electricityn.

Brit.

/ᵻˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/,

/ˌɛlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/,

/ˌɛlᵻkˈtrɪsᵻti/,

/ˌɪlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/,

/ˌiːlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/, U.S.

/əˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻdi/,

/iˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻdi/

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: electric adj., -ity suffix.

Etymology: < electric adj. + -ity suffix; compare -icity suffix.

I. Literal senses.

a. In early use: the property of amber, glass, and certain other substances of attracting lightweight objects when rubbed (cf. electric adj. 1a); (also) the state produced in such substances by rubbing. Subsequently: the cause of this phenomenon (and of others found to be of the same origin, such as electric sparks and lightning), a form of energy occurring in two modes (positive and negative) as an intrinsic property of electrons and certain other subatomic particles, and produced as a flowing current when a conductor such as a copper wire is moved through a magnetic field.Benjamin Franklin considered electric phenomena to be due to a fluid (see electric fluid n.). Later in the 19th cent. the prevailing view was that electricity is a distinctive condition either of the molecules of an electrified object or of the ether surrounding it.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > [noun]

fireOE

electricity1646

electrical fire1745

ethericity1748

white coal1916

wattage1977

leccy1987

the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric charge, electricity > [noun]

electricity1646

tension1785

Q1846

point charge1896

zap1979

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. i. 51 Crystal will calefy into electricity; that is, a power to attract strawes or light bodies, and convert the needle freely placed.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. i. 79 Saltes..if gently warmed..will better discover their Electricities .

1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. ii. 167 Such Powers in Nature as Magnetism and Electricity.

1747 B. Franklin Let. 28 July in Exper. & Observ. Electr. (1751) 8 Restoring the equilibrium in the bottle does not at all affect the Electricity in the man.

1794 J. Hutton Diss. Philos. Light 232 Electricity..is distinctly different from both light and heat.

1803 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 9 569 I began to use electricity, by small shocks.

1834 M. Somerville On Connexion Physical Sci. (1849) xxviii. 310 Electricity may be called into activity by mechanical power, by chemical action, by heat, and by magnetic influence.

1885 S. P. Thompson Elem. Lessons Electr. & Magn. 9 Electricity may either reside upon the surface of bodies as a charge, or flow through their substance as a current.

1926 People's Home Jrnl. Feb. 11/3 No one knows what electricity is; but as we understand perfectly well how to produce it..and how to use it, it has been developed into the most useful servant that we have.

1944 G. E. Mitchell in R. Greenhalgh Pract. Builder vi. 255/1 From the meter the electricity is distributed by a series of circuits which run from a main fuse and distributing switchboard.

2006 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 17 Dec. iii. 11/3 Our society is becoming more electrified. We need to find a way to manage the growth in demand for electricity.

b. With distinguishing adjective denoting (a) the source or mode of production, as frictional electricity, galvanic electricity, etc.; (b) the place where it arises, as animal electricity, atmospheric electricity, etc.; (c) the quality or kind, as free electricity, negative electricity, etc.

ΚΠ

1734 tr. C. F. de C. Du Fay in Philos. Trans. 1733–4 (Royal Soc.) 38 264 A Body of the vitreous Electricity [Fr. l'électricité vitrée], for Example, repels all such as are of the same Electricity; and..attracts all those of the resinous Electricity.

1754 B. Franklin New Exper. & Observ. Electr. 123 I have reported in this and former papers relating to positive and negative electricity.

1765 Ann. Reg. 1764 90/2 (heading) A letter in the Dutch Philosophical Transactions, on the animal electricity of the conger-eel.

1776 tr. G. Beccaria Treat. Artific. Electr. iv. iv. 297 Its use was to fix one of the extremities of the long iron wire with which they used..to observe the state of the atmospheric electricity.

1800 Philos. Mag. 7 337 Mr. Carlisle had been making some experiments which were likely to lead to some important discovery in Galvanic electricity.

1832 Nat. Philos. (Libr. Useful Knowl.) II. Galvanism. iv. §30. 12 The circulation of voltaic electricity produces an elevation of temperature.

1860 R. W. Emerson Wealth in Conduct of Life 102 The genius of reading and of gardening are antagonistic, like resinous and vitreous electricity.

