ESCARP, es-kärp', _v.t._ to make into a scarp or sudden slope.--_n._ a
scarp or steep slope: (_fort._) the side of the ditch next the
rampart.--_n._ ESCARP'MENT, the precipitous side of any hill or rock:
escarp. [Fr. _escarper_, to cut down steep, from root of _scarp_.]
ESCHALOT, esh-a-lot'. See SHALLOT.
ESCHAR, es'kär, _n._ a slough or portion of dead or disorganised tissue,
gen. of artificial sloughs produced by the application of caustics.--_adj._
ESCHAROT'IC, tending to form an eschar: caustic.--_n._ a caustic substance.
[L.,--Gr. _eschara_, a hearth.]
ESCHATOLOGY, es-ka-tol'o-ji, _n._ (_theol._) the doctrine of the last or
final things, as death, judgment, the state after death.--_adjs._
ESCHATOLOG'IC, -AL.--_n._ ESCHATOL'OGIST. [Gr. _eschatos_, last, _logia_, a
discourse.]
ESCHEAT, es-ch[=e]t', _n._ property which falls to the state for want of an
heir, or by forfeiture: (_Spens._) plunder.--_v.t._ to confiscate.--_v.i._
to fall to the lord of the manor or the state.--_adj._ ESCHEAT'ABLE.--_ns._
ESCHEAT'AGE; ESCHEAT'OR. [O. Fr. _eschete_--_escheoir_ (Fr. _échoir_)--Low
L.,--L. _ex_, out, _cad[)e]re_, to fall.]
ESCHEW, es-ch[=oo]', _v.t._ to shun: to flee from: to abstain from. [O. Fr.
_eschever_; cog. with Ger. _scheuen_, to shun.]
ESCLANDRE, e-sklang'dr, _n._ notoriety: any unpleasantness. [Fr.,--L.
_scandalum_.]
ESCORT, es'kort, _n._ a body of men, or a single man, accompanying any one
on a journey, for protection, guidance, or merely courtesy:
attendance.--_v.t._ ESC[=O]RT', to attend as guide or guard. [Fr.
_escorte_--It. _scorta_--_scorgere_, to guide--L. _ex_, out,
_corrig[)e]re_, to set right.]
ESCOT, es-kot', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to pay a reckoning for, to maintain. [O.
Fr. _escoter_, _escot_=_scot_, a tax.]
ESCRITOIRE, es-kri-twor', _n._ a writing-desk.--_adj._ ESCRIT[=O]'RIAL.
[Fr. _escritoire_--Low L. _scriptorium_--L. _scrib[)e]re_, _scriptum_, to
write.]
ESCROLL, es-kr[=o]l', _n._ (_her._). Same as SCROLL.
ESCUAGE, es'k[=u]-[=a]j, _n._ scutage.
ESCULAPIAN, es-k[=u]-l[=a]'pi-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Esculapius_, and
hence to the art of healing.--Also ÆSCUL[=A]'PIAN. [_Æsculapius_, god of
medicine.]
ESCULENT, es'k[=u]-lent, _adj._ eatable: fit to be used for food by
man.--_n._ something that is eatable. [L. _esculentus_, eatable--_esca_,
food--_ed[)e]re_, to eat.]
ESCUTCHEON, es-kuch'un, _n._ a shield on which a coat of arms is
represented: a family shield: the part of a vessel's stern bearing her
name.--_adj._ ESCUTCH'EONED ('und), having an escutcheon.--ESCUTCHEON OF
PRETENCE, an escutcheon placed with the arms of an heiress in the centre of
her husband's coat.--A BLOT ON THE ESCUTCHEON, a stain on one's good name.
[O. Fr. _escuchon_--L. _scutum_, a shield.]
ESEMPLASTIC, es-em-plas'tik, _adj._ shaping into one.
ESKAR, ESKER. Same as ASAR (q.v.).
ESKIMO, es'ki-m[=o], _n._ and _adj._ one of a nation constituting the
aboriginal inhabitants of the whole northern coast of America, and spread
over the Arctic islands, Greenland, and the nearest Asiatic coast.--_n._
ESKIMO DOG, a half-tamed variety, widely distributed in the Arctic regions,
and indispensable for drawing the sledges. [Said by Dr Rink to be from an
Indian word=eaters of raw flesh.]
ESLOIN, es-loin'. See ELOIN.
ESNECY, es'ne-si, _n._ the right of first choice belonging to the eldest.
ESOPHAGUS. See OESOPHAGUS.
ESOTERIC, es-o-ter'ik, _adj._ inner: secret: mysterious: (_phil._) taught
to a select few--opp. to _Exoteric_.--_adv._ ESOTER'ICALLY.--_ns._
ESOTER'ICISM, ESOT'ERISM, the holding of esoteric opinions.--ESOTERIC
BUDDHISM (see THEOSOPHY). [Gr. _es[=o]terikos_--_es[=o]ter[=o]_, inner, a
comp. form from _es[=o]_, within.]
ESPALIER, es-pal'y[.e]r, _n._ a lattice-work of wood on which to train
fruit-trees: a fruit-tree trained on stakes: (_obs._) a row of trees so
trained.--_v.t._ to train as an espalier. [Fr.,--It. _spalliera_, a support
for the shoulders--_spalla_, a shoulder. Cf. EPAULET.]
ESPARTO, es-par't[=o], _n._ a strong kind of grass found in the south of
Europe, esp. in Spain, used for making baskets, cordage, paper, &c.
[Sp.,--L. _spartum_--Gr. _sparton_, a kind of rope.]
ESPECIAL, es-pesh'al, _adj._ special: particular: principal:
distinguished.--_adv._ ESPEC'IALLY.--IN ESPECIAL, in particular. [O.
