Part 656

El"der (?), n. [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG. elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder; or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.

The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the common European species (S. nigra) forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient.

Box elder. See under 1st Box. -- Dwarf elder. See Danewort. -- Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. Shak. -- Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).

Eld"er*ish (?), a. Somewhat old; elderly. [R.]

Eld"er*ly, a. Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; as, elderly people.

El"dern (?), a. Made of elder. [Obs.]

He would discharge us as boys do eldern guns.

Marston.

Eld"er*ship (?), n. 1. The state of being older; seniority. "Paternity an eldership." Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Office of an elder; collectively, a body of elders.

El"der*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) Danewort.

Eld"est (?), a. [AS. yldest, superl. of eald old. See Elder, a.] 1. Oldest; longest in duration. Shak.

2. Born or living first, or before the others, as a son, daughter, brother, etc.; first in origin. See Elder. "My lady's eldest son." Shak.

Their eldest historians are of suspected credit.

Bp. Stillingfleet.

Eldest hand (Card Playing), the player on the dealer's left hand. R. A. Proctor.

El"ding (?), n. [Icel. elding, fr. elda to kindle, eldr fire; akin to AS. æld fire, ælan to burn.] Fuel. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

El` Do*ra"do (?), pl. El Doradoes (&?;). [Sp., lit., the gilt (sc. land); el the + dorado gilt, p. p. of dorare to gild. Cf. Dorado.] 1. A name given by the Spaniards in the 16th century to an imaginary country in the interior of South America, reputed to abound in gold and precious stones.

2. Any region of fabulous wealth; exceeding richness.

The whole comedy is a sort of El Dorado of wit.

T. Moore.

El"dritch (?), a. Hideous; ghastly; as, an eldritch shriek or laugh. [Local, Eng.]

E`le*at"ic (?), a. [L. eleaticus, from Elea (or Velia) in Italy.] Of or pertaining to a certain school of Greek philosophers who taught that the only certain science is that which owes nothing to the senses, and all to the reason. -- n. A philosopher of the Eleatic school.

E`le*at"i*cism (?), n. The Eleatic doctrine.

El`e*cam*pane" (?), n. [F. énulecampane, NL. inula campana; L. inula elecampane + LL. campana a bell; cf. G. glockenwurz, i. e., "bellwort."] 1. (Bot.) A large, coarse herb (Inula Helenium), with composite yellow flowers. The root, which has a pungent taste, is used as a tonic, and was formerly of much repute as a stomachic.

2. A sweetmeat made from the root of the plant.

E*lect" (?), a. [L. electus, p. p. of eligere to elect; e out + legere to choose. See Legend, and cf. Elite, Eclectic.] 1. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more. "Colors quaint elect." Spenser.

2. (Theol.) Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to eternal life. "The elect angels." 1 Tim. v. 21.