A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

Edam --- 1836, cheese named for Edam, village in Holland where it was originally made.

Edda --- 1771, by some identified with the name of the old woman in the O.N. poem "Rigsþul," by others derived from O.N. oðr "spirit, mind, passion, song, poetry" (cognate with O.Ir. faith "poet," L. vates "seer, soothsayer;" see wood (adj.)). It is the name given to two Icelandic books, the first a miscellany of poetry, mythology, and grammar by Snorri Sturluson (d.1241), since 1642 called the Younger or Prose Edda; and a c.1200 collection of ancient Gmc. poetry and religious tales, called the Elder or Poetic Edda.

eddy --- 1455, Scot. ydy, possibly from O.N. iða "whirlpool," and related to the frequent O.E. prefix ed- "again, backwards," cognate of L. re-.

edelweiss --- 1862, from Ger., lit. "noble white," from O.H.G. edili "noble" (from P.Gmc. *ath(a)l-ja) + Ger. weiss "white."

edema --- c.1400, from Gk. oidema (gen. oidematos) "a swelling tumor," from oidein "to swell," from oidos "tumor, swelling," from PIE *oid- "to swell;" cf. L. aemidus "swelling," O.N. eista "testicle," O.E. attor "poison" (that which makes the body swell), and the first element in Oedipus.

Eden --- c.1225, "delightful place," fig. use of the place described in Genesis, usually referred to Heb. edhen "pleasure, delight," but perhaps from Ugaritic base 'dn and meaning "a place that is well-watered throughout."

Edgar --- male proper name, from O.E. Ead-gar, lit. "prosperity-spear."

edge --- O.E. ecg "corner, edge," also "sword," from P.Gmc. *agjo (cf. O.N. egg, see egg (v.); Ger. Eck "corner"), from PIE base *ak- "sharp, pointed" (cf. L. acies, Gk. akis "point;" see acrid). Spelling development of O.E. -cg to M.E. -gg to Mod.E. -dge represents a widespread shift in pronunciation. Verb meaning "to move edgeways (with the edge toward the spectator), advance slowly" is first recorded 1624, originally nautical. The verb meaning "urge on, incite" (16c.) is usually a mistake for egg (v.). Edge-ways "turned on edge" is from 1566. Edgy "tense and irritable" is attested from 1837. To get the edge on (someone) is U.S. colloquial, first recorded 1911. Edge city is from Joel Garreau's 1992 book of that name. Razor's edge as a perilous narrow path translates Gk. epi xyrou akmes. "As if it were possible for any of us to slide in a word edgewise" [Miss Mitford, 1824].

edible --- 1594, from L.L. edibilis, from L. edere "to eat," from PIE base *ed- "to eat" (cf. Skt. admi "I eat;" Gk. edo "I eat;" Lith. edu "I eat;" Hittite edmi "I eat," adanna "food;" O.Ir. ithim "I eat;" Goth. itan, O.Frank., O.Swed., O.E. etan, O.H.G. essan "to eat;" Avestan ad- "to eat;" Armenian utem "I eat;" O.C.S. jasti "to eat," Russian jest "to eat").

edict --- 1297, "proclamation having the force of law," from L. edictum, neut. pp. of edicere "publish, proclaim," from e- "out" + dicere "to say" (see diction).

edifice --- c.1386, from O.Fr. edifice "building," from L. ædificium "building," from ædificare "to build," from ædis, variant of ædes "temple," in the pl. meaning "dwelling, building," originally "hearth" + the root of facere "to make" (see factitious). ædis is from I.E. base *aidh- "to burn" (cf. Gk. aithein "to burn," Skt. inddhe "burst into flames," O.Ir. aed "fire").

edify --- 1340, a fig. use, from O.Fr. edifier, from L. ædificare "to build, construct," in L.L. "improve spiritually, instruct" (see edifice).

edit --- see edition.

