Chapter 491

When to her eager lips is brought Her infant's thrilling kiss. Keble.

A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys. Hawthorne.

Conceit and grief an eager combat fight. Shak.

4. Brittle; inflexible; not ductile. [Obs.]

Gold will be sometimes so eager , as artists call it, that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself. Locke.

Syn. -- Earnest; ardent; vehement; hot; impetuous; fervent; intense; impassioned; zealous; forward. See Earnest . -- Eager , Earnest . Eager marks an excited state of desire or passion; thus, a child is eager for a plaything, a hungry man is eager for food, a covetous man is eager for gain. Eagerness is liable to frequent abuses, and is good or bad, as the case may be. It relates to what is praiseworthy or the contrary. Earnest denotes a permanent state of mind, feeling, or sentiment. It is always taken in a good sense; as, a preacher is earnest in his appeals to the conscience; an agent is earnest in his solicitations .

Eager <Xpage=464>

Ea"ger , n. Same as Eagre .

Eagerly <Xpage=464>

Ea"ger*ly , adv. In an eager manner.

Eagerness <Xpage=464>

Ea"ger*ness , n. 1. The state or quality of being eager; ardent desire. "The eagerness of love."

Addison.

2. Tartness; sourness. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Ardor; vehemence; earnestness; impetuosity; heartiness; fervor; fervency; avidity; zeal; craving; heat; passion; greediness.

Eagle <Xpage=464>

Ea"gle (?) , n. [OE. egle , F. aigle , fr. L. aquila ; prob. named from its color, fr. aquilus dark-colored, brown; cf. Lith. aklas blind. Cf. Aquiline .]

1. (Zo\'94l.) Any large, rapacious bird of the Falcon family, esp. of the genera Aquila and Hali\'91etus . The eagle is remarkable for strength, size, graceful figure, keenness of vision, and extraordinary flight. The most noted species are the golden eagle ( Aquila chrysa\'89tus ); the imperial eagle of Europe ( A. mogilnik &or; imperialis ); the American bald eagle ( Hali\'91etus leucocephalus ); the European sea eagle ( H. albicilla ); and the great harpy eagle ( Thrasaetus harpyia ). The figure of the eagle, as the king of birds, is commonly used as an heraldic emblem, and also for standards and emblematic devices. See Bald eagle , Harpy , and Golden eagle .

2. A gold coin of the United States, of the value of ten dollars.

3. (Astron.) A northern constellation, containing Altair, a star of the first magnitude. See Aquila .

4. The figure of an eagle borne as an emblem on the standard of the ancient Romans, or so used upon the seal or standard of any people.

Though the Roman eagle shadow thee. Tennyson.

&hand; Some modern nations, as the United States, and France under the Bonapartes, have adopted the eagle as their national emblem. Russia, Austria, and Prussia have for an emblem a double-headed eagle.

Bald eagle . See Bald eagle . -- Bold eagle . See under Bold . -- Double eagle , a gold coin of the United States worth twenty dollars. -- Eagle hawk (Zo\'94l.) , a large, crested, South American hawk of the genus Morphnus . -- Eagle owl (Zo\'94l.) , any large owl of the genus Bubo , and allied genera; as the American great horned owl ( Bubo Virginianus ), and the allied European species ( B. maximus ). See Horned owl . -- Eagle ray (Zo\'94l.) , any large species of ray of the genus Myliobatis (esp. M. aquila ). -- Eagle vulture (Zo\'94l.) , a large West African bid ( Gypohierax Angolensis ), intermediate, in several respects, between the eagles and vultures.

Eagle-eyed <Xpage=464>

Ea"gle-eyed` (?) , a. Sharp-sighted as an eagle. "Inwardly eagle-eyed ."

Howell.

Eagle-sighted <Xpage=464>

Ea"gle-sight`ed (?) , a. Farsighted and strong-sighted; sharp-sighted.

Shak.

<page="465"> Page 465

Eagless <Xpage=465>

Ea"gless (?) , n. [Cf. OF. aiglesse .] (Zo\'94l.) A female or hen eagle. [R.]

Sherwood.

Eaglestone <Xpage=465>

Ea"gle*stone (?) , n. (Min.) A concretionary nodule of clay ironstone, of the size of a walnut or larger, so called by the ancients, who believed that the eagle transported these stones to her nest to facilitate the laying of her eggs; a\'89tites.

