Chapter 95

Escapements are of several kinds, as the vertical, or verge, or crown, escapement, formerly used in watches, in which two pallets on the balance arbor engage with a crown wheel; the anchor escapement, in which an anchor-shaped piece carries the pallets; -- used in common clocks (both are called recoil escapements, from the recoil of the escape wheel at each vibration); the cylinder escapement, having an open-sided hollow cylinder on the balance arbor to control the escape wheel; the duplex escapement, having two sets of teeth on the wheel; the lever escapement, which is a kind of detached escapement, because the pallets are on a lever so arranged that the balance which vibrates it is detached during the greater part of its vibration and thus swings more freely; the detent escapement, used in chronometers; the remontoir escapement, in which the escape wheel is driven by an independent spring or weight wound up at intervals by the clock train, -- sometimes used in astronomical clocks. When the shape of an escape- wheel tooth is such that it falls dead on the pallet without recoil, it forms a deadbeat escapement.

Es*cap"er (?), n. One who escapes.

Es*car"bun*cle (?), n. [OF. escarbuncle, F. escaboucle.] (Her.) See Carbuncle, 3.

Es*car`ga*toire" (?), n. [F. escargotière, fr. escargot snail.] A nursery of snails. [Obs.] Addison.

Es*carp" (?), n. [F. escarpe (cf. Sp. escarpa, It. scarpa), fr. escarper to cut steep, cut to a slope, prob. of German origin: cf. G. scharf sharp,, E. sharp, or perh. scrape.] (Fort.) The side of the ditch next the parapet; -- same as scarp, and opposed to counterscarp.

Es*carp", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Escarped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Escarping.] (Mil.) To make into, or furnish with, a steep slope, like that of a scrap. Carleton.

Es*carp"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. escarpement.] A steep descent or declivity; steep face or edge of a ridge; ground about a fortified place, cut away nearly vertically to prevent hostile approach. See Scarp.

-es"cent (?). [From the ending -escens, - entis, of the p. pr. of inchoative verbs in Latin.] A suffix signifying beginning, beginning to be; as, adolescent, effervescent, etc.

Esch`a*lot" (?), n. (Bot.) See Shallot.

Es"char (?), n. [L. eschara, Gr. &?;: cf. F. eschare. See Scar.] (Med.) A dry slough, crust, or scab, which separates from the healthy part of the body, as that produced by a burn, or the application of caustics.

Es"char (?), n. [Ir.] (Geol.) In Ireland, one of the continuous mounds or ridges of gravelly and sandy drift which extend for many miles over the surface of the country. Similar ridges in Scotland are called kames or kams. [Written also eskar and esker.]

||Es"cha*ra (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a grate, a pan of coals.] (Zoöl.) A genus of Bryozoa which produce delicate corals, often incrusting like lichens, but sometimes branched.

Es"cha*rine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like, or pertaining to, the genus Eschara, or family Escharidæ.

Es`cha*rot"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; an eschar: cf. F. escharotique.] (Med.) Serving or tending to form an eschar; producing a scar; caustic.

Es`cha*rot"ic, n. (Med.) A substance which produces an eschar; a caustic, esp., a mild caustic.

Es`cha*to*log"ic*al (?), a. Pertaining to the last or final things.

Es`cha*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; the furthest, last + -logy.] The doctrine of the last or final things, as death, judgment, and the events therewith connected.

Es*chaunge" (?), n. Exchange. [Obs.]

Es*cheat" (?), n. [OE. eschete, escheyte, an escheat, fr. OF. escheit, escheoit, escheeite, esheoite, fr. escheoir (F. échoir) to fall to, fall to the lot of; pref. es- (L. ex) + cheoir, F. choir, to fall, fr. L. cadere. See Chance, and cf. Cheat.] 1. (Law) (a) (Feud. & Eng. Law) The falling back or reversion of lands, by some casualty or accident, to the lord of the fee, in consequence of the extinction of the blood of the tenant, which may happen by his dying without heirs, and formerly might happen by corruption of blood, that is, by reason of a felony or attainder. Tomlins. Blackstone. (b) (U. S. Law) The reverting of real property to the State, as original and ultimate proprietor, by reason of a failure of persons legally entitled to hold the same.