Edith --- fem. proper name, O.E. Eadgyð, from ead "wealth, prosperity, happiness" + guð "war." A fairly common name; it survived through the Middle Ages, probably on the popularity of St. Eadgyð of Wilton (962-84, abbess, daughter of King Edgar of England), fell from favor 16c., was revived in fashion 19c.

edition --- 1551, "act of publishing," from L. editionem (nom. editio) "a bringing forth, producing," from stem of edere "bring forth, produce," from ex- "out" + -dere, comb. form of dare "to give" (see date (1)). Meaning "form of a literary work" is from 1570. "It is awkward to speak of, e.g. 'The second edition of Campbell's edition of Plato's "Theætetus"'; but existing usage affords no satisfactory substitute for this inconvenient mode of expression" [OED]. Edit is 1791, probably as a back-formation of editor (1649), which, from its original meaning "publisher" had evolved by 1712 a sense of "person who prepares written matter for publication;" specific sense in newspapers is from 1803. Editorial "newspaper article by an editor" is Amer.Eng. 1830. Hence, editorialize (1856), "introduce opinions into factual accounts."

Edmund --- male proper name, O.E. Ead-mund, lit. "prosperity-protector." The second element is related to L. manus "hand" (see manual).

Edna --- fem. proper name, from Gk., from Heb. ednah "delight" (see Eden). Related to Arabic ghadan "luxury."

Edsel --- the make of car was introduced 1956, named for Henry and Clara Ford's only child; figurative sense of "something useless and unwanted" is almost as old. Edsel is a family name, attested since 14c. (William de Egeshawe), from High Edser in Ewhurst, Surrey.

educate --- 1447, from L. educatus, pp. of educare "bring up, rear, educate," which is related to educere "bring out," from ex- "out" + ducere "to lead" (see duke). Meaning "provide schooling" is first attested 1588 in Shakespeare. Educationese "the jargon of school administrators" is from 1966; educrat first attested 1968, usually pejorative, second element from bureaucrat (q.v.). Educable is from 1845. Educated guess first attested 1954.

educe --- 1432, from L. educere (see educate).

Edward --- masc. proper name, from O.E. Ead-weard, lit. "prosperity-guard." Edwardian is attested from 1861 in ref. to the medieval Eng. kings of that name; 1908 in the sense of "of the time or reign of Edward VII" (1901-10), and, since 1934, especially with reference to the men's clothing styles (cf. teddy-boy, 1954).

Edwin --- masc. proper name, from O.E. Ead-wine, lit. "prosperity-friend."

eel --- O.E. æl, from P.Gmc. *ælaz, of unknown origin, with no certain cognates outside Gmc.

eeny --- the children's counting-out rhyme is first attested 1855 as eeny meeny moany mite; form eene meenee mainee mo is attested from 1923. Another variation is eeny meeny tipty te.

eerie --- c.1300, north England and Scot. variant of O.E. earg "cowardly, fearful," from P.Gmc. *argaz (cf. O.N. argr "unmanly, voluptuous," Swed. arg "malicious," Ger. arg "bad, wicked"). Sense of "causing fear because of strangeness" is first attested 1792.

efface --- 1490, from M.Fr. effacer, from O.Fr. esfacier, from es- "out" + face "appearance," from L. facies "face."

effect (n.) --- c.1385, "result," from O.Fr. effect, from L. effectus "accomplishment, performance," from stem of efficere "work out, accomplish," from ex- "out" + facere "to do" (see factitious). The verb is from 1589. Sense in stage effect, sound effect, etc. first recorded 1881. Effects "goods, property" is from 1704. Effective "having result" is from 1760; earlier in this sense was effectual (c.1386).

effeminate --- c.1430, from L. effeminatus, pp. of effeminare "make a woman of," from ex- "out" + femina "woman" (see feminine). Rarely used without reproach.

effendi --- 1614, from Turk. efendi, title of respect applied to professionals and officials, corruption of Gk. authentes "lord, master" (in Modern Gk. aphente).

effervescence --- 1651, "the action of boiling up," from Fr. effervescence, from L. effervescere, from ex- "out" + fervescere "begin to boil," from fervere "be hot, boil" (see brew). Fig. sense is from 1748.

effete --- 1621, from L. effetus (usually in fem. effeta) "unproductive, worn out (with bearing offspring)" lit. "that has given birth," from ex- "out" + fetus "childbearing, offspring" (see fetus). Sense of "exhausted" is 1662; that of "morally exhausted" (1790) led to "decadent" (19c.).

