Earthbred Earth"bred` adjective Low; grovelling; vulgar.

Earthdin Earth"din` noun An earthquake. [ Obsolete]

Earthdrake Earth"drake` noun A mythical monster of the early Anglo-Saxon literature; a dragon. W. Spalding.

Earthen Earth"en adjective Made of earth; made of burnt or baked clay, or other like substances; as, an earthen vessel or pipe.

Earthen-hearted Earth"en-heart`ed adjective Hard- hearted; sordid; gross. [ Poetic] Lowell.

Earthenware Earth"en·ware` noun Vessels and other utensils, ornaments, or the like, made of baked clay. See Crockery , Pottery , Stoneware , and Porcelain .

Earthfork Earth"fork` noun A pronged fork for turning up the earth.

Earthiness Earth"i·ness noun The quality or state of being earthy, or of containing earth; hence, grossness.

Earthlight Earth"light` noun (Astron.) The sunlight reflected from the earth to the moon, by which we see faintly, when the moon is near the sun (either before or after new moon), that part of the moon's disk unillumined by direct sunlight, or "the old moon in the arms of the new."

Earthliness Earth"li·ness noun The quality or state of being earthly; worldliness; grossness; perishableness.

Earthling Earth"ling noun [ Earth + - ling .] An inhabitant of the earth; a mortal.

Earthlings oft her deemed a deity.

Drummond.

Earthly Earth"ly adjective 1. Pertaining to the earth; belonging to this world, or to man's existence on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal; worldly; as, earthly joys; earthly flowers; earthly praise.

This earthly load
Of death, called life.

Milton.

Whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Phil. iii. 19.

2. Of all things on earth; possible; conceivable.

What earthly benefit can be the result?

Pope.

3. Made of earth; earthy. [ Obsolete] Holland.

Syn. -- Gross; material; sordid; mean; base; vile; low; unsubstantial; temporary; corrupt; groveling.

Earthly Earth"ly adverb In the manner of the earth or its people; worldly.

Took counsel from his guiding eyes
To make this wisdom earthly wise.

Emerson.

Earthly-minded Earth"ly-mind`ed adjective Having a mind devoted to earthly things; worldly-minded; -- opposed to spiritual-minded . -- Earth"ly-mind`ed*ness , noun

Earthmad Earth"mad` noun [ Earth + mad an earthworm.] (Zoology) The earthworm. [ Obsolete]

The earthmads and all the sorts of worms . . . are without eyes.

Holland.

Earthnut Earth"nut` noun (Botany) A name given to various roots, tubers, or pods grown under or on the ground ; as to: (a) The esculent tubers of the umbelliferous plants Bunium flexuosum and Carum Bulbocastanum . (b) The peanut. See Peanut .

Earthpea Earth"pea` noun (Botany) A species of pea ( Amphicarpæa monoica ). It is a climbing leguminous plant, with hairy underground pods.

Earthquake Earth"quake` noun A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; -- called also earthdin , earthquave , and earthshock .

Earthquake alarm , a bell signal constructed to operate on the theory that a few seconds before the occurrence of an earthquake the magnet temporarily loses its power.

Earthquake Earth"quake` adjective Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; startling.

The earthquake voice of victory.

Byron.

Earthquave Earth"quave` noun An earthquake.

Earthshock Earth"shock` noun An earthquake.

Earthstar Earth"star` noun (Botany) A curious fungus of the genus Geaster , in which the outer coating splits into the shape of a star, and the inner one forms a ball containing the dustlike spores.

Earthward, Earthwards Earth"ward, Earth"wards adverb Toward the earth; -- opposed to heavenward or skyward .

Earthwork Earth"work` noun 1. (Mil.) Any construction, whether a temporary breastwork or permanent fortification, for attack or defense, the material of which is chiefly earth.

2. (Engineering) (a) The operation connected with excavations and embankments of earth in preparing foundations of buildings, in constructing canals, railroads, etc. (b) An embankment or construction made of earth.

