E (continued 7)

EPIGASTRIUM Ep`i*gas"tri*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The upper part of the abdomen.

EPIGEAL Ep`i*ge"al, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Epigæous. [R.]

EPIGEE Ep"i*gee, n. Etym: [NL. epigeum, fr. Gr. Epigæa.]

Defn: See Perigee. [Obs.]

EPIGENE Ep"i*gene, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr.

1. (Crystallog.)

Defn: Foreign; unnatural; unusual; — said of forms of crystals not natural to the substances in which they are found.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Formed originating on the surface of the earth; — opposed to hypogene; as, epigene rocks.

EPIGENESIS Ep`i*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + genesis.] (Biol.)

Defn: The theory of generation which holds that the germ is created entirely new, not merely expanded, by the procreative power of the parents. It is opposed to the theory of evolution, also to syngenesis.

EPIGENESIST Ep`i*gen"e*sist, n. (Biol.)

Defn: One who believes in, or advocates the theory of, epigenesis.

EPIGENETIC Ep`i*ge*net"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the epigenesis; produced according to the theory of epigenesis.

EPIGEOUS Ep`i*ge"ous, a.

Defn: Same as Epigæous.

EPIGEUM Ep*i*ge"um, n. Etym: [NL. See Epigee.]

Defn: See Perigee. [Obs.]

EPIGLOTTIC Ep`i*glot"tic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or connected with, the epiglottis.

EPIGLOTTIDEAN Ep`i*glot*tid"e*an, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Same as Epiglottic.

EPIGLOTTIS Ep`i*glot"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Glottis.] (Anat.)

Defn: A cartilaginous lidlike appendage which closes the glottis while food or drink is passing while food or drink is passing through the pharynx.

EPIGNATHOUS E*pig"na*thous, a. Etym: [Epi- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Hook-billed; having the upper mandible longer than the lower.

EPIGRAM Ep"i*gram, n. Etym: [L. epigramma, fr. Gr. épigramme. See Graphic.]

1. A short poem treating concisely and pointedly of a single thought or event. The modern epigram is so contrived as to surprise the reader with a witticism or ingenious turn of thought, and is often satirical in character. Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram Shak.

Note: Epigrams were originally inscription on tombs, statues, temples, triumphal arches, etc.

2. An effusion of wit; a bright thought tersely and sharply expressed, whether in verse or prose.

3. The style of the epigram. Antithesis, i. e., bilateral stroke, is the soul of epigram in its later and technical signification. B. Cracroft.

EPIGRAMMATIC; EPIGRAMMATICAL Ep`i*gram*mat"ic, Ep`i*gram*mat"ic*al,Etym: [L. epigrammaticus: cf. F. épigrammatique.]

1. Writing epigrams; dealing in epigrams; as, an epigrammatical poet.

2. Suitable to epigrams; belonging to epigrams; like an epigram; pointed; piquant; as, epigrammatic style, wit, or sallies of fancy.

EPIGRAMMATICALLY Ep`i*gram*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In the way of epigram; in an epigrammatic style.

EPIGRAMMATIST Ep`i*gram"ma*tist, n. Etym: [L. epigrammatista: cf. F. épigrammatiste.]

Defn: One who composes epigrams, or makes use of them. The brisk epigrammatist showing off his own cleverness. Holmes.

EPIGRAMMATIZE Ep`i*gram"ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Epigrammatized; p. pr. & vb. n. Epigrammatizing.]

Defn: To represent by epigrams; to express by epigrams.

EPIGRAMMATIZER Ep`i*gram"ma*ti`zer, n.

Defn: One who writes in an affectedly pointed style. Epigrammatizers of our English prose style. Coleridge.

EPIGRAMMIST Ep"i*gram`mist, n.

Defn: An epigrammatist. Jer. Taylor.

EPIGRAPH Ep"i*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. épigraphe. See Epigram.]

1. Any inscription set upon a building; especially, one which has to do with the building itself, its founding or dedication.

2. (Literature)

Defn: A citation from some author, or a sentence framed for the purpose, placed at the beginning of a work or of its separate divisions; a motto.

EPIGRAPHIC; EPIGRAPHICAL Ep`i*graph"ic, Ep`i*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to epigraphs or to epigraphy; as, an epigraphic style; epigraphical works or studies.

EPIGRAPHICS Ep`i*graph"ics, n.

Defn: The science or study of epigraphs.

EPIGRAPHIST E*pig"ra*phist, n.

Defn: A student of, or one versed in, epigraphy.

EPIGRAPHY E*pig"ra*phy, n.

Defn: The science of inscriptions; the art of engraving inscriptions or of deciphering them.

EPIGYNOUS E*pig"y*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. épigyne.] (Bot.)

Defn: Adnate to the surface of the ovary, so as to be apparently inserted upon the top of it; — said of stamens, petals, sepals, and also of the disk.

EPIHYAL Ep`i*hy"al, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + the Greek letter (Anat.)

Defn: A segment next above the ceratohyal in the hyoidean arch.

EPILEPSY Ep"i*lep`sy, n. Etym: [L. epilepsia, Gr. épilepsie. Cf. Catalepsy.] (Med.)

Defn: The "falling sickness," so called because the patient falls suddenly to the ground; a disease characterized by paroxysms (or fits) occurring at interval and attended by sudden loss of consciousness, and convulsive motions of the muscles. Dunglison.

EPILEPTIC Ep`i*lep"tic, a. Etym: [L. epilepticus, Gr. épileptique.]

Defn: Pertaining to, affected with, or of the nature of, epilepsy.

EPILEPTIC Ep`i*lep"tic, n.

1. One affected with epilepsy.

2. A medicine for the cure of epilepsy.

EPILEPTICAL Ep`i*lep"tic*al, a.

Defn: Epileptic.

EPILEPTIFORM Ep`i*lep"ti*form, a.

Defn: Resembling epilepsy.

EPILEPTOGENOUS Ep`i*lep*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. -genous.] (Med.)

Defn: Producing epilepsy or epileptoid convulsions; — applied to areas of the body or of the nervous system, stimulation of which produces convulsions.

EPILEPTOID Ep`i*lep"toid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Med.)

Defn: Resembling epilepsy; as, epileptoid convulsions.

EPILOGATION Ep`i*lo*ga"tion, n. Etym: [LL. epilogatio.]

Defn: A summing up in a brief account. [Obs.] Udall.

EPILOGIC; EPILOGICAL Ep`i*log"ic, Ep`i*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to an epilogue.

EPILOGISM E*pil"o*gism, n. Etym: [Gr. Epilogue.]

Defn: Enumeration; computation. [R.] J. Gregory.

EPILOGISTIC Ep`i*lo*gis"tic, a. Etym: [Cf. Gr. Epilogism.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to epilogue; of the nature of an epilogue. T. Warton.

EPILOGIZE E*pil"o*gize, v. i. & t. Etym: [See Epilogism.]

Defn: To speak an epilogue to; to utter as an epilogue.

EPILOGUE Ep"i*logue, n. Etym: [F. épilogue, L. epilogus, fr. Gr. Legend.]

1. (Drama)

Defn: A speech or short poem addressed to the spectators and recited by one of the actors, after the conclusion of the play. A good play no epilogue, yet . . . good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues. Shak.

2. (Rhet.)

Defn: The closing part of a discourse, in which the principal matters are recapitulated; a conclusion.

EPILOGUIZE Ep"i*lo*guize, v. i. & t.

Defn: Same as Epilogize.

EPIMACHUS E*pim"a*chus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of highly ornate and brilliantly colored birds of Australia, allied to the birds of Paradise.

EPIMERA E*pim"e*ra, n. pl.

Defn: See Epimeron.

EPIMERAL E*pim"e*ral, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the epimera.

EPIMERE Ep"i*mere, n. Etym: [Epi- + -mere.] (Biol.)

Defn: One of the segments of the transverse axis, or the so called homonymous parts; as, for example, one of the several segments of the extremities in vertebrates, or one of the similar segments in plants, such as the segments of a segmented leaf. Syd. Soc. Lex.

