The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section D and E

Chapter 108

Chapter 1083,974 wordsPublic domain

Syn. -- Express; clear; plain; open; unreserved; unambiguous. -- Explicit, Express. Explicit denotes a setting forth in the plainest language, so that the meaning can not be misunderstood; as, an explicit promise. Express is stronger than explicit: it adds force to clearness. An express promise or engagement is not only unambiguous, but stands out in bold relief, with the most binding hold on the conscience. An explicit statement; a clear and explicit notion; explicit direction; no words can be more explicit. An explicit command; an express prohibition. "An express declaration goes forcibly and directly to the point. An explicit declaration leaves nothing ambiguous." C. J. Smith.

Ex*plic"it*ly (?), adv. In an explicit manner; clearly; plainly; without disguise or reservation of meaning; not by inference or implication; as, he explicitly avows his intention.

Ex*plic"it*ness, n. The quality of being explicit; clearness; directness. Jer. Taylor.

Ex*plode" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Exploded; p. pr. & vb. n. Exploding.] [L. explodere, explosum, to drive out, drive out a player by clapping; ex out+plaudere, plodere, to clap, strike, applaud: cf. OF. exploder. See Plausible.] 1. To become suddenly expanded into a great volume of gas or vapor; to burst violently into flame; as, gunpowder explodes.

2. To burst with force and a loud report; to detonate, as a shell filled with powder or the like material, or as a boiler from too great pressure of steam.

3. To burst forth with sudden violence and noise; as, at this, his wrath exploded.

Ex*plode", v. t. 1. To drive from the stage by noisy expressions of disapprobation; to hoot off; to drive away or reject noisily; as, to explode a play. [Obs.]

Him old and young Exploded, and seized with violent hands.

Milton.

2. To bring into disrepute, and reject; to drive from notice and acceptance; as, to explode a scheme, fashion, or doctrine.

Old exploded contrivances of mercantile fraud.

Burke.

To explode and exterminate dark atheism.

Bently.

3. To cause to explode or burst noisily; to detonate; as, to explode powder by touching it with fire.

4. To drive out with violence and noise, as by powder.

But late the kindled powder did explode The massy ball and the brass tube unload.

Blackmore.

Ex*plod"ent (?), n. 1. An instrument or agent causing explosion; an exploder; also, an explosive.

2. See Explosive, n., 2.

Ex*plod"er (?), n. 1. One who or that which explodes.

2. One who rejects an opinion or scheme with open contempt. South.

Ex*ploit" (?), n. [OE. esploit success, OF. esploit, espleit,revenue, product, vigor, force, exploit, F. exploit exploit, fr. L. explicitum, prop. p. p. neut. of explicare to unfold, display, exhibit; ex + plicare to fold. See Ply, and cf. Explicit, Explicate.] 1. A deed or act; especially, a heroic act; a deed of renown; an adventurous or noble achievement; as, the exploits of Alexander the Great.

Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises.

Shak.

2. Combat; war. [Obs.]

He made haste to exploit some warlike service.

Holland.

2. [F. exploiter.] To utilize; to make available; to get the value or usefulness out of; as, to exploit a mine or agricultural lands; to exploit public opinion. [Recent]

<! p. 529 !>

3. Hence: To draw an illegitimate profit from; to speculate on; to put upon. [Recent]

In no sense whatever does a man who accumulates a fortune by legitimate industry exploit his employés or make his capital "out of" anybody else.

W. G. Sumner.

Ex`ploi*ta"tion (?), n. [F.] The act of exploiting or utilizing. J. D. Whitney.

Ex*ploi"ture (?; 135), n. 1. The act of exploiting or accomplishing; achievement. [Obs.] Udall.

2. Exploitation. Harper's Mag.

Ex*plor"a*ble (?), a. That may be explored; as, an explorable region.

Ex*plo"rate (?), v. t. [L. explorare, exploratum.] To explore. [Obs.] Sir. T. Browne.

Ex`plo*ra"tion (?), n. [L. exploratio: cf. F. exploration.] The act of exploring, penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of discovery, especially of geographical discovery; examination; as, the exploration of unknown countries; (Med.) physical examination.

"An exploration of doctrine."

Bp. Hall.

Ex*plor"a*tive (?), a. Exploratory.

Ex"plo*ra`tor (?), n. [L.] One who explores; one who examines closely; a searcher.

Ex*plor"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. exploratorius.] Serving or intended to explore; searching; examining; explorative. Sir H. Wotton.

Ex*plore" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explored(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Exploring.] [L. explorare to explore; ex out+plorare to cry out aloud,prob. orig., to cause to flow; perh. akin to E. flow: cf. F. explorer.] 1. To seek for or after; to strive to attain by search; to look wisely and carefully for. [Obs.]

