<B>encephal-,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) the form of <B>encephalo-</B> before vowels, as in <I>encephalic.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="encephalic">
<B>encephalic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with the brain. <DD><B> 2. </B>situated in the head or within the cranial cavity. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalitic">
<B>encephalitic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>having to do with or like encephalitis. <BR> <I>Ex. encephalitic symptoms.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>having encephalitis. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalitides">
<B>encephalitides, </B>noun, pl. <B>-tides.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> inflammation of the brain caused by injury, infection, poison, or other agent. Sleeping sickness is one kind of encephalitis. </DL>
<B>encephalitogen, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a virus or other agent that causes or tends to cause encephalitis. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalitogenic">
<B>encephalitogenic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> that causes or tends to cause encephalitis. <BR> <I>Ex. an encephalitogenic protein, encephalitogenic activity.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="encephalo">
<B>encephalo-,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) the brain. <BR> <I>Ex. Encephalomalacia = a softening of the brain.</I> <DL COMPACT><DD> Also, <B>encephal-</B> before vowels. </DL>
</DL>
<A NAME="encephalocele">
<B>encephalocele, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> protrusion of a portion of the brain through the cranium; a hernia of the brain. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalogram">
<B>encephalogram, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an X-ray photograph of the brain, after the cerebrospinal fluid has been drained off and replaced especially by air. </DL>
<B>encephalographic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with encephalography. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalography">
<B>encephalography, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the science or technique of making encephalograms. </DL>
<A NAME="encephaloid">
<B>encephaloid, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> resembling brain matter. <BR> <I>Ex. Encephaloid cancer is a soft, rapidly growing, malignant form of cancer, in which the diseased tissues resemble the cells of the brain.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="encephalolith">
<B>encephalolith, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a concretion in the brain. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalology">
<B>encephalology, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a description of the brain. <DD><B> 2. </B>the science of the brain. </DL>
<A NAME="encephaloma">
<B>encephaloma, </B>noun, pl. <B>-mata,</B> <B>-mas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a brain tumor. <DD><B> 2. </B>a hernia of the brain. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalomalacia">
<B>encephalomalacia, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a condition characterized by softening of the brain. <DD><B> 2. </B>a disease causing lesions of the brain in young poultry, caused by a deficiency of vitamin E in the diet. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalomeningocele">
<B>encephalomeningocele, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a protrusion through a fissure in the skull of brain substance with the attached membranes. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalomere">
<B>encephalomere, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an encephalic segment; one of the series of parts into which the embryonic brain is naturally divisible. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalomyelitis">
<B>encephalomyelitis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> inflammation of the tissues of the central nervous system, a disease of people, horses, other domestic animals, and birds. <BR> <I>Ex. Epidemiologists object even to a killed vaccine of this kind because it may bring on allergic encephalomyelitis, which is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="encephalomyocarditis">
<B>encephalomyocarditis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> inflammation of the brain and the heart muscle, a disease of children caused by any one of several viruses related to poliovirus. (Abbr:) EMC (no periods). </DL>
<A NAME="encephalon">
<B>encephalon, </B>noun, pl. <B>-la.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the brain of a vertebrate. </DL>
<A NAME="encephalopathy">
<B>encephalopathy, </B>noun, pl. <B>-thies.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any disease of the brain. <BR> <I>Ex. Encephalopathy is commonest in children between 15 and 30 months of age (Scientific American).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="encephalous">
<B>encephalous, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having a distinct head, as mollusks do. </DL>
<B>enchain, </B>transitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to fasten with a chain; put in chains; fetter; restrain. (SYN) shackle. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to attract and fix firmly; hold fast (attention or emotions). <BR> <I>Ex. The speaker's earnestness enchained the attention of his audience.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="enchainement">
<B>enchainement, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) a sequence of ballet steps that form a complete movement. </DL>
<A NAME="enchainment">
<B>enchainment, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the action of enchaining or state of being enchained. </DL>
