1. (Geog.)
Defn: The imaginary great circle on the earth's surface, everywhere equally distant from the two poles, and dividing the earth's surface into two hemispheres.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The great circle of the celestial sphere, coincident with the plane of the earth's equator; — so called because when the sun is in it, the days and nights are of equal length; hence called also the equinoctial, and on maps, globes, etc., the equinoctial line. Equator of the sun or of a planet (Astron.), the great circle whose plane passes through through the center of the body, and is perpendicular to its axis of revolution. — Magnetic equator. See Aclinic.
EQUATORIALE`qua*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. équatorial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the equator; as, equatorial climates; also, pertaining to an equatorial instrument.
EQUATORIALE`qua*to"ri*al, n. (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument consisting of a telescope so mounted as to have two axes of motion at right angles to each other, one of them parallel to the axis of the earth, and each carrying a graduated circle, the one for measuring declination, and the other right ascension, or the hour angle, so that the telescope may be directed, even in the daytime, to any star or other object whose right ascension and declination are known. The motion in right ascension is sometimes communicated by clockwork, so as to keep the object constantly in the field of the telescope. Called also an equatorial telescope.
Note: The term equatorial, or equatorial instrument, is sometimes applied to any astronomical instrument which has its principal axis of rotation parallel to the axis of the earth.
EQUATORIALLYE`qua*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to have motion or direction parallel to the equator.
EQUERRY Eq"uer*ry, n.; pl. Equerries. Etym: [F. écurie stable, for older escurie, escuirie (confused somewhat with F. écuyer, OF. escuyer, squire), LL. scuria, OHG. skiura, sc, barn, shed, G. scheuer, from a root meaning to cover, protect, and akin to L. scutum shield. See Esquire, and cf. Ecurie, Querry.]
1. A large stable or lodge for horses. Johnson.
2. An officer of princes or nobles, charged with the care of their horses.
Note: In England equerries are officers of the royal household in the department of the Master of the Horse.
EQUERYEq"ue*ry, n.
Defn: Same as Equerry.
EQUESTRIAN E*ques"tri*an, a. Etym: [L. equester, from eques horseman, fr. equus horse: cf. F. équestre. See Equine.]
1. Of or pertaining to horses or horsemen, or to horsemanship; as, equestrian feats, or games.
2. Being or riding on horseback; mounted; as, an equestrian statue. An equestrian lady appeared upon the plains. Spectator.
3. Belonging to, or composed of, the ancient Roman equities or knights; as, the equestrian order. Burke.
EQUESTRIANE*ques"tri*an, n.
Defn: One who rides on horseback; a horseman; a rider.
EQUESTRIANISME*ques"tri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The art of riding on horseback; performance on horseback; horsemanship; as, feats equestrianism.
EQUESTRIENNE E*ques"tri*enne`, n. Etym: [Formed after analogy of the French language.]
Defn: A woman skilled in equestrianism; a horsewoman.
EQUI-E"qui-. Etym: [L. aequus equal. See Equal.]
Defn: A prefix, meaning equally; as, equidistant; equiangular.
EQUIANGLEDE"qui*an`gled, a. Etym: [Equi- + angle.]
Defn: Equiangular. [Obs.] Boyle.
EQUIANGULARE`qui*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Equi- + angular. Cf. Equangular.]
Defn: Having equal angles; as, an equiangular figure; a square is equiangular. Equiangular spiral. (Math.) See under Spiral, n. — Mutually equiangular, applied to two figures, when every angle of the one has its equal among the angles of the other.
EQUIBALANCEE`qui*bal"ance, n. Etym: [Equi- + balance.]
Defn: Equal weight; equiponderance.
EQUIBALANCEE`qui*bal"ance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equibalanced; p. pr. & vb. n.Equibalancing.]
Defn: To make of equal weight; to balance equally; to counterbalance; to equiponderate.
EQUICRESCENTE`qui*cres"cent, a. Etym: [Equi- + crescent.] (Math.)
Defn: Increasing by equal increments; as, an equicrescent variable.
EQUICRURAL E`qui*cru"ral, a. Etym: [L. aequicrurius; aequus equal + crus, cruris, leg.]
Defn: Having equal legs or sides; isosceles. [R.] "Equicrural triangles." Sir T. Browne.
EQUICRUREE"qui*crure, a.
Defn: Equicrural. [Obs.]
EQUIDIFFERENT E`qui*dif"fer*ent, a. Etym: [Equi- + different: cf. F. équidifférent.]
Defn: Having equal differences; as, the terms of arithmetical progression are equidifferent.
EQUIDISTANCEE`qui*dis"tance, n.
Defn: Equal distance.
EQUIDISTANT E`qui*dis"tant, a. Etym: [L. aequidistans, -antis; aequus equal + distans distant: cf. F. équidistant.]
Defn: Being at an equal distance from the same point or thing.— E`qui*dis"tant*ly, adv. Sir T. Browne.
EQUIDIURNALE`qui*di*ur"nal, a. Etym: [Equi- + diurnal.]
Defn: Pertaining to the time of equal day and night; — applied to the equinoctial line. Whewell.
EQUIFORME"qui*form, a. Etym: [L. aequiformis; aequus equal + forma form.]
Defn: Having the same form; uniform.— E`qui*for"mi*ty, n. Sir T. Browne.
EQUILATERAL E`qui*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [L. aequilateralis; aequus equal + latus, lateris, side: cf. F. équilatéral.]
Defn: Having all the sides equal; as, an equilateral triangle; an equilateral polygon. Equilateral hyperbola (Geom.), one whose axes are equal. — Equilateral shell (Zoöl.), one in which a transverse line drawn through the apex of the umbo bisects the valve, or divides it into two equal and symmetrical parts. — Mutually equilateral, applied to two figures, when every side of the one has its equal among the sides of the other.
EQUILATERALE`qui*lat"er*al, n.
Defn: A side exactly corresponding, or equal, to others; also, a figure of equal sides.
EQUILIBRATEE`qui*li"brate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equilibrated; p. pr. & vb. n.Equilibrating.] Etym: [L. aequilibratus in equilibrium; aequus equal+ libra balance. See Equilibrium.]