Eaglet <Xpage=465>

Ea"glet (?) , n. [Cf. OF. aiglet .] (Zo\'94l.) A young eagle, or a diminutive eagle.

Eagle-winged <Xpage=465>

Ea"gle-winged` (?) , a. Having the wings of an eagle; swift, or soaring high, like an eagle.

Shak.

Eaglewood <Xpage=465>

Ea"gle*wood` (?) , n. [From Skr. aguru , through Pg. aguila ; cf. F. bois d' aigle .] A kind of fragrant wood. See Agallochum .

Eagrass <Xpage=465>

Ea"grass (?) , n. See Eddish . [Obs.]

Eagre <Xpage=465>

Ea"gre (?) , n. [AS. e\'a0gor , <?/gor , in comp., water, sea, e\'a0gor-stre\'a0m water stream, sea.] A wave, or two or three successive waves, of great height and violence, at flood tide moving up an estuary or river; -- commonly called the bore . See Bore .

Ealderman, Ealdorman <Xpage=465>

Eal"der*man , Eal"dor*man (?) , n. An alderman. [Obs.]

Eale <Xpage=465>

Eale (?) , n. [See Ale .] Ale. [Obs.]

Shak.

Eame <Xpage=465>

Eame (?) , n. [AS. e\'a0m ; akin to D. oom , G. ohm , oheim ; cf. L. avunculus .] Uncle. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Ean <Xpage=465>

Ean (?) , v. t. & i. [AS. e\'a0nian . See Yean .] To bring forth, as young; to yean. "In eaning time."

Shak.

Eanling <Xpage=465>

Ean"ling (?) , n. [See Ean , Yeanling .] A lamb just brought forth; a yeanling.

Shak.

Ear <Xpage=465>

Ear (?) , n. [AS. e\'a0re ; akin to OFries. \'a0re , \'a0r , OS. <?/ra , D. oor , OHG. <?/ra , G. ohr , Icel. eyra , Sw. \'94ra , Dan. \'94re , Goth. auso , L. auris , Lith. ausis , Russ. ukho , Gr. <?/; cf. L. audire to hear, Gr. <?/, Skr. av to favor , protect. Cf. Auricle , Orillon .]

1. The organ of hearing; the external ear.

&hand; In man and the higher vertebrates, the organ of hearing is very complicated, and is divisible into three parts: the external ear, which includes the pinna or auricle and meatus or external opening; the middle ear, drum, or tympanum ; and the internal ear, or labyrinth . The middle ear is a cavity connected by the Eustachian tube with the pharynx, separated from the opening of the external ear by the tympanic membrane , and containing a chain of three small bones, or ossicles, named malleus , incus , and stapes , which connect this membrane with the internal ear. The essential part of the internal ear where the fibers of the auditory nerve terminate, is the membranous labyrinth , a complicated system of sacs and tubes filled with a fluid (the endolymph), and lodged in a cavity, called the bony labyrinth , in the periotic bone. The membranous labyrinth does not completely fill the bony labyrinth, but is partially suspended in it in a fluid (the perilymph). The bony labyrinth consists of a central cavity, the vestibule , into which three semicircular canals and the canal of the cochlea (spirally coiled in mammals) open. The vestibular portion of the membranous labyrinth consists of two sacs, the utriculus and sacculus , connected by a narrow tube, into the former of which three membranous semicircular canals open, while the latter is connected with a membranous tube in the cochlea containing the organ of Corti . By the help of the external ear the sonorous vibrations of the air are concentrated upon the tympanic membrane and set it vibrating, the chain of bones in the middle ear transmits these vibrations to the internal ear, where they cause certain delicate structures in the organ of Corti, and other parts of the membranous labyrinth, to stimulate the fibers of the auditory nerve to transmit sonorous impulses to the brain.

2. The sense of hearing; the perception of sounds; the power of discriminating between different tones; as, a nice ear for music ; -- in the singular only.

Songs . . . not all ungrateful to thine ear . Tennyson.

3. That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal; any prominence or projection on an object, -- usually one for support or attachment; a lug; a handle; as, the ears of a tub, a skillet, or dish . The ears of a boat are outside kneepieces near the bow. See Illust . of Bell .

4. (Arch.) (a) Same as Acroterium (a) . (b) Same as Crossette .

5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention.

Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit. Bacon.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears . Shak.