EPIMERON E*pim"e*ron, n.; pl. Epimera. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) In crustaceans: The part of the side of a somite external to the basal joint of each appendage. See Illust. under Crustacea. (b) In insects: The lateral piece behind the episternum. [Written also epimerum.]

EPINASTIC Ep`i*nas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: A term applied to that phase of vegetable growth in which an organ grows more rapidly on its upper than on its under surface. See Hyponastic.

EPINEURAL Ep`i*neu"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + neural.] (Anat.)

Defn: Arising from the neurapophysis of a vertebra.

EPINEURIUM Ep`i*neu"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The connective tissue framework and sheath of a nerve which bind together the nerve bundles, each of which has its own special sheath, or perineurium.

EPINGLETTE Ep`in*glette", n. Etym: [F.] (Mil.)

Defn: An iron needle for piercing the cartridge of a cannon before priming.

EPINICIAL Ep`i*ni"cial, a. Etym: [See Epinicion.]

Defn: Relating to victory. "An epinicial song." T. Warton.

EPINICION Ep`i*ni"cion, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. epinicium.]

Defn: A song of triumph. [Obs.] T. Warton.

EPINIKIAN Ep`i*nik"i*an, a.

Defn: Epinicial.

EPIORNIS Ep`i*or"nis, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. épiornis. See Æpyornis.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the gigantic ostrichlike birds of the genus Æpiornis, only recently extinct. Its remains have been found in Madagascar. [Written also Æpyornis.]

EPIOTIC Ep`i*o"tic, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The upper and outer element of periotic bone, — in man forming a part of the temporal bone.

EPIPEDOMETRY Ep`i*pe*dom"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.] (Geom.)

Defn: The mensuration of figures standing on the same base. [Obs.]

EPIPERIPHERAL Ep`i*pe*riph"er*al, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + peripheral.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Connected with, or having its origin upon, the external surface of the body; — especially applied to the feelings which originate at the extremities of nerves distributed on the outer surface, as the sensation produced by touching an object with the finger; — opposed to entoperipheral. H. Spenser.

EPIPETALOUS Ep`i*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + petal.] (Bot.)

Defn: Borne on the petals or corolla.

EPIPHANY E*piph"a*ny, n. Etym: [F. épiphanie, L. epiphania, Gr. Fancy.]

1. An appearance, or a becoming manifest. Whom but just before they beheld transfigured and in a glorious epiphany upon the mount. Jer. Taylor. An epic poet, if ever such a difficult birth should make its epiphany in Paris. De Quincey.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: A church festival celebrated on the 6th of January, the twelfth day after Christmas, in commemoration of the visit of the Magi of the East to Bethlehem, to see and worship the child Jesus; or, as others maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the Magi, symbolizing the manifestation of Christ to the Gentles; Twelfthtide.

EPIPHARYNGEAL Ep`i*phar`yn*ge"al, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + pharyngeal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the segments above the epibranchial in the branchial arches of fishes. — n.

Defn: An epipharyngeal bone or cartilage.

EPIPHARYNX Ep`i*phar"ynx, n. Etym: [Epi- + pharynx.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A structure which overlaps the mouth of certain insects.

EPIPHONEMA Ep`i*pho*ne"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: An exclamatory sentence, or striking reflection, which sums up or concludes a discourse.

EPIPHONEME E*piph"o*neme, n.

Defn: Epiphonema. [R.]

EPIPHORA E*piph"o*ra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. (Med.)

Defn: The watery eye; a disease in which the tears accumulate in the eye, and trickle over the cheek.

2. (Rhet.)

Defn: The emphatic repetition of a word or phrase, at the end of several sentences or stanzas.

EPIPHRAGM Ep"i*phragm, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A membranaceous or calcareous septum with which some mollusks close the aperture of the shell during the time of hibernation, or æstivation.

EPIPHYLLOSPERMOUS Ep`i*phyl`lo*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing fruit on the back of the leaves, as ferns. Harris (1710).

EPIPHYLLOUS Ep`i*phyl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Growing upon, or inserted into, the leaf.

EPIPHYLLUM Ep`i*phyl"lum, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of cactaceous plants having flattened, jointed stems, and petals united in a tube. The flowers are very showy, and several species are in cultivation.

EPIPHYSEAL; EPIPHYSIAL Ep`i*phys"e*al, Ep`i*phys"i*al, (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an epiphysis.

EPIPHYSIS E*piph"y*sis, n.; pl. Epiphyses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.) (a) The end, or other superficial part, of a bone, which ossifies separately from the central portion, or diaphysis. (b) The cerebral epiphysis, or pineal gland. See Pineal gland, under Pineal.

EPIPHYTAL E*piph"y*tal, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Pertaining to an epiphyte.

EPIPHYTE Ep"i*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. épiphyte.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: An air plant which grows on other plants, but does not derive its nourishment from them. See Air plant.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A vegetable parasite growing on the surface of the body.

EPIPHYTIC; EPIPHYTICAL Ep`i*phyt"ic, Ep`i*phyt"ic*al, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an epiphyte. — Ep`i*phyt"ic*al*ly, adv.

EPIPLASTRON Ep`i*plas"tron, n.; pl. Epiplastra. Etym: [Pref. epi- + plastron.] (Anat.)

Defn: One of the first pair of lateral plates in the plastron of turtles.

EPIPLEURAL Ep`i*pleu"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + pleural.] (Anat.)

Defn: Arising from the pleurapophysis of a vertebra. Owen.

EPIPLEXIS Ep`i*plex"is, n. Etym: [L., reproof, fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure by which a person seeks to convince and move by an elegant kind of upbraiding.

EPIPLOCE E*pip"lo*ce, n. Etym: [L., connection, from Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure by which one striking circumstance is added, in due gradation, to another; climax; e. g., "He not only spared his enemies, but continued them in employment; not only continued, but advanced them." Johnson.

EPIPLOIC Ep`i*plo"ic, a.

Defn: Relating to the epiploön.

EPIPLOON; EPIPLOOEN E*pip"lo*ön, n.; pl. Epiploa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: See Omentum.

EPIPODIAL Ep`i*po"di*al, a.

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the epipodialia or the parts of the limbs to which they belong.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the epipodium of Mollusca.

EPIPODIALE Ep`i*po`di*a"le, n.; pl. Epipodialia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the bones of either the forearm or shank, the epipodialia being the radius, ulna, tibia, and fibula.

EPIPODITE E*pip"o*dite, n. Etym: [See Epipodium.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The outer branch of the legs in certain Crustacea. See Maxilliped.

EPIPODIUM Ep`i*po"di*um, n.; pl. Epipodia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the lateral lobes of the foot in certain gastropods.

EPIPOLIC Ep`i*pol"ic, a. (Opt.)

Defn: Producing, or relating to, epipolism or fluorescence. [R.]

EPIPOLISM E*pip"o*lism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Opt.)

Defn: See Fluorescence. [R.] Sir J. Herschel.

EPIPOLIZED E*pip"o*lized, a.

Defn: Changed to the epipolic condition, or that in which the phenomenon of fluorescence is presented; produced by fluorescence; as, epipolized light. [R.] Stokes.

EPIPTERIC Ep`ip*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to a small Wormian bone sometimes present in the human skull between the parietal and the great wing of the sphenoid. — n.

Defn: The epipteric bone.

EPIPTERYGOID Ep`ip*ter"y*goid, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + pterygoid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated upon or above the pterygoid bone. — n.

Defn: An epipterygoid bone or cartilage; the columella in the skulls of many lizards.

EPIPUBIC Ep`i*pu"bic, a.

Defn: Relating to the epipubis.

EPIPUBIS Ep`i*pu"bis, n.; pl. Epipubes. Etym: [NL., epi- + pubis.] (Anat.)

Defn: A cartilage or bone in front of the pubis in some amphibians and other animals.

EPISCOPACY E*pis"co*pa*cy, n. Etym: [See Episcopate.]

Defn: Government of the church by bishops; church government by three distinct orders of ministers — bishops, priests, and deacons — of whom the bishops have an authority superior and of a different kind.

EPISCOPAL E*pis"co*pal, a. Etym: [L. episcopalis, fr. episcopus: cf. F. épiscopal. See Bishop.]

1. Governed by bishops; as, an episcopal church.

2. Belonging to, or vested in, bishops; as, episcopal jurisdiction or authority; the episcopal system.

EPISCOPALIAN E*pis`co*pa"li*an, a.

Defn: Pertaining to bishops, or government by bishops; episcopal; specifically, of or relating to the Protestant Episcopal Church.

EPISCOPALIAN E*pis`co*pa"li*an, n.

Defn: One who belongs to an episcopal church, or adheres to the episcopal form of church government and discipline; a churchman; specifically, in the United States, a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

EPISCOPALIANISM E*pis`co*pa"li*an*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine and usages of Episcopalians; episcopacy.

EPISCOPALLY E*pis"co*pal*ly, adv.

Defn: By episcopal authority; in an episcopal manner.

EPISCOPANT E*pis"co*pant, n.

Defn: A bishop. [Obs.] Milton.

EPISCOPARIAN E*pis`co*pa"ri*an, a.

Defn: Episcopal. [R.] Wood.

EPISCOPATE E*pis"co*pate, n. Etym: [L. episcopatus, fr. episcopus: cf. F. épiscopat. See Bishop.]

1. A bishopric; the office and dignity of a bishop.

2. The collective body of bishops.

3. The time of a bishop's rule.

EPISCOPATE E*pis"co*pate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Episcopated; p. pr. & vb. n. Episcopating.]

Defn: To act as a bishop; to fill the office of a prelate. [Obs.] Feeding the flock episcopating. Milton.

EPISCOPICIDE E*pis"co*pi*cide, n. Etym: [L. episcopus bishop + caedere to kill.]

Defn: The killing of a bishop.

EPISCOPIZE E*pis"co*pize, v. t.

Defn: To make a bishop of by consecration. Southey.

EPISCOPIZE E*pis"co*pize, v. i.

Defn: To perform the duties of a bishop.

EPISCOPY E*pis"co*py, n. Etym: [Gr. Bishop.]

1. Survey; superintendence. [Obs.] Milton.

2. Episcopacy. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

EPISEPALOUS Ep`i*sep"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + sepal.] (Bot.)

Defn: Growing on the sepals or adnate to them.

EPISKELETAL Ep`i*skel"e*tal, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + skeleletal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Above or outside of the endoskeleton; epaxial.

EPISODAL Ep`i*so"dal, a.

Defn: Same as Episodic.

EPISODE Ep"i*sode, n. Etym: [Gr. sad to go: cf. F. épisode.] (Rhet.)

Defn: A separate incident, story, or action, introduced for the purpose of giving a greater variety to the events related; an incidental narrative, or digression, separable from the main subject, but naturally arising from it.

EPISODIAL Ep`i*so"di*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to an episode; by way of episode; episodic.

EPISODIC; EPISODICAL Ep`i*so"dic, Ep`i*so"dic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. épisodique. See Episode.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to an episode; adventitious. — Ep`i*so"dic*al*ly, adv. Such a figure as Jacob Brattle, purely episodical though it be, is an excellent English portrait. H. James.

EPISPADIAS Ep`i*spa"di*as, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A deformity in which the urethra opens upon the top of the penis, instead of at its extremity.

EPISPASTIC Ep"i*spas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. épispastique.] (Med.)

Defn: Attracting the humors to the skin; exciting action in the skin; blistering.

EPISPASTIC Ep"i*spas"tic, n. (Med.)

Defn: An external application to the skin, which produces a puriform or serous discharge by exciting inflammation; a vesicatory.

EPISPERM Ep"i*sperm, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. épisperme.] (Bot.)

Defn: The skin or coat of a seed, especially the outer coat. See Testa.

EPISPERMIC Ep`i*sper"mic, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Pertaining, or belonging, to the episperm, or covering of a seed.

EPISPORE Ep"i*spore, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + spore.] (Bot.)

Defn: The thickish outer coat of certain spores.

EPISTAXIS Ep`i*stax"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Bleeding at the nose.

EPISTEMOLOGY E*pis`te*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: The theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge.

EPISTERNAL Ep`i*ster"nal, a. (Anat. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the episternum.

EPISTERNUM Ep`i*ster"num, n.; pl. Episterna. Etym: [NL. See Epi-, and Sternum.]

1. (Anat.) (a) A median bone connected with the sternum, in many vertebrates; the interclavicle. (b) Same as Epiplastron.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the lateral pieces next to the sternum in the thorax of insects.

EPISTILBITE Ep`i*stil"bite, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + stilbite.] (Min.)

Defn: A crystallized, transparent mineral of the Zeolite family. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime.

EPISTLE E*pis"tle, n. Etym: [OE. epistle, epistel, AS. epistol, pistol, L. epistola, fr. Gr. epistle, epistre, F. épître. See Stall.]

1. A writing directed or sent to a person or persons; a written communication; a letter; — applied usually to formal, didactic, or elegant letters. A madman's epistles are no gospels. Shak.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: One of the letters in the New Testament which were addressed to their Christian brethren by Apostles. Epistle side, the right side of an altar or church to a person looking from the nave toward the chancel. One sees the pulpit on the epistle side. R. Browning.

EPISTLE E*pis"tle, v. t.

Defn: To write; to communicate in a letter or by writing. [Obs.] Milton.

EPISTLER E*pis"tler, n.

1. A writer of epistles, or of an epistle of the New Testament. M. Arnold.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: The ecclesiastic who reads the epistle at the communion service.

EPISTOLAR E*pis"to*lar, a.

Defn: Epistolary. Dr. H. More.

EPISTOLARY E*pis"to*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. epistolaris, fr. epistola: cf. F. épistolaire.]

1. Pertaining to epistles or letters; suitable to letters and correspondence; as, an epistolary style.

2. Contained in letters; carried on by letters. "Epistolary correspondence." Addison.

EPISTOLEAN Ep`is*to"le*an, n.

Defn: One who writes epistles; a correspondent. Mary Cowden Clarke.

EPISTOLER E*pis"to*ler, n. (Eccl.)

Defn: One of the clergy who reads the epistle at the communion service; an epistler.

EPISTOLET E*pis"to*let, n.

Defn: A little epistle. Lamb.

EPISTOLIC; EPISTOLICAL Ep`is*tol"ic, Ep`is*tol"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. epistolicus, Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to letters or epistles; in the form or style of letters; epistolary.

EPISTOLIZE E*pis"to*lize, v. i.

Defn: To write epistles.

EPISTOLIZER E*pis"to*li`zer, n.

Defn: A writer of epistles.

EPISTOLOGRAPHIC E*pis`to*lo*graph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. épistolographique.]

Defn: Pertaining to the writing of letters; used in writing letters; epistolary. Epistolographic character or mode of writing, the same as Demotic character. See under Demotic.

EPISTOLOGRAPHY E*pis`to*log"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. épistolographie.]

Defn: The art or practice of writing epistles.

EPISTOMA; EPISTOME E*pis"to*ma, Ep"i*stome, n. Etym: [NL. epistoma, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) The region between the antennæ and the mouth, in Crustacea. (b) A liplike organ that covers the mouth, in most Bryozoa. See Illust., under Entoprocta.

EPISTROPHE E*pis"tro*phe, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure in which successive clauses end with the same word or affirmation; e. g., "Are they Hebrews so am I. Are they Israelites so am I." 2 Cor. xi. 22.

EPISTYLE Ep"i*style, n. Etym: [L. epistylium, Gr. épistyle.] (Anc. Arch.)

Defn: A massive piece of stone or wood laid immediately on the abacus of the capital of a column or pillar; — now called architrave.

EPISYLLOGISM Ep`i*syl"lo*gism, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + syllogism.] (Logic)

Defn: A syllogism which assumes as one of its premises a proposition which was the conclusion of a preceding syllogism, called, in relation to this, the prosyllogism.

EPITAPH Ep"i*taph, n. Etym: [F. épitaphe, L. epitaphium a funeral oration, fr. Gr. Cenotaph.]

1. An inscription on, or at, a tomb, or a grave, in memory or commendation of the one buried there; a sepulchral inscription. Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb. Shak.