Earthworm Earth"worm` noun 1. (Zoology) Any worm of the genus Lumbricus and allied genera, found in damp soil. One of the largest and most abundant species in Europe and America is Latin terrestris ; many others are known; -- called also angleworm and dewworm .

2. A mean, sordid person; a niggard. Norris.

Earthy Earth"y adjective 1. Consisting of, or resembling, earth; terrene; earthlike; as, earthy matter.

How pale she looks,
And of an earthy cold!

Shak.

All over earthy , like a piece of earth.

Tennyson.

2. Of or pertaining to the earth or to, this world; earthly; terrestrial; carnal. [ R.] "Their earthy charge." Milton.

The first man is of the earth, earthy ; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy .

1 Cor. xv. 47, 48 (Rev. Ver. )

Earthy spirits black and envious are.

Dryden.

3. Gross; low; unrefined. "Her earthy and abhorred commands." Shak.

4. (Min.) Without luster, or dull and roughish to the touch; as, an earthy fracture.

Earwax Ear"wax` noun (Anat.) See Cerumen .

Earwig Ear"wig` noun [ Anglo-Saxon eárwicga ; eáre ear + wicga beetle, worm: confer Prov. English erri-wiggle .] 1. (Zoology) Any insect of the genus Forticula and related genera, belonging to the order Euplexoptera.

2. (Zoology) In America, any small chilopodous myriapod, esp. of the genus Geophilus .

» Both insects are so called from the supposition that they creep into the human ear.

3. A whisperer of insinuations; a secret counselor. Johnson.

Earwig Ear"wig` transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Earwigged ; present participle & verbal noun Earwigging .] To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered insinuations or private talk. "No longer was he earwigged by the Lord Cravens." Lord Campbell.

Earwitness Ear"wit`ness noun A witness by means of his ears; one who is within hearing and does hear; a hearer. Fuller.

Ease Ease noun [ Middle English ese , eise , French aise ; akin to Pr. ais , aise , OIt. asio , Italian agio ; of uncertain origin; confer Latin ansa handle, occasion, opportunity. Confer Agio , Disease .] 1. Satisfaction; pleasure; hence, accommodation; entertainment. [ Obsolete]

They him besought
Of harbor and or ease as for hire penny.

Chaucer.

2. Freedom from anything that pains or troubles; as: (a) Relief from labor or effort; rest; quiet; relaxation; as, ease of body.

Usefulness comes by labor, wit by ease .

Herbert.

Give yourself ease from the fatigue of watching.

Swift.

(b) Freedom from care, solicitude, or anything that annoys or disquiets; tranquillity; peace; comfort; security; as, ease of mind.

Among these nations shalt thou find no ease .

Deut. xxviii. 65.

Take thine ease , eat, drink, and be merry.

Luke xii. 19.

(c) Freedom from constraint, formality, difficulty, embarrassment, etc.; facility; liberty; naturalness; -- said of manner, style, etc.; as, ease of style, of behavior, of address.

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.

Pope.

Whate'er he did was done with so much ease ,
In him alone 't was natural to please.

Dryden.

At ease , free from pain, trouble, or anxiety. "His soul shall dwell at ease ." Ps. xxv. 12. -- Chapel of ease . See under Chapel . -- Ill at ease , not at ease, disquieted; suffering; anxious. -- To stand at ease (Mil.) , to stand in a comfortable attitude in one's place in the ranks. -- With ease , easily; without much effort.

Syn. -- Rest; quiet; repose; comfortableness; tranquillity; facility; easiness; readiness.

Ease Ease (ēz) transitive verb & i. [ imperfect & past participle Eased (ēzd); present participle & verbal noun Easing .] [ Middle English esen , eisen , Old French aisier . See Ease , noun ] 1. To free from anything that pains, disquiets, or oppresses; to relieve from toil or care; to give rest, repose, or tranquillity to; -- often with of ; as, to ease of pain; to ease the body or mind.

