ERG, erg, _n._ the unit of work in the centimetre-gramme-second
system--that is, the quantity of work done by a force which, acting for one
second upon a mass of one gramme, produces a velocity of one centimetre per
second. [Gr. _erg-on_, work.]
ERGO, [.e]r'go, _adv._ (_logic_) therefore, used to mark the conclusion of
a syllogism.--_v.i._ ER'GOTISE, to wrangle. [L. _ergo_, therefore.]
ERGOT, [.e]r'got, _n._ a disease, consisting of a parasitical fungus, found
on the seed of certain plants, esp. rye and some other grasses.--_ns._
ER'GOTINE, the active principle of ergot of rye; ER'GOTISM, poisoning
caused by eating bread made of rye diseased with ergot;
ERGOTIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ ER'GOTISE. [Fr.]
ERIC, er'ik, _n._ the blood-fine paid by a murderer to his victim's family
in old Irish law.--Also ER'IACH, ER'ICK.
ERICA, e-r[=i]'ka, _n._ the scientific name for heath.--_adj._
ERIC[=A]'CEOUS, belonging to plants of the genus _Erica_. [L.,--Gr.
_ereik[=e]_, heath.]
ERINGO. Same as ERYNGO.
ERINITE, er'i-n[=i]t, _n._ native arseniate of copper found in Cornwall and
Ireland. [_Erin_, old name of Ireland.]
ERINYS, e-r[=i]'nis, _n._ one of the Furies:--_pl._ ERINYES
(e-rin'i-[=e]z).
ERIOMETER, er-i-om'e-ter, _n._ an optical instrument for measuring small
diameters of fibres, &c. [Gr. _erion_, wool, _metron_, a measure.]
ERISTIC, -AL, er-is'tik, -al, _adj._ of or pertaining to controversy. [Gr.
_erizein_, to strive--_eris_, strife.]
ERL-KING, [.e]rl'-king, _n._ for German _erl-könig_, a mistranslation
(meaning 'alder-king') of the Danish _ellerkonge_ (i. e. _elverkonge_, king
of the elves).
ERMELIN, [.e]r'me-lin, _n._ (_arch._) ermine.
ERMINE, [.e]r'min, _n._ a well-known carnivore belonging to the genus which
includes polecat, weasel, ferret, &c.--its white fur often used as an
emblem of purity: ermine fur used for the robes of judges and
magistrates.--_adj._ ER'MINED, adorned with ermine. [O. Fr. _ermine_ (Fr.
_hermine_), perh. from L. (_mus_) _Armenius_, lit. mouse of Armenia, whence
it was brought to Rome; but acc. to Skeat from Old High Ger. _harmin_ (Ger.
_hermelin_), ermine-fur.]