Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C20H38, of the acetylene series, obtained from brown coal.
EILDEild, n. Etym: [See Eld.]
Defn: Age. [Obs.] Fairfax.
EIREEire, n.
Defn: Air. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EIRENARCHEi`re*narch, n. Etym: [See Irenarch.] (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A justice of the peace; irenarch.
EIRENICEi*ren"ic, a.
Defn: Pacific. See Irenic.
EIRIEEi"rie, n.
Defn: See Aerie, and Eyrie.
EISELEi"sel, n. Etym: [OF. aisil, aissil, fr. L. acet. Cf. Acetic.]
Defn: Vinegar; verjuice. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
EISTEDDFODEis*tedd"fod, n. Etym: [W., session, fr. eistedd to sit.]
Defn: Am assembly or session of the Welsh bards; an annual congress of bards, minstrels and literati of Wales, — being a patriotic revival of the old custom.
EITHEREi"ther, a. & pron. Etym: [OE. either, aither, AS. , (akin to OHG. ,MHG. iegeweder); a + ge + hwæ whether. See Each, and Whether, and cf.Or, conj.]
1. One of two; the one or the other; — properly used of two things, but sometimes of a larger number, for any one. Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him. Shak. Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three. Bacon. There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would illustrate what I say about dogmatists. Holmes.
2. Each of two; the one and the other; both; — formerly, also, eachof any number.His flowing hair In curls on either cheek played. Milton.On either side . . . was there the tree of life. Rev. xxii. 2.The extreme right and left of either army never engaged. Jowett(Thucyd).
EITHEREi"ther, conj. Either
Defn: precedes two, or more, coördinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or. Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth. 1 Kings xviii. 27. Few writers hesitate to use either in what is called a triple alternative; such as, We must either stay where we are, proceed, or recede. Latham.
Note: Either was formerly sometimes used without any correlation, andwhere we should now use or.Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries either a vine, figsJames iii. 12.
EJACULATE E*jac"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ejaculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Ejaculating.] Etym: [L. ejaculatus, p. p. of ejaculari to throw out; e out + ejaculari to throw, fr. jaculum javelin, dart, fr. jacere to throw. See Eject.]
1. To throw out suddenly and swiftly, as if a dart; to dart; to eject. [Archaic or Technical] Its active rays ejaculated thence. Blackmore.
2. To throw out, as an exclamation; to utter by a brief and sudden impulse; as, to ejaculate a prayer.
EJACULATEE*jac"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To utter ejaculations; to make short and hasty exclamations.[R.] "Ejaculating to himself." Sir W. Scott.
EJACULATIONE*jac`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éjaculation.]
1. The act of throwing or darting out with a sudden force and rapid flight. [Archaic or Technical] "An ejaculation or irradiation of the eye." Bacon.
2. The uttering of a short, sudden exclamation or prayer, or the exclamation or prayer uttered. In your dressing, let there be jaculations fitted to the several actions of dressing. Jer. Taylor.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of ejecting or suddenly throwing, as a fluid from a duct.
EJACULATORE*jac"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [NL. See Ejaculate.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which helps ejaculation.
EJACULATORYE*jac"u*la*to*ry, a.
1. Casting or throwing out; fitted to eject; as, ejaculatory vessels.
2. Suddenly darted out; uttered in short sentences; as, an ejaculatory prayer or petition.
3. Sudden; hasty. [Obs.] "Ejaculatory repentances, that take us by fits and starts." L'Estrange.
EJECTE*ject", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ejected; p. pr. & vb. n. Ejecting.]Etym: [L. ejectus, p. p. of ejicere; e out + jacere to throw. See Jeta shooting forth.]
1. To expel; to dismiss; to cast forth; to thrust or drive out; to discharge; as, to eject a person from a room; to eject a traitor from the country; to eject words from the language. "Eyes ejecting flame." H. Brooke.
2. (Law)
Defn: To cast out; to evict; to dispossess; as, to eject tenants from an estate.
Syn. — To expel; banish; drive out; discharge; oust; evict; dislodge; extrude; void.
EJECTAE*jec"ta, n. pl. [L., neut. pl. of ejectus cast out. See Eject.]
Defn: Matter ejected; material thrown out; as, the ejecta of a volcano; the ejecta, or excreta, of the body.
EJECTIONE*jec"tion, n. Etym: [L. ejectio: cf. F. éjection.]
1. The act of ejecting or casting out; discharge; expulsion; evacuation. "Vast ejection of ashes." Eustace. "The ejection of a word." Johnson.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process of discharging anything from the body, particularly the excretions.
3. The state of being ejected or cast out; dispossession; banishment.
EJECTMENTE*ject"ment, n.
1. A casting out; a dispossession; an expulsion; ejection; as, the ejectment of tenants from their homes.
2. (Law)
Defn: A species of mixed action, which lies for the recovery of possession of real property, and damages and costs for the wrongful withholding of it. Wharton.
EJECTORE*ject"or, n.
1. One who, or that which, ejects or dispossesses.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A jet jump for lifting water or withdrawing air from a space. Ejector condenser (Steam Engine), a condenser in which the vacuum is maintained by a jet pump.
EJOOE"joo, n. Etym: [Malay ij or hij.]
Defn: Gomuti fiber. See Gomuti.
EJULATIONEj`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ejulatio, fr. ejulare to wail, lament.]
Defn: A wailing; lamentation. [Obs.] "Ejulation in the pangs of death." Philips.
EKABOR; EKABORONEk"a*bor`, Ek"a*bo"ron, n. Etym: [G., fr. Skr. one + G. bor, boron,E. boron.] (Chem.)
Defn: The name given by Mendelejeff in accordance with the periodic law, and by prediction, to a hypothetical element then unknown, but since discovered and named scandium; — so called because it was a missing analogue of the boron group. See Scandium.
