Chapter 94

Er"o*teme (?), n. [Gr. &?; question.] A mark indicating a question; a note of interrogation.

||Er`o*te"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a questioning, fr. &?; to ask.] (Rhet.) A figure of speech by which a strong affirmation of the contrary, is implied under the form of an earnest interrogation, as in the following lines; -

Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?

Shak.

{ E*rot"ic (?), E*rot"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. érotique. See Eros.] Of or pertaining to the passion of love; treating of love; amatory.

E*rot"ic, n. An amorous composition or poem.

E*rot"i*cism (?), n. Erotic quality.

Er`pe*tol"o*gist (?), n. Herpetologist.

Er`pe*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Cf. F. erpétologie.] (Zoöl.) Herpetology.

Err (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Erred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Erring (?; 277, 85).] [F. errer, L. errare; akin to G. irren, OHG. irran, v. t., irr&?;n, v. i., OS. irrien, Sw. irra, Dan. irre, Goth, aírzjan to lead astray, airzise astray.] 1. To wander; to roam; to stray. [Archaic] "Why wilt thou err from me?" Keble.

What seemeth to you, if there were to a man an hundred sheep and one of them hath erred.

Wyclif (Matt. xviii. 12).

2. To deviate from the true course; to miss the thing aimed at. "My jealous aim might err." Shak.

3. To miss intellectual truth; to fall into error; to mistake in judgment or opinion; to be mistaken.

The man may err in his judgment of circumstances.

Tillotson.

4. To deviate morally from the right way; to go astray, in a figurative sense; to do wrong; to sin.

Do they not err that devise evil?

Prov. xiv. 22.

5. To offend, as by erring.

Er"ra*ble (?), a. Liable to error; fallible.

Er"ra*ble*ness, n. Liability to error. Dr. H. More.

Er"ra*bund (?), a. [L. errabundus.] Erratic. "Errabund guesses." Southey.

Er"ran*cy (?), n. [L. errantia.] A wandering; state of being in error.

Er"rand (?), n. [OE. erende, erande, message, business, AS. ærende, ærend; akin to OS. arundi, OHG. arunti, Icel. eyrendi, örendi, erendi, Sw. ärende, Dan. ærende; perh. akin to AS. earu swift, Icel. örr, and to L. oriri to rise, E. orient.] A special business intrusted to a messenger; something to be told or done by one sent somewhere for the purpose; often, a verbal message; a commission; as, the servant was sent on an errand; to do an errand. Also, one's purpose in going anywhere.

I have a secret errand to thee, O king.

Judg. iii. 19.

I will not eat till I have told mine errand.

Gen. xxiv. 33.

Er"rant (?), a. [F. errant, p. pr. fr. OF. errer to travel, LL. iterare, fr. L. iter journey; confused somewhat with L. errare to err. See Eyre, and cf. Arrant, Itinerant.] 1. Wandering; deviating from an appointed course, or from a direct path; roving.

Seven planets or errant stars in the lower orbs of heaven.

Sir T. Browne.

2. Notorious; notoriously bad; downright; arrant.

Would make me an errant fool.

B. Jonson.

3. (Eng. Law) Journeying; itinerant; - - formerly applied to judges who went on circuit and to bailiffs at large. Mozley & W.

Er"rant, n. One who wanders about. [Obs.] Fuller.

||Er*ran"ti*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. errare to wander. See Err.] (Zoöl.) A group of chætopod annelids, including those that are not confined to tubes. See Chætopoda. [Written also Errantes.]

Er"rant*ry (?), n. 1. A wandering; a roving; esp., a roving in quest of adventures. Addison.

2. The employment of a knight-errant. Johnson.

||Er*ra"ta (?), n. pl. [L.] See Erratum.

Er*rat"ic (?), a. [L. erraticus, fr. errare to wander: cf. F. erratique. See Err.] 1. Having no certain course; roving about without a fixed destination; wandering; moving; -- hence, applied to the planets as distinguished from the fixed stars.

