Escalade
Es•ca•lade´, n. [F., Sp. escalada (cf. It. scalata), fr. Sp. escalar to scale, LL. scalare, fr. L. scala ladder. See Scale, v. t.] (Mil.) A furious attack made by troops on a fortified place, in which ladders are used to pass a ditch or mount a rampart.
"Sin enters, not by escalade, but by cunning or treachery." Buckminster.
Escalade
Es•ca•lade´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Escaladed; p. pr. & vb. n. Escalading.] (Mil.) To mount and pass or enter by means of ladders; to scale; as to escalate a wall.
Escalator
Es´ca•la•tor, n. [NL. Cf. Escalade.] A stairway or incline arranged like an endless belt so that the steps or treads ascend or descend continuously, and one stepping upon it is carried up or down; — a trade term.
Escalop
Es•cal´op ( 277), n. [OF. escalope shell, F. escalope a sort of cut of meat. See Scallop.]
1. (Zoöl.) A bivalve shell of the genus Pecten. See Scallop.
2. A regular, curving indenture in the margin of anything. See Scallop. "So many jags or escalops." Ray.
3. (a) The figure or shell of an escalop, considered as a sign that the bearer had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Hence: (b) (Her.) A bearing or a charge consisting of an escalop shell.
Escaloped
Es•cal´oped, a.
1. Cut or marked in the form of an escalop; scalloped.
2. (Her.) Covered with a pattern resembling a series of escalop shells, each of which issues from between two others. Its appearance is that of a surface covered with scales. Escaloped oysters (Cookery). See under Scalloped.
Escambio
Es•cam´bi•o, n. [LL. escambium, excambium. See Excamb.] (Eng. Law) A license formerly required for the making over a bill of exchange to another over sea. Cowell.
Escapade
Es•ca•pade´, n. [F., fr. Sp. escapada escape, fr. escapar to escape; or F., fr. It. scappata escape, escapade, fr. scappare to escape. see Escape.]
1. The fling of a horse, or ordinary kicking back of his heels; a gambol.
2. Act by which one breaks loose from the rules of propriety or good sense; a freak; a prank. Carlyle.
Escape
Es•cape´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Escaped p. pr. & vb. n. Escaping.] [OE. escapen, eschapen, OF. escaper, eschaper, F. echapper, fr. LL. ex cappa out of one’s cape or cloak; hence, to slip out of one’s cape and escape. See 3d Cape, and cf. Scape, v. ]
1. To flee from and avoid; to be saved or exempt from; to shun; to obtain security from; as to escape danger. "Sailors that escaped the wreck." Shak.
2. To avoid the notice of; to pass unobserved by; to evade; as the fact escaped our attention.
"They escaped the search of the enemy." Ludlow.
Escape
Es•cape´, n.
1. The act of fleeing from danger, of evading harm, or of avoiding notice; deliverance from injury or any evil; flight; as an escape in battle; a narrow escape; also the means of escape; as a fire escape.
"I would hasten my escape from the windy storm." Ps. lv. 8.
2. That which escapes attention or restraint; a mistake; an oversight; also transgression. [Obs.]
"I should have been more accurate, and corrected all those former escapes." Burton.
3. A sally. "Thousand escapes of wit." Shak.
4. (Law) The unlawful permission, by a jailer or other custodian, of a prisoner’s departure from custody. Escape is technically distinguishable from prison breach, which is the unlawful departure of the prisoner from custody, escape being the permission of the departure by the custodian, either by connivance or negligence. The term escape, however, is applied by some of the old authorities to a departure from custody by stratagem, or without force. Wharton.
5. (Arch.) An apophyge.
6. Leakage or outflow, as of steam or a liquid.
7. (Elec.) Leakage or loss of currents from the conducting wires, caused by defective insulation. Escape pipe (Steam Boilers), a pipe for carrying away steam that escapes through a safety valve. — Escape valve (Steam Engine), a relief valve; a safety valve. See under Relief, and Safety. — Escape wheel (Horol.), the wheel of an escapement.
Escape
Es•cape´, n. (Bot.) A plant which has escaped from cultivation.
Escapement
Es•cape´ment, n. [Cf. F. echappement. See Escape.]
