Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
E-lăpse', v. i. p. 432To slide, slip, or glide by; to pass away silently, as time; — used chiefly in reference to time. Eight days elapsed, at length a pilgrim came. HooleE-lăp'sion, n. p. 433The act of elapsing. [Rare.]E-lā’que-āte, v. t. p. 433To disentangle. [Rare.]E-lās'tic, a. p. 433Springing back; having power to return to the form from which it is bent, extended, pressed, or distorted; having the inherent property of recovering its former figure, after any external pressure…E-lās'ti-cal, a. p. 433Elastic; springy. [Obs.] “Elastical power.” Bentley.E-lās'tic-al-ly, adv. p. 433In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring.Ĕ-las-tĭc'i-ty, n. p. 433The quality of being elastic; the inherent property in bodies by which they recover their former figure or dimensions, after the removal of external pressure or altering force; springiness; rebound…E-lās'tie-ness, n. p. 433The quality of being elastic; elasticity.E-lāte', a. p. 433Lifted up; raised; elevated. “With upper lip elate.” Fenton. And sovereign law, that state's collected will, O'er thrones and globes, elate, Sits empress. Sir W. Jones. 2. Having the spirits raised…E-lāte', v. t. p. 433To raise; to exalt. [Rare.] “By the potent sun elated high.” Thomson. 2. To exalt the spirit of; to fill with confidence or exultation; to elevate or flush with success; to puff up; to make proud.…E-lāt'ed-ly, adv. p. 433With elation.E-lāt'ed-ness, n. p. 433The state of being elated; elation.E-lā'ter, n. p. 433One who, or that which, elates.El'a-ter, n. p. 433(Bot.) An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts. Henslow. 2. (Zoöl.) A kind of beetle that has the power of giving a sudden leap, by a quick movement of the…El'a-tē'r-i-dæ, n. pl. p. 433(Zoöl.) A family of coleopterous insects, having the power of making a sudden leap; spring-beetles.E-lăt’er-ine, n. p. 433(Chem.) The active principle of elaterium. It is very bitter and a violent purgative.E-lăt’er-ite, n. p. 433(Min.) An elastic mineral resin, of a blackish-brown color, subtranslucent, and occurring in soft, flexible masses; — called also mineral caoutchouc, and elastic bitumen. Dana.Ĕl'a-tĕr'ī-ŭm, n. p. 433A cathartic substance deposited from the very acrid juice of the Momordica elaterium, or wild cucumber. Brande.Ĕl'a-tĕr'y, n. p. 433Acting force or elasticity; as, the elatery of the air. [Obs.] Ray.Ĕl’a-tīne, n. p. 433(Bot.) A genus of aquatic plants; water-pepper; water-wort.E-lā'tion, n. p. 433An inflation or elevation of mind, self-esteem, vanity, or pride, resulting from success. “Vain elation of mind.” Atterbury.Ēl'bōw, n. p. 433The outer angle made by the bend of the arm; the joint connecting the arm and fore-arm. “Her arms to the elbows naked.” R. Gloucester. 2. Any flexure or angle, especially if obtuse, as of a wall…Ĕl'bōw, v. t. p. 433To push with the elbow, as when one passes another or pushes by him. He'll elbow out his neighbors. Dryden.Ĕl'bōw, v. i. p. 433To jut into an angle; to project; to bend. 2. To push rudely along; to jostle. “Purse-proud, elbowing insolence.” Grainger.El'bōw-châir, n. p. 433A chair with arms to support the elbows; an arm-chair.Ĕl'bōw-rōom, n. p. 433Room to extend the elbows on each side; hence, freedom from confinement; room for motion or action. Shak.El-ēā'jā, n. p. 433(Bot.) An Arabian tree (Trichilia emetica), the fruit of which is emetic, and also sometimes employed in the composition of ointment for the cure of the itch.El-cē'sa-ite, n. p. 433(Eccl.) One of a sect of Asiatic Gnostics who appeared in the time of the Emperor Trajan.Ĕld, n. p. 433Age; especially, old age. [Rare.] Great nature, ever young, yet full of eld. Spencer. 2. Old people. [Obs.] “They count him of the green-haired eld.” Chapman. 3. Old times; former days; antiquity.…Eld, v. t. p. 433To make old or ancient. [Obs.] “Time, that eldeth all things.” Chaucer.Ĕld’er, a. p. 433Older; having lived a longer time; more advanced in age; senior; prior, as in origin;—opposed to younger. The elder shall serve the younger. Gen. xxv. 23.