Elaoptene E`la·op"tene noun (Chemistry) See Elæoptene .
Elaphine El"a·phine adjective [ Greek ... stag.]
(Zoology) Pertaining to, resembling, or characteristic of, the stag, or Cervus elaphus .
Elaphure El"a·phure noun (Zoology) A species of deer ( Elaphurus Davidianus ) found in china. It is about four feet high at the shoulder and has peculiar antlers.
Elapidation E·lap`i·da"tion noun [ Latin
elapidatus cleared from stones;
e out +
lapis stone.]
A clearing away of stones. [ R.]
Elapine El"a·pine adjective [ See
Elaps .]
(Zoology) Like or pertaining to the Elapidæ , a family of poisonous serpents, including the cobras. See Ophidia .
Elaps E"laps noun [ New Latin , of uncertain origin.]
(Zoology) A genus of venomous snakes found both in America and the Old World. Many species are known. See Coral snake , under Coral .
Elapse E·lapse" intransitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Elapsed ;
present participle & verbal noun Elapsing .] [ Latin
elapsus , past participle of
elabi to glide away;
e out +
labi to fall, slide. See
Lapse .]
To slip or glide away; to pass away silently, as time; -- used chiefly in reference to time. Eight days elapsed ; at length a pilgrim came.
Hoole.
Elapsion E·lap"sion noun The act of elapsing. [ R.]
Elaqueate E·la"que·ate transitive verb [ Latin
elaqueatus , past participle of
elaqueare to unfetter.]
To disentangle. [ R.]
Elasipoda El`a·sip"o·da noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ... metal beaten out, metal plate +
-poda .]
(Zoology) An order of holothurians mostly found in the deep sea. They are remarkable for their bilateral symmetry and curious forms. [ Written also
Elasmopoda .]
Elasmobranch E·las"mo·branch adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Elasmobranchii. --
noun One of the Elasmobranchii.
Elasmobranchiate E·las`mo·bran"chi·ate adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to Elasmobranchii. --
noun One of the Elasmobranchii.
Elasmobranchii E·las`mo·bran"chi·i noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ... a metal plate + Latin
branchia a gill.]
(Zoology) A subclass of fishes, comprising the sharks, the rays, and the Chimæra. The skeleton is mainly cartilaginous.
Elasmosaurus E·las`mo·sau"rus noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... a metal plate + ... a lizard.]
(Paleon.) An extinct, long-necked, marine, cretaceous reptile from Kansas, allied to Plesiosaurus.
Elastic E·las"tic adjective [ Formed from Greek ... to drive; probably akin to Latin
alacer lively, brisk, and English
alacrity : confer French
élastique .]
1. Springing back; having a power or inherent property of returning to the form from which a substance is bent, drawn, pressed, or twisted; springy; having the power of rebounding; as, a bow is elastic ; the air is elastic ; India rubber is elastic . Capable of being drawn out by force like a piece of elastic gum, and by its own elasticity returning, when the force is removed, to its former position.
Paley. 2. Able to return quickly to a former state or condition, after being depressed or overtaxed; having power to recover easily from shocks and trials; as, elastic spirits; an elastic constitution. Elastic bitumen .
(Min.) See Elaterite . --
Elastic curve .
(a) (Geom.) The curve made by a thin elastic rod fixed horizontally at one end and loaded at the other. (b) (Mech.) The figure assumed by the longitudinal axis of an originally straight bar under any system of bending forces. Rankine. --
Elastic fluids ,
those which have the property of expanding in all directions on the removal of external pressure, as the air, steam, and other gases and vapors. --
Elastic limit (Mech.) ,
the limit of distortion, by bending, stretching, etc., that a body can undergo and yet return to its original form when relieved from stress; also, the unit force or stress required to produce this distortion. Within the elastic limit the distortion is directly proportional to the stress producing it. --
Elastic tissue (Anat.) ,
a variety of connective tissue consisting of a network of slender and very elastic fibers which are but slightly affected by acids or alkalies. --
Gum elastic ,
caoutchouc.
Elastic E·las"tic noun An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc., made in part of India rubber. [ Colloq.]
Elastical E·las"tic·al adjective Elastic. [ R.]
Bentley.
Elastically E·las"tic·al·ly adverb In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring.
Elasticity E`las·tic"i·ty noun [ Confer French
élasticité .]
