evidence(EV id ins) n.1. something that makes another thing easy to see; a
sign; an indication; 2. something that proves (something else); grounds to believe
that something is so
- Juan’s momentary blurriness of vision was evidenceof the eye problems
that were to come. - Carrie’s eyewitness testimony was the evidencethat made Eddie’s convic-
tion almost certain. - Karl’s fingerprints on the machete were powerful evidenceof his coconut
poaching.
[Syn. proof]
evident(EV id int) adj.easily seen; clear; obvious; plain - It is evidentthat you have no knowledge of how to raise mangoes.
- That the window had not been cleaned in a long time was evidentfrom a
single glance at it.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. manifest]
evitable(EV it uh bl) adj.avoidable (Think about it; inevitablemeans unavoidable.) - The automobile accident was definitely evitable.
- Getting your foot stepped upon by an elephant is a very evitableevent.
exacerbate(eg ZAS ir bayt) vt.1. to increase in intensity; to sharpen; aggravate;
- to irritate or annoy; exaggerate
- Tweaking her only exacerbatesher embarrassment.
- Putting weight on your twisted ankle will exacerbateyour discomfort.
- Showing a hungry person pictures of food serves only to exacerbatehis
hunger.
[-d, exacerbating]
exasperation(eg ZAS pir ay shun) n.great irritation or annoyance; vexation - Flora’s inability to hit the high notes in the song led to her eventual feel-
ing of exasperation. - Exasperationusually comes from considerable effort met with little or no
success.
exception(ek SEP shin) n.1. an omission; a leaving out; 2. a situation or case
in which a rule, order, etc. is not applicable; 3. an objection or disagreement - Everyone, without exception,is responsible for washing his or her own dishes.
- The No Parking signs are applicable to almost every vehicle, but a police
car is an exception. - The senator took exceptionto the ruling of the chairman and raised a point
of order.
excessive (eks ES iv) adj.too much; too great; inappropriately large - In subduing the perpetrator, many felt that the police had used excessive
force. - Excessiveanything is always too much.
- Americans are generally overweight because we consume excessivequanti-
ties of food.
[excessively adv.] [Syn. inordinate, extravagant]
104 Essential Vocabulary