2. A brief writing formed as if to be inscribed on a monument, as that concerning Alexander: "Sufficit huic tumulus, cui non sufficeret orbis."

EPITAPH Ep"i*taph, v. t.

Defn: To commemorate by an epitaph. [R.] Let me be epitaphed the inventor of English hexameters. G. Harvey.

EPITAPH Ep"i*taph, v. i.

Defn: To write or speak after the manner of an epitaph. [R.] The common in their speeches epitaph upon him . . . "He lived as a wolf and died as a dog." Bp. Hall.

EPITAPHER Ep"i*taph`er, n.

Defn: A writer of epitaphs. Nash.

EPITAPHIAL; EPITAPHIAN Ep`i*taph"i*al, Ep`i*taph"i*an, a.

Defn: Relating to, or of the nature of, an epitaph. The noble Pericles in his epitaphian speech. Milton. Epitaphial Latin verses are not to be taken too literally. Lowell.

EPITAPHIC Ep`i*taph"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to an epitaph; epitaphian. — n.

Defn: An epitaph. Udall.

EPITAPHIST Ep"i*taph`ist, n.

Defn: An epitapher.

EPITASIS E*pit"a*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. That part which embraces the main action of a play, poem, and the like, and leads on to the catastrophe; — opposed to protasis.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The period of violence in a fever or disease; paroxysm. Dunglison.

EPITHALAMIC Ep`i*tha*lam"ic, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or designed for, an epithalamium.

EPITHALAMIUM Ep`i*tha*la"mi*um, n.; pl. Epithalamiums, L. Epithalamia. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

Defn: A nuptial song, or poem in honor of the bride and bridegroom. The kind of poem which was called epithalamium . . . sung when the bride was led into her chamber. B. Jonson.

EPITHALAMY Ep`i*thal"a*my, n.; pl. Epithalamies (.

Defn: Epithalamium. [R.] Donne.

EPITHECA Ep`i*the"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A continuous and, usually, structureless layer which covers more or less of the exterior of many corals.

EPITHELIAL Ep`i*the"li*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to epithelium; as, epithelial cells; epithelial cancer.

EPITHELIOID Ep`i*the"li*oid, a. Etym: [Epithelium + -oid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Like epithelium; as, epithelioid cells.

EPITHELIOMA Ep`i*the`li*o"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Epithelium, and -oma.] (Med.)

Defn: A malignant growth containing epithelial cells; — called also epithelial cancer.

EPITHELIUM Ep`i*the"li*um, n.; pl. E. Epitheliums, L. Epithelia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The superficial layer of cells lining the alimentary canal and all its appendages, all glands and their ducts, blood vessels and lymphatics, serous cavities, etc. It often includes the epidermis (i. e., keratin-producing epithelial cells), and it is sometimes restricted to the alimentary canal, the glands and their appendages, — the term endothelium being applied to the lining membrane of the blood vessels, lymphatics, and serous cavities.

EPITHELOID Ep`i*the"loid, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Epithelioid.

EPITHEM Ep"i*them, n. Etym: [L. epithema, Gr. épithème. See Epithet.] (Med.)

Defn: Any external topical application to the body, except ointments and plasters, as a poultice, lotion, etc.

EPITHEMA Ep`i*the"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A horny excrescence upon the beak of birds.

EPITHESIS E*pith"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: The addition of a letter at the end of a word, without changing its sense; as, numb for num, whilst for whiles.

EPITHET Ep"i*thet, n. Etym: [L. epitheton, Gr. épithète. See Do.]

1. An adjective expressing some quality, attribute, or relation, that is properly or specially appropriate to a person or thing; as, a just man; a verdant lawn. A prince [Henry III.] to whom the epithet "worthless" seems best applicable. Hallam.

2. Term; expression; phrase. "Stiffed with epithets of war." Shak.

Syn. — Epithet, Title. The name epithet was formerly extended to nouns which give a title or describe character (as the "epithet of liar"), but is now confined wholly to adjectives. Some rhetoricians, as Whately, restrict it still further, considering the term epithet as belonging only to a limited class of adjectives, viz., those which add nothing to the sense of their noun, but simply hold forth some quality necessarily implied therein; as, the bright sun, the lofty heavens, etc. But this restriction does not prevail in general literature. Epithet is sometimes confounded with application, which is always a noun or its equivalent.

EPITHET Ep"i*thet, v. t.

Defn: To describe by an epithet. [R.] Never was a town better epitheted. Sir H. Wotton.

EPITHETIC; EPITHETICAL Ep`i*thet"ic, Ep`i*thet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to, or abounding with, epithets. "In epithetic measured prose." Lloyd.

EPITHITE Ep"i*thite, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A lazy, worthless fellow; a vagrant. [Obs.] Mason.

EPITHUMETIC Ep`i*thu*met"ic, a.

Defn: Epithumetical. [Obs.]

EPITHUMETICAL Ep`i*thu*met"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to sexual desire; sensual. Sir T. Browne.

EPITITHIDES Ep`i*tith"i*des, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Epithet.] (Arch.)

Defn: The uppermost member of the cornice of an entablature.

EPITOMATOR E*pit"o*ma`tor, n. Etym: [LL.]

Defn: An epitomist. Sir W. Hamilton.

EPITOME E*pit"o*me, n.; pl. Epitomes. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. épitome. See Tome.]

1. A work in which the contents of a former work are reduced within a smaller space by curtailment and condensation; a brief summary; an abridgement. [An] epitome of the contents of a very large book. Sydney Smith.

2. A compact or condensed representation of anything. An epitome of English fashionable life. Carlyle. A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome. Dryden.

Syn. — Abridgement; compendium; compend; abstract; synopsis; abbreviature. See Abridgment.

EPITOMIST E*pit"o*mist, n.

Defn: One who makes an epitome; one who abridges; an epitomizer. Milton.

EPITOMIZE E*pit"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Epitomized; p. pr. & vb. n. Epitomizing.]

1. To make an epitome of; to shorten or abridge, as a writing or discourse; to reduce within a smaller space; as, to epitomize the works of Justin.

2. To diminish, as by cutting off something; to curtail; as, to epitomize words. [Obs.] Addison.

EPITOMIZER E*pit"o*mi`zer, n.

Defn: An epitomist. Burton.

EPITRITE Ep"i*trite, n. Etym: [Gr. i. e., , or in the ratio of 4 to 3); epitritos, F. épitrite.] (Gr. & Lat. Pros.)

Defn: A foot consisting of three long syllables and one short syllable.

Note: It is so called from being compounded of a spondee (which contains 4 times) with an iambus or a trochee (which contains 3 times). It is called 1st, 2d, 3d, or 4th epitrite according as the short syllable stands 1st, 2d, etc.

EPITROCHLEA Ep`i*troch"le*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Epi-, and Trochlea.] (Anat.)

Defn: A projection on the outer side of the distal end of the humerus; the external condyle.

EPITROCHLEAR Ep`i*troch"le*ar, a.

Defn: Relating to the epitrochlea.

EPITROCHOID Ep`i*tro"choid, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. -oid.] (Geom.)

Defn: A kind of curve. See Epicycloid, any Trochoid.

EPITROPE E*pit"ro*pe, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure by which permission is either seriously or ironically granted to some one, to do what he proposes to do; e. g., "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still."

EPIZEUXIS Ep`i*zeux"is, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure by which a word is repeated with vehemence or emphasis, as in the following lines: - Alone, alone, all all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea. Coleridge.

EPIZOAN Ep`i*zo"an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An epizoön.

EPIZOAN Ep`i*zo"an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An epizoön.

EPIZOIC Ep`i*zo"ic, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Living upon the exterior of another animal; ectozoic; — said of external parasites.

EPIZOIC Ep`i*zo"ic, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Living upon the exterior of another animal; ectozoic; — said of external parasites.

EPIZOON; EPIZOOEN Ep`i*zo"ön, n.; pl. Epizoa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the artificial group of invertebrates of various kinds, which live parasitically upon the exterior of other animals; an ectozoön. Among them are the lice, ticks, many acari, the lerneans, or fish lice, and other crustaceans.