1936 W. Seifriz Protoplasm xviii. 334 The experiment of Galvani on muscle contraction was the first in electrophysiology and among the first in dynamic, or galvanic, electricity.

1966 R. Webster Pract. Gemmol. (ed. 4) xviii. 179 Amber... It exhibits negative frictional electricity, that is it will pick up small pieces of tissue paper after being rubbed briskly on a cloth.

2002 F. Close et al. Particle Odyssey ii. 31 He soon abandoned the experiments with his ‘cloud chamber’, and turned instead to work on atmospheric electricity.

c. (Without distinguishing adjective.) A particular kind of electricity, esp. positive or negative electricity.

ΚΠ

1734 tr. C. F. de C. Du Fay in Philos. Trans. 1733–4 (Royal Soc.) 38 263 This Principle is, that there are two distinct Electricities [Fr. deux électricités bien démontrées], very different from one another; one of which I call vitreous Electricity, and the other resinous Electricity.

1771 J. Priestley in Philos. Trans. 1770 (Royal Soc.) 60 209 The difference of the two electricities.

1826 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 116 526 Let the same letters in figure 2 represent the electricities when the plate is at rest.

1860 G. B. Prescott Electr. Telegr. 16 The neutralization of the two contrary electricities..may take place according to different modes.

1868 J. Tyndall Faraday as Discoverer (1961) 62 As regards the identity of electricities from various sources, it was at that day of great importance to determine whether or not the voltaic current could jump, as a spark, across an interval before contact.

1927 M. Pupin New Reformation v. 153 It was found that its positive charge is numerically equal to the negative charge of the electron, and this became the natural unit for both electricities.

1936 K. K. Darrow Renaissance of Physics ii. 26 The perfect balance of the electricities is now undone: there is an excess of positive charge on the cloth or the glass, and an excess of negative charge on the amber or the silk.

1994 W. Shaw Spying in Guru Land (1995) ii. 45 A group of us gentlemen perform a synchronised clapping sequence in each corner of the room to disrupt the ‘bad’ electricities.

2. The branch of physical science that deals with the nature and phenomena of electrical action.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > [noun] > science of

electricity1734

1734 J. T. Desaguliers Course Exper. Philos. I. 450 Gray..has found out several new Phænomena in Electricity.

1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) I. 107 That new..wonderful art of electricity, which screens their hotels from the thunder.

1835 M. Faraday in P. Day Philosopher's Tree (1999) v. 84 I had begun to imagine that I thought more about Electricity and Magnetism than it was worth.

1885 S. P. Thompson (title) Lessons in electricity and magnetism.

1951 Electr. Engin. (U.S.) 70 332/1 The MKS Rationalized system..may well come to be the accepted system for all theoretical work in electricity.

2001 N.Y. Times 11 Feb. iii. 12/2 Flipping on a light switch or plugging an electric motor to a pumpjack was all I knew about electricity.

3. Electric power, as supplied to buildings, equipment, etc., from a power station or generator; a supply of electric power for domestic use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical power, electricity > [noun]

power1889

electricity1899

electric1940

1899 Daily News 15 June 6/5 The motor power of the future was not to be steam..but electricity.

1920 T. S. Eliot Let. 31 Oct. (1988) I. 418 I took the flat over from a very selfish, cranky, and insanely suspicious grasping old spinster, who..maliciously had the electricity, gas and telephone cut off.

1932 G. Wilson Gramophones viii. 43 If you have no electricity in your house you should avoid the radio-gram.

1974 Ann. Reg. 1973 22 Domestic consumers were put on their honour to heat only one room with electricity.

1986 E. E. Atkins Tales from our Cornish Island 16 Now we could only have electricity if we could get the generator going ourselves.

II. Figurative senses.

4. figurative and in figurative contexts; (now) esp. a state or feeling of great excitement, a thrill, a spark.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > excitement > [noun]

excitation1393

motiona1398

concitation1534

erectiona1586

fermentationc1660

effervescence1744

effervescency1767

intumescence1775

electricity1796

electrization1798

sensation1807

electrification1835

bubblement1842

excitement1846

suscitation1870

exuberation1889

splash1899

rousedness1915

adrenaline1928

drama1930

1796 E. Burke Two Lett. Peace Regicide Directory France i. 35 They [sc. ambassadors] will become true conductors of contagion to every country which has had the misfortune to send them to the source of that electricity.

1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus iii. x. 103/1 Wait a little, till the entire nation is in an electric state; till your whole vital Electricity..is cut into two isolated portions of Positive and Negative (of Money and of Hunger).

1864 J. R. Lowell Fireside Trav. 73 The natural electricity of youth.

1891 G. Meredith One of our Conquerors III. iii. 59 His mouth hardened as nature's electricity shot sparks into him from the touch [of a woman] and rocked him.

1915 Drawing July 56/1 Vorticism..is in reality our old and amusing friend Cubism, but Cubism heavily charged with electricity.

1979 D. Marsh & J. Swenson Rolling Stone Rec. Guide (1980) 440/2 The electricity of audience/performer interaction spurred [B. B.] King on to elaborate vocal and instrumental histrionics.

2000 M. Gayle Turning Thirty xxxvi. 147 Zoë seemed to think that there was definite electricity between the two of you.

Compounds

C1. General attributive, as electricity bill, electricity board, electricity generation, electricity grid, electricity market, electricity price, electricity supply, etc.

ΚΠ

1882 Rep. Sel. Comm. Electric Lighting Bill 20 There would be distinct provisions in the case of the local authority possessing the gas supply and undertaking the electricity supply.

1911 Amer. Econ. Rev. 1 485 The time-of-day factor..cannot be comprehensively allowed for by electricity companies outside of special contracts.

1943 Triumphs of Engin. 68/2 Many critics..will say that distribution is the weak part of the electricity grid—as the work of the Central Electricity Board is generally called.

1976 Sunday Mail (Glasgow) 21 Nov. It is a disgrace that people who have worked hard all their days should be forced to use paraffin heaters because they cannot afford their electricity bills.

1976 Daily Tel. 30 Nov. 1/6 Electricity prices are set to go up again on New Year's Day.

1987 K. Rushforth Tree Planting & Managem. (1990) ii. 40 The electricity boards will not allow any tree planting within a specified distance from the power lines.

1999 Times 24 Sept. 35/2 (caption) Germany's trust-busters are keen that the electricity market should be characterised by large competitors.

2002 Guardian 13 Feb. i. 24/5 The DTI has become an unstinting champion of bio-power, even though this is only ever going to be a small player in electricity generation.

2004 Park Home & Holiday Caravan Feb. 7/4 I am fortunate in that the park on which I live has a metered electricity supply.

C2. Objective, as electricity-carrying, electricity-generating, electricity-laden, adjectives, etc.; instrumental, as electricity-powered adj., etc.

ΚΠ

1884 Cent. Mag. 27 922 The electricity-laden raindrops.

1899 Daily News 26 June 10/7 There is a good volume of work, especially as regards structural work, railway rolling stock, electricity-generating apparatus, [etc.].

1948 J. Jewkes Ordeal by Planning vi. 123 The public hullabaloo which precedes the location of a large electricity generating plant or a new town.

1985 L. Y. Weiner From Working Girl to Working Mother iv. 92 The electricity‐powered washing machine and refrigerator have been linked to a reduction in the time needed for household tasks.

1992 Nat. Hist. Jan. 89/2 (advt.) Nuclear power is a proven electricity-generating technology that emits no sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, or greenhouse gases.

1996 J. Updike In Beauty of Lilies 169 The oval of her face turned right away to his, as if by some electricity-carrying ether in the air she had sensed his gaze.

C3.

electricity meter n. a meter that measures the amount of electrical energy used, esp. by a domestic consumer; (also) a prepayment meter for the supply of electricity.

ΚΠ

1878 Decatur (Illinois) Daily Rev. 1 Nov. Said Mr. Edison: ‘there are three points to be perfected. I am working on them now. One is an electricity meter.’

1950 Math. Gaz. 34 190 Next term I hope to teach them how to read a railway time-table, a gas and electricity meter, and a ready reckoner.

