Chapter 74

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

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.

El"ding (?), n. [Icel. elding, fr. elda to kindle, eldr fire; akin to AS. æld fire, ælan to burn.] Fuel. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

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.

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

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.

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

El`e*cam*pane" (?), n. [F. énulecampane, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

E*lec"tion (?), n. [F. élection, 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.

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.

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

E*lect"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. électif.] 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.

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

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

E*lect"or (?), n. [L., fr. eligere: cf. F. électeur.] 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.

E*lect"or (?), a. [Cf. F. électoral.] 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.

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

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E*lect"or*ate (?), n. [Cf. F. électorat.] 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.

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

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

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

{ E*lec"tre, E*lec"ter } (?), n. [L. electrum: cf. F. électre 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.

E`lec*trep"e*ter (`lk*trp"*tr), n. [Electro + Gr. tre`pein to turn.] An instrument used to change the direction of electric currents; a commutator. [R.]

E*lect"ress (*lk"trs), n. [Cf. F. électrice. Cf. Electoress.] The wife or widow of an elector in the old German empire. Burke.

{ E*lec"tric (*lk"trk), E*lec"tric*al (-tr*kal), } a. [L. electrum amber, a mixed metal, Gr. 'h`lektron; akin to 'hle`ktwr the beaming sun, cf. Skr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. électrique. 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.

Electric atmosphere, or Electric aura. See under Aura. -- Electrical battery. See Battery. -- Electrical brush. See under Brush. -- Electric cable. See Telegraph cable, under Telegraph. -- Electric candle. See under Candle. -- Electric cat (Zoöl.), one of three or more large species of African catfish of the genus Malapterurus (esp. M. electricus of the Nile). They have a large electrical organ and are able to give powerful shocks; -- called also sheathfish. -- Electric clock. See under Clock, and see Electro-chronograph. -- Electric current, a current or stream of electricity traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means of conductors from one body to another which is in a different electrical state. -- Electric, or Electrical, eel, (Zoöl.), a South American eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus Gymnotus (G. electricus), from two to five feet in length, capable of giving a violent electric shock. See Gymnotus. -- Electrical fish (Zoöl.), any fish which has an electrical organ by means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known kinds are the torpedo, the gymnotus, or electrical eel, and the electric cat. See Torpedo, and Gymnotus. -- Electric fluid, the supposed matter of electricity; lightning. -- Electrical image (Elec.), a collection of electrical points regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena, an image of certain other electrical points, and used in the solution of electrical problems. Sir W. Thomson. -- Electrical light, the light produced by a current of electricity which in passing through a resisting medium heats it to incandescence or burns it. See under Carbon. -- Electric, or Electrical, machine, an apparatus for generating, collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by friction. -- Electric motor. See Electro-motor, 2. -- Electric osmose. (Physics) See under Osmose. -- Electric pen, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for multiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at great speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the penhandle. -- Electric railway, a railway in which the machinery for moving the cars is driven by an electric current. -- Electric ray (Zoöl.), the torpedo. -- Electric telegraph. See Telegraph.

E*lec"tric (?), n. (Physics) A nonconductor of electricity, as amber, glass, resin, etc., employed to excite or accumulate electricity.

E*lec"tric*al*ly (?), adv. In the manner of electricity, or by means of it; thrillingly.

E*lec"tric*al*ness, a. The state or quality of being electrical.

E`lec*tri"cian (`lk*trsh"an), n. An investigator of electricity; one versed in the science of electricity.

