E.

E (ē). 1. The fifth letter of the English alphabet. It derives its form, name, and value from the Latin, the form and value being further derived from the Greek, into which it came from the Phœnician, and ultimately, probably, from the Egyptian. Its etymological relations are closest with the vowels i, a, and o, as illustrated by to fall, to fell; man, pl. men; drink, drank, drench; dint, dent; doom, deem; goose, pl. geese; beef, OF. boef, L. bos; and E. cheer, OF. chiere, LL. cara.

The letter e has in English several vowel sounds, the two principal being its long or name sound, as in eve, me, and the short, as in end, best. Usually at the end of words it is silent, but serves to indicate that the preceding vowel has its long sound, where otherwise it would be short, as in māne, cāne, mēte, which without the final e would be pronounced măn, căn, m&ebreve;t. After c and g, the final e indicates that these letters are to be pronounced as s and j; respectively, as in lace, rage.

See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 74-97.

2. (Mus.) E is the third tone of the model diatonic scale. E♭ (E flat) is a tone which is intermediate between D and E.

E-. A Latin prefix meaning out, out of, from; also, without. See Ex-.

Each (ēch), a. or a. pron. [OE. eche, ælc, elk, ilk, AS. ælc; ā always + gelīc like; akin to OD. iegelik, OHG. ēogilīh, MHG. iegelīch, G. jeglich. √209. See 3d Aye, Like, and cf. Either, Every, Ilk.] 1. Every one of the two or more individuals composing a number of objects, considered separately from the rest. It is used either with or without a following noun; as, each of you or each one of you. "Each of the combatants." Fielding.

&fist; To each corresponds other. "Let each esteem other better than himself." Each other, used elliptically for each the other. It is our duty to assist each other; that is, it is our duty, each to assist the other, each being in the nominative and other in the objective case.

It is a bad thing that men should hate each other; but it is far worse that they should contract the habit of cutting one another's throats without hatred.

Macaulay.

Let each
His adamantine coat gird well.

Milton.

In each cheek appears a pretty dimple.

Shak.

Then draw we nearer day by day,
Each to his brethren, all to God.

Keble.

The oak and the elm have each a distinct character.

Gilpin.

2. Every; -- sometimes used interchangeably with every. Shak.

I know each lane and every alley green.

Milton.

In short each man's happiness depends upon himself.

Sterne.

&fist; This use of each for every, though common in Scotland and in America, is now un-English. Fitzed. Hall.

Syn. -- See Every.

Each"where` (?), adv. Everywhere. [Obs.]

The sky eachwhere did show full bright and fair.

Spenser.

Ead"ish (?), n. See Eddish.

Ea"ger (?), a. [OE. egre sharp, sour, eager, OF. agre, aigre, F. aigre, fr. L. acer sharp, sour, spirited, zealous; akin to Gr. &?; highest, extreme, Skr. a&?;ra point; fr. a root signifying to be sharp. Cf. Acrid, Edge.] 1. Sharp; sour; acid. [Obs.] "Like eager droppings into milk." Shak.

2. Sharp; keen; bitter; severe. [Obs.] "A nipping and an eager air." "Eager words." Shak.

3. Excited by desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were eager in the chase.

And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes.

Shak.

How eagerly ye follow my disgraces!

Shak.

When to her eager lips is brought
Her infant's thrilling kiss.

Keble.

A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys.

Hawthorne.

Conceit and grief an eager combat fight.

Shak.

4. Brittle; inflexible; not ductile. [Obs.]

Gold will be sometimes so eager, as artists call it, that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself.

Locke.

Syn. -- Earnest; ardent; vehement; hot; impetuous; fervent; intense; impassioned; zealous; forward. See Earnest. -- Eager, Earnest. Eager marks an excited state of desire or passion; thus, a child is eager for a plaything, a hungry man is eager for food, a covetous man is eager for gain. Eagerness is liable to frequent abuses, and is good or bad, as the case may be. It relates to what is praiseworthy or the contrary. Earnest denotes a permanent state of mind, feeling, or sentiment. It is always taken in a good sense; as, a preacher is earnest in his appeals to the conscience; an agent is earnest in his solicitations.

Ea"ger, n. Same as Eagre.

Ea"ger*ly, adv. In an eager manner.

Ea"ger*ness, n. 1. The state or quality of being eager; ardent desire. "The eagerness of love." Addison.

2. Tartness; sourness. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Ardor; vehemence; earnestness; impetuosity; heartiness; fervor; fervency; avidity; zeal; craving; heat; passion; greediness.

Ea"gle (?), n. [OE. egle, F. aigle, fr. L. aquila; prob. named from its color, fr. aquilus dark-colored, brown; cf. Lith. aklas blind. Cf. Aquiline.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any large, rapacious bird of the Falcon family, esp. of the genera Aquila and Haliæetus. The eagle is remarkable for strength, size, graceful figure, keenness of vision, and extraordinary flight. The most noted species are the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaëtus); the imperial eagle of Europe (A. mogilnik or imperialis); the American bald eagle (Haliæetus leucocephalus); the European sea eagle (H. albicilla); and the great harpy eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia). The figure of the eagle, as the king of birds, is commonly used as an heraldic emblem, and also for standards and emblematic devices. See Bald eagle, Harpy, and Golden eagle.

2. A gold coin of the United States, of the value of ten dollars.

3. (Astron.) A northern constellation, containing Altair, a star of the first magnitude. See Aquila.

4. The figure of an eagle borne as an emblem on the standard of the ancient Romans, or so used upon the seal or standard of any people.

Though the Roman eagle shadow thee.

Tennyson.

&fist; Some modern nations, as the United States, and France under the Bonapartes, have adopted the eagle as their national emblem. Russia, Austria, and Prussia have for an emblem a double-headed eagle.

Bald eagle. See Bald eagle. -- Bold eagle. See under Bold. -- Double eagle, a gold coin of the United States worth twenty dollars. -- Eagle hawk (Zoöl.), a large, crested, South American hawk of the genus Morphnus. -- Eagle owl (Zoöl.), any large owl of the genus Bubo, and allied genera; as the American great horned owl (Bubo Virginianus), and the allied European species (B. maximus). See Horned owl. -- Eagle ray (Zoöl.), any large species of ray of the genus Myliobatis (esp. M. aquila). -- Eagle vulture (Zoöl.), a large West African bid (Gypohierax Angolensis), intermediate, in several respects, between the eagles and vultures.

Ea"gle-eyed` (?), a. Sharp-sighted as an eagle. "Inwardly eagle-eyed." Howell.

Ea"gle-sight`ed (?), a. Farsighted and strong-sighted; sharp-sighted. Shak.

Ea"gless (?), n. [Cf. OF. aiglesse.] (Zoöl.) A female or hen eagle. [R.] Sherwood.

Ea"gle*stone (?), n. (Min.) A concretionary nodule of clay ironstone, of the size of a walnut or larger, so called by the ancients, who believed that the eagle transported these stones to her nest to facilitate the laying of her eggs; aëtites.

Ea"glet (?), n. [Cf. OF. aiglet.] (Zoöl.) A young eagle, or a diminutive eagle.

Ea"gle-winged` (?), a. Having the wings of an eagle; swift, or soaring high, like an eagle. Shak.

Ea"gle*wood` (?), n. [From Skr. aguru, through Pg. aguila; cf. F. bois d'aigle.] A kind of fragrant wood. See Agallochum.

Ea"grass (?), n. See Eddish. [Obs.]

Ea"gre (?), n. [AS. eágor, &?;gor, in comp., water, sea, eágor-streám water stream, sea.] A wave, or two or three successive waves, of great height and violence, at flood tide moving up an estuary or river; -- commonly called the bore. See Bore.

{ Eal"der*man, Eal"dor*man (?) }, n. An alderman. [Obs.]

Eale (?), n. [See Ale.] Ale. [Obs.] Shak.

Eame (?), n. [AS. eám; akin to D. oom, G. ohm, oheim; cf. L. avunculus.] Uncle. [Obs.] Spenser.

Ean (?), v. t. & i. [AS. eánian. See Yean.] To bring forth, as young; to yean. "In eaning time." Shak.

Ean"ling (?), n. [See Ean, Yeanling.] A lamb just brought forth; a yeanling. Shak.

Ear (?), n. [AS. eáre; akin to OFries. áre, ár, OS. &?;ra, D. oor, OHG. &?;ra, G. ohr, Icel. eyra, Sw. öra, Dan. öre, Goth. auso, L. auris, Lith. ausis, Russ. ukho, Gr. &?;; cf. L. audire to hear, Gr. &?;, Skr. av to favor , protect. Cf. Auricle, Orillon.] 1. The organ of hearing; the external ear.

