EASSEL, a Scotch form for _eastward_, easterly.
EAST, [=e]st, _n._ that part of the heavens where the sun first shines or
rises: one of the four cardinal points of the compass.--_adj._ toward the
rising of the sun.--_ns._ EAST'-END, the eastern part of London, the
habitation of the poorer classes; EAST'-END'ER.--_adjs._ EAST'ER, EAST'ERN,
toward the east: connected with the east: dwelling in the east.--_n._
EAST'ERLING, a native of the East: a trader from the shores of the
Baltic.--_adj._ EAST'ERLY, coming from the eastward: looking toward the
east.--_adv._ on the east: toward the east.--_adjs._ EAST'ERNMOST,
EAST'MOST, situated farthest east.--_ns._ EAST'-IN'DIAMAN, a vessel used in
the East India trade; EAST'ING, the course gained to the eastward: distance
eastward from a given meridian; EAST'LAND, the land in the East.--_adv._
EAST'WARD, toward the east.--EAST-BY-SOUTH (NORTH), 11¼ degrees from due
east; EAST-SOUTH (NORTH)-EAST, 22½ degrees from due east.--EASTWARD
POSITION, the position of the celebrant at the Eucharist, when he stands in
front of the altar and facing it, instead of the usual practice of standing
at the north end of the altar, facing southward.--ABOUT EAST (_slang_), in
proper manner; THE EAST, the countries to the east of Europe; TURNING TO
THE EAST, a practice for both clergy and laity during service, esp. while
singing the creeds, the _Gloria Patri_, and the _Gloria in Excelsis._ [A.S.
_east_; Ger. _ost_; akin to Gr. _[=e][=o]s_, the dawn.]
EASTER, [=e]st'[.e]r, _n._ a Christian festival commemorating the
resurrection of Christ, held on the Sunday after Good-Friday.--_n._
EAST'ER-DAY, Easter Sunday.--_ns.pl._ EAST'ER-DUES, -OFF'ERINGS, 'customary
sums' which from time immemorial have been paid to the parson by his people
at Easter.--_ns._ EAST'ER-EGG, eggs stained of various colours, given as
presents on Easter; EAST'ERTIDE, Eastertime, either Easter week or the
fifty days between Easter and Whitsuntide. [A.S. _éastre_; Ger. _ostern_.
Bede derives the word from _Eastre_, a goddess whose festival was held at
the spring equinox.]
EAT, [=e]t, _v.t._ to chew and swallow: to consume: to corrode.--_v.i._ to
take food:--_pr.p._ eat'ing; _pa.t._ ate ([=a]t or et); _pa.p._ eaten
([=e]tn) or (_obs._) eat (et).--_adj._ EAT'ABLE, fit to be eaten.--_n._
anything used as food (chiefly _pl._).--_ns._ EAT'AGE, grass or fodder for
horses, &c.: the right to eat; EAT'ER, one who, or that which, eats or
corrodes; EAT'ING, the act of taking food.--_p.adj._ that eats:
corroding.--_ns._ EAT'ING-HOUSE, a place where provisions are sold ready
dressed: a restaurant; GOOD'-EAT'ING, something good for food.--EAT AWAY,
to destroy gradually: to gnaw; EAT IN, used of the action of acid; EAT ITS
HEAD OFF, used of an animal which costs as much for food as it is worth;
EAT ONE'S HEART, to pine away, brooding over misfortune; EAT ONE'S TERMS,
to study for the bar, with allusion to the number of times in a term that a
student must dine in the hall of an Inn of Court; EAT ONE'S WORDS, to
retract: to recant; EAT OUT, to finish eatables: to encroach upon; EAT THE
AIR (_Shak._) to be deluded with hopes; EAT UP, to devour: to consume,
absorb; EAT WELL, to have a good appetite. [A.S. _etan_; cf. Ger. _essen_,
Ice. _eta_, L. _ed[)e]re_, Gr. _edein_.]
EATH, [=e]th, _adj._ (_obs._) easy.--_adv._ EATH'LY. [A.S. _éathe_, easily;
cf. Old High Ger. _odi_, easy.]
