ERECT', adjective [Latin erectus, from erigo, to set upright; e and rego, to stretch or make straight, right, rectus. See Right.]

1. Upright, or in a perpendicular posture; as, he stood erect

2. Directed upward.

And suppliant hands, to heaven erect

3. Upright and firm; bold; unshaken.

Let no vain fear thy generous ardor tame;

But stand erect

4. Raised; stretched; intent; vigorous; as a vigilant and erect attention of mind in prayer.

5. Stretched; extended.

6. In botany, an erect stem is one which is without support from twining, or nearly perpendicular; an erect leaf is one which grows close to the stem; an erect flower has its aperture directed upwards.

ERECT', verb transitive To raise and set in an upright or perpendicular direction, or nearly such; as, to erect a pole or flag-staff.

To erect a perpendicular, is to set or form one line on another at right angles.

1. To raise, as a building; to set up; to build; as, to erect a house or temple; to erect a fort.

2. To set up or establish anew; to found; to form; as, to erect a kingdom or commonwealth; to erect a new system or theory.

3. To elevate; to exalt.

I am far from pretending to infallibility; that would be to erect myself into an apostle.

4. To raise; to excite; to animate; to encourage.

Why should not hope

As much erect our thoughts, as fear deject them?

5. To raise a consequence from premises. [Little used.]

Malebranche erects this proposition.

6. To extend; to distend.

ERECT', verb intransitive To rise upright.