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enormity
English 'Chamber Orchestra, the also the ECO a
British CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (=a small group of musicians)
based in London
English 'Channel, the also the Channel the narrow
piece of water between southern England and northern
France, which French people call 'La Manche'. British people
have always had to cross the channel in order to reach the
main part of Europe, and this made them feel separate from
the rest of Europe.
English 'Heritage a British government organization
which takes care of many old buildings and other places
that are important in English history → compare NATIONAL
TRUST
English horn especially AmE COR ANGLAIS
En-glish-man /'ɪŋglɪʃmən/ n pl. -men /-mən/ 1 a man from
England 2 an Englishman's home is his castle BrE an
expression used to mean that English people's homes are
very important to them, and they believe strongly that they
have the right to do what they want in their home → see
also mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun
(MAD)
English 'muffin n [C] AmE a round flat piece of bread that
you TOAST² before eating it; MUFFIN BrE
English National 'Opera, the also the ENO an OPERA
company which performs operas in English at a theatre
called the London Coliseum
English 'Sheepdog n AmE OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG
English 'Tourist Board, the a name used by many
people in the UK to refer to the organization that tries to
encourage tourists to go on holiday in England, and pro-
vides information about hotels, places to visit etc. The real
name of this organization is Visitbritain, and it was formed
in 2003 when the British Tourist Authority and the English
Tourism Council joined together.
En-glish-wom-an /'ɪŋglɪʃwʊmən/ n pl. -women /-ˌwɪmɪn/
a woman from England
Eng. Lit. /ˌɪŋ 'lɪt/ n [U] BrE infml English literature as a subject
of study: an Eng. Lit. exam
en-gorged /ɪn'gɔːdʒd||-ɔːr-/ adj formal swollen and full of
liquid
en-grave /ɪn'greɪv/ v [T] 1 to cut (words, pictures etc) on
(wood, stone, or metal): [+ obj+on] His memorial was
engraved on the stone. | [+obj+with] The stone was engraved
with his memorial. | (fig.) The terrible scene was engraved on
his memory. 2 to prepare (a special plate of metal) in this
way, for printing → see SPREAD (USAGE) —graver n
en-grav-ing /ɪn'greɪvɪŋ/ n 1 [C] a picture printed from an
engraved metal plate: I bought an old engraving of London
Bridge. 2 [U] the art or work of an engraver
en-gross /ɪn'grəʊs/ v [T(in) usually pass.] to fill completely the
time and attention of; ABSORB: I was so engrossed in my work
that I completely forgot the time. | an engrossing book
en-gulf /ɪn'gʌlf/ v [T(in)] especially lit (of the earth, the sea etc)
to surround and swallow up: The stormy sea engulfed the
small boat. | The house was engulfed in flames.
en-hance /ɪn'hɑːns||ɪn'hæns/ v [T] to increase in strength or
amount: Good secretarial skills should enhance your chances
of getting a job. | Hopefully, the meeting will enhance the
prospects of world peace. | computer-enhanced learning
(=learning in which the student is helped or guided by a
computer as well as by a teacher) —ment n [C;U]
e-nig-ma /ɪ'nɪgmə/ n a person, thing, or event that is
mysterious and very hard to understand: No one could
explain how the ship had suddenly disappeared – it was all a
bit of an enigma. —tic /ˌenɪg'mætɪk/ adj: an enigmatic
person/smile —tically /-kli/ adv
en-join /ɪn'dʒɔɪn/ v [T] 1 [(on)] fml to order (someone to do
something or something to be done): He enjoined obedience
on the soldiers. | [+obj+to-v] He enjoined them to fight bravely
for their country. 2 [(from)] especially AmE to forbid; PROHIBIT
en-joy /ɪn'dʒɔɪ/ v [T] 1 to get pleasure from (things and
experiences); like: I enjoyed the film. | [+v-ing] I enjoy going to
the cinema. 2 fml to possess or use (something good): He has
always enjoyed (=had) very good health. 3 enjoy oneself to
be happy; experience pleasure: Did you enjoy yourself at the
party? —ment n [C;U] I didn't get much enjoyment out of
that book.
