episode
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ep·i·sode /'epɪsəʊd/ n 1 a particular event which is separate, but also forms part of a larger whole: It was one of the funniest episodes in my life. 2 a single broadcast that is one of a continuous set telling a story: In the final episode we will find out who did the murder.
ep·i·sod·ic /ˌepɪ'sɒdɪk◂ǁ-'sɑː-/ adj (of a story, play etc) made up of separate and usually loosely connected parts: The book is written in an episodic format. —ally /-kli/ adv
e·pis·tle /'pɪsəl/ n fml or humor a letter, especially a long and important one
Epistle n one of the letters written by the first followers of Jesus, especially by St Paul, in the New Testament of the Bible: St Paul's Epistle to the Romans ➔ compare GOSPEL
e·pis·to·la·ry /ɪ'pɪstələrɪl-tələrɪ-/ adj fml 1 of letters or the writing of letters 2 carried on by, or in the form of, letters
ep·i·taph /'epɪtɑːf◂ǁ-tæf/ n a short statement about a dead person, often written on a stone above their grave
ep·i·thet /'epɪθet/ n fml an adjective or descriptive phrase, especially of praise or blame, used about a person: The king was known as Alfred the Great, but in my opinion the epithet (=‘Great’) was undeserved.
e·pit·o·me /ɪ'ptəmi/ n [the S+of] a thing or person that shows the stated quality or set of qualities to a very great degree; typical example: His behaviour was the epitome of bad manners.
e·pit·o·mize also -mise BrE /ɪ'pɪtəmaɪz/ v [T] to be typical of; be an epitome of: This strike epitomizes what is wrong with industrial relations in this country.
e plu·ri·bus u·num /eɪ ˌplʊərɪbəs 'uːnəm/ Lat one out of many, meaning a national government consisting of many states. This phrase appears on several American coins and on the Great Seal of the United States.
EPNS /ˌiː piː en 'es/ n [U] abbrev. for electro-plated nickel silver; in the UK, a mark put on metal objects such as knives, forks, and teapots, to show that they are covered in a thin layer of silver, rather than being made of pure silver
e·poch /'iːpɒk◂ǁ'epək/ n a long period of time in the history of the Earth or of human society, especially as marked by events or developments of a particular kind: The first flight into space marked a new epoch in the history of mankind.
'epoch-mak·ing adj (especially of an event) very important, especially because it changes the way people live: The steam-engine was an epoch-making invention.
e·pon·y·mous /ɪ'pɒnɪməsǁ'pɑː-/ adj tech (of a character in literature) being the character after whom the stated book, play etc, is named: Hamlet is the eponymous hero of Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet'.
e·poxy res·in /ˌɪpɒksi 'rezɪn◂ǁpɑː-/ n [U] an industrially made RESIN that is used especially as a glue
Ep·som /'epsəm/ a town in southeast England which is famous for its RACECOURSE (=place where people go to watch horse races). One of the most famous British horse races, the DERBY, takes place at Epsom each year.