EPIZOOTIC; EPIZOOETIC Ep`i*zo*öt"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. épizoötique.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to an epizoön.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Containing fossil remains; — said of rocks, formations, mountains, and the like. [Obs.] Epizoötic mountains are of secondary formation. Kirwan.

3. Of the nature of a disease which attacks many animals at the same time; — corresponding to epidemic diseases among men.

EPIZOOTY; EPIZOOETY; EPIZOOTIC; EPIZOOETIC Ep`i*zo"ö*ty, Ep`i*zo*öt"ic, n. Etym: [F. épizoötie.]

Defn: An epizoötic disease; a murrain; an epidemic influenza among horses.

EPOCH Ep"och, n. Etym: [LL. epocha, Gr. sah to overpower, Goth. sigis victory, AS. sigor, sige, G. sieg: cf. F. époque. See Scheme.]

1. A fixed point of time, established in history by the occurrence of some grand or remarkable event; a point of time marked by an event of great subsequent influence; as, the epoch of the creation; the birth of Christ was the epoch which gave rise to the Christian era. In divers ages, . . . divers epochs of time were used. Usher. Great epochs and crises in the kingdom of God. Trench. The acquittal of the bishops was not the only event which makes the 30th of June, 1688, a great epoch in history. Macaulay.

Note: Epochs mark the beginning of new historical periods, and dates are often numbered from them.

2. A period of time, longer or shorter, remarkable for events of great subsequent influence; a memorable period; as, the epoch of maritime discovery, or of the Reformation. "So vast an epoch of time." F. Harrison. The influence of Chaucer continued to live even during the dreary interval which separates from one another two important epochs of our literary history. A. W. Ward.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: A division of time characterized by the prevalence of similar conditions of the earth; commonly a minor division or part of a period. The long geological epoch which stored up the vast coal measures. J. C. Shairp.

4. (Astron.) (a) The date at which a planet or comet has a longitude or position. (b) An arbitrary fixed date, for which the elements used in computing the place of a planet, or other heavenly body, at any other date, are given; as, the epoch of Mars; lunar elements for the epoch March 1st, 1860.

Syn. — Era; time; date; period; age. — Epoch, Era. We speak of the era of the Reformation, when we think of it as a period, during which a new order of things prevailed; so also, the era of good feeling, etc. Had we been thinking of the time as marked by certain great events, or as a period in which great results were effected, we should have called the times when these events happened epochs, and the whole period an epoch. The capture of Constantinople is an epoch in the history of Mahometanism; but the flight of Mahomet is its era. C. J. Smith.

EPOCHA Ep"o*cha, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: See Epoch. J. Adams.

EPOCHAL Ep"o*chal, a.

Defn: Belonging to an epoch; of the nature of an epoch. "Epochal points." Shedd.

EPODE Ep"ode, n. Etym: [L. epodos, Gr. épode. See Ode.] (Poet.) (a) The after song; the part of a lyric ode which follows the strophe and antistrophe, — the ancient ode being divided into strophe, antistrophe, and epode. (b) A species of lyric poem, invented by Archilochus, in which a longer verse is followed by a shorter one; as, the Epodes of Horace. It does not include the elegiac distich.

EPODIC E*pod"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an epode.

EPONYM; EPONYME Ep"o*nym, Ep"o*nyme, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éponyme. See Eponymous.]

1. The hypothetical individual who is assumed as the person from whom any race, city, etc., took its name; as, Hellen is an eponym of the Hellenes.

2. A name, as of a people, country, and the like, derived from that of an individual.

EPONYMIC Ep`o*nym"ic, a.

Defn: Same as Eponymous. Tablets . . . which bear eponymic dates. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

EPONYMIST E*pon"y*mist, n.

Defn: One from whom a race, tribe, city, or the like, took its name; an eponym.

EPONYMOUS E*pon"y*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Relating to an eponym; giving one's name to a tribe, people, country, and the like. What becomes . . . of the Herakleid genealogy of the Spartan kings, when it is admitted that eponymous persons are to be canceled as fictions Grote.

EPONYMY E*pon"y*my, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The derivation of the name of a race, tribe, etc., from that of a fabulous hero, progenitor, etc.

EPOOPHORON; EPOOEPHORON Ep`o*öph"o*ron, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: See Parovarium.

EPOPEE; EPOPOEIA Ep"o*pee`, Ep`o*poe"ia, n. Etym: [F. épopée, Gr. Epos.]

Defn: An epic poem; epic poetry.

EPOPT Ep"opt, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: One instructed in the mysteries of a secret system. Carlyle.

EPOS Ep"os, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

Defn: An epic.

EPOTATION Ep`o*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. epotare, epotatum, to drink; e out + potare to drink.]

Defn: A drinking up; a quaffing. [Obs.] Feltham.

EPROUVETTE e`prou`vette", n. Etym: [F.] (Gun.)

Defn: An apparatus for testing or proving the strength of gunpowder.

EPSOMITE Ep"som*ite, n.

Defn: Native sulphate of magnesia or Epsom salt.

EPSOM SALTS; EPSOM SALT Ep"som salts` or Ep"som salt`. (Med.)

Defn: Sulphate of magnesia having cathartic qualities; — originally prepared by boiling down the mineral waters at Epsom, England, — whence the name; afterwards prepared from sea water; but now from certain minerals, as from siliceous hydrate of magnesia.

EPULARY Ep"u*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. epularis, fr. epulum a feast: cf. F. épulaire.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a feast or banquet. [Obs.] Smart.

EPULATION Ep`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. epulatio.]

Defn: A feasting or feast; banquet. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

EPULIS E*pu"lis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A hard tumor developed from the gums.

EPULOSE Ep"u*lose`, a. Etym: [L. epulum a feast.]

Defn: Feasting to excess. [Obs.]

EPULOSITY Ep`u*los"i*ty, n.

Defn: A feasting to excess. [Obs.]

EPULOTIC Ep`u*lot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Promoting the skinning over or healing of sores; as, an epulotic ointment. — n.

Defn: An epulotic agent.

EPURATION Ep`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. e out, quite + purare to purify, purus pure.]

Defn: Purification.

EPURE e`pure", n. Etym: [F.] (Fine Arts)

Defn: A draught or model from which to build; especially, one of the full size of the work to be done; a detailed drawing.

EPWORTH LEAGUE Ep"worth League.

Defn: A religious organization of Methodist young people, founded in 1889 at Cleveland, Ohio, and taking its name from John Wesley's birthplace, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England.

EQUABILITY E`qua*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. aequabilitas, fr. aequabilis. See Equable.]

Defn: The quality or condition of being equable; evenness or uniformity; as, equability of temperature; the equability of the mind. For the celestial bodies, the equability and constancy of their motions argue them ordained by wisdom. Ray.

EQUABLE E"qua*ble, a. Etym: [L. aequabilis, fr. aequare to make level or equal, fr. aequus even, equal. See Equal.]

1. Equal and uniform; continuing the same at different times; — said of motion, and the like; uniform in surface; smooth; as, an equable plain or globe.

2. Uniform in action or intensity; not variable or changing; — said of the feelings or temper.

EQUABLENESS E"qua*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being equable.

EQUABLY E"qua*bly, adv.

Defn: In an equable manner.

EQUAL E"qual, a. Etym: [L. aequalis, fr. aequus even, equal; akin to Skr. , and perh. to L. unus for older oinos one, E. one.]

1. Agreeing in quantity, size, quality, degree, value, etc.; having the same magnitude, the same value, the same degree, etc.; — applied to number, degree, quantity, and intensity, and to any subject which admits of them; neither inferior nor superior, greater nor less, better nor worse; corresponding; alike; as, equal quantities of land, water, etc. ; houses of equal size; persons of equal stature or talents; commodities of equal value.

2. Bearing a suitable relation; of just proportion; having competent power, abilities, or means; adequate; as, he is not equal to the task. The Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the English. Clarendon. It is not permitted to me to make my commendations equal to your merit. Dryden. Whose voice an equal messenger Conveyed thy meaning mild. Emerson.

