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Glossary A - E

A

abaya - (noun) a full-length outer garment, frequently worn with a headscarf (hijab), that is worn by women in Muslim countries

abolitionist - (noun) a person who was ardently opposed to slavery in the period prior to the American Civil War (1861-1865)

absolute location - (noun) the exact geographic location (usually described in terms of a specific address or geographic coordinates)   Note- Geographic coordinates, longitude and latitude, are usually described using degrees, minutes, and seconds             

acid rain - (noun) precipitation that contains harmful levels of either sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide and pH level of 5.6 or below (using a scale whereby 7 is neutral)

acidification - (noun) a reduction in the pH level in water  Note- Acidification in the ocean usually occurs over a long period of time is and is caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

acronym - (noun) an abbreviation formed by the first letter of several related words 

acropolis - (noun) a fortification built on the highest point in some ancient Greek cities 

activate – (verb) to begin; to start or turn on.

adamant - (adjective) unwilling to be persuaded to change a decision or point of view about a topic

adaptation - (noun) the creation of a film, show, or other work that is based on a novel or poem

address - (noun) a formal speech or written communication that is delivered to an audience

adjective - (noun) a word that describes a noun or pronoun  Note- When multiple adjectives are used together in the English language they follow a specific order: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. 

admonish - (verb) to firmly scold; reprimand 

aestivate - (verb) to remain dormant or torpor during extended periods of very warm to hot temperatures

affluent - (adjective) wealthy; rich

agile - (adjective) able to be move and think quickly with ease

agonic lines - (noun) lines on a map or chart that reflect no magnetic variation  (true north and magnetic north are the same)

agora - (noun) a public gathering place used for assemblies and markets in ancient Greece

agoraphobia - (noun) a fear of being in open or crowded places 

alleviate - (verb) to lessen or relieve pain and suffering 
​
alley - (noun) a narrow road that is usually located between buildings or yards

alliance - (noun) a mutual agreement between countries to protect and defend each other

alliteration - (noun) a literary device, in which a sound or similar sounds (consonants), is used at the beginning of several words that are grouped closely together  Example- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

allude - (verb)  to hint at or mention something indirectly 

allusion – (noun) a reference to famous or popular person, place, or literary work 

altarpiece – (noun) paintings, reliefs, and sculptures that decorate the altar in a church

alter - (verb) to change or modify

ambivalent - (adjective) uncertainty due to mixed feelings or conflicting ideas 

amend - (verb) to modify by either adding to or taking away from the original document

amiable - (adjective) friendly and good-natured

amnesty - (noun) an official pardon that is granted to a group of people for past offences 

amphitheater - (noun) a semicircle or oval building with a central performance area and tiered seating around it  Note- Amphitheaters were common in both Greek and Roman societies.   

amulet - (noun) an ornament or charm that is worn to ward off evil 

amygdala – (noun) an almond-shaped part of the brain that controls emotions (especially fear and pleasure) and motivation

analogy - (noun) a comparison of two different things that have some aspect in common
                  Examples -  The moon is to night as the sun is to day.
                                     -  A puppy is to dog as fawn is to deer.
                                     -  "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get."

analyze - (verb) to study a subject and its parts with the intent of understanding it better

anecdote - (noun) a story that is either interesting or amusing and is told by a person who experienced it

ankh - (noun) a cross with a loop at the top that was a symbol of life in ancient Egypt

annexation - (noun) the act of a country taking formal control of a territory or region outside of its original borders

anno Domini (AD) - (noun) a Latin phrase meaning "in the year of our lord"  

antagonist - (noun) a character, group, or force of nature that challenges the main character in a story

antagonize - (verb) to aggravate another person to make them angry and hostile

Antarctic Circumpolar Current - (noun) an ocean current that moves in a clockwise motion around the continent of Antarctica and is known for being the largest ocean current on Earth  Note- This current is also known as the West Wind Drift.

antecedent - (noun) a word, person, or event that occurred prior to those that followed  

anthology - (noun) a collection of published stories, poems, and plays

anthropology - (noun) the study of human societies and their development over time  

