bread and drink holy wine. This ceremony is based on the LAST SUPPER (=Jesus' last meal with his followers before he died). $\rightarrow$ compare COMMUNION, MASS **—Eucharistic** /,ju:kə'ristɪk/ *adj*
**Eu-clid** /'ju:klɪd/ (about 300 BC) a Greek MATHEMATICIAN who developed a system of GEOMETRY (=the study of the angles, shapes, lines etc and their relationships with each other) called Euclidean geometry
**eu-clid-e-an, -ian** /ju:'klɪdiən||ju-/ *adj* (often cap.) of or being the GEOMETRY (=system of describing lines, angles, surfaces, and solids) described by Euclid
**EU Consti'tution, the** a set of basic laws and principles that the European Union is governed by. The EU Constitution introduced some important changes to the EU, including a president elected every two and a half years. It also introduced a common foreign POLICY (=agreed way of doing something) and a common defence policy.
**eu-gen-ics** /ju:'dʒenɪks/ *n* [U] the study of methods to improve the mental and physical abilities of human beings by choosing who should become parents
**Eu-gen-e-des, Jef-frey** /ɪ:'dʒenɪdi:z, 'dʒefri/ (1960-) a US writer whose books often deal with strange or unusual events in a way that makes them seem almost normal. His novel *The Virgin Suicides*, which is also a film, is a story about five sisters who all commit suicide together. His other well-known novel, *Middlesex*, won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003.
**eu-lo-gis-tic** /ˌju:lə'dʒɪstɪk/ *adj fml* (of a speech or piece of writing) full of eulogy: *a eulogistic speech about the great achievements of the dead king* **—ally** /-kli/ *adv*
**eu-lo-gize** also **-gise** *BrE* /'ju:lədʒaɪz/ *v* [T] *fml* to make a eulogy (usually about a person or their qualities) **—gist** *n*: *He's just a eulogist for the government.*
**eu-lo-gy** /'ju:lədʒi/ *n* [C;U(on, of, to)] *fml* (a speech or piece of writing containing) high praise, usually of a person or their qualities: *a eulogy to the royal family*
**eu-nuch** /'ju:nək/ *n* a man who has been CASTRATED (=had part of his sex organs removed), especially one formerly employed in the women's areas of some Eastern courts; (*fig.*) a political eunuch (=someone who has no real political power)
**eu-phe-mism** /'ju:fɪmɪzəm/ *n* [C;U] (an example of) the use of a pleasanter, less direct name for something thought to be unpleasant: *'Pass away' is a euphemism for 'die'.*
**eu-phem-is-tic** /ˌju:fɪ'mɪstɪk/ *adj* (of a word, speech, or writing) containing or consisting of euphemisms. Euphemistic words or phrases are marked *euph* in this dictionary: *'Ladies' room' is a euphemistic term for 'toilet'.* **—ally** /-kli/ *adv*
**eu-pho-ni-ous** /ju:'fəʊniəs||ju-/ *adj fml* pleasant in sound
**eu-pho-ni-um** /ju:'fəʊniəm||ju-/ *n* a musical instrument which is a kind of TUBA made of brass and played by blowing
**eu-pho-ri-a** /ju:'fɔ:riə||ju-/ *n* [U] a feeling of extreme happiness, pride, and excitement: *They were in a state of euphoria after the baby was born.* **—ric** /ju:'fɒrɪk||ju:'fɔ:rɪk, -'fɑ:r-/ *adj* **—rically** /-kli/ *adv*
**Eu-phra·tes, the** /ju:'freɪti:z/ a long river which flows from Turkey through Syria and Iraq into the Persian Gulf
**Eu-ra-sian** /jʊə'reɪʒən/ *adj* **1** connected with both Europe and Asia: *the Eurasian continent* **2** having one Asian parent and one European parent **—Eurasian** *n*
**Eu-re·ka** /jʊə'ri:kə/ *interj old-fash or humorous* used to show pleasure when you have discovered the answer to a problem or found something you were looking for
**CULTURAL NOTE** Eureka means 'I've found it!' in Greek. It originally came from the story of the Greek scientist ARCHIMEDES who shouted 'Eureka' when he was taking a bath and suddenly thought of a way of measuring DENSITY. Most Americans think of Eureka as being shouted when people found gold in the streams and mountains of California during the GOLD RUSH in the 1840s.
