episodical 
Up to 1865 poetry "a-, u 1" I Whittierl himself wrote, 
"snl in ! liili- tp\ ''" "/. -OIllrlhiliL- a|ial ! II on I till- tv;ll I>1) 
ji-ct anil :iill> ..1 Ml> lit.-. ' {Jiin,l,'ii : i HIT., CXXV1. 37(1. 
episodically (op-i-sod'i-kal-i), <ulr. Ill an epi- 
sodical mauuer; by way of episode. 
A disi.uii ] I>IK-. liv.-.if inn-Hint! Try might be thrown 
into u corner of the piece . . . fiiixiiiiiniHii. 
ll/i. Hunt, Not.* mi Horace's Art of Pin-try. 
Passing epfaxKeaKytoahroadcrgrou ml, mypapt i 
that there are some jioMtive reasons for the entrain In-- 
ment of persons who contrilmt'- to the revenue and to the 
national wealth. <;i,,,l*i,,n, , 1,1, anin^s, I. 17L'. 
epispastic (ep-i-spas'tik), it. and n. [< Gr. em- 
amumisur,, drawing to oneself, adapted, as drugs, 
to draw out humors, < t irHTTraoruf, drawn upon 
oneself, < cmairav, draw upon, < M, upon, + 
ffjrdv, draw.] I. a. In nied., producing a blister 
when applied to the skin. 
II. M. Aii application to the skin which pro- 
duces a serous or puriform discharge by exciting 
inflammation; a vesicatory; a blister. 
Epispastica (op-i-spas'ti-ka), n. pi. ptl,., < 
Gr. tmaxaomAt, drawing (blistering): sec </- 
xixixtif.] A group of coleopterous insects; the 
blister-beetles. 
episperm (ep'i-sp6rra), . [< Gr. em, upon, + 
n->piia, seed.] In hot., the testa or outer in- 
tegument of a seed. The figure 
shows (a) the episperm, (6) the en- 
dopleura, and (c) me endosperm. 
epispermlc (ep-i-sper'mik), a. [< 
i-piniicrm + -tc.] In hot., pertaining 
to the episperm. Epispermic embryo, 
an emlu-yo immediately covered by the epi- 
sperm or proper integument, as in the kid- 
ney-liean. 
episporangium (ep"i-spo-ran'ji-um), 
M. ; pl.ept,tporaH(/i(i(-&). [NL.,<Gr. em, upon, 
+ sporangium.] In hot., an indusium overlying 
the spore-cases of a fern. 
epispore (ep'i-spor), n. [< NL. episporium, q. 
v.] In hot., the second or outer coat of a spore, 
corresponding to the extine of pollen-grains. 
episporium (ep-i-spo'ri-um), . [NL., < Gr. 
cm, upon, 4- airopof, seed: see spore.] Same 
as epispore. 
Immovable oospores, which are finally red, ami an- sur- 
rounded by a double rwttporium or coat. 
U. C. Wood, Fresh-Water Algse, p. 100. 
epistalt, . An erroneous form of epistyle. 
epistasis (e-pis'ta-sis), n. [NL., < Gr. emaraatf, 
scum. < eQiaraoffat, stand upon, < hi, upon, 4- 
laraaOat, stand.] A substance swimming on- 
the surface of urine : opposed to liypostasis, or 
sediment. 
epistaxis (ep-is-tak'sis), n. [NL. ; < Gr. as if 
*Stbmtf (a false reading for (jrurray/uof, a 
bleeding at the nose), < imardfeiv, bleed at the 
nose again, let fall in drops upon, < ini, upon, 
+ ara(,eiv, fall in drops: see stacte.] Bleeding 
from the nose ; nose-bleed. 
epistelt, n. An obsolete form of epistle. 
epistemological (ep-i-ste-mo-loj'i-kal), a. [< 
f/'ix/' niiitiHi!/ + -ic-al.] Relating or pertaining 
to epistemology. 
Prof. Volkelt expressly declines, as not forming part of 
the mlttOHtloffieal problem, the Inquiries Into the meta- 
physical nature of this relation. 
