ELEVEN, e-lev'n, _n._ the cardinal number next above ten: the figure (11 or
xi.) denoting eleven: a team of eleven cricketers.--_adj._ noting the
number eleven.--_adj._ and _n._ ELEV'ENTH, the ordinal number corresponding
to eleven.--ELEVENTH HOUR, the very last moment, referring to Matt. xx. 6,
9. [A.S. _endleofon_; cf. Goth. _ainlif_.]
ELF, elf, _n._ in European folklore, a supernatural being, generally of
human form but diminutive size, more malignant than a fairy: a dwarf: a
tricky being:--(_pl._) ELVES.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) of the hair, to
entangle.--_n._ ELF'-CHILD, a changeling, or a child supposed to have been
left by elves in place of one stolen by them.--_adj._ ELF'IN, of or
relating to elves.--_n._ a little elf: a child.--_adjs._ ELF'ISH, ELV'AN,
ELV'ISH, elf-like, mischievous: tricky: disguised.--_n._ ELF'-LAND, the
land of the elves or fairies.--_n.pl._ ELF'-LOCKS (_Shak._) locks of hair
clotted together, supposed to have been done by elves.--_ns._ ELF'-SHOT,
ELF'-BOLT, ELF'-AR'ROW, an arrow-head of flint or stone. [A.S. _ælf_; cf.
Ice. _álfr_, Sw. _elf_.]
ELGIN MARBLES. See MARBLE.
ELICIT, e-lis'it, _v.t._ to entice: to bring to light: to deduce.--_n._
ELICIT[=A]'TION. [L. _elic[)e]re_, _elicitum_.]
ELIDE, e-l[=i]d', _v.t._ to rebut: to cut off, as a syllable.--_n._
ELI'SION, the suppression of a vowel or syllable. [L. _elid[)e]re_,
_elisum_--_e_, out, _læd[)e]re_, to strike.]
ELIGIBLE, el'i-ji-bl, _adj._ fit or worthy to be chosen: legally qualified:
desirable.--_n._ (_coll._) a person or thing eligible.--_ns._
EL'IGIBLENESS, ELIGIBIL'ITY, fitness to be elected or chosen: the state of
being preferable to something else: desirableness.--_adv._ EL'IGIBLY.
[Fr.,--L. _elig[)e]re_. See ELECT, _v.t._]
ELIMINATE, [=e]-lim'in-[=a]t, _v.t._ to thrust out: to remove, cancel: to
leave out of consideration.--_adj._ ELIM'INABLE.--_n._ ELIMIN[=A]'TION. [L.
_elimin[)a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_e_, out, _limen_, _liminis_, a threshold.]
ELIQUATION, same as LIQUATION. See LIQUATE.
ELISION. See ELIDE.
ELITE, [=a]-l[=e]t, _n._ a chosen or select part: the best of anything.
[Fr. _élite_--L. _electa_ (_pars_, a part, understood). See ELECT, _v.t._]
ELIXIR, e-liks'[.e]r, _n._ more fully, ELIXIR VITÆ, or ELIXIR OF LIFE, a
liquor once supposed to have the power of indefinitely prolonging life or
of transmuting metals: the quintessence of anything: a substance which
invigorates: (_med._) a compound tincture. [Low L.,--Ar. _al-iks[=i]r_, the
philosopher's stone, from _al-_, the, _iks[=i]r_, prob. from Late Gr.
_x[=e]rion_, a desiccative powder for wounds--Gr. _x[=e]ros_, dry.]
ELIZABETHAN, e-liz-a-beth'an, _adj._ pertaining to Queen _Elizabeth_
(1533-1603) or her time--of dress, manners, literature, &c.--_n._ a poet or
dramatist of that age.--ELIZABETHAN ARCHITECTURE, a name applied to the
mixed style which sprang up on the decline of Gothic, marked by Tudor
bow-windows and turrets decorated with classic cornices and pilasters, long
galleries, enormous square windows, large apartments, plaster ceilings
wrought into compartments, &c.
ELK, elk, _n._ the largest species of deer, found in the north of Europe
and in North America.--IRISH ELK, a giant deer now extinct, known from the
remains found in the Pleistocene diluvium, esp. of Ireland. [Perh. from the
Scand., Ice. _elgr_, Sw. _elg_.]
ELL, el, _n._ a measure of length originally taken from the arm: a cloth
measure equal to 1¼ yd.--_n._ ELL'WAND, a measuring rod.--GIVE HIM AN INCH
AND HE'LL TAKE AN ELL, a proverb, signifying that to yield one point
entails the yielding of all. [A.S. _eln_; Dut. _el_, Ger. _elle_, L.
_ulna_, Gr. _[=o]len[=e]_.]
ELLAGIC, e-laj'ik, _adj._ pertaining to gall-nuts.
ELLEBORIN, el'[=e]-b[=o]-rin, _n._ a very acrid resin found in winter
hellebore.
ELLIPSE, el-lips', _n._ an oval: (_geom._) a figure produced by the section
of a cone by a plane passing obliquely through the opposite sides.--_ns._
ELLIP'SIS (_gram._), a figure of syntax by which a word or words are left
out and implied:--_pl._ ELLIP'S[=E]S; ELLIP'SOGRAPH, an instrument for
describing ellipses; ELLIP'SOID (_math._), a surface every plane section of
which is an ellipse.--_adjs._ ELLIPSOI'DAL; ELLIP'TIC, -AL, pertaining to
an ellipse: oval: pertaining to ellipsis: having a part understood.--_adv._
ELLIP'TICALLY.--_n._ ELLIPTIC'ITY, deviation from the form of a circle or
sphere: of the earth, the difference between the equatorial and polar
diameters. [L.,--Gr. _elleipsis_--_elleipein_, to fall short--_en_, in,
_leipein_, to leave.]