Defn: The Muse who presided over lyric and amatory poetry.
ERBIUM Er"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL. from Ytterby, in Sweden, where gadolinite is found. Cf. Terbium, Yttrium, Ytterbium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare metallic element associated with several other rare elements in the mineral gadolinite from Ytterby in Sweden. Symbol Er. Atomic weight 165.9. Its salts are rose-colored and give characteristic spectra. Its sesquioxide is called erbia.
ERCEDEKEN Er`ce*de"ken, n. Etym: [OE., fr. pref. erce- = archi- + deken a deacon.]
Defn: An archdeacon. [Obs.]
ERD
Erd, n. Etym: [OE. erd, eard, earth, land, country, AS. eard; akin to
OS. ard dwelling place, OHG. art plowing, tillage, Icel. öredh crop,
and to L. arare to plow, E. ear to plow.]
Defn: The earth. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. Erd shrew (Zoöl.), the common
European shrew (Sorex vulgaris); the shrewmouse.
ERE
Ere, prep. & adv. Etym: [AS. , prep., adv., & conj.; akin to OS.,
OFries., & OHG. , G. eher, D. eer, Icel. ar, Goth. air. sq. root204.
Cf. Early, Erst, Or, adv.]
1. Before; sooner than. [Archaic or Poetic]
Myself was stirring ere the break of day. Shak.
Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore. Dryden.
Sir, come down ere my child die. John iv. 49.
2. Rather than.
I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave her. Shak.
Ere long, before, shortly. Shak.
— Ere now, formerly, heretofore. Shak.
— Ere that, and Or are. Same as Ere. Shak.