John Wiley And Sons Webster''s New World - Essential vocabulary_E

E
eccentric* (ek SEN trik) adj. 1. not having the same center; 2. not exactly circular
in shape or motion; 3. deviating from the norm, as in behavior; odd; unconventional
• If one circle is drawn inside another and they are not concentric, they
must be eccentric.
• A football is of an eccentric shape.
• Unless one who dresses in a red wig with matching suspenders and over-
sized shoes is a clown, he or she would have to be called more than a bit
eccentric.
eclectic (ek LEK tik) adj. 1. taken from various sources, systems, or doctrines;
2. made up of materials gathered from many different sources, systems, etc.
• A good historian gathers his or her information from eclectic sources rather
than just one.
• Eclectic is the only way to describe the earliest computers, which were
made from vacuum tubes and a variety of condensers and resistors.
ecological* (ek uh LAH ji kl) adj. having to do with the relations between liv-
ing things and their environment or a certain organism and its environment
• The plants and animals that live in and around a pond have their own
intertwined ecological subsystem.
• Urban sprawl’s ecological impact can be clearly seen in the presence of deer
and bears on suburban roadways.
economic (ek uh NAH mik) adj. 1. dealing with the management of income,
expenditures, etc. of a household, business, community, or government; 2. con-
cerning the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth; 3. concerned
with the material needs of people; —pl. the social science that is concerned with
the preceding
• The economic well-being of his or her household is a major concern to the
head of any family.
• The indices of economic indicators give a reading of how well the country’s
economy is doing.
• People’s main economic needs are as much as it takes for them to live

comfortably.
• Economics is the social science devoted to the study of supply and demand.
[-ally adv.]
ecstatic (ek STA tik) adj. 1. having the nature of being overpowered by joy, hap-
piness, or rapture; 2. causing or caused by ecstasy
• Morissa was absolutely ecstatic over the raise in salary that she had
received.
• It was an ecstatic day for the world champions.
[-ally adv.]
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effect (uh FEKT) n. 1. something resulting from a cause; a result; 2. the ability
to bring about results; 3. an influence or action on something —vt. to bring about;
to produce as a result; to cause; to accomplish
• When someone tickles you, the effect is that you laugh.
• Drinking too much can have the effect of making you light-headed.
• The Kid has the talent and quickness to effect a knockout in three rounds.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. consequence, outcome; Ant. cause]
effective* (uh FEK tiv) adj. 1. creating a result; 2. creating a definite or desired
result; efficient; 3. in effect; operative; active; 4. actual, rather than potential or the-
oretical; 5. equipped and ready for combat
• Winston Churchill was a very effective speaker.
• Certain bug sprays are more effective than others.
• The order to report is effective within 24 hours.
• We will have an effective solution within the week.
• The marines will have an effective force on the ground by the first of next
month.
[-ly adv.]
efficacious* (EF I KAY shis) adj. capable of creating the desired result; actually
creating that result; effective

• Aspirin is an efficacious medication with many uses.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. effective]
efficient (ef FISH int) adj. using a minimum of effort, expense, or waste to
cause a desired result with
• A diesel engine is much more efficient than a steam engine, even though
diesel fuel is not clean burning.
• When your desk is organized in an efficient manner, those things you use
most often are the most accessible.
egregious (e GREE juhs) adj. terrible; filled with undesirable qualities; amazingly
bad; flagrant
• When the American people elected [you fill in the name], they made an
egregious error.
• The dinner served on our flight from St. Louis was absolutely egregious.
[-ly adv.]
elated* (ee LAY tid) adj. very happy; joyful; filled with elation; high spirited
• Terry was elated when he saw that his family had come to watch him play
baseball.
• Ian was elated at the sight of his grandma’s chocolate cream pies.
[-ly adv.]
element (EL i mint) n. 1. the most basic (as-small-as-it-gets) part or principle of
anything, whether concrete or abstract; 2. a component; a constituent; an ingredi-
ent; a factor; a building block
• There are 106 known chemical elements, of which 96 occur in nature.
• Your argument seems to contain an element of truth.
• Elements of the Eighth Army neared Baghdad.
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elicit (el IS it) vt. 1. to draw out; evoke; 2. to cause to be revealed
• Perry’s quiet manner was meant to elicit a confession.
• She hoped to elicit a hint as to what her present might be.

• The pitch was made to elicit enough sympathy to get a monetary contribution.
[-ed, -ing, -able adj., -ation n.]
elite (e LEET) n. 1. those selected or regarded as the finest, best, most distin-
guished, etc.; 2. a size of type for typewriters (remember them?) measuring 12 char-
acters per inch —adj. of, forming, or suitable for elites
• The SEALS are the elite of the U.S. Navy.
• The elite of the feline family is the Siberian tiger.
• My old IBM Selectric II used courier (10 characters per inch) and elite
(12 characters per inch) interchangable type balls.
• The British Commandos are an elite group.
QUICK REVIEW #31
Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most
nearly the same thing.
E: SAT Words 93
1. eccentric
2. eclectic
3. ecological
4. economic
5. ecstatic
6. effect
7. effective
8. efficacious
9. efficient
10. egregious
11. elated
12. element
13. elicit
14. elite
a. extract
b. best

c. joyful
d. finest
e. horrible
f. component
g. interrelated
h. actual
i. rapturous
j. working
k. outcome
l. of money
m. hodgepodge
n. unconventional
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elocution (EL i KYOO shin) n. 1. vocalizing words distinctly when speaking in
public; 2. the art of public speaking or declaiming (now usually associated with a
studied or artificial style)
• Cicero was well known for his elocution in the Senate of ancient Rome.
• Proper elocution requires one to project from the diaphragm rather than
just speaking with one’s voice.
• Opera singers are often taught elocution.
[-ary adj., -ist n.]
eloquent* (EL uh kwint) adj. 1. having a vivid, forceful, fluent, graceful, and
persuasive quality of writing or speech; 2. vividly expressive
• Mark Twain was an eloquent speaker as well as a humorous one.
• Rachel shrugged and sighed an eloquent sigh.
[-ly adv.]
elude (il OOD) vt. 1. to use quickness, cunning, etc. to avoid being captured;
evade; 2. to escape detection, notice, or understanding
• The fox does not often elude detection by the hounds.
• The prisoner eluded the guards by hiding in the laundry bin.

• I recognize her face, but her name eludes me.
[-d, eluding] [Syn. escape]
embellishment* (em BEL ish mint) n. 1. fancying up; 2. something that
adorns, as an ornament, or a bit of fancifulness added to a factual account; a fancy
musical phrase
• Tree lights and icicles are often added as embellishments.
• A good storyteller often adds a few embellishments, just to make his (or
someone else’s) role appear more important.
• William F. Cody’s (Buffalo Bill’s) autobiography has often been called one
big embellishment from start to finish.
• A rimshot on a snare drum accompanying a TV talk-show host’s punch
line is an embellishment.
embitter (em BIT ir) vt. 1. to anger; make resentful or morose; 2. to make more
bitter; exascerbate; aggravate
• Ignore his cynicism; he’s just an embittered old grouch.
• Pulling her hair is bound to embitter her even further.
[-ed, -ing, -ment n.]
embrace (em BRAYS) vt. 1. to enfold in the arms, usually as an expression of
affection or desire; to hug; 2. to accept readily; to avail oneself of; 3. to take up or
adopt (especially eagerly or seriously); 4. to include; contain
• The homecoming sailor happily embraced his wife and child.
• Phyllis embraced Cathy’s offer to help her with math.
• Mr. Jones eagerly embraced his new profession.
• The science of biology embraces zoology and botany.
[-d, embracing] [Syn. include]
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embroil (em BROYL) vt. 1. to mix things up; bungle; jumble; 2. to lure into a
battle or fight; get into trouble
• His waffling on the subject served only to embroil matters.

• The North and South were embroiled in the bloody Civil War.
[-ed, -ing, -ment n.]
emend (ee MEND) vt. 1. to make scholarly corrections or improvements to a
text; 2. (rare) to correct or improve
• Loren had to emend the manuscript to take into account the latest informa-
tion on the subject.
• After finding errors, the author emended the text.
[-ed, -ing]
emergence* (ee MOER jins) n. 1. a becoming visible; coming forth into view; a
coming out; 2. an outgrowth from beneath the outer layer of a plant
• The sudden emergence of the beluga whale from beneath the surface caught
all the whale watchers by surprise.
• The emergence of the sun from below the horizon is well worth getting up
early to watch.
• It took a few weeks before the emergence of the prickles on the rosebush.
emigrate (EM i grayt) vt. to leave one country to settle down in another
• During the potato famine, many people emigrated from Ireland and came
to the United States.
• Albert Einstein emigrated to the United States from Germany.
[-d, emigrating] [Syn. migrate; Ant. immigrate]
eminent (EM in int) adj. 1. rising above other things or places, both literally
and figuratively; high; lofty; 2. projecting; prominent; protruding; 3. standing
high when compared to others, as in rank or achievement; renowned; exalted;
distinguished
• The Matterhorn is an eminent peak in the Swiss Alps.
• The office of U.S. senator is an eminent position.
• George Patton was a general with eminent achievements.
[-ly adv., eminence n.] [Syn. famous]
emissary (EM is ery) n. an agent of a government, a company, or an individual
sent on a certain mission

• The Italian ambassador to the United Nations was sent as an emissary to
the peace talks.
• Although the United States was never a member of the League of Nations,
our government sent an emissary there to look out for American interests.
[emissaries pl.]
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QUICK REVIEW #32
Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most
nearly the same thing.
96 Essential Vocabulary
1. elocution
2. eloquent
3. elude
4. embellishment
5. embitter
6. embrace
7. embroil
8. emend
9. emergence
10. emigrate
11. eminent
12. emissary
a. leave
b. anger
c. appearance
d. declaiming
e. famous
f. ornamentation
g. include

h. fluent
i. jumble
j. agent
k. edit
l. evade
emollient (i MAHL yint) n. something with a softening or soothing effect, espe-
cially a medicinal lotion applied to the skin of the body
• After a day outside, an emollient is helpful in combating the drying effect
of the wind.
• Women are more likely to use an emollient than men because the former
care more about maintaining their appearance.
emotional (i MOH shin uhl) adj. 1. of dealing with strong feelings; 2. showing
feelings, especially strong ones; 3. easily or quick to weep, be angry, etc.; 4. appeal-
ing to the emotions; moving people to tears, anger, etc.
• Karen always gets very emotional at weddings.
• Victor’s return from overseas was an emotional time for his whole family.
• Films that cause emotional reactions with lots of tears and “awws!” are
often classified as “chick flicks.”
[-ly adv.]
emphasize (EM fuh SYZ) vt. to give special force and importance to; to stress
• When dealing with heart disease, doctors emphasize that speed in getting
treatment is urgent.
• Using eyeliner emphasizes the beauty of your eyes.
[-d, emphasizing] [Syn. stress]
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emphatic (em FA tik) adj. 1. expressed or done with force of expression or
stress; 2. using emphasis (stressing) while speaking or expressing oneself; 3. very
striking; forcible; definite
• George was emphatic in his dislike for broccoli.
• When scheduling the students versus teachers basketball game, Mr. Hilson

was emphatic that it would be played come rain or shine.
• At Waterloo, Napoleon received an emphatic defeat.
[-ally adv.]
emulate* (EM yoo LAYT) vt. 1. to try to equal or surpass, often by copying;
2. to imitate (a person one admires); 3. to rival in success
• Jason learned to do plumbing and wiring by attempting to emulate what he
had seen his dad do.
• Many successful comedians emulate the timing of the late Jack Benny.
• Some companies have become very successful by emulating others.
[-d, emulating]
encompass* (en KAHM pis) vt. 1. to close in all around; surround; encircle;
2. to contain; include; 3. to bring about; achieve
• The Galley restaurant was completely encompassed by the boat basin.
• The resident pass program encompasses our efforts to deal with the parking
problem around the college.
• The new athletic complex, when completed, will encompass the complete
revitalization of the neighborhood.
[-ed, -ing]
encourage (in KOER ij) vt. 1. to give braveness, hope, or confidence; to
embolden; hearten; 2. to give support to; to be favorable to; to foster; to help
• When Ian first put on ice skates, everyone tried to encourage him—not an
easy task because he spent as much time on his belly as on his feet.
• All voters should encourage their senators and representatives to support
legislation to improve the environment.
[-d, encouraging, -ment n.]
endorse (in DAWRS) vt. 1. to sign one’s name on the back of a check;
2. to write a note, title, etc. on a document; 3. to give approval to; support;
sanction
• One must endorse a check before it can be cashed.
• Jack’s teacher endorsed his essay with remarks in red ink.

• It is with great pleasure that I endorse that great American icon, Mickey
Mouse, for president of the United States.
[-d, endorsing, -ment n.] [Syn. approve]
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endure (in DUR or ind YUR) vt. 1. to hold up under (pain, fatigue, etc.);
to stand; bear; undergo; 2. to put up with; tolerate —vi. 1. to continue in existence;
last; survive; 2. to bear pain, fatigue, etc. without flinching; hold out
• It is reputedly well documented that women can endure pain better
than men.
• Jane endured the cat hair on the rug for as long as she could, before she
bought the boa constrictor.
• The United States has endured for more than 200 years.
• He’s holding a 25-pound weight in his left hand; let’s see how long he can
endure.
[-d, enduring, endurance n.] [Syn. bear, continue]
energy (EN oer JEE) n. 1. potential force; inherent power; capacity for vigorous
action; 2. such forces in action; 3. strength or power efficiently exerted; 4. various
resources such as coal, gas, or petroleum from which heat or electrical energy can
be produced; 5. (physics) the capacity to do work
• Myles’s mom hoped that he’d use up all his energy in the playground so
that he’d be ready for a nap.
• Running around and around in circles uses a lot of energy.
• It took a good deal of energy to knock home railroad spikes with a
sledgehammer.
• Electrical energy is most efficiently produced by converting the energy con-
tained in sunlight.
• In physics, work is the amount of energy used multiplied by the distance an
object is moved and is measured in foot-pounds.
[Syn. strength]

enervate* (EN oer VAYT) vt. to sap of strength, life, vigor, etc.; to weaken in
some way, physically or otherwise; to devitalize; to —adj. weakened
• A long commute to work each morning is enough to enervate some people.
• Many were enervated by the sight of the fall of the World Trade Center
before being angered to strike back.
• A home team’s losing streak can be an enervating thing.
[-d, enervating, enervation n.] [Syn. unnerve, weaken]
enhance (in HAENS) vt. 1. to make greater (in cost, value, beauty, etc.); height-
en; augment; 2. to improve the quality or condition of; 3. to electronically improve
the clarity of an image, photo, etc. by means of a computer
• Planting shade trees often enhances the value of a home.
• A trip to the salon enhanced Audrey’s appearance.
• Digital photos can often readily be enhanced by the machines at your
photo processor’s counter.
[-d, enhancing, -ment n.] [Syn. intensify]
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