Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
E-quiv'o-cal-ness, n. p. 460A state of being equivocal; ambiguity; double meaning.E-quiv'o-cāte, v. i. p. 460To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the…E-quiv'o-cā'tion, n. p. 460Ambiguity of speech; the use of words or expressions that are susceptible of a double signification, with a view to mislead; as, to be guilty of equivocation. There being no room for equivocations…E·quiv'o-cā'tor, n. p. 461One who equivocates; one who uses language which is ambiguous; one who uses mental reservation; a prevaricator; a quibbler.E·quiv'o·ca-to-ry, a. p. 461Indicating, or characterized by, equivocation.Eq'ui-vōque or Eq'ui-vōke, n. p. 461An ambiguous term; a word susceptible of different significations. The equivoque between faith and intellectual satisfaction or insight. Coleridge. 2. Equivocation; double meaning. B. Jonson.E-qui'v'o-roûs, a. p. 461Feeding or subsisting on horse-flesh; as, equivorous Tartars.E'quus, n. p. 461(Zoöl.) A genus of quadrupeds, in Cuvier's system, including the horse and similar animals with solid or undivided hoofs, as the ass, zebra, and quagga.Er. p. 461The termination of many English words, and the Teutonic form of the Latin or. It denotes an agent, and was originally of the masculine gender, but is now applied to men or things indifferently; as in…Ē'rā, n. p. 461A fixed point of time, from which a series of years is reckoned; as, the Christian era. 2. A succession of years proceeding from a fixed point, or comprehended between two fixed points; a…E-rā'di-āte, v. i. p. 461To shoot forth, as rays of light; to beam. Henry More.E-rā'di-ā'tion, n. p. 461The act of eradiating; emission of light or splendor. Hale.Ē-rād'i-ca-ble, a. p. 461Capable of being eradicated.E-rād’i-cāte, v. t. p. 461To pull up by the roots; to destroy at the roots; to extirpate; to root out. An oak tree eradicated, that is, torn up by the roots. W. Scott. 2. To put an end to; to destroy thoroughly; to get rid of…E-răd'/i-cā/tion, n. p. 461The act of plucking up by the roots; extirpation; excision; total destruction. 2. The state of being plucked up by the roots.E-răd′ĭ-ca-tive, a. p. 461Tending or serving to eradicate; curing or destroying thoroughly.E-rād′i-ca-tīve, n. p. 461(Med.) A medicine that effects a radical cure. Whitlock.Ĕr'a-grōs'tis, n. p. 461(Bot.) A genus of grasses, including several different species; live-grass.E-răn' the-mĭəm, n. p. 461(Bot.) A genus of acanthaceous plants, producing beautiful purple flowers.E-răn’this, n. p. 461(Bot.) A genus of plants, including the winter-aconite (E. hyemalis), a small, stemless, herbaceous plant, producing pale yellow flowers, found in some parts of Europe.E-rāse', v. t. p. 461To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, or painted; to efface; as, to erase a word or a name. 2. To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; as ideas in the mind or memory.E-rāsed', p. a. p. 461Rubbed or scraped out; obliterated; effaced. 2. (Her.) Torn off, leaving jagged and uneven edges. Barrington.E-rāse'ment, n. p. 461The act of erasing; a rubbing out; expunction; obliteration; destruction. Johnson.E-rās'er, n. p. 461One who, or that which, erases; hence, a sharp instrument used to erase writings, &c.E-rā'si-ble, a. p. 461Capable of being erased.E-rā′sion, n. p. 461The act of erasing; a rubbing out; obliteration.E-răs'tian, n. p. 461(Eccl. Hist.) One of a party in the English and Scotch churches, who professed to follow the principles of Thomas Erastus, a learned German physician, and maintained that the church is a mere…E-räs'tian-ism, n. p. 461(Eccl. Hist.) The principles of the Erastians.E-rāʹsure, n. p. 461The act of erasing; a scratching out; obliteration.Er'a-to, n. p. 461(Myth.) One of the Muses, who presided over lyric, and especially amatory, poetry. She is represented as crowned with roses and myrtles, and holding a lyre in her hand.Er’bi-ŭm, n. p. 461(Min.) A metal found in ores of yttrium.Ere, adv. p. 461Before; sooner than. Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore. Dryden. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. John iv. 49.Ere, prep. p. 461Before in respect to time. Our fruitful Nile Flowed ere the wonted season. Dryden.Ĕr'e-bŭs, n. p. 461(Myth.) The region of the dead; a deep and gloomy place; hell. To the infernal deep, with Erebus and vile tortures. Shak. As when the wrath of Jove Speaks thunder and the chains of Erebus. Milton.E-rĕct’, a. p. 461Upright, or in a perpendicular posture; not inclined or bent; as, to stand erect. 2. Directed upward; raised; uplifted. His piercing eyes erect appear to view Superior worlds, and look all nature…E-rĕct′, v. t. p. 461To raise and place in an upright or perpendicular position; to set upright; to lift up; to raise; as, to erect a pole or flag-staff. 2. To raise, as a building; to set up; to build; as, to erect a…E-rĕct', v. i. p. 461To take an upright position; to rise. By wet, stalks do erect. Bacon.E-rēct’a-ble, a. p. 461Capable of being erected; as, an erectable feather. Montaigne.E-rĕct'er, n. p. 461One who, or that which, erects; one who raises or builds.E-rĕct'īle, a. p. 461Capable of being erected; susceptible of being erected or dilated. Erectile tissue (Anat.), a tissue formed of arteries and veins intermixed with nervous filaments, and capable of dilatation. It is…Ē'rec-tĭl'i-ty, n. p. 461Capability of being erected; the quality of being erectile.E-rēc'tion, n. p. 461The act of erecting, or raising upright; the act of constructing, as a wall or building; the act of founding or establishing, as a commonwealth or an office; also, the act of rousing to excitement or…E-rĕct'ive, a. p. 461Setting upright; raising.E-rĕct'ly, adv. p. 461In an erect manner or posture.E-rēct'ness, n. p. 461Uprightness of posture or form.E-rĕct'o-pā'tent, a. p. 461(Bot.) Having a position intermediate between erect and spreading. 2. (Entom.) Having the primary wings erect, and the secondary horizontal; — said of certain insects.E-rĕct’or, n. p. 461One who, or that which, erects; — especially, a muscle that causes the erection of any part.Ere-lŏng', adv. p. 461Before the lapse of a long time; soon; before long. A man, ... following the stag, erelong slew him. Spenser. The world, erelong, a world of tears must weep. Milton.Ĕr'ĕ-mā-kaw'sĭs, n. p. 461A gradual oxidation from exposure to air and moisture, as in the slow decay of wood.Er'e-mit-age, n. p. 461See HERMITAGE.Er'e-mite, n. p. 461One who lives in a wilderness, or in retirement; a hermit; an ascetic; an anchoret. [Obs. or poet.] Thou art my heaven, and I thy eremite. Keats.Ĕr'e-mīt'ic-al, a. p. 461Pertaining to an eremite, or his life; lonely; hermitical; as, an eremitical life in the woods. Fuller.Ĕr'e-mit-ĭsm, n. p. 461State of a hermit; a living in seclusion from social life.Êre-now', adv. p. 461Before this time. [Obs.] Dryden.Ē'rep-tā'tion, n. p. 461A creeping forth. [Obs.] Bailey.E-rĕp'tion, n. p. 461A taking or snatching away by force. [Obs.] Cockeram.Er'e-thĭsm, n. p. 461(Med.) A morbid degree of excitement or irritation in an organ. Hoblyn.Er'e-this'tic, a. p. 461Relating to erethism.E're-while' or E're-whiles', adv. p. 461Some time ago; a little while before. [Obs.] I am as fair now as I was erewhile. Shak.Erf, n. p. 461A garden plot, usually containing about half an acre of land. [Cape Colony.]