Emily Dickinson Lexicon

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.