Explores the lost, the wandering sheep directs.

Pope.

2. To search through or into; to penetrate or range over for discovery; to examine thoroughly; as, to explore new countries or seas; to explore the depths of science. "Hidden frauds [to] explore." Dryden.

Ex*plore"ment, n. The act of exploring; exploration. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Ex*plor"er (?), n. One who explores; also, an apparatus with which one explores, as a diving bell.

Ex*plor"ing, a. Employed in, or designed for, exploration. "Exploring parties." Bancroft.

Ex*plo"sion (?), n. [L. explosio a driving off by clapping: cf. F. explosion explosion. See Explode.] 1. The act of exploding; detonation; a chemical action which causes the sudden formation of a great volume of expanded gas; as, the explosion of gunpowder, of fire damp,etc.

2. A bursting with violence and loud noise, because of internal pressure; as, the explosion of a gun, a bomb, a steam boiler, etc.

3. A violent outburst of feeling, manifested by excited language, action, etc.; as, an explosion of wrath.

A formidable explosion of high-church fanaticism.

Macaulay.

Ex*plo"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. explosif.] Driving or bursting out with violence and noise; causing explosion; as, the explosive force of gunpowder.

Ex*plo"sive, n. 1. An explosive agent; a compound or mixture susceptible of a rapid chemical reaction, as gunpowder, or nitro-glycerine.

2. A sound produced by an explosive impulse of the breath; (Phonetics) one of consonants p, b, t, d, k, g, which are sounded with a sort of explosive power of voice. [See Guide to Pronunciation, &radic; 155-7, 184.]

Ex*plo"sive*ly, adv. In an explosive manner.

Ex*po`li*a"tion (?), n. See Exspoliation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Ex*pol"ish (?), v. t. [Cf. L. expolire. See Polish.] To polish thoroughly. [Obs.] Heywood.

Ex*pone" (?), v. t. [OE. exponen. See Expound.] To expound; to explain; also, to expose; to imperil. [Old Eng. & Scotch] Drummond.

Ex*po"nent (?), n. [L. exponens, -entis, p. pr. of exponere to put out, set forth, expose. See Expound.] 1. (Alg.) A number, letter, or any quantity written on the right hand of and above another quantity, and denoting how many times the latter is repeated as a factor to produce the power indicated; thus a2 denotes the second power, and ax the xth power, of a (2 and x being the exponents). A fractional exponent, or index, is used to denote the root of a quantity. Thus, a denotes the third or cube root of a.

2. One who, or that which, stands as an index or representative; as, the leader of a party is the exponent of its principles.

Exponent of a ratio, the quotient arising when the antecedent is divided by the consequent; thus, 6 is the exponent of the ratio of 30 to 5. [R.]

Ex`po*nen"tial (?), a. [Cf. F. exponentiel.] Pertaining to exponents; involving variable exponents; as, an exponential expression; exponential calculus; an exponential function.

Exponential curve, a curve whose nature is defined by means of an exponential equation. -- Exponential equation, an equation which contains an exponential quantity, or in which the unknown quantity enters as an exponent. -- Exponential quantity (Math.), a quantity whose exponent is unknown or variable, as ax. -- Exponential series, a series derived from the development of exponential equations or quantities.

Ex*port" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exported; p. pr. & vb. n. Exporting.] [L. exportare, exportatum; ex out+portare to carry : cf. F. exporter. See Port demeanor.] 1. To carry away; to remove. [Obs.]

[They] export honor from a man, and make him a return in envy.

Bacon.

2. To carry or send abroad, or out of a country, especially to foreign countries, as merchandise or commodities in the way of commerce; -- the opposite of import; as, to export grain, cotton, cattle, goods, etc.

Ex"port (?), n. 1. The act of exporting; exportation; as, to prohibit the export of wheat or tobacco.

2. That which is exported; a commodity conveyed from one country or State to another in the way of traffic; -- used chiefly in the plural, exports.

The ordinary course of exchange . . . between two places must likewise be an indication of the ordinary course of their exports and imports.

A. Smith.

Ex*port`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being suitable for exportation.

To increase the exportability of native goods.

J. P. Peters.

Ex*port"a*ble (?), a. Suitable for exportation; as, exportable products.

Ex`por*ta"tion (?), n. [L. exportatio: cf. F. exporation.] 1. The act of exporting; the act of conveying or sending commodities abroad or to another country, in the course of commerce.