Epsom 'salts n [U;P] a white powder that is mixed with water and used as a medicine to make your BOWELS empty
Ep·stein-Barr vi·rus /ˌepstaɪn 'bɑː◂ǌˌvaɪərəs◂ǁ-'bɑːr-/ abbrev. EBV n [U] AmE an illness that makes you feel very tired and weak and can last for a long period of time ➔ see also ME BrE
eq·ua·ble /'ekwəbəl/ adj 1 (of a person) of even, calm temper; not easily annoyed: I like working with Mary because she has such an equable nature. 2 (of temperature) without great changes; even and regular: Britain has quite an equable climate; it seldom gets too hot or too cold. ➔ compare EQUITABLE —bly adv —bility /ˌekwə'bɪləti/ n [U]
e·qual¹ /'iːkwəl/ adj 1 [(in, to, with)] (of two or more) the same in size, number, value, rank etc: Cut the cake into six equal pieces. | Women demand equal pay for equal work. (=equal to men) | The two squares are equal in size; this one is equal to that. | The diplomats chose a neutral country so that they could meet on equal terms. (=with neither side having an advantage) 2 [F+to] (of a person) having enough strength, ability etc (for): Bill is quite equal to (the task of) running the office. | She had to give a speech to 3000 people, but she proved quite equal to the situation/occasion. (=able to deal with whatever happened) ➔ opposite UNEQUAL; see also EQUALLY 3 all men are created equal quote from the American DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 4 all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others quote from Animal Farm by George Orwell, meaning that although a TOTALITARIAN SOCIALIST state may say that all people are equal, in practice its leaders have a better life than other people
equal² n a person who is equal (to someone else or to oneself): We should all be equals in the eyes of the law. | a boss who treats her staff as equals ➔ see also first among equals (FIRST²)
equal³ v -li- BrE || -l- AmE [not in progressive forms] 1 [L] (of a size or number) to be the same as: 'x = y' means that x equals y. | The year's sales figures up until October equal the figures for the whole of last year. 2 [T[in, as]] to reach the same standard as: None of us can equal her grace as a dancer. | Thompson today equalled the world record for the 400 metres. (=ran as fast as the fastest ever time) | Their ignorance is only equalled by their stupidity.
Equal Em·ploy·ment Op·por·tu·ni·ties Com·mis·sion, the also the EEOC a US government organization whose aim is to make sure that people are not prevented from getting jobs because of their race, religion, age, sex etc, and to make sure that all workers are treated fairly and equally
e·qual·i·ty /ɪ'kwɒləti◂ǁ'kwɑː-/ n [U] the state of being equal: They are fighting for the equality of women. (=for women to be equal with men) | racial equality | equality of opportunity
e·qual·ize also -ise BrE /'iːkwəlaɪz/ v 1 [T] to make equal in size or numbers: A small adjustment will equalize the temperature in the two rooms. 2 [T] to spread out evenly all through: Our party's policy is to try to equalize the tax burden. 3 [I] especially BrE to reach the same total of points etc as one's opponents in sport: England equalized a few minutes before the end of the match. —ization /ˌiːkwəlaɪ'zeɪʃən◂ǁ-ɪə-/ n [U]
e·qual·iz·er also -iser BrE /'iːkwəlaɪzər/ n 1 especially BrE a GOAL, point etc that makes your total equal to that of your opponents in sport: England scored the equalizer a few minutes before the end of the match. 2 something which makes things equal or balanced
eq·ual·ly /'iːkwəli/ adv 1 as (much); to an equal degree: They're both equally fit. | They can both run equally fast. 2 in equal shares: They shared the work equally between them. 3 (comparing two ideas) at the same time and in spite of that: We must help people to find houses outside the city, but equally, we must remember that some city people want to remain where they are.
equal op·por·tu·ni·ties n [P] the same chances of employment, level of pay, and other advantages to everyone, regardless of race, colour, or sex: We believe in equal opportunities. | The council is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Equal Op·por·tu·ni·ties Com·mis·sion, the a British government organization whose aim is to make sure that women and men have the same opportunities in education and jobs, and that people are not treated unfairly because of their sex
Equal 'Pay Act, the a law in the UK, passed in 1970, which says that men and women should get equal pay for doing the same work, and should have the same conditions of employment. It can be difficult to prove that someone is being paid unfairly, and women still usually earn less than men.
equal 'rights n EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Equal 'Rights A·mendment, the ➔ see ERA
eq·ua·nim·i·ty /ˌiːkwə'nɪməti, ˌekwə-/ n [U] fml calmness of mind and temper, especially in difficult situations: He received the bad news with surprising equanimity.
e·quate /ɪ'kweɪt/ v [T(with)] to consider or make equal: You can't equate passing examinations and being intelligent/with being intelligent.
e·qua·tion /ɪ'kweɪʒən/ n 1 [C] a statement that two quantities are equal: In the equation 2x+1 = 7, what is x? | (fig.) Most people believe the factory would provide more jobs but the other side of the equation is the pollution it would cause. ➔ compare FORMULA 2 [S;U] fml the state of being equal or equally balanced: There is an equation between unemployment and rising crime levels.