formally repr. Gr. ἠλεκτρο- combining form of ἤλεκτρον, which, after the analogy of its derivative ELECTRIC, is treated as if meaning ‘electricity’; first occurring in quasi-Greek derivatives like ELECTROMETER, and now used without restriction to form combinations (chiefly written with hyphen) denoting processes carried on by electrical means, or the application of electricity to particular departments of art or industry, as in electro-blasting, -cautery, -dentistry, -engraving, -etching, -horticulture, lithotrity, -otiatrics. Also in the following:
Electroballistic a., relating to the art of timing by electricity the flight of projectiles. Electro-bioscopy [+ -bioscopy, f. BIO- + -scopy, after microscopy, etc.], the examination of an animal body by means of a galvanic current, to discover muscular contractions as evidence of life. Electro-capillary a., having reference to the influence of electricity on capillary tubes under certain conditions. Electro-chemic, -chemical adjs., pertaining to electricity and chemistry jointly. Electro-chemistry, the science of the application of electricity to chemistry. Electro-chronograph, an instrument for electrically recording exact instants of time. Electro-coating vbl. sb., the process of coating a body over with metal by the galvanic battery. Electro-copper, iron coated with copper by means of the galvanic battery. Electro-deposit v., to deposit (a coating of metal, etc.) by means of electricity: hence Electro-deposit, -deposition, the process of depositing by electricity; Electro-depositor, one who conducts this process. Electro-diagnosis, the application of electricity to purposes of medical diagnosis. Electro-ergometer, an instrument for measuring the work done by an electric machine. Electro-fusion, the fusion of metals by means of the electric current. Electro-galvanic a., pertaining to the galvanic form of electricity; also, pertaining to electricity as including galvanism. Electro-genesis [see GENESIS], the state of tetanoid spasm that supervenes in the muscles highly stimulated by galvanism, when the current is withdrawn: so Electrogenic a. [see -GENIC], pertaining to electrogenesis. Electro-gild v., to gild by means of an electric current: hence electro-gilding vbl. sb., electro-gilt ppl. adj. Electro-kinetic a. [see KINETIC], having reference to electricity in motion. Electro-massage, kneading the body or a limb with a combined roller and small galvanic machine. Electro-medical a., pertaining to the application of galvanism to medical purposes. Electro-metallurgy, the application of electrolysis to the deposition of thin coatings from metallic solutions: hence electro-metallurgic, -metallurgical adjs. Electro-muscular a., having reference to the mutual influence of the electric current and muscular contraction. Electro-negative a., pertaining to, or producing, negative electricity. Electro-nervous a., relating to the affinity between electric and nervous action. Electro-optics the science of the relations between electricity and optics. Electro-pathology, the science of morbid conditions as they are revealed by electrical means. Electro-physiology, the science of the electrical conditions of the physiological processes; the testing by electricity of the bodily functions: hence electro-physiological adj. Electro-photometer, an instrument for comparing the intensity of lights by referring them to the standard of the electric spark. Electropoion [f. Gr. -ποιόν, neut. of -ποιός that makes], a name for Bunsen’s carbon battery. Electro-polar a., an epithet applied to the condition of a cylindrical conductor when, on being electrified by induction, the ends become polar. Electro-positive a., pertaining to, or producing, positive electricity. Electro-process = electrotyping process. Electropuncture GALVANOPUNCTURE. Electro-pyrometer = electric PYROMETER. Electro-silver v. = ELECTROPLATE. Electrosynthetic a., causing chemical composition by means of the galvanic current: hence Electrosynthetically adv. Electrotechnology, the science of the application of electricity to the arts. Electro-telegraphic a., pertaining to Electro-telegraphy = electric telegraphy. Electro-therapeutics, the treatment of disease by electricity. Electrotherapy [+ -therapy, ad. Gr. θεραπεία healing] = electro-therapeutics. Electro-thermancy [cf. DIATHERMANCY], and Electrothermy [as if ad. Gr. -θερμία, f. θερμός hot], the science of the electricity developed by heat. Electrotint [cf. AQUATINT], a mode of engraving, the design being drawn on copper-plate and transferred by means of an electric bath. Electro-vital a., having reference to the connection of electricity and the vital actions: hence Electro-vitalism.
1879. G. Prescott, Sp. Telephone, 287. Lipmann’s *electro-capillary electrometer.
1807. Davy, in Phil. Trans., XCVIII. 2. Application of the powers of *electro-chemical analysis.
c. 1865. J. Wylde, in Circ. Sc., I. 193/2. Laws, of … electro-chemical decomposition.