&fist; In man and the higher vertebrates, the organ of hearing is very complicated, and is divisible into three parts: the external ear, which includes the pinna or auricle and meatus or external opening; the middle ear, drum, or tympanum; and the internal ear, or labyrinth. The middle ear is a cavity connected by the Eustachian tube with the pharynx, separated from the opening of the external ear by the tympanic membrane, and containing a chain of three small bones, or ossicles, named malleus, incus, and stapes, which connect this membrane with the internal ear. The essential part of the internal ear where the fibers of the auditory nerve terminate, is the membranous labyrinth, a complicated system of sacs and tubes filled with a fluid (the endolymph), and lodged in a cavity, called the bony labyrinth, in the periotic bone. The membranous labyrinth does not completely fill the bony labyrinth, but is partially suspended in it in a fluid (the perilymph). The bony labyrinth consists of a central cavity, the vestibule, into which three semicircular canals and the canal of the cochlea (spirally coiled in mammals) open. The vestibular portion of the membranous labyrinth consists of two sacs, the utriculus and sacculus, connected by a narrow tube, into the former of which three membranous semicircular canals open, while the latter is connected with a membranous tube in the cochlea containing the organ of Corti. By the help of the external ear the sonorous vibrations of the air are concentrated upon the tympanic membrane and set it vibrating, the chain of bones in the middle ear transmits these vibrations to the internal ear, where they cause certain delicate structures in the organ of Corti, and other parts of the membranous labyrinth, to stimulate the fibers of the auditory nerve to transmit sonorous impulses to the brain.

2. The sense of hearing; the perception of sounds; the power of discriminating between different tones; as, a nice ear for music; -- in the singular only.

Songs . . . not all ungrateful to thine ear.

Tennyson.

3. That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal; any prominence or projection on an object, -- usually one for support or attachment; a lug; a handle; as, the ears of a tub, a skillet, or dish. The ears of a boat are outside kneepieces near the bow. See Illust. of Bell.

4. (Arch.) (a) Same as Acroterium. (b) Same as Crossette.

5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention.

Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit.

Bacon.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

Shak.

About the ears, in close proximity to; near at hand. -- By the ears, in close contest; as, to set by the ears; to fall together by the ears; to be by the ears. -- Button ear (in dogs), an ear which falls forward and completely hides the inside. -- Ear finger, the little finger. -- Ear of Dionysius, a kind of ear trumpet with a flexible tube; -- named from the Sicilian tyrant, who constructed a device to overhear the prisoners in his dungeons. -- Ear sand (Anat.), otoliths. See Otolith. -- Ear snail (Zoöl.), any snail of the genus Auricula and allied genera. -- Ear stones (Anat.), otoliths. See Otolith. -- Ear trumpet, an instrument to aid in hearing. It consists of a tube broad at the outer end, and narrowing to a slender extremity which enters the ear, thus collecting and intensifying sounds so as to assist the hearing of a partially deaf person. - - Ear vesicle (Zoöl.), a simple auditory organ, occurring in many worms, mollusks, etc. It consists of a small sac containing a fluid and one or more solid concretions or otocysts. -- Rose ear (in dogs), an ear which folds backward and shows part of the inside. -- To give ear to, to listen to; to heed, as advice or one advising. "Give ear unto my song." Goldsmith. -- To have one's ear, to be listened to with favor. -- Up to the ears, deeply submerged; almost overwhelmed; as, to be in trouble up to one's ears. [Colloq.]

Ear (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Earing.] To take in with the ears; to hear. [Sportive] "I eared her language." Two Noble Kinsmen.

Ear, n. [AS. ear; akin to D. aar, OHG. ahir, G. ähre, Icel., Sw., & Dan. ax, Goth. ahs. &?;&?;&?;. Cf. Awn, Edge.] The spike or head of any cereal (as, wheat, rye, barley, Indian corn, etc.), containing the kernels.

First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

Mark iv. 28.

Ear, v. i. To put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain; as, this corn ears well.

Ear, v. t. [OE. erien, AS. erian; akin to OFries. era, OHG. erran, MHG. eren, ern, Prov. G. aren, ären, Icel. erja, Goth. arjan, Lith. arti, OSlav. orati, L. arare, Gr. &?;. Cf. Arable.] To plow or till; to cultivate. "To ear the land." Shak.

Ear"a*ble (?), a. Arable; tillable. [Archaic]

Ear"ache` (?), n. Ache or pain in the ear.

Ear"al (?), a. Receiving by the ear. [Obs.] Hewyt.

Ear"-bored` (?), a. Having the ear perforated.

Ear"cap` (?), n. A cap or cover to protect the ear from cold.

Ear"coc`kle (?), n. (Bot.) A disease in wheat, in which the blackened and contracted grain, or ear, is filled with minute worms.

Ear"drop` (?), n. 1. A pendant for the ear; an earring; as, a pair of eardrops.

2. (Bot.) A species of primrose. See Auricula.

Ear"drum` (?), n. (Anat.) The tympanum. See Illust. of Ear.

Eared (?), a. 1. Having (such or so many) ears; -- used in composition; as, long- eared-eared; sharp-eared; full-eared; ten- eared.

2. (Zoöl.) Having external ears; having tufts of feathers resembling ears.

Eared owl (Zoöl.), an owl having earlike tufts of feathers, as the long-eared owl, and short-eared owl. -- Eared seal (Zoöl.), any seal of the family Otariidæ, including the fur seals and hair seals. See Seal.

Ear"i*ness (?), n. [Scotch ery or eiry affected with fear.] Fear or timidity, especially of something supernatural. [Written also eiryness.]

The sense of eariness, as twilight came on.

De Quincey.

Ear"ing, n. (Naut.) (a) A line used to fasten the upper corners of a sail to the yard or gaff; -- also called head earing. (b) A line for hauling the reef cringle to the yard; -- also called reef earing. (c) A line fastening the corners of an awning to the rigging or stanchions.

Ear"ing, n. Coming into ear, as corn.

Ear"ing, n. A plowing of land. [Archaic]

Neither earing nor harvest.

Gen. xlv. 6.

Earl (?), n. [OE. eorl, erl, AS. eorl man, noble; akin to OS. erl boy, man, Icel. jarl nobleman, count, and possibly to Gr. &?; male, Zend arshan man. Cf. Jarl.] A nobleman of England ranking below a marquis, and above a viscount. The rank of an earl corresponds to that of a count (comte) in France, and graf in Germany. Hence the wife of an earl is still called countess. See Count.

Earl, n. (Zoöl.) The needlefish. [Ireland]

Ear"lap` (?), n. The lobe of the ear.

Earl"dom (?), n. [AS. eorl- d&?;m; eorl man, noble + -d&?;m -dom.] 1. The jurisdiction of an earl; the territorial possessions of an earl.

2. The status, title, or dignity of an earl.

He [Pulteney] shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.

Chesterfield.

Earl"dor*man (?), n. Alderman. [Obs.]

Earl"duck` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The red-breasted merganser (Merganser serrator).

Earles" pen`ny (?). [Cf. Arles, 4th Earnest.] Earnest money. Same as Arles penny. [Obs.]

Ear"less (?), a. Without ears; hence, deaf or unwilling to hear. Pope.

Ear"let (?), n. [Ear + - let.] An earring. [Obs.]

The Ismaelites were accustomed to wear golden earlets.

Judg. viii. 24 (Douay version).

Ear"li*ness (?), n. The state of being early or forward; promptness.

Earl" mar"shal (?). An officer of state in England who marshals and orders all great ceremonials, takes cognizance of matters relating to honor, arms, and pedigree, and directs the proclamation of peace and war. The court of chivalry was formerly under his jurisdiction, and he is still the head of the herald's office or college of arms.

Ear"lock` (?), n. [AS. eár- locca.] A lock or curl of hair near the ear; a lovelock. See Lovelock.

Ear"ly (&etilde;r"l&ybreve;), adv. [OE. erli, erliche, AS. &aemacr;rlīce; &aemacr;r sooner + līc like. See Ere, and Like.] Soon; in good season; seasonably; betimes; as, come early.

Those that me early shall find me.

Prov. viii. 17.

You must wake and call me early.

Tennyson.

Ear"ly, a. [Compar. Earlier (&etilde;r"l&ibreve;*&etilde;r); superl. Earliest.] [OE. earlich. √204. See Early, adv.] 1. In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to late; as, the early bird; an early spring; early fruit.

Early and provident fear is the mother of safety.

Burke.

The doorsteps and threshold with the early grass springing up about them.

Hawthorne.

2. Coming in the first part of a period of time, or among the first of successive acts, events, etc.

Seen in life's early morning sky.

Keble.

The forms of its earlier manhood.

Longfellow.

The earliest poem he composed was in his seventeenth summer.

J. C. Shairp.

Early English (Philol.) See the Note under English. -- Early English architecture, the first of the pointed or Gothic styles used in England, succeeding the Norman style in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Syn. -- Forward; timely; not late; seasonable.

Ear"mark` (?), n. 1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or slitting.

2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.

Money is said to have no earmark.

Wharton.

Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the rounding of his head, and his earmark.

Robynson (More's Utopia).

A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor.

Burrow.

Ear"mark`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earmarked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Earmarking.] To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.

Earn (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Ern, n. Sir W. Scott.

