E E (ē). 1. The fifth letter of the English alphabet. It derives its form, name, and value from the Latin, the form and value being further derived from the Greek, into which it came from the Phœnician, and ultimately, probably, from the Egyptian. Its etymological relations are closest with the vowels i , a , and o , as illustrated by to f a ll, to f e ll; m a n, plural m e n; dr i nk, dr a nk, dr e nch; d i nt, d e nt; d oo m, d ee m; g oo se, plural g ee se; b ee f, Old French b oe f, Latin b o s; and E. ch ee r, Old French ch ie re, Late Latin ca ra.

The letter e has in English several vowel sounds, the two principal being its long or name sound, as in e ve, m e , and the short, as in e nd, b e st. Usually at the end of words it is silent, but serves to indicate that the preceding vowel has its long sound, where otherwise it would be short, as in māne , cāne , mēte , which without the final e would be pronounced măn , căn , mĕt . After c and g , the final e indicates that these letters are to be pronounced as s and j ; respectively, as in lace , rage .

See Guide to Pronunciation , §§ 74-97.

2. (Mus.) E is the third tone of the model diatonic scale. E♭ (E flat) is a tone which is intermediate between D and E.

E- E- A Latin prefix meaning out , out of , from ; also, without . See Ex- .

E-la E"-la` noun Originally, the highest note in the scale of Guido; hence, proverbially, any extravagant saying. "Why, this is above E-la !" Beau. & Fl.

E. M. F. E. M. F. (Physics) An abbreviation for electro-motive force .

E'en E'en adverb A contraction for even . See Even .

I have e'en done with you.

L'Estrange.

E'er E'er adverb A contraction for ever . See Ever .

Each Each (ēch) adjective or adjective pron. [ Middle English eche , ælc , elk , ilk , Anglo-Saxon ælc ; ā always + gelīc like; akin to OD. iegelik , Old High German ēogilīh , Middle High German iegelīch , German jeglich . √209. See 3d Aye , Like , and confer Either , Every , Ilk .] 1. Every one of the two or more individuals composing a number of objects, considered separately from the rest. It is used either with or without a following noun; as, each of you or each one of you. " Each of the combatants." Fielding.

» To each corresponds other . "Let each esteem other better than himself." Each other , used elliptically for each the other . It is our duty to assist each other ; that is, it is our duty, each to assist the other , each being in the nominative and other in the objective case.

It is a bad thing that men should hate each other; but it is far worse that they should contract the habit of cutting one another's throats without hatred.

Macaulay.

Let each
His adamantine coat gird well.

Milton.

In each cheek appears a pretty dimple.

Shak.

Then draw we nearer day by day,
Each to his brethren, all to God.

Keble.

The oak and the elm have each a distinct character.

Gilpin.

2. Every; -- sometimes used interchangeably with every . Shak.

I know each lane and every alley green.

Milton.

In short each man's happiness depends upon himself.

Sterne.

» This use of each for every , though common in Scotland and in America, is now un-English. Fitzed. Hall.

Syn. -- See Every .

Eachwhere Each"where` adverb Everywhere. [ Obsolete]

The sky eachwhere did show full bright and fair.

Spenser.

Eadish Ead"ish noun See Eddish .

Eager Ea"ger adjective [ Middle English egre sharp, sour, eager, Old French agre , aigre , French aigre , from Latin acer sharp, sour, spirited, zealous; akin to Greek ... highest, extreme, Sanskrit a...ra point; from a root signifying to be sharp . Confer Acrid , Edge .] 1. Sharp; sour; acid. [ Obsolete] "Like eager droppings into milk." Shak.

2. Sharp; keen; bitter; severe. [ Obsolete] "A nipping and an eager air." " Eager words." Shak.

3. Excited by desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were eager in the chase.

And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes.

Shak.

How eagerly ye follow my disgraces!

Shak.

When to her eager lips is brought
Her infant's thrilling kiss.

Keble.

A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys.

Hawthorne.

Conceit and grief an eager combat fight.

Shak.

4. Brittle; inflexible; not ductile. [ Obsolete]

Gold will be sometimes so eager , as artists call it, that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself.

Locke.

