Part 612

To eavesdrop in disguises.

Milton.

Eaves"drop`, n. The water which falls in drops from the eaves of a house.

Eaves"drop`per (?), n. One who stands under the eaves, or near the window or door of a house, to listen; hence, a secret listener.

Eaves"drop`ping (?), n. (Law) The habit of lurking about dwelling houses, and other places where persons meet for private intercourse, secretly listening to what is said, and then tattling it abroad. The offense is indictable at common law. Wharton.

Ebb (b), n. (Zoöl.) The European bunting.

Ebb, n. [AS. ebba; akin to Fries. ebba, D. eb, ebbe, Dan. & G. ebbe, Sw. ebb, cf. Goth. ibuks backward; prob. akin to E. even.] 1. The reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal wave toward the sea; -- opposed to flood; as, the boats will go out on the ebb.

Thou shoreless flood which in thy ebb and flow Claspest the limits of morality!

Shelley.

2. The state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a worse state; low state or condition; decline; decay. "Our ebb of life." Roscommon.

Painting was then at its lowest ebb.

Dryden.

Ebb and flow, the alternate ebb and flood of the tide; often used figuratively.

This alternation between unhealthy activity and depression, this ebb and flow of the industrial.

A. T. Hadley.

Ebb (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ebbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ebbing.] [AS. ebbian; akin to D. & G. ebben, Dan. ebbe. See 2d Ebb.] 1. To flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean; -- opposed to flow.

That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow.

Pope.

2. To return or fall back from a better to a worse state; to decline; to decay; to recede.

The hours of life ebb fast.

Blackmore.

Syn. -- To recede; retire; withdraw; decay; decrease; wane; sink; lower.

Ebb, v. t. To cause to flow back. [Obs.] Ford.

Ebb, a. Receding; going out; falling; shallow; low.

The water there is otherwise very low and ebb.

Holland.

Ebb" tide` (?). The reflux of tide water; the retiring tide; -- opposed to flood tide.

E"bi*o*nite (?), n. [Heb. ebyonm poor people.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of heretics, in the first centuries of the church, whose doctrine was a mixture of Judaism and Christianity. They denied the divinity of Christ, regarding him as an inspired messenger, and rejected much of the New Testament.