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imaginary supernatural being, commonly a little sprite, much like a fairy; a mythological diminutive spirit, supposed to haunt hills and wild places, and generally represented as delighting in mischievous tricks. Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier. Shak.

A state of being embarrassed; perplexity; impediment to freedom of action; entanglement; hindrance; confusion or discomposure of mind, as from not knowing what to do or to say; disconcertedness. The embarrassment which inexperienced minds have often to express themselves upon paper. W. Irving. The embarrassments tom co…

The first rudiments of an organism, whether animal or plant; as:

Of or pertaining to an embryo; embryonal; rudimentary. Embryonic sac or vesicle (Bot.), the vesicle within which the embryo is developed in the ovule; -- sometimes called also amnios sac, and embryonal sac.

An unlawful diminution of the possessions of another.

ers; a burden which impedes action, or renders it difficult and laborious; a clog; an impediment. See Incumbrance.

To make larger; to increase in quantity or dimensions; to extend in limits; to magnify; as, the body is enlarged by nutrition; to enlarge one's house. To enlarge their possessions of land. Locke.

Complete in all parts; undivided; undiminished; whole; full and perfect; not deficient; as, the entire control of a business; entire confidence, ignorance. That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James i. 4. With strength entire and free will armed. Milton. One entire and perfect chrysolite. Shak.…

ntity remains constant, but when heat enters or leaves the body the quantity increases or diminishes. If a small amount, h, of heat enters the body when its temperature is t in the thermodynamic scale the entropy of the body is increased by h . The entropy is regarded as measured from some standard temperature and pres…

One of the embodiments of the divine attributes of the Eternal Being. Among the higher Æons are Mind, Reason, Power, Truth, and Life. Am. Cyc.

To diminish, as by cutting off something; to curtail; as, to epitomize words. [Obs.] Addison.

all minor thirds, do not clearly indicate its fundamental tone or root; the chord of the diminished triad, and the diminished seventh.

A noun suffix with a diminutive force; as in baronet, pocket, facet, floweret, latchet.

t important derivatives are common alcohol, aldehyde, ether, and acetic acid. Called also dimethyl.

vena cava inferior. It directs the blood towards the left auricle in the fetus, but is rudimentary and functionless in the adult.

motion is its orbit to the attraction of the sun, by which the equation of the center is diminished at the syzygies, and increased at the quadratures by about 1º 20'.

be changed or received in exchange for; to pass in exchange; as, dollar exchanges for ten dimes.

Scanty; small; slender; diminutive. [R.] "Exiguous resources." Carlyle. -- Ex*ig"uous*ness, n. [R.]

g pulley (Mach.), a pulley so made, as in sections, that its diameter can be increased or diminished.

Free of impediment; unimpeded. To make the way plain and expedite. Hooker.