1881. Maxwell, Electr. & Magn., I. 330. The quantities of these ions being *electrochemically equivalent.
1829. Nat. Philos., II. Electr., i. § 2. 1 (Usef. Knowl. Soc.). *Electro-Chemistry … one of the connecting branches between remote divisions of the Philosophy of Nature.
1878. Newcomb, Pop. Astron., II. ii. 157. The electro-chronograph on which his taps are recorded.
c. 1865. G. Gore, in Circ. Sc., I. 239/2. *Electro-coating with zinc.
1852. Joubert, in Jrnl. Soc. Arts, 26 Nov. One *electro-copper plate has yielded more than 12,000 impressions.
1864. Reader, 5 Oct., 483/3. For *electro-deposit a large series of depositing cells is required.
1882. Nature, XXV. 360. An *electro-deposited coaling.
c. 1865. G. Gore, in Circ. Sc., I. 239/2. Coating metals with silver by *electro-deposition. Ibid., 215/2. Some electro-depositors use vats formed of sheets of wrought-iron.
1881. C. W. Siemens, in Nature, XXIII. 353. *Electro-fusion of … iron or platinum.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., 41–2. Men of letters … will not disturb the popular fallacy respecting this or that *electro-gilded celebrity.
1871. trans. Schellen’s Spectr. Anal., § 28. 98. Delicate steel parts … have been *electro-gilt.
c. 1865. G. Gore, in Circ. Sc., I. 227/2. Liquid … for *electro-gilding.
1880. in Nature, XXI. 457. The expense of *electro-horticulture depends mainly upon the cost of mechanical energy.
1881. Maxwell, Electr. & Magn., II. 207. The *Electrokinetic Energy of the system.
1854. Scoffern, in Orr’s Circ. Sc., Chem. 117. Covering it with a thin layer of gold by the *electrometallurgic process.
c. 1865. J. Wylde, in Circ. Sc., I. 302/1. *Electro-metallurgical processes, require certain temperatures.
1841. A. Smee (title), Elements of *Electro-metallurgy.
1846. Joyce, Sc. Dialog., iii. Electr., 412. The whole art of electro-metallurgy … consists in making a good selection of solutions.
1879. Du Moncel, Telephone, 11. The *electro-musical telephones.
1870. Holmes, Surg. (ed. 2), IV. 179. A peculiar pain, which is called *electro-muscular sensibility.
1810. Henry, Elem. Chem. (1826), I. 202. Bodies … attracted by positively electrified surfaces, and repelled by negative ones … may be termed … *electro-negative bodies.
1881. Maxwell, Electr. & Magn., I. 345. The Anion, or the electronegative component.
1843. Graves, Clinical Med., xxi. 429–30. The *electro-nervous theory received a great accession of probability.
1881. W. Spottiswoode, in Nature, XXV. 118. The … prospects of *electro-physiology.
1870. F. L. Pope, Electr. Telegraph, i. (1872), 17. The Carbon Battery.—This modification of the Grove battery, and is sometimes called the *Electropoion battery.
1850. Daubeny, Atom. The., vii. (ed. 2), 205. Chlorine, an electro-negative body, takes the place of hydrogen, an *electro-positive one.
1883. Chamb. Jrnl., 1 Dec., 765/1. Tin is … electro-positive to iron.
c. 1865. G. Gore, in Circ. Sc., I. 233/2. Taking copies … by the *electro-process.
1871. Holmes, Surg. (ed. 2), V. 528. *Electro-puncture is nothing more than the application of a galvanic current to the tissues included between two acupuncture needles.
1843. W. Grove, Contrib. Sc., in Corr. Phys. Forces (1874), 273. *Electro-synthetic absorption of nitrogen…. Capable of electro-synthetically combining.
1885. J. A. Fleming, in Pall Mall Gaz., 18 June, 11/2. The recent developments of practical electricity and *electrotechnology.
1843. Chamb. Jrnl., XII. 128. Communications may be transmitted with *electro-telegraphic speed.
c. 1865. J. Wylde, in Circ. Sc., I. 258/2. The voltaic battery in *electro-telegraphy.
1878. J. Butler (title), A Text-book of *Electro-Therapeutics and Electro-Surgery.
1881. in Nature, XXIV. 351/1. A new and effective method of treating disease—*electrotherapy.
1842. T. Sampson (title), *Electrotint or the art of making paintings in such a manner that copper plates and ‘blocks’ can be taken from them by means of Voltaic Electricity.
1843. Graves, Clinical Med., xxi. 432. *‘Electro vital,’ or ‘neuro electric’ currents.