Syn. -- Earnest; ardent; vehement; hot; impetuous; fervent; intense; impassioned; zealous; forward. See Earnest . -- Eager , Earnest . Eager marks an excited state of desire or passion; thus, a child is eager for a plaything, a hungry man is eager for food, a covetous man is eager for gain. Eagerness is liable to frequent abuses, and is good or bad, as the case may be. It relates to what is praiseworthy or the contrary. Earnest denotes a permanent state of mind, feeling, or sentiment. It is always taken in a good sense; as, a preacher is earnest in his appeals to the conscience; an agent is earnest in his solicitations.

Eager Ea"ger noun Same as Eagre .

Eagerly Ea"ger·ly adverb In an eager manner.

Eagerness Ea"ger·ness noun 1. The state or quality of being eager; ardent desire. "The eagerness of love." Addison.

2. Tartness; sourness. [ Obsolete]

Syn. -- Ardor; vehemence; earnestness; impetuosity; heartiness; fervor; fervency; avidity; zeal; craving; heat; passion; greediness.

Eagle Ea"gle noun [ Middle English egle , French aigle , from Latin aquila ; probably named from its color, from aquilus dark-colored, brown; confer Lithuanian aklas blind. Confer Aquiline .] 1. (Zoology) Any large, rapacious bird of the Falcon family, esp. of the genera Aquila and Haliæetus . The eagle is remarkable for strength, size, graceful figure, keenness of vision, and extraordinary flight. The most noted species are the golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaëtus ); the imperial eagle of Europe ( A. mogilnik or imperialis ); the American bald eagle ( Haliæetus leucocephalus ); the European sea eagle ( H. albicilla ); and the great harpy eagle ( Thrasaetus harpyia ). The figure of the eagle, as the king of birds, is commonly used as an heraldic emblem, and also for standards and emblematic devices. See Bald eagle , Harpy , and Golden eagle .

2. A gold coin of the United States, of the value of ten dollars.

3. (Astron.) A northern constellation, containing Altair, a star of the first magnitude. See Aquila .

4. The figure of an eagle borne as an emblem on the standard of the ancient Romans, or so used upon the seal or standard of any people.

Though the Roman eagle shadow thee.

Tennyson.

» Some modern nations, as the United States, and France under the Bonapartes, have adopted the eagle as their national emblem. Russia, Austria, and Prussia have for an emblem a double-headed eagle.

Bald eagle . See Bald eagle . -- Bold eagle . See under Bold . -- Double eagle , a gold coin of the United States worth twenty dollars. -- Eagle hawk (Zoology) , a large, crested, South American hawk of the genus Morphnus . -- Eagle owl (Zoology) , any large owl of the genus Bubo , and allied genera; as the American great horned owl ( Bubo Virginianus ), and the allied European species ( B. maximus ). See Horned owl . -- Eagle ray (Zoology) , any large species of ray of the genus Myliobatis (esp. M. aquila ). -- Eagle vulture (Zoology) , a large West African bid ( Gypohierax Angolensis ), intermediate, in several respects, between the eagles and vultures.

Eagle-eyed Ea"gle-eyed` adjective Sharp-sighted as an eagle. "Inwardly eagle-eyed ." Howell.

Eagle-sighted Ea"gle-sight`ed adjective Farsighted and strong-sighted; sharp-sighted. Shak.

Eagle-winged Ea"gle-winged` adjective Having the wings of an eagle; swift, or soaring high, like an eagle. Shak.

Eagless Ea"gless noun [ Confer Old French aiglesse .] (Zoology) A female or hen eagle. [ R.] Sherwood.

Eaglestone Ea"gle·stone noun (Min.) A concretionary nodule of clay ironstone, of the size of a walnut or larger, so called by the ancients, who believed that the eagle transported these stones to her nest to facilitate the laying of her eggs; aëtites.

Eaglet Ea"glet noun [ Confer Old French aiglet .] (Zoology) A young eagle, or a diminutive eagle.

Eaglewood Ea"gle·wood` noun [ From Sanskrit aguru , through Portuguese aguila ; confer F. bois d' aigle .] A kind of fragrant wood. See Agallochum .