The earth and each erratic world.

Blackmore.

2. Deviating from a wise of the common course in opinion or conduct; eccentric; strange; queer; as, erratic conduct.

3. Irregular; changeable. "Erratic fever." Harvey.

Erratic blocks, gravel, etc. (Geol.), masses of stone which have been transported from their original resting places by the agency of water, ice, or other causes. -- Erratic phenomena, the phenomena which relate to transported materials on the earth's surface.

Er*rat"ic, n. 1. One who deviates from common and accepted opinions; one who is eccentric or preserve in his intellectual character.

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2. A rogue. [Obs.] Cockeram.

3. (Geol.) Any stone or material that has been borne away from its original site by natural agencies; esp., a large block or fragment of rock; a bowlder.

In the plural the term is applied especially to the loose gravel and stones on the earth's surface, including what is called drift.

Er*rat"ic*al (?), a. Erratic. -- Er*rat"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Er*rat"ic*al*ness, n.

Er*ra"tion (?), n. [L. erratio. See Err.] A wandering; a roving about. [Obs.] Cockeram.

||Er*ra"tum (?), n.; pl. Errata (#). [L., fr. errare, erratum, to wander, err. See Err.] An error or mistake in writing or printing.

A single erratum may knock out the brains of a whole passage.

Cowper.

Er"rhine (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; in + &?;, &?;, nose: cf. F. errhin.] (Med.) A medicine designed to be snuffed up the nose, to promote discharges of mucus; a sternutatory. Coxe. -- a. Causing or increasing secretion of nasal mucus.

Er*ro"ne*ous (?), a. [L. erroneus, fr. errare to err. See Err.] 1. Wandering; straying; deviating from the right course; -- hence, irregular; unnatural. [Obs.] "Erroneous circulation." Arbuthnot.

Stopped much of the erroneous light, which otherwise would have disturbed the vision.

Sir I. Newman.

2. Misleading; misled; mistaking. [Obs.]

An erroneous conscience commands us to do what we ought to omit.

Jer. Taylor.

3. Containing error; not conformed to truth or justice; incorrect; false; mistaken; as, an erroneous doctrine; erroneous opinion, observation, deduction, view, etc. -- Er*ro"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Er*ro"ne*ous*ness, n.

Er"ror (?), n. [OF. error, errur, F. erreur, L. error, fr. errare to err. See Err.] 1. A wandering; a roving or irregular course. [Obs.]

The rest of his journey, his error by sea.

B. Jonson.

2. A wandering or deviation from the right course or standard; irregularity; mistake; inaccuracy; something made wrong or left wrong; as, an error in writing or in printing; a clerical error.

3. A departing or deviation from the truth; falsity; false notion; wrong opinion; mistake; misapprehension.

H&?; judgment was often in error, though his candor remained unimpaired.

Bancroft.

4. A moral offense; violation of duty; a sin or transgression; iniquity; fault. Ps. xix. 12.

5. (Math.) The difference between the approximate result and the true result; -- used particularly in the rule of double position.

6. (Mensuration) (a) The difference between an observed value and the true value of a quantity. (b) The difference between the observed value of a quantity and that which is taken or computed to be the true value; -- sometimes called residual error.

7. (Law.) A mistake in the proceedings of a court of record in matters of law or of fact.

8. (Baseball) A fault of a player of the side in the field which results in failure to put out a player on the other side, or gives him an unearned base.

Law of error, or Law of frequency of error (Mensuration), the law which expresses the relation between the magnitude of an error and the frequency with which that error will be committed in making a large number of careful measurements of a quantity. -- Probable error. (Mensuration) See under Probable. -- Writ of error (Law), an original writ, which lies after judgment in an action at law, in a court of record, to correct some alleged error in the proceedings, or in the judgment of the court. Bouvier. Burrill.

Syn. -- Mistake; fault; blunder; failure; fallacy; delusion; hallucination; sin. See Blunder.

