Word origins

• DuvernayA surname from French.
• duvetyneA heavy black cloth used in the motion picture and film industry to block out unwanted light.
• DyleA river in Belgium, Europe.
• dysphemismThe use of a word or phrase carrying negative connotations or imagery (especially one that is derogatory, offensive or vulgar) to replace a (more) neutral original.
• Eau ClaireA city, the county seat of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States; an on the in the Eau Claire River. Named after the river.
• eau CréoleA fine Martinique liqueur, made by distilling the flowers of the mammee apple with spirit of wine.
• eau de cologneA type of perfume; cologne.
• eau de nilA pale green colour.
• eau de parfumA solvent containing around 10% to 20% aromatic compounds.
• eau de toiletteA lightly scented perfume to freshen the skin, usually applied directly to the skin after bathing or shaving.
• eau de vieSynonym of brandy.
• eau forteAn etching or a print from an etched plate.
• ébaucheA sketch.
• éboulementA mass of debris or shingle.
• ebrilladeA sudden jerking of a horse's rein when the horse refuses to turn.
• écartéA card game in which one can discard certain cards from one's hand and replace them with cards from the deck.
• ecarteurA type of retractor
• ecdoticRelated to the edition of a work.
• éclairA small, chocolate-covered, creme-filled pastry puff in a general oblong shape, typically larger than the miniature French version.
• eclairciseTo make clear; to clarify, to explain.
• éclatA brilliant or successful effect; brilliance of success or effort; splendor; brilliant show; striking effect; glory; renown.
• eclatantImpressive, brilliant, striking, convincing.
• écorchéA figure drawn, painted or sculpted so as to show the muscles of the body without skin.
• écossaiseA contra dance in a Scottish style, popular in France and Great Britain around the late eighteenth century.
• écrasementThe operation of removing a part, as a tumor, by a wire or chain loop gradually tightened so as to cut slowly through its attachment.
• ecrasiteAn explosive material which is unaffected by moisture, shock and fire, a mixture of ammonium cresylate with picric acid that is prepared from trinitrocresol.
• écrémageA surrealist automatic art technique in which paint or ink is floated on water and then skimmed off by passing stiff paper or cardboard just under the surface.
• écuA silver coin formerly used in France, with varying values.
• écuelleA two-handled bowl for soup or porridge.
• EdinbourgeoisA resident of Edinburgh.
• effleurageA form of massage involving smooth strokes of the skin with one's hands.
• efflowerTo graze; (leatherworking) to remove the outer surface of (a skin) with a knife.
• effractionforcible Burglary.
• élanSpirit; zeal; ardor.
• élan vitalThe life force or vital principle posited in the philosophy of Henri Bergson; any mysterious or creative vital principle.
• electrizeSynonym of electrify
• ÉlisabethA female given name from French, equivalent to English Elizabeth.
• ÉliseA diminutive of the female given name Élisabeth.
• -elleUsed to form feminine proper names
• elneTo strengthen; hearten; comfort; encourage.
• ÉlyséeThe official residence of the President of France.
• EmardA surname from French.
• embarcadèreA pier, a wharf.
• emboîtementThe outdated hypothesis that all living things proceed from pre-existing germs, and that these encase the germs of all future living things, enclosed one within another.
• embonpointPlumpness, stoutness, especially when voluptuous.
• embouchementThe opening of a blood vessel into another one
• embourgeoiseTo make bourgeois; to gentrify.
• embourgeoiséMade or become bourgeois
• embourgeoisementThe process of adopting or the condition of adopting the characteristics of the bourgeoisie; bourgeoisification; the process of becoming affluent.
• embrasureAny of the indentations between the merlons of a battlement; an opening in a wall or parapet through which ordnance can be fired.
• embusquéOne who avoids military service; a draft dodger.
• emetineA white crystalline bitter alkaloid, chemical formula C₂₉H₄₀N₂O₄, extracted from ipecacuanha root, and formerly used in the treatment of amebic infections and as an emetic in aversion therapy.
• émeuteA seditious tumult; an outbreak.
• émigréA French person who has departed their native land, especially a royalist who left during the French Revolution.
• éminence griseA secret or unofficial decision-maker.
• empennageThe tail assembly of an aircraft.
• employéDated spelling of employee.
• employéeA female employee.
• énarqueA graduate of the École nationale d'administration.
• en bancAs a group, particularly with respect to a legal decision rendered by all of the judges sitting on a court, rather than by a smaller panel of judges from that court.
• en blocAs a whole; all at once; all together.
• en brochetteOn a skewer.
• en brosseOf the hair: closely cropped so that the hairs stick upward, like the short bristles of a brush; in a crew cut.
• en cabochonIn the manner of a cabochon.
• encasseroleCooked as a casserole.
• encastageThe placing of pottery in a saggar so that it can be dried by fire.
• en clairIn the clear; without any encryption.
• encoignureA small armoire, commode, cabinet or cupboard made to fit a corner.
• encolureThe neck of a horse.
• encorbelmentCorbelling.
• encoubertOne of several species of armadillo of the genera Dasypus and Euphractus, with five toes on both the fore and the hind feet.
• en coup de sabreOf a subtype of localised scleroderma, having a linear, atrophic depression on the frontoparietal scalp.
• en croixOf a step: performed in turn to the front, the side, the back, and the other side.
• enculadeSodomy, an act of anal sex.
• endimanchedDressed up in one's Sunday best.
• endoctrineTo teach; to indoctrinate.
• -eneForms adjectives relating to places and nouns for their inhabitants.
• en facefacing forward
• en famillewith one's family; as a family
• enfant de coeurA child who sings in a choir, typically quiet and well-behaved.
• enfantementThe act of giving birth.
• enfant terribleAn unconventional badly-behaved person who causes embarrassment or shock to others.
• en femmeChiefly of a cross-dressing, non-binary, or trans person: dressed in feminine clothing.
• enfiladeA line or straight passage, or the position of that which lies in a straight line.
• enfileTo thread onto, or hang up on, a string or cord.
• enfleurageThe process of extracting fragrance (essential oils) from flowers by using unscented wax or fat, then extracting with alcohol.
• en fluteWith some or all of her cannons removed.
• engagéSomeone serving under a contract of engagement.
• en garçonAs a bachelor, or as if one were a bachelor; without one's wife.
• en gardeUsed to warn one's opponent to take a defensive position prior to a fight.
• engobeA non-black clay slip coating applied to a ceramic body to give it decorative color or improved texture.
• engouementAn infatuation; an irrational liking for something.
• enguichéHaving either a strap or a mouthpiece (or the interior of the mouth) which is of a specified tincture.
• enjambTo carry a sentence over to the next line without a pause.
• enjambmentA technique in poetry whereby a sentence is carried over to the next line without pause.
• enlevéenhanced
• enlevementThe abduction of a woman or child.
• en masseIn a single body or group; as one, together.
• ennuyéAffected with ennui; bored.
• en pantouflesIn a casual, relaxed way or manner.