Chapter D: Valve (4)

Defn: To pour out like a stream or freely; to cause to exude; to shed. [R.] With gushing blood effused. Milton.

EFFUSE Ef*fuse", v. i.

Defn: To emanate; to issue. Thomson.

EFFUSION Ef*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. effusio: cf. F. effusion.]

1. The act of pouring out; as, effusion of water, of blood, of grace, of words, and the like. To save the effusion of my people's blood. Dryden.

2. That which is poured out, literally or figuratively. Wash me with that precious effusion, and I shall be whiter than sow. Eikon Basilike. The light effusions of a heedless boy. Byron.

3. (Pathol.) (a) The escape of a fluid out of its natural vessel, either by rupture of the vessel, or by exudation through its walls. It may pass into the substance of an organ, or issue upon a free surface. (b) The liquid escaping or exuded.

EFFUSIVE Ef*fu"sive, a.

Defn: Pouring out; pouring forth freely. "Washed with the effusive wave." Pope. Effusive rocks (Geol.), volcanic rocks, in distinction from so-called intrusive, or plutonic, rocks. -- Ef*fu"sive*ly, adv. -- Ef*fu"sive*ness, n.

EFREET Ef"reet, n.

Defn: See Afrit.

EFT Eft, n. Etym: [AS. efete lizard. See Newt.] (Zoöl.) (a) A European lizard of the genus Seps. (b) A salamander, esp. the European smooth newt (Triton punctatus).

EFT Eft, adv. Etym: [AS. eft, æft, again, back, afterward. See Aft, After.]

Defn: Again; afterwards; soon; quickly. [Obs.] I wold never eft comen into the snare. Spenser.

EFTSOON; EFTSOONS Eft*soon", Eft*soons", adv. Etym: [OE. eftsone, eftsones; AS. eft + s soon. See Eft, and Soon.]

Defn: Again; anew; a second time; at once; speedily. [Archaic] And, if he fall from his capel [horse] eftsone. Chaucer. The champion stout eftsoons dismounted. Spenser.

EGAD E*gad", interj. Etym: [Euphemistic corruption of the oath, "by God."]

Defn: An exclamation expressing exultation or surprise, etc.

EGAL E"gal, a. Etym: [F. égal. See Equal.]

Defn: Equal; impartial. [Obs.] Shak.

EGALITY E*gal"i*ty, n. Etym: [OE. egalite, F. égalité.]

Defn: Equality. Chaucer. Tennyson.

EGEAN E*ge"an, a.

Defn: See Ægean.

EGENCE E"gence, n. Etym: [L. egens, -entis, p. pr. of egere to be needy, suffer want.]

Defn: The state of needing, or of suffering a natural want. [R.] J. Grote.

EGER; EGRE E"ger, E"gre, a. Etym: [See Eager.]

Defn: Sharp; bitter; acid; sour. [Obs.] The egre words of thy friend. Chaucer.

EGER E"ger, n.

Defn: An impetuous flood; a bore. See Eagre.

EGERMINATE E*ger"mi*nate, v. i. Etym: [From L. egerminare to sprout.]

Defn: To germinate. [Obs.]

EGEST E*gest", v. t. Etym: [L. egestus, p. p. of egerere to carry out, to discharge; e out + gerere to carry.] (Physiol.)

Defn: To cast or throw out; to void, as excrement; to excrete, as the indigestible matter of the food; in an extended sense, to excrete by the lungs, skin, or kidneys.

EGESTA E*ges"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., neut. pl. from p. p. of L. egere. See Egest.] (Physiol.)

Defn: That which is egested or thrown off from the body by the various excretory channels; excrements; -- opposed to ingesta.

EGESTION E*ges"tion, n. Etym: [L. egestio.]

Defn: Act or process of egesting; a voiding. Sir M. Hale.

EGG Egg, n. Etym: [OE., fr. Icel. egg; akin to AS. æg (whence OE. ey), Sw. ägg, Dan. æg, G. & D. ei, and prob. to OSlav. aje, jaje, L. ovum, Gr. ugh, Gael. ubh, and perh. to L. avis bird. Cf. Oval.]

1. (Popularly)

Defn: The oval or roundish body laid by domestic poultry and other birds, tortoises, etc. It consists of a yolk, usually surrounded by the "white" or albumen, and inclosed in a shell or strong membrane.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: A simple cell, from the development of which the young of animals are formed; ovum; germ cell.

3. Anything resembling an egg in form.

Note: Egg is used adjectively, or as the first part of self- explaining compounds; as, egg beater or egg-beater, egg case, egg ladle, egg-shaped, etc. Egg and anchor (Arch.), an egg-shaped ornament, alternating with another in the form of a dart, used to enrich the ovolo; -- called also egg and dart, and egg and tongue. See Anchor, n., 5. Ogilvie. -- Egg cleavage (Biol.), a process of cleavage or segmentation, by which the egg undergoes endogenous division with formation of a mass of nearly similar cells, from the growth and differentiation of which the new organism is ultimately formed. See Segmentation of the ovum, under Segmentation. -- Egg development (Biol.), the process of the development of an egg, by which the embryo is formed. -- Egg mite (Zoöl.), any mite which devours the eggs of insects, as Nothrus ovivorus, which destroys those of the canker worm. -- Egg parasite (Zoöl.), any small hymenopterous insect, which, in the larval stage, lives within the eggs of other insects. Many genera and species are known.

EGG Egg, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Egged; p. pr. & vb. n. Egging.] Etym: [OE. eggen, Icel. eggja, fr. egg edge. Edge.]

Defn: To urge on; to instigate; to incite Adam and Eve he egged to ill. Piers Plowman. [She] did egg him on to tell How fair she was. Warner.

EGGAR Eg"gar, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any bombycid moth of the genera Eriogaster and Lasiocampa; as, the oak eggar (L. roboris) of Europe.

EGG-BIRD Egg"-bird`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of tern, esp. the sooty tern (Sterna fuliginosa) of the West Indies. In the Bahama Islands the name is applied to the tropic bird, Phaëthon flavirostris.

EGG-CUP Egg"-cup`, n.

Defn: A cup used for holding an egg, at table.

EGGEMENT Eg"ge*ment, n. Etym: [Egg, v. t. + -ment.]

Defn: Instigation; incitement. [Obs.] Chaucer.

EGGER Egg"er, n. Etym: [See Egg, n.]

Defn: One who gathers eggs; an eggler.

EGGER Egg"er, n. Etym: [See Egg, v. t.]

Defn: One who eggs or incites.

EGGERY Egg"er*y, n.

Defn: A place where eggs are deposited (as by sea birds) or kept; a nest of eggs. [R.]

EGG-GLASS Egg"-glass`, n.