Defn: To balance two scales, sides, or ends; to keep even with equal weight on each side; to keep in equipoise. H. Spenser.
EQUILIBRATIONE`qui*li*bra"tion, n.
1. Act of keeping a balance, or state of being balanced; equipoise. In . . . running, leaping, and dancing, nature's laws of equilibration are observed. J. Denham.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The process by which animal and vegetable organisms preserve a physiological balance. H. Spenser.
EQUILIBRIOUSE`qui*lib"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Evenly poised; balanced. Dr. H. More.— E`qui*lib"ri*ous*ly, adv.
EQUILIBRISTE*quil"i*brist, n.
Defn: One who balances himself in unnatural positions and hazardousmovements; a balancer.When the equilibrist balances a rod upon his finger. Stewart.
EQUILIBRITYE`qui*lib"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. aequilibritas equal distribution. SeeEquilibrium.]
Defn: The state of being balanced; equality of weight. [R.] J.Gregory.
EQUILIBRIUM E`qui*lib"ri*um, n.; pl. E. Equilibriums, L. Equilibria. Etym: [L. aequilibrium, fr. aequilibris in equilibrium, level; aequus equal + libra balance. See Equal, and Librate.]
1. Equality of weight or force; an equipoise or a state of rest produced by the mutual counteraction of two or more forces.
2. A level position; a just poise or balance in respect to an object, so that it remains firm; equipoise; as, to preserve the equilibrium of the body. Health consists in the equilibrium between those two powers. Arbuthnot.
3. A balancing of the mind between motives or reasons, with consequent indecision and doubt. Equilibrium valve (Steam Engine), a balanced valve. See under Valve.
EQUIMOMENTALE`qui*mo*men"tal, a. Etym: [Equi- + momental.] (Mech.)
Defn: Having equal moments of inertia.
Note: Two bodies or systems of bodies are said to be equimomental when their moments of inertia about all straight lines are equal each to each. Equimomental cone of a given rigid body, a conical surface that has any given vertex, and is described by a straight line which moves in such manner that the moment of inertia of the given rigid body about the line is in all its positions the same.
EQUIMULTIPLEE`qui*mul"ti*ple, a. Etym: [Equi- + multiple: cf. F. équimultiple.]
Defn: Multiplied by the same number or quantity.
EQUIMULTIPLEE`qui*mul"ti*ple, n. (Math.)
Defn: One of the products arising from the multiplication of two or more quantities by the same number or quantity. Thus, seven times 2, or 14, and seven times 4, or 28, are equimultiples of 2 and 4.
EQUINALE*qui"nal, a.
Defn: See Equine. "An equinal shape." Heywood.
EQUINE E"quine, a. Etym: [L. equinus, fr. equus horse; akin to Gr. a, OS. ehu, AS. eh, eoh, Icel. j, OIr. ech, cf. Skr. a to reach, overtake, perh. akin to E. acute, edge, eager, a. Cf. Hippopotamus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a horse. The shoulders, body, things, and mane are equine; the head completely bovine. Sir J. Barrow.
EQUINIAE*quin"i*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Equine.] (Med.)
Defn: Glanders.
EQUINOCTIAL E`qui*noc"tial, a. Etym: [L. aequinoctials, fr. aequinoctium equinox: cf. F. équinoxial. See Equinox.]
1. Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line.
2. Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator; in or near that line; as, equinoctial heat; an equinoctial sun.
3. Pertaining to the time when the sun enters the equinoctial points; as, an equinoctial gale or storm, that is, one happening at or near the time of the equinox, in any part of the world. Equinoctial colure (Astron.), the meridian passing through the equinoctial points. — Equinoctial line (Astron.), the celestial equator; — so called because when the sun is on it, the nights and days are of equal length in all parts of the world. See Equator. Thrice the equinoctial line He circled. Milton. - Equinoctial points (Astron.), the two points where the celestial and ecliptic intersect each other; the one being in the first point of Aries, the other in the first point of Libra. — Equinoctial time (Astron.) reckoned in any year from the instant when the mean sun is at the mean vernal equinoctial point.
EQUINOCTIALE`qui*noc"tial, n.
Defn: The equinoctial line.
EQUINOCTIALLYE`qui*noc"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: Towards the equinox.
EQUINOXE"qui*nox, n. Etym: [OE. equinoxium, equenoxium, L. aequinoctium;aequus equal + nox, noctis, night: cf. F. équinoxe. See Equal, andNight.]
1. The time when the sun enters one of the equinoctial points, that is, about March 21 and September 22. See Autumnal equinox, Vernal equinox, under Autumnal and Vernal. When descends on the Atlantic The gigantic Stormwind of the equinox. Longfellow.
2. Equinoctial wind or storm. [R.] Dryden.
EQUINUMERANT E`qui*nu"mer*ant, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. numerans, p. pr. of numerare to number.]
Defn: Equal as to number. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
EQUIP E*quip", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Equipping.] Etym: [F. équiper to supply, fit out, orig. said of a ship, OF. esquiper to embark; of German origin; cf. OHG. scif, G. schiff, Icel. skip, AS. scip. See Ship.]
1. To furnish for service, or against a need or exigency; to fit out; to supply with whatever is necessary to efficient action in any way; to provide with arms or an armament, stores, munitions, rigging, etc.; — said esp. of ships and of troops. Dryden. Gave orders for equipping a considerable fleet. Ludlow.
2. To dress up; to array; accouter. The country are led astray in following the town, and equipped in a ridiculous habit, when they fancy themselves in the height of the mode. Addison.
EQUIPAGEEq"ui*page (; 48), n. Etym: [F. équipage, fr. équiper. See Equip.]
1. Furniture or outfit, whether useful or ornamental; especially, the furniture and supplies of a vessel, fitting her for a voyage or for warlike purposes, or the furniture and necessaries of an army, a body of troops, or a single soldier, including whatever is necessary for efficient service; equipments; accouterments; habiliments; attire. Did their exercises on horseback with noble equipage. Evelyn. First strip off all her equipage of Pride. Pope.
