v. [ad. L. effervesc-ĕre, f. ex out + fervesc-ĕre to begin to boil, inceptive vb. f. fervēre to be hot.]
† 1. intr. ‘To generate heat by intestine motion’ (J.); to break into violent chemical action.
1745. Mead, Mech. Acc. Poisons, Introd. p. xxxvii. (J.). The compound spirit of nitre put to oil of cloves will effervesce even to a flame.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. iii. § 2. 364. If these Corpuscles effervesce together … repulsive Powers may arise.
2. To give off bubbles of gas, esp. as the result of chemical action; to bubble.
1784. Kirwan, Min., 43. [Calcareous Grit] effervesces with acids.
1792. A. Young, Trav. France, 94. A vein of earth, perfectly white, which on trial did not effervesce with acids.
1805. W. Saunders, Min. Waters, 166. Which, when mixed up with soda…, effervesced and fused into a perfect glass.
1816. Accum, Chem. Tests (1818), 281. The residue will … effervesce with dilute acids.
1846. G. Day, trans. Simon’s Anim. Chem., II. 28. Human gastric juice … effervesces on the addition of alkalies.
b. Of the gas itself: To issue forth in bubbles.
1830. M. Donovan, Dom. Econ., I. 173. As the carbonic acid effervesces away, the particles of yest … begin to sink.
1874. Lyell, Elem. Geol., ii. 13. The carbonic acid … froths up or ‘effervesces’ … in small bubbles through the drop of liquid.
3. fig.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. ix. 118. A number of frolicsome juveniles … were effervescing in all those modes of untold gambol and mischief that have astonished mothers ever since the flood.
1871. R. H. Hutton, Ess., II. 337. No period could be found when mingling faith and culture effervesced with more curious results.
4. trans. rare. To stir up, excite, exhilarate.
1866. Harvard Mem. Biog., G. W. Batchelder, II. 6. The steady, regular tramp of the marching thousands effervesced our spirits.
