Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter E - Page 12
Elaphine (a.) (Zo["o]l.) Pertaining to, resembling, or characteristic of, the stag, or Cervus elaphus.
Elaphure (n.) (Zo["o]l.) A species of deer ({Elaphurus Davidianus) found in china. It is about four feet high at the shoulder and has peculiar antlers.
Elaphure (n.) Large Chinese deer surviving only in domesticated herds [syn: pere david's deer, elaphure, Elaphurus davidianus].
Elapidation (n.) A clearing away of stones. [R.]
Elapine (a.) (Zo["o]l.) Like or pertaining to the Elapidae, a family of poisonous serpents, including the cobras. See Ophidia.
Elaps (n.) (Zo["o]l.) A genus of venomous snakes found both in America and the Old World. Many species are known. See Coral snake, under Coral.
Elapsed (imp. & p. p.) of Elapse
Elapsing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Elapse
Elapse (v. i.) To slip or glide away; to pass away silently, as time; -- used chiefly in reference to time.
Eight days elapsed; at length a pilgrim came. -- Hoole.
Elapse (v.) Pass by; "three years elapsed" [syn: elapse, lapse, pass, slip by, glide by, slip away, go by, slide by, go along].
Elapsion (n.) The act of elapsing. [R.]
Elaqueate (v. t.) To disentangle. [R.]
Elasipoda (n. pl.) (Zo["o]l.) An order of holothurians mostly found in the deep sea. They are remarkable for their bilateral symmetry and curious forms. [Written also Elasmopoda.]
Elasmobranch (a.) (Zo["o]l.) Of or pertaining to the Elasmobranchii.
Elasmobranch (n.) One of the Elasmobranchii.
Elasmobranch (n.) Any of numerous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton and placoid scales: sharks; rays; skates [syn: elasmobranch, selachian].
Elasmobranchiate (a.) (Zo["o]l.) Of or pertaining to Elasmobranchii.
Elasmobranchiate (n.) One of the Elasmobranchii.
Elasmobranchii (n. pl.) (Zo["o]l.) A subclass of fishes, comprising the sharks, the rays, and the Chimaera. The skeleton is mainly cartilaginous.
Elasmobranchii (n.) Sharks; rays; dogfishes; skates [syn: Elasmobranchii, subclass Elasmobranchii, Selachii, subclass Selachii].
Elasmosaurus (n.) (Paleon.) An extinct, long-necked, marine, cretaceous reptile from Kansas, allied to Plesiosaurus.
Elastic (a.) Springing back; having a power or inherent property of returning to the form from which a substance is bent, drawn, pressed, or twisted; springy; having the power of rebounding; as, a bow is elastic; the air is elastic; India rubber is elastic.
Capable of being drawn out by force like a piece of elastic gum, and by its own elasticity returning, when the force is removed, to its former position. -- Paley.
Elastic (a.) Able to return quickly to a former state or condition, after being depressed or overtaxed; having power to recover easily from shocks and trials; as, elastic spirits; an elastic constitution.
Elastic bitumen. (Min.) See Elaterite.
Elastic curve. (a) (Geom.) The curve made by a thin elastic rod fixed horizontally at one end and loaded at the other.
Elastic curve. (b) (Mech.) The figure assumed by the longitudinal axis of an originally straight bar under any system of bending forces. -- Rankine.
Elastic fluids, Those which have the property of expanding in all directions on the removal of external pressure, as the air, steam, and other gases and vapors.
Elastic limit (Mech.), The limit of distortion, by bending, stretching, etc., that a body can undergo and yet return to its original form when relieved from stress; also, the unit force or stress required to produce this distortion. Within the elastic limit the distortion is directly proportional to the stress producing it.
Elastic tissue (Anat.), A variety of connective tissue consisting of a network of slender and very elastic fibers which are but slightly affected by acids or alkalies.
Gum elastic, Caoutchouc.
Elastic (n.) An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc., made in part of India rubber. [Colloq.]
Elastic (a.) Capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy; "an elastic band"; "a youthful and elastic walk" [ant: inelastic].