Fr.,--L. _specialis_--_species_.]
ESPERANCE, es'p[.e]r-ans, _n._ (_Shak._) hope. [Fr.,--L. _sperans_, pr.p.
of _sper[=a]re_, to hope.]
ESPIÈGLE, es-pi-[=a]'gl, _adj._ roguish, frolicsome.--_n._ ESPIÈG'LERIE,
raillery: frolicsomeness. [Fr.]
ESPIONAGE, es'pi-on-[=a]j, _n._ practice or employment of spies.
[Fr.,--_espionner_--_espion_, a spy.]
ESPLANADE, es-pla-n[=a]d', _n._ a level space between a citadel and the
first houses of the town: any level space for walking or driving in.
[Fr.,--Sp. _esplanada_--L. _explan[=a]re_--_ex_, out, _planus_, flat.]
ESPOUSE, es-powz', _v.t._ to give in marriage: to take as spouse: to wed:
to take with a view to maintain: to embrace, as a cause.--_ns._ ESPOUS'AL,
the act of espousing or betrothing: the taking upon one's self, as a cause:
(_pl._) a contract or mutual promise of marriage; ESPOUS'ER. [O. Fr.
_espouser_ (Fr. _épouser_)--L. _spons[=a]re_--_spond[=e]re_, _sponsum_, to
promise.]
ESPRIT, es-pr[=e]', _n._ spirit: liveliness.--ESPRIT DE CORPS (es-pr[=e]'
d' k[=o]r), regard for the character of that body to which one belongs;
ESPRIT FORT (es-pr[=e]' f[=o]r), a person of strong character. [Fr.
_esprit_, spirit, _corps_, body, _fort_, strong.]
ESPY, es-p[=i]', _v.t._ to watch: to see at a distance: to catch sight of:
to observe: to discover unexpectedly.--_n._ ESP[=I]'AL, the act of espying:
observation. [O. Fr. _espier_, from root of _spy_.]
ESQUIMAU, es'ki-m[=o] (_pl._ ESQUIMAUX, es'ki-m[=o]z). Same as ESKIMO.
ESQUIRE, es-kw[=i]r', _n._ (_orig._) a squire or shield-bearer: an
attendant on a knight: a landed proprietor: a title of dignity next below a
knight: a title given to younger sons of noblemen, &c.: a general title of
respect in addressing letters. [O. Fr. _esquier_ (Fr. _écuyer_)--L.
_scutarius_--_scutum_, a shield.]
ESS, the name of the letter S (q.v.).
ESSAY, es'[=a], _n._ a trial: an experiment: a written composition less
elaborate than a treatise.--_v.t._ ESSAY', to try: to attempt: to make
experiment of:--_pr.p._ essay'ing; _pa.p._ essayed'.--_ns._ ESSAY'ER,
ES'SAYIST, one who essays: a writer of essays; ESSAYETTE', ES'SAYKIN, a
little essay.--_adjs._ ES'SAYISH; ESSAYIS'TIC. [O. Fr. _essai_--L.
_exagium_, weighing--_exag[)e]re_, to try, examine.]
ESSE, es'i, _n._ used in phrase IN ESSE, in existence, opposed to _In
posse_, in potentiality. [L. _esse_, to be.]
ESSENCE, es'ens, _n._ the inner distinctive nature of anything: the
qualities which make any object what it is: a being: the extracted virtues
of any drug: the solution in spirits of wine of a volatile or essential
oil: a perfume.--_adj._ ESSEN'TIAL, relating to or containing the essence:
necessary to the existence of a thing: indispensable or important in the
highest degree: highly rectified: pure.--_n._ something necessary: a
leading principle.--_n._ ESSENTIAL'ITY, the quality of being essential: an
essential part.--_adv._ ESSEN'TIALLY.--_n._ ESSEN'TIALNESS. [Fr.,--L.
_essentia_--_essens_, _-entis_, assumed pr.p. of _esse_, to be.]
ESSENE, es-s[=e]n', _n._ one of a small religious fraternity among the
ancient Jews leading retired ascetic lives and holding property in
common.--_n._ ESSEN'ISM. [Bishop Lightfoot prefers the der. from Heb.
_ch[=a]sh[=a]_, to be silent, whence _chashsh[=a][=i]m_, 'the silent ones'
who meditate on mysteries.]
ESSOIN, es-soin', _n._ (_law_) excuse for not appearing in court:
(_Spens._) excuse.--_n._ ESSOIN'ER. [O. Fr. _essoine_ (Fr. _exoine_),
_es_--L. _ex_, out, _soin_, care.]
ESSORANT, es'[=o]-rant, _adj._ (_her._) about to soar.
ESTABLISH, es-tab'lish, _v.t._ to settle or fix: to confirm: to prove a
point: to ordain: to found: to set up in business: to institute by law as
the recognised state church, and to support officially and
financially.--_p.adj._ ESTAB'LISHED, fixed: ratified: instituted by law and
supported by the state.--_ns._ ESTAB'LISHER; ESTAB'LISHMENT, act of
establishing: fixed state: that which is established: a permanent civil or
military force: one's residence and style of living: the church established
by law.--_adj._ ESTABLISHMENT[=A]R'IAN, maintaining the principle of the
established church.--_n._ one who maintains this principle. [O. Fr.
_establir_, pr.p. _establissant_--L. _stabil[=i]re_--_stabilis_,
firm--_st[=a]re_, to stand.]
ESTACADE, es-ta-k[=a]d', _n._ a dike of piles in a morass, river, &c.,
against an enemy. [Fr.,--Sp.]
ESTAFETTE, es-ta-fet', _n._ a military courier or express. [Fr.,--It.
_staffetta_--Old High Ger. _stapho_, a step.]