Glossary (words starting with E)
e'er
contraction of 'ever' (Onions)
eance
once
earnest
money paid as an instalment or pledge: a deposit (OED n. 2)
earnest
seriousness (OED n. 1 and 2)
earnest
money or sum of money paid as an instalment (OED n. 2)
ears
hearing
earthed
hiding within its burrow or den
earthed
hidden in a hole; gone to earth
ease
relief, freedom from anxiety in the mind
ease
relieve, cure
easily
readily, with little reluctance (OED adv. 5)
easy
compliant, credulous (OED 12a)
ebon
ebony
ecstasied
exalted, enraptured
ecstasy
the state of being beside oneself, transported by passion
edge
(when used in conjuction as here with "sets") sharpens a desire to, prompts a need or inclination to
edge
sexual desire
edict
proclamation
edicts
orders (generally used to refer to the orders of the sovereign)
edifies
instructs, teachers, improves (in a moral sense) (OED edify v, 3b)
edify
benefit spiritually (OED, edify v, 3a)
edify
(of persons) morally instruct, strengthen
edifying
instructive, morally improving
eene eane
only one (dialect)
effect
result, consequence; sign, mark
effect
result
effectually
with complete success (OED 1a)
effectuate
accomplish, bring to pass
effeminate
womanish, enervated; self-indulgent, voluptuous (OED adj. 1a)
eglantine
sweet-briar rose, a flowering vine similar to honeysuckle, often used to entwine garden houses or bowers, because of its sweet scent and associations with romance
egregious
distinguished, excellent, renowned (OED 2)
egress
going out, leaving (OED n. 1a)
eke
also
elder
older, one-time
elect
select, elite, choice
elected
chosen
election
choice, preference
electuary
a medicinal paste made with syrup, sugar, or other sweetener
elegy
all the species of poetry for which Greek and Latin poets adopted the elegiac metre (OED 2)
elegy
a song of lamentation, or lament for the dead, generally written at this date in imitation of classical poets and deploying what was known as elegiac metre.
element
ordinary range of activity, speech
elixir
supposed drug with the quality of prolonging life, linked to alchemical ideas and beliefs
else
otherwise
else
indeed I will
else
already (OED adv. 3c)
else
in actual fact (ironic)
else
if it is not believed; if you don't believe me (OED adv. 4b)
Elysium
'The supposed state or abode of the blessed after death in Greek mythology' (OED).
emboldened
encouraged, bolder
embowelled
disembowelled
embraced
accepted gladly or eagerly; welcomed
employ
hire, use
empt
used in reference to sexual act.
empt
empty, drain.
enchantment
witchcraft; tool of magic or sorcery
encumbrances
burdens
end
purpose, aim; outcome, result
end
conclusion, result
end
death; manner of death (OED n. 8b)
end
purpose, aim
endear
to win the affection of; to attract
endear
to render costly or more costly; to enhance the price of (OED v. 1)
endless
unending, eternal; infinite
endow
enrich, furnish (OED v. 3b)
endowment
(in plural) cultural abilities or pursuits
endowment
‘gift’, power, capacity, or other advantage with which a person is endowed by nature or fortune (OED 4)
ends
‘latter or concluding part[s] (of a period, action, etc.)’ (OED end n, 7b); resolutions (OED end n, 11); completions (OED end n, 12); results, issues (OED end n, 13a)
ends
aims, purposes
endures
tolerates
enfeoff
to invest with a fief; to put (a person) in possession of the fee-simple or fee-tail of lands, tenements, etc. (OED v. 1)
enforce
extort, compel, demand (something from someone)
enforce
twist the meaning of
enfranchisement
liberation
enfranchiser
someone who enfranchises, or sets free (OED; earliest citation is 1632)
engage
pledge, offer as guarantee
engage
pledge
engaged
obliged
engaged
obliged; locked (as if in combat)
engages
obliges (OED engage v, 7b)
engine
mechanical contrivance (OED 4)
engine
contrivance for catching game; snare, trap (OED 5c)
engross
to monopolise, to gain or keep exclusive possession of
engrosses
collects, monopolises
enigmatical
(good at deciphering) obscure references
enjoin
bind together by order
enjoining
prescribe authoritatively, order (OED, enjoin, v. 2a)
enjoy
possess, use with delight (OED v. 3a, 4a); have one's will of a woman (OED v. 4b) (with implications of sexual activity)
enjoys not
does not have the pleasure or benefit of (OED 4a)
enlargement
release from confinement
enlightened
OED does not list any definitions of 'englihtened' which would work here; however 'to enlighten' (OED v.6.) is listed as meaning contextually 'to revive, exhilarate' citing Milton 1667 as the first usage. This is the meaning that makes most sense here: Tryman means she is revived enough to listen to her will being read.
