arras, money advanced to bind the parties to the performance of a verbal bargain. By the civil law, he who recedes from his bargain loses his earnest; and if the person who received the earnest give back, he is to return the earnest double. But with us, the person who gave it, is in strictness obliged to abide by his bargain; and in case he decline it, is not discharged upon forfeiting his earnest, but may be sued for the whole money stipulated.

Earth, among ancient philosophers and chemists, one of the four elements of which the whole system of nature was thought to be composed. See Element; and Chemistry, p. 10.