Er"ror*ful (?), a. Full of error; wrong. Foxe.

Er"ror*ist, n. One who encourages and propagates error; one who holds to error.

Ers (rs), n. [F., fr. L. ervum a kind of pulse, bitter vetch.] (Bot.) The bitter vetch (Ervum Ervilia).

Erse (rs), n. [A modification of Irish, OE. Irishe.] A name sometimes given to that dialect of the Celtic which is spoken in the Highlands of Scotland; -- called, by the Highlanders, Gaelic.

Erse, a. Of or pertaining to the Celtic race in the Highlands of Scotland, or to their language.

Ersh (rsh), n. See Arrish.

Erst (rst), adv. [Orig. superlative of ere; AS. rest. See Ere.] [Archaic] 1. First. Chaucer.

2. Previously; before; formerly; heretofore. Chaucer.

Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to match his pastoral pipe.

A. W. Ward.

At erst, at first; at the beginning. -- Now at erst, at this present time. Chaucer.

Erst`while" (-hwl"), adv. Till then or now; heretofore; formerly. [Archaic]

{ Er`u*bes"cence (?; 135), Er`u*bes"cen*cy (?), } n. [L. erubescentia: cf. F. érubescence.] The act of becoming red; redness of the skin or surface of anything; a blushing.

Er`u*bes"cent (?), a. [L. erubescens, p. pr. erubescere to grow red; e out + rubescere. See Rubescent.] Red, or reddish; blushing. Johnson.

Er`u*bes"cite (?), n. (Min.) See Bornite.

||E*ru"ca (?), n.; pl. Erucæ (#). [L., a caterpillar, also, a sort of colewort.] (Zoöl.) An insect in the larval state; a caterpillar; a larva.

E*ru"cic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, a genus of cruciferous Mediterranean herbs (Eruca or Brassica); as, erucic acid, a fatty acid resembling oleic acid, and found in colza oil, mustard oil, etc.

E*ru"ci*from (?), a. [Eruca + -form.] (Zoöl.) Having the form of a caterpillar; -- said of insect larvæ.

{ E*ruct" (?), E*ruc"tate (?) }, v. t. [L. eructare; e out + ructare to belch: cf. F. éructer.] To eject, as wind, from the stomach; to belch. [R.] Howell.

Er`uc*ta"tion (?), n. [L. eructatio: cf. F. éructation.] 1. The act of belching wind from the stomach; a belch.

2. A violent belching out or emitting, as of gaseous or other matter from the crater of a volcano, geyser, etc.

E*ru"di*ate (?), v. t. [L. erudire.] To instruct; to educate; to teach. [Obs.]

The skillful goddess there erudiates these In all she did.

Fanshawe.

Er"u*dite (r"*dt; 135), a. [L. eruditus, p. p. of erudire to free from rudeness, to polish, instruct; e out + rudis rude: cf. F. érudit. See Rude.] Characterized by extensive reading or knowledge; well instructed; learned. "A most erudite prince." Sir T. More. "Erudite . . . theology." I. Taylor. -- Er"u*dite`ly, adv. -- Er"u*dite`ness, n.

Er`u*di"tion (-dsh"n), n. [L. eruditio: cf. F. érudition.] The act of instructing; the result of thorough instruction; the state of being erudite or learned; the acquisitions gained by extensive reading or study; particularly, learning in literature or criticism, as distinct from the sciences; scholarship.

The management of a young lady's person is not be overlooked, but the erudition of her mind is much more to be regarded.

Steele.

The gay young gentleman whose erudition sat so easily upon him.

Macaulay.

Syn. -- Literature; learning. See Literature.

Er"u*gate (?), a. [L. erugatus, p. p. of erugare to smooth; e out + ruga wrinkle.] Freed from wrinkles; smooth.

E*ru"gi*nous (?), a. [Cf. F. érugineux. See Æruginous.] Partaking of the substance or nature of copper, or of the rust copper; resembling the trust of copper or verdigris; æruginous.

