Chapter 503

E*la"yl (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ olive oil, oil + yl .] (Chem.) Olefiant gas or ethylene; -- so called by Berzelius from its forming an oil combining with chlorine. [Written also elayle .] See Ethylene .

Elbow <Xpage=476>

El"bow (?) , n. [AS. elboga , elnboga (akin to D. elleboga , OHG. elinbogo , G. ellbogen , ellenbogen , Icel. <?/lnbogi ; prop.; arm-bend); eln ell (orig., forearm) + boga a bending. See 1st Ell , and 4th Bow .]

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. (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.

&hand; 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; elbow room, 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.

Elbow <Xpage=476>

El"bow , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Elbowed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Elbowing .] 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 <Xpage=476>

El"bow (?) , v. i. 1. To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of an elbow.

2. To push rudely along; to elbow one's way. "Purseproud, elbowing Insolence."

Grainger.

Elbowboard <Xpage=476>

El"bow*board` (?) , n. The base of a window casing, on which the elbows may rest.

Elbowchair <Xpage=476>

El"bow*chair` (?) , n. A chair with arms to support the elbows; an armchair.

Addison.

Elbowroom <Xpage=476>

El"bow*room` (?) , 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 <Xpage=476>

El*ca"ja (?) , n. [Ar.] (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 <Xpage=476>

El*ce"sa*ite (?) , n. [From Elcesai , the leader of the sect.] (Eccl.) One of a sect of Asiatic Gnostics of the time of the Emperor Trajan.

Eld <Xpage=476>

Eld (?) , a. [AS. eald .] Old. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Eld <Xpage=476>

Eld , n. [AS. yldu , yldo , eldo , old age, fr. ald , eald , old. See Old .]

1. 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.

2. Old times; former days; antiquity. [Poetic]

Astrologers and men of eld . Longfellow.

Eld <Xpage=476>

Eld , v. i. To age; to grow old. [Obs.]

Eld <Xpage=476>

Eld , v. t. To make old or ancient. [Obs.]

Time, that eldeth all things. Rom. of R.

Elder <Xpage=476>

Eld"er (?) , a. [AS. yldra , compar. of eald old. See Old .]

1. Older; more aged, or existing longer.

Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds. Jowett (Thucyd. )

2. 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 <Xpage=476>

Eld"er , n. [AS. ealdor an elder, prince, fr. eald old. See Old , and cf. Elder , a. , Alderman .]

1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior.

1 Tim. v. 1.

2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.

Carry your head as your elders have done. L'Estrange.

3. 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.

&hand; 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 .

4. (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 <Xpage=476>

El"der (?) , n. [OE. ellern , eller , AS. ellen , cf. LG. elloorn ; perh. akin to OHG. holantar , holuntar , G. holunder ; or perh. to E. alder , n. ] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs ( Sambucus ) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.

&hand; 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.

Box elder . See under 1st Box . -- Dwarf elder . See Danewort . -- Elder tree . (Bot.) Same as Elder . Shak . -- Marsh elder , the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus ).

Elderish <Xpage=476>

Eld"er*ish (?) , a. Somewhat old; elderly. [R.]

Elderly <Xpage=476>

Eld"er*ly , a. Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; as, elderly people .

Eldern <Xpage=476>

El"dern (?) , a. Made of elder. [Obs.]

He would discharge us as boys do eldern guns. Marston.

Eldership <Xpage=476>

Eld"er*ship (?) , n. 1. The state of being older; seniority. "Paternity an eldership ."

Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Office of an elder; collectively, a body of elders.

Elderwort <Xpage=476>

El"der*wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) Danewort.

Eldest <Xpage=476>

Eld"est (?) , a. [AS. yldest , superl. of eald old. See Elder , a. ]

1. Oldest; longest in duration.

Shak.

2. 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.

Elding <Xpage=476>

El"ding (?) , n. [Icel. elding , fr. elda to kindle, eldr fire; akin to AS. \'91ld fire, \'91lan to burn.] Fuel. [Prov. Eng.]

Grose.

El Dorado <Xpage=476>

El` Do*ra"do (?) , pl. El Doradoes (<?/) . [Sp., lit., the gilt (sc. land); el the + dorado gilt, p. p. of dorare to gild. Cf. Dorado .]

1. 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.

2. Any region of fabulous wealth; exceeding richness.

The whole comedy is a sort of El Dorado of wit. T. Moore.

Eldritch <Xpage=476>

El"dritch (?) , a. Hideous; ghastly; as, an eldritch shriek or laugh . [Local, Eng.]

Eleatic <Xpage=476>

E`le*at"ic (?) , a. [L. eleaticus , from Elea (or Velia ) in Italy.] 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. -- n. A philosopher of the Eleatic school.

Eleaticism <Xpage=476>

E`le*at"i*cism (?) , n. The Eleatic doctrine.

Elecampane <Xpage=476>

El`e*cam*pane" (?) , n. [F. \'82nulecampane , NL. inula campana ; L. inula elecampane + LL. campana a bell; cf. G. glockenwurz , i. e., "bellwort."]

1. (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.

2. A sweetmeat made from the root of the plant.

Elect <Xpage=476>

E*lect" (?) , a. [L. electus , p. p. of eligere to elect; e out + legere to choose. See Legend , and cf. Elite , Eclectic .]

1. Chosen; 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. "The elect angels."

1 Tim. v. 21.

3. Chosen to an office, but not yet actually inducted into it; as, bishop elect ; governor or mayor elect .

Elect <Xpage=476>

E*lect" , n. 1. One chosen or set apart.

