Part 3898

<hw>Ere</hw> <tt>(?; 277)</tt>, <tt>prep. & adv.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets><?/r</ets>, prep., adv., & conj.; akin to OS., OFries., & OHG. <ets><?/r</ets>, G. <ets>eher</ets>, D. <ets>eer</ets>, Icel. <ets>\'ber</ets>, Goth. <ets>air</ets>. &root;204. Cf. <er>Early</er>, <er>Erst</er>, <er>Or</er>, <ets>adv</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Before; sooner than.</def> <mark>[Archaic or Poetic]</mark>

<blockquote>Myself was stirring <b>ere</b> the break of day. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Ere</b> sails were spread new oceans to explore. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Sir, come down <b>ere</b> my child die. <i>John iv. 49.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Rather than.</def>

<blockquote>I will be thrown into Etna, . . . <b>ere</b> I will leave her. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Ere long</col>, <cd>before, shortly. <i>Shak</i>.</cd> -- <col>Ere now</col>, <cd>formerly, heretofore. <i>Shak</i>.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Ere that</col>, &and; <col>Or are</col></mcol>. <cd>Same as <er>Ere</er>. <i>Shak</i>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Ere</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>Ere</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To plow. <mark>[Obs.]</mark> See <er>Ear</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt></def>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Erebus</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>Er"e*bus</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L., fr. Gr. <?/.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Greek Myth.)</fld> <def>A place of nether darkness, being the gloomy space through which the souls passed to Hades. See <i>Milton's</i> "Paradise Lost," Book II., line 883.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Greek Myth.)</fld> <def>The son of Chaos and brother of <er>Nox</er>, who dwelt in Erebus.</def>

<blockquote>To the infernal deep, with <b>Erebus</b> and tortures vile. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Erect</h1> <Xpage=506>

<hw>E*rect"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>erectus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>erigere</ets> to erect; <ets>e</ets> out + <ets>regere</ets> to lead straight. See <er>Right</er>, and cf. <er>Alert</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Upright, or having a vertical position; not inverted; not leaning or bent; not prone; <as>as, to stand <ex>erect</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>Two of far nobler shape, <b>erect</b> and tall. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still <b>erect</b> -- a column of ruins. <i>Gibbon.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Directed upward; raised; uplifted.</def>

<blockquote>His piercing eyes, <b>erect</b>, appear to view Superior worlds, and look all nature through. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Bold; confident; free from depression; undismayed.</def>

<blockquote>But who is he, by years Bowed, but <b>erect</b> in heart? <i>Keble.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Watchful; alert.</def>

<blockquote>Vigilant and <b>erect</b> attention of mind. <i>Hooker.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Standing upright, with reference to the earth's surface, or to the surface to which it is attached.</def>