**Eu-rip-i·des** /ju'rɪpɪdi:z/ (2480-406 BC) an ancient Greek writer of plays
**Eu-ro$^1$** *adj* [A] European; used especially for things connected with the EU (=European Union): *a new Euro directive on import regulations*
**Euro$^2$** *n* the standard unit of money used in the EU (=European Union) from 1999 for BANKING, FOREIGN EXCHANGE etc $\rightarrow$ see Feature on page A21
**Euro-** /jʊərəʊ/ *prefix* $\rightarrow$ see WORD FORMATION TABLE
**Eu-ro-cen-tric** /ˌjʊərəʊ'sentrɪk/ *adj derogatory* paying attention only to Europe and to the concerns and achievements of European people, without considering people from other parts of the world: *a Eurocentric view of African history*
**Eu-ro-cheque** /'jʊərəʊtʃek/ *trademark* a cheque that can be used in different banks or shops in some European countries
**Eu-ro-crat** /'jʊərəʊkræt/ *n BrE* an official who works for the EU (=European Union).
**CULTURAL NOTE** This word is used especially in newspapers when they are criticizing European officials for making too many complicated rules about things that they should not be involved in, or for being paid too much.
**Eu-ro-dis-ney** /'jʊərəʊˌdɪzni/ *trademark* the former name for Disneyland Paris $\rightarrow$ see DISNEYLAND
**Eu-ro-dol-lar** /'jʊərəʊˌdɒlə||-ˌdɑ:r-/ *n* a US dollar that has been put in a European bank in order to help trade and provide an international money system
**Eu-ro-fight-er** /'jʊərəʊˌfaɪtə/ *n* a fast military aircraft being developed by several European countries working together, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK
**Eu-ro-land** /'jʊərəʊlænd/ *a name used informally by politicians, news reporters etc to describe the area of Europe in which the Euro is used as the standard unit of money*
**Euro MP** /ˌjʊərəʊ em 'pi:/ *n* a member of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. Euro MPs are also known as MEPs (=Members of the European Parliament).
**Eu-rope** /'jʊərəp/ **1** one of the seven large land masses in the world (CONTINENTS). Europe lies north of the Mediterranean Sea and goes east as far as the Ural Mountains in Russia. **2** the EU (=European Union). Newspapers and politicians often use the word Europe to talk about the EU and the UK's relationship with it: *the Labour government's more positive attitude towards Europe* **3** the main part of the continent of Europe, not including the British Isles: *The Channel Tunnel now links the UK to Europe.* $|$ *Britain's business competitors in Europe* $\rightarrow$ see Cultural Note at EU
**Eu-ro-pe-an$^1$** /ˌjʊərə'pi:ən/ *n* **1** someone from Europe **2** someone who supports the EU and wants the countries who belong to it to be more united
**European$^2$** *adj* **1** from or connected with Europe: *European law* **2** connected with the EU: *European laws on human rights*
**European Com'mission, the** also **the Commission** a group of officials, chosen by the countries in the EU (=European Union), who suggest plans for the EU, carry out decisions that the EU has made, and make sure that the EU's laws are obeyed. Members of the European Commission are not elected, and some people think they have too much power. $\rightarrow$ see Feature on page A21
**European Com'missioner** *n* a member of the European Commission $\rightarrow$ see Feature on page A21
**European Com'munity, the** the former name of the EU (=European Union)
**European Con,vention on ,Human 'Rights, the** an official agreement signed by the UK and most other European countries, in which they promise to allow every citizen their HUMAN RIGHTS, such as the right to be free, to express their political opinions, and to be treated fairly. If someone thinks that one of these countries is breaking this agreement, they can officially complain to the European Human Rights Commission. If they are still not satisfied, they can take their case to a special court called the EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
**European ,Court of ,Human 'Rights, the** the court of law for the COUNCIL OF EUROPE, based in Strasbourg in France. People in the UK sometimes talk about this court when they