WORD LIST 139
evanescent (ev·a ̆·'nes·e ̆nt) adj. vanishing or tending to vanish like vapor; transi-
tory, fleeting. The subject of the poem is the evanescent nature of young love.
evince (i·'vins) v. to show or demonstrate clearly; to make evident. The safety offi-
cer tried to evince the dangers of driving under the influence by showing pictures of
alcohol-related automobile accidents.
exacerbate (i·'zas·e ̆r·bayt) v. to make worse; to increase the severity, violence,
or bitterness of. We should have known that splashing salt water on Dan’s wound
would exacerbate his pain.
exculpate (eks·'kul·payt) v. to free from blame, to clear from a charge of guilt.
When Anthony admitted to the crime, it served to exculpate Marcus.
exigent ('ek·si·je ̆nt) adj. 1. urgent, requiring immediate action or attention, crit-
ical. 2. requiring much effort or precision, demanding. The late-night call on
Paul’s cell phone concerned matters of an exigent nature.
exorbitant (i·'zor·bi·ta ̆nt) adj. greatly exceeding the bounds of what is normal
or reasonable; inordinate and excessive. Three thousand dollars is an exorbitant
amount to pay for a scarf.
expedient (ik·'spee·dee·e ̆nt) n. a short-lived means to an end. adj. 1. appropriate
for a purpose, suitable for a means to an end. 2. serving to promote one’s own
interests rather than principle. A quick divorce was an expedient end to the couple’s
two-month marriage.
explicit (ik·'splis·it) adj. stated clearly and fully; straightforward, exact. The terms
of the rental agreement were explicit in the document.
expunge (ik·'spunj) v. to wipe or rub out, delete; to eliminate completely, anni-
hilate. After finishing probation, juveniles can petition the courts to expunge their
criminal records.
extenuate (ik·ten·'yoo·ayt) v. to reduce the strength or lessen the seriousness of,
to try to partially excuse. The man’s desperation extenuated his actions.
Ffaçade (fa ̆·'sahd) n. 1. the face or front of a building. 2. an artificial or deceptive
front, especially one intended to hide something unpleasant. Antoine’s stoicism
is just a façade; he is really a deeply emotional person.
facetious (fa ̆·'see·shu ̆s) adj. humorous and witty, cleverly amusing; jocular,
sportive. Jude’s facetious reply angered his teacher but made his classmates laugh.