Encyclopedian Dictionary: December 2013

Australia

Pronunciation key ( ô-strāl′yə ) Aus•tra•lia n. A continent located in the Southern Hemisphere between the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Part of the British Commonwealth which comprises this continent and Tasmania. A total of 2,974,581 square miles. Its official name is the Commonwealth of Australia. Exploration of Australia Dutch and English sailors mapped much of the Pacific and...

expurgate

Pronunciation key ( ek′spẽr-gāt′ ) ex•pur•gate v.t. [EXPURGATED (-id), EXPURGATING, EXPURGATES] [< L. expurgatus pp. of expurgare to purify, purge, cleanse; ex- out + purgare to cleanse]. The act of removing passages which are deemed in error, obscene or objectionable from a book or manuscript or prior material, etc. Obs. To clear or purge. —ex′pur•ga′tion n. —ex′pur•ga′tor n. References and Further Reading Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition)...

expulsion

Pronunciation key ( ik-spul′shən ) ex•pul•sion n. [L. expulsio < expulsus pp. of expellere]. Act of expelling, forcing out or the condition of being expelled. See expel. References and Further Reading Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955 The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition ©1...

Express train

Express train n. A high-speed railroad train that travels non-stop or makes few stops. References and Further Reading Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955 The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition ©1985 Further Reading express expressage expressible expression expressionism expressionist expressionistic expressionistically expressionless expressive expressivity expressly expressman express ri...

expressive

Pronunciation key ( iks-pres′iv ) ex•pres•sive adj. Characterized by or pertaining to expression. That which serves to express or give indication. Serving as a sign such as a song that is expressive of love. Full of expression; significant such as an expressive wink. —ex•pres′sive•ly adv. —ex•pres′sive•ness n. References and Further Reading Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955 The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition ©1985 Further...

expressionism

Pronunciation key ( iks-spresh′ən-izʼm ) ex•pres•sion•ism n. Late 19th and early 20th century movement in the arts, especially in drama emphasizing subjective expression to inner experience of the artist, characterized by nonobjective use of symbols, stereotyped characters, stylization, etc. —ex•pres′sion•ist n. —ex•pres′sion•is′tic adj. —ex•pres′sion•is′ti•cal•ly adv. Expressionism An...

expressage

Pronunciation key ( iks-pres′ij ) ex•press•age n. [see -AGE] Transport of packages by express delivery. The amount of charges incurred by this shipment method. References and Further Reading Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955 The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition ©1985 Further Reading express expressible expression expressionism expressionist expressionistic expressionistically expressionless expressive expressivity expressly expressman express...

expostulate

Pronunciation key ( ik-spos′che-lāt′ ) ex•pos•tu•late v.i.. [EXPOSTULATED (-id), EXPOSTULATING, EXPOSTULATES] [L. expostulatus pp. of expostulare to strongly demand, require; ex-, (intensive) + postulare to demand]. Earnestly reasoning with a person to dissuade or correct; objecting his or her actions or intentions; remonstrate. —ex•pos′tu•la′tion n. —ex•pos′tu•la′tor n. —ex•pos′tu•la•to′ry adj. —ex•pos′tu•la′tive adj. Syn. object. References and Further Reading Webster's New World...

expositor

Pronunciation key ( ik-spoz′ə-tẽr ) ex•pos•i•tor n. [OFr. expositeur; L. expositor < expositus pp. of exponere; see EXPOUND]. One who sets forth explanation. A piece of writing that is set forth to expose. References and Further Reading Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955 Further Reading expose exposé exposition expositive exposit...

expose

Pronunciation key ( ik-spōz′ ) ex•pose v.t.. [EXPOSED (-spōzd′), EXPOSING, EXPOSES] [ME. exposen < OFr. exposer; prob. < L. expositus pp. of exponere see EXPOUND but associated in OFr. with poser < L. pausare; see POSE]. To remove shelter or protection; lay open (for danger, ridicule, attack) to lay open or leave vulnerable and unprotected. To abandon, to put out into the elements, without food or shelter. To make accessible or subject to an influence or action. To lay something...