EAU, [=o], _n._ the French word for water, used in English in various
combinations.--EAU CRÉOLE, a fine Martinique liqueur, made by distilling
the flowers of the mammee-apple with spirit of wine; EAU DE COLOGNE (see
under COLOGNE-EARTH); EAU DE VIE, brandy.
EAVES, [=e]vz, _n.pl._ the projecting edge of the roof: anything
projecting.--_ns._ EAVES'DRIP, EAVES'DROP, the water which falls from the
eaves of a house: the place where the drops fall.--_v.i._ and _v.t._
EAVES'DROP, to stand under the eaves or near the windows of a house to
listen: to listen for secrets.--_ns._ EAVES'DROPPER, one who thus listens:
one who tries to overhear private conversation; EAVES'DROPPING. [A.S.
_efes_, the clipped edge of thatch; cf. Ice. _ups_.]
EBB, eb, _n._ the going back or retiring of the tide: a decline or
decay.--_v.i._ to flow back: to sink: to decay.--_n._ EBB'-TIDE, the ebbing
or retiring tide. [A.S. _ebba_; Ger. _ebbe_; cog. with _even_.]
EBENEZER, eb-en-[=e]z'er, _n._ a memorial stone set up by Samuel after the
victory of Mizpeh (1 Sam. vii. 12): a name sometimes applied to a chapel or
meeting-house. [Heb., 'stone of help.']
EBIONITE, [=e]'bi-on-[=i]t, _n._ a name applied to Jewish Christians who
remained outside the Catholic Church down to the time of Jerome. They held
the Mosaic laws binding on Christians, and denied the apostolate of Paul
and the miraculous birth of Jesus.--_v.t._ E'BIONISE.--_adj._
EBIONIT'IC.--_ns._ EBION[=I]T'ISM, E'BIONISM. [Heb. _eby[=o]n_, poor.]
EBLIS, eb'lis, _n._ the chief of the fallen angels or wicked jinns in
Mohammedan mythology.--Also IB'LEES.
EBON, eb'on, EBONY, eb'on-i, _n._ a kind of wood almost as heavy and hard
as stone, usually black, admitting of a fine polish.--_adj._ made of ebony:
black as ebony.--_v.t._ EB'ONISE, to make furniture look like ebony.--_ns._
EB'ONIST, a worker in ebony; EB'ONITE, vulcanite (see under VULCAN).
[L.,--Gr. _ebenos_; cf. Heb. _hodn[=i]m_, pl. of _hobni_, _obni_--_eben_, a
stone.]
ÉBOULEMENT, [=a]-bool'mong, _n._ the falling in of the wall of a
fortification: a landslide or landslip. [Fr.]
EBRACTEATE, -D, e-brak't[=e]-[=a]t, -ed, _adj._ (_bot._) without bracts.
EBRIATED, [=e]'bri-[=a]t-ed, _adj._ intoxicated.--_n._ EBR[=I]'ETY,
drunkenness.--_adj._ E'BRI[=O]SE, drunk.--_n._ EBRIOS'ITY. [L.
_ebri[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to make drunk.]
ÉBRILLADE, [=a]-br[=e]-lyad', _n._ the sudden jerking of a horse's rein
when he refuses to turn. [Fr.]
EBULLIENT, e-bul'yent, _adj._ boiling up or over: agitated:
enthusiastic.--_ns._ EBULL'IENCE, EBULL'IENCY, a boiling over; EBULLI'TION,
act of boiling: agitation: an outbreak. [L. _ebullient-em_,
_ebull[=i]re_--_e_, out, and _bull[=i]re_, to boil.]
EBURNINE, eb-ur'nin, _adj._ of or like ivory--also EBUR'NEAN.--_ns._
EBURN[=A]'TION, a morbid change of bone by which it becomes very hard and
dense; EBURNIFIC[=A]'TION, art of making like ivory. [L. _ebur_.]
ÉCARTÉ, [=a]-kär't[=a], _n._ a game for two, played with the thirty-two
highest cards, one feature being the right to discard or throw out certain
cards for others. [Fr.,--_e_, out, _carte_, a card.]