2007 Mail on Sunday (Nexis) 18 Feb. 74 Our flat had no central heating and the electricity meter would run out of money, so we often ended up sitting in the dark.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	electricity
释义	electricityn. Brit. /ᵻˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/, /ˌɛlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/, /ˌɛlᵻkˈtrɪsᵻti/, /ˌɪlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/, /ˌiːlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/, U.S. /əˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻdi/, /iˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻdi/ Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: electric adj., -ity suffix. Etymology: < electric adj. + -ity suffix; compare -icity suffix. I. Literal senses. 1. a. In early use: the property of amber, glass, and certain other substances of attracting lightweight objects when rubbed (cf. electric adj. 1a); (also) the state produced in such substances by rubbing. Subsequently: the cause of this phenomenon (and of others found to be of the same origin, such as electric sparks and lightning), a form of energy occurring in two modes (positive and negative) as an intrinsic property of electrons and certain other subatomic particles, and produced as a flowing current when a conductor such as a copper wire is moved through a magnetic field.Benjamin Franklin considered electric phenomena to be due to a fluid (see electric fluid n.). Later in the 19th cent. the prevailing view was that electricity is a distinctive condition either of the molecules of an electrified object or of the ether surrounding it. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > [noun] fireOE electricity1646 electrical fire1745 ethericity1748 white coal1916 wattage1977 leccy1987 the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric charge, electricity > [noun] electricity1646 tension1785 Q1846 point charge1896 zap1979 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. i. 51 Crystal will calefy into electricity; that is, a power to attract strawes or light bodies, and convert the needle freely placed. View more context for this quotation 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. i. 79 Saltes..if gently warmed..will better discover their Electricities . View more context for this quotation 1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. ii. 167 Such Powers in Nature as Magnetism and Electricity. 1747 B. Franklin Let. 28 July in Exper. & Observ. Electr. (1751) 8 Restoring the equilibrium in the bottle does not at all affect the Electricity in the man. 1794 J. Hutton Diss. Philos. Light 232 Electricity..is distinctly different from both light and heat. 1803 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 9 569 I began to use electricity, by small shocks. 1834 M. Somerville On Connexion Physical Sci. (1849) xxviii. 310 Electricity may be called into activity by mechanical power, by chemical action, by heat, and by magnetic influence. 1885 S. P. Thompson Elem. Lessons Electr. & Magn. 9 Electricity may either reside upon the surface of bodies as a charge, or flow through their substance as a current. 1926 People's Home Jrnl. Feb. 11/3 No one knows what electricity is; but as we understand perfectly well how to produce it..and how to use it, it has been developed into the most useful servant that we have. 1944 G. E. Mitchell in R. Greenhalgh Pract. Builder vi. 255/1 From the meter the electricity is distributed by a series of circuits which run from a main fuse and distributing switchboard. 2006 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 17 Dec. iii. 11/3 Our society is becoming more electrified. We need to find a way to manage the growth in demand for electricity. b. With distinguishing adjective denoting (a) the source or mode of production, as frictional electricity, galvanic electricity, etc.; (b) the place where it arises, as animal electricity, atmospheric electricity, etc.; (c) the quality or kind, as free electricity, negative electricity, etc. ΚΠ 1734 tr. C. F. de C. Du Fay in Philos. Trans. 1733–4 (Royal Soc.) 38 264 A Body of the vitreous Electricity [Fr. l'électricité vitrée], for Example, repels all such as are of the same Electricity; and..attracts all those of the resinous Electricity. 1754 B. Franklin New Exper. & Observ. Electr. 123 I have reported in this and former papers relating to positive and negative electricity. 1765 Ann. Reg. 1764 90/2 (heading) A letter in the Dutch Philosophical Transactions, on the animal electricity of the conger-eel. 1776 tr. G. Beccaria Treat. Artific. Electr. iv. iv. 297 Its use was to fix one of the extremities of the long iron wire with which they used..to observe the state of the atmospheric electricity. 1800 Philos. Mag. 7 337 Mr. Carlisle had been making some experiments which were likely to lead to some important discovery in Galvanic electricity. 1832 Nat. Philos. (Libr. Useful Knowl.) II. Galvanism. iv. §30. 12 The circulation of voltaic electricity produces an elevation of temperature. 1860 R. W. Emerson Wealth in Conduct of Life 102 The genius of reading and of gardening are antagonistic, like resinous and vitreous electricity. 1936 W. Seifriz Protoplasm xviii. 334 The experiment of Galvani on muscle contraction was the first in electrophysiology and among the first in dynamic, or galvanic, electricity. 1966 R. Webster Pract. Gemmol. (ed. 4) xviii. 179 Amber... It exhibits negative frictional electricity, that is it will pick up small pieces of tissue paper after being rubbed briskly on a cloth. 2002 F. Close et al. Particle Odyssey ii. 31 He soon abandoned the experiments with his ‘cloud chamber’, and turned instead to work on atmospheric electricity. c. (Without distinguishing adjective.) A particular kind of electricity, esp. positive or negative electricity. ΚΠ 1734 tr. C. F. de C. Du Fay in Philos. Trans. 1733–4 (Royal Soc.) 38 263 This Principle is, that there are two distinct Electricities [Fr. deux électricités bien démontrées], very different from one another; one of which I call vitreous Electricity, and the other resinous Electricity. 1771 J. Priestley in Philos. Trans. 1770 (Royal Soc.) 60 209 The difference of the two electricities. 1826 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 116 526 Let the same letters in figure 2 represent the electricities when the plate is at rest. 1860 G. B. Prescott Electr. Telegr. 16 The neutralization of the two contrary electricities..may take place according to different modes. 1868 J. Tyndall Faraday as Discoverer (1961) 62 As regards the identity of electricities from various sources, it was at that day of great importance to determine whether or not the voltaic current could jump, as a spark, across an interval before contact. 1927 M. Pupin New Reformation v. 153 It was found that its positive charge is numerically equal to the negative charge of the electron, and this became the natural unit for both electricities. 1936 K. K. Darrow Renaissance of Physics ii. 26 The perfect balance of the electricities is now undone: there is an excess of positive charge on the cloth or the glass, and an excess of negative charge on the amber or the silk. 1994 W. Shaw Spying in Guru Land (1995) ii. 45 A group of us gentlemen perform a synchronised clapping sequence in each corner of the room to disrupt the ‘bad’ electricities. 2. The branch of physical science that deals with the nature and phenomena of electrical action. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > [noun] > science of electricity1734 1734 J. T. Desaguliers Course Exper. Philos. I. 450 Gray..has found out several new Phænomena in Electricity. 1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) I. 107 That new..wonderful art of electricity, which screens their hotels from the thunder. 1835 M. Faraday in P. Day Philosopher's Tree (1999) v. 84 I had begun to imagine that I thought more about Electricity and Magnetism than it was worth. 1885 S. P. Thompson (title) Lessons in electricity and magnetism. 1951 Electr. Engin. (U.S.) 70 332/1 The MKS Rationalized system..may well come to be the accepted system for all theoretical work in electricity. 2001 N.Y. Times 11 Feb. iii. 12/2 Flipping on a light switch or plugging an electric motor to a pumpjack was all I knew about electricity. 3. Electric power, as supplied to buildings, equipment, etc., from a power station or generator; a supply of electric power for domestic use. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical power, electricity > [noun] power1889 electricity1899 electric1940 1899 Daily News 15 June 6/5 The motor power of the future was not to be steam..but electricity. 1920 T. S. Eliot Let. 31 Oct. (1988) I. 418 I took the flat over from a very selfish, cranky, and insanely suspicious grasping old spinster, who..maliciously had the electricity, gas and telephone cut off. 1932 G. Wilson Gramophones viii. 43 If you have no electricity in your house you should avoid the radio-gram. 1974 Ann. Reg. 1973 22 Domestic consumers were put on their honour to heat only one room with electricity. 1986 E. E. Atkins Tales from our Cornish Island 16 Now we could only have electricity if we could get the generator going ourselves. II. Figurative senses. 4. figurative and in figurative contexts; (now) esp. a state or feeling of great excitement, a thrill, a spark. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > excitement > [noun] excitation1393 motiona1398 concitation1534 erectiona1586 fermentationc1660 effervescence1744 effervescency1767 intumescence1775 electricity1796 electrization1798 sensation1807 electrification1835 bubblement1842 excitement1846 suscitation1870 exuberation1889 splash1899 rousedness1915 adrenaline1928 drama1930 1796 E. Burke Two Lett. Peace Regicide Directory France i. 35 They [sc. ambassadors] will become true conductors of contagion to every country which has had the misfortune to send them to the source of that electricity. 1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus iii. x. 103/1 Wait a little, till the entire nation is in an electric state; till your whole vital Electricity..is cut into two isolated portions of Positive and Negative (of Money and of Hunger). 1864 J. R. Lowell Fireside Trav. 73 The natural electricity of youth. 1891 G. Meredith One of our Conquerors III. iii. 59 His mouth hardened as nature's electricity shot sparks into him from the touch [of a woman] and rocked him. 1915 Drawing July 56/1 Vorticism..is in reality our old and amusing friend Cubism, but Cubism heavily charged with electricity. 1979 D. Marsh & J. Swenson Rolling Stone Rec. Guide (1980) 440/2 The electricity of audience/performer interaction spurred [B. B.] King on to elaborate vocal and instrumental histrionics. 2000 M. Gayle Turning Thirty xxxvi. 147 Zoë seemed to think that there was definite electricity between the two of you. Compounds C1. General attributive, as electricity bill, electricity board, electricity generation, electricity grid, electricity market, electricity price, electricity supply, etc. ΚΠ 1882 Rep. Sel. Comm. Electric Lighting Bill 20 There would be distinct provisions in the case of the local authority possessing the gas supply and undertaking the electricity supply. 1911 Amer. Econ. Rev. 1 485 The time-of-day factor..cannot be comprehensively allowed for by electricity companies outside of special contracts. 1943 Triumphs of Engin. 68/2 Many critics..will say that distribution is the weak part of the electricity grid—as the work of the Central Electricity Board is generally called. 1976 Sunday Mail (Glasgow) 21 Nov. It is a disgrace that people who have worked hard all their days should be forced to use paraffin heaters because they cannot afford their electricity bills. 1976 Daily Tel. 30 Nov. 1/6 Electricity prices are set to go up again on New Year's Day. 1987 K. Rushforth Tree Planting & Managem. (1990) ii. 40 The electricity boards will not allow any tree planting within a specified distance from the power lines. 1999 Times 24 Sept. 35/2 (caption) Germany's trust-busters are keen that the electricity market should be characterised by large competitors. 2002 Guardian 13 Feb. i. 24/5 The DTI has become an unstinting champion of bio-power, even though this is only ever going to be a small player in electricity generation. 2004 Park Home & Holiday Caravan Feb. 7/4 I am fortunate in that the park on which I live has a metered electricity supply. C2. Objective, as electricity-carrying, electricity-generating, electricity-laden, adjectives, etc.; instrumental, as electricity-powered adj., etc. ΚΠ 1884 Cent. Mag. 27 922 The electricity-laden raindrops. 1899 Daily News 26 June 10/7 There is a good volume of work, especially as regards structural work, railway rolling stock, electricity-generating apparatus, [etc.]. 1948 J. Jewkes Ordeal by Planning vi. 123 The public hullabaloo which precedes the location of a large electricity generating plant or a new town. 1985 L. Y. Weiner From Working Girl to Working Mother iv. 92 The electricity‐powered washing machine and refrigerator have been linked to a reduction in the time needed for household tasks. 1992 Nat. Hist. Jan. 89/2 (advt.) Nuclear power is a proven electricity-generating technology that emits no sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, or greenhouse gases. 1996 J. Updike In Beauty of Lilies 169 The oval of her face turned right away to his, as if by some electricity-carrying ether in the air she had sensed his gaze. C3. electricity meter n. a meter that measures the amount of electrical energy used, esp. by a domestic consumer; (also) a prepayment meter for the supply of electricity. ΚΠ 1878 Decatur (Illinois) Daily Rev. 1 Nov. Said Mr. Edison: ‘there are three points to be perfected. I am working on them now. One is an electricity meter.’ 1950 Math. Gaz. 34 190 Next term I hope to teach them how to read a railway time-table, a gas and electricity meter, and a ready reckoner. 2007 Mail on Sunday (Nexis) 18 Feb. 74 Our flat had no central heating and the electricity meter would run out of money, so we often ended up sitting in the dark. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.1646
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