[f. L. effervescent-em, pr. pple. of effervescĕre; see prec. and -ENCE. Cf. F. effervescence.]
† 1. The action of boiling up; heated agitation of the particles of a fluid. Obs.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., 164. Black bloud therefore or livid, green, &c. do not signifie the corruption of it: but are symbolizations of only its effervescence, or fermentall turbulency.
1676. Grew, Lect. Luctation, i. § 4. Effervescence; then and only properly so called, when they [the bodies mixed] produce some degree of heat.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., VI. 160/2. The effervescence of the Fever must be permitted.
1710. T. Fuller, Pharm. Extemp., 44. By proper Internals … allay the Effervescence of the Blood.
2. (Without necessarily implying heat.) The action of bubbling up as if boiling; the tumultuous rise of bubbles of gas from a fluid; esp. as the result of chemical action.
1684–5. Boyle, Min. Waters, 87. By an effervescence or conflict with some potent Acid.
1695. New Light Chirurg. put out, 63. ’Tis an Acid, because of its Effervescence with Volatile Salts.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 132. 62. That effervescence observed in the mixture of acids and alcalies.
1834. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sc., xvi. (1849), 151. A tall glass half full of champagne cannot be made to ring as long as the effervescence lasts.
1844–57. G. Bird, Urin. Deposits (ed. 5), 22. If brisk effervescence follows the addition of the acid, the urea has been converted into carbonate of ammonia.
3. fig.
1748. Johnson, L. P., Wks. 1816, X. 310. The effervescence of invention had subsided.
1791. Heroic Ep. to J. Priestley, in Poet. Regist. (1808), 397. The weekly burthen of their drowsy din Is … Mere effervescence of an acid soul.
c. 1800. K. White, Rem. (1837), 400. An effervescence of the sublimer affections.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 167. He had … when the first effervescence of boyish passions should have subsided, been recalled from his wanderings to wear a crown.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. lii. 55. A fellow … who was in an effervescence of surprise.