Earn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Earning.] [AS. earnian; akin to OHG. arn&?;n to reap, aran harvest, G. ernte, Goth. asans harvest, asneis hireling, AS. esne; cf. Icel. önn working season, work.] 1. To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that which entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is received or not).

The high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn.

Milton.

2. To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good living; to earn honors or laurels.

I earn that [what] I eat.

Shak.

The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my brow.

Burke.

Earned run (Baseball), a run which is made without the assistance of errors on the opposing side.

Syn. -- See Obtain.

Earn (?), v. t. & i. [See 1st Yearn.] To grieve. [Obs.]

Earn, v. i. [See 4th Yearn.] To long; to yearn. [Obs.]

And ever as he rode, his heart did earn
To prove his puissance in battle brave.

Spenser.

Earn, v. i. [AS. irnan to run. √11. See Rennet, and cf. Yearnings.] To curdle, as milk. [Prov. Eng.]

Ear"nest (?), n. [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. &?; to excite, L. oriri to rise.] Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.

Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest.

Sir P. Sidney.

And given in earnest what I begged in jest.

Shak.

In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.

Ear"nest, a. 1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; -- used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers.

An earnest advocate to plead for him.

Shak.

2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.

3. Serious; important. [Obs.]

They whom earnest lets do often hinder.

Hooker.

Syn. -- Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager.

Ear"nest, v. t. To use in earnest. [R.]

To earnest them [our arms] with men.

Pastor Fido (1602).

Ear"nest, n. [Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra, arrha, arrhabo, Gr. 'arrabw`n, of Semitic origin, cf. Heb. ērāvōn; or perh. fr. W. ernes, akin to Gael. earlas, perh. fr. L. arra. Cf. Arles, Earles penny.] 1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come.

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2 Cor. i. 22.

And from his coffers
Received the golden earnest of our death.

Shak.

2. (Law) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. Kent. Ayliffe. Benjamin.

Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.

Syn. -- Earnest, Pledge. These words are here compared as used in their figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest, like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability, that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited, affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their ultimate triumph.

Ear"nest*ful (?), a. Serious. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ear"nest*ly, adv. In an earnest manner.

Ear"nest*ness, n. The state or quality of being earnest; intentness; anxiety.

An honest earnestness in the young man's manner.

W. Irving.

Earn"ful (?), a. [From Earn to yearn.] Full of anxiety or yearning. [Obs.] P. Fletcher.

Earn"ing, n.; pl. Earnings (&?;). That which is earned; wages gained by work or services; money earned; -- used commonly in the plural.

As to the common people, their stock is in their persons and in their earnings.

Burke.

Ear"pick` (?), n. An instrument for removing wax from the ear.

Ear"-pier`cer (?), n. (Zoöl.) The earwig.

Ear"reach` (?), n. Earshot. Marston.

Ear"ring` (?), n. An ornament consisting of a ring passed through the lobe of the ear, with or without a pendant.

Earsh (?), n. See Arrish.

Ear"-shell` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A flattened marine univalve shell of the genus Haliotis; -- called also sea-ear. See Abalone.

Ear"shot` (?), n. Reach of the ear; distance at which words may be heard. Dryden.

Ear"shrift` (?), n. A nickname for auricular confession; shrift. [Obs.] Cartwright.

Ear"sore` (?), n. An annoyance to the ear. [R.]

The perpetual jangling of the chimes . . . is no small earsore &?;s.

Sir T. Browne.

Ear"-split`ting (?), a. Deafening; disagreeably loud or shrill; as, ear-splitting strains.

Earst (?), adv. See Erst. [Obs.] Spenser.

Earth (?), n. [AS. eor&?;e; akin to OS. ertha, OFries. irthe, D. aarde, OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel. jör&?;, Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. aīrpa, OHG. ero, Gr. &?;, adv., to earth, and perh. to E. ear to plow.] 1. The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.

That law preserves the earth a sphere
And guides the planets in their course.

S. Rogers.

In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell.

Milton.

2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.

God called the dry land earth.

Gen. i. 10.

He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him.

Shak.

3. The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth.

Give him a little earth for charity.

Shak.

4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.

Would I had never trod this English earth.

Shak.

5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.

Our weary souls by earth beguiled.

Keble.

6. The people on the globe.

The whole earth was of one language.

Gen. xi. 1.

7. (Chem.) (a) Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. (b) A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta.

8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. Macaulay.

They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths.

Holland.

&fist; Earth is used either adjectively or in combination to form compound words; as, earth apple or earth-apple; earth metal or earth-metal; earth closet or earth-closet.

Adamic earth, Bitter earth, Bog earth, Chian earth, etc. See under Adamic, Bitter, etc. -- Alkaline earths. See under Alkaline. -- Earth apple. (Bot.) (a) A potato. (b) A cucumber. -- Earth auger, a form of auger for boring into the ground; -- called also earth borer. -- Earth bath, a bath taken by immersing the naked body in earth for healing purposes. -- Earth battery (Physics), a voltaic battery the elements of which are buried in the earth to be acted on by its moisture. -- Earth chestnut, the pignut. -- Earth closet, a privy or commode provided with dry earth or a similar substance for covering and deodorizing the fæcal discharges. -- Earth dog (Zoöl.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter holes of foxes, etc. -- Earth hog, Earth pig (Zoöl.), the aard- vark. -- Earth hunger, an intense desire to own land, or, in the case of nations, to extend their domain. -- Earth light (Astron.), the light reflected by the earth, as upon the moon, and corresponding to moonlight; -- called also earth shine. Sir J. Herschel. -- Earth metal. See 1st Earth, 7. (Chem.) -- Earth oil, petroleum. -- Earth pillars or pyramids (Geol.), high pillars or pyramids of earth, sometimes capped with a single stone, found in Switzerland. Lyell. -- Earth pitch (Min.), mineral tar, a kind of asphaltum. -- Earth quadrant, a fourth of the earth's circumference. -- Earth table (Arch.), the lowest course of stones visible in a building; the ground table. -- On earth, an intensive expression, oftenest used in questions and exclamations; as, What on earth shall I do? Nothing on earth will satisfy him. [Colloq.]

Earth (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earthed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Earthing.] 1. To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den. "The fox is earthed." Dryden.

2. To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; -- sometimes with up.

The miser earths his treasure, and the thief,
Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon.

Young.

Why this in earthing up a carcass?

R. Blair.

Earth, v. i. To burrow. Tickell.

Earth, n. [From Ear to plow.] A plowing. [Obs.]

Such land as ye break up for barley to sow,
Two earths at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow.

Tusser.

Earth"bag` (?), n. (Mil.) A bag filled with earth, used commonly to raise or repair a parapet.

Earth"bank` (?), n. A bank or mound of earth.

Earth"board` (?), n. (Agric.) The part of a plow, or other implement, that turns over the earth; the moldboard.

Earth"born` (?), a. 1. Born of the earth; terrigenous; springing originally from the earth; human.

Some earthborn giant.

Milton.

2. Relating to, or occasioned by, earthly objects.

All earthborn cares are wrong.

Goldsmith.

Earth"bred` (?), a. Low; grovelling; vulgar.

Earth"din` (?), n. An earthquake. [Obs.]

Earth"drake` (?), n. A mythical monster of the early Anglo-Saxon literature; a dragon. W. Spalding.

Earth"en (?), a. Made of earth; made of burnt or baked clay, or other like substances; as, an earthen vessel or pipe.

Earth"en-heart`ed (?), a. Hard- hearted; sordid; gross. [Poetic] Lowell.

Earth"en*ware` (?), n. Vessels and other utensils, ornaments, or the like, made of baked clay. See Crockery, Pottery, Stoneware, and Porcelain.

Earth" flax` (?). (Min.) A variety of asbestus. See Amianthus.

Earth"fork` (?), n. A pronged fork for turning up the earth.

Earth"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being earthy, or of containing earth; hence, grossness.

Earth"li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being earthly; worldliness; grossness; perishableness.

Earth"ling (?), n. [Earth + - ling.] An inhabitant of the earth; a mortal.

Earthlings oft her deemed a deity.

Drummond.

Earth"ly, a. 1. Pertaining to the earth; belonging to this world, or to man's existence on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal; worldly; as, earthly joys; earthly flowers; earthly praise.

This earthly load
Of death, called life.

Milton.

Whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Phil. iii. 19.

2. Of all things on earth; possible; conceivable.

What earthly benefit can be the result?

Pope.

3. Made of earth; earthy. [Obs.] Holland.

Syn. -- Gross; material; sordid; mean; base; vile; low; unsubstantial; temporary; corrupt; groveling.

Earth"ly, adv. In the manner of the earth or its people; worldly.

Took counsel from his guiding eyes
To make this wisdom earthly wise.

Emerson.

Earth"ly-mind`ed (?), a. Having a mind devoted to earthly things; worldly-minded; -- opposed to spiritual-minded. -- Earth"ly-mind`ed*ness, n.

Earth"mad` (?), n. [Earth + mad an earthworm.] (Zoöl.) The earthworm. [Obs.]

