Part 3581

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal wave toward the sea; -- opposed to <i>flood</i>; <as>as, the boats will go out on the <ex>ebb</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>Thou shoreless flood which in thy <b>ebb</b> and flow Claspest the limits of morality! <i>Shelley.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a worse state; low state or condition; decline; decay.</def> "Our <i>ebb</i> of life."

<i>Roscommon.</i>

<blockquote>Painting was then at its lowest <b>ebb</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Ebb and flow</col>, <cd>the alternate ebb and flood of the tide; often used figuratively.</cd></cs>

<blockquote>This alternation between unhealthy activity and depression, this <b>ebb and flow</b> of the industrial. <i>A. T. Hadley.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Ebb</h1> <Xpage=467>

<hw>Ebb</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Ebbed</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Ebbing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[AS. <ets>ebbian</ets>; akin to D. & G. <ets>ebben</ets>, Dan. <ets>ebbe</ets>. See 2d <er>Ebb</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean; -- opposed to <i>flow</i>.</def>

<blockquote>That Power who bids the ocean <b>ebb</b> and flow. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To return or fall back from a better to a worse state; to decline; to decay; to recede.</def>

<blockquote>The hours of life <b>ebb</b> fast. <i>Blackmore.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To recede; retire; withdraw; decay; decrease; wane; sink; lower.</syn>

<h1>Ebb</h1> <Xpage=467>

<hw>Ebb</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To cause to flow back.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Ford.</i>

<h1>Ebb</h1> <Xpage=467>

<hw>Ebb</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Receding; going out; falling; shallow; low.</def>

<blockquote>The water there is otherwise very low and <b>ebb</b>. <i>Holland.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Ebb tide</h1> <Xpage=467>

<hw>Ebb" tide`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <def>The reflux of tide water; the retiring tide; -- opposed to <i>flood tide</i>.</def>

<h1>Ebionite</h1> <Xpage=467>

<hw>E"bi*o*nite</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Heb. <ets>ebyon\'c6m</ets> poor people.]</ety> <fld>(Eccl. Hist.)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<h1>Ebionitism</h1> <Xpage=467>

<hw>E"bi*o*ni`tism</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Eccl. Hist.)</fld> <def>The system or doctrine of the Ebionites.</def>

<h1>Eblanin</h1> <Xpage=467>

<hw>Eb"la*nin</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>See <er>Pyroxanthin</er>.</def>