About the ears , in close proximity to; near at hand. -- By the ears , in close contest; as, to set by the ears ; to fall together by the ears ; to be by the ears . -- Button ear (in dogs), an ear which falls forward and completely hides the inside. -- Ear finger , the little finger. -- Ear of Dionysius , a kind of ear trumpet with a flexible tube; -- named from the Sicilian tyrant, who constructed a device to overhear the prisoners in his dungeons. -- Ear sand (Anat.) , otoliths. See Otolith . -- Ear snail (Zo\'94l.) , any snail of the genus Auricula and allied genera. -- Ear stones (Anat.) , otoliths. See Otolith . -- Ear trumpet , an instrument to aid in hearing. It consists of a tube broad at the outer end, and narrowing to a slender extremity which enters the ear, thus collecting and intensifying sounds so as to assist the hearing of a partially deaf person. -- Ear vesicle (Zo\'94l.) , a simple auditory organ, occurring in many worms, mollusks, etc. It consists of a small sac containing a fluid and one or more solid concretions or otocysts. -- Rose ear (in dogs), an ear which folds backward and shows part of the inside. -- To give ear to , to listen to; to heed, as advice or one advising. " Give ear unto my song." Goldsmith . -- To have one's ear , to be listened to with favor. -- Up to the ears , deeply submerged; almost overwhelmed; as, to be in trouble up to one's ears . [Colloq.]

Ear <Xpage=465>

Ear (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Eared (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Earing .] To take in with the ears; to hear. [Sportive] "I eared her language."

Two Noble Kinsmen.

Ear <Xpage=465>

Ear , n. [AS. ear ; akin to D. aar , OHG. ahir , G. \'84hre , Icel., Sw., & Dan. ax , Goth. ahs . <?/<?/<?/ . Cf. Awn , Edge .] The spike or head of any cereal (as, wheat, rye, barley, Indian corn, etc.), containing the kernels.

First the blade, then the ear , after that the full corn in the ear . Mark iv. 28.

Ear <Xpage=465>

Ear , v. i. To put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain; as, this corn ears well .

Ear <Xpage=465>

Ear , v. t. [OE. erien , AS. erian ; akin to OFries. era , OHG. erran , MHG. eren , ern , Prov. G. aren , \'84ren , Icel. erja , Goth. arjan , Lith. arti , OSlav. orati , L. arare , Gr. <?/. Cf. Arable .] To plow or till; to cultivate. "To ear the land."

Shak.

Earable <Xpage=465>

Ear"a*ble (?) , a. Arable; tillable. [Archaic]

Earache <Xpage=465>

Ear"ache` (?) , n. Ache or pain in the ear.

Earal <Xpage=465>

Ear"al (?) , a. Receiving by the ear. [Obs.]

Hewyt.

Ear-bored <Xpage=465>

Ear"-bored` (?) , a. Having the ear perforated.

Earcap <Xpage=465>

Ear"cap` (?) , n. A cap or cover to protect the ear from cold.

Earcockle <Xpage=465>

Ear"coc`kle (?) , n. (Bot.) A disease in wheat, in which the blackened and contracted grain, or ear, is filled with minute worms.

Eardrop <Xpage=465>

Ear"drop` (?) , n. 1. A pendant for the ear; an earring; as, a pair of eardrops .

2. (Bot.) A species of primrose. See Auricula .

Eardrum <Xpage=465>

Ear"drum` (?) , n. (Anat.) The tympanum. See Illust . of Ear .

Eared <Xpage=465>

Eared (?) , a. 1. Having (such or so many) ears; -- used in composition; as, long- eared-eared ; sharp- eared ; full- eared ; ten- eared .

2. (Zo\'94l.) Having external ears; having tufts of feathers resembling ears.

Eared owl (Zo\'94l.) , an owl having earlike tufts of feathers, as the long-eared owl , and short-eared owl . -- Eared seal (Zo\'94l.) , any seal of the family Otariid\'91 , including the fur seals and hair seals. See Seal .

Eariness <Xpage=465>

Ear"i*ness (?) , n. [Scotch ery or eiry affected with fear.] Fear or timidity, especially of something supernatural. [Written also eiryness .]

The sense of eariness , as twilight came on. De Quincey.

Earing <Xpage=465>

Ear"ing , n. (Naut.) (a) A line used to fasten the upper corners of a sail to the yard or gaff; -- also called head earing . (b) A line for hauling the reef cringle to the yard; -- also called reef earing . (c) A line fastening the corners of an awning to the rigging or stanchions.