Defn: A small sandglass, running about three minutes, for marking time in boiling eggs; also, a small glass for holding an egg, at table.

EGGHOT Egg"hot`, n.

Defn: A kind of posset made of eggs, brandy, sugar, and ale. Lamb.

EGGLER Egg"ler, n.

Defn: One who gathers, or deals in, eggs.

EGGNOG Egg`nog", n.

Defn: A drink consisting of eggs beaten up with sugar, milk, and (usually) wine or spirits.

EGGPLANT Egg"plant`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Solanum Melongena), of East Indian origin, allied to the tomato, and bearing a large, smooth, edible fruit, shaped somewhat like an egg; mad-apple.

EGG-SHAPED Egg"-shaped`, a.

Defn: Resembling an egg in form; ovoid.

EGGSHELL Egg"shell`, n.

1. The shell or exterior covering of an egg. Also used figuratively for anything resembling an eggshell.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A smooth, white, marine, gastropod shell of the genus Ovulum, resembling an egg in form.

EGG SQUASH Egg" squash`.

Defn: A variety of squash with small egg-shaped fruit.

EGHEN E"ghen, n. pl.

Defn: Eyes. [Obs.] Chaucer.

EGILOPICAL Eg`i*lop"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Ægilops.] (Med.)

Defn: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or affected with, an ægilops, or tumor in the corner of the eye.

EGILOPS Eg"i*lops, n.

Defn: See Ægilops.

EGLANDULOSE; EGLANDULOUS E*glan"du*lose`, E*glan"du*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + glandulose, glandulosus.]

Defn: Destitute of glands.

EGLANTINE Eg"lan*tine, n. Etym: [F. églantine, fr. OF. aiglent brier, hip tree, fr. (assumed) LL. acuculentus, fr. a dim. of L. acus needle; cf. F. aiguille needle. Cf. Aglet.] (Bot.) (a) A species of rose (Rosa Eglanteria), with fragrant foliage and flowers of various colors. (b) The sweetbrier (R. rubiginosa).

Note: Milton, in the following lines, has applied the name to some twinning plant, perhaps the honeysuckle. Through the sweetbrier, or the vine, Or the twisted eglantine. L'Allegro, 47. "In our early writers and in Gerarde and the herbalists, it was a shrub with white flowers." Dr. Prior.

EGLATERE Eg"la*tere, n.

Defn: Eglantine. [Obs. or R.] [Written also eglantere.] Tennyson.

EGLING Eg"ling, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European perch when two years old. [Prov. Eng.]

EGLOMERATE E*glom"er*ate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. e- + glomerate.]

Defn: To unwind, as a thread from a ball. [R.]

EGO E"go, n. Etym: [L., I.] (Met.)

Defn: The conscious and permanent subject of all psychical experiences, whether held to be directly known or the product of reflective thought; -- opposed to non-ego.

EGOICAL E*go"i*cal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to egoism. [R.]

EGOISM E"go*ism, n. Etym: [F. égoïsme, fr. L. -ego I. See I, and cf. Egotism.]

1. (Philos.)

Defn: The doctrine of certain extreme adherents or disciples of Descartes and Johann Gottlieb Fichte, which finds all the elements of knowledge in the ego and the relations which it implies or provides for.

2. Excessive love and thought of self; the habit of regarding one's self as the center of every interest; selfishness; -- opposed to altruism.

EGOIST E"go*ist, n. Etym: [F. égoïste. See Egoism.]

1. One given overmuch to egoism or thoughts of self. I, dullard egoist, taking no special recognition of such nobleness. Carlyle.

2. (Philos.)

Defn: A believer in egoism.

EGOISTIC; EGOISTICAL E`go*is"tic, E`go*is"tic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to egoism; imbued with egoism or excessive thoughts of self; self-loving. Ill-natured feeling, or egoistic pleasure in making men miserable. G. Eliot.

EGOISTICALLY E`go*is"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an egoistic manner.

EGOITY E*go"i*ty, n.

Defn: Personality. [R.] Swift.

EGOMISM E"go*mism, n.

Defn: Egoism. [R.] A. Baxter.

EGOPHONIC E`go*phon"ic, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, egophony.

EGOPHONY E*goph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The sound of a patient's voice so modified as to resemble the bleating of a goat, heard on applying the ear to the chest in certain diseases within its cavity, as in pleurisy with effusion.

EGOTHEISM E"go*the`ism, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The deification of self. [R.]

EGOTISM E"go*tism, n. Etym: [L. ego I + ending -tism for -ism, prob. influenced by other English words in -tism fr. the Greek, where t is not part of the ending, as baptism. See Egoism.]

Defn: The practice of too frequently using the word I; hence, a speaking or writing overmuch of one's self; self-exaltation; self- praise; the act or practice of magnifying one's self or parading one's own doings. The word is also used in the sense of egoism. His excessive egotism, which filled all objects with himself. Hazlitt.

Syn. -- Egotism, Self-conceit, Vanity, Egoism. Self-conceit is an overweening opinion of one's talents, capacity, attractions, etc.; egotism is the acting out of self-conceit, or self-importance, in words and exterior conduct; vanity is inflation of mind arising from the idea of being thought highly of by others. It shows itself by its eagerness to catch the notice of others. Egoism is a state in which the feelings are concentrated on one's self. Its expression is egotism.

EGOTIST E"go*tist, n. Etym: [L. ego I + ending -tist for -ist. See Egotism, and cf. Egoist.]

Defn: One addicted to egotism; one who speaks much of himself or magnifies his own achievements or affairs.

EGOTISTIC; EGOTISTICAL E`go*tis"tic, E`go*tis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Addicted to, or manifesting, egotism.

Syn. -- Conceited; vain; self-important; opinionated.

EGOTISTICALLY E`go*tis"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: With egotism.

EGOTIZE E"go*tize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Egotized; p. pr. & vb. n. Egotizing.] Etym: [See Egotism.]

Defn: To talk or write as an egotist. Cowper.

EGRANULOSE E*gran"u*lose`, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + granule.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having no granules, as chlorophyll in certain conditions. R. Brown.

EGRE E"gre, a. & n.

Defn: See Eager, and Eagre. [Obs.]

EGREGIOUS E*gre"gious, a. Etym: [L. egregius; lit., separated or chosen from the herd, i. e., distinguished, excellent; e out + grex, gregis, herd. See Gregarious.]

Defn: Surpassing; extraordinary; distinguished (in a bad sense); -- formerly used with words importing a good quality, but now joined with words having a bad sense; as, an egregious rascal; an egregious ass; an egregious mistake. The egregious impudence of this fellow. Bp. Hall. His [Wyclif's] egregious labors are not to be neglected. Milton.

EGREGIOUSLY E*gre"gious*ly, adv.