efficacy --- 1527, from L. efficacia, from efficax (gen. efficacis) "effective," from efficere "work out, accomplish" (see effect).

efficient --- 1398, "making," from L. efficientem (nom. efficiens), prp. of efficere "work out, accomplish" (see effect). Meaning "productive, skilled" is from 1787. Efficiency apartment is first recorded 1930, Amer.Eng.

effigy --- 1539, from L. effigies "copy or imitation of something, likeness," related to effingere "mold, fashion, portray," from ex- "out" + fingere "to form, shape" (see fiction). The Latin word was regarded as plural and the -s was lopped off by 18c.

effluence --- 1603, from L.L. effluentia, from L. effluentem (nom. effluens) "flowing out," prp. of effluere "to flow out," from ex- "out" + fluere "to flow" (see fluent). Effluent (n.) "liquid industrial waste" is recorded from 1930.

effluvium --- 1646, from L. effluvium "a flowing out," from effluere (see effluence).

effort --- c.1489, from M.Fr. effort, noun of action from O.Fr. esforz, from esforcier "force out, exert oneself," from V.L. *exfortiare "to show strength," from L. ex- "out" + fortis "strong." "Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt." [Ortega y Gasset, 1949]

effrontery --- 1715, from Fr. effronterie, from effronte "shameless," from O.Fr. esfronte, probably from L.L. effrontem (nom. effrons) "barefaced," from L. ex- "out" + frontem (nom. frons) "brow" (see front). L. frontus had a sense of "ability to blush," but the lit. sense of effrontery has usually been taken to be "putting forth the forehead."

effulgence --- 1667, from L.L. effulgentia, from L. effulgentum (nom. effulgens), prp. of effulgere "shine forth," from ex- "out" + fulgere "to shine" (see phlegm).

effusion --- 1402, from L. effusionem (nom. effusio), from stem of effundere "pour forth, spread abroad," from ex- "out" + fundere "pour" (see found (2)).

eft --- O.E. efte, efeta "small lizard-like animal," of unknown origin (see newt).

eftsoons --- obsolete or archaic way of saying "soon afterward," from O.E. eft-sona, from eft "afterward, again, a second time" (from P.Gmc. *aftiz, from PIE base *apo- "off, away;" see apo-) + sona "immediately" (see soon). Not in living use since 17c.

egad --- 1673, softened oath, second element God, first uncertain; perhaps it represents exclamation ah.

egalitarian --- 1885, from Fr. egalitaire, from O.Fr. egalite, from L. æqualitatem "equality." The noun is 1920, from the adj.

Egbert --- masc. proper name, from O.E. Ecg-beorht, lit. "sword-bright."

egg (n.) --- c.1340, from northern England dialect, from O.N. egg, which vied with M.E. eye, eai (from O.E. æg) until finally displacing it after 1500; both are from P.Gmc. *ajja(m), probably from PIE *owyo-/*oyyo- "egg" (cf. Goth. ada, Ger. ei, O.C.S. aja, Rus. jajco, Bret. ui, Gk. oon, L. ovum). Caxton (15c.) writes of a merchant (probably a north-country man) in a public house on the Thames who asked for eggs: "And the goode wyf answerde, that she coude speke no frenshe. And the marchaunt was angry, for he also coude speke no frenshe, but wolde have hadde egges, and she understode hym not."

egg (v.) --- c.1200, from O.N. eggja "to goad on, incite," from egg "edge" (see edge).

egghead --- 1907, "bald person," from egg (n.) + head. Sense of "intellectual" is attested from 1918, among Chicago newspapermen; popularized by U.S. syndicated columnist Stewart Alsop in 1952 in ref. to Adlai Stevenson's presidential campaign.

eglantine --- sweet briar, c.1400, from O.Fr. aiglent "dog rose," from V.L. *aquilentus "rich in prickles," from L. aculeus "spine, prickle," dim. of acus "needle" (see acuity).