1. The quality of being elastic; the inherent property in bodies by which they recover their former figure or dimensions, after the removal of external pressure or altering force; springiness; tendency to rebound; as, the elasticity of caoutchouc; the elasticity of the air. 2. Power of resistance to, or recovery from, depression or overwork. Coefficient of elasticity ,
the quotient of a stress (of a given kind), by the strain (of a given kind) which it produces; -- called also coefficient of resistance . --
Surface of elasticity (Geom.) ,
the pedal surface of an ellipsoid (see Pedal ); a surface used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous ether in crystalline media.
Elasticness E·las"tic·ness noun The quality of being elastic; elasticity.
Elastin E·las"tin noun [
Elast ic +
-in .]
(Physiol. Chem.) A nitrogenous substance, somewhat resembling albumin, which forms the chemical basis of elastic tissue. It is very insoluble in most fluids, but is gradually dissolved when digested with either pepsin or trypsin.
Elate E·late" adjective [ Latin
elatus elevated, fig., elated, proud (the figure, perhaps , being borrowed from a prancing horse);
e out +
latus (used as past participle of
ferre to bear), for
tlatus , and akin to English
tolerate . See
Tolerate , and confer
Extol .]
1. Lifted up; raised; elevated. With upper lip elate .
Fenton. And sovereign law, that State's collected will,
O'er thrones and globes, elate ,
Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.
Sir W. Jones. 2. Having the spirits raised by success, or by hope; flushed or exalted with confidence; elated; exultant. O, thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate,
Too soon dejected, and dejected, and too soon elate .
Pope. Our nineteenth century is wonderfully set up in its own esteem, wonderfully elate at its progress.
Mrs. H. H. Jackson. Syn. -- Puffed up; lofty; proud; haughty; exalted; inspirited; transported; delighted; overjoyed.
Elate E·late" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Elated ;
present participle & verbal noun Elating .]
1. To raise; to exalt. [ R.]
By the potent sun elated high.
Thomson. 2. To exalt the spirit of; to fill with confidence or exultation; to elevate or flush with success; to puff up; to make proud. Foolishly elated by spiritual pride.
Warburton. You ought not be elated at the chance mishaps of your enemies.
Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Elatedly E·lat"ed·ly adverb With elation.
Elatedness E·lat"ed·ness noun The state of being elated.
Elater E·lat"er noun One who, or that which, elates.
Elater El"a·ter noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... driver, from ... to drive.]
1. (Botany) An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts. 2. (Zoology) Any beetle of the family Elateridæ , having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also click beetle , spring beetle , and snapping beetle . 3. (Zoology) The caudal spring used by Podura and related insects for leaping. See Collembola .
Elater El"a·ter noun (Chemistry) The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber ( Ecballium agreste , formerly Motordica Elaterium ) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative.
Elaterite El"a·ter·ite noun (Min.) A mineral resin, of a blackish brown color, occurring in soft, flexible masses; -- called also mineral caoutchouc , and elastic bitumen .
Elaterium El`a·te"ri·um noun [ Latin , from Greek ..., neut. of ... driving. See 2d
Elater .]
A cathartic substance obtained, in the form of yellowish or greenish cakes, as the dried residue of the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber ( Ecballium agreste , formerly called Momordica Elaterium ).
Elaterometer El`a·ter·om"e·ter noun Same as Elatrometer .
Elatery El"a·ter·y noun [ See 2d
Elater .]
Acting force; elasticity. [ Obsolete]
Ray.
Elation E·la"tion noun [ Latin
elatio . See
Elate .]
A lifting up by success; exaltation; inriation with pride of prosperity. "Felt the
elation of triumph."
Sir W. Scott.
Elative E·la"tive adjective (Gram.) Raised; lifted up; -- a term applied to what is also called the absolute superlative , denoting a high or intense degree of a quality, but not excluding the idea that an equal degree may exist in other cases.
Elatrometer El`a·trom"e·ter noun [ Greek ... a driver +
-meter .]
(Physics) An instrument for measuring the degree of rarefaction of air contained in the receiver of an air pump. [ Spelt also
elaterometer .]
Elayl E·la"yl noun [ Greek ... olive oil, oil +
yl .]
(Chemistry) Olefiant gas or ethylene; -- so called by Berzelius from its forming an oil combining with chlorine. [ Written also elayle .] See Ethylene .