Defn: Greatly; enormously; shamefully; as, egregiously cheated.

EGREGIOUSNESS E*gre"gious*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being egregious.

EGREMOIN Eg"re*moin, n. Etym: [See Agrimony.]

Defn: Agrimony (Agrimonia Eupatoria). [Obs.] Chaucer.

EGRESS E"gress, n. Etym: [L. egressus, fr. egredi to go out; e out + gradi to go. See Grade.]

1. The act of going out or leaving, or the power to leave; departure. Embarred from all egress and regress. Holland. Gates of burning adamant, Barred over us, prohibit all egress. Milton.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: The passing off from the sun's disk of an inferior planet, in a transit.

EGRESS E*gress", v. i.

Defn: To go out; to depart; to leave.

EGRESSION E*gres"sion, n. Etym: [L. egressio.]

Defn: The act of going; egress. [R.] B. Jonson.

EGRESSOR E*gress"or, n.

Defn: One who goes out. [R.]

EGRET E"gret, n. Etym: [See Aigret, Heron.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The name of several species of herons which bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among the best known species are the American egret (Ardea, or Herodias, egretta); the great egret (A. alba); the little egret (A. garzetta), of Europe; and the American snowy egret (A. candidissima). A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage. G. W. Cable.

2. A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or achenes, as the down of the thistle.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of ape.

EGRETTE E*grette", n. Etym: [See Aigrette.]

Defn: Same as Egret, n.,

2.

EGRIMONY Eg"ri*mo*ny, Etym: [Corrupted fr. agrimony.] (Bot.)

Defn: The herb agrimony. [Obs.]

EGRIMONY Eg"ri*mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. aegrimonia.]

Defn: Sorrow. [Obs.]

EGRIOT E"gri*ot, n. Etym: [F. aigrette, griotte, formerly agriote; cf. aigre sour.]

Defn: A kind of sour cherry. Bacon.

EGRITUDE E"gri*tude, n. Etym: [L. aegritudo, fr. aeger sick.]

Defn: Sickness; ailment; sorrow. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

EGYPTIAN E*gyp"tian, a. Etym: [L. Aegyptius, Gr. Aegyptus) Egypt: cf. F. égyptien. Cf. Gypsy.]

Defn: Pertaining to Egypt, in Africa. Egyptian bean. (Bot.) (a) The beanlike fruit of an aquatic plant (Nelumbium speciosum), somewhat resembling the water lily. (b) See under Bean,

1. -- Egyptian cross. See Illust. (No. 6) of Cross. -- Egyptian thorn (Bot.), a medium-sized tree (Acacia vera). It is one of the chief sources of the best gum arabic.

EGYPTIAN E*gyp"tian, n.

1. A native, or one of the people, of Egypt; also, the Egyptian language.

2. A gypsy. [Obs.] Shak.

EGYPTIZE E"gypt*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Egyptized; p. pr. & vb. n. Egyptizing.]

Defn: To give an Egyptian character or appearance to. Fairbairn.

EGYPTOLOGER; EGYPTOLOGIST E`gyp*tol"o*ger, E`gyp*tol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One skilled in the antiquities of Egypt; a student of Egyptology.

EGYPTOLOGICAL E*gyp`to*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or devoted to, Egyptology.

EGYPTOLOGY E`gyp*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Egypt + -logy.]

Defn: The science or study of Egyptian antiquities, esp. the hieroglyphics.

EH Eh, interj. Etym: [OE. ei, ey.]

Defn: An expression of inquiry or slight surprise.

EHLITE Eh"lite, n. Etym: [From Ehl near Linz, where it occurs.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a green color and pearly luster; a hydrous phosphate of copper.

EIDER Ei"der, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin, cf. Icel æ; akin to Sw. eider, Dan. ederfugl.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of sea duck of the genus Somateria, esp. Somateria mollissima, which breeds in the northern parts of Europe and America, and lines its nest with fine down (taken from its own body) which is an article of commerce; -- called also eider duck. The American eider (S. Dresseri), the king eider (S. spectabilis), and the spectacled eider (Arctonetta Fischeri) are related species. Eider down. Etym: [Cf. Icel. æ\'ebardun, Sw. eiderdun, Dan. ederduun.] Down of the eider duck, much sought after as an article of luxury.

EIDOGRAPH Ei"do*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. graph.]

Defn: An instrument for copying drawings on the same or a different scale; a form of the pantograph.

EIDOLON Ei*do"lon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Idol.]

Defn: An image or representation; a form; a phantom; an apparition. Sir W. Scott.

EIGH Eigh, interj.

Defn: An exclamation expressing delight.

EIGHT Eight, n. Etym: [See Ait.]

Defn: An island in a river; an ait. [Obs.] "Osiers on their eights." Evelyn.

EIGHT Eight, a. Etym: [AS. eahta; akin to OS. ahto, OFries. achta, D. & G. acht, OHG. ahto, Icel. atta, Sw. åtta, Dan. otte, Goth. ahtau, Lith. aszt, Ir. & Gael. ochd, W. wyth, Armor. eich, eiz, L. octo, Gr. ash. Octave.]

Defn: Seven and one; as, eight years.

EIGHT Eight, n.

1. The number greater by a unit than seven; eight units or objects.

2. A symbol representing eight units, as 8 or viii.

EIGHTEEN Eight"een`, a. Etym: [AS. eahtat, eahtat. See Eight, and Ten, and cf. Eighty.]

Defn: Eight and ten; as, eighteen pounds.

EIGHTEEN Eight"een`, n.

1. The number greater by a unit than seventeen; eighteen units or objects.

2. A symbol denoting eighteen units, as 18 or xviii.

EIGHTEENMO Eight`een"mo, a. & n.

Defn: See Octodecimo.

EIGHTEENTH Eight"eenth`, a. Etym: [From Eighteen.]

1. Next in order after the seventeenth.

2. Consisting of one of eighteen equal parts or divisions of a thing.

EIGHTEENTH Eight"eenth`, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by eighteen; one of eighteen equal parts or divisions.

2. The eighth after the tenth.

EIGHTETETHE Eight"e*teth`e, a. Etym: [OE., fr. AS. eahtateó; eahta eight + teó tenth. Cf. Eighteenth, Tenth.]

Defn: Eighteenth. [Obs.]

EIGHTFOLD Eight"fold`, a.

Defn: Eight times a quantity.

EIGHTH Eighth, a. Etym: [AS. eahto.]

1. Next in order after the seventh.

2. Consisting of one of eight equal divisions of a thing. Eighth note (Mus.), the eighth part of a whole note, or semibreve; a quaver.

EIGHTH Eighth, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by eight; one of eight equal parts; an eighth part.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: The interval of an octave.

EIGHTHLY Eighth"ly, adv.

Defn: As the eighth in order.