EKALUMINIUMEk*al`u*min"i*um, n. Etym: [Skr. one + E. aluminium.] (Chem.)
Defn: The name given to a hypothetical element, — later discovered and called gallium. See Gallium, and cf. Ekabor.
EKASILICONEk`a*sil"i*con, n. Etym: [Skr. one + E. silicon.] (Chem.)
Defn: The name of a hypothetical element predicted and afterwards discovered and named germanium; — so called because it was a missing analogue of the silicon group. See Germanium, and cf. Ekkabor.
EKE Eke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eked; p. pr. & vb. n. Eking.] Etym: [AS. ekan, ykan; akin to OFries, aka, OS. , OHG. ouhhon to add, Icel. auka to increase, Sw. öka, Dan. öge, Goth. aukan, L. augere, Skr. strength, ugra mighty, and probably to English wax, v. i. Cf. Augment, Nickname.]
Defn: To increase; to add to; to augment; — now commonly used with out, the notion conveyed being to add to, or piece out by a laborious, inferior, or scanty addition; as, to eke out a scanty supply of one kind with some other. "To eke my pain." Spenser. He eked out by his wits an income of barely fifty pounds. Macaulay.
EKE Eke, adv. Etym: [AS. eác; akin to OFries. ák, OS. , D. , OHG. ouh, G. auch, Icel. auk, Sw. och and, Dan. og, Goth. auk for, but. Prob. from the preceding verb.]
Defn: In addition; also; likewise. [Obs. or Archaic]'T will be prodigious hard to prove That this is eke the throne oflove. Prior.A trainband captain eke was he Of famous London town. Cowper.
Note: Eke serves less to unite than to render prominent a subjoined more important sentence or notion. Mätzner.
EKEEke, n.
Defn: An addition. [R.]Clumsy ekes that may well be spared. Geddes.
EKEBERGITEEk"e*berg`ite, n. Etym: [From Ekeberg, a German.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of scapolite.
EKENAMEEke"name`, n. Etym: [See Nickname.]
Defn: An additional or epithet name; a nickname. [Obs.]
EKING Ek"ing, n. Etym: [From Eke, v. t.] (Shipbuilding) (a) A lengthening or filling piece to make good a deficiency in length. (b) The carved work under the quarter piece at the aft part of the quarter gallery. [Written also eiking.]
E-LAE"-la`, n.
Defn: Originally, the highest note in the scale of Guido; hence, proverbially, any extravagant saying. "Why, this is above E-la!" Beau. & Fl.
ELABORATE E*lab"o*rate, a. Etym: [L. elaboratus, p. p. of elaborare to work out; e out + laborare to labor, labor labor. See Labor.]
Defn: Wrought with labor; finished with great care; studied; executed with exactness or painstaking; as, an elaborate discourse; an elaborate performance; elaborate research. Drawn to the life in each elaborate page. Waller.
Syn.— Labored; complicated; studied; perfected; high-wrought.— E*lab"o*rate*ly, adv.— E*lab"o*rate*ness, n.
ELABORATEE*lab"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elaborated; p. pr. & vb. n.Elaborating.]
1. To produce with labor They in full joy elaborate a sigh, Young.
2. To perfect with painstaking; to improve or refine with labor and study, or by successive operations; as, to elaborate a painting or a literary work. The sap is . . . still more elaborated and exalted as it circulates through the vessels of the plant. Arbuthnot.
ELABORATED elaborated adj.
Defn: developed or executed with care and in minute detail; as, thecarefully elaborated theme.Syn. — detailed, elaborate.[WordNet 1.5]
ELABORATIONE*lab`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. elaboratio: cf. F. élaboration.]
1. The act or process of producing or refining with labor; improvement by successive operations; refinement.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The natural process of formation or assimilation, performed by the living organs in animals and vegetables, by which a crude substance is changed into something of a higher order; as, the elaboration of food into chyme; the elaboration of chyle, or sap, or tissues.
ELABORATIVEE*lab"o*ra*tive, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to elaborate; constructing with labor and minute attention to details. Elaborative faculty (Metaph.), the intellectual power of discerning relations and of viewing objects by means of, or in, relations; the discursive faculty; thought.
ELABORATORE*lab"o*ra`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, elaborates.
ELABORATORYE*lab"o*ra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to elaborate.
ELABORATORYE*lab"o*ra*to*ry, n.
Defn: A laboratory. [Obs.]
ELAEAGNUSE`læ*ag"nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs or small trees, having the foliage covered with small silvery scales; oleaster.
ELAEISE*læ"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of palms.
Note: Elæis Guineensis, the African oil palm, is a tree twenty or thirty feet high, with immense pinnate leaves and large masses of fruit. The berries are rather larger than olives, and when boiled in water yield the orange-red palm oil.
ELAEOLITEE*læ"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of hephelite, usually massive, of greasy luster, and gray to reddish color. Elæolite syenite, a kind of syenite characterized by the presence of elæolite.
ELAEOPTENEE`læ*op"tene, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: The more liquid or volatile portion of certain oily substance, as distinguished from stearoptene, the more solid parts. [Written also elaoptene.]
ELAIDATEE*la"i*date, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of elaidic acid.
ELAIDICE`la*id"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. élaïdique. See Elaine.]
Defn: Relating to oleic acid, or elaine. Elaidic acid (Chem.), a fatty acid isomeric with oleic acid, and obtained from it by the action of nitrous acid.
ELAIDINE*la"i*din, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élaïdine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A solid isomeric modification of olein.
ELAINE; ELAINE*la"ine, or E*la"in, n. Etym: [Gr. élaïne.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Olein.