ego --- 1714, as a term in metaphysics, from L. ego "I" (cognate with O.E. ic, see I). Psychoanalytic sense is 1910; sense of "conceit" is 1891. Egocentric is from 1900; ego-trip first recorded 1969. Egomania is from 1825; egomaniac is from 1890. "In the book of Egoism it is written, Possession without obligation to the object possessed approaches felicity." [George Meredith, "The Egoist" (1879)]

egoist/egotist --- egoism and egoist were borrowed 1785 from Fr. egoisme, egoiste, coined 1755 as philosophical terms for "thinking subject." Egotism, egotist expressing "selfishness," are native coinages from 1714, first used by Joseph Addison; the -t- is perhaps by influence of nepotism, where it belongs. Addison credits the term to "Port-Royalists" who used it in reference to obtrusive use of first person sing. pronoun in writing, hence "talking too much about oneself." Meaning "self-conceit, selfishness" is 1800.

egregious --- c.1534, from L. egregius, from the phrase ex grege "rising above the flock," from ex "out of" + grege, abl. of grex "herd, flock." Disapproving sense, now predominant, arose 16c., originally ironic and is not in the L. word, which etymologically means simply "exceptional."

egress --- 1538, from L. egressus, from egredi "go out," from ex- "out" + -gredi, comb. form of gradi "step, go."

egret --- c.1353, from O.Fr. aigrette, from O.Prov. aigreta, dim. of aigron "heron," probably of Gmc. origin (cf. O.H.G. heigaro; see heron).

Egypt --- from Fr. Egypte, from Gk. Aigyptos "the river Nile, Egypt," from Amarna Hikuptah, corresponding to Egypt. Ha(t)-ka-ptah "temple of the soul of Ptah," the creative god associated with Memphis, the ancient city of Egypt. Strictly one of the names of Memphis, it was taken by the Greeks as the name of the whole country. The Egyptian name, Kemet, means "black country," possibly in ref. to the rich delta soil. The Arabic is Misr, which is derived from Mizraim, the name of a son of Biblical Ham.

eider --- 1743, from Ger. Eider or Du. eider, both from O.N. æþar, gen. of æþr "duck."

eidetic --- pertaining to the faculty of projecting images, 1924, from Ger. eidetisch, coined by Ger. psychologist Erich Jaensch (1883-1940), from Gk. eidetikos "pertaining to images," also "pertaining to knowledge," from eidesis "knowledge," from eidos "form, shape" (see -oid).

Eiffel Tower --- erected in the Champ-de-Mars for the Paris Universal Exposition of 1889; at 984.25 feet the world's tallest structure at the time. Designed by Fr. engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923).

eight --- O.E. eahta, æhta, from P.Gmc. *akhto(u) (cf. O.N. atta, Ger. acht, Goth. ahtau), from PIE *okto (cf. Gk. okto, L. octo, O.Ir. ocht-n, Bret. eiz, Skt. astau, Avestan ashta). Klein calls it "an old dual form, orig. meaning 'twice four.' " Meaning "eight-man crew of a rowing boat" is from 1847. The Spanish piece of eight (1699) was so called because it was worth eight reals. To be behind the eight ball "in trouble" (1932) is a metaphor from shooting pool. Eighteen is O.E. eahtatene; eighty is O.E. hundeahtatig, from hund- "ten." Eighty-six, slang for "eliminate" (1936), originated as lunch counter slang, a cook's word for "none" when asked for something not available, probably rhyming slang for nix.

Eileen --- fem. proper name, from Celtic (cf. Ir. Eibhlin) but influenced in form by Helen.

eisteddfod --- annual assembly of Welsh bards, 1822, from W., lit. "session," from eistedd "to sit" (from sedd "seat") + bod "to be."

either --- O.E. ægðer, contraction of æghwæðer "each of two, both," from a "always" + ge- collective prefix + hwæðer "which of two, whether." Modern sense of "one or the other of two" is early 14c. Use of either-or to suggest an unavoidable choice between alternatives (1931) in some cases reflects Dan. enten-eller, title of an 1843 book by Kierkegaard.

ejaculate --- 1578, "emit semen," from L. ejaculatus, pp. of ejaculari, from ex- "out" + jaculari "to throw, dart," from jaculum "javelin," from jacere "to throw." Only other surviving sense is "exclaim suddenly" (1666).

eject --- 1555, from L. ejectus, pp. of eicere "throw out," from ex- "out" + -icere, comb. form of jacere "to throw." Ejector seat is from 1945.

