ECCOPROTIC, ek-[=o]-prot'ik, adj. laxative, mildly cathartic.--n. a laxative.

ECCRINOLOGY, ek-ri-nol'[=o]-ji, n. the branch of physiology relating to the secretions.

ECCRISIS, ek'ri-sis, n. expulsion of waste or morbid matter.--n. ECCRIT'IC, a medicine having this property. [Gr.]

ECDYSIS, ek'di-sis, n. the act of casting off an integument, as in serpents. [Gr.]

ECHE, [=e]k, v.t. (Shak.) to eke out: to augment. [A.S. écan; akin to L. aug[=e]re, to increase. See EKE.]

ECHELON, esh'e-long, n. an arrangement of troops in battalions or divisions placed parallel to one another, but no two on the same alignment, each having its front clear of that in advance. [Fr., from échelle, a ladder or stair. See SCALE.]

ECHIDNA, ek-id'na, n. a genus of Australian toothless burrowing monotremate mammals, armed with porcupine-like spines, laying eggs instead of bringing forth the young.--n. ECHID'NINE, serpent-poison. [Formed from Gr. echidna, a viper.]

ECHINATE, -D, ek'in-[=a]t, -ed, adj. prickly like a hedgehog: set with prickles or bristles.--ns. ECH[=I]'NITE, a fossil sea-urchin; ECH[=I]'NODERM, one of the ECHINODER'MATA, a class of animals having the skin strengthened by calcareous plates, or covered with spikes.--adjs. ECHINODER'MATOUS, relating to the Echinodermata; ECH'INOID, like a sea-urchin.--n. one of the ECHINOI'DEA.--n. ECH[=I]'NUS, a sea-urchin: (archit.) the convex projecting moulding of eccentric curve in Greek examples, supporting the abacus of the Doric capital. [Gr. echinos, a hedgehog, and derma, skin.]

ECHO, ek'[=o], n. the repetition of sound caused by a sound-wave coming against some opposing surface, and being reflected: a device in verse in which a line ends with a word which recalls the sound of the last word of the preceding line: imitation: an imitator:--pl. ECHOES (ek'[=o]z).--v.i. to reflect sound: to be sounded back: to resound.--v.t. to send back the sound of: to repeat a thing said: to imitate: to flatter slavishly:--pr.p. ech'[=o]ing; pa.p. ech'[=o]ed.--ns. ECH'OISM, the formation of imitative words; ECH'OIST, one who repeats like an echo.--adj. ECH'OLESS, giving no echo, unresponsive.--ns. ECHOM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the length of sounds; ECHOM'ETRY, the art of measuring such.--CHEER TO THE ECHO, to applaud most heartily, so that the room resounds. [L.,--Gr. [=e]ch[=o], a sound.]

ÉCLAIRCISSEMENT, ek-l[=a]r-sis'mong, n. the act of clearing up anything: explanation.--COME TO AN ÉCLAIRCISSEMENT, to come to an understanding: to explain conduct that seemed equivocal. [Fr. éclaircir, pr.p. -cissant, é--L. ex, out, clair--L. clarus, clear.]

ECLAMPSIA, ek-lamp'si-a, n. a term often erroneously applied as synonymous with epilepsy, while it is really the equivalent of convulsions, but usually restricted to such as are due to such local or general causes as teething, child-bearing, &c.--also ECLAMP'SY.--adj. ECLAMP'TIC. [Formed from Gr. eklampein, to shine forth.]

ÉCLAT, [=a]-klä', n. a striking effect: applause: splendour: social distinction, notoriety. [Fr. éclat, from O. Fr. esclater, to break, to shine.]

ECLECTIC, ek-lek'tik, adj. selecting or borrowing: choosing the best out of everything: broad, the opposite of exclusive.--n. one who selects opinions from different systems, esp. in philosophy.--adv. ECLEC'TICALLY.--n. ECLEC'TICISM, the practice of an eclectic: the doctrine of the ECLEC'TICS, a name applied to certain Greek thinkers in the 2d and 1st centuries B.C., later to Leibnitz and Cousin. [Gr. eklektikos--ek, out, legein, to choose.]

ECLIPSE, e-klips', n. an obscuration of one of the heavenly bodies by the interposition of another, either between it and the spectator, or between it and the sun: loss of brilliancy: darkness.--v.t. to hide a luminous body wholly or in part: to darken: to throw into the shade, to cut out, surpass.--p.adjs. ECLIPSED', darkened, obscured; ECLIPS'ING, darkening, obscuring.--n. ECLIP'TIC, the name given to the great circle of the heavens round which the sun seems to travel, from west to east, in the course of a year: a great circle on the globe corresponding to the celestial ecliptic.--adj. pertaining to an eclipse or the ecliptic. [Through O. Fr. and L. from Gr. ekleipsis--ek, out, leipein, to leave.]

ECLOGITE, ek'loj-[=i]t, n. a crystalline rock, composed of smaragdite and red garnet. [Gr. eklog[=e], selection--ek, out, legein, to choose.]

ECLOGUE, ek'log, n. a short pastoral poem like Virgil's Bucolics. [L. ecloga--Gr. eklog[=e], a selection, esp. of poems--ek, out of, legein to choose.]

