‖n. [ NL. (cf. It. beccabunga, G. bachbunge), fr. G. bach brook + bunge, OHG. bungo, bulb. See Beck a brook. ] See Brooklime. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Beccaficos [ It., fr. beccare to peck + fico fig. ] (Zool.) A small bird. (Silvia hortensis), which is highly prized by the Italians for the delicacy of its flesh in the autumn, when it has fed on figs, grapes, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ After E. Becchi, Italian chemist. ] (Chem.) A qualitative test for cottonseed oil, based on the fact this oil imparts a maroon color to an alcoholic solution of silver nitrate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ It., breach, pebble, fragments of stone, fr. F. brèche; of German origin. See Breach. ] (Geol.) A rock composed of angular fragments either of the same mineral or of different minerals, etc., united by a cement, and commonly presenting a variety of colors. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bone breccia, a breccia containing bones, usually fragmentary. --
Coin breccia, a breccia containing coins. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consisting of angular fragments cemented together; resembling breccia in appearance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brecciated appearance of many specimens [ of meteorites ]. H. A. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. décagyne. ] (Bot.) Belonging to the Decagynia; having ten styles. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ AS. dreccan, dreccean. ] 1. To vex; to torment; to trouble. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

As man that in his dream is drecched sore. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To delay. [ Obs. ] Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'ekkalei^n to call out ('ek out of + kalei^n to call) + bi`os life. ] A contrivance for hatching eggs by artificial heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L., behold the man. See John xix. 5. ] (Paint.) A picture which represents the Savior as given up to the people by Pilate, and wearing a crown of thorns. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. excentrique, formerly also spelled eccentrique, fr. LL. eccentros out of the center, eccentric, Gr. 'e`kkentros; 'ek out of + ke`ntron center. See Ex-, and Center, and cf. Excentral. ] 1. Deviating or departing from the center, or from the line of a circle; as, an eccentric or elliptical orbit; pertaining to deviation from the center or from true circular motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not having the same center; -- said of circles, ellipses, spheres, etc., which, though coinciding, either in whole or in part, as to area or volume, have not the same center; -- opposed to concentric. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mach.) Pertaining to an eccentric; as, the eccentric rod in a steam engine. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not coincident as to motive or end. [ 1913 Webster ]

His own ends, which must needs be often eccentric to those of his master. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Deviating from stated methods, usual practice, or established forms or laws; deviating from an appointed sphere or way; departing from the usual course; irregular; anomalous; odd; as, eccentric conduct. “This brave and eccentric young man.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

He shines eccentric, like a comet's blaze. Savage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Eccentric anomaly. (Astron.) See Anomaly. --
Eccentric chuck (Mach.), a lathe chuck so constructed that the work held by it may be altered as to its center of motion, so as to produce combinations of eccentric combinations of eccentric circles. --
Eccentric gear. (Mach.) (a) The whole apparatus, strap, and other parts, by which the motion of an eccentric is transmitted, as in the steam engine. (b) A cogwheel set to turn about an eccentric axis used to give variable rotation. --
Eccentric hook or
Eccentric gab, a hook-shaped journal box on the end of an eccentric rod, opposite the strap. --
Eccentric rod, the rod that connects an eccentric strap with any part to be acted upon by the eccentric. --
Eccentric sheave, or
Eccentric pulley, an eccentric. --
Eccentric strap, the ring, operating as a journal box, that encircles and receives motion from an eccentric; -- called also eccentric hoop.

Syn. -- Irregular; anomalous; singular; odd; peculiar; erratic; idiosyncratic; strange; whimsical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A circle not having the same center as another contained in some measure within the first. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who, or that which, deviates from regularity; an anomalous or irregular person or thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) (a) In the Ptolemaic system, the supposed circular orbit of a planet about the earth, but with the earth not in its center. (b) A circle described about the center of an elliptical orbit, with half the major axis for radius. Hutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mach.) A disk or wheel so arranged upon a shaft that the center of the wheel and that of the shaft do not coincide. It is used for operating valves in steam engines, and for other purposes. The motion derived is precisely that of a crank having the same throw. [ 1913 Webster ]

Back eccentric, the eccentric that reverses or backs the valve gear and the engine. --
Fore eccentric, the eccentric that imparts a forward motion to the valve gear and the engine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Eccentric. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an eccentric manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Drove eccentrically here and there. Lew Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Eccentricities [ Cf. F. excentricité. ] 1. The state of being eccentric; deviation from the customary line of conduct; oddity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) The ratio of the distance between the center and the focus of an ellipse or hyperbola to its semi-transverse axis. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) The ratio of the distance of the center of the orbit of a heavenly body from the center of the body round which it revolves to the semi-transverse axis of the orbit. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mech.) The distance of the center of figure of a body, as of an eccentric, from an axis about which it turns; the throw. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Med.) To discolor by the production of an ecchymosis, or effusion of blood, beneath the skin; -- chiefly used in the passive form; as, the parts were much ecchymosed. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Ecchymoses [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to extravasate; 'ek out of + &unr_; to pour. ] (Med.) A livid or black and blue spot, produced by the extravasation or effusion of blood into the areolar tissue from a contusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to ecchymosis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zoöl.) The European green woodpecker; -- also called ecall, eaquall, yaffle. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Ecclesiæ [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) The public legislative assembly of the Athenians. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl.) A church, either as a body or as a building. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Ecclesiastical. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. ecclesiarcha, fr. Gr. &unr_; church + &unr_; to rule: cf. F. ecclésiarque. ] An official of the Eastern Church, resembling a sacrist in the Western Church. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An ecclesiastic. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The Apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_; a preacher. See Ecclesiastic, a. ] One of the canonical books of the Old Testament. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ecclesiasticus, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; an assembly of citizens called out by the crier; also, the church, fr. &unr_; called out, fr. &unr_; to call out; 'ek out + &unr_; to call. See Ex-, and Hale, v. t., Haul. ] Of or pertaining to the church. See Ecclesiastical. “Ecclesiastic government.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person in holy orders, or consecrated to the service of the church and the ministry of religion; a clergyman; a priest. [ 1913 Webster ]

From a humble ecclesiastic, he was subsequently preferred to the highest dignities of the church. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Ecclesiastical, a. ] Of or pertaining to the church; relating to the organization or government of the church; not secular; as, ecclesiastical affairs or history; ecclesiastical courts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every circumstance of ecclesiastical order and discipline was an abomination. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ecclesiastical commissioners for England, a permanent commission established by Parliament in 1836, to consider and report upon the affairs of the Established Church. --
Ecclesiastical courts, courts for maintaining the discipline of the Established Church; -- called also Christian courts. [ Eng. ] --
Ecclesiastical law, a combination of civil and canon law as administered in ecclesiastical courts. [ Eng. ] --
Ecclesiastical modes (Mus.), the church modes, or the scales anciently used. --
Ecclesiastical States, the territory formerly subject to the Pope of Rome as its temporal ruler; -- called also States of the Church. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an ecclesiastical manner; according ecclesiastical rules. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Strong attachment to ecclesiastical usages, forms, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] A book of the Apocrypha. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Belonging to ecclesiology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in ecclesiology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ecclesia + -logy. ] The science or theory of church building and decoration. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; secretive, fr. &unr_; to choose out. ] (Med.) A remedy which promotes discharges, as an emetic, or a cathartic. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To fetch. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ L. hæcce this. ] (Logic) Literally, this-ness. A scholastic term to express individuality or singleness; as, this book. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. impeccabilité. ] The quality of being impeccable; exemption from sin, error, or offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infallibility and impeccability are two of his attributes. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. impeccabilis; pref. im- not + peccare to err, to sin: cf. F. impeccable. ] Not liable to sin; exempt from the possibility of doing wrong. -- n. One who is impeccable; esp., one of a sect of Gnostic heretics who asserted their sinlessness. [ 1913 Webster ]

God is infallible, impeccable, and absolutely perfect. P. Skelton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Sinlessness. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Sinless; impeccable. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. a. Of or pertaining to Mecca, in Arabia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Mecca. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being peccable; liability to sin. [ 1913 Webster ]

The common peccability of mankind. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. peccable. See Peccant. ] Liable to sin; subject to transgress the divine law. “A frail and peccable mortal.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Peccadillos [ Sp. pecadillo, dim. of pecado a sin, fr. L. peccatum. See Peccant. ] A slight trespass or offense; a petty crime; a trifling fault. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. peccantia. ] 1. The quality or state of being peccant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sin; an offense. W. Montagu. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. peccans, -antis, p. pr. of peccare to sin: cf. F. peccant. ] 1. Sinning; guilty of transgression; criminal; as, peccant angels. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Morbid; corrupt; as, peccant humors. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Wrong; defective; faulty. [ R. ] Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An offender. [ Obs. ] Whitlock. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a peccant manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Peccaries [ From the native South American name: cf. F. pécari, Sp. pecar. ] (Zool.) A pachyderm of the genus Dicotyles. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The collared peccary, or tajacu (Dicotyles torquatus), is about the size and shape of a small hog, and has a white ring aroung the neck. It ranges from Arkansas to Brazil. A larger species (Dicotyles labiatus), with white cheeks, is found in South America. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L. ] I have sinned; -- used colloquially to express confession or acknowledgment of an offense; -- used rarely, superseded by the approximate equivalent mea culpa. Aubrey. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]