1. The act of escaping; escape. [R.]
2. Way of escape; vent. [R.]
"An escapement for youthful high spirits." G. Eliot.
3. The contrivance in a timepiece which connects the train of wheel work with the pendulum or balance, giving to the latter the impulse by which it is kept in vibration; — so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration. 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.
Escarbuncle
Es•car´bun•cle, n. [OF. escarbuncle, F. escaboucle.] (Her.) See Carbuncle, 3.
Escarp
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.
Escarpment
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.
Eschar
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.
Escharine
Es´cha•rine, a. (Zoöl.) Like, or pertaining to, the genus Eschara, or family Escharidae.
Eschatological
Es•cha•to•log´ic•al, a. Pertaining to the last or final things.
Escheat
Es•cheat´, n. [OE. eschete, escheyte, an escheat, fr. OF. escheit, escheoit, escheeite, esheoite, fr. escheoir (F. echoir) 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.
Escheat
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.
Escheatage
Es•cheat´age ( 48), n. The right of succeeding to an escheat. Sherwood.
Eschew
Es•chew´ (es•chu"), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Eshewed (-chu"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.
Escort
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.
Escort
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.
Escot
Es•cot´, n. [OF.] See Scot, a tax. [Obs.]
Escot
Es•cot´, v. t. To pay the reckoning for; to support; to maintain. [Obs.] Shak.
Escout
Es•cout´, n. See Scout. [Obs.] Hayward.
Escritoire
Es•cri•toire´, n. [OF. escritoire, F. ecritoire, 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.
Escritorial
Es•cri•to´ri•al, a. Of or pertaining to an escritoire.
Escrod
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.
Escrow
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.
Escuage
Es´cu•age ( 48), n. [OF. escuage, F. ecuage, from OF. escu shield, F. ecu. 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.
Esculent
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.
Esculent
Es´cu•lent, n. Anything that is fit for eating; that which may be safely eaten by man.
Esculin
Es•cu´lin, n. [See Esculic.] (Chem.) A glucoside obtained from the AEsculus hippocastanum, or horse-chestnut, and characterized by its fine blue fluorescent solutions. [Written also aesculin.]
Escurial
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.
Escutcheon
Es•cutch´eon, n. [OF. escusson, F. ecusson, from OF. escu shield, F. ecu. 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.
Escutcheoned
Es•cutch´eoned, a. Having an escutcheon; furnished with a coat of arms or ensign. Young.
Esemplastic
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.
Esexual
E•sex´u•al, a. [Pref. e- + sexual.] (Biol.) Sexless; asexual.
Esguard
Es•guard´, n. [Cf. OF. esgart regard, F. egard. See Guard.] Guard. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. { Es´kar, or Es´ker }, n. (Geol.) See Eschar.
Esloin
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.
Esnecy
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.
Esophageal
E•so•phag´e•al, a. (Anat.) Pertaining to the esophagus. [Written also œsophageal.]
Esophagus
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 AEsopian, AEsopic.
Esoteric
Es•o•ter´ic (es•o•te"ik), 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.
Esotericism
Es•o•ter´i•cism, n. Esoteric doctrine or principles.
Esoterics
Es•o•ter´ics, n. Mysterious or hidden doctrines; secret science.
Esotery
Es´o•ter•y, n. Mystery; esoterics; — opposed to exotery. A. Tucker.
Espalier
Es•pal´ier, n. [F. espalier, fr. It. spalliera, fr. spalla shoulder, the same word as F. epaule. 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.
Espalier
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.
Espauliere
Es•pau•liere´, n. [OF. & F. epaulière. 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.
Especial
Es•pe´cial, a. [OF. especial, F. special, 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.
Especialness
Es•pe´cial•ness, n. The state of being especial.
Espial
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.
Espionage
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.
Esplanade
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.
Esplees
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.
Espousal
Es•pous´al, n. [OF. espousailles, pl., F. epousailles, 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.
Espouse
Es•pouse´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Espoused p. pr. & vb. n. Espousing.] [OF. espouser, esposer, F. epouser, 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.
Espouser
Es•pous´er, n. One who espouses; one who embraces the cause of another or makes it his own.