E*rum"pent (?), a. [L. erumpens, -entis, p. pr. of erumpere.] (Bot.) Breaking out; -- said of certain fungi which burst through the texture of leaves.

E*rupt" (?), v. t. [See Eruption.] To cause to burst forth; to eject; as, to erupt lava. Huxley.

E*rup"tion (?), n. [L. eruptio, fr. erumpere, eruptum, to break out; e out + rumpere, to break: cf. F. éruption. See Rupture.] 1. The act of breaking out or bursting forth; as: (a) A violent throwing out of flames, lava, etc., as from a volcano of a fissure in the earth's crust. (b) A sudden and overwhelming hostile movement of armed men from one country to another. Milton. (c) A violent commotion.

All Paris was quiet . . . to gather fresh strength for the next day's eruption.

W. Irving.

2. That which bursts forth.

3. A violent exclamation; ejaculation.

He would . . . break out into bitter and passionate eruditions.

Sir H. Wotton.

4. (Med.) The breaking out of pimples, or an efflorescence, as in measles, scarlatina, etc.

E*rup"tion*al (?), a. Eruptive. [R.] R. A. Proctor.

E*rup"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. éruptif.] 1. Breaking out or bursting forth.

The sudden glance Appears far south eruptive through the cloud.

Thomson.

2. (Med.) Attended with eruption or efflorescence, or producing it; as, an eruptive fever.

3. (Geol.) Produced by eruption; as, eruptive rocks, such as the igneous or volcanic.

E*rup"tive, n. (Geol.) An eruptive rock.

||E*ryn"gi*um (*rn"j*m), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'hry`ggion, dim. of 'h`ryggos eryngo; cf. L. eryngion, erynge.] (Bot.) A genus of umbelliferous plants somewhat like thistles in appearance. Eryngium maritimum, or sea holly, has been highly esteemed as an aphrodisiac, the roots being formerly candied.

E*ryn"go (?), n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Eryngium.

Er`y*sip"e*las (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. 'erysi`pelas; 'eryqro`s red + pe`lla hide, skin. See Red, and Pell, n.] (Med.) St. Anthony's fire; a febrile disease accompanied with a diffused inflammation of the skin, which, starting usually from a single point, spreads gradually over its surface. It is usually regarded as contagious, and often occurs epidemically.

Er`y*si*pel"a*toid (?), a. [Gr. 'erysi`pelas erysipelas + -oid.] Resembling erysipelas.

Er`y*si*pel"a*tous (?), a. [Cf. F. érysipélateux.] Resembling erysipelas, or partaking of its nature.

Er`y*sip"e*lous (?), a. Erysipelatous.

||Er`y*the"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to redden, fr. 'eryqro`s red.] (Med.) A disease of the skin, in which a diffused inflammation forms rose-colored patches of variable size.

Er`y*the*mat"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. érythématique.] (Med.) Characterized by, or causing, a morbid redness of the skin; relating to erythema.

Er`y*them"a*tous (?), a. (Med.) Relating to, or causing, erythema.

{ Er`y*thre"an, Er`y*thræ"an (?) }, a. [L. erythraeus; Gr. &?;, fr. 'eryqro`s red.] Red in color. "The erythrean main." Milton.

E*ryth"ric (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, erythrin.

{ E*ryth"rin, E*ryth"rine (?) }, n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red.] 1. (Chem.) A colorless crystalline substance, C20H22O10, extracted from certain lichens, as the various species of Rocella. It is a derivative of orsellinic acid. So called because of certain red compounds derived from it. Called also erythric acid.

2. (Min.) See Erythrite, 2.

||Er`y*thri"na (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'eryqro`s red.] (Bot.) A genus of leguminous plants growing in the tropics; coral tree; -- so called from its red flowers.

E*ryth"rism (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red: cf. F. érythrisme.] (Zoöl.) A condition of excessive redness. See Erythrochroism.

