Definition of Electrecity
Electricity, the name given to a subtle agent called the electric
fluid, latent in all bodies, and first evolved by friction, and which may
manifest itself, under certain conditions, in brilliant flashes of light,
or, when in contact with animals, in nervous shocks more or less violent.
It is of two kinds, negative and positive, and as such exhibits itself in
the polarity of the magnet, when it is called Magnetic ( q. v.),
and is excited by chemical action, when it is called Voltaic ( q.
v.).
- Wikipedia
E`lec*tric"i*ty (-tr&ibreve;s"&ibreve;*t&ybreve;),
n.; pl. Electricities (-
t&ibreve;z). [Cf. F. électricité. See
Electric.] 1. A power in nature, a
manifestation of energy, exhibiting itself when in disturbed
equilibrium or in activity by a circuit movement, the fact of
direction in which involves polarity, or opposition of
properties in opposite directions; also, by attraction for many
substances, by a law involving attraction between surfaces of
unlike polarity, and repulsion between those of like; by
exhibiting accumulated polar tension when the circuit is broken; and
by producing heat, light, concussion, and often chemical changes when
the circuit passes between the poles or through any imperfectly
conducting substance or space. It is generally brought into action by
any disturbance of molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical,
physical, or mechanical, cause.
[1913 Webster]
&fist; Electricity is manifested under following different forms:
(a) Statical electricity, called also
Frictional or Common,
electricity, electricity in the condition of a
stationary charge, which may be produced by friction, as of glass,
amber, etc., or by induction. (b) Dynamical
electricity, called also Voltaic
electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current
produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a voltaic battery,
or by mechanical action, as by dynamo-electric machines. (c)
Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is
heat (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is developed
by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar, and then heating the
bar unequally. (d) Atmospheric electricity,
any condition of electrical disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds,
due to some or all of the above mentioned causes. (e)
Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the
action of magnets. (f) Positive
electricity, the electricity that appears at the positive
pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced by friction of glass;
-- called also vitreous electricity. (g)
Negative electricity, the electricity that appears
at the negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction of
resinous substance; -- called also resinous electricity.
(h) Organic electricity, that which is
developed in organic structures, either animal or vegetable, the
phrase animal electricity being much more common.
2. The science which unfolds the phenomena
and laws of electricity; electrical science.
3. Fig.: Electrifying energy or
characteristic.
[1913 Webster]
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
ELECTRICITY, n. The power that causes all natural phenomena not known
to be caused by something else. It is the same thing as lightning,
and its famous attempt to strike Dr. Franklin is one of the most
picturesque incidents in that great and good man's career. The memory
of Dr. Franklin is justly held in great reverence, particularly in
France, where a waxen effigy of him was recently on exhibition,
bearing the following touching account of his life and services to
science:
"Monsieur Franqulin, inventor of electricity. This
illustrious savant, after having made several voyages around the
world, died on the Sandwich Islands and was devoured by savages,
of whom not a single fragment was ever recovered."
Electricity seems destined to play a most important part in the
arts and industries. The question of its economical application to
some purposes is still unsettled, but experiment has already proved
that it will propel a street car better than a gas jet and give more
light than a horse.
- 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
- A form of energy, caused by the behavior of electrons and protons.
- A fundamental property of matter, appearing in negative and positive kinds.
- The flow of charge carriers within a conductor.
- A class of physical phenomena
- A field a physical science
Quotations
*1646 .... Sir Thomas Browne, in ... (First known English usage)
*02.IX.2000 Householders could one day be producing as much electricity as all the country's nuclear power stations combined, thanks to the revolutionary application of a device developed in the early 19th century. - (2000)
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia
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