The earthmads and all the sorts of worms . . . are without eyes.

Holland.

Earth"nut` (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to various roots, tubers, or pods grown under or on the ground; as to: (a) The esculent tubers of the umbelliferous plants Bunium flexuosum and Carum Bulbocastanum. (b) The peanut. See Peanut.

Earth"pea` (?), n. (Bot.) A species of pea (Amphicarpæa monoica). It is a climbing leguminous plant, with hairy underground pods.

Earth"quake` (?), n. A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; -- called also earthdin, earthquave, and earthshock.

Earthquake alarm, a bell signal constructed to operate on the theory that a few seconds before the occurrence of an earthquake the magnet temporarily loses its power.

Earth"quake`, a. Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; startling.

The earthquake voice of victory.

Byron.

Earth"quave` (?), n. An earthquake.

Earth" shine` (?). See Earth light, under Earth.

Earth"shock` (?), n. An earthquake.

Earth"star` (?), n. (Bot.) A curious fungus of the genus Geaster, in which the outer coating splits into the shape of a star, and the inner one forms a ball containing the dustlike spores.

Earth"-tongue` (?), n. (Bot.) A fungus of the genus Geoglossum.

{ Earth"ward (?), Earth"wards (&?;), } adv. Toward the earth; -- opposed to heavenward or skyward.

Earth"work` (?), n. 1. (Mil.) Any construction, whether a temporary breastwork or permanent fortification, for attack or defense, the material of which is chiefly earth.

2. (Engin.) (a) The operation connected with excavations and embankments of earth in preparing foundations of buildings, in constructing canals, railroads, etc. (b) An embankment or construction made of earth.

Earth"worm` (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) Any worm of the genus Lumbricus and allied genera, found in damp soil. One of the largest and most abundant species in Europe and America is L. terrestris; many others are known; -- called also angleworm and dewworm.

2. A mean, sordid person; a niggard. Norris.

Earth"y (?), a. 1. Consisting of, or resembling, earth; terrene; earthlike; as, earthy matter.

How pale she looks,
And of an earthy cold!

Shak.

All over earthy, like a piece of earth.

Tennyson.

2. Of or pertaining to the earth or to, this world; earthly; terrestrial; carnal. [R.] "Their earthy charge." Milton.

The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy.

1 Cor. xv. 47, 48 (Rev. Ver. )

Earthy spirits black and envious are.

Dryden.

3. Gross; low; unrefined. "Her earthy and abhorred commands." Shak.

4. (Min.) Without luster, or dull and roughish to the touch; as, an earthy fracture.

Ear"wax` (?), n. (Anat.) See Cerumen.

Ear"wig` (?), n. [AS. eárwicga; eáre ear + wicga beetle, worm: cf. Prov. E. erri-wiggle.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any insect of the genus Forticula and related genera, belonging to the order Euplexoptera.

2. (Zoöl.) In America, any small chilopodous myriapod, esp. of the genus Geophilus.

&fist; Both insects are so called from the supposition that they creep into the human ear.

3. A whisperer of insinuations; a secret counselor. Johnson.

Ear"wig` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earwigged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Earwigging (?).] To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered insinuations or private talk. "No longer was he earwigged by the Lord Cravens." Lord Campbell.

Ear"wit`ness (?), n. A witness by means of his ears; one who is within hearing and does hear; a hearer. Fuller.

Ease (?), n. [OE. ese, eise, F. aise; akin to Pr. ais, aise, OIt. asio, It. agio; of uncertain origin; cf. L. ansa handle, occasion, opportunity. Cf. Agio, Disease.] 1. Satisfaction; pleasure; hence, accommodation; entertainment. [Obs.]

They him besought
Of harbor and or ease as for hire penny.

Chaucer.

2. Freedom from anything that pains or troubles; as: (a) Relief from labor or effort; rest; quiet; relaxation; as, ease of body.

Usefulness comes by labor, wit by ease.

Herbert.

Give yourself ease from the fatigue of watching.

Swift.

(b) Freedom from care, solicitude, or anything that annoys or disquiets; tranquillity; peace; comfort; security; as, ease of mind.

Among these nations shalt thou find no ease.

Deut. xxviii. 65.

Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Luke xii. 19.

(c) Freedom from constraint, formality, difficulty, embarrassment, etc.; facility; liberty; naturalness; -- said of manner, style, etc.; as, ease of style, of behavior, of address.

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.

Pope.

Whate'er he did was done with so much ease,
In him alone 't was natural to please.

Dryden.

At ease, free from pain, trouble, or anxiety. "His soul shall dwell at ease." Ps. xxv. 12. -- Chapel of ease. See under Chapel. -- Ill at ease, not at ease, disquieted; suffering; anxious. -- To stand at ease (Mil.), to stand in a comfortable attitude in one's place in the ranks. -- With ease, easily; without much effort.

Syn. -- Rest; quiet; repose; comfortableness; tranquillity; facility; easiness; readiness.

Ease (ēz), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Eased (ēzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Easing.] [OE. esen, eisen, OF. aisier. See Ease, n.] 1. To free from anything that pains, disquiets, or oppresses; to relieve from toil or care; to give rest, repose, or tranquillity to; -- often with of; as, to ease of pain; to ease the body or mind.

Eased [from] the putting off
These troublesome disguises which we wear.

Milton.

Sing, and I 'll ease thy shoulders of thy load.

Dryden.

2. To render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to alleviate.

My couch shall ease my complaint.

Job vii. 13.

3. To release from pressure or restraint; to move gently; to lift slightly; to shift a little; as, to ease a bar or nut in machinery.

4. To entertain; to furnish with accommodations. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To ease off, To ease away (Naut.), to slacken a rope gradually. -- To ease a ship (Naut.), to put the helm hard, or regulate the sail, to prevent pitching when closehauled. -- To ease the helm (Naut.), to put the helm more nearly amidships, to lessen the effect on the ship, or the strain on the wheel rope. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Syn. -- To relieve; disburden; quiet; calm; tranquilize; assuage; alleviate; allay; mitigate; appease; pacify.

Ease"ful (?), a. Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; comfortable; restful. Shak. -- Ease"ful*ly, adv. -- Ease"ful*ness, n.

Ea"sel (?), n. [D. ezel ass, donkey, hence, easel, or G. esel; akin to E. ass. See Ass.] A frame (commonly) of wood serving to hold a canvas upright, or nearly upright, for the painter's convenience or for exhibition.

Easel picture, Easel piece, a painting of moderate size such as is made while resting on an easel, as distinguished from a painting on a wall or ceiling.

Ease"less (?), a. Without ease. Donne.

Ease"ment (?), n. [OF. aisement. See Ease, n.] 1. That which gives ease, relief, or assistance; convenience; accommodation.

In need of every kind of relief and easement.

Burke.

2. (Law) A liberty, privilege, or advantage, which one proprietor has in the estate of another proprietor, distinct from the ownership of the soil, as a way, water course, etc. It is a species of what the civil law calls servitude. Kent.

3. (Arch.) A curved member instead of an abrupt change of direction, as in a baseboard, hand rail, etc.

Eas"i*ly (?), adv. [From Easy.] 1. With ease; without difficulty or much effort; as, this task may be easily performed; that event might have been easily foreseen.

2. Without pain, anxiety, or disturbance; as, to pass life well and easily. Sir W. Temple.

3. Readily; without reluctance; willingly.

Not soon provoked, she easily forgives.

Prior.

4. Smoothly; quietly; gently; gracefully; without &?;umult or discord.

5. Without shaking or jolting; commodiously; as, a carriage moves easily.

Eas"i*ness (?), n. 1. The state or condition of being easy; freedom from distress; rest.

2. Freedom from difficulty; ease; as the easiness of a task.

3. Freedom from emotion; compliance; disposition to yield without opposition; unconcernedness.

Give to him, and he shall but laugh at your easiness.

South.

4. Freedom from effort, constraint, or formality; -- said of style, manner, etc.

With painful care, but seeming easiness.

Roscommon.

5. Freedom from jolting, jerking, or straining.

East (ēst), n. [OE. est, east, AS. eást; akin to D. oost, oosten, OHG. ōstan, G. ost, osten, Icel. austr, Sw. ost, Dan. öst, östen, Lith. auszra dawn, L. aurora (for ausosa), Gr. 'hw`s, "e`os, 'a`yws, Skr. ushas; cf. Skr. ush to burn, L. urere. √149, 288. Cf. Aurora, Easter, Sterling.] 1. The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at the equinox, or the corresponding point on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of the compass which is in a direction at right angles to that of north and south, and which is toward the right hand of one who faces the north; the point directly opposite to the west.

The east began kindle.

E. Everett.

2. The eastern parts of the earth; the regions or countries which lie east of Europe; the orient. In this indefinite sense, the word is applied to Asia Minor, Syria, Chaldea, Persia, India, China, etc.; as, the riches of the East; the diamonds and pearls of the East; the kings of the East.

The gorgeous East, with richest hand,
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.

Milton.