Eagrass Ea"grass noun See Eddish . [ Obsolete]

Eagre Ea"gre noun [ Anglo-Saxon eágor , ...gor , in comp., water, sea, eágor-streám water stream, sea.] A wave, or two or three successive waves, of great height and violence, at flood tide moving up an estuary or river; -- commonly called the bore . See Bore .

Ealderman, Ealdorman Eal"der·man, Eal"dor·man noun An alderman. [ Obsolete]

Eale Eale noun [ See Ale .] Ale. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Eame Eame noun [ Anglo-Saxon eám ; akin to Dutch oom , German ohm , oheim ; confer Latin avunculus .] Uncle. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Ean Ean transitive verb & i. [ Anglo-Saxon eánian . See Yean .] To bring forth, as young; to yean. "In eaning time." Shak.

Eanling Ean"ling noun [ See Ean , Yeanling .] A lamb just brought forth; a yeanling. Shak.

Ear Ear noun [ Anglo-Saxon eáre ; akin to OFries. áre , ár , Old Saxon ...ra , Dutch oor , Old High German ...ra , German ohr , Icelandic eyra , Swedish öra , Danish öre , Goth. auso , Latin auris , Lithuanian ausis , Russian ukho , Greek ...; confer Latin audire to hear, Greek ..., Sanskrit av to favor , protect. Confer Auricle , Orillon .] 1. The organ of hearing; the external ear.

» In man and the higher vertebrates, the organ of hearing is very complicated, and is divisible into three parts: the external ear, which includes the pinna or auricle and meatus or external opening; the middle ear, drum, or tympanum ; and the internal ear, or labyrinth . The middle ear is a cavity connected by the Eustachian tube with the pharynx, separated from the opening of the external ear by the tympanic membrane , and containing a chain of three small bones, or ossicles, named malleus , incus , and stapes , which connect this membrane with the internal ear. The essential part of the internal ear where the fibers of the auditory nerve terminate, is the membranous labyrinth , a complicated system of sacs and tubes filled with a fluid (the endolymph), and lodged in a cavity, called the bony labyrinth , in the periotic bone. The membranous labyrinth does not completely fill the bony labyrinth, but is partially suspended in it in a fluid (the perilymph). The bony labyrinth consists of a central cavity, the vestibule , into which three semicircular canals and the canal of the cochlea (spirally coiled in mammals) open. The vestibular portion of the membranous labyrinth consists of two sacs, the utriculus and sacculus , connected by a narrow tube, into the former of which three membranous semicircular canals open, while the latter is connected with a membranous tube in the cochlea containing the organ of Corti . By the help of the external ear the sonorous vibrations of the air are concentrated upon the tympanic membrane and set it vibrating, the chain of bones in the middle ear transmits these vibrations to the internal ear, where they cause certain delicate structures in the organ of Corti, and other parts of the membranous labyrinth, to stimulate the fibers of the auditory nerve to transmit sonorous impulses to the brain.

2. The sense of hearing; the perception of sounds; the power of discriminating between different tones; as, a nice ear for music; -- in the singular only.

Songs . . . not all ungrateful to thine ear .

Tennyson.

3. That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal; any prominence or projection on an object, -- usually one for support or attachment; a lug; a handle; as, the ears of a tub, a skillet, or dish. The ears of a boat are outside kneepieces near the bow. See Illust. of Bell .

4. (Architecture) (a) Same as Acroterium . (b) Same as Crossette .

5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention.

Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit.

Bacon.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears .

Shak.

About the ears , in close proximity to; near at hand. -- By the ears , in close contest; as, to set by the ears ; to fall together by the ears ; to be by the ears . -- Button ear (in dogs), an ear which falls forward and completely hides the inside. -- Ear finger , the little finger. -- Ear of Dionysius , a kind of ear trumpet with a flexible tube; -- named from the Sicilian tyrant, who constructed a device to overhear the prisoners in his dungeons. -- Ear sand (Anat.) , otoliths. See Otolith . -- Ear snail (Zoology) , any snail of the genus Auricula and allied genera. -- Ear stones (Anat.) , otoliths. See Otolith . -- Ear trumpet , an instrument to aid in hearing. It consists of a tube broad at the outer end, and narrowing to a slender extremity which enters the ear, thus collecting and intensifying sounds so as to assist the hearing of a partially deaf person. - - Ear vesicle (Zoology) , a simple auditory organ, occurring in many worms, mollusks, etc. It consists of a small sac containing a fluid and one or more solid concretions or otocysts. -- Rose ear (in dogs), an ear which folds backward and shows part of the inside. -- To give ear to , to listen to; to heed, as advice or one advising. " Give ear unto my song." Goldsmith. -- To have one's ear , to be listened to with favor. -- Up to the ears , deeply submerged; almost overwhelmed; as, to be in trouble up to one's ears . [ Colloq.]

