Eagre, ē′gėr, n. rise of the tide in a river (same as Bore). [Ety. dub.; hardly from A.S. égor, flood.]
Ealdorman. See Alderman.
Ean, ēn, v.t. or v.i. (Shak.) to bring forth young.—n. Ean′ling, a young lamb. [A.S. éanian.]
Ear, ēr, n. a spike, as of corn.—v.i. to put forth ears.—n. Ear′-cock′le, a disease of wheat.—adj. Eared, of corn, having ears. [A.S. éar; Ger. ähre.]
Ear, ēr, v.t. (obs.) to plough or till.—n. Ear′ing (obs.), ploughing. [A.S. erian; cf. L. arāre, Gr. aroein.]
Ear, ēr, n. the organ of hearing, or the external part merely: the sense or power of hearing: the faculty of distinguishing sounds: attention: anything like an ear.—ns. Ear′ache, an ache or pain in the ear; Ear′bob, an earring; Ear′-cap, a covering to protect the ear from cold; Ear′drop, an ornamental pendant hanging from the ear; Ear′drum, the drum or middle cavity of the ear, tympanum (q.v.).—adj. Eared, having ears.—n. Ear′-hole, the aperture of the ear.—adj. Ear′-kiss′ing, whispered.—n. Ear′lap, the tip of the ear: an ear-cap.—adj. Ear′less, wanting ears.—ns. Ear′lock, a curl near the ear worn by Elizabethan dandies; Ear′mark, a mark set on the ears of sheep whereby their owners may distinguish them: a distinctive mark.—v.t. to put an earmark on.—n. Ear′-pick, an instrument for clearing the ear.—adj. Ear′-pierc′ing, shrill, screaming.—ns. Ear′ring, an ornamental ring worn in the ear; Ear′-shell, any shell of the family Haliotidæ; Ear′shot, the distance at which a sound can be heard; Ear′-trum′pet, a tube to aid in hearing; Ear′wax, a waxy substance secreted by the glands of the ear; Ear′wig, an insect which was supposed to creep into the brain through the ear: a flatterer.—v.t. to gain the ear of: to bias: to torment by private importunities (A.S. éarwicga, éare, ear, wicga, earwig).—n. Ear′witness, a witness that can testify from his own hearing.—About one's ears, said of a house falling, &c.; Be all ears, to give every attention; Give ear, to attend; Go in at one ear and out at the other, used of words which make no permanent impression; Have a person's ear, to be secure of his favourable attention; Have itching ears, to be desirous of hearing novelties (2 Tim. iv. 3); Lend an ear, to listen; Over head and ears, overwhelmed: deeply engrossed or involved; Set by the ears, to set at strife; Speak in the ear, to whisper; Tickle the ear, to flatter; Turn a deaf ear, to refuse to listen; Walls have ears, a proverbial phrase implying that there may be listeners behind the wall. [A.S. éare; cf. L. auris, Ger. ohr.]
Earl, ėrl, n. an English nobleman ranking between a marquis and a viscount:—fem. Count′ess.—ns. Earl′dom, the dominion or dignity of an earl; Earl′-mar′shal, an English officer of state, president of the Heralds' College—the Scotch form Earl-marischal. [A.S. eorl, a warrior, hero; cf. Ice. jarl.]
Earles-penny. See Arles.
Early, ėr′li, adj. in good season: at or near the beginning of the day: relating to the beginning: happening in the near future.—adv. near the beginning: soon.—n. Ear′liness.—Early and late, at all times; Early bird, an early riser; Early English (archit.), generally applied to the form of Gothic in which the pointed arch was first employed in Britain. The Early English succeeded the Norman towards the end of the 12th century, and merged into the Decorated at the end of the 13th.—Keep early hours, to rise and go to bed betimes; Small and early (coll.), applied to evening parties; The early bird catches the worm, a proverb in favour of early rising. [A.S. árlíce—ǽr, before.]