E Flashcards
(46 cards)
eclectic
(adjective) drawn from many sources; varied, heterogeneous.
The Mellon family art collection is an eclectic one, including works ranging from ancient Greek sculptures to modern paintings.
eclecticism (noun)
efficacious
(adjective) able to produce a desired effect.
Though thousands of people today are taking herbal supplements to treat depression, researchers have not yet proved them efficacious.
efficacy (noun)
effrontery
(noun) shameless boldness.
The sports world was shocked when a professional basketball player had the effrontery to choke his head coach during a practice session.
effusive
(adjective) pouring forth one’s emotions very freely.
Having won the Oscar for Best Actress, Sally Field gave an effusive acceptance speech in which she marveled, “You like me! You really like me!”
effusion (noun)
egotism
(noun) excessive concern with oneself; conceit.
Robert’s egotism was so great that all he could talk about was the importance and the brilliance of his own opinions.
egotistic (adjective)
egregious
(adjective) obvious, conspicuous, flagrant.
It’s hard to imagine how the editor could allow such an egregious error to appear.
elated
(adjective) excited and happy; exultant.
When the New England Patriots’ last, desperate pass was dropped, the elated fans of the New York Giants began to celebrate.
elate (verb)
elation (noun)
elliptical
(adjective) very terse or concise in writing or speech; difficult to understand.
Rather than speak plainly, she hinted at her meaning through a series of nods, gestures, and elliptical half sentences.
elusive
(adjective) hard to capture, grasp, or understand.
Though everyone thinks they know what “justice” is, when you try to define the concept precisely, it proves to be quite elusive.
embezzle
(verb) to steal money or property that has been entrusted to your care.
The church treasurer was found to have embezzled thousands of dollars by writing phony checks on the church bank account.
embezzlement (noun)
emend
(verb) to correct.
Before the letter is mailed, please emend the two spelling errors.
emendation (noun)
emigrate
(verb) to leave one place or country to settle elsewhere.
Millions of Irish emigrated to the New World in the wake of the great Irish famines of the 1840s.
emigrant (noun)
emigration (noun)
eminent
(adjective) noteworthy, famous.
Vaclav Havel was an eminent author before he was elected president of the Czech Republic.
eminence (noun)
emissary
(noun) someone who represents another.
In an effort to avoid a military showdown, former President Jimmy Carter was sent as an emissary to Korea to negotiate a settlement.
emollient
(noun) something that softens or soothes.
She used a hand cream as an emollient on her dry, work-roughened hands.
emollient (adjective)
empathy
(noun) imaginative sharing of the feelings, thoughts, or experiences of another.
It’s easy for a parent to have empathy for the sorrow of another parent whose child has died.
empathetic (adjective)
empirical
(adjective) based on experience or personal observation.
Although many people believe in ESP, scientists have found no empirical evidence of its existence.
empiricism (noun)
emulate
(verb) to imitate or copy.
The British band Oasis admitted their desire to emulate their idols, the Beatles.
emulation (noun)
encroach
(verb) to go beyond acceptable limits; to trespass.
By quietly seizing more and more authority, Robert Moses continually encroached on the powers of other government leaders.
encroachment (noun)
enervate
(verb) to reduce the energy or strength of someone or something.
The extended exposure to the sun along with dehydration enervated the shipwrecked crew, leaving them almost too weak to spot the passing vessel.
engender
(verb) to produce, to cause.
Countless disagreements over the proper use of national forests have engendered feelings of hostility between ranchers and environmentalists.
enhance
(verb) to improve in value or quality.
New kitchen appliances will enhance your house and increase the amount of money you’ll make when you sell it.
enhancement (noun)
enmity
(noun) hatred, hostility, ill will.
Long-standing enmity, like that between the Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, is difficult to overcome.
enthrall
(verb) to enchant or charm.
The Swedish singer Jenny Lind enthralled American audiences in the nineteenth century with her beauty and talent.