ELAIODICE`lai*od"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Derived from castor oil; ricinoleic; as, elaiodic acid. [R.]
ELAIOMETERE`lai*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for determining the amount of oil contained in any substance, or for ascertaining the degree of purity of oil.
ELAMITEE"lam*ite, n.
Defn: A dweller in Flam (or Susiana), an ancient kingdom ofSouthwestern Asia, afterwards a province of Persia.
ELAMPINGE*lamp"ing, a. Etym: [See Lamp.]
Defn: Shining. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.
ELAN e`lan", b. Etym: [F., fr. élancer to dart.]
Defn: Ardor inspired by passion or enthusiasm.
ELANCEE*lance", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Elancing.]Etym: [F. élancer, OF. eslancier; pref. es- (L. ex) + F. lancer todart, throw, fr. lance.]
Defn: To throw as a lance; to hurl; to dart. [R.]While thy unerring hand elanced . . . a dart. Prior.
ELANDE"land, n. Etym: [D. eland elk, of Slav. origin; cf. Pol. jelen stag,Russ. oléne, Lith. elnis; perh. akin to E. elk.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of large South African antelope (Oreas canna). It is valued both for its hide and flesh, and is rapidly disappearing in the settled districts; — called also Cape elk.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The elk or moose.
ELANETE*la"net, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kite of the genus Elanus.
ELAOLITEE*la"o*lite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Elæolite.
ELAOPTENEE`la*op"tene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Elæoptene.
ELAPHINEEl"a*phine, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or characteristic of, the stag, orCervus elaphus.
ELAPHUREEl"a*phure, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of deer (Elaphurus Davidianus) found in china. It about four feet high at the shoulder and has peculiar antlers.
ELAPIDATION E*lap`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. elapidatus cleared from stones; e out + lapis stone.]
Defn: A clearing away of stones. [R.]
ELAPINEEl"a*pine, a. Etym: [See Elaps.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Elapidæ, a family of poisonous serpents, including the cobras. See Ophidia.
ELAPSE"laps, n. Etym: [NL., of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of venomous snakes found both in America and the OldWorld. Many species are known. See Coral snake, under Coral.
ELAPSEE*lapse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Elapsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Elapsing.]Etym: [L. elapsus, p. p. of elabi to glide away; e out + labi tofall, slide. See Lapse.]
Defn: To slip or glide away; to pass away silently, as time; — used chiefly in reference to time. Eight days elapsed; at length a pilgrim came. Hoole.
ELAPSIONE*lap"sion, n.
Defn: The act of elapsing. [R.]
ELAQUEATE E*la"que*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. elaqueatus, p. p. of elaqueare to unfetter.]
Defn: To disentangle. [R.]
ELASIPODAEl`a*sip"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of holothurians mostly found in the deep sea. They are remarkable for their bilateral symmetry and curious forms. [Written also Elasmopoda.]
ELASMOBRANCHE*las"mo*branch, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Elasmobranchii.— n.
Defn: One of the Elasmobranchii.
ELASMOBRANCHIATEE*las`mo*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Elasmobranchii.— n.
Defn: One of the Elasmobranchii.
ELASMOBRANCHIIE*las`mo*bran"chi*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. branchia a gill.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A subclass of fishes, comprising the sharks, the rays, and theChimæra. The skeleton is mainly cartilaginous.
ELASMOSAURUSE*las`mo*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct, long-necked, marine, cretaceous reptile fromKansas, allied to Plesiosaurus.
ELASTIC E*las"tic, a. Etym: [Formed fr. Gr. alacer lively, brisk, and E. alacrity: cf. F. élastique.]
1. Springing back; having a power or inherent property of returning to the form from which a substance is bent, drawn, pressed, or twisted; springy; having the power of rebounding; as, a bow is elastic; the air is elastic; India rubber is elastic. Capable of being drawn out by force like a piece of elastic gum, and by its own elasticity returning, when the force is removed, to its former position. Paley.
2. Able to return quickly to a former state or condition, after being depressed or overtaxed; having power to recover easily from shocks and trials; as, elastic spirits; an elastic constitution. Elastic bitumen. (Min.) See Elaterite. — Elastic curve. (a) (Geom.) The curve made by a thin elastic rod fixed horizontally at one end and loaded at the other. (b) (Mech.) The figure assumed by the longitudinal axis of an originally straight bar under any system of bending forces. Rankine. — Elastic fluids, those which have the property of expanding in all directions on the removal of external pressure, as the air, steam, and other gases and vapors. — Elastic limit (Mech.), the limit of distortion, by bending, stretching, etc., that a body can undergo and yet return to its original form when relieved from stress; also, the unit force or stress required to produce this distortion. Within the elastic limit the distortion is directly proportional to the stress producing it. — Elastic tissue (Anat.), a variety of connective tissue consisting of a network of slender and very elastic fibers which are but slightly affected by acids or alkalies. — Gum elastic, caoutchouc.
ELASTICE*las"tic, n.
Defn: An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc., made in part of India rubber. [Colloq.]
ELASTICALE*las"tic*al, a.
Defn: Elastic. [R.] Bentley.
ELASTICALLYE*las"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring.
ELASTICITYE`las*tic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élasticité.]
1. The quality of being elastic; the inherent property in bodies by which they recover their former figure or dimensions, after the removal of external pressure or altering force; springiness; tendency to rebound; as, the elasticity of caoutchouc; the elasticity of the air.
2. Power of resistance to, or recovery from, depression or overwork. Coefficient of elasticity, the quotient of a stress (of a given kind), by the strain (of a given kind) which it produces; — called also coefficient of resistance. — Surface of elasticity (Geom.), the pedal surface of an ellipsoid (see Pedal); a surface used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous ether in crystalline media.
ELASTICNESSE*las"tic*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being elastic; elasticity.
ELASTINE*las"tin, n. Etym: [Elastic + -in.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A nitrogenous substance, somewhat resembling albumin, which forms the chemical basis of elastic tissue. It is very insoluble in most fluids, but is gradually dissolved when digested with either pepsin or trypsin.
ELATE E*late", a. Etym: [L. elatus elevated, fig., elated, proud (the figure, perh., being borrowed from a prancing horse); e out + latus (used as p. p. of ferre to bear), for tlatus, and akin to E. tolerate. See Tolerate, and cf. Extol.]
1. Lifted up; raised; elevated. With upper lip elate. Fenton. And sovereign law, that State's collected will, O'er thrones and globes, elate, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill. Sir W. Jones.
2. Having the spirits raised by success, or by hope; flushed or exalted with confidence; elated; exultant. O, thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate, Too soon dejected, and dejected, and too soon elate. Pope. Our nineteenth century is wonderfully set up in its own esteem, wonderfully elate at its progress. Mrs. H. H. Jackson.
Syn. — Puffed up; lofty; proud; haughty; exalted; inspirited; transported; delighted; overjoyed.
ELATEE*late", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elated; p. pr. & vb. n. Elating.]
1. To raise; to exalt. [R.] By the potent sun elated high. Thomson.
2. To exalt the spirit of; to fill with confidence or exultation; to elevate or flush with success; to puff up; to make proud. Foolishly elated by spiritual pride. Warburton. You ought not be elated at the chance mishaps of your enemies. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
ELATEDLYE*lat"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With elation.
ELATEDNESSE*lat"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being elated.
ELATERE*lat"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, elates.
ELATEREl"a*ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any beetle of the family Elateridæ, having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; — called also click beetle, spring beetle, and snapping beetle.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The caudal spring used by Podura and related insects for leaping. See Collembola.
ELATEREl"a*ter, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste, formerly Motordica Elaterium) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative.
ELATERITEEl"a*ter*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral resin, of a blackish brown color, occurring in soft, flexible masses; — called also mineral caoutchouc, and elastic bitumen.
ELATERIUMEl`a*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Elater.]
Defn: A cathartic substance obtained, in the form of yellowish or greenish cakes, as the dried residue of the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste, formerly called Momordica Elaterium).
ELATEROMETEREl`a*ter*om"e*ter, n.
Defn: Same as Elatrometer.
ELATERYEl"a*ter*y, n. Etym: [See 2d Elater.]
Defn: Acting force; elasticity. [Obs.] Ray.
ELATIONE*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. elatio. See Elate.]
Defn: A lifting up by success; exaltation; inriation with pride of prosperity. "Felt the elation of triumph." Sir W. Scott.
ELATIVEE*la"tive, a. (Gram.)
Defn: Raised; lifted up; — a term applied to what is also called the absolute superlative, denoting a high or intense degree of a quality, but not excluding the idea that an equal degree may exist in other cases.
ELATROMETEREl`a*trom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the degree of rarefaction of air contained in the receiver of an air pump. [Spelt also elaterometer.]
ELAYLE*la"yl, n. Etym: [Gr. yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Olefiant gas or ethylene; — so called by Berzelius from its forming an oil combining with chlorine. [Written also elayle.] See Ethylene.
ELBOW El"bow, n. Etym: [AS. elboga, elnboga (akin to D. elleboga, OHG. elinbogo, G. ellbogen, ellenbogen, Icel. ; prop.; arm-bend); eln ell (orig., forearm) + boga a bending. See 1st Ell, and 4th Bow.]
1. The joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the middle of the arm when bent. Her arms to the elbows naked. R. of Gloucester.
2. Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, and the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast or course of a river; also, an angular or jointed part of any structure, as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or other woodwork; the upright sides which flank any paneled work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back. Gwilt.
Note: Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound, to denote something shaped like, or acting like, an elbow; as, elbow joint; elbow tongs or elbow-tongs; elbowroom, elbow-room, or elbow room. At the elbow, very near; at hand. — Elbow grease, energetic application of force in manual labor. [Low] — Elbow in the hawse (Naut.), the twisting together of two cables by which a vessel rides at anchor, caused by swinging completely round once. Totten. — Elbow scissors (Surg.), scissors bent in the blade or shank for convenience in cutting. Knight. — Out at elbow, with coat worn through at the elbows; shabby; in needy circumstances.
ELBOWEl"bow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elbowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Elbowing.]
Defn: To push or hit with the elbow, as when one pushes by another.They [the Dutch] would elbow our own aldermen off the Royal Exchange.Macaulay.To elbow one's way, to force one's way by pushing with the elbows;as, to elbow one's way through a crowd.
ELBOWEl"bow, v. i.
1. To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of an elbow.
2. To push rudely along; to elbow one's way. "Purseproud, elbowing Insolence." Grainger.
ELBOWBOARDEl"bow*board`, n.
Defn: The base of a window casing, on which the elbows may rest.
ELBOWCHAIREl"bow*chair`, n.
Defn: A chair with arms to support the elbows; an armchair. Addison.
ELBOWROOMEl"bow*room`, n.
Defn: Room to extend the elbows on each side; ample room for motionor action; free scope. "My soul hath elbowroom." Shak.Then came a stretch of grass and a little more elbowroom. W. G.Norris.
ELCAJAEl*ca"ja, n. Etym: [Ar.] (Bot.)
Defn: An Arabian tree (Trichilia emetica). The fruit, which is emetic, is sometimes employed in the composition of an ointment for the cure of the itch.
ELCESAITEEl*ce"sa*ite, n. Etym: [From Elcesai, the leader of the sect.](Eccl.)
Defn: One of a sect of Asiatic Gnostics of the time of the EmperorTrajan.
ELDEld, a. Etym: [AS. eald.]
Defn: Old. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ELDEld, n. Etym: [AS. yldu, yldo, eldo, old age, fr. ald, eald, old. SeeOld.]
1. Age; esp., old age. [Obs. or Archaic] As sooth is said, eelde hath great avantage. Chaucer. Great Nature, ever young, yet full of eld. Spenser.
2. Old times; former days; antiquity. [Poetic] Astrologers and men of eld. Longfellow.
ELDEld, v. i.
Defn: To age; to grow old. [Obs.]
ELDEld, v. t.
Defn: To make old or ancient. [Obs.]Time, that eldeth all things. Rom. of R.
ELDEREld"er, a. Etym: [AS. yldra, compar. of eald old. See Old.]
1. Older; more aged, or existing longer. Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds. Jowett (Thucyd. )
2. Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; — opposed to Ant: younger, and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc. The elder shall serve the younger. Gen. xxv. 23. But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour. Keble. Elder hand (Card Playing), the hand playing, or having the right to play, first. Hoyle.
ELDER Eld"er, n. Etym: [AS. ealdor an elder, prince, fr. eald old. See Old, and cf. Elder, a., Alderman.]
1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. 1 Tim. v. 1.
2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor. Carry your head as your elders have done. L'Estrange.
3. A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic church.
Note: In the modern Presbyterian churches, elders are lay officers who, with the minister, compose the church session, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called elders, or presbyters.
4. (M. E. Ch.)
Defn: A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder. Presiding elder (Meth. Ch.), an elder commissioned by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district. — Ruling elder, a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session. Schaff.
ELDER El"der, n. Etym: [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG. elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder; or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.
Note: The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the common European species (S. nigra) forms a small tree. The red- berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient. Box elder. See under 1st Box. — Dwarf elder. See Danewort. — Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. Shak. — Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).
ELDERBERRYEl"der*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The berrylike drupe of the elder. That of the Old World elder (Sambucus nigra) and that of the American sweet elder (S. Canadensis) are sweetish acid, and are eaten as a berry or made into wine.
ELDERISHEld"er*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat old; elderly. [R.]
ELDERLYEld"er*ly, a.
Defn: Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; as, elderly people.
ELDERNEl"dern, a.
Defn: Made of elder. [Obs.]He would discharge us as boys do eldern guns. Marston.
ELDERSHIPEld"er*ship, n.
1. The state of being older; seniority. "Paternity an eldership." Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Office of an elder; collectively, a body of elders.
ELDERWORTEl"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Danewort.
ELDESTEld"est, a. Etym: [AS. yldest, superl. of eald old. See Elder, a.]
1. Oldest; longest in duration. Shak.
2. Born or living first, or before the others, as a son, daughter, brother, etc.; first in origin. See Elder. "My lady's eldest son." Shak. Their eldest historians are of suspected credit. Bp. Stillingfleet. Eldest hand (Card Playing), the player on the dealer's left hand. R. A. Proctor.
ELDING El"ding, n. Etym: [Icel. elding, fr. elda to kindle, eldr fire; akin to AS. æld fire, ælan to burn.]
Defn: Fuel. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
EL DORADO El` Do*ra"do, pl. El Doradoes (. Etym: [Sp., lit., the gilt (sc. land); el the + dorado gilt, p. p. of dorare to gild. Cf. Dorado.]
1. A name given by the Spaniards in the 16th century to an imaginary country in the interior of South America, reputed to abound in gold and precious stones.
2. Any region of fabulous wealth; exceeding richness. The whole comedy is a sort of El Dorado of wit. T. Moore.
ELDRITCHEl"dritch, a.
Defn: Hideous; ghastly; as, an eldritch shriek or laugh. [Local,Eng.]
ELEATICE`le*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. eleaticus, from Elea (or Velia) in Italy.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a certain school of Greek philosophers who taught that the only certain science is that which owes nothing to the senses, and all to the reason. — n.
Defn: A philosopher of the Eleatic school.
ELEATICISME`le*at"i*cism, n.
Defn: The Eleatic doctrine.
ELECAMPANE El`e*cam*pane", n. Etym: [F. énulecampane, NL. inula campana; L. inula elecampane + LL. campana a bell; cf. G. glockenwurz, i. e., "bellwort."]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A large, coarse herb (Inula Helenium), with composite yellow flowers. The root, which has a pungent taste, is used as a tonic, and was formerly of much repute as a stomachic.
2. A sweetmeat made from the root of the plant.
ELECT E*lect", a. Etym: [L. electus, p. p. of eligere to elect; e out + legere to choose. See Legend, and cf. Elite, Eclectic.]
1. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more. "Colors quaint elect." Spenser.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to eternal life. "The elect angels." 1 Tim. v. 21.
3. Chosen to an office, but not yet actually inducted into it; as, bishop elect; governor or mayor elect.
ELECTE*lect", n.
1. One chosen or set apart. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Is. xlii. 1.
2. pl. (Theol.)
Defn: Those who are chosen for salvation.Shall not God avenge his won elect Luke xviii. 7.
ELECTE*lect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elected; p. pr. & vb. n. Electing.]
1. To pick out; to select; to choose. The deputy elected by the Lord. Shak.
2. To select or take for an office; to select by vote; as, to elect a representative, a president, or a governor.
3. (Theol.)
Defn: To designate, choose, or select, as an object of mercy or favor.
Syn.— To choose; prefer; select. See Choose.
ELECTANTE*lect"ant, n. Etym: [L. electans, p. pr. of electare.]
Defn: One who has the power of choosing; an elector. [R.]
ELECTARYE*lec"ta*ry, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Electuary.
