ELAB'ORATED, participle passive Produced with labor or study; improved.

ELAB'ORATELY, adverb With great labor or study; with nice regard to exactness.

ELAB'ORATENESS, noun The quality of being elaborate or wrought with great labor.

ELAB'ORATING, participle present tense Producing with labor; improving; refining by successive operations.

ELABORA'TION, noun Improvement or refinement by successive operations.

ELA'IN, noun [Gr. oily.] The oily or liquid principle of oils and fats.

ELAMP'ING, adjective [See Lamp.] Shining. [Not in use.]

EL'ANCE, verb transitive To throw or shoot; to hurl; to dart.

While thy unerring hand elanced--a dart.

E'LAND, noun A species of heavy, clumsy antelope in Africa.

ELA'OLITE, noun [Gr. olive.] A mineral, called also fettstein [fat-stone.] from its greasy appearance. It has a crystalline structure, more or less distinctly foliated in directions parallel to the sides of a rhombic prism, and also in the direction of the shorter diagonals of the bases. Its fracture is uneven, and sometimes imperfectly conchoidal. Some varieties are slightly chatoyant. It is fusible by the blow-pipe into a white enamel. Its colors are greenish or bluish gray, greenish blue and flesh red, and it is more or less translucent.

ELAPSE, verb intransitive elaps'. [Latin elapsus, from elabor, labor, to slide.]

To slide away; to slip or glide away; to pass away silently, as time; applied chiefly or wholly to time. [Instead of elapse the noun, we use lapse.]

ELAPS'ED, participle passive Slid or passed away, as time.

ELAPS'ING, participle present tense Sliding away; gliding or passing away silently, as time.

ELAS'TIC

ELAS'TICAL, adjective [from the Gr. to impel, to drive.] Springing back; having the power of returning to the form from which it is bent, extended, pressed or distorted; having the inherent property of recovering its former figure, after any external pressure, which has altered that figure, is removed; rebounding; flying back. Thus a bow is elastic and when the force which bends it is removed, it instantly returns to its former shape. The air is elastic; vapors are elastic; and when the force compressing them is removed, they instantly expand or dilate, and recover their former state.

ELAS'TICAL, a. [from the Gr. to impel, to drive.] Springing back; having the power of returning to the form from which it is bent, extended, pressed or distorted; having the inherent property of recovering its former figure, after any external pressure, which has altered that figure, is removed; rebounding; flying back. Thus a bow is elastic, and when the force which bends it is removed, it instantly returns to its former shape. The air is elastic; vapors are elastic; and when the force compressing them is removed, they instantly expand or dilate, and recover their former state.

ELAS'TICALLY, adverb In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring.

ELASTIC'ITY, noun The inherent property in bodies by which they recover their former figure or state, after external pressure, tension or distortion. Thus elastic gum, extended, will contract to its natural dimensions, when the force is removed. Air, when compressed, will, on the removal of the compressing force, instantly dilate and fill its former space.

ELA'TE, adjective [Latin elatus.] Raised; elevated in mind; flushed, as with success. Whence, lofty; haughty; as elate with victory. [It is used chiefly in poetry.]

ELA'TE, verb transitive To raise or swell, as the minds or spirits; to elevate with success; to puff up; to make proud.

1. To raise; to exalt. [Unusual.]

ELA'TED, participle passive Elevated in mind or spirits; puffed up, as with honor, success or prosperity. We say, elated with success; elated with pride. [This is used in prose.]

ELA'TEDLY, adverb With elation.

ELATE'RIUM, noun A substance deposited from the very acrid juice of the Momordica elaterium wild cucumber. It is in thin cakes of a greenish color and bitter taste, and is a powerful cathartic.

EL'ATERY, noun Acting force or elasticity; as the elatery of the air. [Unusual.]

EL'ATIN, noun The active principle of the elaterium, from which the latter is supposed to derive its cathartic power.

ELA'TION, noun An inflation or elevation of mind proceeding from self-approbation; self-esteem, vanity or pride, resulting from success. Hence, haughtiness; pride of prosperity.

EL'BOW, noun

1. The outer angle made by the bend of the arm.

The wings that waft our riches out of sight

Grow on the gamester's elbows.

2. Any flexure or angle; the obtuse angle of a wall, building or road.

To be at the elbow is to be very near; to be by the side; to be at hand.

EL'BOW, verb transitive To push with the elbow

1. To push or drive to a distance; to encroach on.

He'll elbow out his neighbors.

EL'BOW, verb intransitive To jut into an angle; to project; to bend.

ELD, noun Old age; decrepitude.

1. Old people; persons worn out with age.

[This word is entirely obsolete. But its derivative elder is in use.]

ELD'ER, adjective

1. Older; senior; having lived a longer time; born, produced or formed before something else; opposed to younger.

The elder shall serve the younger. Genesis 25:23.

His elder son was in the field. Luke 15:25.

2. Prior in origin; preceding in the date of a commission; as an elder officer or magistrate. In this sense, we generally use senior.

ELD'ER, , noun One who is older than another or others.

1. An ancestor.

Carry your head as your elders have done before you.

2. A person advanced in life, and who, on account of his age, experience and wisdom, is selected for office, Among rude nations, elderly men are rulers, judges, magistrates or counselors. Among the Jews, the seventy men associated with Moses in the government of the people, were elders. In the first christian churches, elders were persons who enjoyed offices or ecclesiastical functions, and the word includes apostles, pastors, teachers, presbyters, bishops or overseers. Peter and John call themselves elders. The first councils of christians were called presbyteria, councils of elders.

In the modern presbyterian churches, elders are officers who, with the pastors or ministers and deacons, compose the consistories or kirk-sessions, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline.

In the first churches of New England, the pastors or ministers were called elders or teaching elders.

ELD'ER, noun A tree or genus of trees, the Sambucus, of several species. The common elder of America bears blackberries. Some species bear red berries. The stem and branches contain a soft pith.

EL'DER, noun A species of duck.

ELD'ERLY, adjective Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; as elderly people

ELD'ERSHIP, noun Seniority; the state of being older.

1. The office of an elder.

2. Presbytery; order of elders.

ELD'EST, adjective Oldest; most advanced in age; that was born before others; as the eldest son or daughter. It seems to always applied to persons or at least to animals, and not to things. If ever applied to things, it must signify, that was first formed or produced, that has existed the longest time. But applied to things we use oldest.

ELD'ING, noun Fuel. [Local.]

ELEAT'IC, adjective An epithet given to a certain sect of philosophers, so called from Elea, or Velia, a town of the Lucani; as the eleatic sect or philosophy.

ELECAMPA'NE, noun [Latin helenium, from Gr. which signifies this plant and a feast in honor of Helen. Pliny informs us that this plant was so called because it was said to have sprung from the tears of Helen. The past part of the word is from the Latin campana; inula campana.]

A genus of plants, the Inula, of many species. The common elecampane has a perennial, thick, branching root, of a strong odor, and is used in medicine. It is sometimes called yellow star-wort. The Germans are said to candy the root, like ginger, calling it German spice.

ELECT', verb transitive [Latin electus, from eligo; e or ex and lego; Gr. to choose.]

1. Properly, to pick out; to select from among two or more, that which is preferred. Hence,

2. To select or take for an office or employment; to choose from among a number; to select or manifest preference by vote or designation; as, to elect a representative by ballot or viva voce; to elect a president or governor.

3. In theology, to designate, choose or select as an object of mercy or favor.

4. To choose; to prefer; to determine in favor of.

ELECT', adjective Chosen, taken by preference from among two or more. Hence,

1. In theology, chosen as the object of mercy; chosen, selected or designated to eternal life; predestinated in the divine counsels.

2. Chosen, but no inaugurated, consecrated or invested with office; as bishop elect; emperor elect; governor or mayor elect But in the scriptures, and in theology, this word is generally used as a noun.

ELECT', noun One chosen or set apart; applied to Christ.

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect in whom my soul delighteth. Isaiah 42:1.

1. Chosen or designated by God to salvation; predestinated to glory as the end, and to sanctification as the means; usually with a plural signification, the elect

Shall not God avenge his own elect? Luke 18:7.

If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect Matthew 24:24.

He shall send his angels--and they shall gather his elect from the four winds. Matthew 24:24.

2. Chosen; selected; set apart as a peculiar church and people; applied to the Israelites. Isaiah 45:4.

ELECT'ED, participle passive Chosen; preferred; designated to office by some act of the constituents, as by vote; chosen or predestinated to eternal life.

ELECT'ING, participle present tense Choosing; selecting from a number; preferring; designating to office by choice or preference; designating or predestinating to eternal salvation.

ELEC'TION, noun [Latin electio.] The act of choosing; choice; the act of selecting one or more from others. Hence appropriately,

1. The act of choosing a person to fill an office or employment, by any manifestation of preference, as by ballot, uplifted hands or viva voce; as the election of a king, of a president, or a mayor.

Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom.

2. Choice; voluntary preference; free will; liberty to act or not. It is at his election to accept or refuse.

3. Power of choosing or selecting.

4. Discernment; discrimination; distinction.

To use men with much difference and election is good.

5. In theology, divine choice; predetermination of God, by which persons are distinguished as objects of mercy, become subjects of grace, are sanctified and prepared for heaven.

There is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Romans 11:5.

6. The public choice of officers.

7. The day of a public choice of officers.

8. Those who are elected.

The election hath obtained it. Romans 11:5.

ELECTIONEE'R, verb intransitive To make interest for a candidate at an election; to use arts for securing the election of a candidate.

ELECTIONEE'RING, participle present tense Using influence to procure the election of a person.

ELECTIONEE'RING, noun The arts or practices used for securing the choice of one to office.

ELECT'IVE, adjective Dependent on choice, as an elective monarchy, in which the king is raised to the throne by election; opposed to hereditary.

1. Bestowed or passing by election; as an office is elective

2. Pertaining to or consisting in choice or right of choosing; as elective franchise.

3. Exerting the power of choice; as an elective act.

4. Selecting for combination; as elective attraction, which is a tendency in bodies to unite with certain kinds of matter in preference to others.

ELECT'IVELY, adverb By choice; with preference of one to another.

ELECT'OR, noun One who elects, or one who has the right of choice; a person who has, by law or constitution, the right of voting for an officer, In free governments, the people or such of them as possess certain qualifications of age, character and property, are the electors of their representatives, etc., in parliament, assembly, or other legislative body. In the United States, certain persons are appointed or chosen to be electors of the president or chief magistrate. In Germany, certain princes were formerly electors of the emperor, and elector was one of their titles, as the elector of Saxony.

ELECT'ORAL, adjective Pertaining to election or electors. The electoral college in Germany consisted of all the electors of the empire, being nine in number, six secular princes and three archbishops.

ELECTORAL'ITY, for electorate, is not used.

