ensemble(on SOM bil) n.1. all parts taken together; the total effect; 2. a com-
plete costume, especially one having matching articles of clothing, like a suit;
- a group of actors, dancers, etc., who perform together; 4. a musical group
- The success of the debating team does not rest on the shoulders of one
member but falls on the ensemble. - With two pairs of pants, two blouses, and two jackets, you can make eight
different ensembles. - This is a theatrical ensemble,with no single star.
- The string quartet was a very talented ensemble.
epidemiology (EP i DEEM ee OL uh jee) n.1. the branch of medicine that
investigates the causes and control of epidemics; 2. all of the elements that com-
bine to cause or prevent a disease in a population; ecology of a disease - The epidemiologyof the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa has been stud-
ied very carefully. - The epidemiologyof West Nile virus and its outbreak in the eastern United
States is under close scrutiny.
[epidemiological adj., epidemiologist n.]
epilogue (EP i LOG) n.1. a closing section added to a novel, play, etc. provid-
ing extra comment, interpretation, or information; 2. a short speech or poem read
by an actor to the audience at the end of a play - An epilogueis to the end of a story what a prologue is to the beginning.
- After his opera Don Giovanniended with the lead character’s going to hell,
Mozart felt obliged to add an epiloguethat said the Don’s departure left the
world a happier place. - Douglas MacArthur’s “Old Soldiers Never Die” speech to Congress may be
looked upon as the epilogueto his career.
epitaph(EP it AF) n.1. words written on a tomb or gravestone in memory of
the person buried there; 2. a short piece in prose or verse, written as a tribute to a
dead person, past event, etc. - W. C. Fields proposed the following epitaphfor himself: “Here lies W. C.
Fields. I would rather be living in Philadelphia.” (It is not on his
tombstone.) - When World War II ended, its epitaphwas splashed across newspaper front
pages in every city.
epitomize*(i PIT uh MYZ) vt.1. to summarize the main points of a book,
report, incident, etc.; 2. showing all the particular qualities of something - A good book report should critique as well as epitomizethe story of the
book. - Actor Michael Douglas epitomizesmost of the qualities of his father, Kirk.
[-d, epitomizing] [Syn. summarize]
eradicate(ir AD ik AYT) vt.1. to tear out by the roots; uproot; 2. get rid of;
wipe out; destroy - Marge tried to eradicatethe dandelions in her lawn.
- It was not so easy to eradicatethe nest of hornets that took up lodgings on
the front porch.
[-d, eradicating, eradication n.] [Syn. exterminate]
- The success of the debating team does not rest on the shoulders of one
100 Essential Vocabulary