Term
esoteric
Ex. New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is, if you are in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you won't. |
|
Definition
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few |
|
|
Term
espouse
Ex. She was always ready to espouse a worthy cause. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
esteem
Ex. Though I reject Ezra Pound's politics, I esteem him for his superb poetry and his acute literary criticism. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
ethereal
Ex. In Shakesspeare's The Tempest the spirit Ariel is an ethereal creature, too airy and unearthly for our mortal world. |
|
Definition
light; heavenly; unusually refined |
|
|
Term
eulogy
Ex. Instead of delivering a spoken eulogy at Genny's memorial service, Jeff sang a song he had written in her honor. |
|
Definition
expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death |
|
|
Term
euphemism
Ex. Until recently, many Southern Americans avoided the word bull in polite speech, relacing it by a euphemism, such as he-cow or male beast. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
euphonious
Ex. Euphonious even when spoken, the Italian language is particularly pleasing to the ear when sung. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
euphoria
Ex. Delighted with her SAT scores, sure that the university would accept her, Allison was filled with euphoria. |
|
Definition
feeling of great happieness and well-being (sometimes exaggerated) |
|
|
Term
evanescent
Ex. Brandon's satisfaction in his new job was evanescent, for he immediately began to notice its many drawbacks. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
exacerbate
Ex. The lastest bombing exacerbated England's already existing bitterness against the IRA, causing the prime minister to break off the peace talks abruptly. |
|
Definition
|
|