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earing or the state of being endeared; also, that which manifests, excites, or increases, affection. "The great endearments of prudent and temperate speech." Jer. Taylor. Her first endearments twining round the soul. Thomson.

The science which treats of endemic affections.

Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged; promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed.

Tending to draw the attention or affections; attractive; as, engaging manners or address. -- En*ga"ging*ly, adv. -- En*ga"ging*ness, n. Engaging and disengaging gear or machinery, that in which, or by means of which, one part is alternately brought into gear or out of gear with another part, as occasion may require.…

city of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, and the like; as, knowledge enlarges the mind. O ye Corinthians, our . . . heart is enlarged. 2 Cor. vi. 11.

oblement, as of the feelings and character; as, an enlargement of views, of knowledge, of affection.

Affected with ennui; weary in spirits; emotionally exhausted.

A woman affected with ennui. Mrs. Jameson.

Afflicting animals; -- used of a disease affecting the animals of a district. It corresponds to an endemic disease among men.

Common to, or affecting at the same time, a large number in a community; -- applied to a disease which, spreading widely, attacks many persons at the same time; as, an epidemic disease; an epidemic catarrh, fever, etc. See Endemic.

One who writes in an affectedly pointed style. Epigrammatizers of our English prose style. Coleridge.

Pertaining to, affected with, or of the nature of, epilepsy.

A diseased condition produced by eating rye affected with the ergot fungus.

Affected with the ergot fungus; as, ergotized rye.

igher than simple approbation, which is a decision of judgment. It is the commencement of affection." Gogan. No; dear as freedom is, and in my heart's Just estimation prized above all price. Cowper.

To alienate the affections or confidence of; to turn from attachment to enmity or indifference. I do not know, to this hour, what it is that has estranged him from me. Pope. He . . . had pretended to be estranged from the Whigs, and had promised to act as a spy upon them. Macaulay.

An affectation of excessive elegance and refinement of language; high-flown diction.

One who affects excessive refinement and elegance of language; -- applied esp. to a class of writers, in the age of Elizabeth, whose productions are marked by affected conceits and high-flown diction.

Belonging to the euphuists, or euphuism; affectedly refined.

To affect excessive refinement in language; to be overnice in expression.