Epicurean 
only possible end of rational action, and that the ultimate 
pleasure is frredimi from disturbance. In logic the Epi- 
cureans are distinguished from all the other ancient 
schools, not only in maintaining an experiential theory of 
cognition ami the validity of inductive reiison ing, but also 
in denying the value of definitions, Rylli)Kl>", and the other 
apparatus of tbeaprlorlnirih. . I l.ik>>J. H. Mill, they based 
Induction upon the uniformity of nature. Epiniru.i was very 
-n. Mihnis in the advocacy of natural causes for all phe- 
n ..... cn:i, ami in resisting hypotheses of the Interference 
of supernatural brings in nature. He adopted the atomis- 
tic theory of Democritus, while bringing into it the doc- 
trine (if chance, which is the very life of that theory. His 
views were thus more like those of a modern scientist 
than were those of any other philosopher of antiquity. 
Owing, however, to the natural repugnance to doctrines 
seeming to lower the nature of man, Epicurus and his 
school have been much hated and abused ; so that an Epi- 
curean has come to mean also a mere votary of pleasure. 
See 2. 
I know It, and smile a hard-set smile, like a stole, or like 
A wiser epicurean, and let the world nave Its way. 
Tennyson, Maud, iv. 4. 
2. [cap. or I. c.} A votary of pleasure, or one 
who pursues the pleasures of sense as the chief 
good ; one who is fond of good living ; a person 
of luxurious tastes, especially in eating and 
drinking; a gourmet; an epicure. 
The brotherhood 
Of soft Epicureans taught if they 
The ends of being would secure, and win 
The crown of wisdom to yield up their souls 
To a voluptuous unconcern. 
Wordsworth, Excursion, ill. 
Epicureanism (ep'i-ku-re'an-izm), n. [< Epi- 
curean + -is.] 1. The philosophical system 
of Epicurus, or attachment to his doctrines, es- 
pecially the doctrine that pleasure is the chief 
good in life. 
Epicureanistn had indeed spread widely in the empire, 
but it proved little more than a principle of disintegra- 
tion or an apology for vice, or at best the religion of tran- 
quil and indifferent natures animated by no strong moral 
enthusiasm. Leaky, Europ. Morals, I. 184. 
2. [1. c.} Attachment to or indulgence in lux- 
urious habits; fondness for good living. See 
epicure, n., 2. 
epicurelyt (ep'i-kur-li), adv. [< epicure + -fy 2 .] 
Luxuriously. Davies. 
His horses . . . are provendered as epicurely. 
Nathe, Lenten Stufle (Harl. Misc., VL 179). 
epicureoust, <* [< L- Epicureia, < Or. ' 
f, < 'Em'icwpoc, Epicurus.] Epicurean. 
Epicycloid. 
I > Samson, late B. of Chichester, and now the double- 
faced epicureoujt bite-sheepe of Co. Lich. 
Bp. Gardiner, True Obedience, Translator to the Header. 
epicurism (ep'i-kur-izm), n. [= D. epikuris- 
mus = G. epikurdismus = Dan. epikurcei&me = 
Sw. epikurism, < F. epicurisme = Sp. Pfj. epicu- 
rismo = It. epicureismo, < L. Epicurus, .Epicurus.] 
1. [cap. or I.e.] The doctrine of Epicurus^ that 
enjoyment, or the pursuit of pleasure in life, is 
the chief good ; Epicureanism. 
Infidelity, or modem Deism, is little else but revived 
Epicureism, Sadducism, and Zendichism. 
Waterland, Works, VIII. 80. 
He . . . called in the assistance of sentiment to refine his 
enjoyments : in other words, all his philosophy consisted 
in epicurism. Goldsmith, Voltaire. 
2. By extension, luxury or indulgence in gross 
pleasure ; sensual enjoyment ; voluptuousness. 
See epicure, n., 2. 
Epicurism and lust 
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel. 
ShaJc., Lear, 1. 4. 
epicurize (ep'i-kur-iz), v. i. ; pret. and pp. epi- 
cvrized, ppr. epicurising. [< epicure + -i:e.} 
1. To be or become Epicurean in doctrine ; pro- 
fess the doctrines of Epicurus. 
The tree of knowledge mistaken for the tree of life, . . . 
Epicurizing philosophy, Antinomian liberty, under the 
pretence of free grace and a gospel spirit 
Cudworth, Sermons, p. 87. 
2. To play the epicure ; indulge in sensual plea- 
sures; feast; not. 
A fellow hero about town, that epicurizes upon burning 
coals, & drinks healths in scalding brimstone. 
Manxll, Works, II. 60. 
epicycle (ep'i-sl-kl), n. [< ME. episicle ; < LL. epi- 
cyctus, < Gr. ^jrucuKAof, epicycle, < itri, upon, + 
Ki'K?.of, circle: see cycle.} I. A circle moving 
upon or around another circle, as one of a num- 
ber of wheels revolving round a common axis. 
See epicyclic train, under epicyclic. 2. In the 
Ptolemaic system of astronomy, a little circle, 
conceived for the explanation of planetary mo- 
tion, whose center was supposed to move round 
in the circumference of a greater circle ; a small 
circle whose center, being fixed in the deferent 
of a planet, was supposed to be carried along 
with the deferent, and yet by its own peculiar 
motion to carry the body of the planet fastened 
to it round its proper center. Copernicus also 
1967 
made use of epicycles, which, however, were 
banished by Kepler. 
The moone moevyth the contrarle from othere planetes 
as in hire episicie, but in non other manere. 
Chaucer, Astrolabe, it I 88. 
The same phenomena In astronomy are satisfied by the 
received astronomy of the diurnal motion, and the proper 
motions of the planets, with their eccentrics and epicycle*. 
Baron, Advancement of Learning, li. 179. 
Tycho hath feigned I know not how many subdivisions 
ot epicycles in epicycles, Ac., to calculate and express the 
moon's motion. Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 297. 
Deferent of the epicycle. See deferent. 
epicyclic (ep-i-siklik), a. f< epicycle + -ic.~\ 
Of or pertaining to an epicycle Eplcycllc train, 
in ni''i-ti., any train of gearing the axes of the wheels of 
which revolve around a common center. The wheel at 
one end of such a train, if not those at both ends, Is al- 
ways concentric with the revolving frame. 
epicycloid (ep-i-si'kloid), n. [< Or. M, upon, 
+ /ctie^of, a circle, + fioof, 
form. Cf. epicycle and cy- 
cloid.'} In geom., a curve 
generated by the motion of 
a point on the circumference 
of a circle which rolls upon 
the convex side of a fixed 
circle. These curves were invented by the 
Danish astronomer Koemer in 1674 Elliptic 
epicycloid, a curve of the fourth order traced by a point 
in the plane of an ellipse which rolls upon an equal fixed 
ellipse. Exterior epicycloid, an epicycloid proper, op- 
posed to an interior epicycloid, which is a hypocycloid. 
interior epicycloid, a hypocycloid. Parabolic epi- 
cycloid, the locus of a point upon the plane of a para- 
bola which rolls upon an equal fixed parabola. Spheri- 
cal epicycloid, the locus of a point on the plane of a 
circle which rolls upon another circle so that the two 
planes have a constant inclination to each other. 
epicycloidal (ep'i-si-kloi'dal) ; a. [X epicycloid 
+ -al.} In the form of an epicycloid; depend- 
ing upon the 
properties of 
the epicycloid. 
Epicycloidal 
teeth, teeth for 
gearing cut In the 
form of an epi- 
cycloid. Eplcy- 
cloldal wheel, a 
wheel or ring fixed 
to a framework, toothed on its inner side, and having 
in gear with It another toothed wheel, of half the di- 
ameter of the first, fitted so as to revolve about the center 
of the latter. It 
is used for con- 
verting circular 
into alternate 
motion, or alter- 
nate into circu- 
lar. While the 
revolution of the 
smaller wheel is 
taking place, any 
point whatever 
on its circumfer- 
ence will de- 
scribe a straight 
line, or will 
pass and repasa 
through a diame* 
t IT of the circle, 
once during each 
revolution. In 
practice a pis- Epicycloidal Wheel. 
ton-rod or other 
reciprocating part may be attached to any poult on the 
circumference of the smaller wheel. 
epicyemata (ep'i-sl-e'mat), a. [< Or. cm, upon. 
+ Kirr/pa, anembrvo(< KVC'IV, be pregnant), 4- -ate.] 
In embryol., having that mode of development 
characteristic of Ickthyopsida, or fishes and 
batrachians, in which the embryo is not in- 
vaginated in the blastodermic vesicle, but re- 
mains superimposed upon a large yolk inclosed 
by the vesicle: the opposite of endocyemate. 
J. A. Ryder. 
epicyesis (ep'i-si-e'sis), n. [NL., < Gr. M, on, 
, pregnancy, < icvtiv, be pregnant.] The 
or condition of an epicyemate embryo ; 
the mode of development of the embryo in low 
vertebrates, which nave no amnion nor allan- 
tois. 
epicystotomy (ep'i-sis-tot'o-mi), n. [< Gr. kri, 
upon, + cystotomy.} In surg., the high or su- 
prapubic operation of opening the urinary blad- 
der. 
epideictic, epideictical, a. See epidictic, epi- 
aictical. 
epideistic (ep/i-de-is'tik), a. [< Gr. tiri, upon, 
+ dcistic.} Ultradeistic ; with religious spirit 
or purpose. 
The German expositions were essentially scientific and 
critical, not epideMic, nor intended to make converts. 
Westminster Rev., CXXVIL 110. 
epidemic (ep-i-dem'ik), a. and n. [< L. epidemus 
(< Gr. exiSr/fiof, also iirtif//uof, among the people, 
general, epidemic, < 'nri, upon, + o^/wf, people), 
quality 
the mod 
epidermic 
+ -<.] I. n. Common to or affecting a whole 
people or a great number in a community; gen- 
erally diffused and prevalent. A disease is said to 
be epidemic In a community when It appears In a great 
number of cases at the same time In that locality, but l 
not permanently prevalent there. In the Utter case It Is 
said to be endemic. 
