EARNEST, [.e]r'nest, _adj._ showing strong desire: determined: eager to
obtain: intent: sincere: serious.--_n._ seriousness: reality.--_adv._
EAR'NESTLY.--_n._ EAR'NESTNESS. [A.S. _eornost_, seriousness; Ger.
_ernst_.]
EARNEST, [.e]r'nest, _n._ money given in token of a bargain made--also
EAR'NEST-MON'EY, EAR'NEST-PENN'Y: a pledge: first-fruits. [ETY. obscure;
possibly conn. with _arles_.]
EARST, obsolete form of ERST.
EARTH, [.e]rth, _n._ the name applied to the third planet in order from the
sun: the matter on the surface of the globe: soil: dry land, as opposed to
sea: the world: the inhabitants of the world: dirt: dead matter: the human
body: a fox's hole: (_pl._) the name applied by the alchemists and earlier
chemists to certain substances now known to be oxides of metal, which were
distinguished by being infusible, and by insolubility in water.--_v.t._ to
hide or cause to hide in the earth: to bury.--_v.i._ to burrow: to
hide.--_ns._ EARTH'-BAG, a sack of earth used in fortifications;
EARTH'-BATH, a bath of earth or mud; EARTH'-BOARD, the board of a plough,
or other implement, that turns over the earth.--_adjs._ EARTH'-BORN, born
from or on the earth; EARTH'-BOUND, bound or held by the earth, as a tree;
EARTH'-BRED, mean, grovelling.--_n._ EARTH'-CLOS'ET, a system consisting of
the application of earth to the deodorisation of fæcal matters.--_adjs._
EARTH'-CRE[=A]'TED, made of earth; EARTH'EN, made of earth or clay:
earthly.--_ns._ EARTH'ENWARE, crockery; EARTH'-FALL, a landslide.--_adj._
EARTH'-FED, contented with earthly things.--_ns._ EARTH'FLAX, asbestos;
EARTH'-HOG (see AARDVARK); EARTH'-HOUSE, the name given to the ancient
underground dwellings in Ireland and Scotland, also called _Picts' houses_;
EARTH'-HUNG'ER, the passion for acquiring land; EARTH'INESS; EARTH'LINESS;
EARTH'LING, a dweller on the earth.--_adjs._ EARTH'LY, belonging to the
earth: vile: worldly; EARTH'LY-MIND'ED, having the mind intent on earthly
things.--_ns._ EARTH'LY-MIND'EDNESS; EARTH'-NUT, the popular name of
certain tuberous roots growing underground; EARTH'-PEA, the hog-peanut;
EARTH'-PLATE, a buried plate of metal forming the earth-connection of a
telegraph-wire, lightning-conductor, &c.; EARTH'QUAKE, a quaking or shaking
of the earth: a heaving of the ground; EARTH'-SHINE, the faint light
visible on the part of the moon not illuminated by the sun; EARTH'-TREM'OR,
a slight earthquake.--_adv._ EARTH'WARD, toward the earth.--_ns._
EARTH'WORK, a fortification of earth; EARTH'-WORM, the common worm: a mean
person, a poor creature.--_adj._ EARTH'Y, consisting of, relating to, or
resembling earth: inhabiting the earth: gross: unrefined. [A.S. _eorthe_;
cf. Dut. _aarde_, Ger. _erde_.]
EASE, [=e]z, _n._ freedom from pain or disturbance: rest from work: quiet:
freedom from difficulty: naturalness.--_v.t._ to free from pain, trouble,
or anxiety: to relieve: to calm.--_adj._ EASE'FUL, ease-giving: quiet, fit
for rest.--_n._ EASE'MENT, relief: assistance: support:
gratification.--_adv._ EAS'ILY.--_n._ EAS'INESS.--_adj._ EAS'Y, at ease:
free from pain: tranquil: unconstrained: giving ease: not difficult:
yielding: not straitened (in circumstances): not tight: not strict, as in
'easy virtue.'--_interj._ EASY! a command to lower, or to go gently, to
stop rowing, &c.--_n._ EAS'Y-CHAIR, an arm-chair for ease or rest.--_adj._
EAS'Y-G[=O]'ING, good-natured: indolent.--EASE ONE'S SELF, to relieve
nature.--CHAPEL OF EASE (see CHAPEL); FREE AND EASY (see FREE).--HONOURS
EASY, when the honours are evenly divided at whist: ILL AT EASE,
uncomfortable; STAND AT EASE, used of soldiers, when freed from
'attention;' TAKE IT EASY, to be quite unconcerned: to be in no hurry; TAKE
ONE'S EASE, to make one's self comfortable. [O. Fr. _aise_; cog. with It.
_agio_; Prov. _ais_, Port. _azo_.]
EASEL, [=e]z'l, _n._ the frame on which painters support their pictures
while painting. [Dut. _ezel_, or Ger. _esel_, an ass.]