The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Chapter 516

Chapter 5162,522 wordsPublic domain

En`ceinte" , a. [F., fr. L. in not + cinctus , p. p. of cingere to gird about.] Pregnant; with child.

Encenia <Xpage=488>

En*ce"ni*a (?) , n. pl. [LL. encaenia , fr. Gr. <?/ a feast of dedication; <?/ in + <?/ new.] A festival commemorative of the founding of a city or the consecration of a church; also, the ceremonies (as at Oxford and Cambridge, England) commemorative of founders or benefactors.

Encense <Xpage=488>

En*cense" (?) , v. t. & i. [F. encenser , fr. encens . See Incense , n. ] To offer incense to or upon; to burn incense. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Encephalic <Xpage=488>

En`ce*phal"ic (?) , a. [See Encephalon .] (Anat.) Pertaining to the encephalon or brain.

Encephalitis <Xpage=488>

En*ceph`a*li"tis (?) , n. [NL., from Gr. <?/ the brain + -itis .] (Med.) Inflammation of the brain. -- En`ceph*a*lit"ic (#) , a.

Encephalocele <Xpage=488>

En*ceph"a*lo*cele (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ the brain + <?/ tumor.] (Med.) Hernia of the brain.

Encephaloid <Xpage=488>

En*ceph"a*loid (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ + -oid .] Resembling the material of the brain; cerebriform.

Encephaloid cancer (Med.) , a very malignant form of cancer of brainlike consistency. See under Cancer .

Encephaloid <Xpage=488>

En*ceph"a*loid , n. An encephaloid cancer.

Encephalology <Xpage=488>

En*ceph`a*lol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ the brain + -logy .] The science which treats of the brain, its structure and functions.

Encephalon <Xpage=488>

En*ceph"a*lon (?) , n. [NL. See Encephalos .] (Anat.) The contents of the cranium; the brain.

Encephalopathy <Xpage=488>

En*ceph`a*lop"a*thy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ the brain + <?/, <?/, to suffer.] (Med.) Any disease or symptoms of disease referable to disorders of the brain; as, lead encephalopathy , the cerebral symptoms attending chronic lead poisoning .

Encephalos <Xpage=488>

En*ceph"a*los (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/; <?/ in + <?/ head.] (Anat.) The encephalon.

In man the encephalos reaches its full size about seven years of age. Sir W. Hamilton.

Encephalotomy <Xpage=488>

En*ceph`a*lot"o*my (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ the brain + <?/ a cutting.] (Surg.) The act or art of dissecting the brain.

Encephalous <Xpage=488>

En*ceph"a*lous (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having a head; -- said of most Mollusca; -- opposed to acephalous .

Enchafe <Xpage=488>

En*chafe" (?) , v. t. To chafe; to enrage; to heat. [Obs.]

Shak.

Enchafing <Xpage=488>

En*chaf"ing , n. Heating; burning. [Obs.]

The wicked enchaufing or ardure of this sin [lust]. Chaucer.

Enchain <Xpage=488>

En*chain" (?) , v. t. [F. encha\'8cner ; pref. en- (L. in ) cha\'8cne chain. See Chain , and cf. Incatenation .]

1. To bind with a chain; to hold in chains.

2. To hold fast; to confine; as, to enchain attention .

3. To link together; to connect.

Howell.

Enchainment <Xpage=488>

En*chain"ment (?) , n. [Cf. F. encha\'8cnement .] The act of enchaining, or state of being enchained.

Enchair <Xpage=488>

En*chair" (?) , v. t. To seat in a chair.

Tennyson.

Enchannel <Xpage=488>

En*chan"nel (?) , v. t. To make run in a channel. "Its waters were enchanneled ."

Sir D. Brewster.

Enchant <Xpage=488>

En*chant" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enchanted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enchanting .] [F. enchanter , L. incantare to chant or utter a magic formula over or against one, to bewitch; in in, against + cantare to sing. See Chant , and cf. Incantation .]

1. To charm by sorcery; to act on by enchantment; to get control of by magical words and rites.

And now about the caldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in. Shak.

He is enchanted , cannot speak. Tennyson.

2. To delight in a high degree; to charm; to enrapture; as, music enchants the ear .

Arcadia was the charmed circle where all his spirits forever should be enchanted . Sir P. Sidney.

