Elephant Apple
a tree that grows in India. It is of the orange tribe, and is large and handsome, with pinnate leaves and a large gray fruit with a very hard rind.
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Single-source entries: E (15)
These 15 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Elephant Apple, Elephant Seal, Elephanta.
Elephant Hawk-Moth
an insect with upper wings olive-brown inclining to olive green, with purpletinged, rose-red markings, a white margin and spot, and a red fringe. Under wings dusky at the base, and reddishpurple posteriorly, with a pure white fringe. The caterpillar feeds on the willowherbs, the vine, etc. The small ele- AFRICAN ELEPHANT phant hawk-moth is one of the smallest species of the genus, being usually but 20 lines long.
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Elephant Seal
the proboscis seal, or sea-elephant, the largest of the seal family. There are probably two species, one found only on the coast of California and western Mexico, the other found in Patagonia, Kerguelen Island, Heard's Island, and other parts of the Southern Seas. They vary in length from 12 to 30 feet, and in girth at the chest from 8 to 18 feet. The proboscis of the male is about 15 inches long, but elongates under excitement. The females have no proboscis, and are considerably smaller than the male.
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Elephant's Ear
a name sometimes given to plants of the genus Begonia. 1
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Elephanta
an island over 4 miles in circuit, in the harbor of Bombay, 6 miles E. of the city, and 4 miles from the mainland. It owed its European name to a large figure of an elephant which stood near its former landingplace, but which, after 1814, gradually sank into a shapeless mass. Of the island's far-famed Brahmanic rockcaves, four are complete, or nearly so; the most important is the Great Temple, still used by the Hindus on Sivaite festivals. The word is also used to designate the thunder storm that marks the end of the rainy season in the region around Bombay, India.
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Elephantiasis
a cutaneous disease, especially prevalent in Egypt. It is so called from its likeness to an elephant's hide.
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Elephantine
a small island of Egypt, in the Nile, opposite Assuan. It is covered with ruins piled on each other-Egyptian, Roman, Saracen, and Arabic, the most important being a gateway of the time of Alexander, a small temple dedicated to Khnum and founded by Amenophis II., and the ancient Nilometer mentioned by Strabo. The island gave the 5th dynasty to Egypt.
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Eleusinia
A great festival observed by the Lacedaemonians, Cretans, and others every fourth year, and by the people of Athens every fifth year, at Eleusis in Attica , where it was introduced by Eumolpus, в. C. 1356. It was the most celebrated of all the religious ceremonies of Greece. The term Mysteries is often applied to it. The expression Eleusinian mysteries, as applied to anything that is inexplicable, has become proverbial. 2026 Editor's Note: The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiations held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone, representing the myth of Persephone's abduction and reunion with her mother in a cycle of descent, search, and ascent. For the initiated, this cycle symbolized the eternity of life flowing through generations, and they believed they would receive rewards in the afterlife. Some scholars propose that the Mysteries' remarkable longevity across two millennia stemmed from psychedelic drugs used in their visionary ceremonies. (Ed: BR 2026-06-30)
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Eleusinian Mysteries
festivals held annually at Eleusis, a town of Attica, in honor of the goddess Deme- INDIAN ELEPHANT ter. The usual opinion is that they were begun by Eumolpus, the first hierophant, 1356 b. c. Great secrecy was observed in the celebration of the festivals, consisting of the greater and lesser mysteries; and it was a capital offense to reveal any of the rites. They existed about 18 centuries, and ceased during the invasion of Alaric I., in 396.
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Eleusis
a decayed village of Attica, but in ancient times a city of Greece, 12 miles from Athens. It was celebrated as the chief seat of the worship of Ceres, whose temple here was the largest sacred edifice in Greece.
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Eleusis, Mysteries of
(See Mysteries .) flints, Belemnites, which are found in many countries, but notably in Scotland. It was believed that these stones were arrows shot by the elves, which prove fatol to cattle, -the cure being to touch them with the arrow with which they have been hit, and give them to drink of water in which the arrow has been dipped. It is even on record that an Irish bishop was thus shot at by an evil spirit; and it is said that they are manufactured by the Devil with the help of attendant imps who roughhew them, while the Archfiend finishes the work. Cases are on record where they have been known to be made and used by the witches of Scotland within historic times. Similar superstitions regarding these remnants of the stone age prevail in Italy, Africa, and Turkey.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Elf
a little sprite supposed to inhabit wild and desolate places, and to exercise a mysterious power over man; a fairy, a goblin.
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Elf Arrows
ELF BOLTS, and ELF- SHOT, popular names in Great Britain for stone arrow-heads, and other similar ancient barbarian weapons. They are superstitiously worn as charms against lightning. They are said to appear in great quantities where the day before there were none.
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Elf-Fire
The Ignis fatuus , or "foolish fire." This is the name given to fire obtained by rubbing two pieces of wood together, and which is used in superstitious ways. Amongst the Russian peasantry it is believed that these wandering lights are the souls of still-born children, who do not desire to lure people from the path, but who get no rest until they find their bodies.
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Elgar
SIR EDWARD, an English composer. He was born at Broadheath, Worcestershire, in 1857, and was educated at Littleton House and privately. He acted as organist for a time, but organist soon engaged in musical composition, and since 1896 has produced many musical publications. His works include: "King Olaf," "Caractacus," "Variations," "Sea-pictures," "Dream of Gerontius," "The Coronation Ode." "Gerontius" was produced in Düsseldorf in 1901, and repeated at the Niederrheinische Musik-Fest in 1902. "The Apostles" was produced at the Birmingham Festival in 1903; the concert overture, "In the South," Elgar Festival, Covent Garden, 1904; the oratorio, "The Kingdom," Birmingham Festival, 1906. "The Apostles" was also produced in German at the Niederrheinische Musik- Fest in Cologne, 1904. Other of his works include: Symphonies, violin concerto; "The Coronation March" (1911); "Masque, The Crown of India" (1912). Elgar received many distinctions, including the Order of Merit; Associate, Académie des Beaux-Arts, Belgium; Hon. Academician, Royal Swedish Academy, Stockholm; Hon. Member Société des Compositeurs, Paris; Member Maatschaapij tot Bevordering der Toonkunst, Holland.
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