Espringal
Es•prin´gal, n. [See Springal.] (Mil. Antiq.) An engine of war used for throwing viretons, large stones, and other missiles; a springal.
Esprit
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.
Espy
Es•py´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Espied p. pr. & vb. n. Espying.] [OF. espier, F. epier, from OHG. spehn 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.
Espy
Es•py´, n. ; pl. Espies (#). [OF. espie. See Espy, v., Spy.] A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Huloet.
Esquimau
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.
Esquire
Es•quire´, n. [OF. escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer, F. ecuyer 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. In England, the title of esquire belongs by right of birth to the eldest sons of knights and their eldest sons in perpetual succession; to the eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their eldest sons in perpetual succession. It is also given to sheriffs, to justices of the peace while in commission, to those who bear special office in the royal household, to counselors at law, bachelors of divinity, law, or physic, and to others. In the United States the title is commonly given in courtesy to lawyers and justices of the peace, and is often used in the superscription of letters instead of Mr.
Esquire
Es•quire´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Esquired p. pr. & vb. n. Esquiring.] To wait on as an esquire or attendant in public; to attend. [Colloq.]
Esquisse
Es•quisse´, n. [F. See Sketch.] (Fine Arts) The first sketch of a picture or model of a statue.
Essay
Es´say, n. ; pl. Essays (#). [F. essai, fr. L. exagium a weighing, weight, balance; ex out + agere to drive, do; cf. examen, exagmen, a means of weighing, a weighing, the tongue of a balance, exigere to drive out, examine, weigh, Gr. ’exa•gion a weight, ’exagia•zein to examine, ’exa•gein to drive out, export. See Agent, and cf. Exact, Examine, Assay.]
1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as to make an essay to benefit a friend. "The essay at organization." M. Arnold.
2. (Lit.) A composition treating of any particular subject; — usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce.
3. An assay. See Assay, n. [Obs.]
Syn. — Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation; disquisition.
Essay
Es•say´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Essayed p. pr. & vb. n. Essaying.] [F. essayer. See Essay, n. ]
1. To exert one’s power or faculties upon; to make an effort to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or trial of; to try.
"What marvel if I thus essay to sing?" Byron.
"Essaying nothing she can not perform." Emerson.
"A danger lest the young enthusiast … should essay the impossible." J. C. Shairp.
2. To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See Assay. [Obs.] Locke.
Essayist
Es´say•ist ( 277), n. A writer of an essay, or of essays. B. Jonson.
Essence
Es´sence, n. [F. essence, L. essentia, formed as if fr. a p. pr. of esse to be. See Is, and cf. Entity.]
1. The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence.
2. The constituent quality or qualities which belong to any object, or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are (distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality of a thing, separated from its grosser parts.
"The laws are at present, both in form and essence, the greatest curse that society labors under." Landor.
"Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence of this virtue [charity]." Addison.
"The essence of Addison’s humor is irony." Courthope.
3. Constituent substance.
"And uncompounded is their essence pure." Milton.
4. A being; esp., a purely spiritual being.
"As far as gods and heavenly essences
Can perish." Milton.
"He had been indulging in fanciful speculations on spiritual essences, until … he had and ideal world of his own around him." W. Irving.
5. The predominant qualities or virtues of a plant or drug, extracted and refined from grosser matter; or, more strictly, the solution in spirits of wine of a volatile or essential oil; as the essence of mint, and the like.
"The … word essence … scarcely underwent a more complete transformation when from being the abstract of the verb "to be," it came to denote something sufficiently concrete to be inclosed in a glass bottle." J. S. Mill.
6. Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume.
"Nor let the essences exhale." Pope.
Essence
Es´sence, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Essenced p. pr. & vb. n. Essencing ] To perfume; to scent. "Essenced fops." Addison.
Essenism
Es´se•nism, n. The doctrine or the practices of the Essenes. De Quincey.
Essential
Es•sen´tial (es•sen"sj al), a. [Cf. F. essentiel. See Essence.]
1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class of objects, what it is.
"Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever in it an essential character of plaintiveness." Hawthorne.
2. Hence, really existing; existent.
"Is it true, that thou art but a name,
And no essential thing?" Webster (1623).