Syn. -- To charm; bewitch; fascinate. Cf. Charm .

Enchanted <Xpage=488>

En*chant"ed (?) , a. Under the power of enchantment; possessed or exercised by enchanters; as, an enchanted castle .

Enchanter <Xpage=488>

En*chant"er (?) , n. [Cf. F. enchanteur .] One who enchants; a sorcerer or magician; also, one who delights as by an enchantment.

Like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing. Shelley.

Enchanter's nightshade (Bot.) , a genus ( Circ\'91a ) of low inconspicuous, perennial plants, found in damp, shady places.

Enchanting <Xpage=488>

En*chant"ing , a. Having a power of enchantment; charming; fascinating. -- En*chant"ing*ly , adv.

Enchantment <Xpage=488>

En*chant"ment (?) , n. [F. enchantement .]

1. The act of enchanting; the production of certain wonderful effects by the aid of demons, or the agency of supposed spirits; the use of magic arts, spells, or charms; incantation.

After the last enchantment you did here. Shak.

2. The effect produced by the act; the state of being enchanted; as, to break an enchantment .

3. That which captivates the heart and senses; an influence or power which fascinates or highly delights.

Such an enchantment as there is in words. South.

Syn. -- Incantation; necromancy; magic; sorcery; witchcraft; spell; charm; fascination; witchery.

Enchantress <Xpage=488>

En*chant"ress (?) , n. [Cf. F. enchanteresse .] A woman versed in magical arts; a sorceress; also, a woman who fascinates.

Shak.

Encharge <Xpage=488>

En*charge" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Encharged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Encharging (?) .] [OF. enchargier , F. encharger ; pref. en- (L. in ) + F. charger . See Charge .] To charge (with); to impose (a charge) upon.

His countenance would express the spirit and the passion of the part he was encharged with. Jeffrey.

Encharge <Xpage=488>

En*charge" , n. A charge. [Obs.]

A. Copley.

Enchase <Xpage=488>

En*chase" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enchased (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enchasing .] [F. ench\'83sser ; pref. en- (L. in ) + ch\'83sse box containing relics, frame, case, the same word as caisse case. See 1st Case , and cf. Chase , Encase , Incase .]

1. To incase or inclose in a border or rim; to surround with an ornamental casing, as a gem with gold; to encircle; to inclose; to adorn.

Enchased with a wanton ivy twine. Spenser.

An precious stones, in studs of gold enchased , The shaggy velvet of his buskins graced. Mickle.

2. To chase; to ornament by embossing or engraving; as, to enchase a watch case .

With golden letters . . . well enchased . Spenser.

3. To delineate or describe, as by writing. [Obs.]

All which . . . for to enchase , Him needeth sure a golden pen, I ween. Spenser.

Enchaser <Xpage=488>

En*chas"er (?) , n. One who enchases.

Enchasten <Xpage=488>

En*chas"ten (?) , v. t. To chasten. [Obs.]

Encheson, Encheason <Xpage=488>

En*che"son , En*chea"son (?) , n. [OF. enchaison , fr. L. incidere to happen; in + cadere to fall.] Occasion, cause, or reason. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Enchest <Xpage=488>

En*chest" (?) , v. t. [Cf. Inchest .] To inclose in a chest.

Vicars.

Enchiridion <Xpage=488>

En`chi*rid"i*on (?) , n. [L., from Gr. <?/; <?/ in + <?/ hand.] Handbook; a manual of devotions.

Evelyn.

Enchisel <Xpage=488>

En*chis"el (?) , v. t. To cut with a chisel.

Enchodus <Xpage=488>

En"cho*dus (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a spear + <?/, <?/, a tooth.] (Paleon.) A genus of extinct Cretaceous fishes; -- so named from their spear-shaped teeth. They were allied to the pike ( Esox ).

Enchondroma <Xpage=488>

En`chon*dro"ma (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ in + <?/ cartilage + -oma .] (Med.) A cartilaginous tumor growing from the interior of a bone.

Quain.

Enchorial, Enchoric <Xpage=488>

En*cho"ri*al (?) , En*chor"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ domestic, native; <?/ in + <?/ place, country.] Belonging to, or used in, a country; native; domestic; popular; common; -- said especially of the written characters employed by the common people of ancient Egypt, in distinction from the hieroglyphics. See Demotic .

