Pl. effluvia, 7–8 effluviums. [a. late L. effluvium, f. efflu-ĕre, f. ex out + fluĕre to flow.]
† 1. A flowing out, an issuing forth; a process or manner of issuing forth. Obs.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., 156. The effluvium of bloud.
1676. Marvell, Mr. Smirke, 2. That they [Clergy] cannot transmit it [Mother-Wit] by breathing, touching, or any other natural Effluvium to other persons.
1704. Swift, T. Tub (1768), I. 123. Owing to certain subteraneous effluviums of wind.
2. Chiefly applied to the (real or supposed) outflow of material particles too subtle to be perceived by touch or sight; concr. a stream of such outflowing particles. † a. gen. (obs.).
1651. Biggs, New Disp., 114. A continual steame of most subtle effluviums, homogeneous and consimilar.
1677. Plot, Oxfordsh., 89. A spirituous, yet corporeal effluvium, continually flowing from it.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. Enthus. (1749), I. 33. Epicurus … thinks to solve ’em by his Effluvia, and aerial looking-glasses.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, I. 191. Quick effluvia darting through the brain.
b. A stream of minute particles, formerly supposed to be emitted by a magnet, electrified body, or other attracting or repelling agent, and to be the means by which it produces its effects. Chiefly pl. (Now only Hist.; but it probably survived the theory which it strictly implies.) Also fig.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. v. 86. So will a Diamond or Saphire emit an effluvium sufficient to move the needle or a straw without diminution of weight.
1658. J. Robinson, Eudoxa, II. 121. The Load-stone doth … so freely send forth its effluviums.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys.-Mech., xvii. 120. The Effluvia of the Load-stone.
1701. Beverley, Glory of Grace, 23. He as the Sovereign Magnet … Attracts every Living Stone by the Effluviums, the Flowings out of Life into, and upon, it.
1788. Cowper, Lett., 9 Aug. Mr. Rose a valuable young man … attracted by the effluvia of my genius.
1837. Brewster, Magnet., 152. A plane or circle held east and west … divides the north from the south magnetic effluvia.
1863. Draper, Intell. Devel. Europe, xix. (1865), 449. The doctrine … that magnetism is an effluvium issuing forth from the root of the tail of the Little Bear.
c. An ‘exhalation’ affecting the sense of smell, or producing effects by being received into the lungs. In mod. popular use chiefly a noxious or disgusting exhalation or odor.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 503. They that say, there goes something out of the odorous body, call it an effluvium.
1663. Boyle, Usef. Exp. Philos., II. 244. Infectious Diseases … conveyed by insensible Effluvia.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 538, ¶ 3. The miraculous Powers which the Effluviums of cheese have.
1821. Craig, Lect. Drawing, ii. 132. The effluvium proceeding from the colours, if continued long, is extremely injurious to the practitioner’s health.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., iii. (1852), 49. At the distance of half a mile … I have perceived the whole air tainted with the effluvium.
1867. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 260. [They] know nothing of the effluvia of the orange.
¶ 3. The pl. effluvia has often been ignorantly or carelessly treated as a sing. (in senses 2 a, b, c), with a new pl. effluvias or effluviæ.
1652. French, Yorksh. Spa, xvii. 120. Subtile insensible spirits, or rather atomes and effluvia’s.
1692. Norris, Curs. Refl., 24. Tell me how these corporeal effluvias … enter the eye.
1796. C. Marshall, Garden., ii. (1813), 20. Juices of a different flavour and effluvia in the bark, wood, leaves, flowers and seeds.
1806. T. Thomas, To W. Hanbury, 14. The fam’d Perfumes of Summer … Men to Rapture with Effluvias move.
1806. T. Paine, Yellow Fev., Misc. Wks. II. 180. An impure effluvia, arising from … the ground.
1822. Imison, Sci. & Art, II. 64. The putrid effluviæ in prisons.
1834. Beckford, Italy, II. 85. We scented a strong effluvia of the stable.