Antifederalist- (noun) a person who opposed adoption of the new US Constitution of 1787 because they felt it gave the federal government too much power and took away power from the states

antique - (noun) an old object that is valuable due to its rarity or collectability

antithesis - (noun) the direct opposite of something or someone

antonym - (noun) a word that is opposite in meaning to another word

apartheid - (noun) a system of racial discrimination in South Africa that classified non-whites in two groups and prevented them from having the same rights as whites  Note- Apartheid was the official policy of South Africa from 1948 until 1991.

apathy - (noun)  lack of emotion or motivation; indifference

aphorism – (noun) a concise statement that expresses a general truth or observation; adage

appellate court - (noun) a higher court that is responsible for reviewing cases and hearing appeals that have been previously decided in the lower courts; the appellate court usually determines whether legal errors were made, and if there were, whether the errors
impacted the court's final decision

apprentice - (noun) a person learning a trade, in exchange for money or labor, from a skilled craftsmen for a specified period of time

apse - (noun) the semicircular part of a church that usually has a vaulted roof  Note - The altar is frequently located in the apse.

aquaculture - (noun) the farming of plants and animals in water environments (ponds, lakes, oceans)

aquifer - (noun) water-bearing permeable rock, gravel, or sand under the Earth’s surface

arable - (adjective) land that is suitable for growing crops

arch - (noun) a curved symmetrical shaped area that is supported by two columns and used to support a wall or roof above it  Note- The ancient Romans took the Etruscan arch, improved it, and then used it extensively in their architecture. 

archaeologist - (noun) a person who studies the remains and ruins of past culture

archaeology - (noun) the study of the remains and ruins of past cultures

archipelago - (noun) a chain of islands in a sea

Arctic Circle - (noun) the latitude above which the sun does not set on the summer solstice, and does not rise on the winter solstice.  Note- The location of the Arctic Circle is approximately 66 degrees, 34 minutes North Latitude.

ardent - (adjective) enthusiastic and passionate about something

arid - (adjective) characterized by very dry conditions and infrequent rainfall

aristocrat - (noun) a person with a high social status due to wealth and political power 

armada - (noun) a fleet of warships

armistice - (noun) a temporary halt to fighting and hostilities

article – (noun) a separate or distinct section of a law or constitution

articulate - (verb) to speak clearly and distinctly

artifact - (noun) a man-made object or a natural object that has been modified by humans during an earlier period of human history   

artisan - (noun) a skilled craftsman who usually creates things by hand

ascend – (verb) to move or rise upward

aside - (noun) a character’s speech in a play made directly to an audience but not heard by other characters

aspect - (noun) one specific part of a problem, subject, or situation

assimilate – (verb) to join and acquire the language, customs, and culture of an existing group or country; adapt

astound - (verb) to shock or greatly surprise

astrolabe – (noun) an early scientific instrument that used the altitude of the sun or stars could be used to determine a location’s latitude

asylum - the right of a person to legally enter or stay in another country, due to recognition by that country's government, that the foreigner faces a threat to their safety in their home country

atlas - a book that contains political maps of the world

atoll - a coral island of volcanic origin that contains a reef surrounding a lagoon   

attribute – a quality or characteristic that a person possesses  

audible - able to be heard

austere - (adjective) characterized by a lack of comforts or decorations

austral - of or related to the southern hemisphere of the earth

autobiography - a book that tells the story of person's life that is written by the person who lived it

autonomy - (noun) the right of a region or cultural area to government itself

avarice - (noun) excessive greed and desire for material possessions; cupidity

avaricious - (adjective) characterized by excessive greed and craving for material gain; greedy 

B

ba - (noun) the spirit of a person that was able to move to the afterlife after the person died (in ancient Egypt) 

babushka - (noun) a triangular shaped Russian scarf that is worn over the head and tied under the chin

bacteriostat – (noun) a substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria but does not destroy it

balm - (noun) an ointment or oil that is used to sooth or treat an ailment 
​
banter - (verb) playful conversations that sometimes involve humor or sarcasm

bard - (noun) a poet

barrier island - (noun) a long sandy island that lies parallel to the mainland and protects it from ocean waves and wind

barter - (verb) to trade goods and services for other goods and services (without using currency)

Bedouin - (noun) nomadic people of the Arabian and Saharan deserts

beguile - (verb) to charm and flatter someone often in an attempt to deceive   

bewildered - (adjective) confused; perplexed   

bicameral - (noun) a legislature with two houses Note- The U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature composed of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives

bias - a preference that inhibits fair judgment   

bilateral - of or related to two countries  Note- sometimes this term is used in regards to bilateral agreements that occur between two countries.