Earing <Xpage=465>

Ear"ing , n. Coming into ear, as corn.

Earing <Xpage=465>

Ear"ing , n. A plowing of land. [Archaic]

Neither earing nor harvest. Gen. xlv. 6.

Earl <Xpage=465>

Earl (?) , n. [OE. eorl , erl , AS. eorl man, noble; akin to OS. erl boy, man, Icel. jarl nobleman, count, and possibly to Gr. <?/ male, Zend arshan man. Cf. Jarl .] A nobleman of England ranking below a marquis, and above a viscount. The rank of an earl corresponds to that of a count ( comte ) in France, and graf in Germany. Hence the wife of an earl is still called countess. See Count .

Earl <Xpage=465>

Earl , n. (Zo\'94l.) The needlefish. [Ireland]

Earlap <Xpage=465>

Ear"lap` (?) , n. The lobe of the ear.

Earldom <Xpage=465>

Earl"dom (?) , n. [AS. eorl-d<?/m ; eorl man, noble + -d<?/m -dom.]

1. The jurisdiction of an earl; the territorial possessions of an earl.

2. The status, title, or dignity of an earl.

He [Pulteney] shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom . Chesterfield.

Earldorman <Xpage=465>

Earl"dor*man (?) , n. Alderman. [Obs.]

Earlduck <Xpage=465>

Earl"duck` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The red-breasted merganser ( Merganser serrator ).

Earles penny <Xpage=465>

Earles" pen`ny (?) . [Cf. Arles , 4th Earnest .] Earnest money. Same as Arles penny . [Obs.]

Earless <Xpage=465>

Ear"less (?) , a. Without ears; hence, deaf or unwilling to hear.

Pope.

Earlet <Xpage=465>

Ear"let (?) , n. [ Ear + -let .] An earring. [Obs.]

The Ismaelites were accustomed to wear golden earlets . Judg. viii. 24 (Douay version).

Earliness <Xpage=465>

Ear"li*ness (?) , n. The state of being early or forward; promptness.

Earl marshal <Xpage=465>

Earl" mar"shal (?) . An officer of state in England who marshals and orders all great ceremonials, takes cognizance of matters relating to honor, arms, and pedigree, and directs the proclamation of peace and war. The court of chivalry was formerly under his jurisdiction, and he is still the head of the herald's office or college of arms.

Earlock <Xpage=465>

Ear"lock` (?) , n. [AS. e\'a0r-locca .] A lock or curl of hair near the ear; a lovelock. See Lovelock .

Early <Xpage=465>

Ear"ly (?) , adv. [OE. erli , erliche , AS. <?/rl\'c6ce ; <?/r sooner + l\'c6c like. See Ere , and Like .] Soon; in good season; seasonably; betimes; as, come early .

Those that me early shall find me. Prov. viii. 17.

You must wake and call me early . Tennyson.

Early <Xpage=465>

Ear"ly , a. [ Compar. Earlier (?) ; superl. Earliest .] [OE. earlich . <?/<?/<?/<?/. See Early , adv. ]

1. In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to late ; as, the early bird; an early spring; early fruit.

Early and provident fear is the mother of safety. Burke.

The doorsteps and threshold with the early grass springing up about them. Hawthorne.

2. Coming in the first part of a period of time, or among the first of successive acts, events, etc.

Seen in life's early morning sky. Keble.

The forms of its earlier manhood. Longfellow.

The earliest poem he composed was in his seventeenth summer. J. C. Shairp.

Early English (Philol.) See the Note under English . -- Early English architecture , the first of the pointed or Gothic styles used in England, succeeding the Norman style in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Syn. -- Forward; timely; not late; seasonable.

Earmark <Xpage=465>

Ear"mark` (?) , n. 1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or slitting.

2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.

Money is said to have no earmark . Wharton.

Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the rounding of his head, and his earmark . Robynson (More's Utopia).

A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor. Burrow.

Earmark <Xpage=465>

Ear"mark` , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Earmarked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Earmarking .] To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.

Earn <Xpage=465>

Earn (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Ern , n.

Sir W. Scott.

Earn <Xpage=465>

Earn (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Earned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Earning .] [AS. earnian ; akin to OHG. arn<?/n to reap, aran harvest, G. ernte , Goth. asans harvest, asneis hireling, AS. esne ; cf. Icel. \'94nn working season, work.]