E`lec*tric"i*ty (-trs"*t), n.; pl. Electricities (- tz). [Cf. F. électricité. See Electric.] 1. A power in nature, a manifestation of energy, exhibiting itself when in disturbed equilibrium or in activity by a circuit movement, the fact of direction in which involves polarity, or opposition of properties in opposite directions; also, by attraction for many substances, by a law involving attraction between surfaces of unlike polarity, and repulsion between those of like; by exhibiting accumulated polar tension when the circuit is broken; and by producing heat, light, concussion, and often chemical changes when the circuit passes between the poles or through any imperfectly conducting substance or space. It is generally brought into action by any disturbance of molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical, or mechanical, cause. [1913 Webster]

Electricity is manifested under following different forms: (a) Statical electricity, called also Frictional or Common, electricity, electricity in the condition of a stationary charge, which may be produced by friction, as of glass, amber, etc., or by induction. (b) Dynamical electricity, called also Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by dynamo-electric machines. (c) Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar, and then heating the bar unequally. (d) Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or all of the above mentioned causes. (e) Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action of magnets. (f) Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous electricity. (g) Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction of resinous substance; -- called also resinous electricity. (h) Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal electricity being much more common.

2. The science which unfolds the phenomena and laws of electricity; electrical science.

3. Fig.: Electrifying energy or characteristic. [1913 Webster]

E*lec"tri*fi`a*ble (?), a. Capable of receiving electricity, or of being charged with it.

E*lec`tri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. (Physics) The act of electrifying, or the state of being charged with electricity.

E*lec"tri*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Electrifying.] [Electric + -fy.] 1. To communicate electricity to; to charge with electricity; as, to electrify a jar.

2. To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to give an electric shock to; as, to electrify a limb, or the body.

3. To excite suddenly and violently, esp. by something highly delightful or inspiriting; to thrill; as, this patriotic sentiment electrified the audience.

If the sovereign were now to immure a subject in defiance of the writ of habeas corpus . . . the whole nation would be instantly electrified by the news.

Macaulay.

Try whether she could electrify Mr. Grandcourt by mentioning it to him at table.

G. Eliot.

E*lec"tri*fy, v. i. To become electric.

E*lec"trine (?), a. [L. electrinus of amber. See Electric.] 1. Belonging to, or made of, amber.

2. Made of electrum, an alloy used by the ancients.

E`lec*tri"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) The recognition by an animal body of the electrical condition of external objects.

E*lec`tri*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. électrisation.] The act of electrizing; electrification.

E*lec"trize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Electrizing (?).] [Cf. F. électriser.] To electricity. Eng. Cyc.

E*lec"tri`zer (?), n. One who, or that which, electrizes.

E*lec"tro- (?). [L. electrum amber. See Electric.] A prefix or combining form signifying pertaining to electricity, produced by electricity, producing or employing electricity, etc.; as, electro-negative; electro-dynamic; electro- magnet.

E*lec"tro, n. An electrotype.

E*lec`tro-bal*lis"tic (?), a. Pertaining to electro-ballistics.

E*lec`tro-bal*lis"tics (?), n. The art or science of measuring the force or velocity of projectiles by means of electricity.

E*lec`tro-bi*ol"o*gist (?), n. (Biol.) One versed in electro-biology.

E*lec`tro-bi*ol"o*gy (?), n. (Biol.) 1. That branch of biology which treats of the electrical phenomena of living organisms.

2. That phase of mesmerism or animal magnetism, the phenomena of which are supposed to be produced by a form of electricity.

E*lec`tro-bi*os"co*py (?), n. [Electro- + Gr. &?; life + -scopy.] (Biol.) A method of determining the presence or absence of life in an animal organism with a current of electricity, by noting the presence or absence of muscular contraction.

E*lec`tro-cap`il*lar"i*ty (?), n. (Physics) The occurrence or production of certain capillary effects by the action of an electrical current or charge.

E*lec`tro-cap"il*la*ry (?), a. (Physics) Pert. to, or caused by, electro- capillarity.

E*lec`tro-chem"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to electro-chemistry. Ure.

E*lec`tro-chem"is*try (?), n. That branch of science which treats of the relation of electricity to chemical changes.

E*lec`tro-chron"o*graph (?), n. (Astron. Physics) An instrument for obtaining an accurate record of the time at which any observed phenomenon occurs, or of its duration. It has an electro-magnetic register connected with a clock. See Chronograph.

