|
| earnest |
adj. serious; determined; not light-hearted |
| earthenware |
n. pottery made of baked clay |
| eatable |
adj. fit to be eaten; good to eat |
| ebullient |
adj. full of energy and excitement; exuberant ; |
| eccentric |
adj. unusual; peculiar; not conventional or normal |
| eccentricity |
n. quality of being eccentric; strangeness of behaviour,
etc |
| eclipse |
n. blocking of the light of the sun or of the moon
(when the earth's shadow falls on it) |
| economize |
To spend sparingly. |
| ecstasy |
n. great joy or happiness |
| ecstatic |
adj. causing or showing ecstasy |
| edible |
adj. fit to be eaten |
| edict |
n. order or proclamation issued by an authority |
| edify |
v. (fml or joc ) improve the mind or character of (sb) |
| editorial |
adj. of an editor |
| educe |
draw forth; elicit |
| efface |
v. rub or wipe (sth) out; cause to fade |
| effect |
n. ~ change produced by an action or cause; result
or outcome |
| effective |
adj. having an effect; producing the intended result |
| effectual |
adj. (not used of people) producing the intended result |
| effeminacy |
Womanishness. |
| effeminate |
adj. (of a man or his behaviour) like a woman; unmanly |
| effervesce |
v. release bubbles of gas; fizz |
| effete |
adj. weak, having lost power |
| efficacious |
adj. (not of people) producing the desired result;
effective |
| efficacy |
n. state or quality of being efficacious |
| efficiency |
n. state or quality of being efficient |
| efficient |
adj. able to work well; capable |
| efflorescence |
n. action or time of bursting into flower |
| effluvium |
noxious smell |
| effrontery |
n. boldness or rudeness without shame; impertinence |
| effulgence |
the quality of being bright and sending out rays of
light |
| effuse |
To pour forth. |
| effusion |
n. pouring out, esp of liquid |
| egoism |
n. state of mind in which one is always thinking about
oneself and what is best for oneself |
| egoist |
n. person who believes in or shows egoism |
| egotism |
n. practice of talking too often or too much about
oneself; selfishness ; |
| egotist |
n. person who practises or shows egotism; selfish person
; |
| egregious |
adj. (usu of sb/sth bad ) exceptional; outstanding |
| egress |
n. (right of) going out |
| eject |
v. ~ sb/sth (fml ) force sb/sth out; expel sb/sth ; |
| elapse |
v. (of time) pass |
| elasticity |
n. quality of being elastic |
| electrolysis |
n. separation of a substance into its chemical parts
by an electric current |
| electrotype |
A metallic copy of any surface, as a coin. |
| elegy |
n. poem or song expressing sorrow, esp for the dead;
lament ; |
| element |
n. ~ necessary or characteristic part of sth |
| elicit |
v. ~ sth (fml ) draw (facts, a response, etc) from
sb, sometimes with difficulty |
| eligible |
adj. ~ suitable or fit to be chosen; having the right
or proper qualifications |
| eliminate |
v. ~ sb/sth remove (esp sb/sth that is not wanted or
needed) |
| Elizabethan |
adj. of the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England 15581603 |
| elocution |
n. art or style of speaking clearly and effectively,
esp in public |
| eloquent |
adj. having or showing eloquence |
| elucidate |
v. make (sth) clear; explain |
| elude |
v. escape (sb/sth), esp by a trick or cleverness; avoid |
| elusion |
Evasion. |
| emaciate |
to cause to lose f unaffectlesh so as to become very
thin |
| emanate |
v. ~ from sth/sb come or flow from sth/sb |
| emancipate |
v. ~ sb set sb free, esp from political, legal or social
restrictions |
| embargo |
n. (on sth) official order that forbids sth, esp trade,
the movement of ships, etc |
| embark |
v. ~ (cause sb/sth to) go or be taken on board a ship
or an aircraft |
| embarrass |
v. cause (sb) to feel self-conscious, awkward or ashamed |
| embellish |
v. ~ sth make sth beautiful by adding ornaments, etc |
| embezzle |
v. use in a wrong way to benefit oneself |
| emblazon |
v. decorate with heraldic or other devices |