3. Not variable; equable; uniform; even; as, an equal movement. "An equal temper." Dryden.

4. Evenly balanced; not unduly inclining to either side; characterized by fairness; unbiased; impartial; equitable; just. Are not my ways equal Ezek. xviii. 29. Thee, O Jove, no equal judge I deem. Spenser. Nor think it equal to answer deliberate reason with sudden heat and noise. Milton.

5. Of the same interest or concern; indifferent. They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is equal to me. Cheyne.

6. (Mus.)

Defn: Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; — opposed to mixed. [R.]

7. (Math.)

Defn: Exactly agreeing with respect to quantity. Equal temperament. (Mus.) See Temperament.

Syn. — Even; equable; uniform; adequate; proportionate; commensurate; fair; just; equitable.

EQUAL E"qual, n.

1. One not inferior or superior to another; one having the same or a similar age, rank, station, office, talents, strength, or other quality or condition; an equal quantity or number; as, "If equals be taken from equals the remainders are equal." Those who were once his equals envy and defame him. Addison.

2. State of being equal; equality. [Obs.] Spenser.

EQUAL E"qual, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equaled or Equalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Equaling or Equalling.]

1. To be or become equal to; to have the same quantity, the same value, the same degree or rank, or the like, with; to be commen On me whose all not equals Edward's moiety. Shak.

2. To make equal return to; to recompense fully. Who answered all her cares, and equaled all her love. Dryden.

3. To make equal or equal to; to equalize; hence, to compare or regard as equals; to put on equality. He would not equal the mind that he found in himself to the infinite and incomprehensible. Berkeley.

EQUALITARIAN E*qual`i*ta"ri*an, n.

Defn: One who believes in equalizing the condition of men; a leveler.

EQUALITY E*qual"i*ty, n.; pl. Equalities. Etym: [L. aequalitas, fr. aequalis equal. See Equal.]

1. The condition or quality of being equal; agreement in quantity or degree as compared; likeness in bulk, value, rank, properties, etc.; as, the equality of two bodies in length or thickness; an equality of rights. A footing of equality with nobles. Macaulay.

2. Sameness in state or continued course; evenness; uniformity; as, an equality of temper or constitution.

3. Evenness; uniformity; as, an equality of surface.

4. (Math.)

Defn: Exact agreement between two expressions or magnitudes with respect to quantity; — denoted by the symbol =; thus, a = x signifies that a contains the same number and kind of units of measure that x does. Confessional equality. See under Confessional.

EQUALIZATION E`qual*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of equalizing, or state of being equalized. Their equalization with the rest of their fellow subjects. Burke.

EQUALIZE E"qual*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Equalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. égaliser.]

1. To make equal; to cause to correspond, or be like, in amount or degree as compared; as, to equalize accounts, burdens, or taxes. One poor moment can suffice To equalize the lofty and the low. Wordsworth. No system of instruction will completely equalize natural powers. Whately.

2. To pronounce equal; to compare as equal. Which we equalize, and perhaps would willingly prefer to the Iliad. Orrery.

3. To be equal to; equal; to match. [Obs.] It could not equalize the hundredth part Of what her eyes have kindled in my heart. Waller. Equalizing bar (Railroad Mach.), a lever connecting two axle boxes, or two springs in a car truck or locomotive, to equalize the pressure on the axles.

EQUALIZER E"qual*i`zer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, equalizes anything.

EQUALLY E"qual*ly, adv.

Defn: In an equal manner or degree in equal shares or proportion; with equal and impartial justice; without difference; alike; evenly; justly; as, equally taxed, furnished, etc.

EQUALNESS E"qual*ness, n.

Defn: Equality; evenness. Shak.

EQUANGULAR E*quan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [See Equiangular.]

Defn: Having equal angles; equiangular. [R.] Johnson.

EQUANIMITY E`qua*nim"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. aequanimitas, fr. aequanimus: cf. F. équanimité. See Equanimous.]

Defn: Evenness of mind; that calm temper or firmness of mind which is not easily elated or depressed; patience; calmness; composure; as, to bear misfortunes with equanimity.

EQUANIMOUS E*quan"i*mous, a. Etym: [L. aequanimus, fr. aequus equal + animus mind.]

Defn: Of an even, composed frame of mind; of a steady temper; not easily elated or depressed. Bp. Gauden.

EQUANT E"quant, n. Etym: [L. aequans, -antis, p. pr. of aequare: cf. F. équant. See Equate.] (Ptolemaic Astron.)

Defn: A circle around whose circumference a planet or the center of ann epicycle was conceived to move uniformly; — called also eccentric equator.

EQUATE E*quate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equated; p. pr. & vb. n. Equating.] Etym: [L. aequatus, p. p. of aequare to make level or equal, fr. aequus level, equal. See Equal.]

Defn: To make equal; to reduce to an average; to make such an allowance or correction in as will reduce to a common standard of comparison; to reduce to mean time or motion; as, to equate payments; to equate lines of railroad for grades or curves; equated distances. Palgrave gives both scrolle and scrowe and equates both to F[rench] rolle. Skeat (Etymol. Dict. ). Equating for grades (Railroad Engin.), adding to the measured distance one mile for each twenty feet of ascent. — Equating for curves, adding half a mile for each 360 degrees of curvature.

EQUATION E*qua"tion, n. Etym: [L. aequatio an equalizing: cf. F. équation equation. See Equate.]

1. A making equal; equal division; equality; equilibrium. Again the golden day resumed its right, And ruled in just equation with the night. Rowe.

2. (Math.)

Defn: An expression of the condition of equality between two algebraic quantities or sets of quantities, the sign = being placed between them; as, a binomial equation; a quadratic equation; an algebraic equation; a transcendental equation; an exponential equation; a logarithmic equation; a differential equation, etc.

3. (Astron.)

Defn: A quantity to be applied in computing the mean place or other element of a celestial body; that is, any one of the several quantities to be added to, or taken from, its position as calculated on the hypothesis of a mean uniform motion, in order to find its true position as resulting from its actual and unequal motion. Absolute equation. See under Absolute. — Equation box, or Equational box, a system of differential gearing used in spinning machines for regulating the twist of the yarn. It resembles gearing used in equation clocks for showing apparent time. — Equation of the center (Astron.), the difference between the place of a planet as supposed to move uniformly in a circle, and its place as moving in an ellipse. — Equations of condition (Math.), equations formed for deducing the true values of certain quantities from others on which they depend, when different sets of the latter, as given by observation, would yield different values of the quantities sought, and the number of equations that may be found is greater than the number of unknown quantities. — Equation of a curve (Math.), an equation which expresses the relation between the coördinates of every point in the curve. — Equation of equinoxes (Astron.), the difference between the mean and apparent places of the equinox. — Equation of payments (Arith.), the process of finding the mean time of payment of several sums due at different times. — Equation of time (Astron.), the difference between mean and apparent time, or between the time of day indicated by the sun, and that by a perfect clock going uniformly all the year round. — Equation clock or watch, a timepiece made to exhibit the differences between mean solar and apparent solar time. Knight. — Normal equation. See under Normal. — Personal equation (Astron.), the difference between an observed result and the true qualities or peculiarities in the observer; particularly the difference, in an average of a large number of observation, between the instant when an observer notes a phenomenon, as the transit of a star, and the assumed instant of its actual occurrence; or, relatively, the difference between these instants as noted by two observers. It is usually only a fraction of a second; — sometimes applied loosely to differences of judgment or method occasioned by temperamental qualities of individuals. — Theory of equations (Math.), the branch of algebra that treats of the properties of a single algebraic equation of any degree containing one unknown quantity.

EQUATOR E*qua"tor, n. Etym: [L. aequator one who equalizes: cf. F. équateur equator. See Equate.]

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.

EQUATORIAL E`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.

EQUATORIAL E`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.

EQUATORIALLY E`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.

EQUERY Eq"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.

EQUESTRIAN E*ques"tri*an, n.

Defn: One who rides on horseback; a horseman; a rider.

EQUESTRIANISM E*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.

EQUIANGLED E"qui*an`gled, a. Etym: [Equi- + angle.]

Defn: Equiangular. [Obs.] Boyle.

EQUIANGULAR E`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.