ECAUDATE, [=e]-kaw'd[=a]t, _adj._ tailless.
ECBASIS, ek'ba-sis, _n._ (_rhet._) a figure in which the speaker treats of
things according to their consequences.--_adj._ ECBAT'IC, denoting a mere
result, not an intention. [Gr.]
ECBLASTESIS, ek-blas-t[=e]'sis, _n._ (_bot._) the production of buds within
flowers.
ECBOLE, ek'bo-l[=e], _n._ (_rhet._) a digression: (_mus._) the raising or
sharping of a tone.--_adj._ ECBOL'IC, promoting parturition.--_n._ a drug
with this quality. [Gr.]
ECCALEOBION, ek-kal-e-[=o]'bi-on, _n._ a machine for the artificial
hatching of eggs. [Gr., 'I call out life.']
ECCE, ek'si, Latin word for 'behold.'--ECCE HOMO, behold the man (John,
xix. 5)--in art, a Christ crowned with thorns.
ECCENTRIC, -AL, ek-sen'trik, -al, _adj._ departing from the centre: not
having the same centre as another, said of circles: out of the usual
course: not conforming to common rules: odd.--_n._ ECCEN'TRIC, a circle not
having the same centre as another: (_mech._) a contrivance for taking an
alternating rectilinear motion from a revolving shaft: an eccentric
fellow.--_adv._ ECCEN'TRICALLY.--_n._ ECCENTRIC'ITY, the distance of the
centre of a planet's orbit from the centre of the sun: singularity of
conduct: oddness. [Fr.,--Low L. _eccentricus_--Gr. _ek_, out of, _kentron_,
centre.]
ECCHYMOSIS, ek-ki-m[=o]'sis, _n._ a discoloration of the surface produced
by blood effused below or in the texture of the skin.--_adjs._ EC'CHYMOSED,
ECCHYMOT'IC. [Gr.,--_ek_, out of, and _chymos_, juice.]
ECCLESIA, e-kl[=e]'zi-a, _n._ a popular assembly, esp. of Athens, where the
people exercised full sovereignty, and all above twenty years could vote:
applied by the Septuagint commentators to the Jewish commonwealth, and from
them to the Christian Church.--_adj._ ECCL[=E]'SIAL.--_ns._
ECCL[=E]'SIARCH, a ruler of the church; ECCL[=E]'SIAST, the
preacher--Solomon formerly considered as the author of Ecclesiastes: an
ecclesiastic; ECCL[=E]'SIASTES, one of the books of the Old Testament,
traditionally ascribed to Solomon; ECCLESIAS'TIC, one consecrated to the
church, a priest, a clergyman.--_adjs._ ECCL[=E]'SIASTIC, -AL, belonging to
the church.--_adv._ ECCLESIAS'TICALLY, in an ecclesiastical manner.--_ns._
ECCLESIAS'TICISM, attachment to ecclesiastical observances, &c.: the
churchman's temper or spirit; ECCLESIAS'TICUS, name of a book of the
Apocrypha; ECCLESIOL'ATRY, excessive reverence for church forms and
traditions.--_adj._ ECCLESIOLOG'ICAL.--_ns._ ECCLESIOL'OGIST, a student of
church forms and traditions; ECCLESIOL'OGY, the science of building and
decorating churches: the science relating to the church. [Low L.,--Gr.
_ekklesia_, an assembly called out of the world, the church--_ek_, out, and
_kalein_, to call.]
ECCOPROTIC, ek-[=o]-prot'ik, _adj._ laxative, mildly cathartic.--_n._ a
laxative.
ECCRINOLOGY, ek-ri-nol'[=o]-ji, _n._ the branch of physiology relating to
the secretions.
ECCRISIS, ek'ri-sis, _n._ expulsion of waste or morbid matter.--_n._
ECCRIT'IC, a medicine having this property. [Gr.]
ECDYSIS, ek'di-sis, _n._ the act of casting off an integument, as in
serpents. [Gr.]