2. Commodity exported; an export.

3. The act of carrying out. [R.] Bourne.

Ex*port"er (?), n. One who exports; the person who sends goods or commodities to a foreign country, in the way of commerce; -- opposed to importer.

Ex*pos"al (?), n. Exposure. Swift.

Ex*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exposed(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Exposing.] [F. exposer; pref. ex- (L. ex out)+poser to place. See Pose, v. t.] 1. To set forth; to set out to public view; to exhibit; to show; to display; as, to expose goods for sale; to expose pictures to public inspection.

Those who seek truth only, freely expose their principles to the test, and are pleased to have them examined.

Locke.

2. To lay bare; to lay open to attack, danger, or anything objectionable; to render accessible to anything which may affect, especially detrimentally; to make liable; as, to expose one's self to the heat of the sun, or to cold, insult, danger, or ridicule; to expose an army to destruction or defeat.

Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel.

Shak.

3. To deprive of concealment; to discover; to lay open to public inspection, or bring to public notice, as a thing that shuns publicity, something criminal, shameful, or the like; as, to expose the faults of a neighbor.

You only expose the follies of men, without arraigning their vices.

Dryden.

4. To disclose the faults or reprehensible practices of; to lay open to general condemnation or contempt by making public the character or arts of; as, to expose a cheat, liar, or hypocrite.

||Ex`po`sé" (?), n. [F., prop. p. p. of exposer. See Expose, v. t.] A formal recital or exposition of facts; exposure, or revelation, of something which some one wished to keep concealed.

Ex*pos"ed*ness (?), n. The state of being exposed, laid open, or unprotected; as, an exposedness to sin or temptation.

Ex*pos"er (?), n. One who exposes or discloses.

Ex`po*si"tion (?), n. [L. expositio, fr. exponere, expositum: cf. F. exposition. See Expound.] 1. The act of exposing or laying open; a setting out or displaying to public view.

2. The act of expounding or of laying open the sense or meaning of an author, or a passage; explanation; interpretation; the sense put upon a passage; a law, or the like, by an interpreter; hence, a work containing explanations or interpretations; a commentary.

You know the law; your exposition Hath been most sound.

Shak.

3. Situation or position with reference to direction of view or accessibility to influence of sun, wind, etc.; exposure; as, an easterly exposition; an exposition to the sun. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.

4. A public exhibition or show, as of industrial and artistic productions; as, the Paris Exposition of 1878. [A Gallicism]

Ex*pos"i*tive (?), a. Serving to explain; expository. Bp. Pearson.

Ex*pos"i*tor (?), n. [L. See Expound.] One who, or that which, expounds or explains; an expounder; a commentator. Bp. Horsley.

Ex*pos"i*to*ry (?), a. Pertaining to, or containing, exposition; serving to explain; explanatory; illustrative; exegetical.

A glossary or expository index to the poetical writers.

Johnson.

{ ||Ex" post` fac"to, or ||Ex" post`fac"to (ks" pst" fk"t) }. [L., from what is done afterwards.] (Law) From or by an after act, or thing done afterward; in consequence of a subsequent act; retrospective.

Ex post facto law, a law which operates by after enactment. The phrase is popularly applied to any law, civil or criminal, which is enacted with a retrospective effect, and with intention to produce that effect; but in its true application, as employed in American law, it relates only to crimes, and signifies a law which retroacts, by way of criminal punishment, upon that which was not a crime before its passage, or which raises the grade of an offense, or renders an act punishable in a more severe manner that it was when committed. Ex post facto laws are held to be contrary to the fundamental principles of a free government, and the States are prohibited from passing such laws by the Constitution of the United States. Burrill. Kent.

Ex*pos"tu*late (?; 135), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Expostulated(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Expostulating.] [L. expostulatus, p. p. of expostulare to demand vehemently; ex out + postulare to ask, require. See Postulate.] To reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of his conduct, representing the wrong he has done or intends, and urging him to make redress or to desist; to remonstrate; -- followed by with.

Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against enemies who have done them a wrong.

Jowett (Thuc. ).

Syn. -- To remonstrate; reason. See Remonstrate.

Ex*pos"tu*late, v. t. To discuss; to examine. [Obs.]

To expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is.

Shak.

Ex*pos`tu*la"tion (?), n. [L. expostulatio.] The act of expostulating or reasoning with a person in opposition to some impropriety of conduct; remonstrance; earnest and kindly protest; dissuasion.

We must use expostulation kindly.

Shak.

Ex*pos"tu*la`tor (?;135), n. One who expostulates. Lamb.

Ex*pos"tu*la*to*ry (?), a. Containing expostulation or remonstrance; as, an expostulatory discourse or letter.