ELECTICE*lec"tic, a.
Defn: See Eclectic.
ELECTICISME*lec"ti*cism, n.
Defn: See Eclecticism.
ELECTION E*lec"tion, n. Etym: [F. élection, L. electio, fr. eligere to choose out. See Elect, a.]
1. The act of choosing; choice; selection.
2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce; as, the election of a president or a mayor. Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom. J. Adams.
3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act. "By his own election led to ill." Daniel.
4. Discriminating choice; discernment. [Obs.] To use men with much difference and election is good. Bacon.
5. (Theol.)
Defn: Divine choice; predestination of individuals as objects of mercy and salvation; — one of the "five points" of Calvinism. There is a remnant according to the election of grace. Rom. xi. 5.
6. (Law)
Defn: The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other.
7. Those who are elected. [Obs.]The election hath obtained it. Rom. xi. 7.To contest an election. See under Contest.— To make one's election, to choose.He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths.Fitzed. Hall.
ELECTIONEERE*lec`tion*eer", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Electionered; p. pr. & vb. n.Electioneering.]
Defn: To make interest for a candidate at an election; to use arts for securing the election of a candidate. A master of the whole art of electioneering. Macaulay.
ELECTIONEERERE*lec`tion*eer"er, n.
Defn: One who electioneers.
ELECTIVEE*lect"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. électif.]
1. Exerting the power of choice; selecting; as, an elective act.
2. Pertaining to, or consisting in, choice, or right of choosing; electoral. The independent use of their elective franchise. Bancroft.
3. Dependent on choice; bestowed or passing by election; as, an elective study; an elective office. Kings of Rome were at first elective; . . . for such are the conditions of an elective kingdom. Dryden. Elective affinity or attraction (Chem.), a tendency to unite with certain things; chemism.
ELECTIVEE*lect"ive, n.
Defn: In an American college, an optional study or course of study.[Colloq.]
ELECTIVELYE*lect"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an elective manner; by choice.
ELECTORE*lect"or, n. Etym: [L., fr. eligere: cf. F. électeur.]
1. One who elects, or has the right of choice; a person who is entitled to take part in an election, or to give his vote in favor of a candidate for office.
2. Hence, specifically, in any country, a person legally qualified to vote.
3. In the old German empire, one of the princes entitled to choose the emperor.
4. One of the persons chosen, by vote of the people in the United States, to elect the President and Vice President.
ELECTORE*lect"or, a. Etym: [Cf. F. électoral.]
Defn: Pertaining to an election or to electors.In favor of the electoral and other princes. Burke.Electoral college, the body of princes formerly entitled to elect theEmperor of Germany; also, a name sometimes given, in the UnitedStates, to the body of electors chosen by the people to elect thePresident and Vice President.
ELECTORALITYE*lect`or*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The territory or dignity of an elector; electorate. [R.] Sir H.Wotton.
ELECTORATEE*lect"or*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. électorat.]
1. The territory, jurisdiction, or dignity of an elector, as in the old German empire.
2. The whole body of persons in a nation or state who are entitled to vote in an election, or any distinct class or division of them. The middle-class electorate of Great Britain. M. Arnold.
ELECTORESSE*lect"or*ess, n. Etym: [Fem. of Elector.]
Defn: An electress. Bp. Burnet.
ELECTORIALE`lec*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Electoral. Burke.
ELECTORSHIPE*lect"or*ship, n.
Defn: The office or status of an elector.
ELECTRE; ELECTER E*lec"tre, E*lec"ter, n. Etym: [L. electrum: cf. F. électre mixture of gold and silver. See Electrum.]
1. Amber. See Electrum. [Obs.]
2. A metallic substance compounded of gold and silver; an alloy. [Obs.] Wyclif.
ELECTREPETERE`lec*trep"e*ter, n. Etym: [Electro + Gr.
Defn: An instrument used to change the direction of electric currents; a commutator. [R.]
ELECTRESSE*lect"ress, n. Etym: [Cf. F. électrice. Cf. Electoress.]
Defn: The wife or widow of an elector in the old German empire.Burke.
ELECTRIC; ELECTRICAL E*lec"tric, E*lec"tric*al, a. Etym: [L. electrum amber, a mixed metal, Gr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. électrique. The name came from the production of electricity by the friction of amber.]
1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing, derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an electric spark.
2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an electric or electrical machine or substance.
3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. "Electric Pindar." Mrs. Browning. Electric atmosphere, or Electric aura. See under Aura. — Electrical battery. See Battery. — Electrical brush. See under Brush. — Electric cable. See Telegraph cable, under Telegraph. — Electric candle. See under Candle. — Electric cat (Zoöl.), one of three or more large species of African catfish of the genus Malapterurus (esp. M. electricus of the Nile). They have a large electrical organ and are able to give powerful shocks; — called also sheathfish. — Electric clock. See under Clock, and see Electro-chronograph. — Electric current, a current or stream of electricity traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means of conductors from one body to another which is in a different electrical state. — Electric, or Electrical, eel (Zoöl.), a South American eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus Gymnotus (G. electricus), from two to five feet in length, capable of giving a violent electric shock. See Gymnotus. — Electrical fish (Zoöl.), any fish which has an electrical organ by means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known kinds are the torpedo, the gymnotus, or electrical eel, and the electric cat. See Torpedo, and Gymnotus. — Electric fluid, the supposed matter of electricity; lightning. — Electrical image (Elec.), a collection of electrical points regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena, an image of certain other electrical points, and used in the solution of electrical problems. Sir W. Thomson. — Electrical light, the light produced by a current of electricity which in passing through a resisting medium heats it to incandescence or burns it. See under Carbon. — Electric, or Electrical, machine, an apparatus for generating, collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by friction. — Electric motor. See Electro-motor,
2.— Electric osmose. (Physics) See under Osmose.— Electric pen, a hand pen for making perforated stencils formultiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at greatspeed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the penhandle.— Electric railway, a railway in which the machinery for moving thecars is driven by an electric current.— Electric ray (Zoöl.), the torpedo.— Electric telegraph. See Telegraph.