Whatever be the cause of this epidemic folly, It would 
be unjust to ascribe It to the freedom of the press. 
Warburton, Divine Legation, Ded. to Freethinkers (17S8X 
A dread of mad dogs is the epidemic terror which now 
prevails. Goldtmith, Citizen of the World, Ixli. 
The hint becomes the more significant from the marked 
similarity of the cholera-track uf the present year to that 
which has on former occasions been followed, after a 
twelvemonth's Interval, by a regular invasion of epidemic 
cholera. Saturday Rev., Oct 21, 1865. 
II. . 1. A temporary prevalence of a dis- 
ease throughout a community: as, an epidemic 
of smallpox. 
The earlier epidemici of malignant cholera which visited 
Europe were l>elleved to have l>een heralded by an unusual 
prevalence of "fevers" and diarrhrcal affections. 
Quain, Med. Diet., p. 441. 
2. The disease thus prevalent. 
Those dreadful exterminating epidemiclcs. which, In 
consequence of scanty and unwholesome food, In former, 
times not unf requently wasted whole nations. 
Burlce, On Scarcity. 
epidemical (ep-i-dem'i-kal), a. [< epidemic + 
-al.} Of the character of an epidemic; epi- 
demically diffused ; epidemic. 
These vices [luxury and intemperance] are grown too 
Epidemical, not only in the City but the Countries too. 
Stillingjlcct, Sermons, I. I. 
epidemically (ep-i-dem'i-kal-i), adv. In an 
epidemic manner. 
epidemicalness (ep-i-dem'i-kal-nes), n. The 
state of being epidemic. Bailey, 1727. [Rare.] 
epidemiography (ep-i-de-mi-og'ra-fi). n. [< 
Gr. iTriSfaiof, epidemic, + -ypo^io, < ypfyeiv, 
write.] A treatise on or descnption of epi- 
demic diseases. 
epidemiological (ep-i-de'mi-o-loj'i-kal), o. 
(X epidemiology 4- -ical.} Pertaining to epi- 
demiology. 
epidemiologically (ep-i-de'mi-o-loj'i-kal-i), 
adv. In an epidemiological manner. 
epidemiologist (ep-i-de-mi-ol'o-jist), n. [< epi- 
demiology + -isf.J One conversant with epi- 
demiology. 
epidemiology (ep-i-de-mi-oro-ii), n. [< Gr. 
cxtifi/jw;, epidemic, + -toyia, < Mytiv, speak: see 
-ology.} The science of epidemics; the sum 
of human knowledge concerning epidemic dis- 
eases. 
epidemyt (ep'i-dem-i), n. [Late ME. epydymye; 
? Gr. iiri6r//ua, prevalence of an epidemic. < tir/- 
rfi7//of, epidemic: see ejndemic.} An epidemic. 
In the xix. yere of this Charlys, y lande of Fraunce was 
greuously vexyd with the plage ipydymye, of which syke- 
nesse a great multitude of people dyed. 
Fabyan, Chron., an. 1599. 
Epidendrum (ep-i-den'drum), n. [NL., so 
called from their growing on trees (cf. Gr. em- 
Aivipiof, on a tree), < Gr. eirl, upon, + tivipov, a 
tree.] A large genus of orchids, most of the spe- 
cies of which are epiphytic, growing on trees. 
There are about 400 species, confined for the most part to 
the tropics, though several species are found In Florida. 
They vary much in habit, but the stems are often pseudo- 
bulbs, bearing strap-shaped, leathery leaves. There are 
many species in cultivation for their handsome flowers. 
epiderm (ep'i-derm), n. [< LL. epidermis: see 
epidermis.} Same as epidermis. 
epidermal (ep-i-der'nial), a. [< epiderm + -al.] 
Relating to the epidermis or scarf-skin; cn- 
ticular; exoskeletal. Also, rarely, epiderma- 
toid, epidermose, epidermous, epidermidal.Spl- 
dermal tissue, structure, or system, in bot.. the 
simple or more or less complex structure which forms 
the covering of plants, Including cuticle, epidermis, bark, 
cork, etc. 
epidermale (ep'i-der-ma'le), n. ; pi. epiderma- 
lia (-11-&). fNL., < epidermis. Cf. epidermal."] 
depfiaric, equiv. to tviotpuff, epidermis, + 
form.] 1 . Same as epidermal or epidermic. 2. 
Resembling epidermis ; having some character 
of epiderm, without being exactly that tissue. 
Also epidermoid. 
epidermeous (ep-i-der'me-ns), a. [< epiderm 
+ -eous.} Same as epidermic. [Rare.] 
epidermic, epidemical (ep-i-der x mik, -mi-kal), 
a. [< epiderm(is) + -ic, -ical.'] Belonging or 
relating to or resembling the epidermis ; cover- 
ing the skin; epidermal Epidermic method, a 
method of administering medicinal substances by applying 
them to the skin. Also called iatraliptic method. 