2. Retinue; train; suite. Swift.
3. A carriage of state or of pleasure with all that accompanies it, as horses, liveried servants, etc., a showy turn-out. The rumbling equipages of fashion . . . were unknown in the settlement of New Amsterdam. W. Irving.
EQUIPAGEDEq"ui*paged, a.
Defn: Furnished with equipage.Well dressed, well bred. Well equipaged, is ticket good enough.Cowper.
EQUIPARABLEE*quip"a*ra*ble a. Etym: [L. aequiparabilis.]
Defn: Comparable. [Obs. or R.]
EQUIPARATEE*quip"a*rate v. t. Etym: [L. aequiparatus, p. p. of aequiparare.]
Defn: To compare. [R.]
EQUIPEDALE*quip"e*dal, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Equal-footed; having the pairs of feet equal.
EQUIPENDENCYE`qui*pend"en*cy, n. Etym: [Equi- + pendency.]
Defn: The act or condition of hanging in equipoise; not inclined or determined either way. South.
EQUIPENSATE E`qui*pen"sate, v. t. Etym: [Equi- + pensatus, p. p. of pensare to weigh. Cf. Equipoise.]
Defn: To weigh equally; to esteem alike. [Obs.]
EQUIPMENTE*quip"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. équipement. See Equip.]
1. The act of equipping, or the state of being equipped, as for a voyage or expedition. Burke. The equipment of the fleet was hastened by De Witt. Hume.
2. Whatever is used in equipping; necessaries for an expedition or voyage; the collective designation for the articles comprising an outfit; equipage; as, a railroad equipment (locomotives, cars, etc. ; for carrying on business); horse equipments; infantry equipments; naval equipments; laboratory equipments. Armed and dight, In the equipments of a knight. Longfellow.
EQUIPOISEE"qui*poise, n. Etym: [Equi- + poise.]
1. Equality of weight or force; hence, equilibrium; a state in which the two ends or sides of a thing are balanced, and hence equal; state of being equally balanced; — said of moral, political, or social interests or forces. The means of preserving the equipoise and the tranquillity of the commonwealth. Burke. Our little lives are kept in equipoise By opposite attractions and desires. Longfellow.
2. Counterpoise. The equipoise to the clergy being removed. Buckle.
EQUIPOLLENCE; EQUIPOLLENCYE`qui*pol"lence, E`qui*pol"len*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. équipollence. SeeEquipollent.]
1. Equality of power, force, signification, or application. Boyle.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Sameness of signification of two or more propositions which differ in language.
EQUIPOLLENT E`qui*pol"lent, a. Etym: [L. aequipollens; aequus equal + pollens, - entis, p. pr. of pollere to be strong, able: cf. F. équipollent.]
1. Having equal power or force; equivalent. Bacon.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Having equivalent signification and reach; expressing the same thing, but differently.
EQUIPOLLENTLYE`qui*pol"lent*ly, adv.
Defn: With equal power. Barrow.
EQUIPONDERANCE; EQUIPONDERANCY E`qui*pon"der*ance, E`qui*pon"der*an*cy, n. Etym: [Equi- + ponderance: cf. F. équipondérance.]
Defn: Equality of weight; equipoise.
EQUIPONDERANTE`qui*pon"der*ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. équipondérant.]
Defn: Being of the same weight.A column of air . . . equiponderant to a column of quicksilver.Locke.
EQUIPONDERATEE`qui*pon"der*ate, v. i. Etym: [Equi- + L. ponderare to weigh. SeePonderate.]
Defn: To be equal in weight; to weigh as much as another thing. Bp.Wilkins.
EQUIPONDERATEE`qui*pon"der*ate, v. t.
Defn: To make equal in weight; to counterbalance. "More than equiponderated the declension in that direction." De Quincey.
EQUIPONDEROUSE`qui*pon"der*ous, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. pondus, ponderis, weight.]
Defn: Having equal weight. Bailey.
EQUIPONDIOUS E`qui*pon"di*ous, a. Etym: [L. aequipondium an equal weight; aequus equal + pondus weight.]
Defn: Of equal weight on both sides; balanced. [Obs.] Glanvill.
EQUIPOTENTIALE`qui*po*ten"tial, a. Etym: [Equi- + potential.] (Mech. & Physics)
Defn: Having the same potential. Equipotential surface, a surface for which the potential is for all points of the surface constant. Level surfaces on the earth are equipotential.
EQUIRADICALE`qui*rad"i*cal a. Etym: [Equi- + radical.]
Defn: Equally radical. [R.] Coleridge.
EQUIROTALE`qui*ro"tal, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. rota wheel.]
Defn: Having wheels of the same size or diameter; having equal rotation. [R.]
EQUISETACEOUSE`qui*se*ta"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the Equisetaceæ, or Horsetail family.
EQUISETIFORME`qui*set"i*form, a. Etym: [Equisetum- + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of the equisetum.
EQUISETUM Eq`ui*se"tum, n.; pl. Equiseta. Etym: [L., the horsetail, fr. equus horse + seta a thick,, stiff hair, bristle.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of vascular, cryptogamic, herbaceous plants; — also called horsetails.
Note: The Equiseta have hollow jointed stems and no true leaves. The cuticle often contains siliceous granules, so that one species (E. hyemale) is used for scouring and polishing, under the name of Dutch rush or scouring rush.
EQUISONANCE E*quis"o*nance, n. Etym: [Equi- + L. sonans, p. pr. of sonare to sound: cf. F. équisonnance. See Sonant.] (Mus.)
Defn: An equal sounding; the consonance of the unison and its octaves.
EQUISONANTE*quis"o*nant a.
Defn: Of the same or like sound.
EQUITABLEEq"ui*ta*ble, a. Etym: [F. équitable, from équité. See Equity.]
1. Possessing or exhibiting equity; according to natural right or natural justice; marked by a due consideration for what is fair, unbiased, or impartial; just; as an equitable decision; an equitable distribution of an estate; equitable men. No two . . . had exactly the same notion of what was equitable. Macaulay.