A distinction is carefully made, by English writers, between escheat to the lord of the fee and forfeiture to the crown. But in this country, where the State holds the place of chief lord of the fee, and is entitled to take alike escheat and by forfeiture, this distinction is not essential. Tomlins. Kent.

(c) A writ, now abolished, to recover escheats from the person in possession. Blackstone.

2. Lands which fall to the lord or the State by escheat.

3. That which falls to one; a reversion or return

To make me great by others' loss is bad escheat.

Spenser.

Es*cheat", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Esheated; p. pr. & vb. n. Escheating.] (Law) To revert, or become forfeited, to the lord, the crown, or the State, as lands by the failure of persons entitled to hold the same, or by forfeiture.

In this country it is the general rule that when the title to land fails by defect of heirs or devisees, it necessarily escheats to the State; but forfeiture of estate from crime is hardly known in this country, and corruption of blood is universally abolished. Kent. Bouvier.

Es*cheat", v. t. (Law) To forfeit. Bp. Hall.

Es*cheat"a*ble (?), a. Liable to escheat.

Es*cheat"age (?; 48), n. The right of succeeding to an escheat. Sherwood.

Es*cheat"or (?), n. (Law) An officer whose duty it is to observe what escheats have taken place, and to take charge of them. Burrill.

Es"che*vin (?), n. [OF. eschevin, a sort of magistrate, alderman, F. échevin.] The alderman or chief officer of an ancient guild. [Obs.]

Es*chew" (es*ch"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eshewed (-ch"d); p. pr. & vb. n. Eshewing.] [OF. eschever, eschiver, eskiver, F. esquiver, fr. OHG. sciuhen, G. scheuen; akin to E. sky. See Shy, a.] 1. To shun; to avoid, as something wrong, or from a feeling of distaste; to keep one's self clear of.

They must not only eschew evil, but do good.

Bp. Beveridge.

2. To escape from; to avoid. [Obs.]

He who obeys, destruction shall eschew.

Sandys.

Es*chew"er (?), n. One who eschews.

Es*chew"ment (?), n. The act of eschewing. [R.]

||Esch*scholtz"i*a (?), n. [NL. Named after Dr. Eschscholtz, a German botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of papaveraceous plants, found in California and upon the west coast of North America, some species of which produce beautiful yellow, orange, rose-colored, or white flowers; the California poppy.

Es"chy*nite (?), n. [Gr. &?; shame.] (Min.) A rare mineral, containing chiefly niobium, titanium, thorium, and cerium. It was so called by Berzelius on account of the inability of chemical science, at the time of its discovery, to separate some of its constituents.

Es*coch"eon (?), n. Escutcheon. [Obs.]

{ Es`co*pet", ||Es`co*pette" (?) }, n. [Sp. escopeta, F. escopette.] A kind of firearm; a carbine.

||Es*co"ri*al (?), n. [Sp.] See Escurial.

Es"cort (?), n. [F. escorte, It. scorta a guard or guide, fr. scorgere to perceive, discern, lead, fr. L. ex out, quite + corrigere to correct, set right. See Correct.] 1. A body of armed men to attend a person of distinction for the sake of affording safety when on a journey; one who conducts some one as an attendant; a guard, as of prisoners on a march; also, a body of persons, attending as a mark of respect or honor; -- applied to movements on land, as convoy is to movements at sea.

The troops of my escort marched at the ordinary rate.

Burke.

2. Protection, care, or safeguard on a journey or excursion; as, to travel under the escort of a friend.

Es*cort" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Escorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Escorting.] [Cf. F. escorter, It. scortare. See Escort, n.] To attend with a view to guard and protect; to accompany as safeguard; to give honorable or ceremonious attendance to; -- used esp. with reference to journeys or excursions on land; as, to escort a public functionary, or a lady; to escort a baggage wagon.