3. Important in the highest degree; indispensable to the attainment of an object; indispensably necessary.
"Judgment’s more essential to a general
Than courage." Denham.
"How to live? — that is the essential question for us." H. Spencer.
4. Containing the essence or characteristic portion of a substance, as of a plant; highly rectified; pure; hence, unmixed; as an essential oil. "Mine own essential horror." Ford.
5. (Mus.) Necessary; indispensable; — said of those tones which constitute a chord, in distinction from ornamental or passing tones.
6. (Med.) Idiopathic; independent of other diseases. Essential character (Biol.), the prominent characteristics which serve to distinguish one genus, species, etc., from another. — Essential disease, Essential fever (Med.), one that is not dependent on another. — Essential oils (Chem.), a class of volatile oils, extracted from plants, fruits, or flowers, having each its characteristic odor, and hot burning taste. They are used in essences, perfumery, etc., and include many varieties of compounds; as lemon oil is a terpene, oil of bitter almonds an aldehyde, oil of wintergreen an ethereal salt, etc.; — called also volatile oils in distinction from the fixed or nonvolatile.
Essentiality
Es•sen•ti•al´i•ty, n. The quality of being essential; the essential part. Jer. Taylor.
Essentiate
Es•sen´ti•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Essentiated; p. pr. & vb. n. Essentiating.] To form or constitute the essence or being of. [Obs.] Boyle.
Essoin
Es•soin´, v. t. [OF. essoinier, essoignier, essonier, LL. essoniare, exoniare. See Essoin, n. ] (Eng. Law) To excuse for nonappearance in court. "I ’ll not essoin thee." Quarles.
Essoiner
Es•soin´er, n. (Eng. Law) An attorney who sufficiently excuses the absence of another.
Essonite
Es´so•nite, n. [Named from Gr. inferior, because not so hard as some minerals it resembles, e. g., hyacinth.] (Min.) Cinnamon stone, a variety of garnet. See Garnet.
Establish
Es•tab´lish, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Established p. pr. & vb. n. Establishing.] [OE. establissen, OF. establir, F. etablir, fr. L. stabilire, fr. stabilis firm, steady, stable. See Stable, a. , -ish, and cf. Stablish.]
1. To make stable or firm; to fix immovably or firmly; to set (a thing) in a place and make it stable there; to settle; to confirm.
"So were the churches established in the faith." Acts xvi. 5.
"The best established tempers can scarcely forbear being borne down." Burke.
"Confidence which must precede union could be established only by consummate prudence and self- control." Bancroft.
2. To appoint or constitute for permanence, as officers, laws, regulations, etc.; to enact; to ordain.
"By the consent of all, we were established
The people’s magistrates." Shak.
"Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed." Dan. vi. 8.
3. To originate and secure the permanent existence of; to found; to institute; to create and regulate; — said of a colony, a state, or other institutions.
"He hath established it [the earth], he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited." Is. xlv. 18.
"Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity!" Hab. ii. 12.
4. To secure public recognition in favor of; to prove and cause to be accepted as true; as to establish a fact, usage, principle, opinion, doctrine, etc.
"At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established." Deut. xix. 15.
5. To set up in business; to place advantageously in a fixed condition; — used reflexively; as he established himself in a place; the enemy established themselves in the citadel.
Estacade
Es•ta•cade´, n. [F.; cf. It. steccata, Sp. estacada. Cf. Stake.] (Mil.) A dike of piles in the sea, a river, etc., to check the approach of an enemy. { Es•ta•fet´, Es•ta•fette´ }, n. [F. estafette, cf. Sp. estafeta; fr. It. stafetta, fr. staffa stirrup, fr. OHG. stapho footstep, footprint, G. stapfe; akin to E. step.] A courier who conveys messages to another courier; a military courier sent from one part of an army to another.
Estaminet
Es•ta•mi•net´, n. [F.] A cafe, or room in a cafe, in which smoking is allowed.
Estancia
Es•tan´ci•a (as•tan"the•a), n. [Sp. See Stanza.] A grazing farm; a country house. [Spanish America]
Estate
Es•tate´ (es•tat"), n. [OF. estat, F. etat, L. status, fr. stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. State.]
1. Settled condition or form of existence; state; condition or circumstances of life or of any person; situation. "When I came to man’s estate." Shak.
"Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate." Romans xii. 16.
2. Social standing or rank; quality; dignity.
"God hath imprinted his authority in several parts, upon several estates of men." Jer. Taylor.
3. A person of high rank. [Obs.]
"She’s a duchess, a great estate." Latimer.
"Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee." Mark vi. 21.
4. A property which a person possesses; a fortune; possessions, esp. property in land; also property of all kinds which a person leaves to be divided at his death.
"See what a vast estate he left his son." Dryden.
5. The state; the general body politic; the common-wealth; the general interest; state affairs. [Obs.]
"I call matters of estate not only the parts of sovereignty, but whatsoever … concerneth manifestly any great portion of people." Bacon.
6. pl. The great classes or orders of a community or state (as the clergy, the nobility, and the commonalty of England) or their representatives who administer the government; as the estates of the realm (England), which are (1) the lords spiritual, (2) the lords temporal, (3) the commons.
7. (Law) The degree, quality, nature, and extent of one’s interest in, or ownership of, lands, tenements, etc.; as an estate for life, for years, at will, etc. Abbott. The fourth estate, a name often given to the public press.
Esteem
Es•teem´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Esteemed p. pr. & vb. n. Esteeming.] [F. estimer, L. aestimare, aestumare, to value, estimate; perh. akin to Skr. ish to seek, strive, and E. ask. Cf. Aim, Estimate.]
1. To set a value on; to appreciate the worth of; to estimate; to value; to reckon.
"Then he forsook God, which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation." Deut. xxxii. 15.
"Thou shouldst (gentle reader) esteem his censure and authority to be of the more weighty credence." Bp. Gardiner.
"Famous men, — whose scientific attainments were esteemed hardly less than supernatural." Hawthorne.
2. To set a high value on; to prize; to regard with reverence, respect, or friendship.
"Will he esteem thy riches?" Job xxxvi. 19.
"You talk kindlier: we esteem you for it." Tennyson.
Syn. — To estimate; appreciate; regard; prize; value; respect; revere. See Appreciate, Estimate.
Esteem
Es•teem´, n. [Cf. F. estime. See Esteem, v. t.]
1. Estimation; opinion of merit or value; hence, valuation; reckoning; price.
"Most dear in the esteem
And poor in worth!" Shak.
"I will deliver you, in ready coin,
The full and dear’st esteem of what you crave." J. Webster.
2. High estimation or value; great regard; favorable opinion, founded on supposed worth.
"Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem." Shak.
Syn. — See Estimate, n.
Esteemable
Es•teem´a•ble, a. Worthy of esteem; estimable. [R.] "Esteemable qualities." Pope.
Esthete
Es´thete, n. ; Es•thet´ic, a. , Es•thet´ic•al, a. , Es•thet´ics, n. etc. Same as AEsthete, AEsthetic, AEsthetical, AEsthetics, etc.
Estiferous
Es•tif´er•ous, a. [L. aestifer; aestus fire + ferre to bear.] Producing heat. [R.] Smart.
Estimable
Es´ti•ma•ble, a. [F. estimable, or L. aestimabilis. See Esteem.]
1. Capable of being estimated or valued; as estimable damage. Paley. .
2. Valuable; worth a great price. [R.]
"A pound of man’s flesh, taken from a man,
Is not so estimable, profitable neither,
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats." Shak.
3. Worth of esteem or respect; deserving our good opinion or regard.
"A lady said of her two companions, that one was more amiable, the other more estimable." Sir W. Temple.
Estimableness
Es´ti•ma•ble•ness, n. The quality of deserving esteem or regard.
Estimate
Es´ti•mate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Estimated p. pr. & vb. n. Estimating ] [L. aestimatus, p. p. of aestimare. See Esteem, v. t.]
1. To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data, — either the extrinsic (money), or intrinsic (moral), value; to fix the worth of roughly or in a general way; as to estimate the value of goods or land; to estimate the worth or talents of a person.
"It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them." Locke.
"It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living." J. C. Shairp.
2. To from an opinion of, as to amount,, number, etc., from imperfect data, comparison, or experience; to make an estimate of; to calculate roughly; to rate; as to estimate the cost of a trip, the number of feet in a piece of land.
Syn. — To appreciate; value; appraise; prize; rate; esteem; count; calculate; number. — To Estimate, Esteem. Both these words imply an exercise of the judgment. Estimate has reference especially to the external relations of things, such as amount, magnitude, importance, etc. It usually involves computation or calculation; as to estimate the loss or gain of an enterprise. Esteem has reference to the intrinsic or moral worth of a person or thing. Thus, we esteem a man for his kindness, or his uniform integrity. In this sense it implies a mingled sentiment of respect and attachment. We esteem it an honor to live in a free country. See Appreciate.
Estimate
Es´ti•mate, n. A valuing or rating by the mind, without actually measuring, weighing, or the like; rough or approximate calculation; as an estimate of the cost of a building, or of the quantity of water in a pond.
"Weigh success in a moral balance, and our whole estimate is changed." J. C. Shairp.
Syn. — Estimate, Estimation, Esteem. The noun estimate, like its verb, supposes chiefly an exercise of judgment in determining the amount, importance, or magnitude of things, with their other exterior relations; as an estimate of expenses incurred; a true estimate of life, etc. Esteem is a moral sentiment made up of respect and attachment, — the valuation of a person as possessing useful qualities or real worth. Thus we speak of the esteem of the wise and good as a thing greatly to be desired. Estimation seems to waver between the two. In our version of the Scriptures it is used simply for estimate; as "If he be poorer than thy estimation." Lev. xxvii. 8. In other cases, it verges toward esteem; as "I know him to be of worth and worthy estimation." Shak. It will probably settle down at last on this latter sense. "Esteem is the value we place upon some degree of worth. It is higher than simple approbation, which is a decision of judgment. It is the commencement of affection." Gogan.
"No; dear as freedom is, and in my heart’s
Just estimation prized above all price." Cowper.
Estimation
Es•ti•ma´tion, n. [L. aestimatio, fr. aestimare: cf. F. estimation. See Esteem, v. t.]
1. The act of estimating. Shak.
2. An opinion or judgment of the worth, extent, or quantity of anything, formed without using precise data; valuation; as estimations of distance, magnitude, amount, or moral qualities.
"If he be poorer that thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest, and the priest shall value him." Lev. xxvii. 8.
3. Favorable opinion; esteem; regard; honor.
"I shall have estimation among multitude, and honor with the elders." Wisdom viii. 10.
4. Supposition; conjecture.
"I speak not this in estimation,
As what I think might be, but what I know." Shak.
Syn. — Estimate; calculation; computation; appraisement; esteem; honor; regard. See Estimate, n.
Estimator
Es´ti•ma•tor, n. [L. aestimator.] One who estimates or values; a valuer. Jer. Taylor.
Estival
Es´ti•val, a. , Es´ti•vate, v. i., Es•ti•va´tion, n. Same as AEstival, AEstivate, etc.
Estoile
Es•toile´, n. [OF.] (Her.) A six-pointed star whose rays are wavy, instead of straight like those of a mullet. [Written also etoile.] Estoile of eight points, a star which has four straight and four wavy rays. — Estoile of four points. Same as Cross estoile, under Cross.
Estop
Es•top´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Estophed p. pr. & vb. n. Estopping.] [OF. estoper to stop, plug, close, F. etouper, LL. stuppare to close with tow, obstruct, fr. L. stuppa tow, oakum, cf. Gr. sty•pph. Cf. Stop.] (Law) To impede or bar by estoppel.
"A party will be estopped by his admissions, where his intent is to influence another, or derive an advantage to himself." Abbott.
Estoppel
Es•top´pel, n. [From Estop.] (Law) (a) A stop; an obstruction or bar to one’s alleging or denying a fact contrary to his own previous action, allegation, or denial; an admission, by words or conduct, which induces another to purchase rights, against which the party making such admission can not take a position inconsistent with the admission. (b) The agency by which the law excludes evidence to dispute certain admissions, which the policy of the law treats as indisputable. Wharton. Stephen. Burrill.
Estovers
Es•to´vers (es•to"verz), n. pl. [OF. estoveir, estovoir, necessary, necessity, need, prop. an infin. meaning to suit, be fit, be necessary. See Stover.] (Law) Necessaries or supplies; an allowance to a person out of an estate or other thing for support; as of wood to a tenant for life, etc., of sustenance to a man confined for felony out of his estate, or alimony to a woman divorced out of her husband’s estate. Blackstone. Common of estovers. See under Common, n.
Estrade
Es•trade´ (as•trad"), n. [F., fr. Sp. estrado, orig., a carpet on the floor of a room, also a carpeted platform, fr. L. stratum bed covering. See Stratum.] (Arch.) A portion of the floor of a room raised above the general level, as a place for a bed or a throne; a platform; a dais.
"He [the teacher] himself should have his desk on a mounted estrade or platform." J. G. Fitch.
Estrange
Es•trange´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Estranged p. pr. & vb. n. Estranging.] [OF. estrangier to remove, F. etranger, L. extraneare to treat as a stranger, from extraneus strange. See Strange.]
1. To withdraw; to withhold; hence, reflexively, to keep at a distance; to cease to be familiar and friendly with.
"We must estrange our belief from everything which is not clearly and distinctly evidenced." Glanvill.
"Had we … estranged ourselves from them in things indifferent." Hooker.
2. To divert from its original use or purpose, or from its former possessor; to alienate.
"They … have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods." Jer. xix. 4.
3. To alienate the affections or confidence of; to turn from attachment to enmity or indifference.
"I do not know, to this hour, what it is that has estranged him from me." Pope.
"He … had pretended to be estranged from the Whigs, and had promised to act as a spy upon them." Macaulay.
Estrangedness
Es•tran´ged•ness, n. State of being estranged; estrangement. Prynne.
Estreat
Es•treat´, n. [OF. estraite, prop., an extract, fr. p. p. of estraire to extract, F. extraire, fr. L. extrahere. See Extract.] (Law) A true copy, duplicate, or extract of an original writing or record, esp. of amercements or penalties set down in the rolls of court to be levied by the bailiff, or other officer. Cowell. Estreat of a recognizance, the extracting or taking out a forfeited recognizance from among the other records of the court, for the purpose of a prosecution in another court, or it may be in the same court. Burrill.
Estreat
Es•treat´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Estreated; p. pr. & vb. n. Estreating.] (Law) (a) To extract or take out from the records of a court, and send up to the court of exchequer to be enforced; — said of a forfeited recognizance. (b) To bring in to the exchequer, as a fine.
Estrich
Es´trich, n.
1. Ostrich. [Obs.] Massinger.
2. (Com.) The down of the ostrich. Brande & C.
Estuance
Es´tu•ance, n. [From L. aestuans, p. pr. of aestuare. See Estuate.] Heat. [Obs.]
Estuarine
Es´tu•a•rine, a. Pertaining to an estuary; estuary.
Estuary
Es´tu•a•ry, n. ; pl. Estuaries (#). [L. aestuarium, from aestuare to surge. See Estuate.] [Written also aestuary.]
1. A place where water boils up; a spring that wells forth. [Obs.] Boyle.
2. A passage, as the mouth of a river or lake, where the tide meets the current; an arm of the sea; a frith.
"it to the sea was often by long and wide estuaries." Dana.
Estuary
Es´tu•a•ry, a. Belonging to, or formed in, an estuary; as estuary strata. Lyell.
Estuate
Es´tu•ate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Estuated p. pr. & vb. n. Estuating.] [L. aestuare to be in violent motion, to boil up, burn, fr. aestus boiling or undulating motion, fire, glow, heat; akin to Gr. to burn. See Ether.] To boil up; to swell and rage; to be agitated. Bacon.
Estufa
Es•tu´fa, n. ; pl. Estufas (#). [Sp., a stove, a warm room. Cf. Stove.] An assembly room in dwelling of the Pueblo Indians. L. H. Morgan.
Esture
Es´ture ( 135), n. [See Estuate.] Commotion. [Obs.] Chapman.
Esurine
Es´u•rine, a. [See Esurient.] Causing hunger; eating; corroding. [Obs.] Wiseman.
Esurine
Es´u•rine, n. (Med.) A medicine which provokes appetites, or causes hunger. [Obs.]