Descriptionary

exorbitant adj. (eg ZORB uh tunt) excessive, unrea­sonable. A required twenty-five-percent tip for the wait staff is exorbitant, and I refuse to pay it.

expedient adj. (ek SPEE dee unt) immediately use­ful. If your toilet is overflowing, it would be expedi­ent to use a plunger.

expedite vb. (EK spi DITE) to speed things along or help to speed things along. My real estate agent said he would expedite matters by delivering the docu­ment himself.

explicit adj. (eks PLIS it) clearly and unambigu­ously expressed. The movie was restricted to minors because of its explicit sex and violence.

exploit vb. (ek SPLOYT) to make use of or take advantage of. I want an agent who will exploit every opportunity to the fullest.

expound vb. (eks POUND) to explain in detail. The

astronomer liked to visit schools and expound on the universe to students.

extol vb. (eks TOHL) to praise; to laud. The coach liked to extol the virtues of his team, even when they had a losing season.

extortion n. (ex TOR shun) the forcing of one to pay money by means of intimidation, blackmail, or other illegal means. The gang member was convicted of extortion after threatening to burn down the home of anyone who refused to give him money.

extraneous adj. (ek STRAY nee us) unnecessary; superfluous. The key to powerful writing is to cut all extraneous words.

extrapolate vb. (ek STRAP uh layt) to make assump­tions or draw conclusions from what is known. With the universe populated with millions of worlds, sci­entists extrapolate that aliens not only may exist but may be common.

extrovert adj. (EKS truh vurt) one who is sociable and outgoing. An introvert often prefers her own company, but an extrovert more often seeks out company.

exultant adj. (eg ZULT unt) jubilant. The employ­ees were absolutely exultant over their raises.

facade n. (fuh SAHD) a front or mask; that which covers up something. He acted perfectly happy when he was told he wouldn't get a bonus, but I think that was only a facade.

facetious adj. (fah SEE shus) tongue-in-cheek; in a joking manner. She thought I was serious when I said I was going to run for president, but I was just being facetious.

facilitate vb. (fuh SIL uh tayt) to make easier; to simplify. The facilitate mailing, please include your zip code.

faction n. (FAK shun) a group with a common bond that has split off from a larger group. A right-wing faction claimed responsibility for the bombing.

fait accompli n. (FAY tuh kom PLEE) an irrevo­cable or irreversible act or deed. Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor was the fait accompli that pulled America into World War II.