Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EAR'ACHE, n. [See Ache.]

Pain in the ear.

EAR'AL, a.

Receiving by the ear. [Not used.] Hewyt.

EAR'-BOR-ED, a.

Having the ear perforated. Hall.

EAR'-CAP, n.

A cover for the ears against cold.

EAR'-DEAF-EN-ING, a.

Stunning the ear with noise. Shak.

EAR'ED, pp.

Having ears; having spikes formed, as corn.

EAR-E-RECT'ING, a.

Setting up the ears. Cowper.

EAR'ING, n.

In seamen's language, a small rope employed to fasten the upper corder of a sail to its yard.

EAR'ING, n.

A plowing of land. Gen. xliv.

EARL, n. [erl; Sax. eorl; Ir. iarla, an earl; earlamh, noble. This word is said to have been received from the Danes, although not now used in Denmark. Formerly this title among the Danes was equivalent to the English alderman. Spelman.]

A British title of nobility, or a nobleman, the third in rank, being next below a marquis, and next above a viscount. The title answers to count [compte] in France, and graaf in Germany. The earl formerly had the government of a shire, and was called shireman. After the Conquest, earls were called counts, and from them shires have taken the name of counties. Earl is now a mere title, unconnected with territorial jurisdiction. Spelman. Encyc.

EAR'LAP, n.

The tip of the ear.

EARL-DOM, n. [erl'dom.]

The seignory, jurisdiction or dignity of an earl.

EARLES'-PEN-NY, n.

Money given in part payment. [Qu. L. arrha.] [Not in use.]

EAR'LESS, a.

Destitute of ears; disinclined to hear or listen.

EAR'LI-ER, a. [comp. er'lier.]

More forward or early.

EAR'LI-EST, a. [superl. er'liest.]

Most early; first.

EAR'-LI-NESS, n. [er'liness. See Early and Ere.]

A state of advance or forwardness; a state of being before any thing, or at the beginning; as, the earliness of rising in the morning is a rising at the dawn of the morning, or before the usual time of rising. So we speak of the earliness of spring, or the earliness of plants, to express a state somewhat in advance of the usual time of spring, or growth of plants.

EARL-MAR'SHAL, n.

An officer in Great Britain, who has the superintendence of military solemnities. He is the eighth great officer of state. The office was originally conferred by grant of the king, but is now hereditary in the family of the Howards. Encyc.

EAR'LOCK, n. [Sax. ear-loca.]

A lock or curl of hair, near the ear.

EAR'LY, a. [er'ly; From Sax. ær, er, before in time, Eng. ere, which indicates the root of the word to signify, to advance, to pass along or shoot up. It is probably connected with the D. eer, G. ehre, Sw. ähra, Dan. ære, honor, denoting the highest point.]

1. In advance of something else; prior in time; forward; as early fruit, that is, fruit that comes to maturity before other fruit; early growth; early manhood; early old age or decrepitude, that is, premature old age. So an early spring; an early harvest.
2. First; being at the beginning; as, early dawn.
3. Being in good season; as, the court met at an early hour.

EAR'LY, adv. [er'ly.]

Soon; in good season; betimes; as, rise early; come early; begin early to instill into children principles of piety. Those that seek me early shall find me. Prov. viii.

EAR'MARK, n.

A mark on the ear, by which a sheep is known.

EAR'MARK, v.t.

To mark, as sheep by cropping or slitting the ear.

EAR'MARK-ED, pp.

Marked on the ear.

EAR'MARK-ING, ppr.

Marking on the ear.