ECHE, [=e]k, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to eke out: to augment. [A.S. _écan_; akin to
L. _aug[=e]re_, to increase. See EKE.]
ECHELON, esh'e-long, _n._ an arrangement of troops in battalions or
divisions placed parallel to one another, but no two on the same alignment,
each having its front clear of that in advance. [Fr., from _échelle_, a
ladder or stair. See SCALE.]
ECHIDNA, ek-id'na, _n._ a genus of Australian toothless burrowing
monotremate mammals, armed with porcupine-like spines, laying eggs instead
of bringing forth the young.--_n._ ECHID'NINE, serpent-poison. [Formed from
Gr. _echidna_, a viper.]
ECHINATE, -D, ek'in-[=a]t, -ed, _adj._ prickly like a hedgehog: set with
prickles or bristles.--_ns._ ECH[=I]'NITE, a fossil sea-urchin;
ECH[=I]'NODERM, one of the ECHINODER'MATA, a class of animals having the
skin strengthened by calcareous plates, or covered with spikes.--_adjs._
ECHINODER'MATOUS, relating to the Echinodermata; ECH'INOID, like a
sea-urchin.--_n._ one of the ECHINOI'DEA.--_n._ ECH[=I]'NUS, a sea-urchin:
(_archit._) the convex projecting moulding of eccentric curve in Greek
examples, supporting the abacus of the Doric capital. [Gr. _echinos_, a
hedgehog, and _derma_, skin.]
ECHO, ek'[=o], _n._ the repetition of sound caused by a sound-wave coming
against some opposing surface, and being reflected: a device in verse in
which a line ends with a word which recalls the sound of the last word of
the preceding line: imitation: an imitator:--_pl._ ECHOES
(ek'[=o]z).--_v.i._ to reflect sound: to be sounded back: to
resound.--_v.t._ to send back the sound of: to repeat a thing said: to
imitate: to flatter slavishly:--_pr.p._ ech'[=o]ing; _pa.p._
ech'[=o]ed.--_ns._ ECH'OISM, the formation of imitative words; ECH'OIST,
one who repeats like an echo.--_adj._ ECH'OLESS, giving no echo,
unresponsive.--_ns._ ECHOM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the length of
sounds; ECHOM'ETRY, the art of measuring such.--CHEER TO THE ECHO, to
applaud most heartily, so that the room resounds. [L.,--Gr. _[=e]ch[=o]_, a
sound.]
ÉCLAIRCISSEMENT, ek-l[=a]r-sis'mong, _n._ the act of clearing up anything:
explanation.--COME TO AN ÉCLAIRCISSEMENT, to come to an understanding: to
explain conduct that seemed equivocal. [Fr. _éclaircir_, pr.p. _-cissant_,
_é_--L. _ex_, out, _clair_--L. _clarus_, clear.]
ECLAMPSIA, ek-lamp'si-a, _n._ a term often erroneously applied as
synonymous with epilepsy, while it is really the equivalent of convulsions,
but usually restricted to such as are due to such local or general causes
as teething, child-bearing, &c.--also ECLAMP'SY.--_adj._ ECLAMP'TIC.
[Formed from Gr. _eklampein_, to shine forth.]
ÉCLAT, [=a]-klä', _n._ a striking effect: applause: splendour: social
distinction, notoriety. [Fr. _éclat_, from O. Fr. _esclater_, to break, to
shine.]
ECLECTIC, ek-lek'tik, _adj._ selecting or borrowing: choosing the best out
of everything: broad, the opposite of exclusive.--_n._ one who selects
opinions from different systems, esp. in philosophy.--_adv._
ECLEC'TICALLY.--_n._ ECLEC'TICISM, the practice of an eclectic: the
doctrine of the ECLEC'TICS, a name applied to certain Greek thinkers in the
2d and 1st centuries B.C., later to Leibnitz and Cousin. [Gr.
_eklektikos_--_ek_, out, _legein_, to choose.]