Eased [ from] the putting off
These troublesome disguises which we wear.

Milton.

Sing, and I 'll ease thy shoulders of thy load.

Dryden.

2. To render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to alleviate.

My couch shall ease my complaint.

Job vii. 13.

3. To release from pressure or restraint; to move gently; to lift slightly; to shift a little; as, to ease a bar or nut in machinery.

4. To entertain; to furnish with accommodations. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

To ease off , To ease away (Nautical) , to slacken a rope gradually. -- To ease a ship (Nautical) , to put the helm hard, or regulate the sail, to prevent pitching when closehauled. -- To ease the helm (Nautical) , to put the helm more nearly amidships, to lessen the effect on the ship, or the strain on the wheel rope. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Syn. -- To relieve; disburden; quiet; calm; tranquilize; assuage; alleviate; allay; mitigate; appease; pacify.

Easeful Ease"ful adjective Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; comfortable; restful. Shak. -- Ease"ful*ly , adverb -- Ease"ful*ness , noun

Easel Ea"sel noun [ Dutch ezel ass, donkey, hence, easel, or German esel ; akin to English ass . See Ass .] A frame (commonly) of wood serving to hold a canvas upright, or nearly upright, for the painter's convenience or for exhibition.

Easel picture , Easel piece , a painting of moderate size such as is made while resting on an easel, as distinguished from a painting on a wall or ceiling.

Easeless Ease"less adjective Without ease. Donne.

Easement Ease"ment noun [ Old French aisement . See Ease , noun ] 1. That which gives ease, relief, or assistance; convenience; accommodation.

In need of every kind of relief and easement .

Burke.

2. (Law) A liberty, privilege, or advantage, which one proprietor has in the estate of another proprietor, distinct from the ownership of the soil, as a way, water course, etc. It is a species of what the civil law calls servitude . Kent.

3. (Architecture) A curved member instead of an abrupt change of direction, as in a baseboard, hand rail, etc.

Easily Eas"i·ly adverb [ From Easy .] 1. With ease; without difficulty or much effort; as, this task may be easily performed; that event might have been easily foreseen.

2. Without pain, anxiety, or disturbance; as, to pass life well and easily . Sir W. Temple.

3. Readily; without reluctance; willingly.

Not soon provoked, she easily forgives.

Prior.

4. Smoothly; quietly; gently; gracefully; without ...umult or discord.

5. Without shaking or jolting; commodiously; as, a carriage moves easily .

Easiness Eas"i·ness noun 1. The state or condition of being easy; freedom from distress; rest.

2. Freedom from difficulty; ease; as the easiness of a task.

3. Freedom from emotion; compliance; disposition to yield without opposition; unconcernedness.

Give to him, and he shall but laugh at your easiness .

South.

4. Freedom from effort, constraint, or formality; -- said of style, manner, etc.

With painful care, but seeming easiness .

Roscommon.

5. Freedom from jolting, jerking, or straining.

East East (ēst) noun [ Middle English est , east , Anglo-Saxon eást ; akin to Dutch oost , oosten , Old High German ōstan , German ost , osten , Icelandic austr , Swedish ost , Danish öst , östen , Lithuanian auszra dawn, Latin aurora (for ausosa ), Greek 'hw`s , "e`os , 'a`yws , Sanskrit ushas ; confer Sanskrit ush to burn, Latin urere . √149, 288. Confer Aurora , Easter , Sterling .] 1. The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at the equinox, or the corresponding point on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of the compass which is in a direction at right angles to that of north and south, and which is toward the right hand of one who faces the north; the point directly opposite to the west.

The east began kindle.