E*lec`tro-chron`o*graph"ic (?), a. Belonging to the electro-chronograph, or recorded by the aid of it.

E*lec"tro*cute` (?), v. t. [Electro- + cute in execute.] To execute or put to death by electricity. -- E*lec`tro*cu"tion, n. [Recent; Newspaper words]

E*lec"trode (*lk"trd), n. [Electro- + Gr. "odo`s way, path: cf. F. électrode.] (Elec.) The path by which electricity is conveyed into or from a solution or other conducting medium; esp., the ends of the wires or conductors, leading from source of electricity, and terminating in the medium traversed by the current.

{ E*lec`tro-dy*nam"ic (?), E*lec`tro- dy*nam"ic*al (?), } a. (Physics) Pertaining to the movements or force of electric or galvanic currents; dependent on electric force.

E*lec`tro-dy*nam"ics (?), n. 1. The phenomena of electricity in motion.

2. The branch of science which treats of the properties of electric currents; dynamical electricity.

E*lec`tro-dy`na*mom"e*ter (?), n. An instrument for measuring the strength of electro-dynamic currents.

E*lec`tro-en*grav"ing (?), n. The art or process of engraving by means of electricity.

E*lec`tro-etch"ing (?), n. A mode of etching upon metals by electrolytic action.

E*lec`tro*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Electro- + genesis.] (Physiol.) Same as Electrogeny.

E*lec`tro*gen"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to electrogenesis; as, an electrogenic condition.

E`lec*trog"e*ny (?), n. [Electro- + Gr. &?; to produce.] (Physiol.) A term sometimes applied to the effects (tetanus) produced in the muscles of the limbs, when a current of electricity is passed along the spinal cord or nerves.

E*lec`tro-gild"ing (?), n. The art or process of gilding copper, iron, etc., by means of voltaic electricity.

E*lec"tro-gilt` (?), a. Gilded by means of voltaic electricity.

E*lec"tro*graph (?), n. [Electro- + -graph.] A mark, record, or tracing, made by the action of electricity.

E*lec`tro-ki*net"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to electro-kinetics.

E*lec`tro-ki*net"ics (?), n. That branch of electrical science which treats of electricity in motion.

E*lec`tro*lier" (?), n. [Formed from electric in imitation of chandelier.] A branching frame, often of ornamental design, to support electric illuminating lamps.

E`lec*trol"o*gy (?), n. [Electro- + -logy.] That branch of physical science which treats of the phenomena of electricity and its properties.

E`lec*trol"y*sis (?), n. [Electro- + Gr. &?; a loosing, dissolving, fr. &?; to loose, dissolve.] (Physics & Chem.) The act or process of chemical decomposition, by the action of electricity; as, the electrolysis of silver or nickel for plating; the electrolysis of water.

E*lec"tro*lyte (?), n. [Electro- + Gr. &?; a dissoluble: cf. F. électrolyte.] (Physics & Chem.) A compound decomposable, or subjected to decomposition, by an electric current.

{ E*lec`tro*lyt"ic (?), E*lec`tro*lyt"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. électrolytique.] Pertaining to electrolysis; as, electrolytic action. -- E*lec`tro*lyt"ic*al*ly, adv.

E*lec"tro*ly`za*ble (?), a. Capable of being electrolyzed, or decomposed by electricity.

E*lec`tro*ly*za"tion (?), n. The act or the process of electrolyzing.

E*lec"tro*lyze (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrolyzed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Electrolyzing (?).] [Cf. F. électrolyser. See Electrolysis.] To decompose by the direct action of electricity. Faraday.

E*lec`tro-mag"net (?), n. A mass, usually of soft iron, but sometimes of some other magnetic metal, as nickel or cobalt, rendered temporarily magnetic by being placed within a coil of wire through which a current of electricity is passing. The metal is generally in the form of a bar, either straight, or bent into the shape of a horseshoe.

