 | Term | Definition |
| |
earthy |
unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal |
| |
earthly |
of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason |
| |
ebb |
(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide |
| |
ebullient |
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling |
| |
eccentric |
irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric |
| |
eccentricity |
oddity; idiosyncrasy |
| |
ecclesiastic |
ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman |
| |
eclectic |
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism |
| |
eclipse |
darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse |
| |
ecliptic |
path of the sun and the planets |
| |
ecologist |
person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology |
| |
ecosystem |
ecological community together with its environment |
| |
economy |
efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources |
| |
ecstasy |
rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy |
| |
eddy |
swirling current of water, air, etc.; V. |
| |
edict |
decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command |
| |
edify |
instruct; correct morally |
| |
edifice |
building (of imposing size) |
| |
eerie |
weird; causing fear because strange |
| |
efface |
rub out; remove the surface of |
| |
effectual |
able to produce a desired effect; valid |
| |
effective |
effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph |
| |
effectuate |
effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation |
| |
effeminate |
having womanly traits |
| |
emasculate |
weaken; castrate |
| |
effervescence |
inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce |
| |
effete |
having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted |
| |
efficacy |
power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual |
| |
effigy |
dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President |
| |
effluvium |
noxious(harmful) smell |
| |
effrontery |
rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek |
| |
effulgent |
shining brightly; brilliant |
| |
effusion |
pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing |
| |
egoism |
excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical |
| |
ego |
one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem |
| |
egotistical |
egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited |
| |
egotism |
tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance |
| |
egregious |
notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking |
| |
egress |
exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress |
| |
ejaculation |
exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate |
| |
elaboration |
addition of details; intricacy |
| |
elaborate |
work out carefully; add more detail or information; ADJ. |
| |
elated |
filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation |
| |
elegy |
poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac |
| |
elicit |
draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone) |
| |
elixir |
cure-all; panacea; something invigorating |
| |
ellipsis |
omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses |
| |
elliptical |
elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out |
| |
eloquence |
expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced |
| |
elucidate |
explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid |
| |
elusive |
evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me. |
| |
elysian |
relating to paradise; blissful |
| |
Elysium |
place or condition of bliss |
| |
emaciated |
thin and wasted (from hunger or illness) |
| |
emanate |
issue forth; come out |
| |
emancipate |
set free; liberate |
| |
embargo |
ban on commerce or other activity |
| |
embark |
commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey |
| |
embed (imbed) |
enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass |
| |
embellish |
adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details) |
| |
embezzlement |
taking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in one's care) |
| |
emblazon |
ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment |
| |
embody |
give a bodily form to; incorporate; include |
| |
emboss |
produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design |
| |
embrace |
hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet |
| |
encircle |
surround |
| |
embroider |
decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious details; embellish |
| |
embroil |
throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio |
| |
embryonic |
undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development |
| |
emend |
correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement |
| |
emetic |
substance causing vomiting; ADJ. |
| |
eminent |
rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position |
| |
emissary |
agent (sent on a mission to represent another); messenger |
| |
emollient |
soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ. |
| |
emolument |
salary; payment for an office; compensation |
| |
empathy |
ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with and understanding of another's feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy |
| |
empirical |
based on experience |
| |
emulate |
imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation) |
| |
enamored |
in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V. enamor: inspire with love |
| |
encipher |
encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher |
| |
enclave |
territory enclosed within an alien land |
| |
encomiastic |
praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy |
| |
encompass |
surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass publishing and computers. |
| |
encroachment |
gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon |
| |
encumber |
burden; N. encumbrance |
| |
endearment |
fond word or act; expression of affection |
| |
endear |
make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ. dear: loved; cherished; high-priced |
| |
endemic |
prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic |
| |
endorse |
approve; support; write one's signature on the back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal |
| |
endue |
provide with some quality; endow |
| |
enduring |
lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive |
| |
energize |
invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active |
| |
enervate |
weaken; take away energy from |
| |
enfranchise |
admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise |
| |
engage |
attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle |
| |
engaging |
charming; attractive |
| |
engaged |
employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict |
| |
engender |
cause; produce; give rise to |
| |
engross |
occupy fully; absorb |
| |
enhance |
increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or usefulness); improve |
| |
enigma |
puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling |
| |
enjoin |
command; order; forbid |
| |
enmity |
ill will; hatred; hostility |
| |
ennui |
boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; CF. annoy |
| |
enormity |
hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous |
| |
enrapture |
please intensely; fill with rapture and delight |
| |
ensconce |
settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place) |
| |
ensue |
follow (as a result) |
| |
entail |
make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B |
| |
enterprising |
full of initiative; showing enterprise |
| |
enterprise |
willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat |
| |
enthrall |
capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound |
| |
entice |
lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract; tempt |
| |
entity |
real being |
| |
entomology |
study of insects |
| |
entrance |
put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight |
| |
entreat |
plead; ask earnestly |
| |
entree (entrée) |
entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle |
| |
entrepreneur |
businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial |
| |
enumerate |
list; mention one by one |
| |
enunciate |
announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him. |
| |
environ |
enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city) |
| |
eon (aeon) |
long period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing two or more eras |
| |
epaulet (epaulette) |
ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.) |
| |
ephemeral |
short-lived; fleeting |
| |
epic |
long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art (celebrating the feats of a hero); ADJ: (of stories or events) resembling an epic; grand |
| |
epicure |
connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean; CF. Epicurus |
| |
Epicurean |
believing that pleasure is good and suffering is bad and should be avoided; N. |
| |
epigram |
witty thought or saying, usually short |
| |
epilogue |
short speech at conclusion of dramatic work |
| |
episodic |
(of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience |
| |
epistemologist |
philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology |
| |
epitaph |
inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a tombstone) |
| |
epithet |
word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous) |
| |
epitome |
perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody |
| |
epoch |
period of time |
| |
equable |
tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform |
| |
equanimity |
calmness of temperament; composure |
| |
equestrian |
rider on horseback; ADJ. |
| |
equilibrium |
balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity |
| |
equine |
resembling a horse; Ex. equine face |
| |
equinox |
period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial |
| |
equipoise |
balance; balancing force; equilibrium |
| |
equitable |
fair; impartial; OP. inequitable |
| |
equity |
fairness; justice; OP. inequity |
| |
equivocal |
(of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal |
| |
equivocate |
use equivocal language to deceive people; lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N. equivocation |
| |
erode |
eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks. |
| |
erotic |
pertaining to passionate love or sexual love |
| |
errant |
wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant |
| |
erratic |
odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable |
| |
erroneous |
mistaken; wrong; incorrect |
| |
erudite |
(of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition |
| |
escapade |
prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules |
| |
eschew |
avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks |
| |
esoteric |
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica |
| |
espionage |
spying |
| |
espouse |
adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal |
| |
esteem |
respect; value; judge; N. |
| |
estimable |
(of a person) worthy of esteem; admirable; deserving esteem; possible to estimate |
| |
estranged |
separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement |
| |
ethereal |
like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air |
| |
ethnic |
relating to races |
| |
ethnology |
study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF. anthropology |
| |
ethos |
underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos |
| |
etymology |
study of word parts; study of the origins of words |
| |
eugenic |
pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics: study of hereditary improvement of the human race |
| |
eulogistic |
praising; full of eulogy |
| |
eulogy |
expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize |
| |
euphemism |
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one; ADJ. euphemistic |
| |
euphony |
sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious |
| |
euphoria |
feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric |
| |
euthanasia |
mercy killing |
| |
evanescent |
fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce |
| |
evasive |
not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit |
| |
evince |
show clearly |
| |
evenhanded |
impartial; fair |
| |
evocative |
tending to call up (emotions, memories) |
| |
evoke |
call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film evoked memories of my childhood; N. evocation |
| |
ewe |
female sheep |
| |
exacerbate |
worsen; aggravate; embitter |
| |
embitter |
make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments. |
| |
exacting |
extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety |
| |
exact |
demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction |
| |
exalt |
raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation |
| |
exasperate |
vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the patience) |
| |
exceptionable |
objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable |
| |
except |
exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality |
| |
excerpt |
selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V. |
| |
exchequer |
treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer |
| |
excise |
cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced and used inside a country; N. excision |
| |
exclaim |
cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory |
| |
excoriate |
scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off |
| |
exculpate |
clear from blame or guilt |
| |
execrable |
very bad; detestable |
| |
execrate |
curse; express abhorrence for; detest |
| |
execute |
put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution |
| |
executor |
person designated to execute the terms of a will; ¿¹¼ú ÀÛÇ°ÀÇ Á¦ÀÛÀÚ |
| |
executioner |
person administering capital punishment |
| |
executive |
person having administrative authority; one branch of government executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing |
| |
exegesis |
explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages |
| |
exemplary |
serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical example; model |
| |
exemplify |
show by example; furnish an example; serve as an example of; Ex. His pictures exemplify that sort of painting. |
| |
exempt |
not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a duty; V. |
| |
exertion |
effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great effort |
| |
exhale |
breathe out; OP. inhale |
| |
exhilarating |
invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V. exhilarate: make cheerful and excited; Ex. exhilarated by the ride in the sports car |
| |
exhort |
urge (by strong argument or advice); Ex. The general exhorted his men to fight bravely; N. exhortation |
| |
exhume |
dig out of the ground; remove from a grave |
| |
exigency |
urgent situation; ADJ. exigent |
| |
exiguous |
small in amount; minute |
| |
existential |
pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism |
| |
exodus |
departure (of a large number of people) |
| |
exonerate |
acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt |
| |
exorbitant |
(of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds |
| |
exorcise |
drive out evil spirits |
| |
exotic |
not native; from another part of the world; strange; intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic flower/dress |
| |
expansive |
(of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size |
| |
expatiate |
talk at length; speak or write in detail |
| |
expatriate |
exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's country |
| |
expedient |
suitable (for a particular purpose although not necessarily morally correct); practical; politic(prudent); N: something expedient |
| |
expedite |
hasten; make go faster |
| |
expeditious |
done with speed; quick; N. expedition |
| |
expenditure |
payment or expense; expending; something expended; output; Ex. receipt for the expenditure; Ex. expenditure of all the energy |
| |
expertise |
specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert skill |
| |
expiate |
make amends for (a sin) |
| |
expletive |
meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word |
| |
explicate |
explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable |
| |
explicit |
totally clear; definite; outspoken |
| |
exploit |
brave and successful act; deed or action, particularly a brave deed; CF. crossing the Atlantic ocean |
| |
exploit |
make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation |
| |
expository |
explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition |
| |
expostulation |
protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate |
| |
exposure |
risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental corruption |
| |
expound |
explain |
| |
expropriate |
take possession of (often for public use and without payment) |
| |
expunge |
cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase |
| |
expurgate |
clean; remove offensive parts of a book |
| |
extant |
(of something written or painted) still in existence |
| |
extemporaneous |
not planned; impromptu; extempore |
| |
extenuate |
weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad behavior) |
| |
extirpate |
root up; uproot; destroy completely |
| |
extol |
praise very highly; glorify |
| |
extort |
wring from; get money by threats, etc.; obtain by force or threats; CF. extortionate: exorbitant |
| |
extradition |
surrender of prisoner by one state to another; Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite |
| |
extraneous |
not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external; coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous details/noise/to the subject |
| |
extrapolation |
projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information |
| |
extricate |
free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle |
| |
extrinsic |
external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic |
| |
extrovert |
person interested mostly in external objects and actions |
| |
extrude |
force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die |
| |
exuberance |
overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness; ADJ. exuberant: high-spirited and lively; growing abundantly and strongly |
| |
exude |
flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation |
| |
exult |
rejoice |