ELECT'ORATE, noun The dignity of an elector in the German empire.

1. The territory of an elector in the German empire.

ELEC'TRE, noun [Latin electrum.] Amber. [Bacon used this word for a compound or mixed metal. But the word is not now used.]

ELECT'RESS, noun The wife or widow of an elector in the German empire.

ELEC'TRIC, noun Any body or substance capable of exhibiting electricity by means of friction or otherwise, and of resisting the passage of it from one body to another. Hence an electric is called a non-conductor, an electric per se. Such are amber, glass, rosin, wax, gum-lac, sulphur, etc.

ELEC'TRICALLY, adverb In the manner of electricity, or by means of it.

ELECTRI'CIAN, noun A person who studies electricity, and investigates its properties, by observation and experiments; one versed in the science of electricity.

ELECTRIC'ITY, noun The operations of a very subtil fluid, which appears to be diffused through most bodies, remarkable for the rapidity of its motion, and one of the most powerful agents in nature. The name is given to the operations of this fluid, and to the fluid itself. As it exists in bodies, it is denominated a property of those bodies, though it may be a distinct substance, invisible, intangible and imponderable. When an electric body is rubbed with a soft dry substance, as with woolen cloth, silk or fur, it attracts or repels light substances, at a greater or less distance, according to the strength of the electric virtue; and the friction may be continued, or increased, till the electric body will emit sparks or flashes resembling fire, accompanied with a sharp sound. When the electric fluid passes from cloud to cloud, from the clouds to the earth, or from the earth to the clouds, it is called lightning, and produces thunder. Bodies which, when rubbed, exhibit this property, are called electrics or non-conductors. Bodies, which, when excited, do not exhibit this property, as water and metals, are called non-electrics or conductors, as they readily convey electricity from one body to another, at any distance, and such is the rapidity of the electric fluid in motion, that no perceptible space of time is required for its passage to any known distance.

It is doubted by modern philosophers whether electricity is a fluid or material substance. electricity according to Professor Silliman, is a power which causes repulsion and attraction between the masses of bodies under its influence; a power which causes the heterogeneous particles of bodies to separate, thus producing chimical decomposition; one of the causes of magnetism.

ELEC'TRIC'TRICAL, adjective [Gr. amber.]

1. Containing electricity, or capable of exhibiting it when excited by friction; as an electric body, such as amber and glass;

an electric substance.

2. In general, pertaining to electricity; as electric power or virtue; electric attraction or repulsion; electric fluid.

3. Derived from or produced by electricity; as electrical effects; electric vapor; electric shock.

4. Communicating a shock like electricity; as the electric eel or fish.

ELEC'TRIFIABLE, adjective [from electrify.] Capable of receiving electricity, or of being charged with it; that may become electric.

1. Capable of receiving and transmitting the electrical fluid.

ELECTRIFICA'TION, noun The act of electrifying, or state of being charged with electricity.

ELEC'TRIFIED, participle present tense Charged with electricity.

ELEC'TRIFY, verb transitive To communicate electricity to; to charge with electricity.

1. To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to give an electric shock to.

2. To excite suddenly; to give a sudden shock; as, the whole assembly was electrified.

ELECTRIFY, verb intransitive To become electric.

ELECTRIFYING, participle present tense Charging with electricity; affecting with electricity; giving a sudden shock.

ELECTRIZA'TION, noun The act of electrizing.

ELEC'TRIZE, verb transitive To electrify; a word in popular use.

ELECTROM'ETER, noun [Latin electrum; Gr. amber, and to measure.]

An instrument for measuring the quantity or intensity of electricity, or its quality; or an instrument for discharging it from a jar.

ELECTROMET'RICAL, adjective Pertaining to an electrometer; made by an electrometer; as an electrometrical experiment.

ELEC'TROMOTOR, noun [electrum and motor.] A mover of the electric fluid; an instrument or apparatus so called.

ELEC'TRON, noun Amber; also, a mixture of gold with a fifth part of silver.

ELEC'TROPHOR

ELECTROPH'ORUS, noun [electrum, and to bear.] An instrument for preserving electricity a long time.

ELECTROPH'ORUS, n. [electrum, and to bear.] An instrument for preserving electricity a long time.

ELEC'TRUM, noun [Latin amber.] In mineralogy, an argentiferous gold ore, or native alloy, of a pale brass yellow color.

ELEC'TUARY, noun [Low Latin electarium, electuarium; Gr. to lick.]

In pharmacy, a form of medicine composed of powders, or other ingredients, incorporated with some conserve, honey or syrup, and made into due consistence, to be taken in doses, like boluses.

ELEEMOS'YNARY, adjective [Gr. alms, to pity, compassion.]

1. Given in charity; given or appropriated to support the poor; as eleemosynary rents or taxes.

2. Relating to charitable donations; intended for the distribution of alms, or for the use and management of donations, whether for the subsistence of the poor or for the support and promotion of learning; as an eleemosynary corporation. A hospital founded by charity is an eleemosynary institution for the support of the poor, sick and impotent; a college founded by donations is an eleemosynary institution for the promotion of learning. The corporation entrusted with the care of such institutions is eleemosynary

ELEEMOS'YNARY, noun One who subsists on charity.

EL'EGANCE

EL'EGANCY, noun [Latin elegantia, eligo, to choose, though irregularly formed.]

In its primary sense, this word signified that which is choice or select, as distinguished from what is common.

1. 'The beauty of propriety, not of greatness, ' says Johnson.