Bill of Rights - (noun) the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution (ratified in 1791)

biography - (noun) a written story about a person's life that is written by another person

bleak - (adjective) grim and dreary  

blockade - (noun) the closure of a port by a foreign power's naval vessels to prevent the movement of cargo and people

boycott - (verb) to stop buying a product or service in order to protest a policy or law  

brawny – physically powerful; muscular

brine - (noun) water that has a high level of salt  Note- Seawater usually has about 3.5% salinity by weight.

brood - (noun) a family of related chicks that have recently hatched 

brooding - (verb) to sit on eggs during the incubation period  

bucolic - (adjective) of or related to life in the country or farming
​
buffer zone - (noun) a political border that is established to separate two other countries that may be hostile to each other (Examples- Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia)

bureaucrat - (noun) an official who works for the government and helps it to operate (bureau is another word for desk - bureaucrats usually work at desks)

bush meat - (noun) a term in Africa that describes meat from hunted wildlife Examples- meat from monkeys, gorillas, bats, pangolin, bush pigs, etc.

business - (noun) an organization that produces, buys, and sells goods, or that provides a service, with the goal of making a profit 

bust - (noun) a sculpture, usually of a famous person, that includes the head and shoulders 

butttress - (noun) an external wall support, usually made of brick or stone, that helps to counter the outward force created by heavy arches and the roof in some cathedrals   Note- Buttresses and flying buttresses were an important part of Gothic architecture.  They allowed the walls of cathedrals to be thinner and allowed for larger windows.   

bycatch - (noun) the capture of unwanted creatures in fish nets and hooks that are usually thrown back into the water (dead)

C

Cabinet - (noun) government officials who lead executive agencies and advise the President about issues related to their office  (Example- The Secretary of Defense advises the President on military related issues.)

cacao pod - (noun) fruit from the Theobroma cacao L. evergreen tree that contains cocoa seeds; when the seeds are removed from the pod they are referred to as cocoa beans and are used in the making of chocolate

Caesar - (noun) a title that was used to describe Roman emperors

cairn - (noun) rocks that have been placed together to form a marker or monument

cajole - (verb) to persuade and coax sometimes by using false statements or flattery 

caldera - (noun) a crater formed by the collapse of a volcano’s cone (derived from the Spanish word caldron)

caliph - (noun) a spiritual and political leader in Islam who acts as the successor of the prophet Muhammad

caliphate - (noun) a government that operates in accordance with the laws and traditions of Islam and is ruled by a caliph

callous - (adjective) showing cruel disregard or an unsympathetic attitude towards others

canopic jar - (noun) a jar used during the Egyptian mummification process to store the internal organs of a deceased person

cape - (noun) a narrow peninsula that forms a point and extends out into a sea or ocean

capillary - (noun) a tiny blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to cells 

capital - (noun) a city where a country's head of government is located   Note- It can also refer to wealth in the form of money, stocks, bonds, or property that is held by a business or person  

capitol - (noun) a building that houses the legislative branch of government 

caravanserai - (noun) an inn with a central courtyard and exterior wall that was used by caravans in Asia and North Africa 

cardinal directions - (noun) the four primary directions- north, east, south, and west

cardiopulmonary - (noun)  involving or related to the heart and lungs

carillon - (noun) a musical instrument, usually located in a belfry, that uses at least 23 stationary bells and clappers to produce music

carpetbagger - (noun) a Northerner who traveled to the South after the US Civil War in order to gain political office or for financial gain

carrion - (noun) the rotting flesh of a dead animal
​
​cartel - (noun) an organized association of businesses or countries that work to maintain high prices for their products and to restrict competition  Note- The ultimate purpose of cartels is to increase their own profits.   Cartels are seen in the United States as an unfair form of competition and are illegal.