E*ryth"rite (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red.] 1. (Chem.) A colorless crystalline substance, C4H6.(OH)4, of a sweet, cooling taste, extracted from certain lichens, and obtained by the decomposition of erythrin; -- called also erythrol, erythroglucin, erythromannite, pseudorcin, cobalt bloom, and under the name phycite obtained from the alga Protococcus vulgaris. It is a tetrabasic alcohol, corresponding to glycol and glycerin.

2. (Min.) A rose-red mineral, crystallized and earthy, a hydrous arseniate of cobalt, known also as cobalt bloom; -- called also erythrin or erythrine.

E*ryth`ro*chro"ic (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having, or subject to, erythrochroism.

E*ryth"ro*chro*ism (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + &?; color.] (Zoöl.) An unusual redness, esp. in the plumage of birds, or hair of mammals, independently of age, sex, or season.

E*ryth`ro*dex"trin (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + E. dextrin.] (Physiol. Chem.) A dextrin which gives a red color with iodine. See Dextrin.

E*ryth"ro*gen (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + -gen.] (Chem.) (a) Carbon disulphide; -- so called from certain red compounds which it produces in combination with other substances. (b) A substance reddened by acids, which is supposed to be contained in flowers. (c) A crystalline substance obtained from diseased bile, which becomes blood-red when acted on by nitric acid or ammonia.

E*ryth`ro*gran"u*lose (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + E. granulose.] (Physiol. Chem.) A term applied by Brücke to a substance present in small amount in starch granules, colored red by iodine.

Er"y*throid (?), a. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + -oid: cf. Gr. &?;.] Of a red color; reddish; as, the erythroid tunic (the cremaster muscle).

Er`y*thro"le*ic (?), a. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.) Having a red color and oily appearance; -- applied to a purple semifluid substance said to be obtained from archil.

Er`y*thro"le*in (?), n. [See Erythroleic.] (Chem.) A red substance obtained from litmus.

E*ryth`ro*lit"min (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + E. litmus.] (Chem.) Erythrolein.

||Er`y*thro"ni*um (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; a kind of plant, fr. 'eryqro`s red.] (Chem.) A name originally given (from its red acid) to the metal vanadium. [R.]

E*ryth`ro*phle"ine (?; 104), n. (Chem.) A white crystalline alkaloid, extracted from sassy bark (Erythrophleum Guineense).

{ E*ryth"ro*phyll (?), Er`y*throph"yl*lin (?) }, n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + &?; leaf.] (Physiol. Bot.) The red coloring matter of leaves, fruits, flowers, etc., in distinction from chlorophyll.

E*ryth"ro*sin (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red.] (Chem.) (a) A red substance formed by the oxidation of tyrosin. (b) A red dyestuff obtained from fluoresceïn by the action of iodine.

||Er`y*throx"y*lon (?), n. [NL., from Gr. 'eryqro`s red + &?; wood. So named from the red wood of some species.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs or small trees of the Flax family, growing in tropical countries. E. Coca is the source of cocaine. See Coca.

E*ryth"ro*zyme (?), n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red + &?; leaven.] (Physiol. Chem.) A ferment extracted from madder root, possessing the power of inducing alcoholic fermentation in solutions of sugar.

Es`ca*lade" (?), n. [F., Sp. escalada (cf. It. scalata), fr. Sp. escalar to scale, LL. scalare, fr. L. scala ladder. See Scale, v. t.] (Mil.) A furious attack made by troops on a fortified place, in which ladders are used to pass a ditch or mount a rampart.

Sin enters, not by escalade, but by cunning or treachery.

Buckminster.

Es`ca*lade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Escaladed; p. pr. & vb. n. Escalading.] (Mil.) To mount and pass or enter by means of ladders; to scale; as, to escalate a wall.

Es*cal"lop (?), n. See Escalop.

Es*cal"loped (?), a. See Escaloped.

Es*cal"op (?; 277), n. [OF. escalope shell, F. escalope a sort of cut of meat. See Scallop.] 1. (Zoöl.) A bivalve shell of the genus Pecten. See Scallop.

