Chapter 535

1. Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight, or force; as, to offer an equivalent for damage done .

He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some equivalent . . . . During some weeks the word equivalent , then lately imported from France, was in the mouths of all the coffeehouse. Macaulay.

2. (Chem.) That comparative quantity by weight of an element which possesses the same chemical value as other elements, as determined by actual experiment and reference to the same standard. Specifically: (a) The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their equivalents are 32.5 and 1. (b) The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number expressing this proportion, in any particular compound; as, the equivalents of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16 . <-- = equivalent weight. -->

&hand; This term was adopted by Wollaston to avoid using the conjectural expression atomic weight , with which, however, for a time it was practically synonymous. The attempt to limit the term to the meaning of a universally comparative combining weight failed, because of the possibility of several compounds of the substances by reason of the variation in combining power which most elements exhibit. The equivalent was really identical with, or a multiple of submultiple of, the atomic weight.

3. (Chem.) A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule; as, in acid salt two or more equivalents of acid unite with one or more equivalents of base .

Mechanical equivalent of heat (Physics) , the number of units of work which the unit of heat can perform; the mechanical energy which must be expended to raise the temperature of a unit weight of water from 0&deg; C. to 1&deg; C., or from 32&deg; F. to 33&deg; F. The term was introduced by Dr. Mayer of Heilbronn. Its value was found by Joule to be 1390 foot pounds upon the Centigrade, or 772 foot pounds upon the Fahrenheit, thermometric scale, whence it is often called Joule's equivalent , and represented by the symbol J. This is equal to 424 kilogram meters (Centigrade scale). A more recent determination by Professor Rowland gives the value 426.9 kilogram meters, for the latitude of Baltimore.

Equivalent <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"a*lent , v. t. To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence. [R.]

Equivalently <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"a*lent*ly , adv. In an equal manner.

Equivalue <Xpage=506>

E`qui*val"ue (?) , v. t. To put an equal value upon; to put (something) on a par with another thing.

W. Taylor.

Equivalve, Equivalved <Xpage=506>

E"qui*valve (?) , E"qui*valved (?) , a. [ Equi- + valve .] (Zo\'94l.) Having the valves equal in size and from, as in most bivalve shells.

Equivalvular <Xpage=506>

E`qui*val"vu*lar (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Equivalve or Equivalved .

Equivocacy <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*ca*cy (?) , n. Equivocalness.

Equivocal <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*cal (?) , a. [L. aequivocus : aequus equal + vox , vocis , word. See Equal , and Voice , and cf. Equivoque .]

1. (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of double interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as, equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.

For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes. Jeffrey.

2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as, his actions are equivocal . " Equivocal repentances."

Milton.

3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful. "How equivocal a test."

Burke.

Equivocal chord (Mus.) , a chord which can be resolved into several distinct keys; one whose intervals, being all minor thirds, do not clearly indicate its fundamental tone or root; the chord of the diminished triad, and the diminished seventh.

Syn. -- Ambiguous; doubtful; uncertain; indeterminate. -- Equivocal , Ambiguous . We call an expression ambiguous when it has one general meaning, and yet contains certain words which may be taken in two different senses; or certain clauses which can be so connected with other clauses as to divide the mind between different views of part of the meaning intended. We call an expression equivocal when, taken as a whole, it conveys a given thought with perfect clearness and propriety, and also another thought with equal propriety and clearness. Such were the responses often given by the Delphic oracle; as that to Cr<?/sus when consulting about a war with Persia: "If you cross the Halys, you will destroy a great empire." This he applied to the Persian empire, which lay beyond that river, and, having crossed, destroyed his own, empire in the conflict. What is ambiguous is a mere blunder of language; what is equivocal is usually intended to deceive, though it may occur at times from mere inadvertence. Equivocation is applied only to cases where there is a design to deceive.

Equivocal <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*cal , n. A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.

In languages of great ductility, equivocals like that just referred to are rarely found. Fitzed. Hall.

Equivocally <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*cal*ly , adv. In an equivocal manner.

Equivocalness <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*cal*ness , n. The state of being equivocal.

Equivocate <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*cate (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Equivocated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Equivocating .] [L. aequivocatus , p. p. of aequivocari to be called by the same name, fr. L. aequivocus : cf. F. \'82quivoquer . See Equivocal , a. ] To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity .

All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate . Bp. Stillingfleet.

Syn. -- To prevaricate; evade; shuffle; quibble. See Prevaricate .

Equivocate <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*cate (?) , v. t. To render equivocal or ambiguous.

He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. Sir G. Buck.

Equivocation <Xpage=506>

E*quiv`o*ca"tion (?) , n. The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, with a purpose to mislead.

There being no room for equivocations , there is no need of distinctions. Locke.

Syn. -- Prevarication; ambiguity; shuffling; evasion; guibbling. See Equivocal , a. , and Prevaricate , v. i.

Equivocator <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*ca`tor (?) , n. One who equivocates.

Here's an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale, yet could not equivocate to heaven. Shak.

Equivocatory <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*ca*to*ry (?) , a. Indicating, or characterized by, equivocation.

Equivoque, Equivoke <Xpage=506>

Eq"ui*voque , Eq"ui*voke (?) , n. [F. \'82quivoque . See Equivocal .]

1. An ambiguous term; a word susceptible of different significations.

Coleridge.

2. An equivocation; a guibble.

B. Jonson.

Equivorous <Xpage=506>

E*quiv"o*rous (?) , a. [L. equus horse + vorare to eat greedily.] Feeding on horseflesh; as, equivorous Tartars .

Equus <Xpage=506>

E"quus (?) , n. [L., horse.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of mammals, including the horse, ass, etc.

-er <Xpage=506>

-er (?) .

1. [AS. -ere ; akin to L. -arius .] The termination of many English words, denoting the agent ; -- applied either to men or things; as in hat er , farm er , heat er , grat er . At the end of names of places, -er signifies a man of the place ; as, London er , i. e. , London man .

2. [AS. -ra ; akin to G. -er , Icel. -are , -re , Goth. -iza , -<?/za , L. -ior , Gr. <?/, Skr. -\'c6yas .] A suffix used to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; as, warm er , soon er , lat(e) er , earl(y)i er .

Era <Xpage=506>

E"ra (?) , n. ; pl. Eras (#) . [LL. aera an era, in earlier usage, the items of an account, counters, pl. of aes , aeris , brass, money. See Ore .]

1. A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a series of years is reckoned.

The foundation of Solomon's temple is conjectured by Ideler to have been an era . R. S. Poole.

2. A period of time reckoned from some particular date or epoch; a succession of years dating from some important event; as, the era of Alexander; the era of Christ, or the Christian era (see under Christian ).

The first century of our era . M. Arnold.

3. A period of time in which a new order of things prevails; a signal stage of history; an epoch.

Painting may truly be said to have opened the new era of culture. J. A. Symonds.

Syn. -- Epoch; time; date; period; age; dispensation. See Epoch .

Eradiate <Xpage=506>

E*ra"di*ate (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Eradiated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Eradiating (?) .] [Pref. e- + radiate .] To shoot forth, as rays of light; to beam; to radiate.

Dr. H. More.

Eradiation <Xpage=506>

E*ra`di*a"tion (?) , n. Emission of radiance.

Eradicable <Xpage=506>

E*rad"i*ca*ble (?) , a. Capable of being eradicated.

Eradicate <Xpage=506>

E*rad"i*cate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Eradicated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Eradicating (?) .] [L. eradicatus , p. p. of eradicare to eradicate; e out + radix , radicis , root. See Radical .]

1. To pluck up by the roots; to root up; as, an oak tree eradicated .

2. To root out; to destroy utterly; to extirpate; as, to eradicate diseases, or errors .

This, although now an old an inveterate evil, might be eradicated by vigorous treatment. Southey.

Syn. -- To extirpate; root out; exterminate; destroy; annihilate.

Eradication <Xpage=506>

E*rad`i*ca"tion (?) , n. [L. eradicatio : cf. F. \'82radication .]

1. The act of plucking up by the roots; a rooting out; extirpation; utter destruction.

2. The state of being plucked up by the roots.

Eradicative <Xpage=506>

E*rad"i*ca*tive (?) , a. [Cf. \'82radicatif .] Tending or serving to eradicate; curing or destroying thoroughly, as a disease or any evil.

Eradicative <Xpage=506>

E*rad"i*ca*tive , n. (Med.) A medicine that effects a radical cure.

Whitlock.

Erasable <Xpage=506>

E*ras"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being erased.

Erase <Xpage=506>

E*rase" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Erased (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. . Erasing .] [L. erasus , p. p. of eradere to erase; e out + radere to scrape, scratch, shave. See Rase .]

1. To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word or a name .

2. Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; -- used of ideas in the mind or memory.

Burke.

Erased <Xpage=506>

E*rased" (?) , p. pr. & a.

1. Rubbed or scraped out; effaced; obliterated.

2. (Her.) Represented with jagged and uneven edges, as is torn off; -- used esp. of the head or limb of a beast. Cf. Couped .

Erasement <Xpage=506>

E*rase"ment (?) , n. The act of erasing; a rubbing out; expunction; obliteration.

Johnson.

Eraser <Xpage=506>

E*ras"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, erases; esp., a sharp instrument or a piece of rubber used to erase writings, drawings, etc.

Erasion <Xpage=506>

E*ra"sion (?) , n. The act of erasing; a rubbing out; obliteration.

Erastian <Xpage=506>

E*ras"tian (?; 106) , n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of the followers of Thomas Erastus, a German physician and theologian of the 16th century. He held that the punishment of all offenses should be referred to the civil power, and that holy communion was open to all. In the present day, an Erastian is one who would see the church placed entirely under the control of the State.

Shipley.

Erastianism <Xpage=506>

E*ras"tian*ism (?) , n. (Eccl. Hist.) The principles of the Erastains.

Erasure <Xpage=506>

E*ra"sure (?; 135) , n. [From Erase .] The act of erasing; a scratching out; obliteration.

Erative <Xpage=506>

Er"a*tive (?) , a. Pertaining to the Muse Erato who presided over amatory poetry.

Stormonth.

Erato <Xpage=506>

Er"a*to (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to love.] (Class. Myth.) The Muse who presided over lyric and amatory poetry.

Erbium <Xpage=506>

Er"bi*um (?) , n. [NL. from Ytt erb y, in Sweden, where gadolinite is found. Cf. Terbium , Yttrium , Ytterbium .] (Chem.) A rare metallic element associated with several other rare elements in the mineral gadolinite from Ytterby in Sweden. Symbol Er. Atomic weight 165.9. Its salts are rose-colored and give characteristic spectra. Its sesquioxide is called erbia .

Ercedeken <Xpage=506>

Er`ce*de"ken (?) , n. [OE., fr. pref. erce- = archi- + deken a deacon.] An archdeacon. [Obs.]

Erd <Xpage=506>

Erd (?) , n. [OE. erd , eard , earth, land, country, AS. eard ; akin to OS. ard dwelling place, OHG. art plowing, tillage, Icel. \'94r&edh; crop, and to L. arare to plow, E. ear to plow.] The earth. [Prov. Eng.]

Wright.

Erd shrew (Zo\'94l.) , the common European shrew ( Sorex vulgaris ); the shrewmouse.

Ere <Xpage=506>

Ere (?; 277) , prep. & adv. [AS. <?/r , prep., adv., & conj.; akin to OS., OFries., & OHG. <?/r , G. eher , D. eer , Icel. \'ber , Goth. air . &root;204. Cf. Early , Erst , Or , adv .]

1. Before; sooner than. [Archaic or Poetic]

Myself was stirring ere the break of day. Shak.

Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore. Dryden.

Sir, come down ere my child die. John iv. 49.

2. Rather than.

I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave her. Shak.

Ere long , before, shortly. Shak . -- Ere now , formerly, heretofore. Shak . -- Ere that , &and; Or are . Same as Ere . Shak .

Ere <Xpage=506>

Ere (?) , v. t. To plow. [Obs.] See Ear , v. t.

Chaucer.

Erebus <Xpage=506>

Er"e*bus (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/.]

1. (Greek Myth.) A place of nether darkness, being the gloomy space through which the souls passed to Hades. See Milton's "Paradise Lost," Book II., line 883.

2. (Greek Myth.) The son of Chaos and brother of Nox , who dwelt in Erebus.

To the infernal deep, with Erebus and tortures vile. Shak.

Erect <Xpage=506>

E*rect" (?) , a. [L. erectus , p. p. of erigere to erect; e out + regere to lead straight. See Right , and cf. Alert .]

1. Upright, or having a vertical position; not inverted; not leaning or bent; not prone; as, to stand erect .

Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall. Milton.

Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect -- a column of ruins. Gibbon.

2. Directed upward; raised; uplifted.

His piercing eyes, erect , appear to view Superior worlds, and look all nature through. Pope.

3. Bold; confident; free from depression; undismayed.

But who is he, by years Bowed, but erect in heart? Keble.

4. Watchful; alert.

Vigilant and erect attention of mind. Hooker.

5. (Bot.) Standing upright, with reference to the earth's surface, or to the surface to which it is attached.

6. (Her.) Elevated, as the tips of wings, heads of serpents, etc.

Erect <Xpage=506>

E*rect" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Erected ; p. pr. & vb. n. Erecting .]

1. To raise and place in an upright or perpendicular position; to set upright; to raise; as, to erect a pole, a flagstaff, a monument, etc.

2. To raise, as a building; to build; to construct; as, to erect a house or a fort ; to set up; to put together the component parts of, as of a machine.

3. To lift up; to elevate; to exalt; to magnify.

That didst his state above his hopes erect . Daniel.

I, who am a party, am not to erect myself into a judge. Dryden.

4. To animate; to encourage; to cheer.

It raiseth the dropping spirit, erecting it to a loving complaisance. Barrow.

5. To set up as an assertion or consequence from premises, or the like. "To erect conclusions." Sir T. Browne . "Malebranche erects this proposition."

Locke.

6. To set up or establish; to found; to form; to institute. "To erect a new commonwealth."

Hooker.

Erecting shop (Mach.) , a place where large machines, as engines, are put together and adjusted.

Syn. -- To set up; raise; elevate; construct; build; institute; establish; found.

Erect <Xpage=506>

E*rect" , v. i. To rise upright. [Obs.]

By wet, stalks do erect . Bacon.

Erectable <Xpage=506>

E*rect"a*ble (?) a. Capable of being erected; as, an erectable feather .

Col. G. Montagu.

Erecter <Xpage=506>

E*rect"er (?) , n. An erector; one who raises or builds.

Erectile <Xpage=506>

E*rect"ile (?) , a. [Cf. F. \'82rectile .] Capable of being erected; susceptible of being erected of dilated.

Erectile tissue (Anat.) , a tissue which is capable of being greatly dilated and made rigid by the distension of the numerous blood vessels which it contains.

Erectility <Xpage=506>

E`rec*til"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being erectile.

Erection <Xpage=506>

E*rec"tion (?) , n. [L. erectio : cf. F. \'82rection .]

1. The act of erecting, or raising upright; the act of constructing, as a building or a wall, or of fitting together the parts of, as a machine; the act of founding or establishing, as a commonwealth or an office; also, the act of rousing to excitement or courage.