Ex*pos"ture (?;135), n. [Cf. Imposture.] Exposure. [Obs.] Shak.

Ex*po"sure (?;135), n. [From Expose.] 1. The act of exposing or laying open, setting forth, laying bare of protection, depriving of care or concealment, or setting out to reprobation or contempt.

The exposure of Fuller . . . put an end to the practices of that vile tribe.

Macaulay.

2. The state of being exposed or laid open or bare; openness to danger; accessibility to anything that may affect, especially detrimentally; as, exposure to observation, to cold, to inconvenience.

When we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure.

Shak.

3. Position as to points of compass, or to influences of climate, etc. "Under a southern exposure." Evelyn.

The best exposure of the two for woodcocks.

Sir. W. Scott.

4. (Photog.) The exposing of a sensitized plate to the action of light.

Ex*pound" (ks*pound"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Expounding.] [OE. exponen, expounen, expounden, fr. L. exponere to set out, expose, expound; ex out + ponere to put: cf. OE. expondre, expondre. See Position.] 1. To lay open; to expose to view; to examine. [Obs.]

He expounded both his pockets.

Hudibras.

2. To lay open the meaning of; to explain; to clear of obscurity; to interpret; as, to expound a text of Scripture, a law, a word, a meaning, or a riddle.

Expound this matter more fully to me.

Bunyan.

Ex*pound"er (-r), n. One who expounds or explains; an interpreter.

Ex*press" (ks*prs"), a. [F. exprès, L. expressus, p. p. of exprimere to express; ex. out + premere To press. See Press.] 1. Exactly representing; exact.

Their human countenance The express resemblance of the gods.

Milton.

2. Directly and distinctly stated; declared in terms; not implied or left to inference; made unambiguous by intention and care; clear; not dubious; as, express consent; an express statement.

I have express commandment.

Shak.

3. Intended for a particular purpose; relating to an express; sent on a particular errand; dispatched with special speed; as, an express messenger or train. Also used adverbially.

A messenger sent express from the other world.

Atterbury.

Express color. (Law) See the Note under Color, n., 8.

Syn. -- Explicit; clear; unambiguous. See Explicit.

Ex*press", n. [Cf. F. exprès a messenger.] 1. A clear image or representation; an expression; a plain declaration. [Obs.]

The only remanent express of Christ's sacrifice on earth.

Jer. Taylor.

2. A messenger sent on a special errand; a courier; hence, a regular and fast conveyance; commonly, a company or system for the prompt and safe transportation of merchandise or parcels; also, a railway train for transporting passengers or goods with speed and punctuality.

3. An express office.

She charged him . . . to ask at the express if anything came up from town.

E. E. Hale.

4. That which is sent by an express messenger or message. [Obs.] Eikon Basilike.

Express office, an office where packages for an express are received or delivered.

Ex*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expressed(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Expressing.] [Cf. OF. espresser, expresser, L. exprimere, expressum. See Express, a.; cf. Sprain.] 1. To press or squeeze out; as, to express the juice of grapes, or of apples; hence, to extort; to elicit.

All the fruits out of which drink is expressed.

Bacon.

And th'idle breath all utterly expressed.

Spenser.

Halters and racks can not express from thee More than by deeds.

B. Jonson.

2. To make or offer a representation of; to show by a copy or likeness; to represent; to resemble.

Each skillful artist shall express thy form.

E. Smith.

So kids and whelps their sires and dams express.

Dryden.

3. To give a true impression of; to represent and make known; to manifest plainly; to show in general; to exhibit, as an opinion or feeling, by a look, gesture, and esp. by language; to declare; to utter; to tell.

My words express my purpose.

Shak.

They expressed in their lives those excellent doctrines of morality.

Addison.

4. To make known the opinions or feelings of; to declare what is in the mind of; to show (one's self); to cause to appear; -- used reflexively.

Mr. Phillips did express with much indignation against me, one evening.

Pope.

5. To denote; to designate.

Moses and Aaron took these men, which are expressed by their names.

Num. i. 17.

6. To send by express messenger; to forward by special opportunity, or through the medium of an express; as, to express a package.

Syn. -- To declare; utter; signify; testify; intimate.

Ex*press"age (ks*prs"j; 48), n. The charge for carrying a parcel by express.

Ex*press"i*ble (-*b'l), a. Capable of being expressed, squeezed out, shown, represented, or uttered. -- Express"i*bly,adv.

<! p. 530 !>

Ex*pres"sion (ks*prsh"n), n. [L. expressio: cf. F. expression.] 1. The act of expressing; the act of forcing out by pressure; as, the expression of juices or oils; also, of extorting or eliciting; as, a forcible expression of truth.

