Search the Dictionary

To instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious knowledge; to teach. It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would either edify or enlighten the public. Gibbon.

Master; sir; -- a title of a Turkish state official and man of learning, especially one learned in the law.

Subtile or invisible emanation; exhalation perceived by the sense of smell; especially, noisome or noxious exhalation; as, the effluvium from diseased or putrefying bodies, or from ill drainage.

Spreading loosely, especially on one side; as, an effuse inflorescence. Loudon.

oughts. Elevated railway, one in which the track is raised considerably above the ground, especially a city railway above the line of street travel.

Act of causing a quantity to disappear from an equation; especially, in the operation of deducing from several equations containing several unknown quantities a less number of equations containing a less number of unknown quantities.

Deviation of an ellipse or a spheroid from the form of a circle or a sphere; especially, in reference to the figure of the earth, the difference between the equatorial and polar semidiameters, divided by the equatorial; thus, the ellipticity of the earth is

ay, or escape privately, from the place or station to which one is bound by duty; -- said especially of a woman or a man, either married or unmarried, who runs away with a paramour or a sweetheart. Great numbers of them [the women] have eloped from their allegiance. Addison.

To free from any controlling influence, especially from anything which exerts undue or evil influence; as, to emancipate one from prejudices or error. From how many troublesome and slavish impertinences . . . he had emancipated and freed himself. Evelyn. To emancipate the human conscience. A. W. Ward.…

To anoint all over with balm; especially, to preserve from decay by means of balm or other aromatic oils, or spices; to fill or impregnate (a dead body), with aromatics and drugs that it may resist putrefaction. Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm embalmed Israel. Gem. l. 2.

The growing crop, or profits of a crop which has been sown or planted; -- used especially in the plural. The produce of grass, trees, and the like, is not emblement. Wharton's Law Dict.

Plumpness of person; -- said especially of persons somewhat corpulent.

Diversified ornaments, especially by contrasted figures and colors; variegated decoration. Fields in spring's embroidery are dressed. Addison. A mere rhetorical embroidery of phrases. J. A. Symonds.

A title of honor, especially applied to a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.

Having to do with inlaid work; -- especially used with reference to work of the ancient Greeks.

e who confines himself to applying the results of mere experience or his own observation; especially, in medicine, one who deviates from the rules of science and regular practice; an ignorant and unlicensed pretender; a quack; a charlatan. Among the Greek physicians, those who founded their practice on experience calle…

g upon experience or observation alone, without due regard to science and theory; -- said especially of medical practice, remedies, etc.; wanting in science and deep insight; as, empiric skill, remedies. Empirical formula. (Chem.) See under Formula.

A collection of blood, pus, or other fluid, in some cavity of the body, especially that of the pleura. Dunglison.

p. a private, understanding; of a hypnotic subject, being in such a mental state as to be especially subject to the influence of a particular person or persons.

To decree; to establish by legal and authoritative act; to make into a law; especially, to perform the legislative act with reference to (a bill) which gives it the validity of law.