Ĕld'er, n. p. 433One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. 1 Tim. v. 1. 2. An ancestor; a predecessor. Carry your head as your elders have done before you. L'Estrange. 3. A person who, on account of his age…Eld'er, n. p. 433(Bot.) A genus of plants (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and dark-red berries. The common North American species is S. Canadensis.Ĕld'er-ly, a. p. 433Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; as, elderly people.Eld'ern, a. p. 433Made of elder. [Obs.] He would discharge us as boys do eldern guns. Marston.Eld'er-ship, n. p. 433The state of being older; seniority. “Paternity and eldership.” Raleigh. 2. The office of an elder;—used also, collectively, for a body of elders.Ĕl'der-wort, n. p. 433(Bot.) A plant; dane-wort or wall-wort.Ēld'est, a. p. 433Oldest; most advanced in age; having many years;—usually applied to persons; as, the eldest son.Eld'ing, n. p. 433Fuel. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.El Do-rā'do p. 433A fabulous region in the interior of South America, supposed to surpass all others in the richness of its productions, especially gold, gems, &c.; hence, any country, especially an imaginary one…El'dritch, a. p. 433Hideous; ghastly; wild; demoniacal; as, an eldritch shriek; an eldritch laugh. — [Obs.] [Written also eldritch.]E'le-āt'ic, a. p. 433Belonging to a certain sect of philosophers, so called from Elea, or Velia, a town on the western coast of Lower Italy; as, the Eleatic sect of philosophy.Ē/le-ăt'ic, n. p. 433One holding to the Eleatic philosophy.El'e-cam-pāne', n. p. 433(Bot.) A plant, the Inula Helenium, whose root has a pungent taste, and was formerly of much repute as a stomachic. 2. A sweetmeat made from the root of the plant. Hill.E-lĕct’, v. t. p. 433To pick out; to select from among a number; to make choice of; to fix upon by preference; to choose; to prefer. “The deputy elected by the Lord.” Shak. 2. To select or take for an office or…E-lĕct', a. p. 433Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more. “Colors quaint elect.” Spenser. 2. (Theol.) Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to eternal life. 3. Chosen, but not…E-lĕct', n. p. 433One chosen or set apart. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Isa. xlii. 1. 2. (pl.) Those who are chosen or separated for salvation. Shall not God avenge his own…E-lēct'ant, n. p. 433One who has the power of choosing; an elector. “Free electant.” Tucker.E-lēc'ta-ry, n. p. 433A kind of medicine; — the same as ELECTUARY. [Rare.] Walker.E-clĕc'ti-cĭsm, n. p. 433The system of selecting doctrines and opinions from other systems; eclecticism.E-lĕc'tion, n. p. 433The act of choosing; choice; the act of selecting one or more from others. 2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office or employment, by any manifestation of preference, as by ballot, uplifted…E-lĕc'tion-eer', v. i. p. 433To make interest for a candidate at an election; to use arts for securing the election of a candidate. “A master of the whole art of electioneering.” Macaulay.E-lĕc'tion-eer'er, n. p. 433One who electioneers.E-lĕct′ive, a. p. 433Exerting the power of choice; making selection; as, an elective act. 2. Pertaining to, or consisting in, choice, or right of choosing. “The independent use of their elective franchise.” Bancroft. 3.…E-lĕc'tive-ly, adv. p. 433By choice; with preference of one to another.E-lĕc'tor, n. p. 433One who elects, or has the right of choice; a person who is entitled to take part in an election, or to give his vote in favor of a candidate for office. 2. Hence, specifically, a person legally…E-lĕct'or-al, a. p. 434Pertaining to, or consisting of, electors; as, an electoral college.E-lēct’or-āl’i-ty, n. p. 434Electorate. [Rare.] Wotton.E-lĕc'tor-ate, n. p. 434The dignity of an elector; electorship. 2. The territory of an elector in the German empire.E-lĕc'tor-ess, n. p. 434Electress. “The electoress of Brunswick.” Burnet.