3. (U. S. Hist. and Geog.) Formerly, the part of the United States east of the Alleghany Mountains, esp. the Eastern, or New England, States; now, commonly, the whole region east of the Mississippi River, esp. that which is north of Maryland and the Ohio River; -- usually with the definite article; as, the commerce of the East is not independent of the agriculture of the West.

East by north, East by south, according to the notation of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 11¼° to the north or south, respectively, of the point due east. -- East-northeast, East-southeast, that which lies 22½° to the north or south of east, or half way between east and northeast or southeast, respectively. See Illust. of Compass.

East (?), a. Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun rises when in the equinoctial; as, the east gate; the east border; the east side; the east wind is a wind that blows from the east.

East, adv. Eastward.

East, v. i. To move toward the east; to veer from the north or south toward the east; to orientate.

Eas"ter (?), n. [AS. eáster, eástran, paschal feast, Easter; akin to G. ostern; fr. AS. Eástre, a goddess of light or spring, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated in April; whence this month was called in AS. Eástermōnað. From the root of E. east. See East.] 1. An annual church festival commemorating Christ's resurrection, and occurring on Sunday, the second day after Good Friday. It corresponds to the pascha or passover of the Jews, and most nations still give it this name under the various forms of pascha, pasque, pâque, or pask.

2. The day on which the festival is observed; Easter day.

&fist; Easter is used either adjectively or as the first element of a compound; as, Easter day or Easter-day, Easter Sunday, Easter week, Easter gifts.

Sundays by thee more glorious break,
An Easter day in every week.

Keble.

&fist; Easter day, on which the rest of the movable feasts depend, is always the first Sunday after the fourteenth day of the calendar moon which (fourteenth day) falls on, or next after, the 21st of March, according to the rules laid down for the construction of the calendar; so that if the fourteenth day happen on a Sunday, Easter day is the Sunday after. Eng. Cyc.

Easter dues (Ch. of Eng.), money due to the clergy at Easter, formerly paid in communication of the tithe for personal labor and subject to exaction. For Easter dues, Easter offerings, voluntary gifts, have been substituted. -- Easter egg. (a) A painted or colored egg used as a present at Easter. (b) An imitation of an egg, in sugar or some fine material, sometimes made to serve as a box for jewelry or the like, used as an Easter present.

East"er (?), v. i. (Naut.) To veer to the east; -- said of the wind. Russell.

East"er*ling (?), n. [Cf. Sterling.] 1. A native of a country eastward of another; -- used, by the English, of traders or others from the coasts of the Baltic.

Merchants of Norway, Denmark, . . . called . . . Easterlings because they lie east in respect of us.

Holinshed.

2. A piece of money coined in the east by Richard II. of England. Crabb.

3. (Zoöl.) The smew.

East"er*ling, a. Relating to the money of the Easterlings, or Baltic traders. See Sterling.

East"er*ly, a. 1. Coming from the east; as, it was easterly wind.

2. Situated, directed, or moving toward the east; as, the easterly side of a lake; an easterly course or voyage.

East"er*ly, adv. Toward, or in the direction of, the east.

East"ern (?), a. [AS. eástern.] 1. Situated or dwelling in the east; oriental; as, an eastern gate; Eastern countries.

Eastern churches first did Christ embrace.

Stirling.

2. Going toward the east, or in the direction of east; as, an eastern voyage.

Eastern Church. See Greek Church, under Greek.

East"ern*most` (?), a. Most eastern.

East" In"di*an (?; see Indian). Belonging to, or relating to, the East Indies. -- n. A native of, or a dweller in, the East Indies.

East"ing, n. (Naut. & Surv.) The distance measured toward the east between two meridians drawn through the extremities of a course; distance of departure eastward made by a vessel.

East`-in"su*lar (?), a. Relating to the Eastern Islands; East Indian. [R.] Ogilvie.

{ East"ward (?), East"wards (?), } adv. Toward the east; in the direction of east from some point or place; as, New Haven lies eastward from New York.

Eas"y (ēz"&ybreve;), a. [Compar. Easier (-&ibreve;*&etilde;r); superl. Easiest.] [OF. aisié, F. aisé, prop. p. p. of OF. aisier. See Ease, v. t.] 1. At ease; free from pain, trouble, or constraint; as: (a) Free from pain, distress, toil, exertion, and the like; quiet; as, the patient is easy. (b) Free from care, responsibility, discontent, and the like; not anxious; tranquil; as, an easy mind. (c) Free from constraint, harshness, or formality; unconstrained; smooth; as, easy manners; an easy style. "The easy vigor of a line." Pope.

2. Not causing, or attended with, pain or disquiet, or much exertion; affording ease or rest; as, an easy carriage; a ship having an easy motion; easy movements, as in dancing. "Easy ways to die." Shak.

3. Not difficult; requiring little labor or effort; slight; inconsiderable; as, an easy task; an easy victory.

It were an easy leap.

Shak.

4. Causing ease; giving freedom from care or labor; furnishing comfort; commodious; as, easy circumstances; an easy chair or cushion.

5. Not making resistance or showing unwillingness; tractable; yielding; complying; ready.

He gained their easy hearts.

Dryden.

He is too tyrannical to be an easy monarch.

Sir W. Scott.

6. Moderate; sparing; frugal. [Obs.] Chaucer.

7. (Com.) Not straitened as to money matters; as, the market is easy; -- opposed to tight.

Honors are easy (Card Playing), said when each side has an equal number of honors, in which case they are not counted as points.

Syn. -- Quiet; comfortable; manageable; tranquil; calm; facile; unconcerned.

Eas"y-chair` (ēz"&ybreve;*châr`), n. An armchair for ease or repose. "Laugh . . . in Rabelais' easy-chair." Pope.

Eas"y-go`ing (-gō`&ibreve;ng), a. Moving easily; hence, mild-tempered; ease-loving; inactive.

Eat (ēt), v. t. [imp. Ate (āt; 277), Obsolescent & Colloq. Eat (&ebreve;t); p. p. Eaten (ēt"'n), Obs. or Colloq. Eat (&ebreve;t); p. pr. & vb. n. Eating.] [OE. eten, AS. etan; akin to OS. etan, OFries. eta, D. eten, OHG. ezzan, G. essen, Icel. eta, Sw. äta, Dan. æde, Goth. itan, Ir. & Gael. ith, W. ysu, L. edere, Gr. 'e`dein, Skr. ad. √6. Cf. Etch, Fret to rub, Edible.] 1. To chew and swallow as food; to devour; -- said especially of food not liquid; as, to eat bread. "To eat grass as oxen." Dan. iv. 25.

They . . . ate the sacrifices of the dead.

Ps. cvi. 28.

The lean . . . did eat up the first seven fat kine.

Gen. xli. 20.

The lion had not eaten the carcass.

1 Kings xiii. 28.

With stories told of many a feat,
How fairy Mab the junkets eat.

Milton.

The island princes overbold
Have eat our substance.

Tennyson.

His wretched estate is eaten up with mortgages.

Thackeray.

2. To corrode, as metal, by rust; to consume the flesh, as a cancer; to waste or wear away; to destroy gradually; to cause to disappear.

To eat humble pie. See under Humble. -- To eat of (partitive use). "Eat of the bread that can not waste." Keble. -- To eat one's words, to retract what one has said. (See the Citation under Blurt.) -- To eat out, to consume completely. "Eat out the heart and comfort of it." Tillotson. -- To eat the wind out of a vessel (Naut.), to gain slowly to windward of her.

Syn. -- To consume; devour; gnaw; corrode.

Eat, v. i. 1. To take food; to feed; especially, to take solid, in distinction from liquid, food; to board.

He did eat continually at the king's table.

2 Sam. ix. 13.

2. To taste or relish; as, it eats like tender beef.

3. To make one's way slowly.

To eat, To eat in or into, to make way by corrosion; to gnaw; to consume. "A sword laid by, which eats into itself." Byron. -- To eat to windward (Naut.), to keep the course when closehauled with but little steering; -- said of a vessel.

Eat"a*ble (-&adot;*b'l), a. Capable of being eaten; fit to be eaten; proper for food; esculent; edible. -- n. Something fit to be eaten.

Eat"age (-&asl;j; 48), n. Eatable growth of grass for horses and cattle, esp. that of aftermath.

Eat"er (-&etilde;r), n. One who, or that which, eats.

Eath (ēth), a. & adv. [AS. eáðe.] Easy or easily. [Obs.] "Eath to move with plaints." Fairfax.

Eat"ing (?), n. 1. The act of tasking food; the act of consuming or corroding.

2. Something fit to be eaten; food; as, a peach is good eating. [Colloq.]

Eating house, a house where cooked provisions are sold, to be eaten on the premises.

||Eau` de Co*logne" (?). [F. eau water (L. aqua) + de of + Cologne.] Same as Cologne.

||Eau` de vie" (?). [F., water of life; eau (L. aqua) water + de of + vie (L. vita) life.] French name for brandy. Cf. Aqua vitæ, under Aqua. Bescherelle.