2. (Law)
Defn: That can be sustained or made available or effective in a court of equity, or upon principles of equity jurisprudence; as, an equitable estate; equitable assets, assignment, mortgage, etc. Abbott.
Syn. — Just; fair; reasonable; right; honest; impartial; candid; upright.
EQUITABLENESSEq"ui*ta*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being equitable, just, or impartial; as, the equitableness of a judge, a decision, or distribution of property.
EQUITABLYEq"ui*ta*bly, adv.
Defn: In an equitable manner; justly; as, the laws should be equitably administered.
EQUITANCYEq"ui*tan*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. equitantia. See Equitant.]
Defn: Horsemanship.
EQUITANT Eq"ui*tant, a. Etym: [L. equitans, -antis, p. pr. of equitare to ride, fr. eques horseman, fr. equus horse.]
1. Mounted on, or sitting upon, a horse; riding on horseback.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Overlapping each other; — said of leaves whose bases are folded so as to overlap and bestride the leaves within or above them, as in the iris.
EQUITATION Eq`ui*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. equitatio, fr. equitare: cf. F. équitation.]
Defn: A riding, or the act of riding, on horseback; horsemanship.The pretender to equitation mounted. W. Irving.
EQUITEMPORANEOUS E`qui*tem`po*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. aequus equal + tempus, temporis, time.]
Defn: Contemporaneous. [Obs.] Boyle.
EQUITESEq"ui*tes n. pl Etym: [L., pl. of eques a horseman.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An order of knights holding a middle place between the senate and the commonalty; members of the Roman equestrian order.
EQUITY Eq"ui*ty, n.; pl. Equities. Etym: [F. équité, L. aequitas, fr. aequus even, equal. See Equal.]
1. Equality of rights; natural justice or right; the giving, or desiring to give, to each man his due, according to reason, and the law of God to man; fairness in determination of conflicting claims; impartiality. Christianity secures both the private interests of men and the public peace, enforcing all justice and equity. Tillotson.
2. (Law)
Defn: An equitable claim; an equity of redemption; as, an equity to asettlement, or wife's equity, etc.I consider the wife's equity to be too well settled to be shaken.Kent.
3. (Law)
Defn: A system of jurisprudence, supplemental to law, properly so called, and complemental of it. Equity had been gradually shaping itself into a refined science which no human faculties could master without long and intense application. Macaulay.
Note: Equitable jurisprudence in England and in the United States grew up from the inadequacy of common-law forms to secure justice in all cases; and this led to distinct courts by which equity was applied in the way of injunctions, bills of discovery, bills for specified performance, and other processes by which the merits of a case could be reached more summarily or more effectively than by common-law suits. By the recent English Judicature Act (1873), however, the English judges are bound to give effect, in common-law suits, to all equitable rights and remedies; and when the rules of equity and of common law, in any particular case, conflict, the rules of equity are to prevail. In many jurisdictions in the United States, equity and common law are thus blended; in others distinct equity tribunals are still maintained. See Chancery. Equity of redemption (Law), the advantage, allowed to a mortgageor, of a certain or reasonable time to redeem lands mortgaged, after they have been forfeited at law by the nonpayment of the sum of money due on the mortgage at the appointed time. Blackstone.
Syn. — Right; justice; impartiality; rectitude; fairness; honesty; uprightness. See Justice.
EQUIVALENCEE*quiv"a*lence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. équivalence, LL. aequivalentia.]
1. The condition of being equivalent or equal; equality of worth, value, signification, or force; as, an equivalence of definitions.
2. Equal power or force; equivalent amount.
3. (Chem.) (a) The quantity of the combining power of an atom, expressed in hydrogen units; the number of hydrogen atoms can combine with, or be exchanged for; valency. See Valence. (b) The degree of combining power as determined by relative weight. See Equivalent, n., 2. [R.]
EQUIVALENCEE*quiv"a*lence, v. t.
Defn: To be equivalent or equal to; to counterbalance. [R.] Sir T.Browne.
EQUIVALENCYE*quiv"a*len*cy, n.
Defn: Same as Equivalence.
EQUIVALENT E*quiv"a*lent, a. Etym: [L. aequivalens, -entis, p. pr. of aequivalere to have equal power; aequus equal + valere to be strong, be worth: cf. F. équivalent. See Equal, and Valiant.]
1. Equal in wortir or value, force, power, effect, import, and the like; alike in significance and value; of the same import or meaning. For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent. South.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; — applied to magnitudes; as, a square may be equivalent to a triangle.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Contemporaneous in origin; as, the equivalent strata of different countries.
EQUIVALENTE*quiv"a*lent, n.
1. Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight, or force; as, to offer an equivalent for damage done. He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some equivalent. . . . During some weeks the word equivalent, then lately imported from France, was in the mouths of all the coffeehouse. Macaulay.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: That comparative quantity by weight of an element which possesses the same chemical value as other elements, as determined by actual experiment and reference to the same standard. Specifically: (a) The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their equivalents are 32.5 and 1. (b) The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number expressing this proportion, in any particular compound; as, the equivalents of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16.
Note: This term was adopted by Wollaston to avoid using the conjectural expression atomic weight, with which, however, for a time it was practically synonymous. The attempt to limit the term to the meaning of a universally comparative combining weight failed, because of the possibility of several compounds of the substances by reason of the variation in combining power which most elements exhibit. The equivalent was really identical with, or a multiple of submultiple of, the atomic weight.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule; as, in acid salt two or more equivalents of acid unite with one or more equivalents of base. Mechanical equivalent of heat (Physics), the number of units of work which the unit of heat can perform; the mechanical energy which must be expended to raise the temperature of a unit weight of water from 0º C. to 1º C., or from 32º F. to 33º F. The term was introduced by Dr. Mayer of Heilbronn. Its value was found by Joule to be 1390 foot pounds upon the Centigrade, or 772 foot pounds upon the Fahrenheit, thermometric scale, whence it is often called Joule's equivalent, and represented by the symbol J. This is equal to 424 kilogram meters (Centigrade scale). A more recent determination by Professor Rowland gives the value 426.9 kilogram meters, for the latitude of Baltimore.
EQUIVALENTE*quiv"a*lent, v. t.
