Barron’s GRE Word List (Vocabulary) Test Prep- Letter E

earthy
unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal

The heroine was liked for her earthy looks

earthly
of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible

There’s no earthly reason for this

ebb
(of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide

His life is gradually ebbing

ebullient
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling

Girls of that age usually are ebullient

eccentric
irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric

His behavior was rather eccentric

ecclesiastic
ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman

He belonged to the ecclesiastical order

eclectic
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism

The research was an eclectic one

eclipse
darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse

He cast an eclipse over her talents

ecliptic
path of the sun and the planets

The planet runs in an ecliptic path

ecologist
person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology

She is a noted ecologist

ecosystem
ecological community together with its environment

An aquarium is an artificial ecosystem

economy
efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources

He has no economy of words

ecstasy
rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy

The crowd was in utter ecstasy at the performance of the rock star

eddy
swirling current of water, air, etc.; V

The boat was caught in an eddy

edict
decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command

We can still find the rock edicts pertaining to the Gupta Dynasty

edify
instruct; correct morally

religious paintings that edify the viewer

edifice
building (of imposing size)

The ancient Mexicans constructed stone edifices

eerie
weird; causing fear because strange

An eerie midnight howl

efface
rub out; remove the surface of

She tried to efface his memories

effectual
able to produce a desired effect; valid

The process seems to be effectual

effective
effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph

He made an effective speech

effectuate
effect; produce; achieve

To effectuate a reconciliation

effeminate
having womanly traits

He has an effeminate approach

emasculate
weaken; castrate

The marathon emasculated him

effervescence
inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce

She became instantly popular for her effervescence

effete
having lost one’s original power; barren; worn out; exhausted

an effete political force

efficacy
power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual

He works with an unusual efficacy

effigy
dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President

effluvium
noxious(harmful) smell
<!–[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]–>
<!–[endif]–>

Effluvium has noxious vapor

effrontery
rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptuousness; nerve; cheek

His effrontery disgusted his peers

effulgent
shining brightly; brilliant

That star has an unusual effulgence

effusion
pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing

The effusion has noxious vapors

egoism
excessive interest in one’s self; belief that one should be interested in one’s self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical

Egoism ostracized him from his kin

ego
one’s opinion of oneself; self-esteem

He is extremely egoistic

egregious
notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking

He is an egregious liar

egress
exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress

Gates of burning adamant, Barred over us, prohibit all egress. –Milton

elaboration
addition of details; intricacy

The matter requires elaboration

elaborate
work out carefully; add more detail or information; ADJ

The creative director wanted an elaborate setting

elated
filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation

The elated child pummeled in joy

elegy
poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiac

An elegy is a mournful poem

elicit
draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)

The police tried to elicit maximum information

elixir
cure-all; panacea; something invigorating

Her daughter’s happiness is like an elixir to her

ellipsis
omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses

elliptical
elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out

The path of an orbit is elliptical

eloquence
expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influenced

A speaker needs to demonstrate eloquence

elucidate
explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid

The process needs further elucidation

elusive
evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter

His name eludes me

elysian
relating to paradise; blissful

He tries to give his family elysian comforts

emaciated
thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)

The workers look emaciated

emanate
issue forth; come out

Tranquility emanates from the place

emancipate
set free; liberate

The women refuges were emancipated

embargo
ban on commerce or other activity

embargo on arms shipments

embark
commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey

stopped to embark passengers

embed(imbed)
enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass

Thick cotton padding embedded the precious vase in its box

embellish
adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details)

The plot of the story was unnecessarily embellished

embezzlement
taking for one’s own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in one’s care)

“The CEO of the company embezzled a million dollars.”

emblazon
ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment

The walls were . . . emblazoned with legends in commemoration of the illustrious pair. –Prescott

embody
give a bodily form to; incorporate; include

He is an embodiment of truth and honesty

emboss
produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design

“The whole buoy was embossed with barnacles” (Herman Melville)

embrace
hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet

She embraced her son in joy

encircle
surround

Troops encircled the mansion

embroider
decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious details; embellish

The ends of the tapestry were embroidered with a rich silk thread

embroil
throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio

“Avoid . . . any step that may embroil us with Great Britain“ (Alexander Hamilton)

embryonic
undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development

It is not easy to determine the sex of the fetus in its embryonic stage

emend
correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement

The mistakes were emended

emetic
substance causing vomiting; ADJ

They induced in the patient an emetic

eminent
rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position

He was an eminent scholar

emissary
agent (sent on a mission to represent another); messenger

The emissary was rather diplomatic

emollient
soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.

An emollient gives a soothing relief

emolument
salary; payment for an office; compensation

He was offered a handsome emolument

empathy
ability to identify with another’s feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with and understanding of another’s feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy

She empathized with her bereaved colleague

empirical
based on experience

The research focuses on empirical findings

emulate
imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)

Children try to emulate their peers

enamored
in love;

Narcissus was enamored of his own beauty

encipher
encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher

The program has to be enciphered

enclave
territory enclosed within an alien land

The enclave might be a hide out for the terrorists

encomiastic
praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy

I am vexed with his encomiastic words

encompass
surround; include;

His activities encompass publishing and computers

encroachment
gradual intrusion; V. encroach: take another’s possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon

I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time

encumber
burden; N. encumbrance

She is encumbered by her own family

endearment
fond word or act; expression of affection

To murmur endearments

endear
make beloved;; ADJ. dear: loved; cherished; high-priced

Endear her to everyone

endemic
prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic

Malaria is an endemic disease

endorse
approve; support; write one’s signature on the back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal

The project was endorsed

endue
provide with some quality; endow

Hamlet endued the character of a madman

enduring
lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive

Their relation was an enduring one

energize
invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active

His performance energized the audience

enervate
weaken; take away energy from

Hot sun enervated their spirits

enfranchise
admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise

engage
attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle

The students were engaged in pot painting

engaging
charming; attractive

She has engaging looks

engaged
employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict

She was actively engaged with the firm

engender
cause; produce; give rise to

Hatred engenders violence

engross
occupy fully; absorb

She was totally engrossed in her research work

enhance
increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or usefulness); improve

The new job enhanced his earning potential

enigma
puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling