1. The dropping out or suppression from a word of a consonant, with or without a vowel.

2. (Lat. Pros.)

Defn: The elision of a final m, with the preceding vowel, before a word beginning with a vowel.

ECTHOREUM
Ec`tho*re"um, n.; pl. Ecthorea. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The slender, hollow thread of a nettling cell or cnida. See
Nettling cell. [Written also ecthoræum.]

ECTHYMA
Ec*thy"ma, n.; pl. Ecthymata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A cutaneous eruption, consisting of large, round pustules, upon an indurated and inflamed base. Dunglison.

ECTO-
Ec"to-.

Defn: See Ect-.

ECTOBLAST Ec"to*blast, n. Etym: [Ecto- + Gr. (Biol.) (a) The outer layer of the blastoderm; the epiblast; the ectoderm. (b) The outer envelope of a cell; the cell wall. Agassiz.