Search the Dictionary

An interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon, or other luminous body, by the intervention of some other body, either between it and the eye, or between the luminous body and that illuminated by it. A lunar eclipse is caused by the moon passing through the earth's shadow; a solar eclipse, by the moon com…

A grayish white zeolitic mineral, in tetragonal crystals. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and baryta.

Diffusing a flood of light; shining; luminous; beaming; bright; splendid. "Effulgent rays of light." Cowper.

A smooth, white, marine, gastropod shell of the genus Ovulum, resembling an egg in form.

The name of several species of herons which bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among the best known species are the American egret (Ardea, or Herodias, egretta); the great egret (A. alba); the little egret (A. garzetta), of Europe; and the American snowy egret (A. candidissima). A bunch of egrets killed…

to Egypt, in Africa. Egyptian bean. (Bot.) (a) The beanlike fruit of an aquatic plant (Nelumbium speciosum), somewhat resembling the water lily. (b) See under Bean,

An addition. [R.] Clumsy ekes that may well be spared. Geddes.

laining the phenomena of double refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous ether in crystalline media.

A branching frame, often of ornamental design, to support electric illuminating lamps.

Sometimes a curve, or surface, or volume is considered as described by a moving point, or curve, or surface, the latter being at any instant called an element of the former.

Pertaining to one of the four elements, air, water, earth, fire. "Some luminous and fiery impressions in the elementary region." J. Spencer.

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

In a lump; as a whole; all together. "Movement of the ossicles en bloc." Nature.

p., involved in a hostile encounter; as, the engaged ships continued the fight. Engaged column. (Arch.) Same as Attached column. See under Attach, v. t.

ed; to expand; as, a plant enlarges by growth; an estate enlarges by good management; a volume of air enlarges by rarefaction.

To illumine; to enlighten. [R.] Which from the first has shone on ages past, Enlights the present, and shall warm the last. Pope.

To supply with light; to illuminate; as, the sun enlightens the earth. His lightnings enlightened the world. Ps. xcvii. 4.

One who enlightens or illuminates; one who, or that which, communicates light to the eye, or clear views to the mind.

To adorn by illuminating or ornamenting with colored and decorated letters and figures, as a book or manuscript. [R.] Palsgrave.

The superstructure which lies horizontally upon the columns. See Illust. of Column, Cornice.