Part 821

At erst, at first; at the beginning. -- Now at erst, at this present time. Chaucer.

Erst`while" (-hwl"), adv. Till then or now; heretofore; formerly. [Archaic]

{ Er`u*bes"cence (?; 135), Er`u*bes"cen*cy (?), } n. [L. erubescentia: cf. F. érubescence.] The act of becoming red; redness of the skin or surface of anything; a blushing.

Er`u*bes"cent (?), a. [L. erubescens, p. pr. erubescere to grow red; e out + rubescere. See Rubescent.] Red, or reddish; blushing. Johnson.

Er`u*bes"cite (?), n. (Min.) See Bornite.

||E*ru"ca (?), n.; pl. Erucæ (#). [L., a caterpillar, also, a sort of colewort.] (Zoöl.) An insect in the larval state; a caterpillar; a larva.

E*ru"cic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, a genus of cruciferous Mediterranean herbs (Eruca or Brassica); as, erucic acid, a fatty acid resembling oleic acid, and found in colza oil, mustard oil, etc.

E*ru"ci*from (?), a. [Eruca + -form.] (Zoöl.) Having the form of a caterpillar; -- said of insect larvæ.

{ E*ruct" (?), E*ruc"tate (?) }, v. t. [L. eructare; e out + ructare to belch: cf. F. éructer.] To eject, as wind, from the stomach; to belch. [R.] Howell.

Er`uc*ta"tion (?), n. [L. eructatio: cf. F. éructation.] 1. The act of belching wind from the stomach; a belch.

2. A violent belching out or emitting, as of gaseous or other matter from the crater of a volcano, geyser, etc.

E*ru"di*ate (?), v. t. [L. erudire.] To instruct; to educate; to teach. [Obs.]

The skillful goddess there erudiates these In all she did.

Fanshawe.

Er"u*dite (r"*dt; 135), a. [L. eruditus, p. p. of erudire to free from rudeness, to polish, instruct; e out + rudis rude: cf. F. érudit. See Rude.] Characterized by extensive reading or knowledge; well instructed; learned. "A most erudite prince." Sir T. More. "Erudite . . . theology." I. Taylor. -- Er"u*dite`ly, adv. -- Er"u*dite`ness, n.

Er`u*di"tion (-dsh"n), n. [L. eruditio: cf. F. érudition.] The act of instructing; the result of thorough instruction; the state of being erudite or learned; the acquisitions gained by extensive reading or study; particularly, learning in literature or criticism, as distinct from the sciences; scholarship.

The management of a young lady's person is not be overlooked, but the erudition of her mind is much more to be regarded.

Steele.

The gay young gentleman whose erudition sat so easily upon him.

Macaulay.

Syn. -- Literature; learning. See Literature.

Er"u*gate (?), a. [L. erugatus, p. p. of erugare to smooth; e out + ruga wrinkle.] Freed from wrinkles; smooth.

E*ru"gi*nous (?), a. [Cf. F. érugineux. See Æruginous.] Partaking of the substance or nature of copper, or of the rust copper; resembling the trust of copper or verdigris; æruginous.

E*rum"pent (?), a. [L. erumpens, -entis, p. pr. of erumpere.] (Bot.) Breaking out; -- said of certain fungi which burst through the texture of leaves.

E*rupt" (?), v. t. [See Eruption.] To cause to burst forth; to eject; as, to erupt lava. Huxley.

E*rup"tion (?), n. [L. eruptio, fr. erumpere, eruptum, to break out; e out + rumpere, to break: cf. F. éruption. See Rupture.] 1. The act of breaking out or bursting forth; as: (a) A violent throwing out of flames, lava, etc., as from a volcano of a fissure in the earth's crust. (b) A sudden and overwhelming hostile movement of armed men from one country to another. Milton. (c) A violent commotion.

All Paris was quiet . . . to gather fresh strength for the next day's eruption.

W. Irving.