EQUIBALANCE E`qui*bal"ance, n. Etym: [Equi- + balance.]

Defn: Equal weight; equiponderance.

EQUIBALANCE E`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.

EQUICRESCENT E`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.

EQUICRURE E"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.

EQUIDISTANCE E`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.

EQUIDIURNAL E`qui*di*ur"nal, a. Etym: [Equi- + diurnal.]

Defn: Pertaining to the time of equal day and night; — applied to the equinoctial line. Whewell.

EQUIFORM E"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.

EQUILATERAL E`qui*lat"er*al, n.

Defn: A side exactly corresponding, or equal, to others; also, a figure of equal sides.

EQUILIBRATE E`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.

EQUILIBRATION E`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.

EQUILIBRIOUS E`qui*lib"ri*ous, a.

Defn: Evenly poised; balanced. Dr. H. More. — E`qui*lib"ri*ous*ly, adv.

EQUILIBRIST E*quil"i*brist, n.

Defn: One who balances himself in unnatural positions and hazardous movements; a balancer. When the equilibrist balances a rod upon his finger. Stewart.

EQUILIBRITY E`qui*lib"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. aequilibritas equal distribution. See Equilibrium.]

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.

EQUIMOMENTAL E`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.

EQUIMULTIPLE E`qui*mul"ti*ple, a. Etym: [Equi- + multiple: cf. F. équimultiple.]

Defn: Multiplied by the same number or quantity.

EQUIMULTIPLE E`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.

EQUINAL E*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.

EQUINIA E*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.

EQUINOCTIAL E`qui*noc"tial, n.

Defn: The equinoctial line.

EQUINOCTIALLY E`qui*noc"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: Towards the equinox.

EQUINOX E"qui*nox, n. Etym: [OE. equinoxium, equenoxium, L. aequinoctium; aequus equal + nox, noctis, night: cf. F. équinoxe. See Equal, and Night.]

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.

EQUIPAGE Eq"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.

EQUIPAGED Eq"ui*paged, a.

Defn: Furnished with equipage. Well dressed, well bred. Well equipaged, is ticket good enough. Cowper.

EQUIPARABLE E*quip"a*ra*ble a. Etym: [L. aequiparabilis.]

Defn: Comparable. [Obs. or R.]

EQUIPARATE E*quip"a*rate v. t. Etym: [L. aequiparatus, p. p. of aequiparare.]

Defn: To compare. [R.]

EQUIPEDAL E*quip"e*dal, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Equal-footed; having the pairs of feet equal.

EQUIPENDENCY E`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.]

EQUIPMENT E*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.

EQUIPOISE E"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; EQUIPOLLENCY E`qui*pol"lence, E`qui*pol"len*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. équipollence. See Equipollent.]

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.

EQUIPOLLENTLY E`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.

EQUIPONDERANT E`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.

EQUIPONDERATE E`qui*pon"der*ate, v. i. Etym: [Equi- + L. ponderare to weigh. See Ponderate.]

Defn: To be equal in weight; to weigh as much as another thing. Bp. Wilkins.

EQUIPONDERATE E`qui*pon"der*ate, v. t.

Defn: To make equal in weight; to counterbalance. "More than equiponderated the declension in that direction." De Quincey.

EQUIPONDEROUS E`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.

EQUIPOTENTIAL E`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.

EQUIRADICAL E`qui*rad"i*cal a. Etym: [Equi- + radical.]

Defn: Equally radical. [R.] Coleridge.

EQUIROTAL E`qui*ro"tal, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. rota wheel.]

Defn: Having wheels of the same size or diameter; having equal rotation. [R.]

EQUISETACEOUS E`qui*se*ta"ceous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Belonging to the Equisetaceæ, or Horsetail family.

EQUISETIFORM E`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.

EQUISONANT E*quis"o*nant a.

Defn: Of the same or like sound.

EQUITABLE Eq"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.

EQUITABLENESS Eq"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.

EQUITABLY Eq"ui*ta*bly, adv.

Defn: In an equitable manner; justly; as, the laws should be equitably administered.

EQUITANCY Eq"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.

EQUITES Eq"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 a settlement, 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.

EQUIVALENCE E*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.]

EQUIVALENCE E*quiv"a*lence, v. t.

Defn: To be equivalent or equal to; to counterbalance. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

EQUIVALENCY E*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.

EQUIVALENT E*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.

EQUIVALENT E*quiv"a*lent, v. t.

Defn: To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence. [R.]

EQUIVALENTLY E*quiv"a*lent*ly, adv.

Defn: In an equal manner.

EQUIVALUE E`qui*val"ue, v. t.

Defn: To put an equal value upon; to put (something) on a par with another thing. W. Taylor.

EQUIVALVE; EQUIVALVED E"qui*valve, E"qui*valved, a. Etym: [Equi- + valve.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the valves equal in size and from, as in most bivalve shells.

EQUIVALVULAR E`qui*val"vu*lar, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Equivalve or Equivalved.

EQUIVOCACY E*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.

EQUIVOCAL E*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.

EQUIVOCALLY E*quiv"o*cal*ly, adv.

Defn: In an equivocal manner.

EQUIVOCALNESS E*quiv"o*cal*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being equivocal.

EQUIVOCATE E*quiv"o*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Equivocated; p. pr. & vb. n. Equivocating.] Etym: [L. aequivocatus, p. p. of aequivocari to be called by the same name, fr. L. aequivocus: cf. F. équivoquer. See Equivocal, 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.

EQUIVOCATE E*quiv"o*cate, v. t.

Defn: To render equivocal or ambiguous. He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. Sir G. Buck.

EQUIVOCATION E*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. See Equivocal, a., and Prevaricate, v. i.

EQUIVOCATOR E*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.

EQUIVOCATORY E*quiv"o*ca*to*ry, a.

Defn: Indicating, or characterized by, equivocation.

EQUIVOQUE; EQUIVOKE Eq"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.

EQUIVOROUS E*quiv"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. equus horse + vorare to eat greedily.]

Defn: Feeding on horseflesh; as, equivorous Tartars.

EQUUS E"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.

ERA E"ra, n.; pl. Eras. Etym: [LL. aera an era, in earlier usage, the items of an account, counters, pl. of aes, aeris, brass, money. See Ore.]

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 signal stage 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.

ERADIATE E*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.

ERADIATION E*ra`di*a"tion, n.

Defn: Emission of radiance.

ERADICABLE E*rad"i*ca*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being eradicated.

ERADICATE E*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.

ERADICATION E*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.

ERADICATIVE E*rad"i*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. éradicatif.]

Defn: Tending or serving to eradicate; curing or destroying thoroughly, as a disease or any evil.

ERADICATIVE E*rad"i*ca*tive, n. (Med.)

Defn: A medicine that effects a radical cure. Whitlock.

ERASABLE E*ras"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being erased.

ERASE E*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.

ERASED E*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.

ERASEMENT E*rase"ment, n.

Defn: The act of erasing; a rubbing out; expunction; obliteration. Johnson.

ERASER E*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.

ERASION E*ra"sion, n.

Defn: The act of erasing; a rubbing out; obliteration.

ERASTIAN E*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.

ERASTIANISM E*ras"tian*ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: The principles of the Erastains.

ERASURE E*ra"sure, n. Etym: [From Erase.]

Defn: The act of erasing; a scratching out; obliteration.

ERATIVE Er"a*tive, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the Muse Erato who presided over amatory poetry. Stormonth.

ERATO Er"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.]

ERD Erd, n. Etym: [OE. erd, eard, earth, land, country, AS. eard; akin to OS. 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 common European shrew (Sorex vulgaris); the shrewmouse.

ERE Ere, 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.

ERE Ere, v. t.

Defn: To plow. [Obs.] See Ear, v. t. Chaucer.

EREBUS Er"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.

ERECT E*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.

ERECT E*rect", v. i.

Defn: To rise upright. [Obs.] By wet, stalks do erect. Bacon.

ERECTABLE E*rect"a*ble a.

Defn: Capable of being erected; as, an erectable feather. Col. G. Montagu.

ERECTER E*rect"er, n.

Defn: An erector; one who raises or builds.

ERECTILE E*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.

