Inestimable impossible to estimate; (apprec) invaluable; of immeasurable worth

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

airy of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal

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

Barron's word list 18

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

evince show clearly

evenhanded impartial; fair

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

ram male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact

exacerbate worsen; aggravate; embitter

embitter make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.

exacting extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety

exact demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction

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)

exceptionable objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable

except exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality

excerpt selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V.

exchequer treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer

chancellor legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor

treasure keep as precious; cherish

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

executor person designated to execute the terms of a will;

executioner person administering capital punishment

executive person having administrative authority; one branch of government executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing

legislature legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws

judiciary judicial branch of government

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

urge drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action

urgent compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent; importunate; Ex. urgent in his demands

exhume dig out of the ground; remove from a grave

coroner public official who investigates any death thought to be of other than natural causes

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