Epidaurus \,e-pi-'d6r-3s\ Town, ancient Greece.
An important commercial centre in the northeast¬ ern Peloponnese, it was famed for its 4th- century-BC temple of Asclepius. Excavations of the sacred precinct have uncovered that temple and other buildings, including a theatre, stadium, and hospital. Offerings of small clay body parts have been found, and inscriptions record divine medical cures. Originally Ionic, Epidaurus became Doric under the influence of Argos, to which it owed religious allegiance; politically it remained independent until Roman times.
epidemiology \ l e-p3-,de-me- , a-b-je\ Study of disease distribution in populations. It focuses on groups rather than individuals and often takes a historical perspective. Descriptive epidemiology surveys a population to see what segments (e.g., age, sex, ethnic group, occupation) are affected by a disorder, follows changes or variations in its incidence or mortality over time and in different locations, and helps identify syndromes or sug¬ gest associations with risk factors. Analytic epidemiology conducts stud¬ ies to test the conclusions of descriptive surveys or laboratory observations. Epidemiologic data on diseases is used to find those at high risk, identify causes and take preventive measures, and plan new health services.
epidote \'e-p3-,dot\ Any of a group of colourless to green or yellow- green silicate minerals with the general chemical formula A 2 Z?3(Si0 4 )(Si 2 0 7 )0(0H), in which A is usually calcium (Ca) and B is generally aluminum (Al), although other elements are sometimes substi¬ tuted. The epidote minerals occur as reaction products of other (earlier) minerals in low-grade (formed under relatively low-temperature, low- pressure conditions), regionally metamorphosed rocks, where their occur¬ rence is used as an indicator of metamorphic grade.
epidote-amphibolite facies Ve-po-.dot-am-'fi-bo-.lIt-'fa-shezN One of the major divisions of the mineral facies classification of metamorphic rocks, encompassing rocks that formed under moderate temperature (500- 750°F, or 250-400°C) and pressure conditions. This facies grades into the greenschist facies under less intense metamorphic conditions and into the amphibolite facies with greater temperature and pressure. Typical minerals include biotite, almandine garnet, plagioclase, epidote, and amphibole. Chlorite, muscovite, staurolite, and chloritoid may also occur.
epigram Short poem treating concisely, pointedly, and often satirically a single thought or event and often ending with a witticism or ingenious turn of thought. By extension, the term applies to a terse, sage, or witty (often paradoxical) saying, usually in the form of a generalization. Writ¬ ers of Latin epigrams included Catullus and Martial. The form was revived in the Renaissance. Later masters of the epigram have included Ben Jon- son; Francois VI, duke de La Rochefoucauld; Voltaire; Alexander Pope; Samuel Taylor Coleridge; Oscar Wilde; and George Bernard Shaw.
epilepsy Neurological disorder caused by paroxysmal malfunction of neurons in the brain (seizures). It is characterized by strange movements or sensations in parts of the body, odd behaviours, emotional disturbances, and sometimes convulsions and momentary lapses of consciousness. Sei¬ zures may result from abnormal electrical activity in most or all of the brain (generalized), or they may originate in a specific brain area (par¬ tial). Causes include brain tumours, infections, genetic or developmental abnormalities, stroke, and head trauma, although no cause can be found
in most cases. Treatment is usually with anticonvulsant medications; brain surgery may be beneficial if drugs cannot control seizures.
epinephrine X.e-po-'ne-fronX or adrenaline \9-'dre-n 3 l-3n\ One of two hormones (the other being norepinephrine) secreted by the adrenal glands, as well as at some nerve endings (see neuron), where they serve as neurotransmitters. They are similar chemically and have similar actions on the body. They increase the rate and force of heart contractions, increasing blood output and raising blood pressure. Epinephrine also stimu¬ lates breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver, raising blood glucose levels, and both hormones increase the level of circulating free fatty acids. All these actions ready the body for action in times of stress or danger, times requiring increased alertness or exertion. Epinephrine is used in medical situations including cardiac arrest, asthma, and acute allergic reac¬ tion (see allergy). See also dopamine.
Epiphany Christian festival celebrated on January 6. One of the oldest Christian holy days (along with Christmas and Easter), the festival origi¬ nated in the Eastern church and was adopted in the Western church by the 4th century. It commemorates the first manifestation of Jesus to the Gen¬ tiles, as represented by the Magi. The eve of Epiphany, called Twelfth Night, is thought to mark the arrival of the Wise Men in Bethlehem. Epiphany also celebrates the (much later) baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist and Jesus’ first miracle, performed at Cana.
epiphyte Any plant that grows upon or is attached to another plant or object merely for physical support. Epiphytes are found mostly in the tropics and are also known as air plants because they have no attachment to the ground or other obvious nutrient source. They obtain water and minerals from rain and from debris on the supporting plants. Orchids, ferns, and members of the pineapple family are common tropical epiphytes. Lichens, mosses, liverworts, and algae are epiphytes of temperate regions.
Epirus \i-'pl-r3s\ Ancient country, northwestern Greece. It was bounded by Illyria, Macedonia, Thessaly, Aetolia, Acarnania, and the Ionian Sea. In the Neolithic Period Epirus was populated by peoples from the southwest¬ ern Balkans, who brought with them the Greek language and who may have been among the founders of Mycenae. Epirus was the launching area of the Dorian invasions (1100-1000 bc) into Greece. A princess from Epi¬ rus was married to Philip II of Macedon; their son was Alexander the Great. The area became a Roman province in the 2nd century bc, and later it was part of the Byzantine Empire. An independent state in 1204 ad, Epirus was taken in 1430 by the Ottoman Turks. Greece gained the southern part of the region by 1919; the northern part is now in southern Albania.
episcopacy Xi-'pis-ko-po-seV System of church government by bishops. It existed as early as the 2nd century ad, when bishops were chosen to oversee preaching and worship within a specific region, now called a dio¬ cese. Today local congregations are shepherded by priests and deacons, but only bishops can ordain priests, perform the rite of confirmation, and consecrate other bishops. Their special duties are closely tied to the idea of Apostolic succession. Some Protestant churches abandoned episcopacy during the Reformation, but it was retained by the Roman Catholic, East¬ ern Orthodox, Anglican, and Swedish Lutheran churches, among others.
Episcopal Church, USA also called Episcopal Church in the United States of America or Protestant Episcopal Church
Descendant of the Church of England in the U.S. Part of the Anglican Communion, it was formally organized in 1789 as the successor of the Church of England in the former British colonies. The church accepts both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, as well as a modified version of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England. The highest author¬ ity in the church is the General Convention, which is headed by the pre¬ siding bishop (elected by the House of Bishops). The Reformed Episcopal Church broke away from the main body in 1873. The church accepted the ordination of women in 1976. In 1988 the church elected its first woman bishop, and in 2003 an openly gay man was consecrated bishop of New Hampshire. These steps generated controversy within the church as well as among other churches of the Anglican Communion.