Search the Dictionary

The religious or mythological book of the old Scandinavian tribes of German origin, containing two collections of Sagas (legends, myths) of the old northern gods and heroes.

tion; as, the law goes into effect in May. That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it. Shak.

s, effusion of water, of blood, of grace, of words, and the like. To save the effusion of my people's blood. Dryden.

, or scanty addition; as, to eke out a scanty supply of one kind with some other. "To eke my pain." Spenser. He eked out by his wits an income of barely fifty pounds. Macaulay.

Room to extend the elbows on each side; ample room for motion or action; free scope. "My soul hath elbowroom." Shak. Then came a stretch of grass and a little more elbowroom. W. G. Norris.

st, or before the others, as a son, daughter, brother, etc.; first in origin. See Elder. "My lady's eldest son." Shak. Their eldest historians are of suspected credit. Bp. Stillingfleet. Eldest hand (Card Playing), the player on the dealer's left hand. R. A. Proctor.

One chosen or set apart. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Is. xlii. 1.

According to elements; literally; as, the words, "Take, eat; this is my body," elementally understood.

leusis, in Greece, or to secret rites in honor of Ceres, there celebrated; as, Eleusinian mysteries or festivals.

An imaginary supernatural being, commonly a little sprite, much like a fairy; a mythological diminutive spirit, supposed to haunt hills and wild places, and generally represented as delighting in mischievous tricks. Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier. Shak.

To put out of doors; to expel; to discharge; to release; to set at liberty. Eliminate my spirit, give it range Through provinces of thought yet unexplored. Young.

A mythical serpent. [Obs.] Milton.

That which is eloquently uttered or written. O, let my books be then the eloquence And dumb presagers of my speaking breast. Shak.

Mysterious; also, foolish. [Obs.]

Same as Ambassador. Stilbon, that was a wise embassadour, Was sent to Corinth. Chaucer. Myself my king's embassador will go. Dryden.

in the arms; to hug. I will embrace him with a soldier's arm, That he shall shrink under my courtesy. Shak. Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them. Acts xx. 1.

According to; conformably to. [Obs.] Chaucer. Emforth my might, so far as lies in my power. [Obs.]

urately and without undue effort to a focus upon the retina; -- opposed to hypermetropia, myopia, an astigmatism.

Empire; sovereignty; dominion. [Archaic] Shak. Struggling for my woman's empery. Mrs. Browning.

A sovereign mistress. "Empress of my soul." Shak. Empress cloth, a cloth for ladies' dresses, either wholly of wool, or with cotton warp and wool weft. It resembles merino, but is not twilled.