Elastic (a.) Able to adjust readily to different conditions; "an adaptable person"; "a flexible personality"; "an elastic clause in a contract" [syn: elastic, flexible, pliable, pliant].
Elastic (n.) A narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together [syn: rubber band, elastic band, elastic].
Elastic (n.) A fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material.
Elastical (a.) Elastic. [R.] -- Bentley.
Elastically (adv.) In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring.
Elasticity (n.) The 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; tendency to rebound; as, the elasticity of caoutchouc; the elasticity of the air.
Elasticity (n.) Power of resistance to, or recovery from, depression or overwork. -- usually referred to as resilience [3].
Coefficient of elasticity, The quotient of a stress (of a given kind), by the strain (of a given kind) which it produces; -- called also coefficient of resistance.
Surface of elasticity (Geom.), The pedal surface of an ellipsoid (see Pedal); a surface used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous ether in crystalline media.
Elasticity (n.) The tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed; "the waistband had lost its snap" [syn: elasticity, snap] [ant: inelasticity].
Elasticness (n.) The quality of being elastic; elasticity.
Elastin (n.) (Physiol. Chem.) A nitrogenous substance, somewhat resembling albumin, which forms the chemical basis of elastic tissue. It is very insoluble in most fluids, but is gradually dissolved when digested with either pepsin or trypsin.
Elastin (n.) A fibrous scleroprotein found in elastic tissues such as the walls of arteries.
Elate (a.) Lifted up; raised; elevated.
With upper lip elate. -- Fenton.
And sovereign law, that State's collected will, O'er thrones and globes, elate, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill. -- Sir W. Jones.
Elate (a.) Having the spirits raised by success, or by hope; flushed or exalted with confidence; elated; exultant.
O, thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate,
Too soon dejected, and dejected, and too soon elate. -- Pope.
Our nineteenth century is wonderfully set up in its own esteem, wonderfully elate at its progress. -- Mrs. H. H. Jackson.
Syn: Puffed up; lofty; proud; haughty; exalted; inspirited; transported; delighted; overjoyed.
Elated (imp. & p. p.) of Elate
Elating (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Elate
Elate (v. t.) To raise; to exalt. [R.]
By the potent sun elated high. -- Thomson.
Elate (v. t.) To exalt the spirit of; to fill with confidence or exultation; to elevate or flush with success; to puff up; to make proud.
Foolishly elated by spiritual pride. -- Warburton.
You ought not be elated at the chance mishaps of your enemies. -- Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Elate (v.) Fill with high spirits; fill with optimism; "Music can uplift your spirits" [syn: elate, lift up, uplift, pick up, intoxicate] [ant: cast down, deject, demoralise, demoralize, depress, dismay, dispirit, get down].
Elatedly (adv.) With elation.
Elatedness (n.) The state of being elated.
Elater (n.) One who, or that which, elates.
Elater (n.) (Bot.) An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts.
Elater (n.) (Zo["o]l.) Any beetle of the family Elateridae, having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also click beetle, spring beetle, and snapping beetle.
Elater (n.) (Zo["o]l.) The caudal spring used by Podura and related insects for leaping. See Collembola.
Elater (n.) (Chem.) The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber ({Ecballium agreste, formerly Motordica Elaterium) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative.
Elater (n.) Any of various widely distributed beetles [syn: elaterid beetle, elater, elaterid].
Elaterite (n.) (Min.) A mineral resin, of a blackish brown color, occurring in soft, flexible masses; -- called also mineral caoutchouc, and elastic bitumen.
Elaterium (n.) A cathartic substance obtained, in the form of yellowish or greenish cakes, as the dried residue of the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber ({Ecballium agreste, formerly called Momordica Elaterium).
Elaterometer (n.) Same as Elatrometer.
Elatrometer (n.) (Physics) An instrument for measuring the degree of rarefaction of air contained in the receiver of an air pump. [Spelt also elaterometer.]
Elatery (n.) Acting force; elasticity. [Obs.] -- Ray.
Elation (n.) A lifting up by success; exaltation; inriation with pride of prosperity. "Felt the elation of triumph." -- Sir W. Scott.
Elation (n.) An exhilarating psychological state of pride and optimism; an absence of depression [ant: depression].
