Word List 14 Flashcards
entrust
to confer a trust on; especially to deliver something in trust to
to commit to another with confidence
e.g. She was entrusted with the job of organizing the reception.
We entrusted our financial adviser with the investment of all of our savings.
enunciate
to make a definite or systematic statement of
announce, proclaim
articulate, pronounce
e.g. He set out to enunciate the basic principles of his system.
enunciate all the syllables
denunciation
an act of denouncing; especially a public condemnation
e.g. The attack drew strong denunciations from leaders around the world.
environ
encircle, surround
e.g. a decaying, impoverished city environed by affluent suburbs
envision
to picture to oneself
e.g. envisions a career dedicated to promoting peace
epaulet
something that ornaments or protects the shoulder (an ornamental fringed shoulder pad formerly worn as part of a military uniform; an ornamental strip or loop sewn across the shoulder of a dress of coat)
ephemeral
lasting one day only
lasting a very short time
e.g. an ephemeral fever
The autumnal blaze of colors is always to be treasured, all the more so because it is so ephemeral.
epicure
one with sensitive and discriminating tastes especially in food or wine
epidemic
affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time
excessively prevalent
contagious
characterized by very widespread growth or extent
e.g. Typhoid was epidemic.
epidemic laughter
The practice had reached epidemic proportions.
episodic
made up of separate especially loosely connected episodes; having the form of an episode
of or limited in duration or significance to a particular episode; temporary
occurring, appearing, or changing at usually irregular intervals; occasional
e.g. The long novel was filmed for television as an episodic movie that was shown over the course of five evenings.
Malaria is characterized by episodic attacks of chills and fever that coincide with mass destruction of blood cells.
equine
of, relating to, or resembling a horse or the horse family
episodic
epitaph
an inscription on or at a tomb or a grave in memory of the one buried there
a brief statement commemorating or epitomizing a deceased person or something past
e.g. The epitaph reads “In loving memory of….”
epithet
a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing
a disparaging or abusive word or phrase
e.g. His charitable works have earned him the epithet “Mr. Philanthropy.”
a group of angry people hurling epithets at one another
epitome
a summary of a written work; a brief presentation or statement of something
a typical or ideal example; embodiment
brief or miniature form (usually used with in)
e.g. The golden rule is often cited as the epitome of moral conduct: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
The prestigious prep school prides itself on being widely regarded as the epitome of tradition and old-fashioned values.
epitomize
- epitome
e.g. This student’s struggles epitomize the trouble with our schools.
His personal code of behavior on playing field is epitomized by his favorite saying, “Nice guys finish last”.
epoch
an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development
a memorable event or date
e.g. The development of the steam engine marked an important epoch in the history of industry.
equable
marked by lack of variation or change; uniform
marked by lack of noticeable, unpleasant, or extreme variation or inequality
e.g. An area with an equable climate would be our first choice for a place in which to settle.
intemperate
not temperate; especially given to excessive use of intoxicating liquors
e.g. intemperate anger so extreme that the man should be in therapy
a serious course in wine appreciation that does not welcome intemperate drinkers and party animals
equanimity
evenness of mind especially under stress
right disposition; balance
e.g. an Olympic diver who always displays remarkable equanimity on the platform
physical equanimity
librate
to oscillate or move from side to side or between two points
to remain poised or balanced
escapism
habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine
e.g. Reading romantic novels is for her a form of escapism.
equivocate
to use unclear language especially with intent to deceive
to avoid committing oneself in what one says
e.g. The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job.
erasure
- erase
e. g. accidental erasure of the tape
erect
vertical in position; standing up or out from the body
to building something by putting together materials
to fix in an upright position
to elevate in status
e.g. A lone tree remained erect after the terrible tornado had passed.
The city erected a statue in his honor.
err
to make a mistake
to violate an accepted standard of conduct
e.g. erred in his calculation
The court erred in refusing to allow bail.
erratic
having no fixed course; wandering
characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity
deviating from what is ordinary or standard; eccentric
e.g. an erratic comet
Because of your erratic attendance at practice, you are in danger of being cut from the team.
an erratic genius
ersatz
being a usually artificial and inferior substitute or imitation
e.g. an apartment complex designed as an ersatz Mediterranean villa
Like everything else the restaurant served, the whipped cream on the dessert was ersatz.
erstwhile
in the past; former, previous/ formerly
e.g. There’s now a store where erstwhile lay green and pleasant pastures.