Eave"drop` (?), n. A drop from the eaves; eavesdrop. [R.] Tennyson.

Eaves (?), n. pl. [OE. evese, pl. eveses, AS. efese eaves, brim, brink; akin to OHG. obisa, opasa, porch, hall, MHG. obse eaves, Icel. ups, Goth. ubizwa porch; cf. Icel. upsar- dropi, OSw. opsä-drup water dropping from the eaves. Probably from the root of E. over. The s of eaves is in English regarded as a plural ending, though not so in Saxon. See Over, and cf. Eavesdrop.] 1. (Arch.) The edges or lower borders of the roof of a building, which overhang the walls, and cast off the water that falls on the roof.

2. Brow; ridge. [Obs.] "Eaves of the hill." Wyclif.

3. Eyelids or eyelashes.

And closing eaves of wearied eyes.

Tennyson.

Eaves board (Arch.), an arris fillet, or a thick board with a feather edge, nailed across the rafters at the eaves of a building, to raise the lower course of slates a little, or to receive the lowest course of tiles; -- called also eaves catch and eaves lath. -- Eaves channel, Eaves gutter, Eaves trough. Same as Gutter, 1. -- Eaves molding (Arch.), a molding immediately below the eaves, acting as a cornice or part of a cornice. -- Eaves swallow (Zoöl.). (a) The cliff swallow; -- so called from its habit of building retort-shaped nests of mud under the eaves of buildings. See Cliff swallow, under Cliff. (b) The European swallow.

Eaves"drop` (ēvz"dr&obreve;p`), v. i. [Eaves + drop.] To stand under the eaves, near a window or at the door, of a house, to listen and learn what is said within doors; hence, to listen secretly to what is said in private.

To eavesdrop in disguises.

Milton.

Eaves"drop`, n. The water which falls in drops from the eaves of a house.

Eaves"drop`per (?), n. One who stands under the eaves, or near the window or door of a house, to listen; hence, a secret listener.

Eaves"drop`ping (?), n. (Law) The habit of lurking about dwelling houses, and other places where persons meet for private intercourse, secretly listening to what is said, and then tattling it abroad. The offense is indictable at common law. Wharton.

Ebb (&ebreve;b), n. (Zoöl.) The European bunting.

Ebb, n. [AS. ebba; akin to Fries. ebba, D. eb, ebbe, Dan. & G. ebbe, Sw. ebb, cf. Goth. ibuks backward; prob. akin to E. even.] 1. The reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal wave toward the sea; -- opposed to flood; as, the boats will go out on the ebb.

Thou shoreless flood which in thy ebb and flow
Claspest the limits of morality!

Shelley.

2. The state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a worse state; low state or condition; decline; decay. "Our ebb of life." Roscommon.

Painting was then at its lowest ebb.

Dryden.

Ebb and flow, the alternate ebb and flood of the tide; often used figuratively.

This alternation between unhealthy activity and depression, this ebb and flow of the industrial.

A. T. Hadley.

Ebb (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ebbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ebbing.] [AS. ebbian; akin to D. & G. ebben, Dan. ebbe. See 2d Ebb.] 1. To flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean; -- opposed to flow.

That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow.

Pope.

2. To return or fall back from a better to a worse state; to decline; to decay; to recede.

The hours of life ebb fast.

Blackmore.

Syn. -- To recede; retire; withdraw; decay; decrease; wane; sink; lower.

Ebb, v. t. To cause to flow back. [Obs.] Ford.

Ebb, a. Receding; going out; falling; shallow; low.

The water there is otherwise very low and ebb.

Holland.

Ebb" tide` (?). The reflux of tide water; the retiring tide; -- opposed to flood tide.

E"bi*o*nite (?), n. [Heb. ebyonīm poor people.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of heretics, in the first centuries of the church, whose doctrine was a mixture of Judaism and Christianity. They denied the divinity of Christ, regarding him as an inspired messenger, and rejected much of the New Testament.

E"bi*o*ni`tism (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) The system or doctrine of the Ebionites.

Eb"la*nin (?), n. (Chem.) See Pyroxanthin.

Eb"lis (?), n. [Ar. iblis.] (Moham. Myth.) The prince of the evil spirits; Satan. [Written also Eblees.]

Eb"on (?), a. 1. Consisting of ebony.

2. Like ebony, especially in color; black; dark.

Night, sable goddess! from her ebon throne.

Young.

Eb"on, n. Ebony. [Poetic] "Framed of ebon and ivory." Sir W. Scott.

Eb"on*ist (?), n. One who works in ebony.

Eb"on*ite (?), n. (Chem.) A hard, black variety of vulcanite. It may be cut and polished, and is used for many small articles, as combs and buttons, and for insulating material in electric apparatus.

Eb"on*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ebonized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ebonizing.] To make black, or stain black, in imitation of ebony; as, to ebonize wood.

Eb"on*y (?), n.; pl. Ebonies (#). [F. ébène, L. ebenus, fr. Gr. &?;; prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. hobnīm, pl. Cf. Ebon.] A hard, heavy, and durable wood, which admits of a fine polish or gloss. The usual color is black, but it also occurs red or green.

&fist; The finest black ebony is the heartwood of Diospyros reticulata, of the Mauritius. Other species of the same genus (D. Ebenum, Melanoxylon, etc.), furnish the ebony of the East Indies and Ceylon. The West Indian green ebony is from a leguminous tree (Brya Ebenus), and from the Excæcaria glandulosa.

Eb"on*y, a. Made of ebony, or resembling ebony; black; as, an ebony countenance.

This ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling.

Poe.

E*brac"te*ate (?), a. [Pref. e- + bracteate.] (Bot.) Without bracts.

E*brac"te*o*late (?), a. [Pref. e- + bracteolate.] (Bot.) Without bracteoles, or little bracts; -- said of a pedicel or flower stalk.

E*brau"ke (?), a. [L. Hebraicus: cf. F. Hébraïque.] Hebrew. [Obs.] Chaucer.

E*bri"e*ty (?), n.; pl. Ebrieties (#). [L. ebrietas, from. ebrius intoxicated: cf. F. ébriéte. Cf. So&?;er.] Drunkenness; intoxication by spirituous liquors; inebriety. "Ruinous ebriety." Cowper.

E*bril"lade (&esl;*br&ibreve;l"lăd), n. [F.] (Man.) A bridle check; a jerk of one rein, given to a horse when he refuses to turn.

E`bri*os"i*ty (ē`br&ibreve;*&obreve;s"&ibreve;*t&ybreve;), n. [L. ebriositas, from ebriousus given to drinking, fr. ebrius. See Ebriety.] Addiction to drink; habitual drunkenness.

E"bri*ous (ē`br&ibreve;*ŭs), a. [L. ebrius.] Inclined to drink to excess; intoxicated; tipsy. [R.] M. Collins.

E*bul"li*ate (?), v. i. To boil or bubble up. [Obs.] Prynne.

{ E*bul"lience (?; 106), E*bul"lien*cy (?), } n. A boiling up or over; effervescence. Cudworth.

E*bul"lient (?), a. [L. ebulliens, -entis, p. pr. of ebullire to boil up, bubble up; e out, from + bullire to boil. See 1st Boil.] Boiling up or over; hence, manifesting exhilaration or excitement, as of feeling; effervescing. "Ebullient with subtlety." De Quincey.

The ebullient enthusiasm of the French.

Carlyle.

E*bul"li*o*scope (?), n. [L. ebullire to boil up + -scope.] (Phys. Chem.) An instrument for observing the boiling point of liquids, especially for determining the alcoholic strength of a mixture by the temperature at which it boils.

Eb`ul*li"tion (?), n. [F. ébullition, L. ebullitio, fr. ebullire. See Ebullient.] 1. A boiling or bubbling up of a liquid; the motion produced in a liquid by its rapid conversion into vapor.

2. Effervescence occasioned by fermentation or by any other process which causes the liberation of a gas or an aëriform fluid, as in the mixture of an acid with a carbonated alkali. [Formerly written bullition.]

3. A sudden burst or violent display; an outburst; as, an ebullition of anger or ill temper.

Eb"ur*in (?), n. A composition of dust of ivory or of bone with a cement; -- used for imitations of valuable stones and in making moldings, seals, etc. Knight.

E`bur*na"tion (?), n. [L. eburnus of ivory, fr. ebur ivory: cf. F. éburnation. See Ivory.] (Med.) A condition of bone cartilage occurring in certain diseases of these tissues, in which they acquire an unnatural density, and come to resemble ivory.

E*bur"ne*an (?), a. [L. eburneus, fr. ebur ivory. See Ivory.] Made of or relating to ivory.

E*bur`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. eburnus of ivory (fr. ebur ivory) + facere to make.] The conversion of certain substances into others which have the appearance or characteristics of ivory.

Eb"ur*nine (?), a. Of or pertaining to ivory. "[She] read from tablet eburnine." Sir W. Scott.

||E*car"di*nes (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. e out, without + cardo a hinge.] (Zoöl.) An order of Brachiopoda; the Lyopomata. See Brachiopoda.

||É`car`té" (?), n. [F., prop. fr. écarter to reject, discard.] A game at cards, played usually by two persons, in which the players may discard any or all of the cards dealt and receive others from the pack.

