Earshrift
(Ear"shrift`) n. A nickname for auricular confession; shrift. [Obs.] Cartwright.
Earsore
(Ear"sore`) n. An annoyance to the ear. [R.]
The perpetual jangling of the chimes . . . is no small earsore s.
Sir T. Browne. Ear-splitting
(Ear"-split`ting) a. Deafening; disagreeably loud or shrill; as, ear-splitting strains.
Earst
(Earst) adv. See Erst. [Obs.] Spenser.
Earth
(Earth) n. [AS. eore; akin to OS. ertha, OFries. irthe, D. aarde, OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel. jör,
Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. airpa, OHG. ero, Gr. adv., to earth, and perh. to E. ear to plow.]
1. The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this
world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.
That law preserves the earth a sphere
And guides the planets in their course.
S. Rogers.
In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell.
Milton. 2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.
God called the dry land earth.
Gen. i. 10.
He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him.
Shak. 3. The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm
rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of
plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth.
Give him a little earth for charity.
Shak. 4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.
Would I had never trod this English earth.
Shak. 5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.
Our weary souls by earth beguiled.
Keble. 6. The people on the globe.
The whole earth was of one language.
Gen. xi. 1. 7. (Chem.) (a) Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. (b)
A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta.
8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. Macaulay.
They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths.
Holland. Earth is used either adjectively or in combination to form compound words; as, earth apple or earth-
apple; earth metal or earth-metal; earth closet or earth-closet.
Adamic earth, Bitter earth, Bog earth, Chian earth, etc. See under Adamic, Bitter, etc. — Alkaline
earths. See under Alkaline. — Earth apple. (Bot.) (a) A potato. (b) A cucumber. — Earth auger,
a form of auger for boring into the ground; — called also earth borer. — Earth bath, a bath taken by