EIGHTIETH Eight"i*eth, a. Etym: [From Eighty.]

1. The next in order after seventy-ninth.

2. Consisting of one of eighty equal parts or divisions.

EIGHTIETH Eight"i*eth, n.

Defn: The quotient of a unit divided by eighty; one of eighty equal parts.

EIGHTLING Eight"ling, n. Etym: [Eight + -ling.] (Crystallog.)

Defn: A compound or twin crystal made up of eight individuals.

EIGHTSCORE Eight"score`, a. & n.

Defn: Eight times twenty; a hundred and sixty.

EIGHTY Eight"y, a. Etym: [AS. eahtatig, where the ending -tig is akin to English ten; cf. G. achtzig. See Eight, and Ten.]

Defn: Eight times ten; fourscore.

EIGHTY Eight"y, n.

1. The sum of eight times ten; eighty units or objects.

2. A symbol representing eighty units, or ten eight times repeated, as 80 or lxxx.

EIGNE Eigne, a. Etym: [OF. aisné, ainsné, F. aîné, fr. L. ante natus born before. Cf. Esnecy.]

1. (Law)

Defn: Eldest; firstborn. Blackstone.

2. Entailed; belonging to the eldest son. [Obs.] Bastard eigne, a bastard eldest son whose parents afterwards intermarry.

EIKING Eik"ing, n. (Naut.)

Defn: See Eking.

EIKON Ei"kon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: An image or effigy; -- used rather in an abstract sense, and rarely for a work of art.

EIKONOGEN Ei*kon"o*gen, n. [Gr. e'ikw`n, e'iko`nos, image + root of gi`gnesqai to be born.] (Photog. & Chem.)

Defn: The sodium salt of a sulphonic acid of a naphthol, C10H5(OH)(NH2)SO3Na used as a developer.

EIKOSANE Ei"ko*sane, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A solid hydrocarbon, C20H42, of the paraffine series, of artificial production, and also probably occurring in petroleum.

EIKOSYLENE Ei*kos"y*lene, n. Etym: [Gr. ylene.] (Chem.)

Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C20H38, of the acetylene series, obtained from brown coal.

EILD Eild, n. Etym: [See Eld.]

Defn: Age. [Obs.] Fairfax.

EIRE Eire, n.

Defn: Air. [Obs.] Chaucer.

EIRENARCH Ei`re*narch, n. Etym: [See Irenarch.] (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: A justice of the peace; irenarch.

EIRENIC Ei*ren"ic, a.

Defn: Pacific. See Irenic.

EIRIE Ei"rie, n.

Defn: See Aerie, and Eyrie.

EISEL Ei"sel, n. Etym: [OF. aisil, aissil, fr. L. acet. Cf. Acetic.]

Defn: Vinegar; verjuice. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

EISTEDDFOD Eis*tedd"fod, n. Etym: [W., session, fr. eistedd to sit.]

Defn: Am assembly or session of the Welsh bards; an annual congress of bards, minstrels and literati of Wales, -- being a patriotic revival of the old custom.

EITHER Ei"ther, a. & pron. Etym: [OE. either, aither, AS. , (akin to OHG. , MHG. iegeweder); a + ge + hwæ whether. See Each, and Whether, and cf. Or, conj.]

1. One of two; the one or the other; -- properly used of two things, but sometimes of a larger number, for any one. Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him. Shak. Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three. Bacon. There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would illustrate what I say about dogmatists. Holmes.

2. Each of two; the one and the other; both; -- formerly, also, each of any number. His flowing hair In curls on either cheek played. Milton. On either side . . . was there the tree of life. Rev. xxii. 2. The extreme right and left of either army never engaged. Jowett (Thucyd).

EITHER Ei"ther, conj. Either

Defn: precedes two, or more, coördinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or. Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth. 1 Kings xviii. 27. Few writers hesitate to use either in what is called a triple alternative; such as, We must either stay where we are, proceed, or recede. Latham.

Note: Either was formerly sometimes used without any correlation, and where we should now use or. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries either a vine, figs James iii. 12.

EJACULATE E*jac"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ejaculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Ejaculating.] Etym: [L. ejaculatus, p. p. of ejaculari to throw out; e out + ejaculari to throw, fr. jaculum javelin, dart, fr. jacere to throw. See Eject.]

1. To throw out suddenly and swiftly, as if a dart; to dart; to eject. [Archaic or Technical] Its active rays ejaculated thence. Blackmore.

2. To throw out, as an exclamation; to utter by a brief and sudden impulse; as, to ejaculate a prayer.

EJACULATE E*jac"u*late, v. i.

Defn: To utter ejaculations; to make short and hasty exclamations. [R.] "Ejaculating to himself." Sir W. Scott.

EJACULATION E*jac`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éjaculation.]

1. The act of throwing or darting out with a sudden force and rapid flight. [Archaic or Technical] "An ejaculation or irradiation of the eye." Bacon.

2. The uttering of a short, sudden exclamation or prayer, or the exclamation or prayer uttered. In your dressing, let there be jaculations fitted to the several actions of dressing. Jer. Taylor.

3. (Physiol.)

Defn: The act of ejecting or suddenly throwing, as a fluid from a duct.

EJACULATOR E*jac"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [NL. See Ejaculate.] (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle which helps ejaculation.

EJACULATORY E*jac"u*la*to*ry, a.

1. Casting or throwing out; fitted to eject; as, ejaculatory vessels.

2. Suddenly darted out; uttered in short sentences; as, an ejaculatory prayer or petition.

3. Sudden; hasty. [Obs.] "Ejaculatory repentances, that take us by fits and starts." L'Estrange.

EJECT E*ject", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ejected; p. pr. & vb. n. Ejecting.] Etym: [L. ejectus, p. p. of ejicere; e out + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.]

1. To expel; to dismiss; to cast forth; to thrust or drive out; to discharge; as, to eject a person from a room; to eject a traitor from the country; to eject words from the language. "Eyes ejecting flame." H. Brooke.

2. (Law)

Defn: To cast out; to evict; to dispossess; as, to eject tenants from an estate.

Syn. -- To expel; banish; drive out; discharge; oust; evict; dislodge; extrude; void.

EJECTA E*jec"ta, n. pl. [L., neut. pl. of ejectus cast out. See Eject.]

Defn: Matter ejected; material thrown out; as, the ejecta of a volcano; the ejecta, or excreta, of the body.

EJECTION E*jec"tion, n. Etym: [L. ejectio: cf. F. éjection.]

1. The act of ejecting or casting out; discharge; expulsion; evacuation. "Vast ejection of ashes." Eustace. "The ejection of a word." Johnson.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: The act or process of discharging anything from the body, particularly the excretions.

3. The state of being ejected or cast out; dispossession; banishment.

EJECTMENT E*ject"ment, n.