| emblem |
n. object that represents sth; symbol |
| embody |
v. ~ sth (in sth) (fml ) express or give visible form
to (ideas, feelings, etc) |
| embolden |
to instill with boldness or courage |
| embolism |
n. blockage of an artery or a vein caused by a clot
of blood, an air-bubble, etc |
| embroil |
throw into confusion; involve in strife; entangle |
| emerge |
v. ~ come out or up (from water, etc) |
| emergence |
n. action of emerging |
| emergent |
adj. in the process of emerging |
| emeritus |
adj. (of a university teacher, esp a professor) retired,
but keeping his title as an honour |
| emigrant |
n. person who emigrates |
| emigrate |
v. ~ (to...) leave one's own country to go and live
in another |
| eminence |
n. state of being famous or distinguished |
| eminent |
adj. famous and distinguished |
| emit |
v. give or send (sth) out; discharge |
| emphasis |
n. force or stress given to a word or words when spoken,
to make the meaning clear or to show importance |
| emphasize |
To articulate or enunciate with special impressiveness
upon a word, or a group of words. |
| emphatic |
adj. having, showing or using emphasis |
| employee |
n. person who works for sb or for a company in return
for wages |
| emporium |
n. (joc or fml ) centre of trade; market ; |
| empower |
v. give lawful power or authority (to sb) to act |
| emulate |
v. ~ sb (fml ) try to do as well as or better than
sb |
| enact |
v. perform (a part, play, etc) on, or as if on, the
stage of a theatre |
| enamor |
To inspire with ardent love. |
| encamp |
v. settle in camp |
| encomium |
n. (fml ) very high praise in speech or writing |
| encompass |
v. include or comprise sth |
| encore |
interj Again! Repeat!! |
| encourage |
v. ~ sb give support, confidence or hope to sb |
| encroach |
v. ~ (fml ) go beyond what is right or natural or desirable;
intrude |
| encumber |
to impede or hamper the function or activity of:HINDER |
| encyclical |
n. letter written by the Pope for wide circulation |
| encyclopedia |
n. book or set of books giving information about every
branch of knowledge, or about one particular subject,
with articles in alphabetical order |
| endanger |
v. cause danger to (sb/sth); put in danger |
| endear |
v. ~ sb/oneself to sb make sb/oneself loved or liked
by sb |
| endemic |
n, adj that is regularly found in a particular country
or area, or among a particular group of people |
| endue |
v. ~ sb with sth provide or supply sb with a good quality,
ability etc |
| endurable |
adj. that can be endured; bearable |
| endurance |
n. state or power of enduring |
| energetic |
full of or done with energy |
| enervate |
v. cause to lose strength or energy |
| enfeeble |
v. make weak or feeble |
| enfranchise |
v. give (sb) political rights, esp the right to vote
at parliamentary elections |
| engender |
v. be the cause of (a situation or condition) |
| engrave |
v. ~ B on A/~ A cut or carve (words, designs, etc)
on (a hard surface) |
| engross |
v. occupy all the time or attention of (sb) |
| enhance |
v. increase make (sb/sth) look better |
| enigma |
n. question, person, thing, circumstance, etc that
is difficult to understand; mystery |
| enjoin |
v. ~ sth (fml or law ) impose (an action or prohibition)
on sb; order |
| enkindle |
v. cause (flames, passion, etc) to flare up |
| enlighten |
v. ~ sb give more knowledge or information to sb; free
sb from false beliefs or ignorance |
| enlist |
v. ~ (in/for sth); ~ (sb) (as sth) enter or cause (sb)
to enter the armed forces |
| enmity |
n. condition or feeling of being an enemy; hostility |
| ennoble |
v. make (sb) a member of the nobility |
| enormity |
n. great wickedness |
| enormous |
adj. very large; immense |
| enrage |
v. make very angry |
| enrapture |
v. fill (sb) with great delight or joy |
| enshrine |
v. ~ sth (in sth) place or keep sth (in, or as if in,
a shrine or holy place) |
| ensnare |
v. ~ sb/sth (in sth) (often fig ) catch sb/sth in,
or as if in, a trap or snare |