cartographer - (noun) a person who makes maps and nautical charts

cartonnage - (noun) an ancient Egyptian mummy case that was created by tightly wrapping layers of linen or papyrus and  glue

cartouche – (noun) an oblong carving or drawing that looks like a scroll, that was used in ancient Egypt and showed a pharaoh’s name

cascade - (noun) a waterfall

cash crop - (noun) an agricultural crop that is grown primarily to sell for profit 

castigate - (verb) to severely criticize or reprimand  

castrum - (noun) a Roman fortress or fortified camp

catacomb - (noun) an ancient underground Roman cemetery that was constructed in natural and man-made caves

catadromous - (adjective) creatures that spend their lives in fresh water but return to salt water to spawn

cataract - (noun) a large waterfall that contains a large amount of rushing water and may form rapids below

catatonic - (adjective) expressionless and immobile; unresponsive 

catchment area- (noun) the area where water drains from higher elevations and eventually is funneled into rivers and larger bodies of water

cathedral - (noun) a large church in a diocese that is the chief church of the bishop

cavalry - (noun) troops who historically have fought on horseback but in modern times drive mechanized vehicles

cavort - (verb) to leap and dance around in a playful manner

cede - (verb)  to give up possession of a territory by means of a treaty sometimes by force

cedilla - (noun) a mark, placed under a letter, to indicate that it is pronounced differently than usual 
​                Note - The cedilla is used in the French, Portuguese, Romanian, and Turkish languages.  Example- 
façade

​cella - (noun) the inner chamber of an ancient Greek or Roman temple that housed the hidden image of a diety

census - (noun) a count of the population in a specific area   Note - The U.S. Constitution requires that a census be conducted every ten years to determine how many representatives will represent each state in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

century - (noun) a time period of 100 years

cerebral cortex - (noun) the outer layer of the brain that allows for higher thought processes such language processing and learning 

character - (noun) a person or creature in a story or play 

charisma - (noun) the quality of being able to influence and inspire others; charm

charter - (noun) a royal grant of land and authority, given by a king, to colonize a distant territory  

chastise - (verb) to severely reprimand or scold 

checks and balances - (noun) a government structure that allows different branches of government to limit the power of the other branches

chokepoint - (noun) a narrow sea channel that allows ships to move from one body of water to another.  Note- Major chokepoints in the world include the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Malacca. 

chuff - (noun) the sound created by a heavy exhalation or an engine's exhaust

circa - (preposition) around or about a certain year; approximately

circumnavigate - (verb) to steer a vessel or aircraft around an object  

city-state - (noun) an independent nation that is comprised of a city and surrounding territory

civil case - (noun) a non-criminal court case that involves disputes between two or more parties

civil liberties - (noun) individual freedoms such as freedom of speech and expression

civil service – (noun) a government employment system in which the most qualified applicants compete for employment based on their merit  Note- This system was developed to hire the best applicant and overcome the past practice of managers hiring their friends and relatives.

civil war - (noun) a conflict between two or more groups within a country

civilization - (noun) a culturally or technologically advanced human society

claim - (noun) a position, in the form of a statement, that a speaker or writer takes regarding a specific issue  Note- Claims are usually supported by reasoning and evidence in order to persuade an audience.   

clan - (noun) a large group of interrelated families that live in a specific area

clarion - (adjective) loud and clear

claustrophobic - (adjective) characterized by an irrational fear of confined places

clerestory - (noun)  the area above the nave, transepts, and choir in a cathedral or large church

cliché - (noun) an overused expression 

climate - (noun) the weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

climax - (noun) the point in a story at which the tension or conflict is at its highest point  Note- The action in the story builds up to the climax.  You know you are the climax when you get to the point where you would never want the story to suddenly stop!

coalition - (noun) a group of political parties with similar goals (important in a parliamentary system)

cocoa butter - (noun) the theobroma oil that is extracted from the cacao seed; the vegetable fat taken from the cacao beans

cognitive - (adjective) of or related to a person's mental processes that allow for thinking, remembering, and reasoning

collegiate - (adjective) of or related to a college or university

colonnade - row of columns generally supporting a covered walkway or porch  

comma splice – (noun) a writing error that occurs when a comma is used to link two independent clauses  Note- This error can be fixed by inserting a colon, semicolon, or a conjunction.

