Emily Dickinson Lexicon

earn (-s, -ed, -ing), v. [OE.] (webplay: any, before, day, dollar, earnest, gain, honor, less, Men, merit, never, short-sighted, strive).

To merit, deserve, or gain through one's actions, performance, or labor, whether or not the reward is received.

earnest, adj. [see earnest, n.] (webplay: jest, life).

Seriousness.

earnest, n. [OE < IE *ers; see ere.]

A downpayment, as in earnest-money.

earring (-s, ear ring), n. [see ear, n. and ring, n.]

Jewelry worn on the ear, usually valuable.

ear ring, n. [see earring, n.]

earth (-s, -'s), n. [OE < IE 'ground'.] (webplay: above, act, air, all, ancient, break, called, circumference, country, days, dinstinct, divine, existence, fall, fine, generally, ground, heavenly, hide, hours, inodorous, land, lately, lifted, little, Mars, month, one prove, round, same scenes, sea, signifies, soil, spade, substance, sun, supposed, things, THROW, turning, UP, water, world, worm, years).

1. The world or planet which we inhabit.
2. Dry land, as opposed to sea.
3. An uncertain, difficult, temporary abode, contrasting with heaven.
4. The ground as a place of burial; contrasting life and death.
5. The soil as suited for cultivation.
6. The ground as a surface.
7. This world, as opposed to other states of existence, usually death.
8. The inhabitants of the world; life on earth.
9. The figurative beauty of the planet.
10. An original, eden-like state.
11. Our world as any planet.

earthen, adj. [see earth, n.]

Made or composed of dirt, earth.

earthly, adj. [see earth, n.] (webplay: heavenly, life, things).

1. Pertaining to the earth; terrestrial as opposed to heavenly or spiritual.
2. Of or belonging to the material or lower elements of human nature.

earthquake, n. [see earth, n. and quake, v.] (webplay: air).

A shaking of the ground, sometimes a slight tremor at other times a heaving of the earth.

ease, n. [OFr < L. asia, elbow-room.] (webplay: great, forced, man, One, pain, soul).

1. Phrase. “Heart's Ease”: pansy; johnny-jump-up; viola; [fig.] happiness; cheer.
2. Facility; without difficulty.
3. Rest.