Applied to manners or behavior, elegance is that fine polish, politeness or grace, which is acquired by a genteel education, and an association with wellbred company.

Applied to language, elegance respects the manner of speaking or of writing. elegance of speaking is the propriety of diction and utterance, and the gracefulness of action or gesture; comprehending correct, appropriate and rich expressions, delivered in an agreeable manner. elegance of composition consists in correct, appropriate and rich expressions, or well chosen words, arranged in a happy manner. elegance implies neatness, purity, and correct, perspicuous arrangement, and is calculated to please a delicate taste, rather than to excite admiration or strong feeling. elegance is applied also to form. elegance in architecture, consists in the due symmetry and distribution of the parts of an edifice, or in regular proportions and arrangement. And in a similar sense, the word is applied to the person or human body. It is applied also to penmanship, denoting that form of letters which is most agreeable to the eye. In short, in a looser sense, it is applied to many works of art or nature remarkable for their beauty; as elegance of dress or furniture.

2. That which pleases by its nicety, symmetry, purity or beauty. In this sense it has a plural; as the nicer elegancies of art.

EL'EGANCY, n. [L. elegantia, eligo, to choose, though irregularly formed.]

In its primary sense, this word signified that which is choice or select, as distinguished from what is common.

EL'EGANT, adjective [Latin elegans.] Polished; polite; refined; graceful; pleasing to good taste; as elegant manners.

1. Polished, neat; pure; rich in expressions; correct in arrangement; as an elegant style or composition.

2. Uttering or delivering elegant language with propriety and grace; as an elegant speaker.

3. Symmetrical; regular; well formed in its parts, proportions and distribution; as an elegant structure.

4. Nice; sensible to beauty; discriminating beauty from deformity or imperfection; as an elegant taste. [This is a loose application of the word; elegant being used for delicate.]

5. Beautiful in form and colors; pleasing; as an elegant flower.

6. Rich; costly and ornamental; as elegant furniture or equipage.

EL'EGANTLY, adverb In a manner to please; with elegance; with beauty; with pleasing propriety; as a composition elegantly written.

1. With due symmetry; with well formed and duly proportioned parts; as a house elegantly built.

2. Richly; with rich or handsome materials well disposed; as a room elegantly furnished; a woman elegantly dressed.

ELE'GIAC, adjective [Low Latin elegiacus. See Elegy.] Belonging to elegy; plaintive; expressing sorrow or lamentation; as an elegiac lay; elegiac strains.

1. Used in elegies. Pentameter verse is elegiac

EL'EGIST, noun A writer of elegies.

ELE'GIT, noun [Latin eligo, elegi, to choose.] A writ of execution, by which a defendant's goods are apprized, and delivered to the plaintiff, and if not sufficient to satisfy the debt, one moiety of his lands are delivered, to be held till the debt is paid by the rents and profits.

1. The title to estate by elegit

EL'EGY, noun [Latin elegia; Gr. to speak or utter.; Latin lugeo. The verbs may have a common origin, for to speak and to cry out in wailing are only modifications of the same act, to throw out the voice with more or less vehemence.]

1. A mournful or plaintive poem, or a funeral song; a poem or a song expressive of sorrow and lamentation.

2. A short poem without points or affected elegancies.

EL'EMENT, noun [Latin elementus.]

1. The first or constituent principle or minutest part or any thing; as the elements of earth, water, salt, or wood; the elements of the world; the elements of animal or vegetable bodies. So letters are called the elements of language.

2. An ingredient; a constituent part of any composition.

3. In a chimical sense, an atom; the minutest particle of a substance; that which cannot be divided by chimical analysis, and therefore considered as a simple substance, as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc.

An element is strictly the last result of chimical analysis; that which cannot be decomposed by any means now employed.

An atom is the last result of mechanical division; that which cannot be any farther divided, without decomposition; hence there may be both elementary and compound atoms.

4. In the plural, the first rules or principles of an art or science; rudiments; as the elements of geometry; the elements of music; the elements of painting; the elements of a theory.

5. In popular language, fire, air, earth and water, are called the four elements, as formerly it was supposed that these are simple bodies, of which the world is composed. Later discoveries prove air, earth and water to be compound bodies, and fire to be only the extrication of light and heat during combustion.

6. element in the singular, is sometimes used for the air.

7. The substance which forms the natural or most suitable habitation of an animal. Water is the proper element of fishes; air, of man. Hence,

8. The proper state or sphere of any thing; the state of things suited to one's temper or habits. Faction is the element of a demagogue.

9. The matter or substances which compose the world.

The elements shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Peter 3:10.

10. The outline or sketch; as the elements of a plan.

11. Moving cause or principle; that which excites action.

Passions, the elements of life.

EL'EMENT, verb transitive To compound of elements or first principles.

1. To constitute; to make as a first principle.

[This word is rarely or never used.]

ELEMENT'AL, adjective Pertaining to elements.

1. Produced by some of the four supposed elements; as elemental war.

2. Produced by elements; as elemental strife.

3. Arising from first principles.

ELEMENTAL'ITY, noun Composition of principles or ingredients.

ELEMENT'ALLY, adverb According to elements; literally; as the words, 'Take, eat; this is my body, ' elementally understood.

ELEMENT'ARINESS, noun The state of being elementary; the simplicity of nature; uncompounded state.

ELEMENTAR'ITY

ELEMENT'ARY, adjective Primary; simple; uncompounded; uncombined; having only one principle or constituent part; as an elementary substance. Elementary particles are those into which a body is resolved by decomposition.

1. Initial; rudimental; containing, teaching or discussing first principles, rules or rudiments; as an elementary treatise or disquisition.

2. Treating of elements; collecting, digesting or explaining principles; as an elementary writer.

ELEMENT'ARY, a. Primary; simple; uncompounded; uncombined; having only one principle or constituent part; as an elementary substance. Elementary particles are those into which a body is resolved by decomposition.

EL'EMI, noun The gum elemi so called; but said to be a resinous substance, the produce of the Amyris elemifera, a small tree or shrub of South America. It is of a whitish color tinged with green or yellow.

ELENCH', noun [Latin elenchus; Gr. to argue, to refute.]

1. A vicious or fallacious argument, which is apt to deceive under the appearance of truth; a sophism. [Little used.]

2. In antiquity, a kind of earring set with pearls.

ELENCH'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to an elench.

ELENCH'ICALLY, adverb By means of an elench. [Not in use.]

ELENCH'IZE, verb intransitive To dispute. [Not in use.]

EL'EPHANT, noun [Latin elephas, elephantus; probably from the Heb. a leader or chief, the chief or great animal.]

1. The largest of all quadrupeds, belonging to the order of Bruta. This animal has no foreteeth in either jaw; the canine-teeth are very long; and he has a long proboscis or trunk, by which he conveys food and drink to his mouth. The largest of these animals is about 16 feet long and 14 feet high; but smaller varieties are not more than seven feet high. The eyes are small and the feet short, round, clumsy, and distinguishable only by the toes. The trunk is a cartilaginous and muscular tube, extending from the upper jaw, and is seven or eight feet in length. The general shape of his body resembles that of swine. His skin is rugged, and his hair thin, The two large tusks are of a yellowish color, and extremely hard. The bony substance of these is called ivory. The elephant is 30 years in coming to his full growth, and he lives to 150 or 200 years of age. Elephants are natives of the warm climates of Africa and Asia, where they are employed as beasts of burden. They were formerly used in war.

2. Ivory; the tusk of the elephant

ELEPHANTI'ASIS, noun [Latin and Gr. from elephant.]

A species of leprosy, so called from covering the skin with incrustations, like those of an elephant. It is a chronic and contagious disease, marked by a thickening and greasiness of the legs, with loss of hair and feeling, a swelling of the face, and a hoarse, nasal voice. It affects the whole body; the bones, as well as the skin, are covered with spots and tumors, at first red, but afterwards black.

ELEPHANT'INE, adjective Pertaining to the elephant; huge; resembling an elephant; or perhaps white, like ivory.

1. In antiquity, an appellation given to certain books in which the Romans registered the transactions of the senate, magistrates, emperors and generals; so called perhaps, as being made of ivory.

ELEUSIN'IAN, adjective Relating to Eleusis in Greece; as eleusinian mysteries or festivals, the festivals and mysteries of Ceres.

EL'EVATE, verb transitive [Latin elevo; e and levo, to raise; Eng. to lift. See Lift.]

1. To raise, in a literal and general sense; to raise from a low or deep place to a higher.

2. To exalt; to raise to higher state or station; as, to elevate a man to an office.

3. To improve, refine or dignify; to raise from or above low conceptions; as, to elevate the mind.

4. To raise from a low or common state; to exalt; as, to elevate the character; to elevate a nation.

5. To elate with price.

6. To excite; to cheer; to animate; as, to elevate the spirits.

7. To take from; to detract; to lessen by detraction. [Not used.]

8. To raise from any tone to one more acute; as, to elevate the voice.

9. To augment or swell; to make louder, as sound.

EL'EVATE, adjective [Latin elevatus.] Elevated; raised aloft.

EL'EVATED, participle passive Raised; exalted; dignified; elated; excited; made more acute or more loud, as sound.

EL'EVATING, participle present tense Raising; exalting; dignifying; elating; cheering.

ELEVA'TION, noun [Latin elevatio.] The act of raising or conveying from a lower or deeper place to a higher.

1. The act of exalting in rank, degree or condition; as the elevation of a man to a throne.

2. Exaltation; an elevated state; dignity.

Angels, in their several degrees of elevation above us, may be endowed with more comprehensive faculties.

3. Exaltation of mind by more noble conceptions; as elevation of mind, of thoughts, of ideas.

4. Exaltation of style; lofty expressions; words and phrases expressive of lofty conceptions.

5. Exaltation of character or manners.

6. Attention to objects above us; a raising of the mind to superior objects.

7. An elevated place or station.

8. Elevated ground; a rising ground; a hill or mountain.

9. A passing of the voice from any note to one more acute; also, a swelling or augmentation of voice.

10. In astronomy, altitude; the distance of a heavenly body above the horizon, or the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between it and the horizon.

11. In gunnery, the angle which the chace of a cannon or mortar, or the axis of the hollow cylinder, makes with the plane of the horizon.

12. In dialling, the angle which the style makes with the substylar line.

Elevation of the Host, in Catholic countries, that part of the mass in which the priest raises the host above his head for the people to adore.

EL'EVATOR, noun One who raises, lifts or exalts.

1. In anatomy, a muscle which serves to raise a part of the body, as the lip or the eye.

2. A surgical instrument for raising a depressed portion of a bone.

EL'EVATORY, noun An instrument used in trepanning, for raising a depressed or fractured part of the skull.

ELE'VE, noun One brought up or protected by another.

ELEV'EN, adjective elev'n. Ten and one added; as eleven men.

ELEV'ENTH, adjective The next in order to the tenth; as the eleventh chapter.

ELF, noun plural elves.

1. A wandering spirit; a fairy; a hobgoblin; an imaginary being which our rude ancestors supposed to inhabit unfrequented places, and in various ways to affect mankind. Hence in Scottish, elf-shot is an elf-arrow; an arrow-head of flint, supposed to be shot by elfs; and it signifies also a disease supposed to be produced by the agency of spirits.

Every elf and fairy sprite,

Hope as light as bird from brier.

2. An evil spirit; a devil.

3. A diminutive person.

ELF, verb transitive To entangle hair in so intricate a manner, that it cannot be disentangled. This work was formerly ascribed to elves.

ELF'IN, adjective Relating or pertaining to elves.

ELF'IN, noun A little urchin.

ELF'ISH, adjective Resembling elves; clad in disguise.

ELIC'IT, verb transitive [Latin elicio; e or ex and lacio, to allure.]

1. To draw out; to bring to light; to deduce by reason or argument; as, to elicit truth by discussion.

2. To strike out; as, to elicit sparks of fire by collision.

ELIC'IT, adjective Brought into act; brought from possibility into real existence. [Little used.]

ELICITA'TION, noun The act of eliciting; the act of drawing out.

ELIC'ITED, participle passive Brought or drawn out; struck out.

ELIC'ITING, participle present tense Drawing out; bringing to light; striking out.

ELI'DE, verb transitive [Latin elido; e and loedo.] To break or dash in pieces; to crush. [Not used.]

1. To cut off a syllable.

ELIGIBIL'ITY, noun [from eligible] Worthiness or fitness to be chosen; the state or quality of a thing which renders it preferable to another, or desirable.

1. The state of being capable of being chosen to an office.

EL'IGIBLE, adjective [Latin eligo, to choose or select; e and lego.]

1. Fit to be chosen; worthy of choice, preferable.

In deep distress, certainty is more eligible than suspense.

2. Suitable; proper; desirable; as, the house stands in an eligible situation.

3. Legally qualified to be chosen; as, a man is or is not eligible to an office.

EL'IGIBLENESS, noun Fitness to be chosen in preference to another; suitableness; desirableness.

EL'IGIBLY, adverb In a manner to be worthy of choice; suitably.

ELIM'INATE, verb transitive [Latin elimino; e or ex and limen, threshhold.]

1. To thrust out of doors.

2. To expel; to thrust out; to discharge, or throw off; to set at liberty.

This detains secretions which nature finds it necessary to eliminate

ELIM'INATED, participle passive Expelled; thrown off; discharged.

ELIM'INATING, participle present tense Expelling; discharging; throwing off.

ELIMINA'TION, noun The act of expelling or throwing off; the act of discharging, or secreting by the pores.

ELIQUA'TION, noun [Latin eliquo, to melt; e and liquo.]

In chimistry, the operation by which a more fusible substance is separated from one that is less so, by means of a degree of heat sufficient to melt the one and not the other; as an alloy of copper and lead.

ELI'SION, noun s as z. [Latin elisio, from elido, to strike off; e and loedo.]

1. In grammar, the cutting off or suppression of a vowel at the end of a word, for the sake of sound or measure, when the next word begins with a vowel; as, th' embattled plain; th' empyreal sphere.

2. Division; separation. [Not used.]

ELI'SOR, noun s as z. In law, a sheriff's substitute for returning a jury. When the sheriff is not an indifferent person, as when he is a party to a suit, or related by blood or affinity to either of the parties, the venire is issued to the coroners; or if any exception lies to the coroners, the venire shall be directed to two clerks of the court, or to two persons of the county, named by the court, and sworn; and these, who are called elisors or electors, shall return the jury.

ELIX'ATE, verb transitive [Latin elixo.] To extract by boiling.

ELIXA'TION, noun [Latin elixus, from elixio, to boil, to moisten or macerate, from lixo, lix.]

1. The act of boiling or stewing; also, concoction in the stomach; digestion.

2. In pharmacy, the extraction of the virtues of ingredients by boiling or stewing; also, lixiviation.

ELIX'IR, noun

1. In medicine, a compound tincture, extracted from two or more ingredients. A tincture is drawn from one ingredient; an elixir from several. But tincture is also applied to a composition of many ingredients. An elixir is a liquid medicine made by a strong infusion, where the ingredients are almost dissolved in the menstruum, and give it a thicker consistence than that of a tincture.

2. A liquor for transmuting metals into gold.

3. Quintessence; refined spirit.

4. Any cordial; that substance which invigorates.

ELK, noun [Latin alce, alces.] A quadruped of the Cervine genus, with palmated horns, and a fleshy protuberance on the throat. The neck is short, with a short, thick, upright mane; the eyes are small; the ears long, broad and slouching; and the upper lip hangs over the under lip. It is the largest of the deer kind, being seventeen hands high and weighing twelve hundred pounds. It is found in the northern regions of Europe, Asia and America. In the latter country it is usually called Moose, from the Indian name musu.

ELL, noun [Latin ulna.] A measure of different lengths in different countries, used chiefly for measuring cloth. The ells chiefly used in Great Britain are the English and Flemish. The English ell is three feet and nine inches, or a yard and a quarter. The Flemish ell is 27 inches, or three quarters of a yard. The English is to the Flemish as five to three. In Scotland, an ell is 37 2/10 English inches.

ELLIPSE, noun ellips'. An ellipsis.

ELLIP'SIS, noun [Gr. an omission or defect, to leave or pass by.]

1. In geometry, an oval figure generated from the section of a cone, by a plane cutting both sides of it, but not parallel to the base.

2. In grammar, defect; omission; a figure of syntax, by which one or more words are omitted, which the hearer or reader may supply; as, the heroic virtues I admire, for the heroic virtues which I admire.

ELLIPS'OID, noun [ellipsis and Gr. form.] In conics, a solid or figure formed by the revolution of an ellipse about its axis; an elliptic conoid; a spheroid.

ELLIPSOID'AL, adjective Pertaining to an ellipsoid; having the form of an ellipsoid.

ELLIP'TIC

ELLIP'TICAL, adjective Pertaining to an ellipsis; having the form of an ellipse; oval.

The plants move in elliptical orbits, having the sun in one focus, and by a radius from the sun, they describe equal areas in equal times.

1. Defective; as an elliptical phrase.

ELLIPTICALLY, adverb According to the figure called an ellipsis.

1. Defectively.

ELM, noun [Latin ulmus.] A tree of the genus Ulmus. The common elm is one of the largest and most majestic trees of the forest, and is cultivated for shade and ornament. Another species, the fulva, is called slippery elm from the quality of its inner bark. One species seems to have been used to support vines.

The treaty which William Penn made with the natives in 1682 was negotiated under a large elm which grew on the spot now called Kensington, just above Philadelphia. It was prostrated by a storm in 1810, at which time its stem measured 24 feet in circumference.

ELM'Y, adjective Abounding with elms.

ELOCA'TION, noun [Latin eloco.] A removal from the usual place of residence.

1. Departure from the usual method; an ecstasy.

ELOCU'TION, noun [Latin elocutio, from eloquor; e and loquor, to speak.]

1. Pronunciation; the utterance or delivery of words, particularly in public discourses and arguments. We say of elocution it is good or bad; clear, fluent or melodious.

Elocution, which anciently embraced style and the whole art of rhetoric, now signifies manner of delivery.

2. In rhetoric, elocution consists of elegance, composition and dignity; and Dryden uses the word as nearly synonymous with eloquence, the act of expressing thoughts with elegance or beauty.

3. Speech; the power of speaking.

Whose taste--gave elocution to the mute.

4. In ancient treatises on oratory, the wording of a discourse; the choice and order of words; composition; the act of framing a writing or discourse.

ELOCU'TIVE, adjective Having the power of eloquent speaking.

EL'OGIST, noun An eulogist. [Not used.]

ELO'GIUM, noun [Latin elogium See Eulogy.]

The praise bestowed on a person or thing; panegyric. [But we generally use eulogy.]

EL'OGY

ELOIN', verb transitive

1. To separate and remove to a distance.

2. To convey to a distance, and withhold from sight.

The sheriff may return that the goods or beasts are eloined.

ELOIN', v.t.

ELOIN'ATE, verb transitive To remove.

ELOIN'ED, participle passive Removed to a distance; carried far off.

ELOIN'ING, participle present tense Removing to a distance from another, or to a place unknown.

ELOIN'MENT, noun Removal to a distance; distance.

ELONG', verb transitive [Low Latin elongo.] To put far off; to retard.

ELON'GATE, verb transitive [Low Latin elongo, from longus. See Long.]

1. To lengthen; to extend.

2. To remove farther off.

ELON'GATE, verb intransitive To depart from; to recede; to move to a greater distance; particularly, to recede apparently from the sun, as a planet in its orbit.

ELON'GATED, participle passive Lengthened; removed to a distance.

ELON'GATING, participle present tense Lengthening; extending.

1. Receding to a greater distance, particularly as a planet from the sun in its orbit.

ELONGA'TION, noun The act of stretching or lengthening; as the elongation of a fiber.

1. The state of being extended.

2. Distance; space which separates one thing from another.

3. Departure; removal; recession.

4. Extension; continuation.

May not the mountains of Westmoreland and Cumberland be considered as elongations of these two chains.

5. In astronomy, the recess of a planet from the sun, as it appears to the eye of a spectator on the earth; apparent departure of a planet from the sun in its orbit; as the elongation of Venus or Mercury.

6. In surgery, an imperfect luxation, occasioned by the stretching or lengthening of the ligaments; or the extension of a part beyond its natural dimension.

ELO'PE, verb intransitive [Eng. to leap.]

1. To run away; to depart from one's proper place or station privately or without permission; to quit, without permission or right, the station in which one is placed by law or duty. Particularly and appropriately, to run away or depart from a husband, and live with an adulterer, as a married woman; or to quit a father's house, privately or without permission, and marry or live with a gallant, as an unmarried woman.

2. To run away; to escape privately; to depart, without permission, as a son from a father's house, or an apprentice from his master's service.

ELO'PEMENT, noun Private or unlicensed departure from the place or station to which one is assigned by duty or law; as the elopement of a wife from her husband, or of a daughter from her father's house, usually with a lover or gallant. It is sometimes applied to the departure of a son or an apprentice, in like manner.

ELO'PING, participle present tense Running away; departing privately, or without permission, from a husband, father or master.

E'LOPS, noun A fish, inhabiting the seas of America and the West Indies, with a long body, smooth head, one dorsal fin, and a deeply furcated tail, with a horizontal lanceolated spine, above and below, at its base.

1. The sea-serpent.

EL'OQUENCE, noun [Latin eloquentia, from eloquor, loquor, to speak; Gr. to crack, to sound, to speak. The primary sense is probably to burst with a sound; a fissure, from the same root; whence, to open or split; whence Latin lacero, to tear; and hence perhaps Eng. a leak.]

1. Oratory; the act or the art of speaking well, or with fluency and elegance. eloquence comprehends a good elocution or utterance; correct; appropriate and rich expressions, with fluency, animation and suitable action. Hence eloquence is adapted to please, affect and persuade. Demosthenes in Greece, Cicero in Rome, lord Chatham and Burke in Great Britain, were distinguished for their eloquence in declamation, debate or argument.

2. The power of speaking with fluency and elegance.

3. Elegant language, uttered with fluency and animation.

She uttereth piercing eloquence

4. It is sometimes applied to written language.

EL'OQUENT, adjective Having the power of oratory; speaking with fluency, propriety, elegance and animation; as an eloquent orator; an eloquent preacher.

1. Composed with elegance and spirit; elegant and animated; adapted to please, affect and persuade; as an eloquent address; an eloquent petition or remonstrance; an eloquent history.

EL'OQUENTLY, adverb With eloquence; in an eloquent manner; in a manner to please, affect and persuade.

ELSE, adjective or pronoun els. [Latin alius, alias. See Alien.]

Other; one or something beside. Who else is coming? What else shall I give? Do you expect any thing else? [This word, if considered to be an adjective or pronoun, never precedes its noun, but always follows it.

ELSE, adverb els. Otherwise; in the other case; if the fact were different. Thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it; that is, if thou didst desire sacrifice, I would give it. Ps. v.16. Repent, or else I will come to thee quickly; that is, repent, or if thou shouldst not repent, if the case or fact should be different, I will come to thee quickly. Revelation 2:5.

1. Beside; except that mentioned; as, no where else

ELSEWHERE, adverb In any other place; as, these trees are not to be found elsewhere

1. In some other place; in other places indefinitely. It is reported in town and elsewhere

ELU'CIDATE, verb intransitive [Low Latin elucido, from eluceo, luceo, to shine, or from lucidus, clear, bright. See Light.]

To make clear or manifest; to explain; to remove obscurity from, and render intelligible; to illustrate. An example will elucidate the subject. An argument may elucidate an obscure question. A fact related by one historian may elucidate an obscure passage in another's writings.

ELU'CIDATED, participle passive Explained; made plain, clear or intelligible.

ELU'CIDATING, participle present tense Explaining; making clear or intelligible.

ELUCIDA'TION, noun The act of explaining or throwing light on any obscure subject; explanation; exposition; illustration; as, one example may serve for an elucidation of the subject.

ELU'CIDATOR, noun One who explains; an expositor.

ELU'DE, verb transitive [Latin eludo; e and ludo, to play. The Latin

verb forms lusi, lusum; and this may be the Heb. to deride.

1. To escape; to evade; to avoid by artifice, stratagem, wiles, deceit, or dexterity; as, to elude an enemy; to elude the sight; to elude an officer; to elude detection; to elude vigilance; to elude the force of an argument; to elude a blow or stroke.

2. To mock by an unexpected escape.

Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain,

Then, hid in shades, eludes her eager swain.

3. To escape being seen; to remain unseen or undiscovered. The cause of magnetism has hitherto eluded the researches of philosophers.

ELU'DIBLE, adjective That may be eluded or escaped.

ELU'SION, noun s as z. [Latin elusio. See Elude.] An escape by artifice or deception; evasion.

ELU'SIVE, adjective Practicing elusion; using arts to escape.

Elusive of the bridal day, she gives

Fond hopes to all, and all with hopes deceives.

ELU'SORINESS, noun The state of being elusory.

ELU'SORY, adjective Tending to elude; tending to deceive; evasive; fraudulent; fallacious; deceitful.

ELU'TE, verb transitive [Latin eluo, elutum; qu. e and lavo. See Elutriate.]

To wash off; to cleanse.

ELU'TRIATE, verb transitive [Latin elutrio.] To purify by washing; to cleanse by separating foul matter, and decanting or straining off the liquor. In chimistry, to pulverize and mix a solid substance with water, and decant the extraneous lighter matter that may rise or be suspended in the water.

ELU'TRIATED, participle passive Cleansed by washing and decantation.

ELU'TRIATING, participle present tense Purifying by washing and decanting.

ELUTRIA'TION, noun The operation of pulverizing a solid substance, mixing it with water, and pouring off the liquid, while the foul or extraneous substances are floating, or after the coarser particles have subsided, and while the finer parts are suspended in the liquor.

ELUX'ATE, verb transitive [Latin eluxatus.] To dislocate. [See Luxate.]

ELUXA'TION, noun The dislocation of a bone. [See Luxation.]

ELVELOCKS. [See Elf-lock.]

ELV'ERS, noun Young eels; young congers or sea-eels.

ELVES, plural of elf.

ELV'ISH, adjective More properly elfish, which see.

ELYS'IAN, adjective elyzh'un. [Latin elysius.] Pertaining to elysium or the seat of delight; yielding the highest pleasures; deliciously soothing; exceedingly delightful; as elysian fields.

ELYS'IUM, noun elyzh'um. [Latin elysium ] In ancient mythology, a place assigned to happy souls after death; a place in the lower regions, furnished with rich fields, groves, shades, streams, etc., the seat of future happiness. Hence, any delightful place.