Empire Em"pire noun [ French, from Latin
imperium a command, sovereignty, dominion, empire, from
imperare . See
Emperor ; confer
Imperial .]
1. Supreme power; sovereignty; sway; dominion. "The
empire of the sea."
Shak. Over hell extend
His empire , and with iron scepter rule.
Milton. 2. The dominion of an emperor; the territory or countries under the jurisdiction and dominion of an emperor (rarely of a king), usually of greater extent than a kingdom, always comprising a variety in the nationality of, or the forms of administration in, constituent and subordinate portions; as, the Austrian empire . Empire carries with it the idea of a vast and complicated government.
C. J. Smith. 3. Any dominion; supreme control; governing influence; rule; sway; as, the empire of mind or of reason. "Under the
empire of facts."
M. Arnold. Another force which, in the Middle Ages, shared with chivalry the empire over the minds of men.
A. W. Ward. Celestial empire .
See under Celestial . --
Empire City ,
a common designation of the city of New York. --
Empire State ,
a common designation of the State of New York. Syn. -- Sway; dominion; rule; control; reign; sovereignty; government; kingdom; realm; state.
Empire State Empire State New York; -- a nickname alluding to its size and wealth.
Empire State of the South Empire State of the South Georgia; -- a nickname.
Empire State of the West Empire State of the West Missouri; -- a nickname.
Empiric Em·pir"ic noun [ Latin
empiricus an empiric, Greek ... experienced, equiv. to ...; ... in + ... a trial, experiment; akin to ... ford, way, and English
fare : confer French
empirique . See
In , and
Fare .]
1. One who follows an empirical method; one who relies upon practical experience. 2. One who confines himself to applying the results of mere experience or his own observation; especially, in medicine, one who deviates from the rules of science and regular practice; an ignorant and unlicensed pretender; a quack; a charlatan. Among the Greek physicians, those who founded their practice on experience called themselves empirics .
Krauth-Fleming. Swallow down opinions as silly people do empirics ' pills.
Locke.
Empiric, Empirical Em·pir"ic, Em·pir"ic·al adjective 1. Pertaining to, or founded upon, experiment or experience; depending upon the observation of phenomena; versed in experiments. In philosophical language, the term empirical means simply what belongs to or is the product of experience or observation.
Sir W. Hamilton. The village carpenter . . . lays out his work by empirical rules learnt in his apprenticeship.
H. Spencer. 2. Depending upon experience or observation alone, without due regard to science and theory; -- said especially of medical practice, remedies, etc.; wanting in science and deep insight; as, empiric skill, remedies. Empirical formula .
(Chemistry) See under Formula . Syn. -- See
Transcendental .
Empirically Em·pir"ic·al·ly adverb By experiment or experience; without science; in the manner of quacks.
Empiricism Em·pir"i·cism noun 1. The method or practice of an empiric; pursuit of knowledge by observation and experiment. 2. Specifically, a practice of medicine founded on mere experience, without the aid of science or a knowledge of principles; ignorant and unscientific practice; charlatanry; quackery. 3. (Metaph.) The philosophical theory which attributes the origin of all our knowledge to experience.
Empiricist Em·pir"i·cist noun An empiric.
Empiristic Em`pi·ris"tic adjective (Physics) Relating to, or resulting from, experience, or experiment; following from empirical methods or data; -- opposed to nativistic .
Emplace Em·place" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Emplaced ;
present participle & verbal noun Emplacing .] [ Confer French
emplacer . See
En- ;
Place ,
v. & noun ]
To put into place or position; to fix on an emplacement.
Emplacement Em·place"ment noun [ Confer French
emplacement .]
A putting in, or assigning to, a definite place; localization; as, the emplacement of a structure.
Emplaster Em·plas"ter noun [ Old French
emplastre , French
emplâtre , Latin
emplastrum a plaster or salve, from Greek ..., from ... to plaster up, daub over; ... in + ... to form, mold, apply as a plaster.]
See Plaster . [ Obsolete]
Wiseman.