ELECTRICE*lec"tric, n. (Physics)
Defn: A nonconductor of electricity, as amber, glass, resin, etc., employed to excite or accumulate electricity.
ELECTRICALLYE*lec"tric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of electricity, or by means of it; thrillingly.
ELECTRICALNESSE*lec"tric*al*ness, a.
Defn: The state or quality of being electrical.
ELECTRICIANE`lec*tri"cian, n.
Defn: An investigator of electricity; one versed in the science of electricity.
ELECTRICITYE`lec*tric"i*ty, n.; pl. Electricities. Etym: [Cf. F. électricité.See Electric.]
1. A power in nature, a manifestation of energy, exhibiting itself when in disturbed equilibrium or in activity by a circuit movement, the fact of direction in which involves polarity, or opposition of properties in opposite directions; also, by attraction for many substances, by a law involving attraction between surfaces of unlike polarity, and repulsion between those of like; by exhibiting accumulated polar tension when the circuit is broken; and by producing heat, light, concussion, and often chemical changes when the circuit passes between the poles or through any imperfectly conducting substance or space. It is generally brought into action by any disturbance of molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical, or mechanical, cause.
Note: Electricity is manifested under following different forms: (a) Statical electricity, called also Frictional or Common, electricity, electricity in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber, etc., or by induction. (b) Dynamical electricity, called also Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by dynamo-electric machines. (c) Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar, and then heating the bar unequally. (d) Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or all of the above mentioned causes. (e) Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action of magnets. (f) Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced by friction of glass; — called also vitreous electricity. (g) Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction of resinous substance; — called also resinous electricity. (h) Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal electricity being much more common.
2. The science which unfolds the phenomena and laws of electricity; electrical science.
3. Fig.: Electrifying energy or characteristic.
ELECTRIFIABLEE*lec"tri*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of receiving electricity, or of being charged with it.
ELECTRIFICATIONE*lec`tri*fi*ca"tion, n. (Physics)
Defn: The act of electrifying, or the state of being charged with electricity.
ELECTRIFYE*lec"tri*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrified; p. pr. & vb. n.Electrifying.] Etym: [Electric + -fy.]
1. To communicate electricity to; to charge with electricity; as, to electrify a jar.
2. To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to give an electric shock to; as, to electrify a limb, or the body.
3. To excite suddenly and violently, esp. by something highly delightful or inspiriting; to thrill; as, this patriotic sentiment electrified the audience. If the sovereign were now to immure a subject in defiance of the writ of habeas corpus . . . the whole nation would be instantly electrified by the news. Macaulay. Try whether she could electrify Mr. Grandcourt by mentioning it to him at table. G. Eliot.
ELECTRIFYE*lec"tri*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become electric.
ELECTRINEE*lec"trine, a. Etym: [L. electrinus of amber. See Electric.]
1. Belonging to, or made of, amber.
2. Made of electrum, an alloy used by the ancients.
ELECTRITIONE`lec*tri"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The recognition by an animal body of the electrical condition of external objects.
ELECTRIZATIONE*lec`tri*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. électrisation.]
Defn: The act of electrizing; electrification.
ELECTRIZEE*lec"trize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrized; p. pr. & vb. n.Electrizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. électriser.]
Defn: To electricity. Eng. Cyc.
ELECTRIZERE*lec"tri`zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, electrizes.
ELECTRO-E*lec"tro-. Etym: [L. electrum amber. See Electric.]
Defn: A prefix or combining form signifying pertaining to electricity, produced by electricity, producing or employing electricity, etc.; as, electro-negative; electro-dynamic; electro- magnet.
ELECTROE*lec"tro, n.
Defn: An electrotype.
ELECTRO-BALLISTICE*lec`tro-bal*lis"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to electro-ballistics.
ELECTRO-BALLISTICSE*lec`tro-bal*lis"tics, n.
Defn: The art or science of measuring the force or velocity of projectiles by means of electricity.
ELECTRO-BIOLOGISTE*lec`tro-bi*ol"o*gist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: One versed in electro-biology.
ELECTRO-BIOLOGYE*lec`tro-bi*ol"o*gy, n. (Biol.)
1. That branch of biology which treats of the electrical phenomena of living organisms.
2. That phase of mesmerism or animal magnetism, the phenomena of which are supposed to be produced by a form of electricity.
ELECTRO-BIOSCOPYE*lec`tro-bi*os"co*py, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. -scopy.] (Biol.)
Defn: A method of determining the presence or absence of life in an animal organism with a current of electricity, by noting the presence or absence of muscular contraction.
ELECTRO-CAPILLARITYE*lec`tro-cap`il*lar"i*ty, n. (Physics)
Defn: The occurrence or production of certain capillary effects by the action of an electrical current or charge.
ELECTRO-CAPILLARYE*lec`tro-cap"il*la*ry, a. (Physics)
Defn: Pert. to, or caused by, electro-capillarity.
ELECTRO-CHEMICALE*lec`tro-chem"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to electro-chemistry. Ure.
ELECTRO-CHEMISTRYE*lec`tro-chem"is*try, n.
Defn: That branch of science which treats of the relation of electricity to chemical changes.
ELECTRO-CHRONOGRAPHE*lec`tro-chron"o*graph, n. (Astron. Physics)
Defn: An instrument for obtaining an accurate record of the time at which any observed phenomenon occurs, or of its duration. It has an electro-magnetic register connected with a clock. See Chronograph.