Ear Ear transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Eared ; present participle & verbal noun Earing .] To take in with the ears; to hear. [ Sportive] "I eared her language." Two Noble Kinsmen.

Ear Ear noun [ Anglo-Saxon ear ; akin to Dutch aar , Old High German ahir , German ähre , Icelandic , Swedish , & Danish ax , Goth. ahs . ......... . Confer Awn , Edge .] The spike or head of any cereal (as, wheat, rye, barley, Indian corn, etc.), containing the kernels.

First the blade, then the ear , after that the full corn in the ear .

Mark iv. 28.

Ear Ear intransitive verb To put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain; as, this corn ears well.

Ear Ear transitive verb [ Middle English erien , Anglo-Saxon erian ; akin to OFries. era , Old High German erran , Middle High German eren , ern , Prov. German aren , ären , Icelandic erja , Goth. arjan , Lithuanian arti , OSlav. orati , Latin arare , Greek .... Confer Arable .] To plow or till; to cultivate. "To ear the land." Shak.

Ear-bored Ear"-bored` adjective Having the ear perforated.

Ear-minded Ear"-mind"ed adjective (Physiol. Psychol.) Thinking chiefly or most readily through, or in terms related to, the sense of hearing; specif., thinking words as spoken, as a result of familiarity with speech or of mental peculiarity; -- opposed to eye-minded .

Ear-piercer Ear"-pier`cer noun (Zoology) The earwig.

Ear-shell Ear"-shell` noun (Zoology) A flattened marine univalve shell of the genus Haliotis ; -- called also sea-ear . See Abalone .

Ear-splitting Ear"-split`ting adjective Deafening; disagreeably loud or shrill; as, ear-splitting strains.

Earable Ear"a·ble adjective Arable; tillable. [ Archaic]

Earache Ear"ache` noun Ache or pain in the ear.

Earal Ear"al adjective Receiving by the ear. [ Obsolete] Hewyt.

Earcap Ear"cap` noun A cap or cover to protect the ear from cold.

Earcockle Ear"coc`kle noun (Botany) A disease in wheat, in which the blackened and contracted grain, or ear, is filled with minute worms.

Eardrop Ear"drop` noun 1. A pendant for the ear; an earring; as, a pair of eardrops .

2. (Botany) A species of primrose. See Auricula .

Eardrum Ear"drum` noun (Anat.) The tympanum. See Illust. of Ear .

Eared Eared adjective 1. Having (such or so many) ears; -- used in composition; as, long- eared-eared ; sharp- eared ; full- eared ; ten- eared .

2. (Zoology) Having external ears; having tufts of feathers resembling ears.

Eared owl (Zoology) , an owl having earlike tufts of feathers, as the long-eared owl , and short-eared owl . -- Eared seal (Zoology) , any seal of the family Otariidæ , including the fur seals and hair seals. See Seal .

Eariness Ear"i·ness noun [ Scotch ery or eiry affected with fear.] Fear or timidity, especially of something supernatural. [ Written also eiryness .]

The sense of eariness , as twilight came on.

De Quincey.

Earing Ear"ing noun (Nautical) (a) A line used to fasten the upper corners of a sail to the yard or gaff; -- also called head earing . (b) A line for hauling the reef cringle to the yard; -- also called reef earing . (c) A line fastening the corners of an awning to the rigging or stanchions.

Earing Ear"ing noun Coming into ear, as corn.

Earing Ear"ing noun A plowing of land. [ Archaic]

Neither earing nor harvest.

Gen. xlv. 6.

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