Chapter Eblis to Economy of E by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Scylla, the Gorgons, the Lernæan hydra, the vulture that gnawed away the liver of Prometheus, and the Nemean lion. (Hesiod.)

"[She] seemed a woman to the waist, and fair
But ended foul in many a scaly fold,
Voluminous and vast."
Milton: Paradise Lost, book ii. 650-2.

Echo The Romans say that Echo was a nymph in love with Narcissus, but her love not being returned, she pined away till only her voice remained. We use the word to imply similarity of sentiment: as You echo my ideas; That is an echo to my opinion.

"Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv'st unseen
Within thy airy shell,
By slow Meänder's margent green ...
Canst thou not tell me of a gentle pair
That likest thy Narcissus are?"
Milton: Comus, 230, etc.

Echo (Gr., eko; verb, ekeo, to sound.)
   To applaud to the echo. To appland so loudly as to produce an echo.

Eckhardt A faithful Eckhardt, who warneth everyone (German). Eckhardt, in German legends, appears on the evening of Maundy Thursday to warn all persons to go home, that they may not be injured by the headless bodies and two-legged horses which traverse the streets on that night.

Eclectics Ancient philosophers, who selected what they thought best in all other systems, and made a patchwork therefrom. There is the eclectic school of painters, of which Paul Delaroche was the founder and best exponent; the eclectic school of modern philosophy, founded by Victor Cousin; the eclectic school of architecture; and so on. (Greek, ek-lego, to pick out.)
   Eclectics or Modern Platonists. A Christian sect which arose in the second century. They professed to make truth their sole object of inquiry, and adopted from existing systems whatever, in their opinion, was true. They were called Platonists because they adopted Plato's notions about God and the human soul.

Eclipses were considered by the ancient Greeks and Romans as bad omens. Nicías, the Athenian general, was so terrified by an eclipse of the moon, that he durst not defend himself from the Syracusans; in consequence of which his whole army was cut to pieces, and he himself was put to death.
   The Romans would never hold a public assembly during an eclipse. Some of their poets feign that an eclipse of the moon is because she is gone on a visit to Endymion.
   A very general notion was and still is among barbarians that the sun or moon has been devoured by some monster, and hence the custom of beating drums and brass kettles to scare away the monster.
   The Chinese, Laps, Persians, and some others call the evil beast a dragon. The East Indians say it is a black griffin.
   The notion of the ancient Mexicans was that eclipses were caused by sun and moon quarrels, in which one of the litigants is beaten black and blue.

Ecliptic The path apparently described by the sun in his annual course through the heavens. Eclipses happen only when the moon is in or near the same plane.

Eclogue (2 syl.). Pastoral poetry not expressed in rustic speech, but in the most refined and elegant of which the language is capable. (Greek, meaning "elegant extracts," "select poetry.")

Ecnephia A sort of hurricane, similar to the Typhon.

"The circling Typhon, whirled from point to point, ...
And dire Ecnephia reign."
Thomson: Summer.

Ecole des Femmes Molière borrowed the plot of this comedy from the novelletti of Ser Giovanni, composed in the fourteenth century.

Economy means the rules or plans adopted in managing one's own house. As we generally prevent extravagant waste, and make the most of our means in our own homes, so the careful expenditure of money in general is termed house-management. The word is applied to time and several other things, as well as money. (Greek, oikos nomos, house-law.)
   Animal economy. The system, laws, and management whereby the greatest amount of good accrues to the animal kingdom.

"Animal ... economy, according to which animal affairs are regulated and disposed." - Shaftesbury: Characteristics.

   Political economy. The principles whereby the revenues and resources of a nation are made the most of. Thus: Is Free Trade good or bad economy? Articles are cheaper, and therefore the buying value of