资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Electric \E*lec"tric\, Electrical \E*lec"tric*al\, a. [L.
   electrum amber, a mixed metal, Gr. ?; akin to ? the beaming
   sun, cf. Skr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. ['e]lectrique. The
   name came from the production of electricity by the friction
   of amber.]
   1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing,
      derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric
      power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an
      electric spark.

   2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as,
      an electric or electrical machine or substance.

   3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. ``Electric Pindar.''
      --Mrs. Browning.

   {Electric atmosphere}, or {Electric aura}. See under {Aura}.
      

   {Electrical battery}. See {Battery}.

   {Electrical brush}. See under {Brush}.

   {Electric cable}. See {Telegraph cable}, under {Telegraph}.
      

   {Electric candle}. See under {Candle}.

   {Electric cat} (Zo["o]l.), one of three or more large species
      of African catfish of the genus {Malapterurus} (esp. {M.
      electricus} of the Nile). They have a large electrical
      organ and are able to give powerful shocks; -- called also
      {sheathfish}.

   {Electric clock}. See under {Clock}, and see
      {Electro-chronograph}.

   {Electric current}, a current or stream of electricity
      traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting
      substances, or passing by means of conductors from one
      body to another which is in a different electrical state.
      

   {Electric, or Electrical}, {eel} (Zo["o]l.), a South American
      eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus {Gymnotus} ({G.
      electricus}), from two to five feet in length, capable of
      giving a violent electric shock. See {Gymnotus}.

   {Electrical fish} (Zo["o]l.), any fish which has an
      electrical organ by means of which it can give an
      electrical shock. The best known kinds are the torpedo,
      the gymnotus, or electrical eel, and the electric cat. See
      {Torpedo}, and {Gymnotus}.

   {Electric fluid}, the supposed matter of electricity;
      lightning.

   {Electrical image} (Elec.), a collection of electrical points
      regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena,
      an image of certain other electrical points, and used in
      the solution of electrical problems. --Sir W. Thomson.

   {Electrical light}, the light produced by a current of
      electricity which in passing through a resisting medium
      heats it to incandescence or burns it. See under {Carbon}.
      

   {Electric, or Electrical}, {machine}, an apparatus for
      generating, collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by
      friction.

   {Electric motor}. See {Electro-motor}, 2.

   {Electric osmose}. (Physics) See under {Osmose}.

   {Electric pen}, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for
      multiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at
      great speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the
      penhandle.

   {Electric railway}, a railway in which the machinery for
      moving the cars is driven by an electric current.

   {Electric ray} (Zo["o]l.), the torpedo.

   {Electric telegraph}. See {Telegraph}.

Candle \Can"dle\, n. [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L.
   candela a (white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. cand["e]re
   to be white. See {Candid}, and cf. {Chandler}, {Cannel},
   {Kindle}.]
   1. A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, containing a wick
      composed of loosely twisted linen of cotton threads, and
      used to furnish light.

            How far that little candle throws his beams! So
            shines a good deed in a naughty world. --Shak.

   Note: Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the
         wicks in the melted tallow, etc. (``dipped candles''),
         or by casting or running in a mold.

   2. That which gives light; a luminary.

            By these blessed candles of the night. --Shak.

   {Candle nut}, the fruit of a euphorbiaceous shrub ({Aleurites
      triloba}), a native of some of the Pacific islands; --
      socalled because, when dry, it will burn with a bright
      flame, and is used by the natives as a candle. The oil has
      many uses.

   {Candle power} (Photom.), illuminating power, as of a lamp,
      or gas flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standard
      candle.

   {Electric candle}, A modification of the electric arc lamp,
      in which the carbon rods, instead of being placed end to
      end, are arranged side by side, and at a distance suitable
      for the formation of the arc at the tip; -- called also,
      from the name of the inventor, {Jablockoff candle}.

   {Excommunication by inch of candle}, a form of
      excommunication in which the offender is allowed time to
      repent only while a candle burns.

   {Not worth the candle}, not worth the cost or trouble.

   {Rush candle}, a candle made of the pith of certain rushes,
      peeled except on one side, and dipped in grease.

   {Sale by inch of candle}, an auction in which persons are
      allowed to bid only till a small piece of candle burns
      out.

   {Standard candle} (Photom.), a special form of candle
      employed as a standard in photometric measurements;
      usually, a candle of spermaceti so constructed as to burn
      at the rate of 120 grains, or 7.8 grams, per hour.

   {To curse by bell, book and candle}. See under {Bell}.