enlightened
OED does not list any definitions of 'enlightened' which would work here; however 'to enlighten' (OED v. 6) is listed as meaning contextually 'to revive, exhilarate' (citing Milton 1667 as the first usage), which is the meaning that makes most sense here (Tryman means she is revived enough to listen to her will being read)
enlightened
OED does not list any definitions of 'enlightened' which would work here; however 'to enlighten' (OED v. 6) is listed as meaning contextually 'to revive, exhilarate' (citing Milton 1667 as the first usage), which is the meaning that makes most sense here: Tryman feels revived enough to listen to her will being read. Tryman may also be enlightened in the sense of 'weighing less' if her vomiting actions have been spectacular.
ensconcing
hiding, concealing (see OED, ensconce, v. where Mad Couple is cited as an example of the verbal noun)
ensign
flag
ensign
sign, token, characteristic mark (OED n. 2)
ensnared
trapped
ensuing
resulting; approaching
entail
bestow on (permanently)
entailed
settled so that it cannot be bequeathed to anyone else, or used by anyone else (OED entail v2, 1)
enter
begin, start (OED v. 6)
entered
introduced
enterprise
undertaking
enterprised
attempted (OED enterprise v, 1)
entertain
took into service
entertain
receive
entertain
admit to consideration (an opinion, argument, request, proposal, etc.); to receive (an idea) into the mind (OED 14b)
entertain
to take a person into one's service, to hire a servant (OED v. 5b)
entertainment
hospitality
enthral
enslave
entire
this formal leave-taking is reciprocated in Whetstone’s ‘I have been ever bound unto you’
entire
bind, much oblige
entranced
insensible, in a trance
entreats
entreaties, pleas
entry
entrance-hall (OED n. 7)
epididymis
part of the testicles
epistle
letter (though usually applied to correspondence aiming at a high form of oratorical address and a public audience)
epistles
letters
epithalamium
nuptial song or poem in praise of the bride and bridegroom, and praying for their prosperity (such poems were common in classical times, as well as early modern: Jonson and Donne both wrote them)
epitomized
abridged, condensed, summarized
equability
comparison on equal terms
equally
impartially, equitably, justly (OED adv. 3)
equipage
state or condition of being equipped or furnished with what is needful
equity
justice, impartiality
equivocating
lying, prevaricating; delibertately deceiving with double meanings or ambiguities
equivocation
intentional ambiguity in speech
ere
before
erewhile
a short time ago; recently; but now
err
make a mistake, fail, go astray
errant
punning on (1) wandering and (2) wicked (Haaker)
erred
gone astray
error
transgression, wrong-doing (OED 5)
erudite
learned
Erymanthus
mountain range between Arcadia and Achaia in Greece, in Greek mythology the haunt of an enormous wild boar which, in the third of his twelve labours, Hercules captured
esquire
a man belonging to the higher order of English gentry, ranking immediately below a knight (OED n1. 2)
esquired
a man who has entered into the higher order of English gentry, ranking immediately below a knight
essential
necessary; sexual (relating to 'essence')
estate
fortune
estate
realm, kingdom
estate
property, possessions, fortune, capital (OED n. 12a)
estate
(n) condition of existence (OED n. 1a); status, position in the world (OED n. 3a); ‘condition with respect to worldly prosperity, fortune’ (OED n. 2a)
estate
(v) furnish with property
estates
fortunes (OED estate n, 12a)
esteem
(v) value, respect
esteem
(n) estimation, judgment (OED n. 2)
esteem
favourable opinion; regard; respect
Ethiop
(literally) a person from Ethiopia; but used in a much vaguer sense to describe anyone black-skinned
eunuch
a castrated (emasculated) male
eunuchised
(be) made a eunuch, castrated
evacuate
to empty out
even
precisely (OED adv. 6)
even
just
even
equally
even
a common formulation in Early Modern English, meaning something like ‘just’, ‘nothing else but’, or ‘to be sure’, ‘forsooth’ (OED adv. 8b)
even
equal; quits (OED a. 10b and c)
even
(adv) even now (OED 6a), just now
even to
as far as
event
consequences (OEC event n, 3a)
event
outcome (OED n. 3a)
ever
always
ever-watchful
vigilant, sleepless, continually on the watch, wakeful
ewer
a pitcher with a wide spout (OED n2. 1)
exact
demand (as) payment
exact
precise, rigorous, exacting
exacts
demands, extorts
exalted
of a substance subjected to the action of heat in a vessel so as to convert it into vapour, which is carried off and on cooling is deposited in a solid form (OED exalt v, 3); especially used in alchemy
examination
judicial inquiry; inspection, scrutiny; formal interrogation
examination
judicial inquiry.