Elation (n.) A feeling of joy and pride [syn: elation, high spirits, lightness].
Elative (a.) (Gram.) Raised; lifted up; -- a term applied to what is also called the absolute superlative, denoting a high or intense degree of a quality, but not excluding the idea that an equal degree may exist in other cases.
Elatrometer (n.) (Physics) An instrument for measuring the degree of rarefaction of air contained in the receiver of an air pump. [Spelt also elaterometer.]
Elayl (n.) (Chem.) Olefiant gas or ethylene; -- so called by Berzelius from its forming an oil combining with chlorine. [Written also elayle.] See Ethylene.
Compare: Ethylene
Ethylene (n.) (Chem.) A colorless, gaseous hydrocarbon, C2H4, forming an important ingredient of illuminating gas, and also obtained by the action of concentrated sulphuric acid in alcohol. It is an unsaturated compound and combines directly with chlorine and bromine to form oily liquids (Dutch liquid), -- hence called olefiant gas. Called also ethene, elayl, and formerly, bicarbureted hydrogen.
Ethylene series (Chem.), The series of unsaturated hydrocarbons of which ethylene is the type, and represented by the general formula CnH2n.
Compare: Crossette
Crossette (n.) (Arch.) (a) A return in one of the corners of the architrave of a door or window; -- called also ancon, ear, elbow.
Crossette (n.) (Arch.) (b) The shoulder of a joggled keystone.
Elbow (n.) The joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the middle of the arm when bent.
Her arms to the elbows naked. -- R. of Gloucester.
Elbow (n.) Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, and the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast or course of a river; also, an angular or jointed part of any structure, as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.
Elbow (n.) (Arch.) A sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or other woodwork; the upright sides which flank any paneled work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back. -- Gwilt.
Note: Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound, to denote something shaped like, or acting like, an elbow; as, elbow joint; elbow tongs or elbow-tongs; elbowroom, elbow-room, or elbow room.
At the elbow, very near; at hand.
Elbow grease, Energetic application of force in manual labor. [Low]
Elbow in the hawse (Naut.), The twisting together of two cables by which a vessel rides at anchor, caused by swinging completely round once. -- Totten.
Elbow scissors (Surg.), Scissors bent in the blade or shank for convenience in cutting. -- Knight.
Out at elbow, With coat worn through at the elbows; shabby; in needy circumstances.
Elbowed (imp. & p. p.) of Elbow
Elbowing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Elbow
Elbow (v. t.) To push or hit with the elbow, as when one pushes by another.
They [the Dutch] would elbow our own aldermen off the Royal Exchange. -- Macaulay.
To elbow one's way, To force one's way by pushing with the elbows; as, to elbow one's way through a crowd.
Elbow (v. i.) To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of an elbow.
Elbow (v. i.) To push rudely along; to elbow one's way. "Purseproud, elbowing Insolence." -- Grainger.
Elbow (n.) Hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped [syn: elbow, elbow joint, human elbow, cubitus, cubital joint, articulatio cubiti].
Elbow (n.) A sharp bend in a road or river.
Elbow (n.) A length of pipe with a sharp bend in it.
Elbow (n.) The part of a sleeve that covers the elbow joint; "his coat had patches over the elbows".
Elbow (n.) The joint of a mammal or bird that corresponds to the human elbow
Elbow (v.) Push one's way with the elbows.
Elbow (v.) Shove one's elbow into another person's ribs.
Elbowboard (n.) The base of a window casing, on which the elbows may rest.
Elbowchair (n.) A chair with arms to support the elbows; an armchair. --Addison.
Elbowroom (n.) Room to extend the elbows on each side; ample room for motion or action; free scope. "My soul hath elbowroom." --Shak.
Then came a stretch of grass and a little more elbowroom. -- W. G. Norris.
Elcaja (n.) (Bot.) An Arabian tree ({Trichilia emetica). The fruit, which is emetic, is sometimes employed in the composition of an ointment for the cure of the itch.
Elcesaite (n.) (Eccl.) One of a sect of Asiatic Gnostics of the time of the Emperor Trajan.