Elbow El"bow noun [ Anglo-Saxon
elboga ,
elnboga (akin to Dutch
elleboga , Old High German
elinbogo , German
ellbogen ,
ellenbogen , Icelandic
...lnbogi ; prop.; arm-bend);
eln ell (orig., forearm) +
boga a bending. See 1st
Ell , and 4th
Bow .]
1. The joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the middle of the arm when bent. Her arms to the elbows naked.
R. of Gloucester. 2. Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, and the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast or course of a river; also, an angular or jointed part of any structure, as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent. 3. (Architecture) A sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or other woodwork; the upright sides which flank any paneled work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back. Gwilt. »
Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound, to denote something
shaped like , or
acting like ,
an elbow ; as,
elbow joint;
elbow tongs or
elbow -tongs;
elbow room,
elbow -room, or
elbow room.
At the elbow ,
very near; at hand. --
Elbow grease ,
energetic application of force in manual labor. [ Low] --
Elbow in the hawse (Nautical) ,
the twisting together of two cables by which a vessel rides at anchor, caused by swinging completely round once. Totten. --
Elbow scissors (Surg.) ,
scissors bent in the blade or shank for convenience in cutting. Knight. --
Out at elbow ,
with coat worn through at the elbows; shabby; in needy circumstances.
Elbow El"bow transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Elbowed ;
present participle & verbal noun Elbowing .]
To push or hit with the elbow, as when one pushes by another. They [ the Dutch] would elbow our own aldermen off the Royal Exchange.
Macaulay. To elbow one's way ,
to force one's way by pushing with the elbows; as, to elbow one's way through a crowd.
Elbow El"bow intransitive verb 1. To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of an elbow. 2. To push rudely along; to elbow one's way. "Purseproud,
elbowing Insolence."
Grainger.
Elbowboard El"bow·board` noun The base of a window casing, on which the elbows may rest.
Elbowchair El"bow·chair` noun A chair with arms to support the elbows; an armchair. Addison.
Elbowroom El"bow·room` noun Room to extend the elbows on each side; ample room for motion or action; free scope. "My soul hath
elbowroom ."
Shak. Then came a stretch of grass and a little more elbowroom .
W. G. Norris.
Elcaja El·ca"ja noun [ Arabic ]
(Botany) An Arabian tree ( Trichilia emetica ). The fruit, which is emetic, is sometimes employed in the composition of an ointment for the cure of the itch.
Elcesaite El·ce"sa·ite noun [ From
Elcesai , the leader of the sect.]
(Eccl.) One of a sect of Asiatic Gnostics of the time of the Emperor Trajan.
Eld Eld adjective [ Anglo-Saxon
eald .]
Old. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer.
Eld Eld noun [ Anglo-Saxon
yldu ,
yldo ,
eldo , old age, from
ald ,
eald , old. See
Old .]
1. Age; esp., old age. [ Obsolete or Archaic]
As sooth is said, eelde hath great avantage.
Chaucer. Great Nature, ever young, yet full of eld .
Spenser. 2. Old times; former days; antiquity. [ Poetic]
Astrologers and men of eld .
Longfellow.
Eld Eld intransitive verb To age; to grow old. [ Obsolete]
Eld Eld transitive verb To make old or ancient. [ Obsolete]
Time, that eldeth all things.
Rom. of R.
Elder Eld"er adjective [ Anglo-Saxon
yldra , compar. of
eald old. See
Old .]
1. Older; more aged, or existing longer. Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds.
Jowett (Thucyd. ) 2. Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to younger , and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc. The elder shall serve the younger.
Gen. xxv. 23. But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour.
Keble. Elder hand (Card Playing) ,
the hand playing, or having the right to play, first. Hoyle.
Elder Eld"er noun [ Anglo-Saxon
ealdor an elder, prince, from
eald old. See
Old , and confer
Elder ,
adjective ,
Alderman .]
1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. 1 Tim. v. 1. 2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor. Carry your head as your elders have done.
L'Estrange. 3. A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic church. » In the modern Presbyterian churches,
elders are lay officers who, with the minister, compose the church session, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called
elders , or
presbyters .
4. (M. E. Ch.) A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder . Presiding elder (Meth. Ch.) ,
an elder commissioned by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district. --
Ruling elder ,
a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session. Schaff.