ERECTILITY E`rec*til"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being erectile.

ERECTION E*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.

ERECTIVE E*rect"ive, a.

Defn: Making erect or upright; raising; tending to erect.

ERECTLY E*rect"ly, adv.

Defn: In an erect manner or posture.

ERECTNESS E*rect"ness, n.

Defn: Uprightness of posture or form.

ERECTO-PATENT E*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.

ERECTOR E*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.

ERELONG Ere`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.

EREMACAUSIS Er`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.

EREMITAGE Er"e*mit*age, n.

Defn: See Hermitage.

EREMITE Er"e*mite, n. Etym: [See Hermit.]

Defn: A hermit. Thou art my heaven, and I thy eremite. Keats.

EREMITIC; EREMITICAL Er`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.

EREMITISH Er"e*mi`tish, a.

Defn: Eremitic. Bp. Hall.

EREMITISM Er"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.

ERETHISM Er"e*thism, n. Etym: [Gr. éréthisme.] (Med.)

Defn: A morbid degree of excitement or irritation in an organ. Hoblyn.

ERETHISTIC Er`e*this"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Relating to erethism.

EREWHILE; EREWHILES Ere`while", Ere`whiles", adv.

Defn: Some time ago; a little while before; heretofore. [Archaic] I am as fair now as I was erewhile. Shak.

ERF Erf, n.; pl. Erven. Etym: [D.]

Defn: A garden plot, usually about half an acre. [Cape Colony]

ERG Erg, 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.

ERGAL Er"gal, n. [G., fr. Gr. work.] (Physics)

Defn: Potential energy; negative value of the force function.

ERGAT Er"gat, v. t. Etym: [L. ergo therefore.]

Defn: To deduce logically, as conclusions. [Obs.] Hewyt.

ERGMETER Erg"me`ter, n. [Erg + -meter.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for measuring energy in ergs.

ERGO Er"go, conj. or adv. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Therefore; consequently; — often used in a jocular way. Shak.

ERGOGRAPH Er"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.

ERGOMETER Er*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.

ERGOT Er"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).

ERGOTIC Er*got"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, ergot; as, ergotic acid.

ERGOTIN Er"go*tin, n. (Med.)

Defn: An extract made from ergot.

ERGOTINE Er"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.

ERGOTISM Er"go*tism, n. Etym: [F. ergotisme, fr. L. ergo.]

Defn: A logical deduction. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

ERGOTISM Er"got*ism, n. Etym: [From Ergot, n.; cf. F. ergotisme.] (Med.)

Defn: A diseased condition produced by eating rye affected with the ergot fungus.

ERGOTIZED Er"got*ized, a.

Defn: Affected with the ergot fungus; as, ergotized rye.

ERIACH; ERIC Er"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.

ERICA E*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.

ERICACEOUS Er`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.

ERICIUS E*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 Revised Version, porcupine. I will make it [Babylon] a possession for the ericius and pools of waters. Is. xiv. 23 (Douay version).

ERICOLIN E*ric"o*lin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside found in the bearberry (and others of the Ericaceæ), and extracted as a bitter, yellow, amorphous mass.

ERIDANUS E*rid"a*nus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: A long, winding constellation extending southward from Taurus and containing the bright star Achernar.

ERIGIBLE Er"i*gi*ble, a. Etym: [See Erect.]

Defn: Capable of being erected. [Obs.]

ERIN E"rin, n. Etym: [Ir. Cf. Aryan.]

Defn: An early, and now a poetic, name of Ireland.

ERINACEOUS Er`i*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. erinaceus hedgehog.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of the Hedgehog family; like, or characteristic of, a hedgehog.

ERINGO E*rin"go, n.

Defn: The sea holly. See Eryngo.

ERINITE Er"i*nite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A hydrous arseniate of copper, of an emerald-green color; — so called from Erin, or Ireland, where it occurs.

ERINYS E*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.]

ERIOMETER E`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.

ERISTALIS E*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; ERISTICAL E*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.

ERKE Erke, a. Etym: [Cf. Irk.]

Defn: ASlothful. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

ERLKING Erl"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.

ERME Erme, v. i. Etym: [OE. ermen, AS. yrman. Cf. Yearn.]

Defn: To grieve; to feel sad. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ERMELIN; ERMILIN Er"me*lin, Er"mi*lin, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Ermine. Shenstone.

ERMIN Er"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.

ERMINE Er"mine, v. t.

Defn: To clothe with, or as with, ermine. The snows that have ermined it in the winter. Lowell.

ERMINED Er"mined, a.

Defn: Clothed or adorned with the fur of the ermine. Pope.

ERMINES; ERMINOIS Er"mines, n., Er"min*ois (, n. (Her.)

Defn: See Note under Ermine, n., 4.

ERMIT Er"mit, n. Etym: [See Hermit.]

Defn: A hermit. [Obs.]

ERN; ERNE Ern, 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).

ERN Ern, 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.]

ERNEST Er"nest, n.

Defn: See Earnest. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ERNESTFUL Er"nest*ful, a. Etym: [See Earnest, a.]

Defn: Serious. [Obs.] Chaucer.

ERODE E*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.

ERODED E*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.

ERODENT E*rod"ent, n. Etym: [L. erodens, -entis, p. pr. of erodere. See Erode.] (Med.)

Defn: A medicine which eats away extraneous growths; a caustic.

EROGATE Er"o*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Erogated; p. pr. & vb. n. Erogating.] Etym: [L. erogatus, p. p. of erogare; e out + rogare to ask.]

Defn: To lay out, as money; to deal out; to expend. [Obs.]

EROGATION Er`o*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. erogatio.]

Defn: The act of giving out or bestowing. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

EROS E"ros, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Greek Myth.)

Defn: Love; the god of love; — by earlier writers represented as one of the first and creative gods, by later writers as the son of Aphrodite, equivalent to the Latin god Cupid.

EROSE E*rose", a. Etym: [L. erosus, p. p. See Erode.]

1. Irregular or uneven as if eaten or worn away.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Jagged or irregularly toothed, as if nibbled out or gnawed. — E*rose"ly, adv.

EROSION E*ro"sion, n. Etym: [L. erosio. See Erode.]

1. The act or operation of eroding or eating away.

2. The state of being eaten away; corrosion; canker.

EROSIVE E*ro"sive, a.

Defn: That erodes or gradually eats away; tending to erode; corrosive. Humble.

EROSTRATE E*ros"trate, a. Etym: [Pref. e- out + rostrate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Without a beak.

EROTEME Er"o*teme, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A mark indicating a question; a note of interrogation.

EROTESIS Er`o*te"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure o Must I give way and room to your rash choler Shall I be frighted when a madman stares Shak.

EROTIC; EROTICAL E*rot"ic, E*rot"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. érotique. See Eros.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the passion of love; treating of love; amatory.

EROTIC E*rot"ic, n.

Defn: An amorous composition or poem.

EROTICISM E*rot"i*cism, n.

Defn: Erotic quality.

ERPETOLOGIST Er`pe*tol"o*gist, n.

Defn: Herpetologist.

ERPETOLOGY Er`pe*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. erpétologie.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Herpetology.

ERR Err, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Erred; p. pr. & vb. n. Erring (; 277, 85).] Etym: [F. errer, L. errare; akin to G. irren, OHG. irran, v. t., irr, v. i., OS. irrien, Sw. irra, Dan. irre, Goth, aírzjan to lead astray, airzise astray.]

1. To wander; to roam; to stray. [Archaic] "Why wilt thou err from me" Keble. What seemeth to you, if there were to a man an hundred sheep and one of them hath erred. Wyclif (Matt. xviii. 12).

2. To deviate from the true course; to miss the thing aimed at. "My jealous aim might err." Shak.

3. To miss intellectual truth; to fall into error; to mistake in judgment or opinion; to be mistaken. The man may err in his judgment of circumstances. Tillotson.

4. To deviate morally from the right way; to go astray, in a figurative sense; to do wrong; to sin. Do they not err that devise evil Prov. xiv. 22.

5. To offend, as by erring.

ERRABLE Er"ra*ble, a.

Defn: Liable to error; fallible.