Ech"o (ek"O), n.; pl. Echoes (ek"Oz). [L. echo, Gr. 'hchw` echo, sound, akin to 'hchh`, 'h^chos, sound, noise; cf. Skr. vAç to sound, bellow; perh. akin to E. voice: cf. F. écho.]

1.

A sound reflected from an opposing surface and repeated to the ear of a listener; repercussion of sound; repetition of a sound.

The babbling echo mocks the hounds.
Shak.

The woods shall answer, and the echo ring.
Pope.

2.

Fig.: Sympathetic recognition; response; answer.

Fame is the echo of actions, resounding them.
Fuller.

Many kind, and sincere speeches found an echo in his heart.
R. L. Stevenson.

3.

(a) (Myth. & Poetic)

A wood or mountain nymph, regarded as repeating, and causing the reverberation of them.

Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv'st unseen
Within thy airy shell.
Milton.

(b) (Gr. Myth.)

A nymph, the daughter of Air and Earth, who, for love of Narcissus, pined away until nothing was left of her but her voice.

Compelled me to awake the courteous Echo
To give me answer from her mossy couch.
Milton.

Echo organ (Mus.), a set organ pipes inclosed in a box so as to produce a soft, distant effect; -- generally superseded by the swell. --
Echo stop (Mus.), a stop upon a harpsichord contrived for producing the soft effect of distant sound. --
To applaud to the echo, to give loud and continuous applause. M. Arnold.

I would applaud thee to the very echo,
That should applaud again.
Shak.

 

© Webster 1913


Ech"o, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Echoed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Echoing. -- 3d pers. sing. pres. Echoes (&?;).]

1.

To send back (a sound); to repeat in sound; to reverberate.

Those peals are echoed by the Trojan throng.
Dryden.

The wondrous sound
Is echoed on forever.
Keble.

2.

To repeat with assent; to respond; to adopt.

They would have echoed the praises of the men whom they &?;nvied, and then have sent to the newspaper anonymous libels upon them.
Macaulay.

 

© Webster 1913


Ech"o, v. i.

To give an echo; to resound; to be sounded back; as, the hall echoed with acclamations. "Echoing noise." Blackmore.

 

© Webster 1913


Ech"o (?), n.; pl. Echoes (#). [L. echo, Gr. &?; echo.] (Whist)

(a)

A signal, played in the same manner as a trump signal, made by a player who holds four or more trumps (or as played by some exactly three trumps) and whose partner has led trumps or signaled for trumps.

(b)

A signal showing the number held of a plain suit when a high card in that suit is led by one's partner.

 

© Webster 1913