Ē/lec-trĭc'i-ty, n.
n. [Fr. électricité, Sp. electricidad, It. elettricità, from Lat. electrum, Gr. ἤλεκτρον; — so named as being produced by the friction of amber.] 1. A power in nature, often styled the electric fluid, exhibiting itself when in disturbed equilibrium or in activity by a circuit movement, the fact of direction in which involves polarity, or opposition of properties in opposite directions; also, by attraction for many substances, by a law involving attraction between surfaces of unlike polarity, and repulsion between those of like; by exhibiting accumulated polar tension when the circuit is broken; and by producing heat, light, concussion, and often chemical changes when the circuit passes between the poles or through any imperfectly conducting substance or space. It is evolved in any disturbance of molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical, or mechanical cause.
☞ Electricity is manifested under the following different forms: (a.) Frictional or common electricity, in which the disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber, &c. (b.) Voltaic or galvanic electricity, in which the disturbing cause is chemical decomposition by means of a galvanic battery. (c.) Thermotic electricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat (attended probably with some chemical action). It is developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar, and heating the bar unequally. (d.) That produced by evaporation and condensation, and even by variations and expansions of a gas. (e.) Atmospheric electricity, which is any condition of electrical disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, and is due to some or all of the above-mentioned causes. (f.) Magnetic electricity, which is developed by bodies in the magnetic condition. A spiral circulation of galvanic or ordinary electricity round a bar of metal, renders the bar magnetic. (g.) Positive electricity, which is the current that passes off from the positive pole or anode of a battery; — called also vitreous electricity. (h.) Negative electricity, which is the current that passes from the negative pole or cathode; — called also resinous electricity.
Sense 2. The science which unfolds the phenomena and laws of the electric fluid.