Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EN-DEAR'MENT, n.

1. The cause of love; that which excites or increases affection, particularly that which excites tenderness of affection. Her first endearments twining round the soul. Thomson.
2. The state of being beloved; tender affection. South.

EN-DEAV'OR, n. [endev'or; Norm. devoyer, endeavor; endevera, he ought; endeyvent, they ought. It seems to be from Fr. (endevoir) devoir, to owe or be indebted, and hence it primarily signifies duty, from the sense of binding, pressure, urgency. Hence our popular phrase, I will do my endeavor. In Ir. dibhirce is endeavor.]

An effort; an essay; an attempt; an exertion of physical strength, or the intellectual powers, toward the attainment of an object. The bold and sufficient pursue their game with more passion, endeavor and application, and therefore often succeed. Temple. Imitation is the endeavor of a later poet to write like one who has written before him on the same subject. Dryden. Labor is a continued endeavor, or a succession of endeavors. Anon.

EN-DEAV'OR, v.i. [endev'or.]

1. To exert physical strength or intellectual power, for the accomplishment of an object; to try; to essay; to attempt. In a race, each man endeavors to outstrip his antagonist. A poet may endeavor to rival Homer, but without success. It is followed by after before a noun; as, the Christian endeavors after more strict conformity to the example of Christ.
2. v. t. To attempt to gain; to try to effect. It is our duty to endeavor the recovery of these beneficial subjects. Chatham.

EN-DEAV'OR-ED, pp.

Essayed; attempted.

EN-DEAV'OR-ER, n.

One who makes an effort or attempt.

EN-DEAV'OR-ING, ppr.

Making an effort or efforts; striving; essaying; attempting.

EN-DEC'A-GON, n. [Gr. εν, δεκα, and γωνια.]

A plain figure of eleven sides and angles. Bailey. Johnson.

END'ED, pp.

Finished; concluded.

EN-DEIC'TIC, a. [Gr. ενδεικνυμι, to show.]

Showing; exhibiting. An endeictic dialogue, in the Platonic philosophy, is one which exhibits a specimen of skill. Enfield.

EN-DEM'IC, or EN-DEM'IC-AL, a. [or EN-DE'MI-AL. Gr. ενδημιος, εν, and δημος, people.]

Peculiar to a people or nation. An endemic disease, is one to which the inhabitants of a particular country are peculiarly subject, and which, for that reason may be supposed to proceed from local causes, as bad air or water. The epithet is also applied to a disease which prevails in a particular season, chiefly or wholly in a particular place.

EN-DEM'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In an endemic manner.

EN-DEN'IZE, v.t. [from denizen, or its root.]

To make free; to naturalize; to admit to the privileges of a denizen. [Little used.] Camden.

EN-DEN'I-ZEN, v.t. [from denizen.]

To naturalize. B. Jonson.

END'ER, n.

Ono who ends or finishes.

EN-DICT', or EN-DICT'MENT, n. [See INDICT, INDICTMENT.]

END'ING, n.

1. Termination; conclusion.
2. In grammar, the terminating syllable or letter of a word.

END'ING, ppr. [from end.]

Terminating; closing; concluding.

EN-DITE', v.t. [See INDITE.]

EN'DIVE, n. [Fr. endive; It. endivia; Sp. endibia; L. intybum; Ar. هِنْدَبٌ hindabon.]

A plant, a species of the genus Cichorium or succory; used as a salad.

END'LESS, a. [See End.]

1. Without end; having no end or conclusion; applied to length, and to duration; as, an endless line; endless progression; endless duration; endless bliss.
2. Perpetual; incessant; continual; as, endless praise; endless clamor.

END'LESS-LY, adv.

1. Without end or termination; as, to extend a line endlessly.
2. Incessantly; perpetually; continually.

END'LESS-NESS, n.

1. Extension without end or limit.
2. Perpetuity; endless duration.

END'LONG, adv.

In a line; with the end forward. [Little used.] Dryden.

END'MOST, a.

Furthest; remotest.

EN'DO-CARP, n. [Gr. ενδον and καρπος.]

In botany, the inner lining of the pericarp. Lindley.