eke --- c.1200, north England and E. Midlands var. of echen from O.E. ecan, eacan, eacian "addition, reinforcement," probably from eaca "an increase," from P.Gmc. *aukan (cf. O.N. auka, O.Fris. aka, Goth. aukan), from PIE *aug- "to increase" (see augment). Now mainly in phrase to eke out (1596). It means "to make something go further or last longer;" you can eke out your income by taking a second job, but you can't eke out your miserable existence. Obsolete eke "also" (O.E. eac, Ger. auch) is probably related.

elaboration --- 1578, in a physiological sense relating to tissue development, from L. elaborationem (nom. elaboratio), from elaborare "work out, produce by labor," from ex- "out" + laborare "to labor." Elaborate in the sense of "conducted with attention to detail" is from 1649.

elan --- 1877, from Fr. élan (16c.), noun derived from élancer "to rush, dart," from O.Fr. elancer, from e- "out" + lancer "to throw a lance," from L.L. lanceare, from L. lancea "lance."

eland --- large S. African antelope, 1786, from Du. eland "elk," from a Baltic source akin to Lith. elnias "deer," from PIE *el- "red, brown" (see elk), cognate with first element in Gk. Elaphebolion, name of the ninth month of the Attic year (corresponding to late March-early April), lit. "deer-hunting (month)."

elapse --- 1644, from M.Fr. elapser, from L. elapsus, pp. of elabi "slip or glide away," from ex- "out, away" + labi "to slip, glide." The noun now corresponding to elapse is lapse.

elasmosaurus --- giant sea reptile from the Mezozoic, 1879, from Mod.L. (coined 1868 by E.D. Cope), from Gk. elasmos "metal plate" + sauros "lizard."

elastic (adj.) --- 1653, coined in Fr. (1651) as a scientific term to describe gases, from Gk. elastos "ductile, flexible," related to elaunein "to strike, beat out," of uncertain origin. Applied to solids from 1674. The noun, "cord or string woven with rubber," is 1847, Amer.Eng.

elation --- c.1386, from O.Fr. elacion, from L. elationem (nom. elatio), from elatus "elevated," pp. of efferre, from ex- "out" + ferre "carry" (see infer). Elate is c.1375, probably from L. elatus. Metaphoric sense of "lifting spirits" was in L. and has always been the principal meaning in Eng.

elbow --- O.E. elnboga, from ell "length of the forearm" + boga "bow, arch," from W.Gmc. *alinobogan, from P.Gmc. *elino-bugon, lit. "bend of the forearm." Second element related to O.E. bugan "to bend;" first element from *alina "arm," from PIE *el- "elbow, forearm" (see ell). The verb meaning "thrust with the elbow" is from 1605; fig. sense is from 1863. Phrase elbow grease "hard rubbing" is attested from 1672, from jocular sense of "the best substance for polishing furniture."

elder (berry) --- O.E. ellæn, ellærn "elderberry tree," origin unknown, perhaps related to alder.

elder, eldest --- O.E. (Mercian) eldra, eldrost, comp. and superl. of eald, ald "old;" only Eng. survival of umlaut in comparison. Superseded by older, oldest since 16c. Elder statesman (1921) originally was a transl. of Jap. genro. Elderly is 1611; elder was used in biblical translation for Gk. presbyter. The O.E. for "grandfather" was ealdfæder.

eldorado --- 1596, from Sp. El Dorado "the golden one," name given 16c. to country or city believed to lie in the heart of the Amazon jungle, from pp. of dorar "to gild."

Eleanor --- from Provençal Ailenor, a variant of Leonore, introduced in England by Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204), wife of Henry II.

election --- 1270, from Anglo-Fr. eleccioun, from L. electionem, from stem of eligere "pick out, select," from ex- "out" + -ligere, comb. form of legere "to choose, read" (see lecture). Elect (v.) is first recorded 1494. Electioneer first attested 1789 in writing of Thomas Jefferson (probably on model of auctioneer, as the verb engineer was not yet in use). Elective, of school subjects studied at the student's choice, first recorded 1847.

Electra --- daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, responsible for the murder of her mother, from Gk., lit. "shining, bright." Esp. in psychological Electra complex (1913) in reference to a daughter who feels attraction toward her father and hostility to her mother.

electric --- 1646, first used in Eng. by Eng. physician Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682), coined in Mod.L. by Eng. physicist William Gilbert (1540-1603) in treatise "De Magnete" (1600), from L. electrum "amber," from Gk. elektron "amber" (Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus), also "pale gold" (a compound of 1 part silver to 4 of gold); of unknown origin. The physical force so called because it first was generated by rubbing amber. Electric toothbrush first recorded 1936; electric typewriter 1958. Electricity is 1646, also in Browne's work. Electrical is first attested 1635; electrify in the figurative sense is from 1752.

electrocute --- execute by electricity, 1889, Amer.Eng., from electro- (see electric) + (exe)cute; sense involving accidental death is first recorded 1909. Electric chair is also first recorded 1889, which is when the first one was introduced in New York state as a humane alternative to hanging.

electrode --- 1834, coined by Eng. physicist and chemist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) from electro- (see electric) + Gk. hodos "way" (see cede).

electrolysis --- 1834, introduced by Faraday on the suggestion of the Rev. William Whewell, from electro- (see electric) + Gk. lysis "a loosening," from lyein "to loosen, set free" (see lose). Originally of tumors, later (1909) of hair removal.

electron --- coined 1891, from electric; electronic is 1902 in the sense of "pertaining to electrons;" 1930 as "pertaining to electronics." Electronics (1910) is the branch of physics and technology concerned with the penomenon of electrons in vacuums, gas, semi-conductors, etc.

electrum --- alloy of gold and silver, 1398 (in O.E. elehtre), from L., lit. "amber," so called probably for its pale yellow color.

eleemosynary --- 1620, from M.L. eleemosynarius "pertaining to alms," from L.L. eleemosyna "alms," from Gk. eleemosyne "pity" (see alms).

elegant --- c.1485, from M.Fr. élégant (15c.), from L. elegantem (nom. elegans) "choice, fine, tasteful," prp. of eligere "select with care, choose." Elegans was originally a term of reproach, "dainty, fastidious;" the notion of "tastefully refined" emerged in classical L.

elegy --- 1514, from M.Fr. elegie, from L. elegia, from Gk. elegeia ode "an elegaic song," from elegeia, fem. of elegeios "elegaic," from elegos "poem or song of lament," perhaps from a Phrygian word.

element --- c.1300, "earth, air, fire, water," from O.Fr. element, from L. elementem "rudiment, first principle, matter in its most basic form," origin unknown (translated Gk. stoikheion). Modern chemical sense is 1813. Elements "atmospheric force" is 1555; elementary school is 1841.

elephant --- c.1300, olyfaunt, from O.Fr. oliphant, from L. elephantus, from Gk. elephas (gen. elephantos) "elephant, ivory," probably from a non-I.E. language, likely via Phoenician (cf. Hamitic elu "elephant," source of the word for it in many Sem. languages, or possibly from Skt. ibhah "elephant"). Re-spelled after 1550 on L. model. As an emblem of the Republican Party in U.S. politics, 1860. White elephant (1851) supposedly arose from the practice of the King of Siam of presenting one of the sacred albino elephants to a courtier who had fallen from favor; the gift was a great honor, but the cost of proper upkeep of one was ruinous. To see the elephant "be acquainted with life, gain knowledge by experience" is an Amer.Eng. colloquialism from 1835.

elephantiasis --- 1581, from Gk. elephantos, gen. of elephas "elephant" + -iasis "pathological or morbid condition." It refers to two diseases, one characterized by thickening of a body part (E. Arabum), the other, older meaning is "disease characterized by skin resembling an elephant's" (E. Græcorum, also called Egyptian leprosy).

Eleusinian --- 1643, "pertaining to Eleusis," town outside Athens, side of the mystery associated with the cult of Demeter, goddess of harvests, and her daughter.

eleutherian --- 1623, from Gk. eleutherios "like a free man, noble-minded, frank, liberal," lit. "freeing, delivering, releaser," title of Zeus as protector of political freedom, from eleutheria "freedom," from PIE *leu-dheros.