Enchylemma <Xpage=488>

En`chy*lem"ma (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ to pour in + <?/ anything received.] (Biol.) The basal substance of the cell nucleus; a hyaline or granular substance, more or less fluid during life, in which the other parts of the nucleus are imbedded.

Enchyma <Xpage=488>

En"chy*ma (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ an infusion; <?/ in + <?/ to pour.] (Biol.) The primitive formative juice, from which the tissues, particularly the cellular tissue, are formed.

Encincture <Xpage=488>

En*cinc"ture (?) , n. A cincture. [Poetic]

The vast encincture of that gloomy sea. Wordsworth.

Encindered <Xpage=488>

En*cin"dered (?) , a. Burnt to cinders. [R.]

Encircle <Xpage=488>

En*cir"cle (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Encircled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Encircling (?) .] [Pref. en- + circle : cf. OF. encercler .] To form a circle about; to inclose within a circle or ring; to surround; as, to encircle one in the arms; the army encircled the city.

Her brows encircled with his serpent rod. Parnell.

Syn. -- To encompass; surround; environ; inclose.

Encirclet <Xpage=488>

En*cir"clet (?) , n. [ Encircle + -let .] A small circle; a ring. [Obs.]

Sir P. Sidney.

Enclasp <Xpage=488>

En*clasp" (?) , v. t. [Pref. en- + clasp . Cf. Inclasp .] To clasp. See Inclasp .

Enclave <Xpage=488>

En*clave" (?) , n. [F., fr. L. in + clavus a nail.] A tract of land or a territory inclosed within another territory of which it is independent. See Exclave . [Recent]

Enclave <Xpage=488>

En*clave" , v. t. [Cf. F. enclaver .] To inclose within an alien territory. [Recent]

Enclavement <Xpage=488>

En*clave"ment (?) , n. [F.] The state of being an enclave. [Recent]

<page="489"> Page 489

Enclitic, Enclitical <Xpage=489>

En*clit"ic (?) , En*clit"ic*al (?) , a. [L. encliticus , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to incline; <?/ in + <?/ to bend. See In , and Lean , v. i. ] (Gram.) Affixed; subjoined; -- said of a word or particle which leans back upon the preceding word so as to become a part of it, and to lose its own independent accent, generally varying also the accent of the preceding word.

Enclitic <Xpage=489>

En*clit"ic , n. (Gram.) A word which is joined to another so closely as to lose its proper accent, as the pronoun thee in prithee (pray thee).

Enclitically <Xpage=489>

En*clit"ic*al*ly , adv. In an enclitic manner; by throwing the accent back.

Walker.

Enclitics <Xpage=489>

En*clit"ics (?) , n. (Gram.) The art of declining and conjugating words.

Encloister <Xpage=489>

En*clois"ter (?) , v. t. [Cf. Incloister .] To shut up in a cloister; to cloister.

Enclose <Xpage=489>

En*close" (?) , v. t. [F. enclos , p. p. of enclore to enclose; pref. en- (L. in ) + clore to close. See Close , and cf. Inclose , Include .] To inclose. See Inclose .

Enclosure <Xpage=489>

En*clo"sure (?; 135) , n. Inclosure. See Inclosure .

&hand; The words enclose and enclosure are written indiscriminately enclose or inclose and enclosure or inclosure .

Enclothe <Xpage=489>

En*clothe" (?) , v. t. To clothe.

Encloud <Xpage=489>

En*cloud" (?) , v. t. [Cf. Incloud .] To envelop in clouds; to cloud. [R.]

Spenser.

Encoach <Xpage=489>

En*coach" (?) , v. t. [Cf. Incoach .] To carry in a coach. [R.]

Davies (Wit's Pilgr.)

Encoffin <Xpage=489>

En*cof"fin (?) , v. t. To put in a coffin. [R.]

Encolden <Xpage=489>

En*cold"en (?) , v. t. To render cold. [Obs.]

Encollar <Xpage=489>

En*col"lar (?) , v. t. To furnish or surround with a collar. [R.]

Encolor <Xpage=489>

En*col"or (?) , v. t. To color. [R.]

Encolure <Xpage=489>

En`co`lure" (?) , n. [F.] The neck of horse.

