| |
| earmark |
set aside (money or time) for a particular purpose |
| earn |
gain for the performance of service or labor; gain
(something that one deserves); deserve |
| earthly |
of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible;
Ex. no earthly reason |
| earthy |
unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP.
ethereal |
| 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 |
| economy |
efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty
management of resources |
| ecosystem |
ecological community together with its environment |
| 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 |
| edifice |
building (of imposing size) |
| edify |
instruct; correct morally |
| eerie |
weird; causing fear because strange |
| efface |
rub out; remove the surface of |
| effective |
effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in
operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph |
| effectual |
able to produce a desired effect; valid |
| effectuate |
effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation |
| effeminate |
having womanly traits |
| 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 |
| ego |
one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem |
| 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 |
| egotism |
tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively;
conceit; self-importance |
| egotistical |
egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important;
conceited |
| 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 |
| elaborate |
work out carefully; add more detail or information;
ADJ. |
| elaboration |
addition of details; intricacy |
| elastic |
able to spring back into shape; quick to recover (as
from disappointment); able to adapt to change; Ex. elastic
plans; N: elastic material |
| 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 |
| elevation |
elevated position; altitude; height; flat upright side
of a building; angle made by pointing a gun; Ex. The elevation
of her style is much admired; Ex. front elevation of the
house |
| 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 |
| elope |
run away secretly with the intention of getting married |
| 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 |
| emasculate |
weaken; castrate |
| 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) |
| embitter |
make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings;
make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments. |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| enact |
make (a bill) into law |
| enamored |
in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V. enamor:
inspire with love |
| encipher |
encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher |
| encircle |
surround |
| 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 |
| endear |
make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ. dear:
loved; cherished; high-priced |
| endearment |
fond word or act; expression of affection |
| 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 |
| engaged |
employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict |
| engaging |
charming; attractive |
| engender |
cause; produce; give rise to |
| engross |
occupy fully; absorb |
| engulf |
surround and swallow up |
| enhance |
increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or
usefulness); improve |
| enigma |
puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling |
| enjoin |
command; order; forbid |
| enlist |
(cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help, sympathy,
or support) |
| enliven |
make lively or spirited; animate |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| enterprising |
full of initiative; showing enterprise |
| 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 |
| entourage |
group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround |
| 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(entr\'ee) |
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 |
| evenhanded |
impartial; fair |
| eventual |
happening at last as a result; Ex. eventual victory |
| evince |
show clearly |
| 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 |
| exact |
demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from
him; N. exaction |
| exacting |
extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety |
| 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) |
| except |
exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional:
unusual; of unusually high quality |
| exceptionable |
objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive;
CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable |
| 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 |
| executioner |
person administering capital punishment |
| executive |
person having administrative authority; one branch
of government executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing |
| executor |
person designated to execute the terms of a will; |
| 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 |
make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation |
| expos\'e |
public revelation of something discreditable |
| 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 |
| exquisite |
delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful; Ex.
exquisite piece of jewelry |
| 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 |