Defn: To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence. [R.]
EQUIVALENTLYE*quiv"a*lent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an equal manner.
EQUIVALUEE`qui*val"ue, v. t.
Defn: To put an equal value upon; to put (something) on a par with another thing. W. Taylor.
EQUIVALVE; EQUIVALVEDE"qui*valve, E"qui*valved, a. Etym: [Equi- + valve.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the valves equal in size and from, as in most bivalve shells.
EQUIVALVULARE`qui*val"vu*lar, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Equivalve or Equivalved.
EQUIVOCACYE*quiv"o*ca*cy, n.
Defn: Equivocalness.
EQUIVOCAL E*quiv"o*cal, a. Etym: [L. aequivocus: aequus equal + vox, vocis, word. See Equal, and Voice, and cf. Equivoque.]
1. (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of double interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as, equivocal words; an equivocal sentence. For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes. Jeffrey.
2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as, his actions are equivocal. "Equivocal repentances." Milton.
3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful. "How equivocal a test." Burke. Equivocal chord (Mus.), a chord which can be resolved into several distinct keys; one whose intervals, being all minor thirds, do not clearly indicate its fundamental tone or root; the chord of the diminished triad, and the diminished seventh.
Syn. — Ambiguous; doubtful; uncertain; indeterminate. — Equivocal, Ambiguous. We call an expression ambiguous when it has one general meaning, and yet contains certain words which may be taken in two different senses; or certain clauses which can be so connected with other clauses as to divide the mind between different views of part of the meaning intended. We call an expression equivocal when, taken as a whole, it conveys a given thought with perfect clearness and propriety, and also another thought with equal propriety and clearness. Such were the responses often given by the Delphic oracle; as that to Crambiguous is a mere blunder of language; what is equivocal is usually intended to deceive, though it may occur at times from mere inadvertence. Equivocation is applied only to cases where there is a design to deceive.
EQUIVOCALE*quiv"o*cal, n.
Defn: A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque. In languages of great ductility, equivocals like that just referred to are rarely found. Fitzed. Hall.
EQUIVOCALLYE*quiv"o*cal*ly, adv.
Defn: In an equivocal manner.
EQUIVOCALNESSE*quiv"o*cal*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being equivocal.
EQUIVOCATEE*quiv"o*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Equivocated; p. pr. & vb. n.Equivocating.] Etym: [L. aequivocatus, p. p. of aequivocari to becalled by the same name, fr. L. aequivocus: cf. F. équivoquer. SeeEquivocal, a.]
Defn: To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity. All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate. Bp. Stillingfleet.
Syn.— To prevaricate; evade; shuffle; quibble. See Prevaricate.
EQUIVOCATEE*quiv"o*cate, v. t.
Defn: To render equivocal or ambiguous.He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. Sir G. Buck.
EQUIVOCATIONE*quiv`o*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, with a purpose to mislead. There being no room for equivocations, there is no need of distinctions. Locke.
Syn.— Prevarication; ambiguity; shuffling; evasion; guibbling. SeeEquivocal, a., and Prevaricate, v. i.
EQUIVOCATORE*quiv"o*ca`tor, n.
Defn: One who equivocates. Here's an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale, yet could not equivocate to heaven. Shak.
EQUIVOCATORYE*quiv"o*ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Indicating, or characterized by, equivocation.
EQUIVOQUE; EQUIVOKEEq"ui*voque, Eq"ui*voke, n. Etym: [F. équivoque. See Equivocal.]
1. An ambiguous term; a word susceptible of different significations. Coleridge.
2. An equivocation; a guibble. B. Jonson.
EQUIVOROUSE*quiv"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. equus horse + vorare to eat greedily.]
Defn: Feeding on horseflesh; as, equivorous Tartars.
EQUUSE"quus, n. Etym: [L., horse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of mammals, including the horse, ass, etc.
-ER -er
Defn: .
1. Etym: [AS. -ere; akin to L. -arius.]
Defn: The termination of many English words, denoting the agent; —applied either to men or things; as in hater, farmer, heater, grater.At the end of names of places, -er signifies a man of the place; as,Londoner, i. e., London man.
2. Etym: [AS. -ra; akin to G. -er, Icel. -are, -re, Goth. -iza, -, L. -ior, Gr. -iyas.]
Defn: A suffix used to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; as, warmer, sooner, lat(e)er, earl(y)ier.
ERAE"ra, n.; pl. Eras. Etym: [LL. aera an era, in earlier usage, theitems of an account, counters, pl. of aes, aeris, brass, money. SeeOre.]
1. A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a series of years is reckoned. The foundation of Solomon's temple is conjectured by Ideler to have been an era. R. S. Poole.
2. A period of time reckoned from some particular date or epoch; a succession of years dating from some important event; as, the era of Alexander; the era of Christ, or the Christian era (see under Christian). The first century of our era. M. Arnold.
3. A period of time in which a new order of things prevails; a signalstage of history; an epoch.Painting may truly be said to have opened the new era of culture. J.A. Symonds.
Syn.— Epoch; time; date; period; age; dispensation. See Epoch.
ERADIATEE*ra"di*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Eradiated; p. pr. & vb. n.Eradiating.] Etym: [Pref. e- + radiate.]
Defn: To shoot forth, as rays of light; to beam; to radiate. Dr. H.More.
ERADIATIONE*ra`di*a"tion, n.
Defn: Emission of radiance.
ERADICABLEE*rad"i*ca*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being eradicated.
ERADICATEE*rad"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eradicated; p. pr. & vb. n.Eradicating.] Etym: [L. eradicatus, p. p. of eradicare to eradicate;e out + radix, radicis, root. See Radical.]
1. To pluck up by the roots; to root up; as, an oak tree eradicated.
2. To root out; to destroy utterly; to extirpate; as, to eradicate diseases, or errors. This, although now an old an inveterate evil, might be eradicated by vigorous treatment. Southey.
Syn.— To extirpate; root out; exterminate; destroy; annihilate.
ERADICATIONE*rad`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. eradicatio: cf. F. éradication.]
1. The act of plucking up by the roots; a rooting out; extirpation; utter destruction.
2. The state of being plucked up by the roots.
ERADICATIVEE*rad"i*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. éradicatif.]
Defn: Tending or serving to eradicate; curing or destroying thoroughly, as a disease or any evil.
ERADICATIVEE*rad"i*ca*tive, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that effects a radical cure. Whitlock.
ERASABLEE*ras"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being erased.
ERASEE*rase", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Erased; p. pr. & vb. n.. Erasing.] Etym:[L. erasus, p. p. of eradere to erase; e out + radere to scrape,scratch, shave. See Rase.]
1. To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word or a name.
2. Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; — used of ideas in the mind or memory. Burke.
ERASEDE*rased", p. pr. & a.
1. Rubbed or scraped out; effaced; obliterated.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Represented with jagged and uneven edges, as is torn off; — used esp. of the head or limb of a beast. Cf. Couped.
ERASEMENTE*rase"ment, n.
Defn: The act of erasing; a rubbing out; expunction; obliteration.Johnson.
ERASERE*ras"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, erases; esp., a sharp instrument or a piece of rubber used to erase writings, drawings, etc.
ERASIONE*ra"sion, n.
Defn: The act of erasing; a rubbing out; obliteration.
ERASTIANE*ras"tian, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of the followers of Thomas Erastus, a German physician and theologian of the 16th century. He held that the punishment of all offenses should be referred to the civil power, and that holy communion was open to all. In the present day, an Erastian is one who would see the church placed entirely under the control of the State. Shipley.
ERASTIANISME*ras"tian*ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The principles of the Erastains.
ERASUREE*ra"sure, n. Etym: [From Erase.]
Defn: The act of erasing; a scratching out; obliteration.
ERATIVEEr"a*tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the Muse Erato who presided over amatory poetry.Stormonth.
ERATOEr"a*to, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The Muse who presided over lyric and amatory poetry.
ERBIUM Er"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL. from Ytterby, in Sweden, where gadolinite is found. Cf. Terbium, Yttrium, Ytterbium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare metallic element associated with several other rare elements in the mineral gadolinite from Ytterby in Sweden. Symbol Er. Atomic weight 165.9. Its salts are rose-colored and give characteristic spectra. Its sesquioxide is called erbia.
ERCEDEKEN Er`ce*de"ken, n. Etym: [OE., fr. pref. erce- = archi- + deken a deacon.]
Defn: An archdeacon. [Obs.]
ERDErd, n. Etym: [OE. erd, eard, earth, land, country, AS. eard; akin toOS. ard dwelling place, OHG. art plowing, tillage, Icel. öredh crop,and to L. arare to plow, E. ear to plow.]
Defn: The earth. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. Erd shrew (Zoöl.), the commonEuropean shrew (Sorex vulgaris); the shrewmouse.
EREEre, prep. & adv. Etym: [AS. , prep., adv., & conj.; akin to OS.,OFries., & OHG. , G. eher, D. eer, Icel. ar, Goth. air. sq. root204.Cf. Early, Erst, Or, adv.]
1. Before; sooner than. [Archaic or Poetic]Myself was stirring ere the break of day. Shak.Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore. Dryden.Sir, come down ere my child die. John iv. 49.
2. Rather than.I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave her. Shak.Ere long, before, shortly. Shak.— Ere now, formerly, heretofore. Shak.— Ere that, and Or are. Same as Ere. Shak.
EREEre, v. t.
Defn: To plow. [Obs.] See Ear, v. t. Chaucer.
EREBUSEr"e*bus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Greek Myth.)
Defn: A place of nether darkness, being the gloomy space through which the souls passed to Hades. See Milton's "Paradise Lost," Book II., line 883.
2. (Greek Myth.)
Defn: The son of Chaos and brother of Nox, who dwelt in Erebus.To the infernal deep, with Erebus and tortures vile. Shak.
ERECT E*rect", a. Etym: [L. erectus, p. p. of erigere to erect; e out + regere to lead straight. See Right, and cf. Alert.]
1. Upright, or having a vertical position; not inverted; not leaning or bent; not prone; as, to stand erect. Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall. Milton. Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect — a column of ruins. Gibbon.
2. Directed upward; raised; uplifted. His piercing eyes, erect, appear to view Superior worlds, and look all nature through. Pope.
3. Bold; confident; free from depression; undismayed. But who is he, by years Bowed, but erect in heart Keble.
4. Watchful; alert. Vigilant and erect attention of mind. Hooker.
5. (Bot.)
Defn: Standing upright, with reference to the earth's surface, or to the surface to which it is attached.
6. (Her.)
Defn: Elevated, as the tips of wings, heads of serpents, etc.
ERECTE*rect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Erected; p. pr. & vb. n. Erecting.]
1. To raise and place in an upright or perpendicular position; to set upright; to raise; as, to erect a pole, a flagstaff, a monument, etc.
2. To raise, as a building; to build; to construct; as, to erect a house or a fort; to set up; to put together the component parts of, as of a machine.
3. To lift up; to elevate; to exalt; to magnify. That didst his state above his hopes erect. Daniel. I, who am a party, am not to erect myself into a judge. Dryden.
4. To animate; to encourage; to cheer. It raiseth the dropping spirit, erecting it to a loving complaisance. Barrow.
5. To set up as an assertion or consequence from premises, or the like. "To erect conclusions." Sir T. Browne. "Malebranche erects this proposition." Locke.
6. To set up or establish; to found; to form; to institute. "To erect a new commonwealth." Hooker. Erecting shop (Mach.), a place where large machines, as engines, are put together and adjusted.
Syn. — To set up; raise; elevate; construct; build; institute; establish; found.
ERECTE*rect", v. i.
Defn: To rise upright. [Obs.]By wet, stalks do erect. Bacon.
ERECTABLEE*rect"a*ble a.
Defn: Capable of being erected; as, an erectable feather. Col. G.Montagu.
ERECTERE*rect"er, n.
Defn: An erector; one who raises or builds.
ERECTILEE*rect"ile, a. Etym: [Cf. F. érectile.]
