Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors - Bill Bryson [42]
epiglottis.
epigram, epigraph. The first is a short, witty saying or poem. The second is an inscription, as on a monument or statue, or an introductory quotation at the beginning of a book or substantial block of text.
Epiphany. January 6, or the twelfth day of Christmas on the Christian calendar.
“Epipsychidion.” Poem by Shelley (1821).
epistemology. The theory of knowledge.
epithet, strictly speaking, describes a word or phrase that is used in place of a name. Calling Tarzan “King of the Jungle” is to employ an epithet. More commonly nowadays, however, epithet is used to describe an abusive or contemptuous utterance. A few authorities disdain this looser usage, but it is accepted now by most dictionaries. Epithet should not be confused with epitaph, which is an inscription on a gravestone or other written memorial to a dead person.
E pluribus unum. (Lat.) “Out of many, one” the motto on the official seal of the United States.
equable, equitable. Most dictionaries define equable as meaning steady and unvarying, but it should also convey the sense of being remote from extremes. A consistently hot climate is not equable, no matter how unvarying the temperature. Similarly, someone whose outlook is invariably sunny cannot properly be described as having an equable temperament. Equitable, with which equable is sometimes confused, means fair and impartial. An equitable settlement is a just one.
equally as is always wrong; a thing is equally good, not equally as good.
Equatorial Guinea. Formerly Spanish Guinea; West African country; capital Malabo.
equerry. Royal attendant.
equivocator.
Equuleus. Constellation near Pegasus.
equus. Latin for “horse.”
Erasmus, Desiderius. (1466–1536) Dutch philosopher.
Eratosthenes. (c. 276–c. 194 BC) Greek mathematician, astronomer, and geographer; calculated Earth’s circumference.
Erdoan, Recep Tayyip. (1954–) Prime minister of Turkey (2003–).
Ericson (or Ericsson or Eriksson), Leif. (c. tenth c.) Norse explorer. The Swedish electrical group is Ericsson.
Erie Lackawanna Railway.
Erving, Julius. (1950–) American basketball player, known as “Dr. J.”
escutcheon. A shield bearing a coat of arms.
Eskimos is the plural of Eskimo, but the preferred term is Inuit (sing. and pl.).
esophagus, esophageal.
especially, specially. Specially means for a specific purpose or occasion, as in “a specially designed wedding dress.” Especially means particularly or exceptionally, as in “an especially talented singer.” A simple guide is to ask yourself whether you could substitute particularly. If so, the word you want is especially.
esthetic is acceptable, but aesthetic is generally preferred.
estimated at about, as in “The crowd was estimated at about 50,000,” is wrong. Because estimated contains the idea of an approximation, about is superfluous. Delete it.
Eszterhas, Joe. (1944–) Hungarian-born American screenwriter.
ETA. Euzkadi ta Azkatasuna (Basque Nation and Liberty), Basque separatist organization. (ETA can also mean “estimated time of arrival.”)
et al. An abbreviation of the Latin et alia, et alibi, and et alii, meaning, respectively, “of other things,” “of other places,” and “of other persons” note period (full stop) after al only.
et cetera when spelled out, but etc. (closed up) when abbreviated.
Ethernet. (Cap.)
etiology, etiolate.
Etobicoke. Toronto suburb.
Étoile, L’. Area around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
“Et tu, Brute?” (Lat.) “You too, Brutus?” Julius Caesar’s dying words in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar (3.1.77).
etymology. The study of the origin and development of words.
eucalyptus, pl. eucalyptuses.
Euclidean.
eukaryotes.
Eumenides. In Greek mythology, another name for the Furies.
euonymus. Any tree or shrub of the genus Euonymous.
euphemism. A mild expression substituted for another more objectionable or indelicate one.
euphuism and euphuistic describe a pretentiously elevated style of writing, after John Lyly’s Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578).
Euratom. European Atomic Energy Community.