Word origins

• DufraneA surname from French.
• DugueA surname from French.
• du jourOf the day; prepared for the day in question
• DujourA surname from French.
• DuludeA surname from French.
• du PlessisA surname from French
• DupuitA surname from French.
• duramenisationTransformation into duramen (heartwood).
• DurassianOf or relating to Marguerite Duras (Marguerite Donnadieu; 1914–1996), French writer and film director.
• DurioA surname from French.
• DuteilA surname from French.
• DutilA surname from French.
• DutriezA surname from French.
• DutroA surname.
• DuvernayA surname from French.
• duvetyneA heavy black cloth used in the motion picture and film industry to block out unwanted light.
• duxellesA finely chopped mixture of mushrooms, onions, shallots and herbs sautéed in butter and reduced to a paste, used in stuffings and sauces (as in beef Wellington) or as a garnish.
• 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.
• ébénisteAn ebonist; a cabinetmaker who veneers furniture.
• éboulementA mass of debris or shingle.
• ebrietyThe state of intoxication, drunkenness.
• ebrilladeA sudden jerking of a horse's rein when the horse refuses to turn.
• ecarteA card game for two persons, with 32 cards, ranking K, Q, J, A, 10, 9, 8, 7. Five cards are dealt each player, and the 11th turned as trump. Five points constitute a game.
• 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.
• eclaircissementAn explanation of something obscure or unknown; clarification, enlightenment.
• éclatA brilliant or successful effect; brilliance of success or effort; splendor; brilliant show; striking effect; glory; renown.
• eclatantImpressive, brilliant, striking, convincing.
• eco-ecology or the environment (in the ecological sense)
• 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.
• ecouvillonA brush used to abrade the interior of a cavity or a wound.
• ecranisationAn adaptation of a book, story, or other form of written or graphic work into a film.
• 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.
• ecraseurA surgical instrument intended to replace the knife in many operations, the parts operated on being severed by the crushing effect produced by the gradual tightening of a chain to avoid haemorrhage.
• 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.
• edulcorantsweetening.
• 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.
• effluenceThe process of flowing out.
• effluveA spray-like electric discharge.
• effractionforcible Burglary.
• effrontitMarked by impudence; shameless.
• eggs benedictA dish consisting of slices of English muffins with poached eggs, ham or bacon and hollandaise sauce.
• egregoreAn angelic being from the Book of Enoch.
• eighty-elevenVery many; too many to count; quite a lot.
• -eilDiminutive suffix in words of French origin.
• 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
• eleveA pupil or student.
• ElinvarA nickel–iron–chromium alloy notable for having a modulus of elasticity which does not change much with temperature.
• ÉlisabethA female given name from French, equivalent to English Elizabeth.
• ÉliseA diminutive of the female given name Élisabeth.
• elisorA person appointed by a court for certain acts, such as to return a jury or serve a writ when the sheriff and the coroners are disqualified.
• -elleUsed to form feminine proper names
• elneTo strengthen; hearten; comfort; encourage.
• elogistsomeone who pronounces an eloge or elogy.
• eloignmentThe act of removing something to be put far away; withdrawal.
• ÉlyséeThe official residence of the President of France.
• email ombrantThe art or process of flooding transparent coloured glaze over designs stamped or moulded on earthenware or porcelain
• EmardA surname from French.
• embaleTo bind up; to pack, or bundle up into a pack.
• embarcadèreA pier, a wharf.
• embarkmentembarkation; the act of setting out
• embarrasEmbarrassment; confusion, uncertainty.
• embarrassment of richesAn abundance or overabundance of something; too much of a good thing.
• embassageAn embassy.
• 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.
• embryogenyEmbryogenesis.
• embuggerto bugger; to engage in anal intercourse
• 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.
• emigreea migrant, one who moves from one region to another.
• éminence griseA secret or unofficial decision-maker.