1. A casting out; a dispossession; an expulsion; ejection; as, the ejectment of tenants from their homes.

2. (Law)

Defn: A species of mixed action, which lies for the recovery of possession of real property, and damages and costs for the wrongful withholding of it. Wharton.

EJECTOR E*ject"or, n.

1. One who, or that which, ejects or dispossesses.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: A jet jump for lifting water or withdrawing air from a space. Ejector condenser (Steam Engine), a condenser in which the vacuum is maintained by a jet pump.

EJOO E"joo, n. Etym: [Malay ij or hij.]

Defn: Gomuti fiber. See Gomuti.

EJULATION Ej`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ejulatio, fr. ejulare to wail, lament.]

Defn: A wailing; lamentation. [Obs.] "Ejulation in the pangs of death." Philips.

EKABOR; EKABORON Ek"a*bor`, Ek"a*bo"ron, n. Etym: [G., fr. Skr. one + G. bor, boron, E. boron.] (Chem.)

Defn: The name given by Mendelejeff in accordance with the periodic law, and by prediction, to a hypothetical element then unknown, but since discovered and named scandium; -- so called because it was a missing analogue of the boron group. See Scandium.

EKALUMINIUM Ek*al`u*min"i*um, n. Etym: [Skr. one + E. aluminium.] (Chem.)

Defn: The name given to a hypothetical element, -- later discovered and called gallium. See Gallium, and cf. Ekabor.

EKASILICON Ek`a*sil"i*con, n. Etym: [Skr. one + E. silicon.] (Chem.)

Defn: The name of a hypothetical element predicted and afterwards discovered and named germanium; -- so called because it was a missing analogue of the silicon group. See Germanium, and cf. Ekkabor.

EKE Eke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eked; p. pr. & vb. n. Eking.] Etym: [AS. ekan, ykan; akin to OFries, aka, OS. , OHG. ouhhon to add, Icel. auka to increase, Sw. öka, Dan. öge, Goth. aukan, L. augere, Skr. strength, ugra mighty, and probably to English wax, v. i. Cf. Augment, Nickname.]

Defn: To increase; to add to; to augment; -- now commonly used with out, the notion conveyed being to add to, or piece out by a laborious, inferior, or scanty addition; as, to eke out a scanty supply of one kind with some other. "To eke my pain." Spenser. He eked out by his wits an income of barely fifty pounds. Macaulay.

EKE Eke, adv. Etym: [AS. eác; akin to OFries. ák, OS. , D. , OHG. ouh, G. auch, Icel. auk, Sw. och and, Dan. og, Goth. auk for, but. Prob. from the preceding verb.]

Defn: In addition; also; likewise. [Obs. or Archaic] 'T will be prodigious hard to prove That this is eke the throne of love. Prior. A trainband captain eke was he Of famous London town. Cowper.

Note: Eke serves less to unite than to render prominent a subjoined more important sentence or notion. Mätzner.

EKE Eke, n.

Defn: An addition. [R.] Clumsy ekes that may well be spared. Geddes.

EKEBERGITE Ek"e*berg`ite, n. Etym: [From Ekeberg, a German.] (Min.)

Defn: A variety of scapolite.

EKENAME Eke"name`, n. Etym: [See Nickname.]

Defn: An additional or epithet name; a nickname. [Obs.]

EKING Ek"ing, n. Etym: [From Eke, v. t.] (Shipbuilding) (a) A lengthening or filling piece to make good a deficiency in length. (b) The carved work under the quarter piece at the aft part of the quarter gallery. [Written also eiking.]

E-LA E"-la`, n.

Defn: Originally, the highest note in the scale of Guido; hence, proverbially, any extravagant saying. "Why, this is above E-la!" Beau. & Fl.

ELABORATE E*lab"o*rate, a. Etym: [L. elaboratus, p. p. of elaborare to work out; e out + laborare to labor, labor labor. See Labor.]

Defn: Wrought with labor; finished with great care; studied; executed with exactness or painstaking; as, an elaborate discourse; an elaborate performance; elaborate research. Drawn to the life in each elaborate page. Waller.

Syn. -- Labored; complicated; studied; perfected; high-wrought. -- E*lab"o*rate*ly, adv. -- E*lab"o*rate*ness, n.

ELABORATE E*lab"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elaborated; p. pr. & vb. n. Elaborating.]

1. To produce with labor They in full joy elaborate a sigh, Young.

2. To perfect with painstaking; to improve or refine with labor and study, or by successive operations; as, to elaborate a painting or a literary work. The sap is . . . still more elaborated and exalted as it circulates through the vessels of the plant. Arbuthnot.

ELABORATED elaborated adj.

Defn: developed or executed with care and in minute detail; as, the carefully elaborated theme. Syn. -- detailed, elaborate. [WordNet 1.5]

ELABORATION E*lab`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. elaboratio: cf. F. élaboration.]

1. The act or process of producing or refining with labor; improvement by successive operations; refinement.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: The natural process of formation or assimilation, performed by the living organs in animals and vegetables, by which a crude substance is changed into something of a higher order; as, the elaboration of food into chyme; the elaboration of chyle, or sap, or tissues.

ELABORATIVE E*lab"o*ra*tive, a.

Defn: Serving or tending to elaborate; constructing with labor and minute attention to details. Elaborative faculty (Metaph.), the intellectual power of discerning relations and of viewing objects by means of, or in, relations; the discursive faculty; thought.

ELABORATOR E*lab"o*ra`tor, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, elaborates.

ELABORATORY E*lab"o*ra*to*ry, a.

Defn: Tending to elaborate.

ELABORATORY E*lab"o*ra*to*ry, n.

Defn: A laboratory. [Obs.]

ELAEAGNUS E`læ*ag"nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of shrubs or small trees, having the foliage covered with small silvery scales; oleaster.

ELAEIS E*læ"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of palms.

Note: Elæis Guineensis, the African oil palm, is a tree twenty or thirty feet high, with immense pinnate leaves and large masses of fruit. The berries are rather larger than olives, and when boiled in water yield the orange-red palm oil.

ELAEOLITE E*læ"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)

Defn: A variety of hephelite, usually massive, of greasy luster, and gray to reddish color. Elæolite syenite, a kind of syenite characterized by the presence of elæolite.

ELAEOPTENE E`læ*op"tene, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: The more liquid or volatile portion of certain oily substance, as distinguished from stearoptene, the more solid parts. [Written also elaoptene.]

ELAIDATE E*la"i*date, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of elaidic acid.

ELAIDIC E`la*id"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. élaïdique. See Elaine.]

Defn: Relating to oleic acid, or elaine. Elaidic acid (Chem.), a fatty acid isomeric with oleic acid, and obtained from it by the action of nitrous acid.