E*cau"date (?), a. [Pref. e- + caudate.] 1. (Bot.) Without a tail or spur.

2. (Zoöl.) Tailless.

||Ec*bal"li*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;. See Ecbole.] (Bot.) A genus of cucurbitaceous plants consisting of the single species Ecballium agreste (or Elaterium), the squirting cucumber. Its fruit, when ripe, bursts and violently ejects its seeds, together with a mucilaginous juice, from which elaterium, a powerful cathartic medicine, is prepared.

||Ec"ba*sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; a going out, issue, or event; &?; out + &?; to go.] (Rhet.) A figure in which the orator treats of things according to their events consequences.

Ec*bat"ic (?), a. [See Ecbasis.] (Gram.) Denoting a mere result or consequence, as distinguished from telic, which denotes intention or purpose; thus the phrase &?; &?;, if rendered "so that it was fulfilled," is ecbatic; if rendered "in order that it might be." etc., is telic.

||Ec"bo*le (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a throwing out, a digression, fr. &?; to throw out; &?; out of + &?; to throw.] (Rhet.) A digression in which a person is introduced speaking his own words.

Ec*bol"ic (?), n. [See Ecbole.] (Med.) A drug, as ergot, which by exciting uterine contractions promotes the expulsion of the contents of the uterus.

Ec"bo*line (?; 104), n. [Gr. &?; a throwing out; &?; out + &?; to throw.] (Chem.) An alkaloid constituting the active principle of ergot; -- so named from its power of producing abortion.

Ec`ca*le*o"bi*on (?), n. [Gr. &?; to call out (&?; out of + &?; to call) + &?; life.] A contrivance for hatching eggs by artificial heat.

||Ec"ce ho"mo (?). [L., behold the man. See John xix. 5.] (Paint.) A picture which represents the Savior as given up to the people by Pilate, and wearing a crown of thorns.

Ec*cen"tric (?), a. [F. excentrique, formerly also spelled eccentrique, fr. LL. eccentros out of the center, eccentric, Gr. &?;; &?; out of + &?; center. See Ex-, and Center, and cf. Excentral.] 1. Deviating or departing from the center, or from the line of a circle; as, an eccentric or elliptical orbit; pertaining to deviation from the center or from true circular motion.

2. Not having the same center; -- said of circles, ellipses, spheres, etc., which, though coinciding, either in whole or in part, as to area or volume, have not the same center; -- opposed to concentric.

3. (Mach.) Pertaining to an eccentric; as, the eccentric rod in a steam engine.

4. Not coincident as to motive or end.

His own ends, which must needs be often eccentric to those of his master.

Bacon.

5. Deviating from stated methods, usual practice, or established forms or laws; deviating from an appointed sphere or way; departing from the usual course; irregular; anomalous; odd; as, eccentric conduct. "This brave and eccentric young man." Macaulay.

He shines eccentric, like a comet's blaze.

Savage.

Eccentric anomaly. (Astron.) See Anomaly. -- Eccentric chuck (Mach.), a lathe chuck so constructed that the work held by it may be altered as to its center of motion, so as to produce combinations of eccentric combinations of eccentric circles. -- Eccentric gear. (Mach.) (a) The whole apparatus, strap, and other parts, by which the motion of an eccentric is transmitted, as in the steam engine. (b) A cogwheel set to turn about an eccentric axis used to give variable rotation. -- Eccentric hook or gab, a hook-shaped journal box on the end of an eccentric rod, opposite the strap. -- Eccentric rod, the rod that connects as eccentric strap with any part to be acted upon by the eccentric. -- Eccentric sheave, or Eccentric pulley, an eccentric. -- Eccentric strap, the ring, operating as a journal box, that encircles and receives motion from an eccentric; -- called also eccentric hoop.

Syn. -- Irregular; anomalous; singular; odd; peculiar; erratic; idiosyncratic; strange; whimsical.

Ec*cen"tric (?), n. 1. A circle not having the same center as another contained in some measure within the first.

2. One who, or that which, deviates from regularity; an anomalous or irregular person or thing.

3. (Astron.) (a) In the Ptolemaic system, the supposed circular orbit of a planet about the earth, but with the earth not in its center. (b) A circle described about the center of an elliptical orbit, with half the major axis for radius. Hutton.

4. (Mach.) A disk or wheel so arranged upon a shaft that the center of the wheel and that of the shaft do not coincide. It is used for operating valves in steam engines, and for other purposes. The motion derived is precisely that of a crank having the same throw.

Back eccentric, the eccentric that reverses or backs the valve gear and the engine. -- Fore eccentric, the eccentric that imparts a forward motion to the valve gear and the engine.

Ec*cen"tric*al (?), a. See Eccentric.

Ec*cen"tric*al*ly, adv. In an eccentric manner.

Drove eccentrically here and there.

Lew Wallace.

Ec`cen*tric"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Eccentricities (#). [Cf. F. excentricité.] 1. The state of being eccentric; deviation from the customary line of conduct; oddity.

2. (Math.) The ratio of the distance between the center and the focus of an ellipse or hyperbola to its semi-transverse axis.

3. (Astron.) The ratio of the distance of the center of the orbit of a heavenly body from the center of the body round which it revolves to the semi-transverse axis of the orbit.

4. (Mech.) The distance of the center of figure of a body, as of an eccentric, from an axis about which it turns; the throw.

Ec"chy*mose (?), v. t. (Med.) To discolor by the production of an ecchymosis, or effusion of blood, beneath the skin; -- chiefly used in the passive form; as, the parts were much ecchymosed.

||Ec`chy*mo"sis (?), n.; pl. Ecchymoses (&?;). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to extravasate; &?; out of + &?; to pour.] (Med.) A livid or black and blue spot, produced by the extravasation or effusion of blood into the areolar tissue from a contusion.

Ec`chy*mot"ic (?), a. Pertaining to ecchymosis.

Ec"cle (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European green woodpecker; -- also called ecall, eaquall, yaffle. [Prov. Eng.]

||Ec*cle"si*a (?), n.; pl. Ecclesiæ (&?;). [L., fr. Gr. &?;.] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) The public legislative assembly of the Athenians.

2. (Eccl.) A church, either as a body or as a building.

Ec*cle"si*al (?), a. Ecclesiastical. [Obs.] Milton.

Ec*cle"si*arch (?), n. [LL. ecclesiarcha, fr. Gr. &?; church + &?; to rule: cf. F. ecclésiarque.] An official of the Eastern Church, resembling a sacrist in the Western Church.

Ec*cle"si*ast (?), n. 1. An ecclesiastic. Chaucer.

2. The Apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus. [Obs.]

Ec*cle`si*as"tes (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; a preacher. See Ecclesiastic, a.] One of the canonical books of the Old Testament.

Ec*cle`si*as"tic (?; 277), a. [L. ecclesiasticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; an assembly of citizens called out by the crier; also, the church, fr. &?; called out, fr. &?; to call out; &?; out + &?; to call. See Ex-, and Hale, v. t., Haul.] Of or pertaining to the church. See Ecclesiastical. "Ecclesiastic government." Swift.

Ec*cle`si*as"tic, n. A person in holy orders, or consecrated to the service of the church and the ministry of religion; a clergyman; a priest.

From a humble ecclesiastic, he was subsequently preferred to the highest dignities of the church.

Prescott.

Ec*cle`si*as"tic*al (?), a. [See Ecclesiastical, a.] Of or pertaining to the church; relating to the organization or government of the church; not secular; as, ecclesiastical affairs or history; ecclesiastical courts.

Every circumstance of ecclesiastical order and discipline was an abomination.

Cowper.

Ecclesiastical commissioners for England, a permanent commission established by Parliament in 1836, to consider and report upon the affairs of the Established Church. -- Ecclesiastical courts, courts for maintaining the discipline of the Established Church; -- called also Christian courts. [Eng.] -- Ecclesiastical law, a combination of civil and canon law as administered in ecclesiastical courts. [Eng.] -- Ecclesiastical modes (Mus.), the church modes, or the scales anciently used. -- Ecclesiastical States, the territory formerly subject to the Pope of Rome as its temporal ruler; -- called also States of the Church.

Ec*cle`si*as"tic*al*ly (?), adv. In an ecclesiastical manner; according ecclesiastical rules.

Ec*cle`si*as"ti*cism (?), n. Strong attachment to ecclesiastical usages, forms, etc.

Ec*cle`si*as"ti*cus (?), n. [L.] A book of the Apocrypha.

Ec*cle`si*o*log"ic*al (?), a. Belonging to ecclesiology.

Ec*cle`si*ol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in ecclesiology.

Ec*cle`si*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Ecclesia + -logy.] The science or theory of church building and decoration.

Ec*crit"ic (?), n. [Gr. &?; secretive, fr. &?; to choose out.] (Med.) A remedy which promotes discharges, as an emetic, or a cathartic.

Ec"der*on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; out + &?; skin.] (Anat.) See Ecteron. -- Ec`der*on"ic (#), a.

||Ec"dy*sis (?), n.; pl. Ecdyses (#). [NL., fr. Gr. 'e`kdysis a getting out, fr. 'ekdy`ein, to put off; 'ek out + dy`ein to enter.] (Biol.) The act of shedding, or casting off, an outer cuticular layer, as in the case of serpents, lobsters, etc.; a coming out; as, the ecdysis of the pupa from its shell; exuviation.

Ec"go*nine (?; 104), n. [Gr. 'e`kgonos sprung from.] (Chem.) A colorless, crystalline, nitrogenous base, obtained by the decomposition of cocaine.

||É`chau`guette" (?), n. [F.] A small chamber or place of protection for a sentinel, usually in the form of a projecting turret, or the like. See Castle.

Ech"e (ēsh"e), a. or a. pron. Each. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ech"e*lon (&ebreve;sh"e*l&obreve;n), n. [F., fr. échelle ladder, fr. L. scala.] 1. (Mil.) An arrangement of a body of troops when its divisions are drawn up in parallel lines each to the right or the left of the one in advance of it, like the steps of a ladder in position for climbing. Also used adjectively; as, echelon distance. Upton (Tactics).

2. (Naval) An arrangement of a fleet in a wedge or V formation. Encyc. Dict.

Echelon lens (Optics), a large lens constructed in several parts or layers, extending in a succession of annular rings beyond the central lens; -- used in lighthouses.

Ech"e*lon (?), v. t. (Mil.) To place in echelon; to station divisions of troops in echelon.

Ech"e*lon, v. i. To take position in echelon.

Change direction to the left, echelon by battalion from the right.

Upton (Tactics).

||E*chid"na (&esl;*k&ibreve;d"n&adot;), n. [L., a viper, adder, Gr. 'e`chidna.] 1. (Gr. Myth.) A monster, half maid and half serpent.

2. (Zoöl.) A genus of Monotremata found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They are toothless and covered with spines; -- called also porcupine ant-eater, and Australian ant-eater.

E*chid"nine (?; 104), n. [See Echidna.] (Chem.) The clear, viscid fluid secreted by the poison glands of certain serpents; also, a nitrogenous base contained in this, and supposed to be the active poisonous principle of the virus. Brande & C.

{ Ech"i*nate (?), Ech"i*na`ted (?), } a. [L. echinatus. See Echinus.] Set with prickles; prickly, like a hedgehog; bristled; as, an echinated pericarp.

E*chi"nid (?), a. & n. (Zoöl.) Same as Echinoid.

E*chin"i*dan (?), n. [Cf. F. échinide.] (Zoöl.) One the Echinoidea.

E*chin"i*tal (?), a. Of, or like, an echinite.

Ech"i*nite (?), n. [Cf. F. échinite. See Echinus.] (Paleon.) A fossil echinoid.

||E*chi`no*coc"cus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; hedgehog, sea urchin + &?; grain, seed. So called because forming little granular bodies, each armed with hooklets and disposed upon the inner wall of the hydatid cysts.] (Zoöl.) A parasite of man and of many domestic and wild animals, forming compound cysts or tumors (called hydatid cysts) in various organs, but especially in the liver and lungs, which often cause death. It is the larval stage of the Tænia echinococcus, a small tapeworm peculiar to the dog.

E*chin"o*derm` (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Echinodermata.

E*chi`no*der"mal (?), a. (Zoöl.) Relating or belonging to the echinoderms.

||E*chi`no*der"ma*ta (&esl;*kī`n&osl;*d&etilde;r"m&adot;*t&adot;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'echi^nos hedgehog, sea urchin + de`rma, -atos, skin.] (Zoöl.) One of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom. By many writers it was formerly included in the Radiata. [Written also Echinoderma.]

&fist; The species usually have an exterior calcareous skeleton, or shell, made of many pieces, and often covered with spines, to which the name. They may be star-shaped, cylindrical, disk-shaped, or more or less spherical. The body consists of several similar parts (spheromeres) repeated symmetrically around a central axis, at one end of which the mouth is situated. They generally have suckers for locomotion. The group includes the following classes: Crinoidea, Asterioidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, and Holothurioidea. See these words in the Vocabulary, and also Ambulacrum.

E*chi`no*der"ma*tous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Relating to Echinodermata; echinodermal.

E*chi"noid (?), a. [Echinus + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Echinoidea. -- n. One of the Echinoidea.

||Ech`i*noi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Echinus, and -oid.] (Zoöl.) The class Echinodermata which includes the sea urchins. They have a calcareous shell, usually more or less spheroidal or disk-shaped, composed of many united plates, and covered with movable spines. See Spatangoid, Clypeastroid. [Written also Echinidea, and Echinoida.]

||E*chi`no*zo"a (&esl;*kī`n&osl;*zō"&adot;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'echi^nos an echinus + zw^,on an animal.] (Zoöl.) The Echinodermata.

E*chin"u*late (?), a. (Bot. & Zoöl.) Set with small spines or prickles.

||E*chi"nus (?), n.; pl. Echini (#). [L., a hedgehog, sea urchin, Gr. 'echi^nos.] 1. (Zoöl.) A hedgehog.

2. (Zoöl.) A genus of echinoderms, including the common edible sea urchin of Europe.

3. (Arch.) (a) The rounded molding forming the bell of the capital of the Grecian Doric style, which is of a peculiar elastic curve. See Entablature. (b) The quarter-round molding (ovolo) of the Roman Doric style. See Illust. of Column (c) A name sometimes given to the egg and anchor or egg and dart molding, because that ornament is often identified with the Roman Doric capital. The name probably alludes to the shape of the shell of the sea urchin.

||Ech`i*u*roi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. echiurus, the name of one genus (Gr. 'e`chis an adder + o'yra` tail) + -oid.] (Zoöl.) A division of Annelida which includes the genus Echiurus and allies. They are often classed among the Gephyrea, and called the armed Gephyreans.

Ech"o (&ebreve;k"&osl;), n.; pl. Echoes (&ebreve;k"ōz). [L. echo, Gr. 'hchw` echo, sound, akin to 'hchh`, 'h^chos, sound, noise; cf. Skr. vāç to sound, bellow; perh. akin to E. voice: cf. F. écho.] 1. A sound reflected from an opposing surface and repeated to the ear of a listener; repercussion of sound; repetition of a sound.

The babbling echo mocks the hounds.

Shak.

The woods shall answer, and the echo ring.

Pope.

2. Fig.: Sympathetic recognition; response; answer.

Fame is the echo of actions, resounding them.

Fuller.

Many kind, and sincere speeches found an echo in his heart.

R. L. Stevenson.

3. (a) (Myth. & Poetic) A wood or mountain nymph, regarded as repeating, and causing the reverberation of them.

Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv'st unseen
Within thy airy shell.

Milton.

(b) (Gr. Myth.) A nymph, the daughter of Air and Earth, who, for love of Narcissus, pined away until nothing was left of her but her voice.

Compelled me to awake the courteous Echo
To give me answer from her mossy couch.

Milton.

Echo organ (Mus.), a set organ pipes inclosed in a box so as to produce a soft, distant effect; -- generally superseded by the swell. -- Echo stop (Mus.), a stop upon a harpsichord contrived for producing the soft effect of distant sound. -- To applaud to the echo, to give loud and continuous applause. M. Arnold.

I would applaud thee to the very echo,
That should applaud again.

Shak.

Ech"o, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Echoed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Echoing. -- 3d pers. sing. pres. Echoes (&?;).] 1. To send back (a sound); to repeat in sound; to reverberate.

Those peals are echoed by the Trojan throng.

Dryden.

The wondrous sound
Is echoed on forever.

Keble.

2. To repeat with assent; to respond; to adopt.

They would have echoed the praises of the men whom they &?;nvied, and then have sent to the newspaper anonymous libels upon them.

Macaulay.

Ech"o, v. i. To give an echo; to resound; to be sounded back; as, the hall echoed with acclamations. "Echoing noise." Blackmore.

Ech"o*er (?), n. One who, or that which, echoes.

Ech"o*less, a. Without echo or response.

E*chom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, sound + -meter: cf. F. échomètre.] (Mus) A graduated scale for measuring the duration of sounds, and determining their different, and the relation of their intervals. J. J. Rousseau.

E*chom"e*try (?), n. [Cf. F. échométrie.] 1. The art of measuring the duration of sounds or echoes.

2. The art of constructing vaults to produce echoes.

{ Ech*on" (?), Ech*oon" (?) }, pron. Each one. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ech"o*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, sound + -scope.] (Med.) An instrument for intensifying sounds produced by percussion of the thorax. Knight.

||É`clair" (?), n. [F.] (Cookery) A kind of frosted cake, containing flavored cream.

E*clair"cise (?), v. t. [F. éclaircir; pref. es- (L. ex) + clair clear, L. clarus.] To make clear; to clear up what is obscur