E*lec`tro-mag*net"ic (?), a. Of, Pertaining to, or produced by, magnetism which is developed by the passage of an electric current.

Electro-magnetic engine, an engine in which the motive force is electro-magnetism. -- Electro- magnetic theory of light (Physics), a theory of light which makes it consist in the rapid alternation of transient electric currents moving transversely to the direction of the ray.

E*lec`tro-mag"net*ism (?), n. The magnetism developed by a current of electricity; the science which treats of the development of magnetism by means of voltaic electricity, and of the properties or actions of the currents evolved.

E*lec`tro-met"al*lur`gy (?), n. The act or art precipitating a metal electro-chemical action, by which a coating is deposited, on a prepared surface, as in electroplating and electrotyping; galvanoplasty.

E`lec*trom"e*ter (?), n. [Electro- + -meter: cf. F. électromètre.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the quantity or intensity of electricity; also, sometimes, and less properly, applied to an instrument which indicates the presence of electricity (usually called an electroscope).

Balance electrometer. See under Balance.

{ E*lec`tro-met"ric (?), E*lec`tro-met"ric*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. électrométrique.] Pertaining to electrometry; made by means of an electrometer; as, an electrometrical experiment.

E`lec*trom"e*try (?), n. [Cf. F. électrométrie.] (Physics) The art or process of making electrical measurements.

E*lec`tro-mo"tion (?), n. The motion of electricity or its passage from one metal to another in a voltaic circuit; mechanical action produced by means of electricity.

E*lec`tro-mo"tive (?), a. Producing electro-motion; producing, or tending to produce, electricity or an electric current; causing electrical action or effects.

Electro-motive force (Physics), the force which produces, or tends to produce, electricity, or an electric current; sometimes used to express the degree of electrification as equivalent to potential, or more properly difference of potential.

E*lec`tro*mo"tor (?), n. [Cf. F. électromoteur.] 1. (Physics) A mover or exciter of electricity; as apparatus for generating a current of electricity.

2. (Mech.) An apparatus or machine for producing motion and mechanical effects by the action of electricity; an electro-magnetic engine.

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E*lec`tro-mus"cu*lar (?), a. (Physiol.) Pertaining the reaction (contraction) of the muscles under electricity, or their sensibility to it.

E*lec"tron (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'h`lektron. See Electric.] Amber; also, the alloy of gold and silver, called electrum.

E*lec`tro-neg"a*tive (?), a. (Chem. & Physics) (a) Having the property of being attracted by an electro-positive body, or a tendency to pass to the positive pole in electrolysis, by the law that opposite electricities attract each other. (b) Negative; nonmetallic; acid; -- opposed to positive, metallic, or basic.

E*lec`tro-neg"a*tive, n. (Chem. & Physics) A body which passes to the positive pole in electrolysis.

E`lec*trop"a*thy (?), n. [Electro- + Gr. pa`qos suffering.] (Med.) The treatment of disease by electricity.

E*lec"tro*phone (?), n. [Electro- + Gr. fwnh` sound.] (Physics) An instrument for producing sound by means of electric currents.

||E*lec`troph"o*rus (?), n.; pl. ||Electrophori (#). [NL., fr. combining form electro- + Gr. fe`rein to bear.] (Physics) An instrument for exciting electricity, and repeating the charge indefinitely by induction, consisting of a flat cake of resin, shellac, or ebonite, upon which is placed a plate of metal.

E*lec`tro-phys`i*o*log"ic*al (?), a. (Physiol.) Pertaining to electrical results produced through physiological agencies, or by change of action in a living organism.

E*lec`tro-phys`i*ol"o*gy (?), n. (Physiol.) That branch of physiology which treats of electric phenomena produced through physiological agencies.

E*lec"tro*plate` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electroplating.] (Mech.) To plate or cover with a coating of metal, usually silver, nickel, or gold, by means of electrolysis.

E*lec"tro*pla`ter (?), n. One who electroplates.