Forms: 6 ebullycion, ebulicion, -ition, 6–7 ebolition, 7 ebulliction, 7– ebullition. [ad. L. ēbullītiōn-em, f. ēbullīre (see prec.), whence OF. ebullicion, Sp. ebulicion, It. ebullizione, ebollizione. The earlier Eng. forms are prob. from Fr.]
1. The process of boiling, or keeping a liquid at the boiling point by the application of heat; the state of bubbling agitation into which a liquid is thrown by being heated to the boiling point. In first quot. perh. (etymologically) the process of extracting by boiling.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., III. 16. When you haue gotten out by ebulition the full strength & vertue.
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Voc., Ebullition, A boiling up.
1791. Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, I. I. I. v. 76. Galls are almost totally soluble in water by long ebullition.
1792. Phil. Trans., LXXXII. 403. Ebullition is that state of a liquid in which steam is continually formed within itself.
1831. Brewster, Nat. Magic, xii. (1833), 302. Fluids of easy ebullition.
1842. G. P. Scrope, Volcanos (1862), 30. This body of lava is evidently at such times in igneous ebullition.
† b. Pathol. A state of agitation in the blood or ‘humours’ due to heat; formerly supposed to be the cause of the action of the heart, and when morbid to give rise to febrile and inflammatory disorders. Obs.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, lxxiii. 21 b. It maye come of … ebullycion of the lyver.
1623. Hart, Arraignm. Ur., I. ii. 7. The ebullition or concoction of blood.
1647. Lilly, Chr. Astrol., xliv. 263. [Mars] being the cause of a Feaver … shewes ebolition or a boyling of the humours.
1710. T. Fuller, Pharm. Extemp., 20. Scorbutick Ale … restraineth the Ebullition … of the Vapourous Blood.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Ebullition of the Blood … in medicine a term used by some of the old writers.
2. transf. A state of agitation in a liquid resembling that produced by boiling heat; rapid formation of bubbles, effervescence.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. vii. 197. Copper, which is dissolved with lesse ebullition.
1686. W. Harris, Lemery’s Course Chym., II. xxi. 602. The ebullition which happens between acid and alkali.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., I. s.v. Euphorbium, Spirit of Nitre and that of Vitriol, penetrate the same, without Ebullition.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art, II. 109. The muriatic acid does not act upon copper except in a state of ebullition.
3. The action of rushing forth in a state of agitation or boiling; said of water, and transf. of fire, lava, etc. (In quot. 1599 humorously of tobacco-smoke.)
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., III. iii. 44. The practice of the Cuban ebolition, Euripus, and Whiffe.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 166/1. Plato made three Voyages to Sicily; the first to see the fiery ebullitions of Ætna.
1683. Pettus, Fleta Min., II. s.v. Boyling, This ebolition or plawing [of a spring].
1692. Ray, Discourses, II. v. (1732), 269. The Ebullition and Volutation of the melted Materials.
1759. B. Martin, Nat. Hist. Eng., I. 381. The ebullitions of this Spring are very remarkable.
1830. Lyell, Princ. Geol. (1875), I. II. xix. 448. A great ebullition of gas, chiefly carburetted hydrogen, took place.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. xxiv. 356. Ebullition is converted into explosion.
4. fig. A sudden outburst or boiling or bubbling over: a. of war or civil commotion.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), B viij. The ebulicion and mouyng of cyuyll warres.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 10–1. The Law, which kept under the violent ebullitions of their power.
1878. W. F. Napier, Penins. War, I. 31. After the first ebullition at Manresa, the insurrection of Catalonia lingered awhile.
b. of passion; also, of fancy, sentiment, etc.
1638. Sanderson, Serm., II. 109. The ebullitions of those lusts that war in our members.
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., I. (1858), Pref. 9. The obvious ebullitions of that light humour which takes the pen in hand … to be seen in print.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 79, ¶ 5. Such faults may be said to be ebullitions of genius.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 339. These ebullitions of jealousy.
1816. in J. Scott, Vis. Paris (ed. 4), App. 293. A slight ebullition of French flattery.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 325. A revolutionary reform breaks out with an ebullition of popular feelings.
Hence Ebullitionary a., of the nature of an ebullition.
1830. Black, in Fraser’s Mag., I. 287. The saline particles have been added to the ebullitionary agitation.