ELAIDIN E*la"i*din, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élaïdine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A solid isomeric modification of olein.

ELAINE; ELAIN E*la"ine, or E*la"in, n. Etym: [Gr. élaïne.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Olein.

ELAIODIC E`lai*od"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Derived from castor oil; ricinoleic; as, elaiodic acid. [R.]

ELAIOMETER E`lai*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Chem.)

Defn: An apparatus for determining the amount of oil contained in any substance, or for ascertaining the degree of purity of oil.

ELAMITE E"lam*ite, n.

Defn: A dweller in Flam (or Susiana), an ancient kingdom of Southwestern Asia, afterwards a province of Persia.

ELAMPING E*lamp"ing, a. Etym: [See Lamp.]

Defn: Shining. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.

ELAN e`lan", b. Etym: [F., fr. élancer to dart.]

Defn: Ardor inspired by passion or enthusiasm.

ELANCE E*lance", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Elancing.] Etym: [F. élancer, OF. eslancier; pref. es- (L. ex) + F. lancer to dart, throw, fr. lance.]

Defn: To throw as a lance; to hurl; to dart. [R.] While thy unerring hand elanced . . . a dart. Prior.

ELAND E"land, n. Etym: [D. eland elk, of Slav. origin; cf. Pol. jelen stag, Russ. oléne, Lith. elnis; perh. akin to E. elk.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of large South African antelope (Oreas canna). It is valued both for its hide and flesh, and is rapidly disappearing in the settled districts; -- called also Cape elk.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The elk or moose.

ELANET E*la"net, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kite of the genus Elanus.

ELAOLITE E*la"o*lite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Elæolite.

ELAOPTENE E`la*op"tene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Elæoptene.

ELAPHINE El"a*phine, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or characteristic of, the stag, or Cervus elaphus.

ELAPHURE El"a*phure, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of deer (Elaphurus Davidianus) found in china. It about four feet high at the shoulder and has peculiar antlers.

ELAPIDATION E*lap`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. elapidatus cleared from stones; e out + lapis stone.]

Defn: A clearing away of stones. [R.]

ELAPINE El"a*pine, a. Etym: [See Elaps.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the Elapidæ, a family of poisonous serpents, including the cobras. See Ophidia.

ELAPS E"laps, n. Etym: [NL., of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of venomous snakes found both in America and the Old World. Many species are known. See Coral snake, under Coral.

ELAPSE E*lapse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Elapsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Elapsing.] Etym: [L. elapsus, p. p. of elabi to glide away; e out + labi to fall, slide. See Lapse.]

Defn: To slip or glide away; to pass away silently, as time; -- used chiefly in reference to time. Eight days elapsed; at length a pilgrim came. Hoole.

ELAPSION E*lap"sion, n.

Defn: The act of elapsing. [R.]

ELAQUEATE E*la"que*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. elaqueatus, p. p. of elaqueare to unfetter.]

Defn: To disentangle. [R.]

ELASIPODA El`a*sip"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of holothurians mostly found in the deep sea. They are remarkable for their bilateral symmetry and curious forms. [Written also Elasmopoda.]

ELASMOBRANCH E*las"mo*branch, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Elasmobranchii. -- n.

Defn: One of the Elasmobranchii.

ELASMOBRANCHIATE E*las`mo*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Elasmobranchii. -- n.

Defn: One of the Elasmobranchii.

ELASMOBRANCHII E*las`mo*bran"chi*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. branchia a gill.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A subclass of fishes, comprising the sharks, the rays, and the Chimæra. The skeleton is mainly cartilaginous.

ELASMOSAURUS E*las`mo*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: An extinct, long-necked, marine, cretaceous reptile from Kansas, allied to Plesiosaurus.

ELASTIC E*las"tic, a. Etym: [Formed fr. Gr. alacer lively, brisk, and E. alacrity: cf. F. élastique.]

1. Springing back; having a power or inherent property of returning to the form from which a substance is bent, drawn, pressed, or twisted; springy; having the power of rebounding; as, a bow is elastic; the air is elastic; India rubber is elastic. Capable of being drawn out by force like a piece of elastic gum, and by its own elasticity returning, when the force is removed, to its former position. Paley.

2. Able to return quickly to a former state or condition, after being depressed or overtaxed; having power to recover easily from shocks and trials; as, elastic spirits; an elastic constitution. Elastic bitumen. (Min.) See Elaterite. -- Elastic curve. (a) (Geom.) The curve made by a thin elastic rod fixed horizontally at one end and loaded at the other. (b) (Mech.) The figure assumed by the longitudinal axis of an originally straight bar under any system of bending forces. Rankine. -- Elastic fluids, those which have the property of expanding in all directions on the removal of external pressure, as the air, steam, and other gases and vapors. -- Elastic limit (Mech.), the limit of distortion, by bending, stretching, etc., that a body can undergo and yet return to its original form when relieved from stress; also, the unit force or stress required to produce this distortion. Within the elastic limit the distortion is directly proportional to the stress producing it. -- Elastic tissue (Anat.), a variety of connective tissue consisting of a network of slender and very elastic fibers which are but slightly affected by acids or alkalies. -- Gum elastic, caoutchouc.

ELASTIC E*las"tic, n.

Defn: An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc., made in part of India rubber. [Colloq.]

ELASTICAL E*las"tic*al, a.

Defn: Elastic. [R.] Bentley.

ELASTICALLY E*las"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring.

ELASTICITY E`las*tic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élasticité.]

1. The quality of being elastic; the inherent property in bodies by which they recover their former figure or dimensions, after the removal of external pressure or altering force; springiness; tendency to rebound; as, the elasticity of caoutchouc; the elasticity of the air.

2. Power of resistance to, or recovery from, depression or overwork. Coefficient of elasticity, the quotient of a stress (of a given kind), by the strain (of a given kind) which it produces; -- called also coefficient of resistance. -- Surface of elasticity (Geom.), the pedal surface of an ellipsoid (see Pedal); a surface used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous ether in crystalline media.

ELASTICNESS E*las"tic*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being elastic; elasticity.

ELASTIN E*las"tin, n. Etym: [Elastic + -in.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous substance, somewhat resembling albumin, which forms the chemical basis of elastic tissue. It is very insoluble in most fluids, but is gradually dissolved when digested with either pepsin or trypsin.

ELATE E*late", a. Etym: [L. elatus elevated, fig., elated, proud (the figure, perh., being borrowed from a prancing horse); e out + latus (used as p. p. of ferre to bear), for tlatus, and akin to E. tolerate. See Tolerate, and cf. Extol.]

1. Lifted up; raised; elevated. With upper lip elate. Fenton. And sovereign law, that State's collected will, O'er thrones and globes, elate, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill. Sir W. Jones.

