Search the Dictionary

The contrivance in a timepiece which connects the train of wheel work with the pendulum or balance, giving to the latter the impulse by which it is kept in vibration; -- so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration.

quality or qualities which belong to any object, or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are (distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality…

Idiopathic; independent of other diseases. Essential character (Biol.), the prominent characteristics which serve to distinguish one genus, species, etc., from another. -- Essential disease, Essential fever (Med.), one that is not dependent on another. -- Essential oils (Chem.), a class of volatile oils, extracted fr…

Dependent on events; contingent. Marshall.

An excrescence or appendage; an outgrowth. [Obs.] "Ornamental excrements." Fuller. Living creatures put forth (after their period of growth) nothing that is young but hair and nails, which are excrements and no parts. Bacon.

An excrescent appendage, as, a wart or tumor; anything growing out unnaturally from anything else; a preternatural or morbid development; hence, a troublesome superfluity; an incumbrance; as, an excrescence on the body, or on a plant. "Excrescences of joy." Jer. Taylor. The excrescences of the Spanish monarchy. Addison…

A dissertation or digression appended to a work, and containing a more extended exposition of some important point or topic.

To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture. I pray thee have me excused. xiv. 19.

te; hygienic activity; as, to take exercise ob horseback. The wise for cure on exercise depend. Dryden.

To drain, metaphorically; to use or expend wholly, or till the supply comes to an end; to deprive wholly of strength; to use up; to weary or tire out; to wear out; as, to exhaust one's strength, patience, or resources. A decrepit, exhausted old man at fifty-five. Motley.

Capable of being exhausted, drained off, or expended. Johnson.

The external branch of the appendages of Crustacea.

One who waits in expectation; one held in dependence by hope of receiving some good. An expectant of future glory. South. Those who had employments, or were expectants. Swift.

The value of any chance (as the prospect of prize or property) which depends upon some contingent event. Expectations are computed for or against the occurrence of the event.

A spending or consuming; disbursement; expenditure. Husband nature's riches from expense. Shak.

Free in expending; very liberal; especially, in a bad scene; extravagant; lavish. [R.] An active, expensive, indefatigable goodness. Sprat. The idle and expensive are dangerous. Sir W. Temple.

Not belonging to, or dependent upon, a thing; without or beyond a thing; not essential or intrinsic; foreign; as, to separate gold from extraneous matter. Nothing is admitted extraneous from the indictment. Landor. -- Ex*tra"ne*ous*ly, adv.

digal beyond bounds of propriety or duty; want of moderation; excess; especially, undue expenditure of money; vaid and superfluous expense; prodigality; as, extravagance of anger, love, expression, imagination, demands. Some verses of my own, Maximin and Almanzor, cry vengeance on me for their extravagance. Dryden. The…

Profuse in expenditure; prodigal; wasteful; as, an extravagant man. "Extravagant expense." Bancroft.

One of locomotive appendages of an animal; a limb; a leg or an arm of man.