K. Adainmn, Mind, XII. 128. 
epistemology (ep'i-ste-mol'o-ji), n. [< Gr. em- 
arr/ur/, knowledge (< emaraotfat, know), + -Aoyi'a, 
< Jieyetv, speak: see -ologij.] The theory of cog- 
nition; that branch of logic which undertakes 
to explain how knowledge is possible. Proba- 
bly first used by Ferrier. 
Ki'i*!i'iuo!<"t>i may he said to have passed with Hegel into 
a complete^ art n-nlateil "logic," that claimed to be at the 
same time a metaph>sie, or an ultimate expression of the 
nature of the real. v. liiit., X.VHI. "94. 
episterna, . 1'lnral of rpistcrimm. 
episternal (ep-i-ster'nal), a. [< episterniun + 
-al.] In :ni>l., of or pertaining to the epister- 
num; anterior, as a pleural sclerite Epister- 
nal granules, minute irregular ossicles found In man 
an<l some animal*, supposed to be in some cases, as that 
of the howlinu' monkey (.!/'/<-. {:<<). n-j.r.'sented by a dis- 
tinct hour on earh side of the presternum 
episternite (ep-i-ster'nit), n. [< Gr. cm, upon, 
+ E. xternite.] 
mari" 
rite. Lacaze-Dnthiers applied this term to the upper 
1975 
A [mrdinnl posterior plate which has the name of a 
sternum, and an anterior plute known us I ; 
[in liatra.-l.ian-. flung, /..Kil"K) (trans.), II. 1711. 
3. In entom., the anterior one of the three 
sclerites into which the propleuron, the meso- 
pleuron, and the motapleuron of an insect are 
severally typically divisible, lying above the 
sternum, below the tergum, ana in front of an 
epimeron. 
The lateral regions are divided into an anterior piece, 
rjrittlenntut, and a posterior. <-pini>-niin. 
Claiu, Zoology (trans.), I. 526. 
4. In Chclonia, same as epi)dastron : so called 
by most anatomists, who have considered it an 
element of a sternum. See second cut under 
Clii-iniiin. 5. pi. In comparative anat., the lat- 
eral pieces of the inferior or ventral are of the 
somite of a crustacean. 
epistbotonos (ep-is-thot'o-nos), n. [Given as 
< Gr. "*lmo#ev, forward"'(but there is no such 
word, it being appar. made up from em, upon, 
+ -coev, in imitation of oniaOcv, behind, back), 
+ riJiwf, a stretching, tension: see tone.] Same 
as eii>r:>fstlu>li>iio8. 
epistiibite (ep-i-stil'bit), n. [< Gr. emard./)eiv, 
glisten on the surface, < em, upon, + trr&jlctv, 
glisten, glitter, gleam, shine: see sti/bite.] A 
white translucent mineral crystallizing in the 
monoclinie system and belonging to the zeo- 
lites. It is a hydrous silicate of aluminium, 
calcium, and sodium. 
epistlar (e-pis'lar), a. [< epistle + -or 2 . Cf. 
epistolar, epistler.] Pertaining to an epistle or 
epistles: specifically applied (eccles.) to the side 
of the altar on which the epistle is read. 
epistle (e-pis'l), n. [< ME. epistle, epistcl, epys- 
tolle, etc. (of mixed AS. and OF. origin), < AS. 
epistol = D. epistel = OHG. cpistula, G. epistel = 
Dan. Sw. epistel = OP. epistle, einstre. mod. P. 
epttre = Pr. pistola =s Sp. epintola = Pg. It. epi- 
stola, < L. epistnla, usually accom. epistula, < Gr. 
imarofJi, a letter, message, < e Kiart&Atv. send to, 
< em, to, + OTfA/U/v, send. This word, like apos- 
tle, which is of similar formation, appears also 
in ME. and AS. without the initial vowel : see 
pis tie, postle.] 1. A written communication 
directed or sent to a person at a distance ; a 
letter; a letter missive: used particularly in 
dignified discourse or in speaking of ancient 
writings: as, the epistles of Paul, of Pliny, or of 
Cicero. 
Called nowe Corona, in Morea, to whome seynt Poule 
wrote aoiidry epystotlet. 
Sir R. Gvytforde, Pylgrymage, p. 11. 
I Tertius, who wrote this epitlf, salute you In the Lord. 
Rom. xvi. 22. 
He has here writ a letter to yon : I should have given it 
you to-day morning, but as a madman's epistle* are no gos- 
pels, so it skills not much when they are delivered. 