| entail |
v. make necessary; involve |
| entangle |
v. ~ sb/sth/oneself cause sb/sth/oneself to become
twisted, tangled or caught (in sth) |
| enthrall |
capture; make slave |
| enthrone |
v. place (a king, queen or bishop) on a throne, esp
with ceremony; exalt |
| enthuse |
v. ~ show great admiration or interest for |
| enthusiastic |
adj. ~ full of enthusiasm |
| entirety |
n. state of being entire; completeness |
| entomology |
n. scientific study of insects |
| entrails |
n. internal organs of a person or animal, esp the intestines |
| entreaty |
n. earnest request or requesting |
| entree |
n. ~ (into sth) right or privilege of admission or
entry |
| entrench |
v. surround or protect with a trench or trenches |
| entwine |
v. ~ sth make sth by twisting one thing around another |
| enumerate |
v. name one by one; count |
| epic |
n. long poem about the deeds of one or more great heroes,
or a nation's past history |
| epicure |
n. person who takes a special interest in and gets
great pleasure from food and drink |
| epicurean |
n, adj fond of pleasure and luxury |
| epicycle |
A circle that rolls upon the external or internal circumference
of another circle. |
| epicycloid |
A curve traced by a point on the circumference of a
circle which rolls upon another circle. |
| epidemic |
n, adj spreading quickly among many people in the same
place for a time |
| epidermis |
n. outer layer of the skin |
| epigram |
n. short poem or saying expressing an idea in a clever
and amusing way |
| epilogue |
n. part or section added at the end of a book, play,
film, programme, etc, as a comment on the main action |
| epiphany |
n. Christian festival held on 6 January, in memory
of the coming of the Magi to the baby Jesus at Bethlehem
, 16 |
| episode |
n. event occurring as part of a long series of events
as in a novel, one's life, etc |
| epitaph |
n. words written or said about a dead person, esp words
inscribed on a tombstone |
| epithet |
n. adjective or descriptive phrase that refers to the
character or most important quality of sb/sth eg Alfred
the Great, Attila the Hun , |
| epitome |
n. thing that shows on a small scale all the characteristics
of sth much larger |
| epizootic |
Prevailing among animals. |
| epoch |
n. period of time in history, life, the history of
the earth, etc, esp one marked by notable events or characteristics |
| epode |
A species of lyric poems. |
| equalize |
To render uniform. |
| equanimity |
n. calmness of mind or temper |
| equestrian |
adj. of horse-riding |
| equilibrium |
n. state of being balanced |
| equitable |
adj. fair and just; reasonable |
| equity |
n. fairness; right judgement |
| equivalent |
adj. ~ equal in value, amount, meaning, importance,
etc |
| equivocal |
adj. having a double or doubtful meaning; ambiguous |
| equivocate |
v. speak in an ambiguous way to hide the truth or mislead
people |
| eradicate |
v. destroy completely; put an end to (sth) |
| errant |
adj. doing wrong; misbehaving |
| erratic |
adj. irregular or uneven in movement, quality or behaviour;
unreliable |
| erroneous |
adj. incorrect; mistaken |
| erudite |
adj. having or showing great learning; scholarly |
| erudition |
n. learning |
| eschew |
v. keep away from (sth); abstain from; avoid |
| espy |
v. (dated or joc ) catch sight of (sb/sth) |
| esquire |
n. (abbr Esq) polite title added after a man's surname
(instead of Mr before it), esp in addressing letters ,
Mr |
| essence |
n. that which makes a thing what it is; most important
or indispensable quality of sth |
| estimable |
adj. worthy of great respect |
| estrange |
to arouse especially mutual enmity or indifference
in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness:ALIENATE |
| estuary |
n. wide river mouth into which the tide flows |
| eugenic |
pertaining to the improvement of race |
| eulogize |
to speak or write in high praise of:EXTOL |
| eulogy |
n. (speech or piece of writing containing) high praise