Defn: Capable of being erected; susceptible of being erected of dilated. Erectile tissue (Anat.), a tissue which is capable of being greatly dilated and made rigid by the distension of the numerous blood vessels which it contains.
ERECTILITYE`rec*til"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being erectile.
ERECTIONE*rec"tion, n. Etym: [L. erectio: cf. F. érection.]
1. The act of erecting, or raising upright; the act of constructing, as a building or a wall, or of fitting together the parts of, as a machine; the act of founding or establishing, as a commonwealth or an office; also, the act of rousing to excitement or courage.
2. The state of being erected, lifted up, built, established, or founded; exaltation of feelings or purposes. Her peerless height my mind to high erection draws up. Sidney
3. State of being stretched to stiffness; tension.
4. Anything erected; a building of any kind.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: The state of a part which, from having been soft, has become hard and swollen by the accumulation of blood in the erectile tissue.
ERECTIVEE*rect"ive, a.
Defn: Making erect or upright; raising; tending to erect.
ERECTLYE*rect"ly, adv.
Defn: In an erect manner or posture.
ERECTNESSE*rect"ness, n.
Defn: Uprightness of posture or form.
ERECTO-PATENTE*rec"to-pat"ent, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a position intermediate between erect and patent, or spreading.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Standing partially spread and erect; — said of the wings of certain insects.
ERECTORE*rec"tor, n.
1. One who, or that which, erects.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which raises any part.
3. (Physics)
Defn: An attachment to a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument, for making the image erect instead of inverted.
ERELONGEre`long", adv.
Defn: Before the ere long.A man, . . . following the stag, erelong slew him. Spenser.The world, erelong, a world of tears must weep. Milton.
EREMACAUSISEr`e*ma*cau"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A gradual oxidation from exposure to air and moisture, as in the decay of old trees or of dead animals.
EREMITAGEEr"e*mit*age, n.
Defn: See Hermitage.
EREMITEEr"e*mite, n. Etym: [See Hermit.]
Defn: A hermit.Thou art my heaven, and I thy eremite. Keats.
EREMITIC; EREMITICALEr`e*mit"ic, Er`e*mit"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an eremite; hermitical; living in solitude."An eremitical life in the woods." Fuller. "The eremitic instinct."Lowell.
EREMITISHEr"e*mi`tish, a.
Defn: Eremitic. Bp. Hall.
EREMITISMEr"e*mit*ism, n.
Defn: The state of a hermit; a living in seclusion from social life.
EREPTATION E`rep*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. erepere to creep out; e out + repere to creep.]
Defn: A creeping forth. [Obs.]
EREPTION E*rep"tion, n. Etym: [L. ereptio, fr. eripere to snatch away; e out + rapere to snatch.]
Defn: A snatching away. [Obs.] Cockeram.
ERETHISMEr"e*thism, n. Etym: [Gr. éréthisme.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid degree of excitement or irritation in an organ.Hoblyn.
ERETHISTICEr`e*this"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to erethism.
EREWHILE; EREWHILESEre`while", Ere`whiles", adv.
Defn: Some time ago; a little while before; heretofore. [Archaic]I am as fair now as I was erewhile. Shak.
ERFErf, n.; pl. Erven. Etym: [D.]
Defn: A garden plot, usually about half an acre. [Cape Colony]
ERGErg, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)
Defn: The unit of work or energy in the C. G. S. system, being the amount of work done by a dyne working through a distance of one centimeter; the amount of energy expended in moving a body one centimeter against a force of one dyne. One foot pound is equal to 13,560,000 ergs.
ERGALEr"gal, n. [G., fr. Gr. work.] (Physics)
Defn: Potential energy; negative value of the force function.
ERGATEr"gat, v. t. Etym: [L. ergo therefore.]
Defn: To deduce logically, as conclusions. [Obs.] Hewyt.
ERGMETERErg"me`ter, n. [Erg + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring energy in ergs.
ERGOEr"go, conj. or adv. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Therefore; consequently; — often used in a jocular way. Shak.
ERGOGRAPHEr"go*graph, n. [Gr. work + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring and recording the work done by a single muscle or set of muscles, the rate of fatigue, etc. — Er`go*graph"ic (#), a.
ERGOMETEREr*gom"e*ter, n. [Gr. work + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: A device for measuring, or an instrument for indicating, energy expended or work done; a dynamometer. — Er`go*met"ric (#), a.
ERGON Er"gon, n. [NL., fr. Gr. work.] (Physics) (a) Work, measured in terms of the quantity of heat to which it is equivalent. (b) = Erg.
ERGOTEr"got, n. Etym: [F. ergot, argot, lit., a spur.]
1. A diseased condition of rye and other cereals, in which the grains become black, and often spur-shaped. It is caused by a parasitic fungus, Claviceps purpurea.
2. The mycelium or spawn of this fungus infecting grains of rye and wheat. It is a powerful remedial agent, and also a dangerous poison, and is used as a means of hastening childbirth, and to arrest bleeding.
3. (Far.)
Defn: A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a chestnut, situated behind and below the pastern joint.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: See 2d Calcar, 3 (b).
ERGOTICEr*got"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, ergot; as, ergotic acid.
ERGOTINEr"go*tin, n. (Med.)
Defn: An extract made from ergot.
ERGOTINEEr"go*tine. (Chem.)
Defn: A powerful astringent alkaloid extracted from ergot as a brown, amorphous, bitter substance. It is used to produce contraction of the uterus.
ERGOTISMEr"go*tism, n. Etym: [F. ergotisme, fr. L. ergo.]
Defn: A logical deduction. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ERGOTISMEr"got*ism, n. Etym: [From Ergot, n.; cf. F. ergotisme.] (Med.)
Defn: A diseased condition produced by eating rye affected with the ergot fungus.
ERGOTIZEDEr"got*ized, a.
Defn: Affected with the ergot fungus; as, ergotized rye.
ERIACH; ERICEr"i*ach, Er"ic, n. Etym: [Ir. eiric.] (Old Irish Law)
Defn: A recompense formerly given by a murderer to the relatives of the murdered person.