Emplaster Em·plas"ter transitive verb [ Confer Old French
emplastrer , French
emplâtrer . See
Emplaster ,
noun ]
To plaster over; to cover over so as to present a good appearance. [ Obsolete] "Fair as ye his name
emplaster ."
Chaucer.
Emplastic Em·plas"tic adjective [ Confer French
emplastique , from Greek ... clogging. See
Emplaster .]
Fit to be applied as a plaster; glutinous; adhesive; as, emplastic applications.
Emplastic Em·plas"tic noun A medicine causing constipation.
Emplastration Em`plas·tra"tion noun [ Latin
emplastratio a budding.]
1. The act or process of grafting by inoculation; budding. [ Obsolete]
Holland. 2. [ See 1st
Emplaster .]
(Medicine) The application of a plaster or salve.
Emplead Em·plead" transitive verb [ Prefix
em- (L.
in ) +
plead : confer French
emplaidier . Confer
Implead .]
To accuse; to indict. See Implead .
Emplection Em·plec"tion noun See Emplecton .
Emplecton Em·plec"ton noun [ French or Latin
emplecton , from Greek ..., from ... interwoven, from ... to plait or weave in; ... in + ... to twist, weave.]
A kind of masonry in which the outer faces of the wall are ashlar, the space between being filled with broken stone and mortar. Cross layers of stone are interlaid as binders. [ R.]
Weale.
Emplore Em·plore" transitive verb See Implore . [ Obsolete]
Employ Em·ploy" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Employed ;
present participle & verbal noun Employing .] [ French
employer , from Latin
implicare to fold into, infold, involve, implicate, engage;
in + plicare to fold. See
Ply , and confer
Imply ,
Implicate .]
1. To inclose; to infold. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer. 2. To use; to have in service; to cause to be engaged in doing something; -- often followed by in , about , on , or upon , and sometimes by to ; as: (a) To make use of, as an instrument, a means, a material, etc., for a specific purpose; to apply; as, to employ the pen in writing, bricks in building, words and phrases in speaking; to employ the mind; to employ one's energies. This is a day in which the thoughts . . . ought to be employed on serious subjects.
Addison. (b) To occupy; as, to employ time in study. (c) To have or keep at work; to give employment or occupation to; to intrust with some duty or behest; as, to employ a hundred workmen; to employ an envoy. Jonathan . . . and Jahaziah . . . were employed about this matter.
Ezra x. 15. Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer
To turn the glebe.
Dryden. To employ one's self ,
to apply or devote one's time and attention; to busy one's self. Syn. -- To use; busy; apply; exercise; occupy; engross; engage. See
Use .
Employ Em·ploy" noun [ Confer French
emploi .]
That which engages or occupies a person; fixed or regular service or business; employment. The whole employ of body and of mind.
Pope. In one's employ ,
in one's service.
Employable Em·ploy"a·ble adjective [ Confer French
employable .]
Capable of being employed; capable of being used; fit or proper for use. Boyle.
Employé Em`ploy`é" noun [ French, past participle of
employer .]
One employed by another; a clerk or workman in the service of an employer.
Employee Em`ploy·ee" noun [ The Eng. form of
employé .]
One employed by another.
Employer Em·ploy"er noun One who employs another; as, an employer of workmen.
Employment Em·ploy"ment noun 1. The act of employing or using; also, the state of being employed. 2. That which engages or occupies; that which consumes time or attention; office or post of business; service; as, agricultural employments ; mechanical employments ; public employments ; in the employment of government. Cares are employments , and without employ
The soul is on a rack.
Young. Syn. -- Work; business; occupation; vocation; calling; office; service; commission; trade; profession.
Emplumed Em·plumed" adjective Plumed. [ R.]
Emplunge Em·plunge" transitive verb [ Confer
Implunge .]
To plunge; to implunge. [ Obsolete]
Spenser.
Empoison Em·poi"son transitive verb [ French
empoisonner ; prefix
em- + French
poison . See
Poison , and confer
Impoison .]
To poison; to impoison. Shak.
Empoison Em·poi"son noun Poison. [ Obsolete]
Remedy of Love.
