. W. Spalding.

EARTHEN Earth"en, a.

Defn: Made of earth; made of burnt or baked clay, or other like substances; as, an earthen vessel or pipe.

EARTHEN-HEARTED Earth"en-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Hard-hearted; sordid; gross. [Poetic] Lowell.

EARTHENWARE Earth"en*ware`, n.

Defn: Vessels and other utensils, ornaments, or the like, made of baked clay. See Crockery, Pottery, Stoneware, and Porcelain.

EARTH FLAX Earth" flax`. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of asbestus. See Amianthus.

EARTHFORK Earth"fork`, n.

Defn: A pronged fork for turning up the earth.

EARTHINESS Earth"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being earthy, or of containing earth; hence, grossness.

EARTHLIGHT Earth"light`, n. (Astron.)

Defn: The sunlight reflected from the earth to the moon, by which we see faintly, when the moon is near the sun (either before or after new moon), that part of the moon's disk unillumined by direct sunlight, or "the old moon in the arms of the new."

EARTHLINESS Earth"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being earthly; worldliness; grossness; perishableness.

EARTHLING Earth"ling, n. Etym: [Earth + -ling.]

Defn: An inhabitant of the earth; a mortal. Earthings oft her deemed a deity. Drummond.

EARTHLY Earth"ly, a.

1. Pertaining to the earth; belonging to this world, or to man's existence on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal; worldly; as, earthly joys; earthly flowers; earthly praise. This earthly load Of death, called life. Milton. Whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. Phil. iii. 19.

2. Of all things on earth; possible; conceivable. What earthly benefit can be the result Pope.

3. Made of earth; earthy. [Obs.] Holland.

Syn. -- Gross; material; sordid; mean; base; vile; low; unsubstantial; temporary; corrupt; groveling.

EARTHLY Earth"ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of the earth or its people; worldly. Took counsel from his guiding eyes To make this wisdom earthly wise. Emerson.

EARTHLY-MINDED Earth"ly-mind`ed, a.

Defn: Having a mind devoted to earthly things; worldly-minded; -- opposed to spiritual-minded. -- Earth"ly-mind`ed*ness, n.

EARTHMAD Earth"mad`, n. Etym: [Earth + mad an earthworm.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The earthworm. [Obs.] The earthmads and all the sorts of worms . . . are without eyes. Holland.

EARTHNUT Earth"nut`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to various roots, tubers, or pods grown under or on the ground; as to: (a) The esculent tubers of the umbelliferous plants Bunium flexuosum and Carum Bulbocastanum. (b) The peanut. See Peanut.

EARTHPEA Earth"pea`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A species of pea (Amphicarpæa monoica). It is a climbing leguminous plant, with hairy underground pods.

EARTHQUAKE Earth"quake`, n.

Defn: A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; -- called also earthdin, earthquave, and earthshock. Earthquake alarm, a bell signal constructed to operate on the theory that a few seconds before the occurrence of an earthquake the magnet temporarily loses its power.

EARTHQUAKE Earth"quake`, a.

Defn: Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; starling. The earthquake voice of victory. Byron.

EARTHQUAVE Earth"quave`, n.

Defn: An earthquake.

EARTH SHINE Earth" shine`.

Defn: See Earth light, under Earth.

EARTHSHOCK Earth"shock`, n.

Defn: An earthquake.

EARTHSTAR Earth"star`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A curious fungus of the genus Geaster, in which the outer coating splits into the shape of a star, and the inner one forms a ball containing the dustlike spores.

EARTH-TONGUE Earth"-tongue`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A fungus of the genus Geoglossum.

EARTHWARD; EARTHWARDS Earth"ward, Earth"wards (, adv.

Defn: Toward the earth; -- opposed to heavenward or skyward.

EARTHWORK Earth"work`, n.

1. (Mil.)

Defn: Any construction, whether a temporary breastwork or permanent fortification, for attack or defense, the material of which is chiefly earth.

2. (Engin.) (a) The operation connected with excavations and embankments of earth in preparing foundations of buildings, in constructing canals, railroads, etc. (b) An embankment or construction made of earth.

EARTHWORM Earth"worm`, n.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any worm of the genus Lumbricus and allied genera, found in damp soil. One of the largest and most abundant species in Europe and America is L. terrestris; many others are known; -- called also angleworm and dewworm.

2. A mean, sordid person; a niggard. Norris.

EARTHY Earth"y, a.

1. Consisting of, or resembling, earth; terrene; earthlike; as, earthy matter. How pale she looks, And of an earthy cold! Shak. All over earthy, like a piece of earth. Tennyson.

2. Of or pertaining to the earth or to, this world; earthly; terrestrial; carnal. [R.] "Their earthy charge." Milton. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. 1 Cor. xv. 47, 48 (Rev. Ver. ) Earthy spirits black and envious are. Dryden.

3. Gross; low; unrefined. "Her earthy and abhorred commands." Shak.

4. (Min.)

Defn: Without luster, or dull and roughish to the touch; as, an earthy fracture.

EARWAX Ear"wax`, n. (Anat.)

Defn: See Cerumen.

EARWIG Ear"wig`, n. Etym: [AS. eárwicga; eáre ear + wicga beetle, worm: cf. Prov. E. erri-wiggle.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any insect of the genus Forticula and related genera, belonging to the order Euplexoptera.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: In America, any small chilopodous myriapod, esp. of the genus Geophilus.

Note: Both insects are so called from the supposition that they creep into the human ear.

3. A whisperer of insinuations; a secret counselor. Johnson.

EARWIG Ear"wig`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earwigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Earwigging.]

Defn: To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered insinuations or private talk. "No longer was he earwigged by the Lord Cravens." Lord Campbell.

EARWITNESS Ear"wit`ness, n.