6/12 act vocab

Ebb

to diminish; to recede

Ebullient

boiling; bubbling with excitement; exuberant

Eccentric

not conventional; a little kooky; irregular

Ecclesiastical

having to do with the church

Eclectic

choosing the best from many sources; drawn from many sources

Eclipse

to block the light of; to overshadow; to reduce the significance of; to surpass

Ecosystem

a community of organisms and the physical environment in which they live

Edict

an official decree

Edifice

a big, imposing building

Edify

to enlighten; to instruct, especially in moral or religious matters

Efface

to erase; to rub away the features of

Effectual

effective; adequate

Efficacy

effectiveness

Effigy

a likeness of someone, especially one used in expressing hatred for the person of who it is a likeness

Effusion

a pouring forth

Egalitarian

believing in the social and economic equality of all people

Egocentric

selfish; believing that one is the center of everything

Egregious

extremely bad; flagrant

Electorate

the body of people entitled to vote in an election; the voters

Elegy

a mournful poem or other piece of writing; a mournful piece of music

Elicit

to bring out; to call forth

Elite

the best or most select group

Elliptical

oval; missing a word or words; obscure

Elocution

the art of public speaking

Elusive

hard to pin down; evasive

Emaciate

to make extremely thin through starvation or illness

Emanate

to come forth; to issue

Emancipate

to liberate; to free from bondage or restraint

Embargo

a government order suspending foreign trade; a government order suspending the movement of freight-carrying ships in and out of the country's ports

Embellish

to adorn; to beautify by adding ornaments; to add fanciful or fictitious details to

Embody

to personify; to give physical form to

Embroil

to involve in conflict; to throw in disorder

Embryonic

underdeveloped; rudimentary

Emigrate

to leave a country permanantly; to expatriate

Eminent

well-known and respected; standing out from all others in quality or accomplishment; outstanding

Emissary

a messenger or representative sent to represent another

Empathy

identification with the feelings or thoughts of another

Empirical

relying on experience or observation; not merely theoretical

Empower

to give power or authority to; to enable

Emulate

to strive to equal or excel, usually through imitation

Encroach

to make gradual or stealthy inroads into; to trespass

Endear

to make dear; to make beloved

Endemic

native; restricted to a particular region or era; indigenous

Enervate

to reduce the strength or energy of, especially to do so gradually

Enfranchise

to grant the privileges of citizenship, especially the right to vote

Engaging

charming; pleasing; attractive

Engender

to bring into existence; to create; to cause

Enigma

a mystery

Enmity

deep hatred; animosity; ill will

Enormity

extreme evil; a hideous offense; immensity

Ennui

boredom; listless lack of interest

Ensue

to follow immediately afterward; to result

Ephemeral

lasting a very short time

Entail

to have as a necessary consequence; to involve

Entity

something that exists; a distinct thing

Entreat

to ask earnestly; to beg; to plead

Entrepreneur

an independent business person; one who starts, runs,and assumes the risk of operating an independent business enterprise

Enumerate

to name one by one; to list

Envision

to imagine; to foresee

Epicurean

a person with refined taste in wine and food

Epigram

a brief and usually witty or satirical saying

Epilogue

an afterword; a short concluding chapter of a book; a short speech at the end of a play

Extrovert

an open, outgoing person; a person whose attention is focused on others rather than on himself or herself