equable(EK wib il) adj. not varying very much; even tempered; serene; not
readily upset
- Tropical climates are equablerather than seasonal.
- It was strange to see George fly off the handle because he is usually quite
equable.
[equably adv., equability n.] [Syn. steady]
equivalence(ik WIV il ens) n. equality of value, meaning, force, grade, weight,
and so on - The equivalenceof 2.54 centimeters and 1 inch is a well-known relationship.
- A generic drug has the chemical equivalenceof its brand-name cousin at a
lower price.
equivocal(ik WIV ik il) adj. 1. capable of being interpreted in more than one
way; purposely vague; obscure; 2. uncertain; doubtful; 3. suspicious; questionable
conduct - Almost every character in Lewis Carroll’s books is equivocal,except for
Alice. - The origin of the hamburger is equivocal,but everyone attributes the origin
of the ice-cream cone to the St. Louis World’s Fair. - The shopkeeper called the police when he considered the behavior of the
person hanging around outside his shop to be equivocal.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. obscure]
equivocate(ik WIV ik AYT) vi. mislead; hedge; deceive; be deliberately vague or
ambiguous - Part of a defense attorney’s job is to equivocate,so as to leave the jury with
a reasonable doubt. - When the police are interviewing a suspect and he or she equivocates,they
can be pretty sure they’ve found the right person.
[-d, equivocating] [Syn. lie]
erode(ir OHD) vt. 1. to wear away; eat into; disintegrate; 2. to cause to wear
away; 3. to form by gradually wearing away - Anything that is continually rubbed against erodes.
- Rain has erodedthe rocks of Bryce Canyon, Utah, to make all the beautiful,
statuesque formations. - The Grand Canyon is the result of rock being erodedover millions of years
by the Colorado River.
[-d, eroding] [Syn. wear (away)]
erudition(ER yoo DISH in) n. learning acquired through scholarship (by read-
ing and study) - Everything we know about ancient Greek civilization is the result of
archaeology and erudition. - Eruditionin some form continues throughout life for any intellectually
curious person.
[Syn. information]
E – F: GRE Words 279