Emily Dickinson Lexicon

E-CLAIR-CISE', v.t. [Fr. eclaircir, from clair, clear. See Clear.]

To make clear to explain; to clear up what is not understood or misunderstood.

E-CLAIR-CIS'ED, pp.

Explained; made clear.

E-CLAIR-CISSE-MENT', n. [Fr.]

Explanation; the clearing up of any thing not before understood. Clarendon.

E-CLAMP'SY, n. [Gr. εκλαμψις, a shining; εκλαμπω, to shine.]

A flashing of light, a symptom of epilepsy. Hence, epilepsy itself. Med. Repos.

E-CLAT', n. [eclà; French. The word signifies a bursting forth, a crack, and brightness, splendor; eclater, to split, to crack, to break forth, to shine.]

1. Primarily, a burst of applause; acclamation. Hence, applause; approbation; renown.
2. Splendor; show; pomp. Pope.

EC-LEC'TIC, a. [Gr. εκλεκτικος; εξ and λεγω, to choose.]

Selecting; choosing; an epithet given to certain philosophers of antiquity, who did not attach themselves to any particular sect, but selected from the opinions and principles of each, what they thought solid and good. Hence we say, an eclectic philosopher; the eclectic sect. Encyc.

EC-LEC'TIC, n.

1. A philosopher who selected from the various systems such opinions and principles as he judged to be sound and rational. Enfield.
2. A Christian who adhered to the doctrines of the Eclectic. Also, one of a sect of physicians.

EC-LEC'TIC-AL-LY, adv.

By way of choosing or selecting; in the manner of the eclectical philosophers. Enfield.

EC-LECT'I-CISM, n.

1. The act or practice of selecting from writings.
2. The doctrine of the eclectics.

EC-LEGM', n. [Gr. εκ and λειχω.]

A medicine made by the incorporation of oils with sirup. Quincy.

E-CLIP-SA'RE-ON, n.

An instrument for explaining the phenomena of eclipses.

E-CLIPSE', n. [eclips'; L. eclipsis; Gr. εκλειψις, defect, from εκλειπω, to fail, εξ and λειπω, to leave.]

1. Literally, a defect or failure; hence in astronomy, an interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon or other luminous body. An eclipse of the sun is caused by the intervention of the moon, which totally or partially hides the sun's disk; an eclipse of the moon is occasioned by the shadow of the earth, which falls on it and obscures it in whole or in part, but does not entirely conceal it.
2. Darkness; obscuration. We say, his glory has suffered an eclipse. All the posterity of our first parents suffered a perpetual eclipse of spiritual life. Ralegh.

E-CLIPSE', v.i. [eclips'.]

To suffer an eclipse. Milton.

E-CLIPSE', v.t. [eclips'.]

1. To hide a luminous body in whole or in part and intercept its rays; as, to eclipse the sun or a star.
2. To obscure; to darken, by intercepting the rays of light which render luminous; as, to eclipse the moon.
3. To cloud; to darken; to obscure; as, to eclipse the glory of a hero. Hence,
4. To disgrace. Milton.
5. To extinguish. Born to eclipse thy life. Shak.

E-CLIPS'ED, pp.

Concealed; darkened; obscured; disgraced.

E-CLIPS'ING, ppr.

Concealing; obscuring; darkening; clouding.

E-CLIP'TIC, a.

1. Pertaining to or described by the ecliptic. Blackmore.
2. Suffering an eclipse. Herbert.

E-CLIP'TIC, n. [Gr. εκλειπτικος, from εκλειπω, to fail or be defective; L. eclipticus, linea ecliptica, the ecliptic line, or line in which eclipses are suffered.]

1. A great circle of the sphere supposed to be drawn through the middle of the zodiac, making an angle with the equinoctial of about 23° 30', which is the sun's greatest declination. The ecliptic is the apparent path of the sun, but as in reality it is the earth which moves, the ecliptic is the path or way among the fixed stars which the earth in its orbit appears to describe, to an eye placed in the sun. Harris. Encyc.
2. In geography, a great circle on the terrestrial globe, answering to and falling within the plane of the celestial ecliptic. Encyc.

EC'LOGUE, n. [ec'log; Gr. εκλογη, choice; εκλεγω, to select.]

Literally, a select piece. Hence, in poetry, a pastoral composition, in which shepherds are introduced conversing with each other, as the eclogues of Virgil; or it is a little elegant composition in a simple natural style and manner. An eclogue differs from an idyllion, in being appropriated to pieces in which shepherds are introduced. Encyc.

E-CO-NOM'IC, or E-CO-NOM'IC-AL, a. [See Economy.]

1. Pertaining to the regulation of household concerns; as, the economic art. Davies.
2. Managing domestic or public pecuniary concerns with frugality; as, an economical housekeeper; an economical minister or administration.
3. Frugal; regulated by frugality; not wasteful or extravagant; as, an economical use of money.

E-CO-NOM'IC-AL-LY, adv.

With economy; with frugality.

E-CO-NOM'ICS, n.

The science of household affairs.

E-CON'O-MIST, n.

1. One who manages domestic or other to concerns with frugality; one who expends money, time or labor judiciously, and without waste.
2. One who writes on economy; the writer of a treatise on economy.

E-CON'O-MIZE, v.i.

To manage pecuniary concerns with frugality; to make a prudent use of money, or of the means of saving or acquiring property. It is our duty to economize, in the use of public money, as well as of our own.

E-CON'O-MIZE, v.t.

To use with prudence; to expend with frugality; as, to economize one's income. To manage and economize the use of circulating medium. Walsh.