The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (14 page)

Related words:
drossy
adjective
,
drossiness
noun
.

dubiety
(doo-B
I
-i-tee)
noun, plural
dubieties
; also given as
dubiosity
(
DOO
-bee-OS-i-tee),
plural
dubiosities

a feeling of doubt; a doubtful matter.

Related words:
dubious
(DOO-bee-
e
s)
adjective
,
dubiously
adverb
,
dubiousness
noun
.

dudgeon
(DUJ-
e
n)
noun

resentment, indignation.

dutiful
(DOO-t
e
-f
e
l)
adjective

1. showing due obedience.

2. expressive of a sense of duty.

Related words:
dutifully
adverb
,
dutifulness
noun
.

dysphemism
(DIS-f
e
-
MIZ
-
e
m)
noun

an unpleasant or derogatory word or phrase substituted for a more pleasant or less offensive one; such a substitution.

See
euphemism
.

Related word:
dysphemistic
(
DIS
-f
e
-MIS-tik)
adjective
.

dysphoria
(dis-FOR-ee-
e
)
noun

a state of anxiety, unease, or mental discomfort.

Related word:
dysphoric
adjective
.

dystopia
(dis-TOH-pee-
e
)
noun

a place real or imaginary where living conditions are considered to be as bad as possible.

Related words:
dystopian
adjective
,
dystopianism
noun
.

eager
(EE-g
e
r)
adjective

See
anxious
.

ebullient
(i-BUUL-y
e
nt)
adjective

bubbling over with excitement or high spirits; exuberant.

Related words:
ebullience
and
ebulliency
both nouns
,
ebulliently
adverb
.

éclat
(ay-KLAH)
noun

brilliant success, general applause; elaborate display.

eclectic
(i-KLEK-tik)
adjective

choosing or accepting from various sources.

Related words:
eclectically
adverb
,
eclecticism
(i-KLEK-t
e
-
SIZ
-
e
m) and
eclecticist
(i-KLEK-t
e
-sist)
both nouns
.

ecology
(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 person.

Do not confuse
elegy
with
eulogy
, which see.

Related words:
elegiac
(
EL
-i-J
I
-
e
k)
adjective
,
elegist
(EL-i-jist)
noun
,
elegize
(EL-i-
J
I
Z
)
verb

elenchus
(i-LENG-k
e
s)
noun, plural
elenchi
(i-LENG-k
I
)

a logical argument that refutes another argument by proving the contrary of its conclusion.

elixir
(i-LIK-s
e
r)
noun

an aromatic remedy believed to cure all ills.

emanate
(EM-
e
-
NAYT
)
verb

issue or originate from a source.

Related words:
emanative
(EM-
e
-n
e
-
TIV
) and
emanatory
(EM-
e
-n
e
-
TOR
-ee)
both adjectives
,
emanation
(
EM
-
e
-NAY-sh
e
n) and
emanator
(EM-
e
-
NAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.

emasculate
(i-MAS-ky
e
-
LAYT
)
verb

1. deprive of force, especially said of writing style.

2. castrate; geld.

Related words:
emasculate
(i-MAS-ky
e
-lit),
emasculative
(i-MAS-ky
e
-
LAY
-tiv), and
emasculatory
(i-MAS-ky
e
-l
e
-
TOR
-ee)
all adjectives
;
emasculation
(i-
MAS
-ky
e
-LAY-sh
e
n) and
emasculator
(i-MAS-ky
e
-
LAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.