My erstwhile friend ignored me when I ran into her at the mall.
erudite
having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying; possessing or displaying erudition
e.g. an erudite scholar
an erudite lecture on the latest discoveries in astronomy
unlettered
lacking facility in reading and writing and ignorant of the knowledge to be gained from books
illiterate
not marked with letters
e.g. Unlettered moviegoers could scarcely imagine how little resemblance the film bore to the novel on which it was supposedly based.
escapism
habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine
e.g. Reading romantic novels is for her a form of escapism.
esoteric
designed for or understood by the specially initiated along
requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group
limited to a small group; private, confidential
of special, rare, or unusual interest
e.g. Metaphysics is such an esoteric subject that most people are content to leave it to the philosophers.
espouse
marry
to take up and support as a cause; become attached to
e.g. The new theory has been espoused by many leading physicists.
espy
to catch sight of
e.g. Out of the corner of my eye I espied the squirrel making another raid on the bird feeder.
estimable
capable of being estimated
worthy of esteem
e.g. We owe thanks to our estimable colleagues.
estrange
to remove from customary environment or associations
to arouse especially mutual enmity or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness; alienate
e.g. She estranged several of her coworkers when she let her promotion go to her head.
etch
to produce (as a pattern or design) on a hard material by eating into the material's surface (as by acid or laser beam) to delineate or impress clearly
e.g. glass that has been etched with an identification number
Pain was etched on his features.
ethereal
of or relating to the regions beyond the earth; celestial, heavenly; unworldly, spiritual
lacking material substance; immaterial, intangible
marked by unusual delicacy or refinement
e.g. The windows give the church an ethereal glow.
the ethereal attribute that every performer should have - charisma
ponderous
of very great weight
unwieldy or clumsy because of weight or size
oppressively or unpleasantly dull; lifeless
e.g. students struggling to stay awake during a ponderous lecture
senescence
the state of being old; the process of becoming old
the growth phase in a plant or plant part from full maturity to death
ethos
the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution
e.g. The company made environmental awareness part of its business ethos.
They are working to keep a democratic ethos alive in the community.
etiquette
the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life
e.g. Her failure to respond to the invitation was a serious breach of etiquette.
etymology
the history of a linguistic form (as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence
eulogy
a commendatory oration or writing especially in honor of one deceased
e.g. Several eulogies were given at the special assembly marking the retirement of the company’s longtime president.
euphonious
pleasing to the ear
e.g. The doorbell had a noticeably euphonious chime.
euphoria
a feeling of well-being or elation
e.g. The initial euphoria following their victory in the election has now subsided.
semaphore
an apparatus for visual signaling
a system of visual signaling by two flags held one in each hand
evanescent
tending to vanish like vapor
e.g. beauty that is as evanescent as a rainbow
efflorescence
the action or process of developing and unfolding as if coming into flower; blossoming
fullness of manifestation; culmination
senescence
the state of being old; the process of becoming old
the growth phase in a plant or plant part from full maturity to death
evenhanded
fair, impartial
e.g. an evenhanded meting out of punishment
evict
to recover (property) from a person by legal process to put (a tenant) out by legal process to force out; expel
e.g. His landlord has threatened to evict him if he doesn’t pay the rent soon.
evince
to constitute outward evidence of
to display clearly; reveal
e.g. She evinced an interest in art at an early age.
evoke
to call forth or up
to re-create imaginatively
e.g. His photographs evoke the isolation and solitude of the desert.
ewe
the female of the sheep especially when mature
ewer
a vase-shaped pitcher or jug
acerbate
irritate, exasperate
exacerbate
to make more violent, bitter, or severe
e.g. The proposed factory shutdown would only exacerbate our unemployment problems.
exact
to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain
to call for as necessary or desirable
e.g. They would not rest until they had exacted revenge.
exacting
- exact
e. g. He was shocked when his normally exacting supervisor complimented him on a job well done.
exactitude
the quality or an instance of being exact; exactness
e.g. After its opening weekend, a movie’s final box office gross can be estimated with considerable exactitude.
exalt
to raise in rank, power, or character
to elevate by praise or in estimation; glorify
to raise high; elevate
to enhance the activity of; intensify
e.g. His behavior has exalted the power and prestige of his office.
The essay exalts the simple beauty of the country.
exasperate
to excite the anger of; enrage
to cause irritation or annoyance to
e.g. We were exasperated by the delays.
pillory
to set in a pillory as punishment
to expose to public contempt, ridicule, or scorn
e.g. The press pilloried the judge for her decision.
excavate
to form a cavity or hole in; to form by hollowing out; to dig out and remove
to expose to view by or as if by digging away a covering
e.g. They began excavating the backyard for their new pool.
prosaic
characteristic of prose as distinguished from poetry; factual
dull, unimaginative
everyday, ordinary
e.g. the prosaic life of a hardworking farmer
heroic behaviors wasted in prosaic lives
occlude
to close up or block off; obstruct
sorb
e.g. A blood clot had occluded a major artery in his body.
excoriate
to wear off the skin of; abrade
to censure scathingly
e.g. The candidates have publicly excoriated each other throughout the campaign.
exculpate
to clear from alleged fault or guilt
e.g. The court exculpated him after a thorough investigation.
excursion
a going out or forth; expedition
a usually brief pleasure trip
deviation from a direct, definite, or proper course; especially, digression
the movement outward and back or from a mean position or axis; also, the distance traversed; amplitude
e.g. Our weekend excursions have encompassed virtually all parts of our home state.
needless excursions into abstruse theory
the excursion of a pistol
excursive
constituting a digression; characterized by digression
e.g. an excursive story line that some readers of Melville’s novel find very rewarding
execrable
deserving to be execrated; detestable
very bad; wretched
e.g. the execrable living conditions in slums
execrate
- execrable
e. g. She came to execrate the hypocritical values of her upper-class upbringing.
preempt
to acquire (as land) by preemption
to seize upon to the exclusion of others; take for oneself
to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority; take precedence over
to gain a commanding or preeminent place in
to prevent from happening or taking place; forestall
e.g. The contract preempts lawsuits by the company’s clients.
The state law was preempted by a federal law.
exhaustive
including all possibilities; thorough
e.g. conducted an exhaustive search
exhilarate
to make cheerful and excited; enliven, elate
refresh, stimulate
e.g. The climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike.
exhort
to incite by argument or advice; urge strongly
e.g. She exhorted her listeners to support the proposition.
hortative
giving exhortation; advisory
exigent
requiring immediate aid or action
requiring or calling for much; demanding
e.g. started his workday with a flood of exigent matters that required his quick decision
an exigent client
exodus
a mass departure; emigration
e.g. the mass exodus from the cities to the beaches and the mountains on most summer weekends
exonerate
to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship
to clear from accusation or blame
e.g. The results of the DNA fingerprinting finally exonerated the man, but only after he had wasted 10 years of his life in prison.
onerous
involving, imposing, or constituting a burden; troublesome
having legal obligations that outweighs the advantages
e.g. an onerous task
had an onerous and stressful job of notifying the families of soldiers killed in action
exorbitant
not coming within the scope of the law
exceeding the customary or appropriate limits in intensity, quality, amount, or size
e.g. They were charged exorbitant rates for phone calls.
expansive
having a capacity or a tendency to expand
causing or tending to cause expansion
characterized by high spirits, generosity, or readiness to talk; open
marked by or indicative of exaggerated euphoria and delusions of self-importance
sizable, extensive
e.g. He was unusually expansive at the press conference.
an expansive patient
an expansive interpretation of the law
expediency
the quality or state or being suited to the end in view; suitability, fitness
adherence to expedient means and methods
a means of achieving a particular end; expedient
e.g. The expediency of such a plan is questionable.
expedient
suitable for achieving a particular end in a given circumstances
characterized by concern with what is opportune; especially, governed by self-interest
something done or used to achieve a particular end usually quickly or temporarily; an expedient action or solution
e.g. They found it expedient to negotiate with the terrorists.
Do the right thing, not the expedient thing.
The government chose short-term expedients instead of a real economic policy.
expeditious
marked by or acting with prompt efficiency
e.g. a company that is well-regarded for its expeditious handling of any request or complaint
expend
to pay out; spend
to make use of for a specific purpose; utilize
e.g. the social services upon which public revenue is expended
projects on which they expended great energy
expenditure
the act or process of expending
something expended; disbursement, expense
e.g. an increase in military expenditure
