† eˈlectre Obs.
Also electar.
[ad. L. ēlectr-um (cf. Pr. electre, OF. eleutre), ad. Gr. ἤλεκτρον amber, also = sense 1: cf. electron1, electrum. (In OE. the L. word was adapted as elehtre.)]
1. An alloy of gold and silver, bright and precious; also attrib.
| 1382 Wyclif Ezek. i. 4 Electre..a metal of gold and siluer, cleerere than gold. 1585 Jas. I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 25 Pale Electre light. Ibid. 76 Electre, a metal, fowre parts gold and fift part siluer. a 1626 Bacon Physiol. Rem. (1679) 98 Change Silver Plate or Vessel into the Compound Stuff, being a kind of Silver Electre. 1656 H. More Antid. Ath. iii. ix. (1712) 168 The Bell made of Paracelsus's Electre. |
2. Amber; also elixir, healing gum (cf. amber 7). Also attrib.
| 1595 B. Barnes Spir. Sonn. in Farr S.P. Eliz. I. 41 O blessed sweet wounds! fountains of electre! 1632 Randolph Jealous Lov. iii, Sweet gumms that from Electar trees Distill. |