R. Browning.

Encomber <Xpage=489>

En*com"ber (?) , v. t. See Encumber . [Obs.]

Encomberment <Xpage=489>

En*com"ber*ment (?) , n. [See Encumberment .] Hindrance; molestation. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Encomiast <Xpage=489>

En*co"mi*ast (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to praise, fr. <?/ encomium: cf. F. encomiaste . See Encomium .] One who praises; a panegyrist.

Locke.

Encomiastic, Encomiastical <Xpage=489>

En*co`mi*as"tic (?) , En*co`mi*as"tic*al (?) , a. [Gr. <?/.] Bestowing praise; praising; eulogistic; laudatory; as, an encomiastic address or discourse . -- En*co`mi*as"tic*al*ly , adv.

Encomiastic <Xpage=489>

En*co`mi*as"tic , n. A panegyric.

B. Jonson.

Encomion <Xpage=489>

En*co"mi*on (?) , n. [NL.] Encomium; panegyric. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Encomium <Xpage=489>

En*co"mi*um (?) , n. ; pl. Encomiums (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ (a song) chanted in a Bacchic festival in praise of the god; <?/ in + <?/ a jovial festivity, revel. See Comedy .] Warm or high praise; panegyric; strong commendation.

His encomiums awakened all my ardor. W. Irving.

Syn. -- See Eulogy .

Encompass <Xpage=489>

En*com"pass (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Encompassed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Encompassing .] To circumscribe or go round so as to surround closely; to encircle; to inclose; to environ; as, a ring encompasses the finger; an army encompasses a city; a voyage encompassing the world.

Shak.

A question may be encompassed with difficulty. C. J. Smith.

The love of all thy sons encompass thee. Tennyson.

Syn. -- To encircle; inclose; surround; include; environ; invest; hem in; shut up.

Encompassment <Xpage=489>

En*com"pass*ment (?) , n. The act of surrounding, or the state of being surrounded; circumvention.

By this encompassment and drift of question. Shak.

Encore <Xpage=489>

En`core" (?) , adv. &or; interj. [F. The last part of the word is fr. L. hora hour. See Hour .] Once more; again; -- used by the auditors and spectators of plays, concerts, and other entertainments, to call for a repetition of a particular part.

Encore <Xpage=489>

En`core" , n. A call or demand (as, by continued applause) for a repetition; as, the encores were numerous .

Encore <Xpage=489>

En`core" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Encored (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Encoring .] To call for a repetition or reappearance of; as, to encore a song or a singer .

[Rebecca] insisted upon encoring one of the duets. Thackeray.

Encorporing <Xpage=489>

En*cor"po*ring (?) , n. [Pref. en- + L. corpus body.] Incorporation. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Encoubert <Xpage=489>

En`cou`bert" (?) , n. [F., Pg. encorberto , encuberto , lit., covered.] (Zo\'94l.) One of several species of armadillos of the genera Dasypus and Euphractus , having five toes both on the fore and hind feet.

Encounter <Xpage=489>

En*coun"ter (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Encountered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Encountering .] [OF. encontrer ; pref. en- (L. in ) + contre against, L. contra . See Counter , adv. ] To come against face to face; to meet; to confront, either by chance, suddenly, or deliberately; especially, to meet in opposition or with hostile intent; to engage in conflict with; to oppose; to struggle with; as, to encounter a friend in traveling; two armies encounter each other; to encounter obstacles or difficulties, to encounter strong evidence of a truth.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. Acts xvii. 18.

I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you. Shak.

Encounter <Xpage=489>

En*coun"ter , v. i. To meet face to face; to have a meeting; to meet, esp. as enemies; to engage in combat; to fight; as, three armies encountered at Waterloo .

I will encounter with Andronicus. Shak.

Perception and judgment, employed in the investigation of all truth, have in the first place to encounter with particulars. Tatham.

Encounter <Xpage=489>

En*coun"ter , n. [OF. encontre , fr. encontrer . See Encounter , v. t. ]

1. A meeting face to face; a running against; a sudden or incidental meeting; an interview.

To shun the encounter of the vulgar crowd. Pope.

2. A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody encounter .

As one for . . . fierce encounters fit. Spenser.

To join their dark encounter in mid-air. Milton .

Syn. -- Contest; conflict; fight; combat; assault; rencounter; attack; engagement; onset. See Contest .