command economy - an economic system in which the government decides how resources will be used and what will be produced

commence - (verb) to begin

commentary - a verbal or written expression of an opinion about a topic  

commerce - (noun) large scale trade between companies or nations

commercial farming - (noun) farms that are operated for the primary purpose of growing crops and raising livestock to make a profit  Note- This is the opposite of subsistence farming

commodity - (noun) something that has commercial value and can be transported in bulk

commodity exchange - (noun) a marketplace where members buy and sell commodities contracts with the goal of making a profit

Commonwealth of Nations - (noun) an association of the United Kingdom and countries that were once part of the British Empire  

compass rose - (noun) a symbol on a map that shows the four cardinal directions of north, east, south, and west  Note- Some display more information such as intermediate directions and degrees.

composure - (noun) a calm state of mind or appearance; serene 
​
compulsory - (adjective) required by regulations or law

concise - (adjective) expressed in a brief but comprehensive manner

confederation – (noun) an alliance of independent states 

conflict - (noun) the struggle that the main character has to overcome in a story   Note- The struggle can occur within the central character (internal struggle), another character in the story, or even something larger like society or nature.

confluence - (noun) the place where two rivers flow together

congregate - (verb) to come together in a group

connotation - (noun) ideas, emotions, and meanings that are associated with a word that are different than the literal meaning

conquistador - (noun) a Spanish term for conquerors who explored or colonized the Americas beginning in the 16th century

conscientious  - careful and thorough in completing a task

consent - (verb) to give permission

consent decree - (noun) an order that is issued by a judge that is based on an agreement between two parties in a lawsuit  Note- Parties involved in a consent decree usually negotiate the terms of a consent decree to avoid costly legal fees and litigation

conservation - (noun) the preservation, management, and restoration of the natural environment

concessionaire - (noun) a business that operates food or other sales stands usually under contract with a larger organization

consonant - (noun) a letter of the alphabet that is not a vowel (the vowels are a, e, i, o, and u)

consortium - an association of companies that combine their resources to achieve a goal

conspicuous - clearly visible and likely to attract attention

constituent - (noun) a citizen within a geographical area who is entitled to vote for government candidates

constitution - (noun) a written document that outlines the basic laws and principles that are used to govern a country

constitutional convention - (noun) a gathering of representatives, from across a state or country, to draft a constitution

consul - (noun) one of two chief magistrates who was elected for a term of one year during the Roman Republic  
Note- The two consuls were the highest positions in the Roman government.


consumer - (noun) a person who buys goods and services

contour lines - (noun) lines on map that show areas of equal elevation

contraction - (noun) a word produced by connecting two words and inserting an apostrophe to make it shorter   Note- The first part of the new word contains all of the original letters and one or more letters from the second word are replaced with an apostrophe.  

controversy - (noun) a conflict or disagreement regarding a particular issue or decision

corbicula - (noun) the pollen basket on the hind leg of certain species of bee that is used to carry pollen

cordial - (adjective) friendly and pleasant in a polite way

cornice - (noun) decorative molding located where the wall meets the ceiling or roof 

corpulent - (adjective) fat; portly

cosmopolitan - (adjective) having many foreign influences; worldly
​
countenance - (noun) a person's facial expression

counterargument – opposing viewpoints made in response to another person’s claim
​

counterfeit - (noun) a fraudulent imitation of currency or a product 

coup - (noun) the overthrow and replacement of a country's government by military forces

couplet - (noun) a pair of successive lines in a poem that rhyme

craftsman - (noun) skilled workers who work with their hands; artisans  Examples- carpenters, potters, goldsmiths, glass makers, etc. 

craven - (adjective) lacking any courage; cowardly

crude oil - (noun) petroleum that has been taken from the ground but not refined

cultivate - (verb) to plant and grow crops for harvest  Note- Cultivate can also refers to the raising of certain creatures such as silkworms and oysters.  

