The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (17 page)

a speech or piece of writing in praise of a person, especially a funeral oration; praise.

Do not confuse
eulogy
with
elegy
, meaning
sorrowful music or poetry, especially a piece written as a lament for a dead person
. The distinction is that a
eulogy
—not an
elegy
—is given at a funeral or memorial service and, particularly in modern times, may be cast as a message of general hope or of genial good humor.

Related words:
eulogist
noun
,
eulogize
(YOO-l
e
-
J
I
Z
)
verb
.

euphemism
(YOO-f
e
-
MIZ
-
e
m)
noun

a mild or roundabout expression substituted for one considered offensive, too harsh, or too blunt.

Do not confuse
euphemism
with
euphuism
, which see.

Related words:
euphemist
noun
;
euphemistic
(
YOO
-f
e
-MIS-tik),
euphemistical
, and
euphemious
(yoo-FEE-mee-
e
s)
all adjectives
;
euphemistically
and
euphemiously
both adverbs
.

euphuism
(YOO-fyoo-
IZ
-
e
m)
noun

1. an artificial or affected style of writing.

2. high-flown language.

Do not confuse
euphuism
,
an affected style
, with
euphemism
,
a roundabout expression
. The former is considered excessively ornate, the latter inappropriately indirect, in contrast with modern writing, which values calling a spade a spade.

Related words:
euphuist
noun
,
euphuistic
(
YOO
-fyoo-IS-tik) and
euphuistical
(
YOO
-fyoo-IS-ti-k
e
l)
both adjectives
,
euphuistically
(
YOO
-fyoo-IS-ti-klee)
adverb
.

exacerbate
(ig-ZAS-
e
r-
BAYT
)
verb

make (pain, disease, anger, etc.) worse; aggravate.

Related words:
exacerbatingly
(ig-ZAS-
e
r-
BAYT
-eeng-lee)
adverb
,
exacerbation
(ig-
ZAS
-
e
r-BAY-sh
e
n)
noun
.

excoriate
(ik-SKOR-ee-
AYT
)
verb

1. denounce, reproach harshly.

2. remove part of the skin by abrasion; strip or peel off (skin).

Related word:
excoriation
(ik-
SKOR
-ee-AY-sh
e
n)
noun
.

exculpate
(EK-skul-
PAYT
)
verb

free (a person) from blame; clear of a charge of wrongdoing; exonerate.

Related words:
exculpable
(ik-SKUL-p
e
-b
e
l) and
exculpatory
(ik-SKUL-p
e
-
TOR
-ee)
both adjectives
,
exculpation
(
EK
-skul-PAY-sh
e
n)
noun
.

execrable
(EK-si-kr
e
-b
e
l)
adjective

very bad; abhorrent, detestable, abominable.

Related words:
execrableness
noun
,
execrably
adverb
.

execrate
(EK-si-
KRAYT
)
verb

detest greatly; denounce; utter curses upon.

Related words:
execration
(
EK
-si-KRAY-sh
e
n) and
execrator
(EK-si-
KRAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
;
execrative
(EK-si-
KRAY
-tiv) and
execratory
(EK-si-kr
e
-
TOR
-ee)
both adjectives
.

exegesis
(
EK
-si-JEE-sis)
noun, plural
exegeses
(
EK
-si-JEE-seez)

critical exposition or interpretation of a text, especially of Scripture.

Related words:
exegetic
(
EK
-si-JET-ik) and
exegetical
both adjectives
.

exegete
(EK-si-
JEET
)
noun
, also given as
exegetist
(
EK
-si-JET-ist)

a person skilled in exegesis.

exemplar
(ig-ZEM-plahr)
noun

1. a worthy model or pattern.

2. a typical example.

exemplary
(ig-ZEM-pl
e
-ree)
adjective

1. very good, an example to others.

2. serving as an example.

Related words:
exemplarily
(ig-ZEM-pl
e
-r
e
-lee)
adverb
,
exemplariness
and
exemplarity
(
IG
-Zem-PLAR-i-tee)
both nouns
.

exemplify
(ig-ZEM-pl
e
-
FL
I
)
verb

serve as an example of.

Related words:
exemplifiable
(ig-ZEM-pl
e
-
F
I
-
e
-b
e
l) and
exemplificative
(ig-ZEM-pl
e
-fi-
KAY
-tiv)
both adjectives
,
exemplification
(ig-
ZEM
-pl
e
-fi-KAY-sh
e
n) and
exemplifier
(ig-ZEM-pl
e
-
F
I
-
e
r)
both nouns
.

exequies
(EK-si-kweez)
noun plural; singular
exequy

funeral rites; obsequies.

exhaustive
(ig-ZAWS-tiv)
adjective

trying all possibilities; thorough.

Do not confuse
exhaustive
with
exhausted
or
exhausting
, which are used primarily to mean
fatigued
and
fatiguing
respectively. An
exhaustive
search means a
thorough search
, not a
tiring search
.

Related words:
exhaustively
adverb
,
exhaustiveness
noun
.

existentialism
(
EG
-zi-STEN-sh
e
-
LIZ
-
e
m)
noun

a philosophical theory emphasizing that a person is responsible for his own actions and free to choose his development and destiny.

Related words:
existential
adjective
,
existentialist
adjective
and
noun
,
existentially
adverb
.

exoteric
(
EK
-s
e
-TER-ik)
adjective

1. understandable by outsiders.

2. commonplace, popular.

Do not confuse
exoteric
with
esoteric
, which means
intended only for people with special knowledge or interest
. Thus,
esoteric
is used to characterize knowledge or information that may be possessed by persons on the inside,
exoteric
to characterize knowledge or information that is widely available.

Related words:
exoterically
adverb
,
exotericism
(
EK
-s
e
-TER-i-siz-
e
m)
noun
.

expatiate
(ik-SPAY-shee-
AYT
)
verb

speak or write about (a subject) at great length or in detail.

Related words:
expatiation
(ik-
SPAY
-shee-AY-sh
e
n) and
expatiator
(ik-SPAY-shee-
AY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.

expiate
(EK-spee-
AYT
)
verb

make amends for (wrongdoing); atone.

Related words:
expiable
(EK-spee-
e
-b
e
l) and
expiatory
(EK-spee-
e
-
TOR
-ee)
both adjectives
,
expiation
(
EK
-spee-AY-sh
e
n) and
expiator
(EK-spee-
AY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.