of a person or thing |
| euphemism |
n. use of pleasant, mild or indirect words or phrases
in place of more accurate or direct ones |
| euphonious |
adj. of a pleasing sound |
| euphony |
n. pleasantness of sound, esp in words |
| eureka |
interj I have found it! (a cry of triumph at making
a discovery ) |
| evade |
v. get or keep out of the way of |
| evanesce |
To vanish gradually. |
| evanescent |
adj. quickly fading; soon disappearing from memory |
| evangelical |
adj. of or according to the teachings of the Christian
Gospel, or the Christian religion |
| evangelist |
n. any one of the four writers of the Gospels in the
Bible |
| evasion |
n. keeping out of the way of sb; avoidance |
| eventual |
adj. happening at last as a result; ultimate |
| evert |
To turn inside out. |
| evict |
to force out:EXPEL |
| evidential |
adj. of, based on, or providing evidence |
| evince |
v. show clearly that one has (a feeling, quality, etc);
exhibit |
| evoke |
v. bring to mind (a feeling, memory, etc); summon up |
| evolution |
n. (theory of the) gradual development of the characteristics
of plants and animals over many generations, esp the development
of more complicated forms from earlier, simpler forms |
| evolve |
v. (cause to) develop naturally and (usu) gradually |
| exacerbate |
v. make (pain, disease, a situation) worse; aggravate |
| exaggerate |
v. make seem larger, better, worse, etc than it really
is; stretch (a description) beyond the truth |
| exasperate |
v. irritate or annoy greatly |
| excavate |
v. make (a hole or channel) by digging; remove (soil,
etc) by digging |
| exceed |
v. be greater or more numerous than (esp a quantity) |
| excel |
v. ~ in/at sth be exceptionally good at sth |
| excellence |
n. ~ quality of being excellent; great merit |
| excellency |
n. title given to ambassadors, governors, their husbands
or wives, and some other officers and officials |
| excellent |
adj. very good; of very high quality |
| excerpt |
n. ~ passage, extract, from a book, film, piece of
music, etc |
| excess |
n. an ~ of sth more than the reasonable, expected or
moderate degree or amount of sth |
| excitable |
adj. easily excited |
| excitation |
Intensified emotion or action. |
| exclamation |
n. sound(s) or word(s), expressing sudden surprise,
pain, etc |
| exclude |
v. ~ sb/sth prevent sb from entering somewhere, taking
part in sth, etc; keep sb out |
| exclusion |
n. ~ (from sth) action of excluding; being excluded |
| excrescence |
n. abnormal (ugly and useless) growth on an animal
body or a plant |
| excretion |
n. action of excreting |
| excruciate |
to subject to intense mental distress |
| excursion |
n. short journey, esp one made by a group of people
together for pleasure |
| execrable |
adj. verybad; terrible |
| execration |
An accursed thing. |
| executor |
n. person who is appointed by the maker of a will to
carry out the terms of the will |
| exegesis |
n. (fml ) explanation and interpretation of a written
work, esp the Bible , |
| exemplar |
A model, pattern, or original to be copied or imitated. |
| exemplary |
adj. serving as an example; suitable for imitation |
| exemplify |
v. be a typical example of (sth) |
| exempt |
adj. ~ free from an obligation, duty or payment; not
liable |
| exert |
v. ~ sth bring (a quality, skill, pressure, etc) into
use; apply sth |
| exhale |
v. breathe (sth) out |
| exhaust |
n. waste fumes, gases, steam, etc expelled from an
engine or a machine |
| exhaustion |
n. total loss of strength; extreme tiredness |
| exhaustive |
adj. very thorough; complete |
| exhilarate |
v. make feel very happy or lively |
| exhume |
v. take from the ground (for examination) |
| exigency |
n. (condition of) urgent need or demand; emergency |
| exigent |
adj. requiring immediate action; urgent |
| existence |
n. state or fact of existing |
| exit |
n. action of leaving; departure, esp that of an actor
from the stage |
| exodus |
n. ~ (to...) (fml or joc ) departure of many people