ECONOMY, ek-on'o-mi, n. the management of a household or of money matters: a frugal and judicious expenditure of money: a system of rules or ceremonies: a dispensation, as 'the Christian economy:' regular operations, as of nature.--adjs. ECONOM'IC, -AL, pertaining to economy: frugal: careful.--adv. ECONOM'ICALLY.--ns. ECONOM'ICS, the science of household management: political economy; ECONOMIS[=A]'TION, act of economising.--v.i. ECON'OMISE, to manage with economy: to spend money carefully: to save.--v.t. to use prudently: to spend with frugality.--ns. ECONOM[=I]'SER, ECON'OMIST, one who is economical: one who studies political economy.--POLITICAL ECONOMY (see under POLITIC). [L. oeconomia--Gr. oikonomia--oikos, a house, nomos, a law.]

ÉCORCHÉ, [=a]-kor'sh[=a], n. a figure in which the muscles are represented stripped of the skin, for purposes of artistic study. [Fr. écorcher, to flay.]

ÉCOSSAISE, [=a]-ko-s[=a]z', n. a kind of country-dance of Scotch origin, or music appropriate to such.--DOUCHE ÉCOSSAISE, the alternation of hot and cold douches. [Fr., fem. of Écossais, Scotch.]

ECOSTATE, [=e]-kos't[=a]t, adj. (bot.) not costate: ribless.

ECPHLYSIS, ek'fli-sis, n. (path.) vesicular eruption.

ECPHONESIS, ek-f[=o]-n[=e]'sis, n. (rhet.) a figure of speech which uses questions, interjections, &c., for variety: in Greek use, the part of the service spoken in an audible tone.

ECPHRACTIC, ek-frak'tik, adj. (med.) serving to remove obstructions.--n. a drug with such properties.

ECRASEUR, [=a]-kra-z[.e]r, n. (surg.) an instrument for removing tumours. [Fr.]

ECSTASY, ek'sta-si, n. a word applied to states of mind marked by temporary mental alienation and altered or diminished consciousness: excessive joy: enthusiasm, or any exalted feeling.--v.t. to fill with joy.--adjs. EC'STASIED, enraptured; ECSTAT'IC, causing ecstasy: amounting to ecstasy: rapturous.--n. one given to ecstasy: something spoken in a state of ecstasy.--adv. ECSTAT'ICALLY. [Through O. Fr. and Low L. from Gr. ekstasis--ek, aside, histanai, to make to stand.]

ECTAL, ek'tal, adj. (anat.) outer, external--opp. to Ental.--adv. EC'TAD. [Gr. ektos, without.]

ECTASIS, ek'ta-sis, n. the pronunciation of a vowel as long.

ECTHLIPSIS, ek-thlip'sis, n. omission or suppression of a letter. [Gr.]

ECTHYMA, ek-th[=i]'ma, n. a pustular disease of the skin, in which the pustules often reach the size of a pea, and have a red, slightly elevated, hardish base. [Gr., ek, thyein, to boil.]

ECTOBLAST, ek'to-blast, n. the outer wall of a cell.--adj. ECTOBLAS'TIC.

ECTODERM, ek'to-d[.e]rm, n. the external germinal layer of the embryo. [Gr. ektos, outside, derma, skin.]

ECTOPARASITE, ek-t[=o]-par'a-s[=i]t, n. an external parasite.

ECTOPIA, ek-t[=o]'pi-a, n. (path.) morbid displacement of parts.--adj. ECTOP'IC.

ECTOPLASM, ek'to-plasm, n. the exterior protoplasm or sarcode of a cell.--adjs. ECTOPLAS'MIC, ECTOPLAS'TIC.

ECTOZOA, ek-t[=o]-z[=o]'a, n.pl. external parasites generally--opp. to Entozoa.--n. ECTOZ[=O]'AN, one of the Ectozoa.

ECTROPION, -UM, ek-tr[=o]p'i-on, -um, n. eversion of the margin of the eyelid, so that the red inner surface is exposed.--adj. ECTROP'IC. [Gr. ek, out, and trepein, to turn.]

ECTYPE, ek't[=i]p, n. a reproduction or copy.--adj. EC'TYPAL.--n. ECTYPOG'RAPHY. [Gr. ek, out, and typos, a figure.]

ÉCU, [=a]'kü, or [=a]-k[=u]', n. a French silver coin, usually considered as equivalent to the English crown--there were also gold écus weighing about 60 grains: a common name for the five-franc piece. [Fr.,--L. scutum, a shield.]

ECUMENIC, -AL, ek-[=u]-men'ik, -al, adj. general, universal, belonging to the entire Christian Church.--Also OECUMEN'IC, -AL.

ECZEMA, ek'ze-ma, n. a common skin disease, in which the affected portion of the skin is red, and is covered with numerous small papules, which speedily turn into vesicles.--adj. ECZEM'ATOUS. [Gr., from ekzein--ek, out, zeein, to boil.]

EDACIOUS, e-d[=a]'shus, adj. given to eating: gluttonous.--adv. ED[=A]'CIOUSLY.--ns. ED[=A]'CIOUSNESS; EDAC'ITY. [L. edax, ed[=a]cis--ed[)e]re, to eat.]

EDDA, ed'a, n. the name of two Scandinavian books--the 'Elder' Edda, a collection of ancient mythological and heroic songs (9th-11th century); and the 'Younger' or prose Edda, by Snorri Sturluson (c. 1230), mythological stories, poetics, and prosody. [Ice., 'great-grandmother.']

EDDISH, ed'dish, n. pasturage, or the eatable growth of grass after mowing. [Dubiously referred to A.S. edisc, a park.]

EDDY, ed'i, n. a current of water or air running back, contrary to the main stream, thus causing a circular motion: a whirlpool: a whirlwind.--v.i. to move round and round:--pr.p. edd'ying; pa.p. edd'ied.--n. EDD'YING, the action of the verb eddy. [Prob. from A.S. ed, back; cf. Ice. ida--id, back.]