Syn. -- To accompany; attend. See Accompany.

Es*cot" (?), n. [OF.] See Scot, a tax. [Obs.]

Es*cot", v. t. To pay the reckoning for; to support; to maintain. [Obs.] Shak.

||Es`couade" (?), n. See Squad,

Es*cout" (?), n. See Scout. [Obs.] Hayward.

Es*cribed" (?), a. [L. e out, out of + scribere to write.] Drawn outside of; -- used to designate a circle that touches one of the sides of a given triangle, and also the other two sides produced.

Es"cript (?), n. [OF.] A writing. [Obs.]

Es`cri*toire" (?), n. [OF. escritoire, F. écritoire, LL. scriptorium, fr. L. scriptorius belonging to writing, fr. sribere to write. See Script, and cf. Scrutoire.] A piece of furniture used as a writing table, commonly with drawers, pigeonholes, and the like; a secretary or writing desk.

Es`cri*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to an escritoire.

Es*crod" (?), n. See Scrod, a young cod.

{ Es*crol", Es*croll" } (?), n. [See Escrow, Scroll.] 1. A scroll. [Obs.]

2. (Her.) (a) A long strip or scroll resembling a ribbon or a band of parchment, or the like, anciently placed above the shield, and supporting the crest. (b) In modern heraldry, a similar ribbon on which the motto is inscribed.

Es"crow (?), n. [OF. escroe, escroue, a roll of writings, bond. See Scroll.] (Law) A deed, bond, or other written engagement, delivered to a third person, to be held by him till some act is done or some condition is performed, and then to be by him delivered to the grantee. Blackstone.

Es"cu*age (?; 48), n. [OF. escuage, F. écuage, from OF. escu shield, F. écu. See Esquire.] (Feud. Law) Service of the shield, a species of knight service by which a tenant was bound to follow his lord to war, at his own charge. It was afterward exchanged for a pecuniary satisfaction. Called also scutage. Blackstone.

Es`cu*la"pi*an (?), n. Æsculapian.

Es`cu*la"pi*us (?), n. Same as Æsculapius.

Es"cu*lent (?), a. [L. esculentus, fr. escare to eat, fr. esca food, fr. edere to eat: cf. F. esculent. See Eat.] Suitable to be used by man for food; eatable; edible; as, esculent plants; esculent fish.

Esculent grain for food.

Sir W. Jones.

Esculent swallow (Zoöl.), the swallow which makes the edible bird's-nest. See Edible bird's- nest, under Edible.

Es"cu*lent, n. Anything that is fit for eating; that which may be safely eaten by man.

Es*cu"lic (?), a. [From NL. Aesculus, the generic name of the horse-chestnut, fr. L. aesculus a kind of oak.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, the horse-chestnut; as, esculic acid.

Es*cu"lin (?), n. [See Esculic.] (Chem.) A glucoside obtained from the Æsculus hippocastanum, or horse-chestnut, and characterized by its fine blue fluorescent solutions. [Written also æsculin.]

Es*cu"ri*al (?), n. [Prop. Sp. escorial, i. e., a hill or heap of rubbish, earth, and stones brought out of a mine, fr. escoria dross of metal, L. scoria, fr. Gr. &?;. Cf. Scoria.] A palace and mausoleum of the kings of Spain, being a vast and wonderful structure about twenty-five miles northwest of Madrid.

The ground plan is said to be in the form of a gridiron, the structure being designed in honor of St. Lawrence, who suffered martyrdom by being broiled on a gridiron; but the resemblance is very slight. It is nearly square, inclosing several courts, and has a projecting mass which stands for the handle.

Es*cutch"eon (?), n. [OF. escusson, F. écusson, from OF. escu shield, F. écu. See Esquire, Scutcheon.] 1. (Her.) The surface, usually a shield, upon which bearings are marshaled and displayed. The surface of the escutcheon is called the field, the upper part is called the chief, and the lower part the base (see Chiff, and Field.). That side of the escutcheon which is on the right hand of the knight who bears the shield on his arm is called dexter, and the other side sinister.

The two sides of an escutcheon are respectively designated as dexter and sinister, as in the cut, and the different parts or points by the following names: A, Dexter chief point; B, Middle chief point; C, Sinister chief point; D, Honor or color point; E, Fesse or heart point; F, Nombrill or navel point; G, Dexter base point; H, Middle base point; I, base point.

2. A marking upon the back of a cow's udder and the space above it (the perineum), formed by the hair growing upward or outward instead of downward. It is esteemed an index of milking qualities. C. L. Flint.

3. (Naut.) That part of a vessel's stern on which her name is written. R. H. Dane, Jr.

4. (Carp.) A thin metal plate or shield to protect wood, or for ornament, as the shield around a keyhole.

5. (Zoöl.) The depression behind the beak of certain bivalves; the ligamental area.

Escutcheon of pretense, an escutcheon used in English heraldry to display the arms of the bearer's wife; -- not commonly used unless she an heiress. Cf. Impalement.

Es*cutch"eoned (?), a. Having an escutcheon; furnished with a coat of arms or ensign. Young.

Ese (?), n. Ease; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Es`em*plas"tic (?), a. [Gr. 'es into, to + "en one + plastiko`s molded, formed. See Plastic.] Shaped into one; tending to, or formative into, unity. [R.] Coleridge.

<! p. 510 !>

Es"er*ine (?; 104), n. [From native name of the Calabar bean: cf. F. ésérine.] (Chem.) An alkaloid found in the Calabar bean, and the seed of Physostigma venenosum; physostigmine. It is used in ophthalmic surgery for its effect in contracting the pupil.

E*sex"u*al (?), a. [Pref. e- + sexual.] (Biol.) Sexless; asexual.

Es*guard" (?), n. [Cf. OF. esgart regard, F. égard. See Guard.] Guard. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

{ Es"kar (?), or Es"ker }, n. (Geol.) See Eschar.

Es"ki*mo (?), n.; pl. Eskimos (#). [Originally applied by the Algonquins to the Northern Indians, and meaning eaters of raw flesh.] (Ethnol.) One of a peculiar race inhabiting Arctic America and Greenland. In many respects the Eskimos resemble the Mongolian race. [Written also Esquimau.]

Eskimo dog (Zoöl.), one of a breed of large and powerful dogs used by the Eskimos to draw sledges. It closely resembles the gray wolf, with which it is often crossed.

Eskimo dog

Es*loin" (?), v. t. [See Eloign.] To remove; to banish; to withdraw; to avoid; to eloign. [Obs.]

From worldly cares he did himself esloin.

Spenser.

Es"ne*cy (?), n. [See Eigne.] (Eng. Law) A prerogative given to the eldest coparcener to choose first after an inheritance is divided. Mozley & W.

E*sod"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; within + &?; way.] (Physiol.) Conveying impressions from the surface of the body to the spinal cord; -- said of certain nerves. Opposed to exodic.

E*soph"a*gal (?), a. (Anat.) Esophageal.

E`so*phag"e*al (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining to the esophagus. [Written also œsophageal.]

E`so*phag"e*an (?), a. (Anat.) Esophageal.

E*soph`a*got"o*my (?), n. [Gr. o'isofa`gos the esophagus + te`mnein to cut.] (Surg.) The operation of making an incision into the esophagus, for the purpose of removing any foreign substance that obstructs the passage. [Written also œsophagotomy.]

E*soph"a*gus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. o'isofa`gos; root of o'i`sw which is used as future of fe`rein to bear, carry (cf. Skr. v to go, drive) + fagei^n to eat.] (Anat.) That part of the alimentary canal between the pharynx and the stomach; the gullet. See Illust. of Digestive apparatus, under Digestive. [Written also œsophagus.]

{ E*so"pi*an (?), E*so"pic (?), } a. Same as Æsopian, Æsopic.

