**Eclipse**, in astronomy, the deprivation of the light of the sun, or of some heavenly body, by the interposition of another heavenly body between our sight and it. See Astronomy, no. 227.

**Ecliptic**, in astronomy, a great circle of the sphere, supposed to be drawn through the middle of the zodiac, making an angle with the equinoctial of about 23° 30', which is the sun's greatest declination; or, more strictly speaking, it is that path or way among the fixed stars, that the earth appears to describe to an eye placed in the sun. See Astronomy.

Some call it *via Solis*, "the way of the sun;" because the sun in his apparent annual motion never deviates from it, as all the other planets do more or less. It is called *ecliptic*, by reason all eclipses happen when the planets are in, or near, its Node.

**Ecliptic**, in geography, a great circle on the terrestrial globe, not only answering to, but falling within, the plane of the celestial ecliptic. See Geography.

**Eclogue**, in poetry, a kind of pastoral composition, wherein shepherds are introduced conversing together.

The word is formed from the Greek *ἐκλογή*, choice; so that, according to the etymology, *eclogue* should be no more than a select or choice piece; but custom has determined it to a farther signification, viz. a little elegant composition in a simple, natural style and manner.

Idyllion and eclogue, in their primary intention, are the same thing: thus, the *idylia*, *εἰδύλλια*, of Theocritus, are pieces wrote perfectly in the same vein with the *eclogae* of Virgil. But custom has made a difference between them, and appropriated the name *eclogue*, to pieces wherein shepherds are introduced speaking; *idyllion*, to those wrote like the eclogue, in a simple natural style, but without any shepherds in them.

**Eclose**, a small but strong town of the Dutch Low Countries, in the county of Flanders, with a good harbour and sluices. The English besieged it in vain in 1405, and the people of Bruges in 1436. But the Dutch, commanded by Count Maurice of Nassau, took it in 1644. It is defended by several forts, and stands near the sea. P. Long. 3. 10. N. Lat. 50° 25'.

**Ecphrastics**, in medicine, remedies which attenuate and remove obstructions. See Attenuants, and Deobstruents.

**Ecthesis**, in church-history, a confession of faith, in the form of an edict, published in the year 639, by the emperor Heraclius, with a view to pacify the troubles occasioned by the Eutychian heresy in the eastern church. However, the same prince revoked it, on being informed that pope Severinus had condemned it, as favouring the Monothelites; declaring at the same time, that Sergius, patriarch of Constantinople, was the author of it.

**Ecthlipsis**, among Latin grammarians, a figure of profody whereby the *i* at the end of a word, when the following word begins with a vowel, is elided, or cut off, together with the vowel preceding it, for the sake of the measure of the verse; thus they read *mult' ille*, for *multum ille*.

**Ectropium**, in surgery, is when the eye-lids are inverted, or retracted, so that they show their internal or red surface, and cannot sufficiently cover the eye.

**Ectyloctics**, in pharmacy, remedies proper for consuming callosities.