SAo*., T. N., T. 1. 
2. [cap.] In liturgies, one of the eucharistic les- 
sons, taken, with some exceptions, from an epis- 
tolary book of the New Testament and read be- 
fore the gospel. In the early church a lection from 
the Old Testament, called the prftphecy, preceded it, and 
such a lection is still sometimes used instead of it In the 
Greek Church the epistle (called the apostle, as also In the 
early church) is preceded by the prokeimenon and followed 
by "Peace to thee " and "Alleluia " -. h"i the Western Church 
it is preceded by the collects ami followed by the Deo 
gratias, the gradual, tract, or alleluia, with the verse or 
sequence. Jt Is read in the Greek Church by the anagnost or 
lector at the holy doors, and in the Western Church by the 
subdeacon or epistler (in the Roman Catholic Church the 
celebrant also reciting it in a low voice) at the south side 
of the altar, that is, at a part of the front of the altar on 
the celebrant's right as he faces it. Formerly it was read 
from the ambo (sometimes from a separate or epistle ambo) 
or pulpit, or from the step of the choir. .Sometimes called 
the lection simply. 
3t. Any kind of harangue or discourse ; a com- 
munication. 
So prelatyk he sat infill his cheyre ! 
Scho roundis than ane epittil intill eyre. 
Dunbar, Poems (in Maitland's MS., p. 72). 
Canonical epistles, see canonical, Ecclesiastical 
epistles. > ./. Epistle side of the altar 
-.). tlie south side; the side to the left of the priest 
when farms: the people. Pastoral Epistles, a general 
u:nne -i\ m to the epistles of Paul to Timothy ami Titus, 
r., , . . because these letters largely consist of directions n 
In entnm., one of the pieces pri- ing the work of a pastor. 
ly composing the sides of a segment; aplcn- epistlet (c-pis'l), v. t. [< epistle, n.] To write 
as a letter; communicate by writing or by an 
epistle. 
Tims much may beepittled. Milton. 
pair of plates for m ins; tin- valves of the female ovi[> 
ially of orthopterous inserts. Tlicsc are modilied 
si.l, |>iot>> ol ,iiu of tin- ahilominal rings. 
. 
episternum (op-i-ster'uum), . ; pi. 
(-nil). [< Gr. err !, upon, + arepvov, breast, 
ehcst, liivast-lmni' : si-i- xt i -fit n m.] 1. In mam- 
mals, the manubrium stcrni: the prcsternum of 
must authors. Ci ;/ ulimir. 2. In lower vri-tr- 
brates, some presti-rual part. See interclaviele. 
epistler (e-pis'ler), . [Formerly also epistoler; 
= F. cpi.ttolairc = Sp. epistolero " Pg. e/iitttult i- 
r/i, < LL. rpiatiiliiriii.*. <-/ii.itnlnriux. also epixtnla- 
i-i'v. I'lii.ttiilnrix. :i siM-ivtnrv. jirop. adj., of orper- 
tainington letter or an cpistli: si' ( > 
tpittoiar.] 1. A writer of epistles. 
epistolographlc 
What need* the man to be so furiously angry with the 
good old ejiutUr for sayiiut that the apostle's charge . . . 
is general to all? Bj,. Ilall, H mr of .Married ' 
2. In the .luii/ima I'll., the bishop, priest, or 
deacon who acts as subdeacon at the celebra- 
tion of the eucharist or holy communion: so 
called from his office of reading the liturgical 
epistle, in distinction from the gospeler or 
deacon. 
In all cathedral and collegiate churches the Holy Com- 
munion shall be administered upon principal feast-days, 
. . . the principal minister using a decent cope, and be- 
ing assisted with the gospel er and evinlrr agreeably. 
Uth Canon oj the Church / England. 
epistlingt ($-pis'ling), n. [Verbal n. of epistle, 
t\] Epistolary matter ; correspondence. 
Here's a packet of KjaMiny, as blgge as a Packe of 
Woollen cloth. 
'.'. llurfii, quoted In Dyce's ed. of Greene's Plays, p. xcvl. 
epistolart (e-pis'to-lSr), a. [= P. rpixtolaire = 
Sp. Pg. epistolar = It. etnstolure, < LL. episto- 
laris, epistularis, of or belonging to a letter: see 
epistolary.'} Epistolary. 
This epixtolar way will have a considerable efficacy upon 
them. Dr. II. More, Epistles to the Seven Churches, p. 7. 
epistolary (e-pis'to-la-ri), a. and n. [= P. epis- 
tolaire = Sp. Pg. Tt. epistolario, < LL. epistola- 
rius, epistularitis, of or belonging to a letter, < 
L. epixtola, epistula, a letter: see epistle.] I. 
a. 1. Pertaining to epistles or letters ; suitable 
to letters and correspondence; familiar: as, an 
epistolary style. 
I ... write in loose epistolary way. 
Vryden, Ded. of ueld. 
If you will have my opinion, then, of the Serjeant's let- 
ter, I pronounce the style to be mixed, but truly epitto- 
lartt ; the sentiment relating to his own wound Is in the 
sublime ; the postscript of Pegs llartwell, in the gay. 
Steelt, Tatler, No. 87. 
The few things he wrote are confined to the epistolary 
. . . manner. 
GoldmMh, Encouragers and Discouragers of Eng. Lit., ii. 
2. Contained in letters ; carried on by letters. 
A free epiftolary correspondence. W. Maton. 
II. .; pi. epistolaries (-riz). A book for- 
merly in use in the Western Church, containing 
the liturgical epistles. In the Greek Church the 
epistles are contained in a book called the aiwxtle (apon- 
tuloa or a}toiitulu#, a name also used in the West), or, as 
comprising the lections from both the Aeta and the epis- 
tles, the jrraxafto*tolo#. The epistolary was sometimes 
known as the lertionary. Also in the forms epittvlare, 
ejtistttlariittii. See cmnes. 
epistolean (e-pis-to-le'an), n. [Irreg. < L. epis- 
tola, an epistle, +' -can.} A writer of epis- 
tles or letters ; a correspondent. Mrs. Cotcdcii 
Clarke. 
epistoler (e-pis'to-ler), n. A form of epistler. 
epistolet (e-pis' to-let), n. [= It. epistoletta, 
dim., < L. epistola, epistula, a letter: see epis- 
tle.] A short epistle or letter. [Humorous.] 
You see thro' my wicked intention of curtailing this epit- 
totet by the above device of large margin. 
Lamb, To Barton. 
epistolic, epistolical (ep-is-tol'ik, -i-kal), a. 
[= Sp. (obs.) episMico = Pg. It. epistolico, < L. 
epistolicus, (. Gr. * irrro/".6f , < emaro).t/, a letter : 
see epistle.] Pertaining to letters or epistles; 
epistolary. 
epistolise, epistoliser. See epistolise, episto- 
li:er. 
epistolist (e-pis'to-list), n. [< L. epistola, a let- 
ter, + -ist.] A writer of letters; a correspon- 
dent. [Rare.] 
James Howell fulfils all the requirements of a pleasant 
letter-writer, and was, less than most eirintolutiuthu age, 
dependent on his matter for the charm of his correspon- 
dence. Quarterly Jier. 
epistolize (e-pis'to-liz), v. ; pret. and pp. epis- 
toli^ed, ppr. epistolizing. [< L. epixtolti, a letter, 
+ -ire.] I. inlrans. To write epistles or letters. 
[Rare.] 
Very, very tired ! I began this epistle, having been epit- 
tolifing all the morning. Lamb, To Miss Fryer. 
II. trans. To write letters to. [Rare.] 
A "Lady, or the Tiger?" literature was the result, of 
which a part found its way into print. . . . Of course such 
an excuse for epittolianij the author was not neglected. 
The Century, XXXIL 405. 
Also spelled epistolise. 
epistolizer (e-pis'to-li-zer), n. A writer of epis- 
tles. Also spelled' epistoliser. 
Some modem authors there are, who have exposed their 
letters to the World, but most of them. I mean your Latin 
Kpittolizert, go freighted with mere Bartholomew Ware. 
// ">.(/, Letters, I. i. 1. 
epistolographic(e-]'i s to-lo-graf'ik), a. [=F. 
I'liixtiilHt/raphii/He. < Gr. fTrroXo}po^(*of, used in 
writing letters, <i^iaru>ojpdaof, a letter- writer: 