Empoisoner Em·poi"son·er noun Poisoner. [ Obsolete]
Bacon.
Empoisonment Em·poi"son·ment noun [ French
empoisonnement .]
The act of poisoning. Bacon.
Emporetic, Emporetical Em`po·ret"ic, Em`po·ret"ic·al adjective [ Latin
emporeticus , Greek .... See
Emporium .]
Pertaining to an emporium; relating to merchandise. [ Obsolete]
Johnson.
Emporium Em·po"ri·um noun ;
plural Emporiums , Latin
Emporia . [ Latin , from Greek ..., from ... belonging to commerce, from ... traveler, trader; ... in + ... way through and over, path. See
In , and
Empiric ,
Fare .]
1. A place of trade; a market place; a mart; esp., a city or town with extensive commerce; the commercial center of a country. That wonderful emporium [ Manchester] . . . was then a mean and ill-built market town.
Macaulay. It is pride . . . which fills our streets, our emporiums , our theathers.
Knox. 2. (Physiol.) The brain. [ Obsolete]
Empoverish Em·pov"er·ish transitive verb See Impoverish .
Empower Em·pow"er transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Empowered ;
present participle & verbal noun Empowering .]
1. To give authority to; to delegate power to; to commission; to authorize (having commonly a legal force); as, the Supreme Court is empowered to try and decide cases, civil or criminal; the attorney is empowered to sign an acquittance, and discharge the debtor. 2. To give moral or physical power, faculties, or abilities to. "These eyes . . .
empowered to gaze."
Keble.
Empress Em"press noun [ Middle English
empress ,
emperice , Old French
empereis ,
empereris , from Latin
imperatrix , fem. of
imperator . See
Emperor .]
1. The consort of an emperor. Shak. 2. A female sovereign. 3. A sovereign mistress. "
Empress of my soul."
Shak. Empress cloth ,
a cloth for ladies' dresses, either wholly of wool, or with cotton warp and wool weft. It resembles merino, but is not twilled.
Empressement Em`presse`ment" noun [ French, fr
s'empresser to hasten.]
Demonstrative warmth or cordiality of manner; display of enthusiasm. He grasped my hand with a nervous empressement .
Poe.
Emprint Em·print" transitive verb [ Obsolete]
See Imprint .
Emprise Em·prise" noun [ Old French
emprise , from
emprendre to undertake; prefix
em- (L.
in ) + French
prendre to take, Latin
prehendere ,
prendere ;
prae before + a verb akin to English
get . See
Get , and confer
Enterprise ,
Impresa .] [ Archaic]
1. An enterprise; endeavor; adventure. Chaucer. In brave pursuit of chivalrous emprise .
Spenser. The deeds of love and high emprise .
Longfellow. 2. The qualifies which prompt one to undertake difficult and dangerous exploits. I love thy courage yet and bolt emprise ;
But here thy sword can do thee little stead.
Milton.
Emprise Em·prise" transitive verb To undertake. [ Obsolete]
Sackville.
Emprising Em·pris"ing adjective [ From
Emprise ,
transitive verb ]
Full of daring; adventurous. [ Archaic]
T. Campbell.
Emprison Em·pris"on transitive verb [
Obs .]
See Imprison .
Emprosthotonos Em`pros·thot"o·nos noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... forward + ... to draw.]
(Medicine) A drawing of the body forward, in consequence of the spasmodic action of some of the muscles. Gross.
Empte Emp"te transitive verb To empty. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer.
Emptier Emp"ti·er noun One who, or that which, empties.
Emptier Emp"ti·er compar. of Empty .
Emptiness Emp"ti·ness noun [ From
Empty .]
1. The state of being empty; absence of contents; void space; vacuum; as, the emptiness of a vessel; emptiness of the stomach. 2. Want of solidity or substance; unsatisfactoriness; inability to satisfy desire; vacuity; hollowness; the emptiness of earthly glory. 3. Want of knowledge; lack of sense; vacuity of mind. Eternal smiles his emptiness betray.
Pope. The sins of emptiness , gossip, and spite.
Tennyson.
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