2. A regular, curving indenture in the margin of anything. See Scallop. "So many jags or escalops." Ray.

3. (a) The figure or shell of an escalop, considered as a sign that the bearer had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Hence: (b) (Her.) A bearing or a charge consisting of an escalop shell.

Es*cal"oped (?), a. 1. Cut or marked in the form of an escalop; scalloped.

2. (Her.) Covered with a pattern resembling a series of escalop shells, each of which issues from between two others. Its appearance is that of a surface covered with scales.

Escaloped oysters (Cookery). See under Scalloped.

Es*cam"bi*o (?), n. [LL. escambium, excambium. See Excamb.] (Eng. Law) A license formerly required for the making over a bill of exchange to another over sea. Cowell.

Es*cap"a*ble (?), a. Avoidable.

Es`ca*pade" (?), n. [F., fr. Sp. escapada escape, fr. escapar to escape; or F., fr. It. scappata escape, escapade, fr. scappare to escape. see Escape.] 1. The fling of a horse, or ordinary kicking back of his heels; a gambol.

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2. Act by which one breaks loose from the rules of propriety or good sense; a freak; a prank. Carlyle.

Es*cape" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Escaped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Escaping.] [OE. escapen, eschapen, OF. escaper, eschaper, F. echapper, fr. LL. ex cappa out of one's cape or cloak; hence, to slip out of one's cape and escape. See 3d Cape, and cf. Scape, v.] 1. To flee from and avoid; to be saved or exempt from; to shun; to obtain security from; as, to escape danger. "Sailors that escaped the wreck." Shak.

2. To avoid the notice of; to pass unobserved by; to evade; as, the fact escaped our attention.

They escaped the search of the enemy.

Ludlow.

Es*cape", v. i. 1. To flee, and become secure from danger; -- often followed by from or out of.

Haste, for thy life escape, nor look behind&?;&?;

Keble.

2. To get clear from danger or evil of any form; to be passed without harm.

Such heretics . . . would have been thought fortunate, if they escaped with life.

Macaulay.

3. To get free from that which confines or holds; -- used of persons or things; as, to escape from prison, from arrest, or from slavery; gas escapes from the pipes; electricity escapes from its conductors.

To escape out of these meshes.

Thackeray.

Es*cape", n. 1. The act of fleeing from danger, of evading harm, or of avoiding notice; deliverance from injury or any evil; flight; as, an escape in battle; a narrow escape; also, the means of escape; as, a fire escape.

I would hasten my escape from the windy storm.

Ps. lv. 8.

2. That which escapes attention or restraint; a mistake; an oversight; also, transgression. [Obs.]

I should have been more accurate, and corrected all those former escapes.

Burton.

3. A sally. "Thousand escapes of wit." Shak.

4. (Law) The unlawful permission, by a jailer or other custodian, of a prisoner's departure from custody.

Escape is technically distinguishable from prison breach, which is the unlawful departure of the prisoner from custody, escape being the permission of the departure by the custodian, either by connivance or negligence. The term escape, however, is applied by some of the old authorities to a departure from custody by stratagem, or without force. Wharton.

5. (Arch.) An apophyge.

6. Leakage or outflow, as of steam or a liquid.

7. (Elec.) Leakage or loss of currents from the conducting wires, caused by defective insulation.

Escape pipe (Steam Boilers), a pipe for carrying away steam that escapes through a safety valve. -- Escape valve (Steam Engine), a relief valve; a safety valve. See under Relief, and Safety. -- Escape wheel (Horol.), the wheel of an escapement.

Es*cape"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. échappement. See Escape.] 1. The act of escaping; escape. [R.]

2. Way of escape; vent. [R.]

An escapement for youthful high spirits.

G. Eliot.

3. The contrivance in a timepiece which connects the train of wheel work with the pendulum or balance, giving to the latter the impulse by which it is kept in vibration; -- so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration.