Free The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate by Eugene Ehrlich

(i-KOL- e -jee) noun
     
    1. the scientific study of living things in relation to each other and their environment.
     
    2. this relationship.
     
     
    Do not confuse ecology with environment , which means surroundings, especially those affecting people's lives . Misuse of ecology —a rapidly growing phenomenon—occurs in writing as well as speech, for example, in such locutions as “Pollution is contaminating our ecology .” Substitution of environment makes this sentence understandable as well as correct.
     
     
     
    Related words: ecologic ( EE -k e -LOJ-ik) and ecological both adjectives , ecologically adverb .
     
     
     
    economic ( EK - e -NOM-ik) adjective
     
    1. of economics.
     
    2. pertaining to one's own finances.
     
     
    Do not confuse economic with economical , which see.
     
     
     
    economical ( EK - e -NOM-i-k e l) adjective
     
    thrifty, avoiding waste.
     
     
    To set aright most succinctly the frequent confusion between economic and economical , consider the following: An economical person is not an economic person. And an economic historian is not an economical historian. Thus, economical has nothing to with economics , while economic has everything to do with economics . To conclude, writers may be economical , sparing , in their use of words, and scholars usually write economic tomes that may well be uneconomical , unsparing , in their use of words. So use both adjectives correctly in your own speech and writing. You will make your audience and your editors happy.
     
     
     
    Related word: economically adverb .
     
     
     
    edacious (i-DAY-sh e s)
     
    devouring, consuming; voracious.
     
     
    Related word: edacity (i-DAS-i-tee) noun .
     
     
     
    educe (i-DOOS) verb
     
    1. bring out or develop; elicit (from a person).
     
    2. infer (from information).
     
     
    Related word: educible adjective .
     
     
     
    effect (i-FEKT) noun and verb
     
     
    See affect .
     
     
     
    effective (i-FEK-tiv) adjective
     
    1. powerful in its effect; producing an effect.
     
    2. making a striking impression.
     
    3. actual, existing; real.
     
    4. operative, in effect.
     
     
    Do not confuse effective with effectual , which see.
     
     
     
    Related words: effectively adverb , effectiveness and effectivity (i-fek-TIV-i-tee) both nouns .
     
     
     
    effectual (i-FEK-choo- e l) adjective
     
    answering its purpose; sufficient to produce a desired effect.
     
     
    The difference between the meanings of effective and effectual is rather subtle, but careful speakers and writers perceive this difference and choose between the two adjectives carefully. The best way to illustrate the difference is to point out that a law that is effective — operative, in effect —becomes effectual — answers its purpose —only when the law is enforced.
     
     
     
    Related words: effectually adverb , effectualness and effectuality (i- FEK -choo-AL-i-tee) both nouns .
     
     
     
    effectuate (i-FEK-choo- AYT ) verb
     
    cause to happen; accomplish.
     
     
    Related word: effectuation noun .
     
     
     
    effete (i-FEET) adjective
     
    lacking in vitality; worn out; sterile.
     
     
    Related words: effetely adverb , effeteness noun .
     
     
     
    efficacious ( EF -i-KAY-sh e s) adjective
     
    producing the desired result; effective as a remedy or means.
     
     
    Related words: efficaciously adverb , efficaciousness and efficacity ( EF -i-KAS-i-tee) noun .
     
     
     
    effulgent (i-FUL-j e nt) adjective
     
    radiant; splendid; shining forth brilliantly.
     
     
    Related words: effulgence noun , effulgently adverb .
     
     
     
    egregious (i-GREE-j e s) adjective
     
    outstandingly bad; flagrant; glaring.
     
     
    Related words: egregiously adverb , egregiousness noun .
     
     
     
    eleemosynary ( EL - e -MOS- e - NER -ee) adjective
     
    charitable; supported by charity; gratuitous.
     
     
    elegy (EL-i-jee) noun, plural elegies
     
    a sorrowful or serious poem or piece of music, especially one written as a lament for a dead