Es`o*ter"ic (s`*t"k), a. [Gr. 'eswteriko`s, fr. 'esw`teros inner, interior, comp. fr. 'e`sw in, within, fr. 'es, e'is, into, fr. 'en in. See In.] Designed for, and understood by, the specially initiated alone; not communicated, or not intelligible, to the general body of followers; private; interior; acroamatic; -- said of the private and more recondite instructions and doctrines of philosophers. Opposed to exoteric.

Enough if every age produce two or three critics of this esoteric class, with here and there a reader to understand them.

De Quincey.

Es`o*ter"ic*al (?), a. Esoteric.

Es`o*ter"ic*al*ly, adv. In an esoteric manner.

Es`o*ter"i*cism (?), n. Esoteric doctrine or principles.

Es`o*ter"ics (?), n. Mysterious or hidden doctrines; secret science.

Es"o*ter*y (?), n. Mystery; esoterics; -- opposed to exotery. A. Tucker.

||E"sox (?), n. [L., a kind of pike.] (Zoöl.) A genus of fresh-water fishes, including pike and pickerel.

Es*pace" (?), n. Space. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Es"pa*don (?), n. [F. espadon, fr. Sp. espadon, fr. espada sword; or fr. It. spadone an espadon, spada sword.] A long, heavy, two-handed and two-edged sword, formerly used by Spanish foot soldiers and by executioners. Wilhelm.

Es*pal"ier (?), n. [F. espalier, fr. It. spalliera, fr. spalla shoulder, the same word as F. épaule. See Epaulet.] (Hort.) A railing or trellis upon which fruit trees or shrubs are trained, as upon a wall; a tree or row of trees so trained.

And figs from standard and espalier join.

Pope.

Es*pal"ier, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espaliered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Espaliering.] To form an espalier of, or to protect by an espalier.

Es*par"cet (?), n. [F. esparcet, esparcette, éparcet, fr. Sp. esparceta, esparcilla.] (Bot.) The common sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa), an Old World leguminous forage plant.

||Es*par"to (?), n. [Sp.; cf. L. spartum Spanish broom, Gr. &?;.] (Bot.) A species of Spanish grass (Macrochloa tenacissima), of which cordage, shoes, baskets, etc., are made. It is also used for making paper.

||Es`pau`liere" (?), n. [OF. & F. épaulière. See Espalier.] A defense for the shoulder, composed of flexible overlapping plates of metal, used in the 15th century; -- the origin of the modern epaulette. Fairholt.

Es*pe"cial (?), a. [OF. especial, F. spécial, L. specialis, fr. species a particular sort, kind, or quality. See Species, and cf. Special.] Distinguished among others of the same class or kind; special; concerning a species or a single object; principal; particular; as, in an especial manner or degree.

Syn. -- Peculiar; special; particular; uncommon; chief. See Peculiar.

Es*pe"cial*ly, adv. In an especial manner; chiefly; particularly; peculiarly; in an uncommon degree.

Es*pe"cial*ness (?), n. The state of being especial.

Es"pe*rance (?), n. [F. espérance, fr. L. sperans, p. pr. of sperare to hope.] Hope. [Obs.] Shak.

||Es`pi*aille" (?), n. Espial. [Obs.]

Es*pi"al (?), n. [OE. & Norm. F. espiaille. See Espy.] 1. The act of espying; notice; discovery.

Screened from espial by the jutting cape.

Byron.

2. One who espies; a spy; a scout. [Obs.] "Their espials . . . brought word." Holland.

Es*pi"er (?), n. One who espies. Harmar.

Es"pi*nel (?), n. A kind of ruby. See Spinel.

Es"pi*o*nage (?; 277), n. [F. espionnage, fr. espionner to spy, fr. espion spy, OF. espie. See Espy.] The practice or employment of spies; the practice of watching the words and conduct of others, to make discoveries, as spies or secret emissaries; secret watching.

Es`pla*nade" (?), n. [F. esplanade, Sp. esplanada, explanada, cf. It. spianata; fr. Sp. explanar to level, L. explanare to flatten or spread out. See Explain.] 1. (Fort.) (a) A clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses of the town. Campbell (Mil. Dict. ). (b) The glacis of the counterscarp, or the slope of the parapet of the covered way toward the country.

2. (Hort.) A grass plat; a lawn. Simmonds.

3. Any clear, level space used for public walks or drives; esp., a terrace by the seaside.

Es*plees" (?), n. pl. [LL. expletia, OF. espleit. Cf. Exploit.] (Old Eng. Law) The full profits or products which ground or land yields, as the hay of the meadows, the feed of the pasture, the grain of arable fields, the rents, services, and the like. Cowell.

Es*pous"age (?), n. Espousal. [Obs.] Latimer.

Es*pous"al (?), n. [OF. espousailles, pl., F. épousailles, L. sponsalia, fr. sponsalis belonging to betrothal or espousal. See Espouse, and cf. Sponsal, Spousal.] 1. The act of espousing or betrothing; especially, in the plural, betrothal; plighting of the troths; a contract of marriage; sometimes, the marriage ceremony.

2. The uniting or allying one's self with anything; maintenance; adoption; as, the espousal of a quarrel.

The open espousal of his cause.

Lord Orford.

Es*pouse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espoused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Espousing.] [OF. espouser, esposer, F. épouser, L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p. of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. Spouse.] 1. To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse.

A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph.

Luke i. 27.

2. To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.

Lavinia will I make my empress, . . . And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.

Shak.

3. To take to one's self with a view to maintain; to make one's own; to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace. "He espoused that quarrel." Bacon.

Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war.

Bp. Burnet.

Es*pouse"ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. espousement.] The act of espousing, or the state of being espoused.

Es*pous"er (?), n. One who espouses; one who embraces the cause of another or makes it his own.

||Es`pres*si"vo (?), a. [It.] (Mus.) With expression.

Es*prin"gal (?), n. [See Springal.] (Mil. Antiq.) An engine of war used for throwing viretons, large stones, and other missiles; a springal.

||Es`prit" (?), n. [F. See Spirit.] Spirit.

Esprit de corps (&?;), a French phrase much used by English writers to denote the common spirit pervading the members of a body or association of persons. It implies sympathy, enthusiasm, devotion, and jealous regard for the honor of the body as a whole.

Es*py" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Espying.] [OF. espier, F. épier, from OHG. speh&?;n to watch, spy, G. spähen; akin to L. specere to look, species sight, shape, appearance, kind. See Spice, Spy, and cf. Espionage.] 1. To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover, as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to notice; to see at a glance; to discern unexpectedly; to spy; as, to espy land; to espy a man in a crowd.

As one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, . . . he espied his money.

Gen. xlii. 27.

A goodly vessel did I then espy Come like a giant from a haven broad.

Wordsworth.

2. To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to watch; to observe.

He sends angels to espy us in all our ways.

Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- To discern; discover; detect; descry; spy.

Es*py", v. i. To look or search narrowly; to look about; to watch; to take notice; to spy.

Stand by the way, and espy.

Jer. xlviii. 19.

Es*py", n.; pl. Espies (#). [OF. espie. See Espy, v., Spy.] A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Huloet.

-esque (?). [F., fr. It. -isco. Cf. -ish.] A suffix of certain words from the French, Italian, and Spanish. It denotes manner or style; like; as, arabesque, after the manner of the Arabs.

Es"qui*mau (?), n.; pl. Esquimaux (#). [F.] Same as Eskimo.

It is . . . an error to suppose that where an Esquimau can live, a civilized man can live also.

McClintock.

Es*quire" (?), n. [OF. escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer, F. écuyer shield-bearer, armor-bearer, squire of a knight, esquire, equerry, rider, horseman, LL. scutarius shield-bearer, fr. L. scutum shield, akin to Gr. &?; skin, hide, from a root meaning to cover; prob. akin to E. hide to cover. See Hide to cover, and cf. Equerry, Escutcheon.] Originally, a shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a knight; in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below knight and above gentleman; also, a title of office and courtesy; -- often shortened to squire.