Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EM-PUR'PLE, v.t. [from purple.]

To tinge or dye of a purple color; to discolor with purple. The deep empurpled ran. Philips.

EM-PUR'PLED, pp.

Stained with a purple color.

EM-PUR'PLING, ppr.

Tinging or dyeing of a purple color.

EM-PUSE', n. [Gr. εμπουσα.]

A phantom or specter. [Not used.] Bp. Taylor.

EM-PUZ'ZLE, v. [See PUZZLE.]

EM-PY-E'MA, n. [Gr.]

A collection of purulent matter in the cavity of the pleura.

EM-PYR'E-AL, a. [Fr. empyrée; Sp. It. empireo; L. empyræus; from Gr. εμπυρος; εν and πυρ, fire.]

1. Formed of pure fire or light; refined beyond aerial substance; pertaining to the highest and purest region of heaven. Go, soar with Plato to th' empyreal sphere. Pope.
2. Pure; vital; dephlogisticated; an epithet given to oxygen gas.

EM-PY-RE'AN, a.

Empyreal. Akenside.

EM-PY-RE'AN, n. [See Empyreal.]

The highest heaven, where the pure element of fire has been supposed to subsist. The empyrean rung / With hallelujahs. Milton.

EM-PY-REU'MA, n. [Gr. from εν and πυρ, fire.]

In chimistry, a certain modification of substances by a degree of heat which burns them slightly.

EM-PY-REU-MAT'IC, or EM-PY-REU-MAT'ICAL, a.

Having the taste or smell of slightly burnt animal or vegetable substances.

EM-PYR'IC-AL, a.

Containing the combustible principle of coal. Kirwan.

EM-PY-RO'SIS, n. [Gr. εμπυροω, to burn.]

A general fire; a conflagration. [Little used.] Hale.

EM'RODS, n. [See EMERODS.]

E'MU, n.

A large fowl of South America, with wings unfit for flight. This name properly belongs to the Cassowary, but has been erroneously applied, by the Brazilians, to the Rhea, or South American ostrich. Cuvier.

EM'U-LATE', a.

Ambitious. [Little used.] Shak.

EM'U-LATE, v.t. [L. æmulor; Sp. emular; It. emulare. Qu. Gr. αμιλλα, strife, contest.]

1. To strive to equal or excel, in qualities or actions; to imitate, with a view to equal or excel; to vie with; to rival. Learn early to emulate the good and the great. Emulate the virtues and shun the vices of distinguished men.
2. To be equal to. Thy eye would emulate the diamond. Shak.
3. To imitate; to resemble. [Unusual.] Convulsion emulating the motion of laughter. Arbuthnot.

EM'U-LA-TED, pp.

Rivaled; imitated.

EM'U-LA-TING, ppr.

Rivaling; attempting to equal or excel; imitating; resembling.

EM-U-LA'TION, n.

1. The act of attempting to equal or excel in qualities or actions; rivalry; desire of superiority, attended with effort to attain it; generally in a good sense, or an attempt to equal or excel others in that which is praiseworthy, without the desire of depressing others, Rom. xi. In a bad sense, a striving to equal or do more than others to obtain carnal favors or honors. Gal. v.
2. An ardor kindled by the praiseworthy examples of others, inciting to imitate them, or to equal or excel them. A noble emulation heats your breast. Dryden.
3. Contest; contention; strife; competition; rivalry accompanied with a desire of depressing another. Such factious emulations shall arise. Shak.

EM'U-LA-TIVE, a.

Inclined to emulation; rivaling; disposed to competition.

EM'U-LA-TOR, n.

One who emulates; a rival; a competitor.

EM'U-LA-TRESS, n.

A female who emulates another.

E-MULE', v.t.

To emulate. [Not used.]

E-MULGE', v.t.

To milk out. [Not used.]