ERICAE*ri"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. erice heath, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubby plants, including the heaths, many of them producing beautiful flowers.
ERICACEOUSEr`i*ca"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the Heath family, or resembling plants of that family; consisting of heats.
ERICINOL E*ric"i*nol, n. Etym: [NL. ericaceae the Heath family + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless oil (quickly becoming brown), with a pleasant odor, obtained by the decomposition of ericolin.
ERICIUSE*ri"ci*us, n. Etym: [L., a hedgehog.]
Defn: The Vulgate rendering of the Hebrew word qipod, which in the"Authorized Version" is translated bittern, and in the RevisedVersion, porcupine.I will make it [Babylon] a possession for the ericius and pools ofwaters. Is. xiv. 23 (Douay version).
ERICOLINE*ric"o*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside found in the bearberry (and others of theEricaceæ), and extracted as a bitter, yellow, amorphous mass.
ERIDANUSE*rid"a*nus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A long, winding constellation extending southward from Taurus and containing the bright star Achernar.
ERIGIBLEEr"i*gi*ble, a. Etym: [See Erect.]
Defn: Capable of being erected. [Obs.]
ERINE"rin, n. Etym: [Ir. Cf. Aryan.]
Defn: An early, and now a poetic, name of Ireland.
ERINACEOUSEr`i*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. erinaceus hedgehog.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of the Hedgehog family; like, or characteristic of, a hedgehog.
ERINGOE*rin"go, n.
Defn: The sea holly. See Eryngo.
ERINITEEr"i*nite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous arseniate of copper, of an emerald-green color; — so called from Erin, or Ireland, where it occurs.
ERINYSE*rin"ys, n.; pl. Erinyes. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: An avenging deity; one of the Furies; sometimes, conscience personified. [Written also Erinnys.]
ERIOMETERE`ri*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Opt.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the diameters of minute particles or fibers, from the size of the colored rings produced by the diffraction of the light in which the objects are viewed.
ERISTALISE*ris"ta*lis, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of dipterous insects whose young (called rat-tailed larvæ) are remarkable for their long tapering tail, which spiracles at the tip, and for their ability to live in very impure and salt waters; — also called drone fly.
ERISTIC; ERISTICALE*ris"tic, E*ris"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Controversial. [Archaic] A specimen of admirable special pleading in the court of eristic logic. Coleridge.
ERKEErke, a. Etym: [Cf. Irk.]
Defn: ASlothful. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
ERLKINGErl"king`, n. Etym: [G. erlkönig, fr. Dan. ellekonge elfking.]
Defn: A personification, in German and Scandinavian mythology, of a spirit natural power supposed to work mischief and ruin, esp. to children.
ERMEErme, v. i. Etym: [OE. ermen, AS. yrman. Cf. Yearn.]
Defn: To grieve; to feel sad. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ERMELIN; ERMILINEr"me*lin, Er"mi*lin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Ermine. Shenstone.
ERMINEr"min, n. Etym: [OF. Ermin, L. Armenius.]
Defn: An Armenian. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ERMINE Er"mine, n. Etym: [OF. ermine, F. hermine, prob. of German origin; cf. OHG. harmo, G. hermelin, akin to Lith. szarm, szarmonys, weasel, cf. AS. hearma; but cf. also LL. armelinus, armellina, hermellina, and pellis Armenia, the fur of the Armenian rat, mus Armenius, the animal being found also in Armenia.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A valuable fur-bearing animal of the genus Mustela (M. erminea), allied to the weasel; the stoat. It is found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. In summer it is brown, but in winter it becomes white, except the tip of the tail, which is always black.
2. The fur of the ermine, as prepared for ornamenting garments of royalty, etc., by having the tips of the tails, which are black, arranged at regular intervals throughout the white.
3. By metonymy, the office or functions of a judge, whose state robe, lined with ermine, is emblematical of purity and honor without stain. Chatham.
4. (Her.)
Defn: One of the furs. See Fur (Her.)
Note: Ermine is represented by an argent field, tufted with black. Ermines is the reverse of ermine, being black, spotted or timbered with argent. Erminois is the same as ermine, except that or is substituted for argent. Ermine moth (Zoöl.), a white moth with black spots (esp. Yponomeuta padella of Europe); — so called on account of the resemblance of its covering to the fur of the ermine; also applied to certain white bombycid moths of America.
ERMINEEr"mine, v. t.
Defn: To clothe with, or as with, ermine.The snows that have ermined it in the winter. Lowell.
ERMINEDEr"mined, a.
Defn: Clothed or adorned with the fur of the ermine. Pope.
ERMINES; ERMINOISEr"mines, n., Er"min*ois (, n. (Her.)
Defn: See Note under Ermine, n., 4.
ERMITEr"mit, n. Etym: [See Hermit.]
Defn: A hermit. [Obs.]
ERN; ERNEErn, Erne, n. Etym: [AS. earn eagle; akin to D. arend, OHG. aro, G.aar, Icel., Sw., & Dan. örn, Goth. ara, and to Gr. Ornithology.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A sea eagle, esp. the European white-tailed sea eagle(Haliæetus albicilla).
ERNErn, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Erme.]
Defn: To stir with strong emotion; to grieve; to mourn.
Note: [Corrupted into yearn in modern editions of Shakespeare.][Obs.]
ERNESTEr"nest, n.
Defn: See Earnest. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ERNESTFULEr"nest*ful, a. Etym: [See Earnest, a.]
Defn: Serious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ERODEE*rode", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eroded; p. pr. & vb. n. Eroding.] Etym:[L. erodere, erosum; e out + rodere to gnaw. See Rodent.]
Defn: To eat into or away; to corrode; as, canker erodes the flesh."The blood . . . erodes the vessels." Wiseman.The smaller charge is more apt to . . . erode the gun. Am. Cyc.
ERODEDE*rod"ed, p. p. & a.
1. Eaten away; gnawed; irregular, as if eaten or worn away.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the edge worn away so as to be jagged or irregularly toothed.
ERODENTE*rod"ent, n. Etym: [L. erodens, -entis, p. pr. of erodere. SeeErode.] (Med.)