EC

‖n. [ F., prop. p. p. fr. écarter to reject, discard. ] A game at cards for two persons, with 32 cards, ranking K, Q, J, A, 10, 9, 8, 7. Five cards are dealt each player, and the 11th turned as trump. Five points constitute a game. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Pref. e- + caudate. ] 1. (Bot.) Without a tail or spur. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zoöl.) Tailless. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Ecbole. ] (Bot.) A genus of cucurbitaceous plants consisting of the single species Ecballium agreste (or Elaterium), the squirting cucumber. Its fruit, when ripe, bursts and violently ejects its seeds, together with a mucilaginous juice, from which elaterium, a powerful cathartic medicine, is prepared. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., fr. Gr. 'e`kbasis a going out, issue, or event; 'ek out + bai`nein to go. ] (Rhet.) A figure in which the orator treats of things according to their events consequences. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Ecbasis. ] (Gram.) Denoting a mere result or consequence, as distinguished from telic, which denotes intention or purpose; thus the phrase "i`na plhrw`qh, if rendered “so that it was fulfilled,” is ecbatic; if rendered “in order that it might be.” etc., is telic. [1913 Webster]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'ekbolh` a throwing out, a digression, fr. 'ekba`llein to throw out; 'ek out of + ba`llein to throw. ] (Rhet.) A digression in which a person is introduced speaking his own words. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Ecbole. ] (Med.) A drug, as ergot, which by exciting uterine contractions promotes the expulsion of the contents of the uterus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'ekbolh` a throwing out; 'ek out + ba`llein to throw. ] (Chem.) An alkaloid constituting the active principle of ergot; -- so named from its power of producing abortion. [ 1913 Webster ]