examination
judicial enquiry; formal interrogation
examination
inquiry (by questioning)
examine
investigate
examiner
legal questioner in a witchcraft case; a judge (according to John Cowell, The Interpreter: or Book Containing the Signification of Words (1607), an ‘Examiner in the Chauncerie or Starre-chamber, [examinator] is an Officer in either Court, that examineth the parties to any suite vpon their oathes, or witnesses produced of either side: whereof there be in the Chauncerie two’ [LEME])
example
precedent; imitation
exasperate
incensed, angered
exceeding
exceedingly, very (an intensive)
except
protest (OED v. 4)
Exchequer
royal treasury (OED n 5)
excursion
an issuing forth; an escape from confinement (OED n. 1a and 3)
excuse
clear from blame; save from harm
execration
curse, utter hatred
execute
fulfil, discharge (an office or duty) (OED v. 4a)
execution
usually refers to the ‘seizure of the goods or person of a debtor in default of payment’ (OED 7) or a punishment meted out as a result of a judicial sentence (OED 8); compare William Gery, Abuses Discovered, Whereby the Creditors are Merely Cheated the Officers of Law, and Gaolers are Unjustly Enriched, and the Poor Debter and their Families Tyrannically Destroyed (London, 1649): ‘I take the law to have been fundamentally, that no man’s person was liable to arrest at the common law for debt; no, not upon execution’ (1)
executioner
one who executes or carries into effect (a command or order)
exercised
brought to bear, applied (OED v, 1b) and so to influence
exhibition
OED 1. a. Maintenance, support. Obs. [Cf. late L. exhibitio et tegumentum = ‘food and raiment’ (Forcellini).].
In modern English this usage survives in the scholarships sometimes given by Oxford and Cambridge colleges (OED 3. a. Pecuniary assistance given to a university student).
In modern English this usage survives in the scholarships sometimes given by Oxford and Cambridge colleges (OED 3. a. Pecuniary assistance given to a university student).
exonerate
to take a weight off, to relieve someone of a burden (OED v. 1)
expect
wait (for)
expect
be in store for (OED v. 2c)
expectation
anticipation (eg of pleasure)
expedite
hasten, help forward
expedite
hasten, push on with
expedition
haste in getting business settled
expedition
a sending or setting forth with martial intentions; a warlike enterprise (OED n. 2)
expeditious
speedy (OED adj. 3)
expense
expenditure, costs incurred
expert
trained by experience, skilful (OED a1, 2)
expiate
cleanse (OED v. 2); extinguish the guilt of (OED v. 3); make amends for (OED v. 5)
expiate
make amends or reparation for
expiation
making atonement (for)
expostulate
argue
exquisite
consummate, excellent, perfect
extant
in existence (OED adj. 4), alive
extempore
impromptu, improvises
extempore
without preparation (OED adv. 1a)
extempore
improvised
extenuate
underrate, make light of (OED v. 6); seek to lessen by partial excuse (OED v. 7)
extenuate
to thin out in consistency, render less dense (OED v. 3)
extermined
exterminated (OED extermine v, 1, citing this usage as the first example)
extortion
wringing out of money from victims (in seventeenth-century usage, the word denotes behaviour which is unfair but not necessarily illegal)
extracted
descended
extraordinaries
extra payments (OED a. adv. and n. C.1c)
extravagant
wandering, but also carrying the sense of excessive, improper, extreme
extravagantly
in an excessive manner
extremity
severe crisis
extremity
extreme severity or rigour (OED 6)
extremity
utmost severity; greatest amount
extremity
extreme situation in relation to health, risk of death
e’en
even now
e’en
even: just now; completely
e’en
even: fully, completely (used as an intensifier)
e’en
even: just now
e’en
even: fully
e’er
ever