ELECTRO-CHRONOGRAPHICE*lec`tro-chron`o*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Belonging to the electro-chronograph, or recorded by the aid of it.
ELECTROCUTEE*lec"tro*cute`, v. t. Etym: [Electro- + cute in execute.]
Defn: To execute or put to death by electricity.— E*lec`tro*cu"tion, n.
Note: [Recent; Newspaper words]
ELECTRODEE*lec"trode, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. électrode.] (Elec.)
Defn: The path by which electricity is conveyed into or from a solution or other conducting medium; esp., the ends of the wires or conductors, leading from source of electricity, and terminating in the medium traversed by the current.
ELECTRO-DYNAMIC; ELECTRO-DYNAMICALE*lec`tro-dy*nam"ic, E*lec`tro-dy*nam"ic*al, a. (Physics)
Defn: Pertaining to the movements or force of electric or galvanic currents; dependent on electric force.
ELECTRO-DYNAMICSE*lec`tro-dy*nam"ics, n.
1. The phenomena of electricity in motion.
2. The branch of science which treats of the properties of electric currents; dynamical electricity.
ELECTRO-DYNAMOMETERE*lec`tro-dy`na*mom"e*ter, n.
Defn: An instrument for measuring the strength of electro-dynamic currents.
ELECTRO-ENGRAVINGE*lec`tro-en*grav"ing, n.
Defn: The art or process of engraving by means of electricity.
ELECTRO-ETCHINGE*lec`tro-etch"ing, n.
Defn: A mode of etching upon metals by electrolytic action.
ELECTROGENESISE*lec`tro*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Electro- + genesis.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Electrogeny.
ELECTROGENICE*lec`tro*gen"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to electrogenesis; as, an electrogenic condition.
ELECTROGENYE`lec*trog"e*ny, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A term sometimes applied to the effects (tetanus) produced in the muscles of the limbs, when a current of electricity is passed along the spinal cord or nerves.
ELECTRO-GILDINGE*lec`tro-gild"ing, n.
Defn: The art or process of gilding copper, iron, etc., by means of voltaic electricity.
ELECTRO-GILTE*lec"tro-gilt`, a.
Defn: Gilded by means of voltaic electricity.
ELECTROGRAPHE*lec"tro*graph, n. Etym: [Electro- + -graph.]
Defn: A mark, record, or tracing, made by the action of electricity.
ELECTROGRAPHICE*lec`tro*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an electrograph or electrography.
ELECTROGRAPHYE*lec*trog"ra*phy, n.
1. The art or process of making electrographs or using an electrograph.
2. = Galvanography.
ELECTRO-KINETICE*lec`tro-ki*net"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to electro-kinetics.
ELECTRO-KINETICSE*lec`tro-ki*net"ics, n.
Defn: That branch of electrical science which treats of electricity in motion.
ELECTROLIER E*lec`tro*lier", n. Etym: [Formed from electric in imitation of chandelier.]
Defn: A branching frame, often of ornamental design, to support electric illuminating lamps.
ELECTROLOGYE`lec*trol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Electro- + -logy.]
Defn: That branch of physical science which treats of the phenomena of electricity and its properties.
ELECTROLYSISE`lec*trol"y*sis, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of chemical decomposition, by the action of electricity; as, the electrolysis of silver or nickel for plating; the electrolysis of water.
ELECTROLYTEE*lec"tro*lyte, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. électrolyte.] (Physics &Chem.)
Defn: A compound decomposable, or subjected to decomposition, by an electric current.
ELECTROLYTIC; ELECTROLYTICAL E*lec`tro*lyt"ic, E*lec`tro*lyt"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. électrolytique.]
Defn: Pertaining to electrolysis; as, electrolytic action.— E*lec`tro*lyt"ic*al*ly, adv.
ELECTROLYZABLEE*lec"tro*ly`za*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being electrolyzed, or decomposed by electricity.
ELECTROLYZATIONE*lec`tro*ly*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or the process of electrolyzing.
ELECTROLYZEE*lec"tro*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrolyzed; p. pr. & vb. n.Electrolyzing.] Etym: [Cf. F. électrolyser. See Electrolysis.]
Defn: To decompose by the direct action of electricity. Faraday.
ELECTRO-MAGNETE*lec`tro-mag"net, n.
Defn: A mass, usually of soft iron, but sometimes of some other magnetic metal, as nickel or cobalt, rendered temporarily magnetic by being placed within a coil of wire through which a current of electricity is passing. The metal is generally in the form of a bar, either straight, or bent into the shape of a horseshoe.
ELECTRO-MAGNETICE*lec`tro-mag*net"ic, a.
Defn: Of, Pertaining to, or produced by, magnetism which is developed by the passage of an electric current. Electro-magnetic engine, an engine in which the motive force is electro-magnetism. — Electro-magnetic theory of light (Physics), a theory of light which makes it consist in the rapid alternation of transient electric currents moving transversely to the direction of the ray.
ELECTRO-MAGNETISME*lec`tro-mag"net*ism, n.
Defn: The magnetism developed by a current of electricity; the science which treats of the development of magnetism by means of voltaic electricity, and of the properties or actions of the currents evolved.
ELECTRO-METALLURGYE*lec`tro-met"al*lur`gy, n.
Defn: The act or art precipitating a metal electro-chemical action, by which a coating is deposited, on a prepared surface, as in electroplating and electrotyping; galvanoplasty.
ELECTROMETERE`lec*trom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Electro- + -meter: cf. F. électromètre.](Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the quantity or intensity of electricity; also, sometimes, and less properly, applied to an instrument which indicates the presence of electricity (usually called an electroscope). Balance electrometer. See under Balance.