at one time |
| exonerate |
to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship |
| exorbitance |
n. (fml ). exorbitantly |
| exorbitant |
adj. (of a price, charge, etc) much too high or great;
unreasonable |
| exorcise |
drive out evil spirits |
| exotic |
adj. introduced from another country; not native |
| expand |
v. ~ (into sth) (cause sth to) become greater in size,
number or importance |
| expanse |
n. ~ wide and open area (of land, sea, etc) |
| expansion |
n. action of expanding; state of being expanded |
| expatriate |
n. person living outside his own country |
| expect |
v. ~ sth (from sb/sth) think or believe that sth will
happen or that sb/sth will come |
| expectancy |
n. state of expecting or hoping |
| expectorate |
v. send out (phlegm from the throat, blood from the
lungs) by coughing; spit |
| expediency |
that which is advisable or practical |
| expedient |
adj. useful, helpful or advisable for a particular
purpose, though not necessarily fair or moral |
| expedite |
v. help the progress of (work, business, etc); hasten
or speed up |
| expeditious |
adj. done with speed and efficiency |
| expend |
v. ~ sth (fml ) spend, use (money, etc) in doing sth |
| expense |
n. spending of money etc; cost |
| expiate |
v. accept punishment for (wrong one has done) and do
something to show one is sorry; make up for |
| explicate |
v. explain and analyse (esp an idea, a statement or
a work of literature) in detail |
| explicit |
adj. (of a statement, etc) clearly and fully expressed |
| explode |
v. burst with a loud noise; blow up |
| explosion |
n. (loud noise caused by) sudden and violent bursting;
exploding |
| explosive |
adj. likely or easily able to explode |
| exposition |
n. explaining or making clear by giving details |
| expository |
serving to expound or set fourth |
| expostulate |
v. ~ (on/about sth) (fml ) make a protest (to sb);
reason or argue (with sb), esp to persuade him not to
do sth |
| exposure |
n. action of exposing or state of being exposed |
| expressive |
adj. showing one's feelings or thoughts |
| expulsion |
n. ~ action of expelling or being expelled |
| extant |
adj. still in existence |
| extemporaneous |
adj. spoken or done without preparation; extempore
; |
| extempore |
adj. adv without previous thought or preparation; impromptu |
| extensible |
Capable of being thrust out. |
| extension |
n. process or action of extending (extend 1,2,3); state
of being extended |
| extensive |
adj. large in area; extending far |
| extensor |
A muscle that causes extension. |
| extenuate |
v. make (wrongdoing) less serious (by providing an
excuse) |
| exterior |
adj. on or coming from the outside; outer |
| external |
adj. outside; situated on the outside of sth (esp the
body) |
| extinct |
adj. no longer in existence |
| extinguish |
v. cause (sth) to stop burning; put out |
| extol |
v. ~sb (as sth) (fml ) praise (sb/sth) highly |
| extort |
v. ~ sth obtain sth by violence, threats, etc |
| extortion |
n. action of extorting |
| extradite |
v. give up or send back to the country where the crime
was (said to be) committed |
| extradition |
surrender of prisoner by one state to another |
| extrajudicial |
Happening out of court. |
| extraneous |
adj. ~ not belonging to or directly connected with
the subject or matter being dealt with |
| extraordinary |
adj. beyond what is ordinary; very unusual; remarkable |
| extravagance |
n. being extravagant |
| extravagant |
adj. using or spending too much; (of actions) showing
this tendency |
| extremist |
n. person who holds extreme(3) views (esp in politics) |
| extremity |
n. (fml ) furthest point, end or limit of sth |
| extricate |
v. ~ sb/sth (fml ) set sb/sth free; release sb/sth
; |
| extrude |
v. ~ sth (fml ) force or squeeze out sth under pressure |
| exuberance |
n. state or quality of being exuberant |
| exuberant |
adj. overflowing with happiness and excitement; very
lively and cheerful |
