evil|doer /iː v ə lduː ə r / (evildoers ) also evil-doer N‑COUNT If you describe someone as an evildoer , you mean that they are wicked, and that they deliberately cause harm or suffering to others. [LITERARY or OLD-FASHIONED ]
e vil e ye
1 N‑SING Some people believe that the evil eye is a magical power to cast a spell on someone or something by looking at them, so that bad things happen to them.
2 N‑SING [usu the ] If someone gives you the evil eye , they look at you in an unpleasant way, usually because they dislike you or are jealous of you.
evince / I v I ns/ (evinces , evincing , evinced ) VERB If someone or something evinces a particular feeling or quality, they show that feeling or quality, often indirectly. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The entire production evinces authenticity and a real respect for the subject matter.
evis|cer|ate / I v I səre I t/ (eviscerates , eviscerating , eviscerated )
1 VERB To eviscerate a person or animal means to remove their internal organs, such as their heart, lungs, and stomach. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …strangling and eviscerating rabbits for the pot.
2 VERB If you say that something will eviscerate an organization or system, you are emphasizing that it will make the organization or system much weaker or much less powerful. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ [V n] Democrats say the petition will eviscerate state government.
evo|ca|tion /iː vəke I ʃ ə n, e v-/ (evocations ) N‑VAR An evocation of something involves creating an image or impression of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …a perfect evocation of the period.
evoca|tive / I vɒ kət I v/ ADJ If you describe something as evocative , you mean that it is good or interesting because it produces pleasant memories, ideas, emotions, and responses in people. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Her story is sharply evocative of Italian provincial life. ● evoca|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ …the collection of islands evocatively known as the South Seas.
evoke / I voʊ k/ (evokes , evoking , evoked ) VERB To evoke a particular memory, idea, emotion, or response means to cause it to occur. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …the scene evoking memories of those old movies.
evo|lu|tion /iː vəluː ʃ ə n, e v-/ (evolutions )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Evolution is a process of gradual change that takes place over many generations, during which species of animals, plants, or insects slowly change some of their physical characteristics. □ [+ of ] …the evolution of plants and animals. □ …human evolution.
2 N‑VAR Evolution is a process of gradual development in a particular situation or thing over a period of time. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …a crucial period in the evolution of modern physics.
evo|lu|tion|ary /iː vəluː ʃənri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Evolutionary means relating to a process of gradual change and development. □ …an evolutionary process. □ …a period of evolutionary change.
evo|lu|tion|ist /iː vəluː ʃ ə n I st, e v-/ (evolutionists ) N‑COUNT An evolutionist is someone who accepts the scientific theory that all living things evolved from a few simple life forms.
evolve / I vɒ lv/ (evolves , evolving , evolved )
1 VERB When animals or plants evolve , they gradually change and develop into different forms. □ [V ] The bright plumage of many male birds has evolved to attract females. □ [V + from ] Maize evolved from a wild grass in Mexico. □ [V + into ] …when amphibians evolved into reptiles.
2 VERB If something evolves or you evolve it, it gradually develops over a period of time into something different and usually more advanced. □ [V + into ] …a tiny airline which eventually evolved into Pakistan International Airlines. □ [V + from ] Popular music evolved from folk songs. □ [V ] As medical knowledge evolves, beliefs change. □ [V n] This was when he evolved the working method from which he has never departed.
ewe /juː / (ewes ) N‑COUNT A ewe is an adult female sheep.
ewer /juː ə r / (ewers ) N‑COUNT A ewer is a large jug with a wide opening. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
ex /e ks/ (exes ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's ex is the person they used to be married to or used to have a romantic or sexual relationship with. [INFORMAL ] □ He's different from my ex. □ …one of her exes.
PREFIX ex-
forms words that refer to people who are no longer a particular thing. For example, an ex-police officer is someone who is no longer a police officer.
ex|ac|er|bate / I gzæ sə r be I t/ (exacerbates , exacerbating , exacerbated ) VERB If something exacerbates a problem or bad situation, it makes it worse. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] Longstanding poverty has been exacerbated by racial divisions. ● ex|ac|er|ba|tion / I gzæ sə r be I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the exacerbation of global problems.
ex|act ◆◆◇ / I gzæ kt/ (exacts , exacting , exacted )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Exact means correct in every detail. For example, an exact copy is the same in every detail as the thing it is copied from. □ I don't remember the exact words. □ The exact number of protest calls has not been revealed. □ It's an exact copy of the one which was found in Ann Alice's room. ● ex|act|ly ADV [usu ADV with cl/group, oft ADV after v] □ Try to locate exactly where the smells are entering the room. □ Both drugs will be exactly the same. □ Barton couldn't remember exactly.