In British English enjoy is always followed by a
noun or a pronoun or by a verb with -ing: 'Did you enjoy
your holiday?' 'Yes, I enjoyed it very much.' | He enjoyed
himself on holiday. | He enjoys travelling by train. Note
that in American English the expression Enjoy! is
sometimes used in informal speech with the meaning
'enjoy yourself' or 'have a nice time'.
en-joy-a-ble /ɪn'dʒɔɪəbəl/ adj (of things and experiences)
giving pleasure: an enjoyable holiday → opposite UNENJOY-
ABLE —bly adv
en-large /ɪn'lɑːd||-ɑːrʒ/ v [I;T] to (cause to) grow larger or
wider: This photograph probably won't enlarge well. | The
medical tests showed that he was suffering from an enlarged
liver.
enlarge on/upon sthg. phr v [T] to add more length and
detail to (a statement); ELABORATE: She only gave us the bare
facts, so we asked her to enlarge on them.
en-large-ment /ɪn'lɑːdʒmənt||-ɑːr-/ n 1 [C] a photograph
that has been printed in a larger size than the original: I'm
sending mother an enlargement of the baby's photo. 2 [U] the
act or result of enlarging
en-light-en /ɪn'laɪtən/ v [T] to cause to understand deeply and
clearly, especially by making free from TRADITIONAL or false
beliefs: Peter thought the world was flat until I enlightened
him! | an enlightening experience
en-light-ened /ɪn'laɪtənd/ adj apprec showing true and deep
understanding; wise, especially in being free of false beliefs:
enlightened opinions | The papers praised the judge's enlight-
ened ruling.
en-light-en-ment /ɪn'laɪtənmənt/ n [U] 1 the act of
enlightening or state of being enlightened: The tax laws are
so complicated that only an expert can provide enlighten-
ment. 2 (in Buddhism and Hinduism) the state of freedom
from desire and suffering, leading to union with the spirit of
the universe
Enlightenment, the a period in Europe during the 18th
century when certain writers and PHILOSOPHERS taught that
science and the use of reason would help human society to
develop. The thinkers of the Enlightenment said that reli-
gious beliefs should not be accepted without questioning,
and their ideas helped to influence the political REVOLU-
TIONS in France and in the US in the late 18th century.
en-list /ɪn'lɪst/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) join the armed forces:
He enlisted when he was 18. | We must enlist more men. 2 [(in)]
especially BrE to join a course of study, a political group etc,
especially by putting one's name on a list: I've enlisted in the
Women's Studies course. 3 [T] to obtain (help, sympathy
etc): They enlisted my support for the campaign to keep the
hospital open. —ment n [C;U]
en-listed 'man, en-listed 'woman fem. — n AmE a person
in the armed forces whose rank is below that of an officer
en-liv-en /ɪn'laɪvən/ v [T] to make more active, cheerful, or
interesting: This otherwise dreary book is enlivened by some
very amusing illustrations.
en masse /ˌɒn 'mæs||ˌɑːn-/ adv Fr all together; in a mass or
crowd: The senior management resigned en masse.
en-mesh /ɪn'meʃ/ v [T(in) usually pass.] to catch (as if) in a net:
He was enmeshed in his own lies.
en-mi-ty /'enmɪti/ v [C;U] fml the state of being an enemy or
feeling hatred for someone; HOSTILITY
En-nis-kil-len /ˌenɪs'kɪlən/ a town in Northern Ireland
where 11 people were killed by an IRA bomb on REMEM-
BRANCE DAY in November 1987
en-no-ble /ɪ'nəʊbəl/ v. [T] 1 to make better and more
honourable: Her character has been ennobled by all her suffer-
ings. 2 to make (someone) a nobleman —ment n [U]
en-nui /ɒn'wiː||ɑːn-/ n [U] Fr fml or lit tiredness and dissatisfac-
tion caused by lack of interest and having nothing to do
ENO, the /ˌiː en 'əʊ/ abbrev. for the ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA
e-nor-mi-ty /ɪ'nɔːmɪti||-ɔːr-/ n 1 [C;U] fml (an act of) great
wickedness: I don't think that even now he realizes the full
enormity of his crime. 2 [U] the quality of being very great,