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect , in whom my soul delighteth. Is. xlii. 1.

2. pl. (Theol.) Those who are chosen for salvation.

Shall not God avenge his won elect ? Luke xviii. 7.

Elect <Xpage=476>

E*lect" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Elected ; p. pr. & vb. n. Electing .]

1. To pick out; to select; to choose.

The deputy elected by the Lord. Shak.

2. To select or take for an office; to select by vote; as, to elect a representative, a president, or a governor .

3. (Theol.) To designate, choose, or select, as an object of mercy or favor.

Syn. -- To choose; prefer; select. See Choose .

Electant <Xpage=476>

E*lect"ant (?) , n. [L. electans , p. pr. of electare .] One who has the power of choosing; an elector. [R.]

Electary <Xpage=476>

E*lec"ta*ry (?) , n. (Med.) See Electuary .

Electic <Xpage=476>

E*lec"tic (?) , a. See Eclectic .

Electicism <Xpage=476>

E*lec"ti*cism (?) , n. See Eclecticism .

Election <Xpage=476>

E*lec"tion (?) , n. [F. \'82lection , L. electio , fr. eligere to choose out. See Elect , a. ]

1. The act of choosing; choice; selection.

2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce ; as, the election of a president or a mayor .

Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom. J. Adams.

3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act. "By his own election led to ill."

Daniel.

4. Discriminating choice; discernment. [Obs.]

To use men with much difference and election is good. Bacon.

5. (Theol.) Divine choice; predestination of individuals as objects of mercy and salvation; -- one of the "five points" of Calvinism.

There is a remnant according to the election of grace. Rom. xi. 5.

6. (Law) The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other.

7. Those who are elected. [Obs.]

The election hath obtained it. Rom. xi. 7.

To contest an election . See under Contest . -- To make one's election , to choose.

He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths. Fitzed. Hall.

Electioneer <Xpage=476>

E*lec`tion*eer" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Electionered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Electioneering .] To 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.

Electioneerer <Xpage=476>

E*lec`tion*eer"er (?) , n. One who electioneers.

Elective <Xpage=476>

E*lect"ive (?) , a. [Cf. F. \'82lectif .]

1. Exerting the power of choice; selecting; as, an elective act .

2. Pertaining to, or consisting in, choice, or right of choosing; electoral.

The independent use of their elective franchise. Bancroft.

3. Dependent on choice; bestowed or passing by election; as, an elective study; an elective office.

Kings of Rome were at first elective ; . . . for such are the conditions of an elective kingdom. Dryden.

Elective affinity &or; attraction (Chem.) , a tendency to unite with certain things; chemism.

Elective <Xpage=476>

E*lect"ive , n. In an American college, an optional study or course of study. [Colloq.]

Electively <Xpage=476>

E*lect"ive*ly , adv. In an elective manner; by choice.

Elector <Xpage=476>

E*lect"or (?) , n. [L., fr. eligere : cf. F. \'82lecteur .]

1. One 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, in any country, a person legally qualified to vote.

3. In the old German empire, one of the princes entitled to choose the emperor.

4. One of the persons chosen, by vote of the people in the United States, to elect the President and Vice President.

Elector <Xpage=476>

E*lect"or (?) , a. [Cf. F. \'82lectoral .] Pertaining to an election or to electors.

In favor of the electoral and other princes. Burke.

Electoral college , the body of princes formerly entitled to elect the Emperor of Germany; also, a name sometimes given, in the United States, to the body of electors chosen by the people to elect the President and Vice President.

Electorality <Xpage=476>

E*lect`or*al"i*ty (?) , n. The territory or dignity of an elector; electorate. [R.]

Sir H. Wotton.

<page="477"> Page 477

Electorate <Xpage=477>

E*lect"or*ate (?) , n. [Cf. F. \'82lectorat .]

1. The territory, jurisdiction, or dignity of an elector, as in the old German empire.

2. The whole body of persons in a nation or state who are entitled to vote in an election, or any distinct class or division of them.

The middle-class electorate of Great Britain. M. Arnold.

Electoress <Xpage=477>

E*lect"or*ess (?) , n. [Fem. of Elector .] An electress.

Bp. Burnet.

Electorial <Xpage=477>

E`lec*to"ri*al (?) , a. Electoral.

Burke.

Electorship <Xpage=477>

E*lect"or*ship (?) , n. The office or status of an elector.

Electre, Electer <Xpage=477>

E*lec"tre , E*lec"ter (?) , n. [L. electrum : cf. F. \'82lectre mixture of gold and silver. See Electrum .]

1. Amber. See Electrum . [Obs.]

2. A metallic substance compounded of gold and silver; an alloy. [Obs.]

Wyclif.

Electrepeter <Xpage=477>

E`lec*trep"e*ter (?) , n. [ Elec tro + Gr. <?/ to turn.] An instrument used to change the direction of electric currents; a commutator. [R.]

Electress <Xpage=477>

E*lect"ress (?) , n. [Cf. F. \'82lectrice . Cf. Electoress .] The wife or widow of an elector in the old German empire.

Burke.

Electric, Electrical <Xpage=477>

E*lec"tric (?) , E*lec"tric*al (?) , a. [L. electrum amber, a mixed metal, Gr. <?/; akin to <?/ the beaming sun, cf. Skr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. \'82lectrique . The name came from the production of electricity by the friction of amber.]

1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing, derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an electric spark.

2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an electric or electrical machine or substance .

3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. "Electric Pindar."

Mrs. Browning.