culture - (noun) a learned system of shared beliefs and ways of doing things that guides a person’s daily behavior

cultural diffusion - (noun) the movement of ideas and traditions from one place to another

cuneiform – (noun) an ancient writing system, developed in Mesopotamia and Persia, that used wedge-shaped symbols to convey meaning 

currency - (noun) coin and paper money

custom - (noun) a cultural practice or way of doing something that is specific to a group or country

D

dateline - (noun) information at the beginning of a news article that states when and where it was written

debris - (noun) the broken pieces of an object that remain after an explosion, crash, or fall 

deceive - (verb) to intentionally cause another person to believe something that is not true

decorum - (noun) behavior that is proper and polite

decrepit - (adjective) worn out or run-down due to old age or neglect

deforestation - (noun) the destruction or loss of forests

deity - (noun) a god or goddess

delta - (noun) deposits of sediment at the mouth of a river that often resembles a triangle

democracy - (noun) a political system in which a country's people elects their leaders and rule by majority  Note- Direct democracy and indirect democracy are two major types of democracy.

demonstrative pronoun - (noun) pronouns that point out people or things that are near or far  Examples- this, that, these, and those

demotic - (noun) an ancient Egyptian language and cursive script that was used by the common people

denotation – (noun) the literal meaning of a word

desalination - the removal of salt from seawater, usually by the use of reverse osmosis, to make the water safe for drinking   Note- Desalination requires the use of a lot of electricity and thus it is an expensive way to get potable water.

descend - to move from a higher position to a lower position; to go down

desert - an area that receives less than 10 inches of rain per year

desertification - the gradual transition from dry grasslands to desert

desolate - (adjective) barren and uninhabited 

devise – (verb) to create a plan or procedure for completing a task

dhow - a traditional boat that is used in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea that has a lateen-rigged sail and one or more masts  Note- Modern dhows also have motors.

dialogue - a conversation between characters in a story

diaspora - (noun) a group of people who have moved away from their original country and spread out to other countries

Diaspora - (noun) Jews who have left Palestine and spread out around the world 

diction – (noun) the words that a writer choses to effectively tell a story or to make a point

Diet - (noun) the Parliament of Japan

diligent - (adjective) focused persistence and attention to complete a task or goal correctly

diminutive - (adjective) very small

dirge - (noun) a mournful funeral song or hymn

discourse - (noun) verbal or written communication about a specific topic

disenfranchise - (verb) to deprive a person the legal right to vote

disheveled - (adjective) an appearance that is characterized by messy, disorganized, and untidy appearance; unkempt  

dismal - (adjective) characterized dreary conditions or causing unhappiness 

displaced persons - (noun) people who have fled their homes due to natural disasters or war and are forced to live in another place

disposable income - (noun) personal income available to spend on consumer goods after taxes, retirement contributions, and other expenses are subtracted

diverge - (verb) to move in a different direction; to branch off

domestic - related to or originating from within a country (opposite of international)

domestic policy - (noun) a country's policies and procedures for dealing with issues that impact its citizens and economy

dormant - (adjective) not showing signs of activity or movement 

dossier - (noun) a file containing detailed information about a person

dour - (adjective) very serious and stern

draft (or draught) - (noun) the depth of a ship's keel under the surface of the water when it is fully loaded

dreary - (adjective) bleak or gloomy

drought - (noun) long periods of time without rain and/or a major decrease in yearly rainfall

due process - (noun) the legal process that ensures citizens are treated in accordance with established laws and rights

duplicity - (noun) dishonesty whereby a person acts counter to what they claim to support; deceitful 

dwelling - (noun) a shelter where people live; a home

dynasty - (noun) powerful government rulers who pass their positions and authority on to new generations of their own families