2. The act of declaring or signifying; declaration; utterance; as, an expression of the public will.

With this tone of philosophy were mingled expressions of sympathy.

Prescott.

3. Lively or vivid representation of meaning, sentiment, or feeling, etc.; significant and impressive indication, whether by language, appearance, or gesture; that manner or style which gives life and suggestive force to ideas and sentiments; as, he reads with expression; her performance on the piano has expression.

The imitators of Shakespeare, fixing their attention on his wonderful power of expression, have directed their imitation to this.

M. Arnold.

4. That which is expressed by a countenance, a posture, a work of art, etc.; look, as indicative of thought or feeling. "The expression of an eye." Tennyson.

It still wore the majesty of expression so conspicuous in his portraits by the inimitable pencil of Titian.

Prescott.

5. A form of words in which an idea or sentiment is conveyed; a mode of speech; a phrase; as, a common expression; an odd expression.

6. (Math.) The representation of any quantity by its appropriate characters or signs.

Past expression, Beyond expression, beyond the power of description. "Beyond expression bright." Milton.

Ex*pres"sion*al (-al), a. Of, or relating to, expression; phraseological; also, vividly representing or suggesting an idea or sentiment. Fitzed. Hall. Ruskin.

Ex*pres"sion*less, a. Destitute of expression.

Ex*press"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. expressif.] 1. Serving to express, utter, or represent; indicative; communicative; -- followed by of; as, words expressive of his gratitude.

Each verse so swells expressive of her woes.

Tickell.

2. Full of expression; vividly representing the meaning or feeling meant to be conveyed; significant; emphatic; as, expressive looks or words.

You have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu; be more expressive to them.

Shak.

Through her expressive eyes her soul distinctly spoke.

Littelton.

-- Ex*press"ive*ly,adv. -- Ex*press"ive*ness,n.

Ex*press"ly, adv. In an express manner; in direct terms; with distinct purpose; particularly; as, a book written expressly for the young.

The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel.

Ezek. i. 3.

I am sent expressly to your lordship.

Shak.

Ex*press"man (-man), n.; pl. Expressmen (-men). A person employed in the express business; also, the driver of a job wagon. W. D. Howells.

Ex*press"ness, n. The state or quality of being express; definiteness. [Obs.] Hammond.

Ex*pres"sure (?;135), n. The act of expressing; expression; utterance; representation. [Obs.]

An operation more divine Than breath or pen can give expressure to.

Shak.

Ex"pro*brate (?), v. t. [L. exprobratus, p. p. of exprobrare; ex out + probrum a shameful or disgraceful act.] To charge upon with reproach; to upbraid. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Ex`pro*bra"tion (?), n. [L. exprobration: cf. F. exprobration.] Reproachful accusation; upbraiding. [Obs.]

A fearful exprobration of our unworthiness.

Jer. Taylor.

{ Ex*pro"bra*tive (?), Ex*pro"bra*to*ry (?), } a. Expressing reproach; upbraiding; reproachful. [R.] Sir A. Shirley.

Ex*pro"pri*ate (?), v. t. [L. ex out, from + proprius one's own: cf. F. exproprier.] To put out of one's possession; to surrender the ownership of; also, to deprive of possession or proprietary rights. Boyle.

Expropriate these [bad landlords] as the monks were expropriated by Act of Parliament.

M. Arnold.

Ex*pro`pri*a"tion, n. [Cf. F. expropriation.] The act of expropriating; the surrender of a claim to exclusive property; the act of depriving of ownership or proprietary rights. W. Montagu.

The expropriation of bad landlords.

M. Arnold.

Ex*pugn" (ks*pn"), v. t. [L. expugnare; ex out + pugnare to fight, pugna fight. Cf. Impugn.] To take by assault; to storm; to overcome; to vanquish; as, to expugn cities; to expugn a person by arguments.

Ex*pug"nable (ks*pg"n*b'l), a. [L. expugnabilis.] Capable of being expugned.

Ex`pug*na"tion (?), n. [L. expugnatio.] The act of taking by assault; conquest. [R.] Sandys.

Ex*pugn"er (?), n. One who expugns.

Ex*pulse" (?), v. t. [F. expulser or L. expulsare, intens. fr. expellere. See Expel.] To drive out; to expel. [Obs.]

If charity be thus excluded and expulsed.

Milton.

Ex*puls"er (?), n. An expeller. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Ex*pul"sion (?), n. [L. expulsio, fr. expellere: cf. F. expulsion. See Expel.] 1. The act of expelling; a driving or forcing out; summary removal from membership, association, etc.