Ẽarth1, n.
(ẽrth, 14), n. [A-S. eordhe, earth, eard, region, country, O. Sax. ertha, O. Fries. irthe, Goth. airtha, O. H. Ger. erada, erda, N. H. Ger. erde, D. aarde, Icel. jördh, Sw. & Dan. jord, allied to Gr. ἔρα, earth, O. H. Ger. ero, Skr. irâ.]
Sense 1. The globe which we inhabit; that one of the planets on which man dwells; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars.
O thou in heaven and earth the only peace. Milton.
Sense 2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land. “God called the dry land earth.” Gen. i. 10.
He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him. Shak.
Sense 3. The loose particles of inorganic matter on the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth. “Give him a little earth for charity.” Shak.
Sense 4. A part of this globe; a region; a country.
The Lord God hath given me the kingdoms of the earth. Ezra i. 2.
Sense 5. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. [Obs.]
They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. Holland.
Sense 6. [From ear, to plow, q. v.] The act of turning up the ground in tillage. [Obs.]
Such land as ye break up for barley to sow, Two earths at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow. Tusser.
Sense 7. The people on the globe. “The whole earth was of one language.” Gen. xi. 1.
Sense 8. (Chem.) (a.) A tasteless and inodorous, uncolored, earthy-looking, metallic oxide, as alumina, glucine, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. (b.) A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta.