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An ambiguous term; a word susceptible of different significations. Coleridge.

The termination of many English words, denoting the agent; -- applied either to men or things; as in hater, farmer, heater, grater. At the end of names of places, -er signifies a man of the place; as, Londoner, i. e., London man.

acters written, engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word or a name.

The Vulgate rendering of the Hebrew word qipod, which in the "Authorized Version" is translated bittern, and in the Revised Version, porcupine. I will make it [Babylon] a possession for the ericius and pools of waters. Is. xiv. 23 (Douay version).

A long, heavy, two-handed and two-edged sword, formerly used by Spanish foot soldiers and by executioners. Wilhelm.

ishing his first pamphlet regarding it in 1887. The vocabulary is very largely based upon words common to the chief European languages, and sounds peculiar to any one language are eliminated. The spelling is phonetic, and the accent (stress) is always on the penult. -- Es`pe*ran"tist (#), n.

One who espies; a spy; a scout. [Obs.] "Their espials . . . brought word." Holland.

The practice or employment of spies; the practice of watching the words and conduct of others, to make discoveries, as spies or secret emissaries; secret watching.

ney. Gen. xlii. 27. A goodly vessel did I then espy Come like a giant from a haven broad. Wordsworth.

of wine of a volatile or essential oil; as, the essence of mint, and the like. The . . . word essence . . . scarcely underwent a more complete transformation when from being the abstract of the verb "to be," it came to denote something sufficiently concrete to be inclosed in a glass bottle. J. S. Mill.…

nying a fact contrary to his own previous action, allegation, or denial; an admission, by words or conduct, which induces another to purchase rights, against which the party making such admission can not take a position inconsistent with the admission.

A straight, heavy sword with two edges, used in the 16th and 17th centuries.

pronunciation of the Greek ê (eta) like the Italian e long, that is like a in the English word ate. See Itacism.

real; etherealness. Something of that ethereality of thought and manner which belonged to Wordsworth's earlier lyrics. J. C. Shairp.

Relating to the etymon; as, an etymic word.

Pertaining to etymology, or the derivation of words. -- Et`y*mo*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

One who investigates the derivation of words.

To give the etymology of; to trace to the root or primitive, as a word. Camden

That branch of philological science which treats of the history of words, tracing out their origin, primitive significance, and changes of from and meaning.

1. An original form; primitive word; root.