Steve Eckhoff's GRE Vocab Set #6
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
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Efficacy
Noun [-eh-fih kuh see] -
Effectiveness
The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced, completely eliminating alost all bacteria infections.
Synonyms: dynamism; effectiveness; effciency; force; power; productiveness; proficiency; strength; vigor -
Effigy
Noun [-eh- fuh jee] -
Stuffed doll; likeness of a person
In England, effigies of the historic rebel Guy Fawkes are burned to celebrate his capture.
Synonyms: dummy; figure; image -
Effrontery
Noun [ih -fruhnt- uhr ee] [eh -fruhnt- uhr ee] -
Impudent boldness; audacity
The receptionist had the effrontery to laugh out loud when the CEO tripped over a computer wire and fell flat on his face.
Synonyms: brashness; gall; nerve; presumption; temerity -
Elegy
Noun [-eh- luh jee] -
A sorrowful poem or speech
Though Thomas Gray's Elegy is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life, and trust in spirituality.
Synonyms: dirge; lament -
Eloquent
Adj [-ehl- uh kwunt] -
Persuasive and moving, especially in speech
The Gettysburge Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but because of its eloquent words.
Synonyms: Articulate; expressive; fluent; meaningful; significant; smooth-spoken -
Embellish
Verb [ehm -behl- ihsh] -
To add ornamental or fictitious details
Britt embellished her resume, hoping to make the lowly positions she had held seem more important.
Synonyms: adorn; bedeck; elaborate; embroider; enhance; exaggerate -
Emulate
Verb [-ehm- yuh layt] -
To copy, to try to equal or excel
The graduate student sought to emulate his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself outside of class.
Synonyms: ape; imitate; simulate -
Encomium
Noun [ehn -koh- me uhm] -
Warm praise
Georgias's "Enconmium to helen" was written as atribute to Helen of troy.
Synonyms: citation; eulogy; panegyric; salutation; tribute -
Endemic
Adj [ehn -deh- mihk] -
Belonging to a particular area; inherent
The health department determined that the outbreak was endemic to the small village, so it quarantined the inhabitants before the virus could spread.
Synonyms: indigenous; local; native -
Enervate
Synonyms: [ehn -uhr- vayt] -
To reduce in strength
The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would enervate the regular army.
Synonyms: debilitate; enfeeble; sap; weaken -
Engender
Verb [ehn -jehn- duhr] -
To produce, cause, or bring about
His fear and hatred of clowns was engendered when he witnessed a bank robbery carried out by five men wearing clown suits and make-up.
Synonyms: beget; generate; procreate; proliferate; reproduce; spawn -
Enigma
Noun [ih -nig- muh] -
A puzzle, a mystery
Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an enigma.
Synonyms: conundrum; perplexity -
Enumerate
Verb [ih -noo- muhr ayt] -
To count, list, itemize
Before making his decision, Jacob asked the waiter to enumerate the different varieties of ice cream that the restaurant carried.
Synonyms: catalog; index; tabulate -
Ephemeral
Adj [ih -fehm- uhr uhl] -
Lasting a short time
The lives of mayflies seem ephemeral to us, since the flies' average life span is a matter of hours.
Synonyms: evanescent; fleeting; momentary; transient -
Epicure
Noun [eh pih -kyoor-] [-eh- pih kyuhr] -
Person with refined taste in food and wine
Niren is an epicure who always throws the most splendid dinner parties.
Synonyms: bon vivant; connoisseur; gastrome; gastronomer; gastronomist; gourmand; gourmet