(EN- e r- VAY -tiv) adjective .
engender (en-JEN-d e r) verb
give rise to; beget.
Related words: engenderer and engenderment both nouns .
ennui (ahn-WEE) noun
a feeling of mental weariness from lack of interest; boredom.
enormity (i-NOR-mi-tee) noun, plural enormities
1. great wickedness.
2. a serious crime or error.
The noun enormity is used frequently with the meaning of enormous size or immensity . Whatever the historical justification for this definition, the use of enormity in this sense starts the other meanings of this valuable word down the path to extinction. While it easy to see the confusion of enormousness with enormity , careful writers and speakers do not fall into this trap. Nor should you. Use enormity in discussing heinous crimes, immensity in discussing great size.
enormousness (i-NOR-m e s-nis) noun
See enormity .
entreat (en-TREET) verb
request earnestly or emotionally; beseech.
Related words: entreatingly adverb , entreatment and entreaty both nouns .
enviable (EN-vee- e -b e l) adjective
desirable enough to arouse envy.
Do not confuse enviable with the more common adjective envious , meaning full of envy . Thus, we write “She has an enviable reputation,” not an envious reputation. Writers who mistakenly use these words interchangeably—a definite no-no—are held in low regard by editors and intelligent readers.
Related words: enviableness noun , enviably adverb .
envious (EN-vee- e s) adjective
See enviable .
environment (en-V I -r e n-m e nt) noun
See ecology .
ephemeral (i-FEM- e r- e l) adjective
lasting only a very short time; transitory.
Related words: ephemerally adverb , ephemerality (i- FEM - e -RAL-i-tee) and ephemeralness (i-FEM- e r- e l-nis) both nouns .
epicene (EP-i- SEEN ) adjective
1. belonging to, or sharing the characteristics of, both sexes; of no definite sex or kind.
2. effeminate; unmasculine.
Related word: epicenism (EP-i- SEEN -iz- e m) noun .
epicure (EP-i- KYUUR ) noun
See gourmet .
epidemic ( EP -i-DEM-ik) adjective
1. of a disease, spreading rapidly through a community where the disease is not always prevalent, infecting many persons at the same time.
2. ( noun ) such a disease.
Do not confuse epidemic with endemic . The word epidemic is in common use and well known, but endemic , as an adjective meaning commonly found in a particular country or district or group of people , is less frequently used and is most likely to be used correctly by knowledgable epidemiologists. Try to remember.
Related words: epidemically adverb , epidemicity ( EP -i-d e -MIS-i-tee) noun .
epigone (EP-i- GOHN ) noun, plural epigones and epigoni (e-PI-goh-n I ); the singular form is also given as epigon (EP-i- GON ), plural epigons
an undistinguished imitator or descendant of an illustrious person or family.
Related words: epigonic ( EP -i-GON-ik) adjective , epigonism (i-PIG- e - NIZ - e m) noun .
epiphany (i-PIF- e -nee) noun, plural epiphanies
1. a manifestation, as of God; usually, a manifestation of Christ as divine.
2. a sudden, intuitive insight into the essential meaning of something.
Related words: epiphanic ( EP - e -FAN-ik) and epiphanous (i-PIF- e -n e s) both adjectives .
epistolary (i-PIS-t e - LER -ee) adjective
contained in or carried on by letters; of or pertaining to letters.
epitaph (EP-i- TAF ) noun
See epithet .
epithet (EP- e - THET ) noun
1. a descriptive word or phrase.
2. a contemptuous word or phrase.
Do not confuse epithet with the well-understood epitaph , meaning words inscribed on a tomb or describing a dead person . While