Eld (a.) Old. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Eld (n.) Age; esp., old age. [Obs. or Archaic]
As sooth is said, eelde hath great avantage. -- Chaucer.
Great Nature, ever young, yet full of eld. -- Spenser.
Eld (n.) Old times; former days; antiquity. [Poetic]
Astrologers and men of eld. -- Longfellow.
Eld (v. i.) To age; to grow old. [Obs.]
Eld (v. t.) To make old or ancient. [Obs.]
Time, that eldeth all things. -- Rom. of R.
Eld (n.) A late time of life; "old age is not for sissies"; "he's showing his years"; "age hasn't slowed him down at all"; "a beard white with eld"; "on the brink of geezerhood" [syn: old age, years, age, eld, geezerhood].
Eld (n.) A time of life (usually defined in years) at which some particular qualification or power arises; "she was now of school age"; "tall for his eld" [syn: age, eld].
Elder (a.) Older; more aged, or existing longer.
Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds. -- Jowett (Thucyd. )
Elder (a.) Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to younger, and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc.
The elder shall serve the younger. -- Gen. xxv. 23.
But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour. -- Keble.
Elder hand (Card Playing), The hand playing, or having the right to play, first. -- Hoyle.
Elder (n.) One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. -- 1 Tim. v.
Elder (n.) An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
Carry your head as your elders have done. -- L'Estrange.
Elder (n.) A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic church.
Note: In the modern Presbyterian churches, elders are lay officers who, with the minister, compose the church session, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called elders, or presbyters.
Elder (n.) (M. E. Ch.) A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder.
Presiding elder (Meth. Ch.), An elder commissioned by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district.
Ruling elder, A lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session. -- Schaff.
Elder (n.) A genus of shrubs ({Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.
Note: The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the common European species ({S. nigra}) forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient. The European elder ({Sambucus nigra) is also called the elderberry, bourtree, Old World elder, black elder, and common elder.
Box elder. See under 1st Box.
Dwarf elder. See Danewort.
Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. -- Shak.
Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).
Elder (a.) Used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son; "Bill Adams, Sr." [syn: elder, older, sr.].
Elder (n.) A person who is older than you are [syn: elder, senior].
Elder (n.) Any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical northern hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit [syn: elder, elderberry bush].
Elder (n.) Any of various church officers.
Elder, () A name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence (Gen. 50:7). It also denoted a political office (Num. 22:7). The "elders of Israel" held a rank among the people indicative of authority. Moses opened his commission to them (Ex. 3:16). They attended Moses on all important occasions. Seventy of them attended on him at the giving of the law (Ex. 24:1). Seventy also were selected from the whole number to bear with Moses the burden of the people (Num. 11:16, 17). The "elder" is the keystone of the social and political fabric wherever the patriarchal system exists. At the present day this is the case among the Arabs, where the sheik (i.e., "the old man") is the highest authority in the tribe. The body of the "elders" of Israel were the representatives of the people from the very first, and were recognized as such by Moses. All down through the history of the Jews we find mention made of the elders as exercising authority among the people. They appear as governors (Deut. 31:28), as local magistrates (16:18), administering justice (19:12). They were men of extensive influence (1 Sam. 30:26-31). In New Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public affairs (Matt. 16:21; 21:23; 26:59).
The Jewish eldership was transferred from the old dispensation to the new. "The creation of the office of elder is nowhere recorded in the New Testament, as in the case of deacons and apostles, because the latter offices were created to meet new and special emergencies, while the former was transmitted from the earlies times. In other words, the office of elder was the only permanent essential office of the church under either dispensation."
The "elders" of the New Testament church were the "pastors" (Eph. 4:11), "bishops or overseers" (Acts 20:28), "leaders" and "rulers" (Heb. 13:7; 1 Thess. 5:12) of the flock. Everywhere in the New Testament bishop and presbyter are titles given to one and the same officer of the Christian church. He who is called presbyter or elder on account of his age or gravity is also called bishop or overseer with reference to the duty that lay upon him (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17-28; Phil. 1:1).
Elderish (a.) Somewhat old; elderly. [R.]
Elderly (a.) Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; as, elderly people.
Elderly (a.) Advanced in years; (`aged' is pronounced as two syllables); "aged members of the society"; "elderly residents could remember the construction of the first skyscraper"; "senior citizen" [syn: aged, elderly,
older, senior].
Elderly (n.) People who are old collectively; "special arrangements were available for the aged" [syn: aged, elderly] [ant: young, youth].
Eldern (a.) Made of elder. [Obs.]
He would discharge us as boys do eldern guns. -- Marston.
Eldership (n.) The state of being older; seniority. "Paternity an eldership." -- Sir W. Raleigh.
Eldership (n.) Office of an elder; collectively, a body of elders.
Eldership (n.) The office of elder.
Elderwort (n.) (Bot.) Danewort.
Eldest (a.) Oldest; longest in duration. -- Shak.
Eldest (a.) Born or living first, or before the others, as a son, daughter, brother, etc.; first in origin. See Elder. "My lady's eldest son." -- Shak.
Their eldest historians are of suspected credit. -- Bp. Stillingfleet.
Eldest hand (Card Playing), The player on the dealer's left hand. -- R. A. Proctor.
Eldest (a.) First in order of birth; "the firstborn child" [syn: firstborn, eldest].
Eldest (n.) The offspring who came first in the order of birth [syn: firstborn, eldest].
Elding (n.) Fuel. [Prov. Eng.] -- Grose.
El Doradoes (n. pl. ) of El Dorado
El Dorado () A name given by the Spaniards in the 16th century to an imaginary country in the interior of South America, reputed to abound in gold and precious stones.
El Dorado () Any region of fabulous wealth; exceeding richness.
The whole comedy is a sort of El Dorado of wit. -- T. Moore.
Eldritch (a.) Hideous; ghastly; as, an eldritch shriek or laugh. [Local, Eng.]
Eldritch (a.) Suggesting the operation of supernatural influences; "an eldritch screech"; "the three weird sisters"; "stumps...had uncanny shapes as of monstrous creatures"- John Galsworthy; "an unearthly light"; "he could hear the unearthly scream of some curlew piercing the din"- Henry Kingsley [syn: eldritch, weird, uncanny, unearthly].
Eleatic (a.) Of or pertaining to a certain school of Greek philosophers who taught that the only certain science is that which owes nothing to the senses, and all to the reason.
Eleatic (n.) A philosopher of the Eleatic school.
Eleaticism (n.) The Eleatic doctrine.
Elecampane (n.) (Bot.) A large, coarse herb ({Inula Helenium), with composite yellow flowers. The root, which has a pungent taste, is used as a tonic, and was formerly of much repute as a stomachic.
Elecampane (n.) A sweetmeat made from the root of the plant.
Elecampane (n.) Tall coarse Eurasian herb having daisylike yellow flowers with narrow petals whose rhizomatous roots are used medicinally [syn: elecampane, Inula helenium].
Elect (a.) Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more. "Colors quaint elect." -- Spenser.
Elect (a.) (Theol.) Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to eternal life. "The elect angels." -- 1 Tim. v. 21.
Elect (a.) Chosen to an office, but not yet actually inducted into it; as, bishop elect; governor or mayor elect.
Elect (n.) One chosen or set apart.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. -- Is. xlii. 1.
Elect (n.) pl. (Theol.) Those who are chosen for salvation.
Shall not God avenge his won elect? -- Luke xviii. 7.
Elected (imp. & p. p.) of Elect.
Electing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Elect.
Elect (v. t.) To pick out; to select; to choose.
The deputy elected by the Lord. -- Shak.
Elect (v. t.) To select or take for an office; to select by vote; as, to elect a representative, a president, or a governor.
Elect (v. t.) (Theol.) To designate, choose, or select, as an object of mercy or favor.
Syn: To choose; prefer; select. See Choose.
Elect (a.) Selected as the best; "an elect circle of artists"; "elite colleges" [syn: elect, elite].
Elect (a.) Elected but not yet installed in office; "the president elect".
Elect (n.) An exclusive group of people; "one of the elect who have power inside the government" [syn: chosen, elect].
Elect (v.) Select by a vote for an office or membership; "We elected him chairman of the board".
Elect (v.) Choose; "I elected to have my funds deposited automatically".