ECLIPSE, e-klips', _n._ an obscuration of one of the heavenly bodies by the
interposition of another, either between it and the spectator, or between
it and the sun: loss of brilliancy: darkness.--_v.t._ to hide a luminous
body wholly or in part: to darken: to throw into the shade, to cut out,
surpass.--_p.adjs._ ECLIPSED', darkened, obscured; ECLIPS'ING, darkening,
obscuring.--_n._ ECLIP'TIC, the name given to the great circle of the
heavens round which the sun _seems_ to travel, from west to east, in the
course of a year: a great circle on the globe corresponding to the
celestial ecliptic.--_adj._ pertaining to an eclipse or the ecliptic.
[Through O. Fr. and L. from Gr. _ekleipsis_--_ek_, out, _leipein_, to
leave.]
ECLOGITE, ek'loj-[=i]t, _n._ a crystalline rock, composed of smaragdite and
red garnet. [Gr. _eklog[=e]_, selection--_ek_, out, _legein_, to choose.]
ECLOGUE, ek'log, _n._ a short pastoral poem like Virgil's _Bucolics_. [L.
_ecloga_--Gr. _eklog[=e]_, a selection, esp. of poems--_ek_, out of,
_legein_ to choose.]
ECONOMY, ek-on'o-mi, _n._ the management of a household or of money
matters: a frugal and judicious expenditure of money: a system of rules or
ceremonies: a dispensation, as 'the Christian economy:' regular operations,
as of nature.--_adjs._ ECONOM'IC, -AL, pertaining to economy: frugal:
careful.--_adv._ ECONOM'ICALLY.--_ns._ ECONOM'ICS, the science of household
management: political economy; ECONOMIS[=A]'TION, act of
economising.--_v.i._ ECON'OMISE, to manage with economy: to spend money
carefully: to save.--_v.t._ to use prudently: to spend with
frugality.--_ns._ ECONOM[=I]'SER, ECON'OMIST, one who is economical: one
who studies political economy.--POLITICAL ECONOMY (see under POLITIC). [L.
_oeconomia_--Gr. _oikonomia_--_oikos_, a house, _nomos_, a law.]
ÉCORCHÉ, [=a]-kor'sh[=a], _n._ a figure in which the muscles are
represented stripped of the skin, for purposes of artistic study. [Fr.
_écorcher_, to flay.]
ÉCOSSAISE, [=a]-ko-s[=a]z', _n._ a kind of country-dance of Scotch origin,
or music appropriate to such.--DOUCHE ÉCOSSAISE, the alternation of hot and
cold douches. [Fr., fem. of _Écossais_, Scotch.]
ECOSTATE, [=e]-kos't[=a]t, _adj._ (_bot._) not costate: ribless.
ECPHLYSIS, ek'fli-sis, _n._ (_path._) vesicular eruption.
ECPHONESIS, ek-f[=o]-n[=e]'sis, _n._ (_rhet._) a figure of speech which
uses questions, interjections, &c., for variety: in Greek use, the part of
the service spoken in an audible tone.
ECPHRACTIC, ek-frak'tik, _adj._ (_med._) serving to remove
obstructions.--_n._ a drug with such properties.
ECRASEUR, [=a]-kra-z[.e]r, _n._ (_surg._) an instrument for removing
tumours. [Fr.]
ECSTASY, ek'sta-si, _n._ a word applied to states of mind marked by
temporary mental alienation and altered or diminished consciousness:
excessive joy: enthusiasm, or any exalted feeling.--_v.t._ to fill with
joy.--_adjs._ EC'STASIED, enraptured; ECSTAT'IC, causing ecstasy: amounting
to ecstasy: rapturous.--_n._ one given to ecstasy: something spoken in a
state of ecstasy.--_adv._ ECSTAT'ICALLY. [Through O. Fr. and Low L. from
Gr. _ekstasis_--_ek_, aside, _histanai_, to make to stand.]
ECTAL, ek'tal, _adj._ (_anat._) outer, external--opp. to _Ental._--_adv._
EC'TAD. [Gr. _ektos_, without.]
ECTASIS, ek'ta-sis, _n._ the pronunciation of a vowel as long.