2. Having the spirits raised by success, or by hope; flushed or exalted with confidence; elated; exultant. O, thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate, Too soon dejected, and dejected, and too soon elate. Pope. Our nineteenth century is wonderfully set up in its own esteem, wonderfully elate at its progress. Mrs. H. H. Jackson.

Syn. -- Puffed up; lofty; proud; haughty; exalted; inspirited; transported; delighted; overjoyed.

ELATE E*late", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elated; p. pr. & vb. n. Elating.]

1. To raise; to exalt. [R.] By the potent sun elated high. Thomson.

2. To exalt the spirit of; to fill with confidence or exultation; to elevate or flush with success; to puff up; to make proud. Foolishly elated by spiritual pride. Warburton. You ought not be elated at the chance mishaps of your enemies. Jowett (Thucyd. ).

ELATEDLY E*lat"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: With elation.

ELATEDNESS E*lat"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being elated.

ELATER E*lat"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, elates.

ELATER El"a*ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any beetle of the family Elateridæ, having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also click beetle, spring beetle, and snapping beetle.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The caudal spring used by Podura and related insects for leaping. See Collembola.

ELATER El"a*ter, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste, formerly Motordica Elaterium) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative.

ELATERITE El"a*ter*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral resin, of a blackish brown color, occurring in soft, flexible masses; -- called also mineral caoutchouc, and elastic bitumen.

ELATERIUM El`a*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Elater.]

Defn: A cathartic substance obtained, in the form of yellowish or greenish cakes, as the dried residue of the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste, formerly called Momordica Elaterium).

ELATEROMETER El`a*ter*om"e*ter, n.

Defn: Same as Elatrometer.

ELATERY El"a*ter*y, n. Etym: [See 2d Elater.]

Defn: Acting force; elasticity. [Obs.] Ray.

ELATION E*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. elatio. See Elate.]

Defn: A lifting up by success; exaltation; inriation with pride of prosperity. "Felt the elation of triumph." Sir W. Scott.

ELATIVE E*la"tive, a. (Gram.)

Defn: Raised; lifted up; -- a term applied to what is also called the absolute superlative, denoting a high or intense degree of a quality, but not excluding the idea that an equal degree may exist in other cases.

ELATROMETER El`a*trom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for measuring the degree of rarefaction of air contained in the receiver of an air pump. [Spelt also elaterometer.]

ELAYL E*la"yl, n. Etym: [Gr. yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: Olefiant gas or ethylene; -- so called by Berzelius from its forming an oil combining with chlorine. [Written also elayle.] See Ethylene.

ELBOW El"bow, n. Etym: [AS. elboga, elnboga (akin to D. elleboga, OHG. elinbogo, G. ellbogen, ellenbogen, Icel. ; prop.; arm-bend); eln ell (orig., forearm) + boga a bending. See 1st Ell, and 4th Bow.]

1. The joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the middle of the arm when bent. Her arms to the elbows naked. R. of Gloucester.

2. Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, and the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast or course of a river; also, an angular or jointed part of any structure, as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: A sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or other woodwork; the upright sides which flank any paneled work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back. Gwilt.

Note: Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound, to denote something shaped like, or acting like, an elbow; as, elbow joint; elbow tongs or elbow-tongs; elbowroom, elbow-room, or elbow room. At the elbow, very near; at hand. -- Elbow grease, energetic application of force in manual labor. [Low] -- Elbow in the hawse (Naut.), the twisting together of two cables by which a vessel rides at anchor, caused by swinging completely round once. Totten. -- Elbow scissors (Surg.), scissors bent in the blade or shank for convenience in cutting. Knight. -- Out at elbow, with coat worn through at the elbows; shabby; in needy circumstances.

ELBOW El"bow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elbowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Elbowing.]

Defn: To push or hit with the elbow, as when one pushes by another. They [the Dutch] would elbow our own aldermen off the Royal Exchange. Macaulay. To elbow one's way, to force one's way by pushing with the elbows; as, to elbow one's way through a crowd.

ELBOW El"bow, v. i.

1. To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of an elbow.

2. To push rudely along; to elbow one's way. "Purseproud, elbowing Insolence." Grainger.

ELBOWBOARD El"bow*board`, n.

Defn: The base of a window casing, on which the elbows may rest.

ELBOWCHAIR El"bow*chair`, n.

Defn: A chair with arms to support the elbows; an armchair. Addison.

ELBOWROOM El"bow*room`, n.

Defn: Room to extend the elbows on each side; ample room for motion or action; free scope. "My soul hath elbowroom." Shak. Then came a stretch of grass and a little more elbowroom. W. G. Norris.

ELCAJA El*ca"ja, n. Etym: [Ar.] (Bot.)

Defn: An Arabian tree (Trichilia emetica). The fruit, which is emetic, is sometimes employed in the composition of an ointment for the cure of the itch.

ELCESAITE El*ce"sa*ite, n. Etym: [From Elcesai, the leader of the sect.] (Eccl.)

Defn: One of a sect of Asiatic Gnostics of the time of the Emperor Trajan.

ELD Eld, a. Etym: [AS. eald.]

Defn: Old. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ELD Eld, n. Etym: [AS. yldu, yldo, eldo, old age, fr. ald, eald, old. See Old.]

1. Age; esp., old age. [Obs. or Archaic] As sooth is said, eelde hath great avantage. Chaucer. Great Nature, ever young, yet full of eld. Spenser.

2. Old times; former days; antiquity. [Poetic] Astrologers and men of eld. Longfellow.

ELD Eld, v. i.

Defn: To age; to grow old. [Obs.]

ELD Eld, v. t.

Defn: To make old or ancient. [Obs.] Time, that eldeth all things. Rom. of R.

ELDER Eld"er, a. Etym: [AS. yldra, compar. of eald old. See Old.]

1. Older; more aged, or existing longer. Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds. Jowett (Thucyd. )

2. Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to Ant: younger, and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc. The elder shall serve the younger. Gen. xxv. 23. But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour. Keble. Elder hand (Card Playing), the hand playing, or having the right to play, first. Hoyle.

ELDER Eld"er, n. Etym: [AS. ealdor an elder, prince, fr. eald old. See Old, and cf. Elder, a., Alderman.]

1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. 1 Tim. v. 1.

2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor. Carry your head as your elders have done. L'Estrange.

3. A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic church.

Note: In the modern Presbyterian churches, elders are lay officers who, with the minister, compose the church session, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called elders, or presbyters.

4. (M. E. Ch.)

Defn: A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder. Presiding elder (Meth. Ch.), an elder commissioned by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district. -- Ruling elder, a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session. Schaff.

ELDER El"der, n. Etym: [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG. elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder; or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.