E. Everett.

2. The eastern parts of the earth; the regions or countries which lie east of Europe; the orient. In this indefinite sense, the word is applied to Asia Minor, Syria, Chaldea, Persia, India, China, etc.; as, the riches of the East ; the diamonds and pearls of the East ; the kings of the East .

The gorgeous East , with richest hand,
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.

Milton.

3. (U. S. Hist. and Geology) Formerly, the part of the United States east of the Alleghany Mountains, esp. the Eastern, or New England, States; now, commonly, the whole region east of the Mississippi River, esp. that which is north of Maryland and the Ohio River; -- usually with the definite article; as, the commerce of the East is not independent of the agriculture of the West.

East by north , East by south , according to the notation of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 11¼Â° to the north or south, respectively, of the point due east. -- East-northeast , East-southeast , that which lies 22½Â° to the north or south of east, or half way between east and northeast or southeast, respectively. See Illust. of Compass .

East East adjective Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun rises when in the equinoctial; as, the east gate; the east border; the east side; the east wind is a wind that blows from the east.

East East adverb Eastward.

East East intransitive verb To move toward the east; to veer from the north or south toward the east; to orientate.

East East adjective (Eccl.) Designating, or situated in, that part of a church which contains the choir or chancel; as, the east front of a cathedral.

East Indian East" In"di·an (?; see Indian ). Belonging to, or relating to, the East Indies. -- noun A native of, or a dweller in, the East Indies.

East-insular East`-in"su·lar adjective Relating to the Eastern Islands; East Indian. [ R.] Ogilvie.

Easter Eas"ter noun [ Anglo-Saxon eáster , eástran , paschal feast, Easter; akin to German ostern ; from Anglo-Saxon Eástre , a goddess of light or spring, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated in April; whence this month was called in Anglo-Saxon Eástermōnað . From the root of English east . See East .] 1. An annual church festival commemorating Christ's resurrection, and occurring on Sunday, the second day after Good Friday. It corresponds to the pascha or passover of the Jews, and most nations still give it this name under the various forms of pascha , pasque , pâque , or pask .

2. The day on which the festival is observed; Easter day.

» Easter is used either adjectively or as the first element of a compound; as, Easter day or Easter -day, Easter Sunday, Easter week, Easter gifts.

Sundays by thee more glorious break,
An Easter day in every week.

Keble.

» Easter day , on which the rest of the movable feasts depend, is always the first Sunday after the fourteenth day of the calendar moon which (fourteenth day) falls on, or next after, the 21st of March, according to the rules laid down for the construction of the calendar; so that if the fourteenth day happen on a Sunday, Easter day is the Sunday after. Eng. Cyc.

Easter dues (Ch. of Eng.) , money due to the clergy at Easter, formerly paid in communication of the tithe for personal labor and subject to exaction. For Easter dues , Easter offerings, voluntary gifts, have been substituted. -- Easter egg . (a) A painted or colored egg used as a present at Easter. (b) An imitation of an egg, in sugar or some fine material, sometimes made to serve as a box for jewelry or the like, used as an Easter present.

Easter East"er intransitive verb (Nautical) To veer to the east; -- said of the wind. Russell.

Easter lily Eas"ter lil`y (Botany) Any one of various lilies or lilylike flowers which bloom about Easter; specif.: (a) The common white lily ( Lilium candidum ), called also Annunciation lily . (b) The larger white lily ( Lilium longiflorum eximium , syn. Latin Harrisii ) called also Bermuda lily . (c) The daffodil ( Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus ). (d) The Atamasco lily.

Easterling East"er·ling noun [ Confer Sterling .] 1. A native of a country eastward of another; -- used, by the English, of traders or others from the coasts of the Baltic.

Merchants of Norway, Denmark, . . . called . . . Easterlings because they lie east in respect of us.

Holinshed.

2. A piece of money coined in the east by Richard II. of England. Crabb.

3. (Zoology) The smew.

Easterling East"er·ling adjective Relating to the money of the Easterlings, or Baltic traders. See Sterling .

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