E

echinus - (noun) 1. a sea urchin  2) a rounded molding between the shaft and abacus of Doric columns

ecology - the branch of biology concerned with the relationships of organisms and their environment

economics - a social science related to production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services

economy - activities, goods, and services that are designed to provide people with jobs, consumer goods, and profit

ecotourism - the practice of using an area's natural environment to attract tourists

eerie - (adjective) mysterious and frightening; spooky

effigy - (noun) a sculpture or representation of a person 

effluent - the release of waste material into the environment (effluent pollutants include waste water, industrial waste, sewage, and smoke)

egregious - (adjective) shockingly bad or offensive; flagrant

elaborate – (verb) to provide more details and information 
​
elevation - (noun) the height of the land above sea level

ellipsis - (noun) a series of three dots that indicate part of sentence or quote has been shortened

emaciated - (adjective) extremely thin and weak due to a lack of food or disease

emancipate - (verb) to release from restraint, servitude, or slavery    

embellish - (verb) to make something, such as an anecdote, more interesting by exaggerating or by adding details that may not be true

ember - (noun) a burning piece of wood or coal that is glowing with heat 

emigrate - (verb) a verb meaning to leave one's own country to live in another country

empathy - (noun) the ability to identify with another person's feelings or experience
                   Note- People can sometimes empathize, or connect, with another person's experiences because they
                             have experienced it themselves.

emphatic -(adjective) expressing something in a definite and forceful way

empire – (noun) a powerful society or nation that has expanded beyond its original borders to dominate other people and territories 

empirical - (noun) confirmed by direct observation or experience  Note- Empirical is the opposite of theory. 

enchanted - (adjective) affected by or under a magic spell

encomienda - (noun) a land grant, given by the Spanish King to a colonist, that included the right to force the Native Americans to pay tribute or perform labor 
​
endurance - (noun) the ability to continue to do something for a long period of time 

engrossed - (verb) completely absorbed in a task or activity; captivated

enigma - (noun) a challenging problem that is difficult to solve; a mystery

Enlightenment - (noun) an era, from approximately 1650 to 1800, when people challenged established ideas about science, liberty, and the purpose of government

entreat - (verb) to earnestly plead for someone to do something

ephemeral - (adjective) lasting for a short period of time

epic – (noun) long poems that were created in ancient times that usually focused on the struggles of heroes and civilizations

epicenter - (noun) the point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

epidemic - (noun) a widespread outbreak of disease in a country or region

epilogue – (noun) a short statement or text at the end of a book that comments on the book’s conclusion

epitaph - (noun) words, often inscribed on a tombstone, that are written about a person who has died

equator - the longest line of latitude that circles the earth at 0˚ perpendicular to the Earth's axis

equatorial - of or related to the location of the equator on the earth's surface

erg - a large area of shifting sand in the Sahara Desert (ergs are also referred to sand seas)

epiphany - a sudden understanding, awareness, or realization

erosion - (noun) the wearing away of rock or dirt by water, wind, or ice.

errata - (noun) a published list of errors that corrects mistakes from a previously published work 

escarpment – (noun) a long, steep slope, on the edge of a plateau

esoteric - (adjective)  likely to be understood or appreciated by only a select few with specific knowledge or interests

estuary - (noun) the area where fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from a sea or ocean

ethnology - (noun) a branch of anthropology that studies and records the history and development of cultures 

etymology - (noun) the study of the origin and history of words

evidence - (noun) details, facts, and quotes that support a claim or answer a question

evident - (adjective) easily to see and understand; obvious

exalted - an adjective used to describe a person of noble, accomplished, or exceptional status

excavate - (verb) to remove soil in order to expose artifacts or bones from the past

excerpt - (noun) a chapter or short passage taken from a story or book

exchange rate - the value of one country's currency when it is being traded for another country's currency

exclave - a portion of a country that is isolated from the main part and is surrounded by foreign countries (see below)   

exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - a zone that is adjacent to a country's territorial sea and extends up to 200 nautical miles out to the high seas Note- A country has sovereign control of its EEZ including all natural resources located within, above, and below the water.

executive order - a directive by the President of the United States that allows for the management of the government and is enforced like a law  Example- Executive Order 10834 The Flag of the United States - This executive order was made on August 21, 1959 on the day that Hawaii was admitted as a state.  Executive Order 10834 specified the new design of the flag and revoked Executive Order 10798.

exodus – a mass departure of people 

exorbitant – (adjective) unreasonably expensive

exports - goods and services that are sent to other countries to be sold for a profit 

exposition - the beginning of a story where the reader learns about the setting and characters

expository writing - an essay that explains an issue to a reader and contains a thesis, supporting evidence, and a conclusion
 
extant - (adjective) not destroyed and lost over a long period of time; surviving 


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