Note: The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the common European species (S. nigra) forms a small tree. The red- berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient. Box elder. See under 1st Box. -- Dwarf elder. See Danewort. -- Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. Shak. -- Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).

ELDERBERRY El"der*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The berrylike drupe of the elder. That of the Old World elder (Sambucus nigra) and that of the American sweet elder (S. Canadensis) are sweetish acid, and are eaten as a berry or made into wine.

ELDERISH Eld"er*ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat old; elderly. [R.]

ELDERLY Eld"er*ly, a.

Defn: Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; as, elderly people.

ELDERN El"dern, a.

Defn: Made of elder. [Obs.] He would discharge us as boys do eldern guns. Marston.

ELDERSHIP Eld"er*ship, n.

1. The state of being older; seniority. "Paternity an eldership." Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Office of an elder; collectively, a body of elders.

ELDERWORT El"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Danewort.

ELDEST Eld"est, a. Etym: [AS. yldest, superl. of eald old. See Elder, a.]

1. Oldest; longest in duration. Shak.

2. Born or living first, or before the others, as a son, daughter, brother, etc.; first in origin. See Elder. "My lady's eldest son." Shak. Their eldest historians are of suspected credit. Bp. Stillingfleet. Eldest hand (Card Playing), the player on the dealer's left hand. R. A. Proctor.

ELDING El"ding, n. Etym: [Icel. elding, fr. elda to kindle, eldr fire; akin to AS. æld fire, ælan to burn.]

Defn: Fuel. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

EL DORADO El` Do*ra"do, pl. El Doradoes (. Etym: [Sp., lit., the gilt (sc. land); el the + dorado gilt, p. p. of dorare to gild. Cf. Dorado.]

1. A name given by the Spaniards in the 16th century to an imaginary country in the interior of South America, reputed to abound in gold and precious stones.

2. Any region of fabulous wealth; exceeding richness. The whole comedy is a sort of El Dorado of wit. T. Moore.

ELDRITCH El"dritch, a.

Defn: Hideous; ghastly; as, an eldritch shriek or laugh. [Local, Eng.]

ELEATIC E`le*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. eleaticus, from Elea (or Velia) in Italy.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a certain school of Greek philosophers who taught that the only certain science is that which owes nothing to the senses, and all to the reason. -- n.

Defn: A philosopher of the Eleatic school.

ELEATICISM E`le*at"i*cism, n.

Defn: The Eleatic doctrine.

ELECAMPANE El`e*cam*pane", n. Etym: [F. énulecampane, NL. inula campana; L. inula elecampane + LL. campana a bell; cf. G. glockenwurz, i. e., "bellwort."]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A large, coarse herb (Inula Helenium), with composite yellow flowers. The root, which has a pungent taste, is used as a tonic, and was formerly of much repute as a stomachic.

2. A sweetmeat made from the root of the plant.

ELECT E*lect", a. Etym: [L. electus, p. p. of eligere to elect; e out + legere to choose. See Legend, and cf. Elite, Eclectic.]

1. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more. "Colors quaint elect." Spenser.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to eternal life. "The elect angels." 1 Tim. v. 21.

3. Chosen to an office, but not yet actually inducted into it; as, bishop elect; governor or mayor elect.

ELECT E*lect", n.

1. One chosen or set apart. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Is. xlii. 1.

2. pl. (Theol.)

Defn: Those who are chosen for salvation. Shall not God avenge his won elect Luke xviii. 7.

ELECT E*lect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elected; p. pr. & vb. n. Electing.]

1. To pick out; to select; to choose. The deputy elected by the Lord. Shak.

2. To select or take for an office; to select by vote; as, to elect a representative, a president, or a governor.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: To designate, choose, or select, as an object of mercy or favor.

Syn. -- To choose; prefer; select. See Choose.

ELECTANT E*lect"ant, n. Etym: [L. electans, p. pr. of electare.]

Defn: One who has the power of choosing; an elector. [R.]

ELECTARY E*lec"ta*ry, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Electuary.

ELECTIC E*lec"tic, a.

Defn: See Eclectic.

ELECTICISM E*lec"ti*cism, n.

Defn: See Eclecticism.

ELECTION E*lec"tion, n. Etym: [F. élection, L. electio, fr. eligere to choose out. See Elect, a.]

1. The act of choosing; choice; selection.

2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce; as, the election of a president or a mayor. Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom. J. Adams.

3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act. "By his own election led to ill." Daniel.

4. Discriminating choice; discernment. [Obs.] To use men with much difference and election is good. Bacon.

5. (Theol.)

Defn: Divine choice; predestination of individuals as objects of mercy and salvation; -- one of the "five points" of Calvinism. There is a remnant according to the election of grace. Rom. xi. 5.

6. (Law)

Defn: The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other.

7. Those who are elected. [Obs.] The election hath obtained it. Rom. xi. 7. To contest an election. See under Contest. -- To make one's election, to choose. He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths. Fitzed. Hall.

ELECTIONEER E*lec`tion*eer", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Electionered; p. pr. & vb. n. Electioneering.]

Defn: To make interest for a candidate at an election; to use arts for securing the election of a candidate. A master of the whole art of electioneering. Macaulay.

ELECTIONEERER E*lec`tion*eer"er, n.

Defn: One who electioneers.

ELECTIVE E*lect"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. électif.]

1. Exerting the power of choice; selecting; as, an elective act.

2. Pertaining to, or consisting in, choice, or right of choosing; electoral. The independent use of their elective franchise. Bancroft.

3. Dependent on choice; bestowed or passing by election; as, an elective study; an elective office. Kings of Rome were at first elective; . . . for such are the conditions of an elective kingdom. Dryden. Elective affinity or attraction (Chem.), a tendency to unite with certain things; chemism.

ELECTIVE E*lect"ive, n.

Defn: In an American college, an optional study or course of study. [Colloq.]

ELECTIVELY E*lect"ive*ly, adv.

Defn: In an elective manner; by choice.

ELECTOR E*lect"or, n. Etym: [L., fr. eligere: cf. F. électeur.]

1. One who elects, or has the right of choice; a person who is entitled to take part in an election, or to give his vote in favor of a candidate for office.

2. Hence, specifically, in any country, a person legally qualified to vote.

3. In the old German empire, one of the princes entitled to choose the emperor.

4. One of the persons chosen, by vote of the people in the United States, to elect the President and Vice President.

ELECTOR E*lect"or, a. Etym: [Cf. F. électoral.]

Defn: Pertaining to an election or to electors. In favor of the electoral and other princes. Burke. Electoral college, the body of princes formerly entitled to elect the Emperor of Germany; also, a name sometimes given, in the United States, to the body of electors chosen by the people to elect the President and Vice President.

ELECTORALITY E*lect`or*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The territory or dignity of an elector; electorate. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.