egalitarian, elusive, entrenched, erratic, extempore: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 165. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. egalitarian · adjective/ɪˌɡælɪˈtɛriən/

   favoring social equality and equal rights for all people

   The community's egalitarian values ensured that everyone had a voice in the decision-making process.

   Synonyms: equal, equitable, fair

   Origin: The word 'egalitarian' originates from the French 'égalitaire', which in turn comes from 'égal' meaning 'equal', derived from the Latin 'aequalis' meaning 'equal'

2. elusive · adjective/ɪˈluːsɪv/

   difficult to find, catch, or achieve

   Despite years of research, the scientists found it challenging to study the elusive species that lives deep in the rainforest.

   Synonyms: evasive, fleeting, ambiguous

   Origin: from Latin 'elusivus', from 'eludere' meaning 'to evade'.

3. entrenched · adjective/ɪnˈtrɛnʧt/

   firmly established and difficult to change

   The company's entrenched practices made it difficult to implement the necessary changes to improve efficiency.

   Synonyms: established, ingrained

   Origin: derived from the verb 'entrench', which comes from the Old French 'entrenchier', meaning to 'dig in' or 'to set in'.

4. erratic · adjective/ɪˈrætɪk/

   irregular or unpredictable in behavior or movement

   The erratic behavior of the stock market has made investors wary of making new investments.

   Synonyms: inconsistent, unstable, unpredictable

   Origin: from Latin 'erraticus', meaning 'wandering' or 'straying'

5. extempore · adjective/ɛkˈstɛmpəˌri/

   done without planning or preparation

   He delivered an extempore speech at the conference, impressing everyone with his ability to articulate complex ideas on the spot.

   Synonyms: extemporaneous, impromptu, spontaneous

   Origin: Latin 'ex tempore', meaning 'out of time' or 'at the moment'