<A NAME="enchannel">
<B>enchannel, </B>transitive verb, <B>-neled,</B> <B>-neling</B> or (especially British) <B>-nelled,</B> <B>-nelling.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to confine within its proper channel. </DL>
<A NAME="enchant">
<B>enchant, </B>transitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to use magic on; put under a spell; bewitch. <BR> <I>Ex. The witch had enchanted the princess so that she slept for a month.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to delight greatly; charm. <BR> <I>Ex. The music enchanted us all. Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear (Shakespeare).</I> (SYN) fascinate, captivate, enrapture. <DD><B> 3. </B>to give a magical quality or effect to. <BR> <I>Ex. The sorceress enchanted the potion she gave him, so that he fell asleep.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Obsolete.) to delude; fool. </DL>
<A NAME="enchanter">
<B>enchanter, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who enchants; magician. </DL>
<A NAME="enchantersnightshade">
<B>enchanter's nightshade,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a group of low, white-flowered herbs of the evening primrose family, found in shady woods. </DL>
<A NAME="enchanting">
<B>enchanting, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>that puts under a spell; bewitching. <BR> <I>Ex. The enchanting words were ended; the spell was complete.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) very delightful; charming. <BR> <I>Ex. an enchanting child.</I> adv. <B>enchantingly.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="enchantment">
<B>enchantment, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the use of magic spells. <BR> <I>Ex. In "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy finds herself at home again by the enchantment of the Good Witch.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the condition of being put under a magic spell. <DD><B> 3. </B>a magic spell or charm. <BR> <I>Ex. In the Greek story, Circe turned men into pigs by her enchantments.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Figurative.) delight; rapture. <DD><B> 5. </B>(Figurative.) something that delights or charms; great delight; charm. <BR> <I>Ex. We felt the enchantment of the moonlight on the lake.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="enchantress">
<B>enchantress, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a woman who practices magic; witch. <BR> <I>Ex. Circe was an enchantress who changed Ulysses' men into swine.</I> (SYN) sorceress. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a very delightful, charming woman. </DL>
<A NAME="enchase">
<B>enchase, </B>transitive verb, <B>-chased,</B> <B>-chasing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to place in a setting; mount; frame. <DD><B> 2. </B>to ornament with engraved or embossed designs; decorate with gems or inlay. <BR> <I>Ex. The shield was enchased with gold and silver.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to engrave (figures) on a surface. <BR> <I>Ex. His initials were enchased on the back of the watch.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="enchilada">
<B>enchilada, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Southwestern U.S.) a tortilla rolled around a filling of meat, cheese, peppers, etc., served with a peppery sauce. <BR> <I>Ex. Some Northerners never learn to like hush-puppies, grits and gravy, or chili and enchiladas (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="enchiridion">
<B>enchiridion, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> handbook or manual. </DL>
<A NAME="enchondroma">
<B>enchondroma, </B>noun, pl. <B>-mata,</B> <B>-mas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a tumor that consists chiefly of cartilage. </DL>
<A NAME="enchondromatous">
<B>enchondromatous, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with enchondroma. </DL>
<A NAME="enchondrosis">
<B>enchondrosis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an enchondroma rising from cartilage. </DL>
<A NAME="enchorial">
<B>enchorial, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>belonging to or used in a particular country; native; domestic. <DD><B> 2. </B>of or having to do with the demotic writing of the ancient Egyptians. </DL>
<B>encina, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the California live oak that has a hard, heavy wood. <BR> <I>Ex. They were taken with the live oak--the encinas--which abounds over the California hills, and named a place Encinas (Alistair Cooke).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="encinal">
<B>encinal, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with the encina. </DL>
<A NAME="encincture">
<B>encincture, </B>verb, <B>-tured,</B> <B>-turing,</B> noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> to surround with or as if with a belt; encircle; girdle. <DD><I>noun </I> an encircling; enclosure. </DL>
<A NAME="encipher">
<B>encipher, </B>transitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> to put (a message) into cipher. </DL>
<A NAME="encipherment">
<B>encipherment, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the act of enciphering. <DD><B> 2. </B>the state of being enciphered. <BR> <I>Ex. We do not, in fact, know ... when the manuscript was written, or where, or what language lies at the basis of the encipherment (Richard D. Altick).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="encircle">
<B>encircle, </B>transitive verb, <B>-cled,</B> <B>-cling.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to form a circle around; surround. <BR> <I>Ex. Trees encircled the pond.</I> (SYN) encompass, gird. <DD><B> 2. </B>to go in a circle around. <BR> <I>Ex. The moon encircles the earth.</I> </DL>