Part 842

Etch, v. i. To practice etching; to make etchings.

Etch"er (?), n. One who etches.

Etch"ing, n. 1. The act, art, or practice of engraving by means of acid which eats away lines or surfaces left unprotected in metal, glass, or the like. See Etch, v. t.

2. A design carried out by means of the above process; a pattern on metal, glass, etc., produced by etching.

3. An impression on paper, parchment, or other material, taken in ink from an etched plate.

Etching figures (Min.), markings produced on the face of a crystal by the action of an appropriate solvent. They have usually a definite form, and are important as revealing the molecular structure. -- Etching needle, a sharp-pointed steel instrument with which lines are drawn in the ground or varnish in etching. -- Etching stitch (Needlework), a stitch used outline embroidery.

E`te*os"tic (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, year + &?; row.] A kind of chronogram. [R.] B. Jonson.

E*ter"mi*na*ble (?), a. [Pref. e- + terminable.] Interminable. [Obs.] Skelton.

{ E*tern" or E*terne" (?) }, a. [OF. eterne, L. aeternus, for aeviturnus, fr. aevum age. See Age, and cf. Eternal.] Eternal. [Poetic] Shak.

Built up to eterne significance.

Mrs. Browning.

E*ter"nal (?), a. [F. éternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See Etern.] 1. Without beginning or end of existence; always existing.

The eternal God is thy refuge.

Deut. xxxiii. 27.

To know wether there were any real being, whose duration has been eternal.

Locke.

2. Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal.

That they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

2 Tim. ii. 10.

3. Continued without intermission; perpetual; ceaseless; constant.

And fires eternal in thy temple shine.

Dryden.

4. Existing at all times without change; immutable.

Hobbes believed the eternal truths which he opposed.

Dryden.

What are the eternal objects of poetry among all nations, and at all times?

M. Arnold.

5. Exceedingly great or bad; -- used as a strong intensive. "Some eternal villain."