The 4 letter words with definitions, separated alphabetically.
Now updated for CSW24. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.
| each | Being one of two or more distinct individuals. |
| eale | (Shakesp.) evil > EALES. |
| eans | (3rd.) EAN, to bring forth young. |
| eard | (Scots) earth; (verb) to bury > EARDS, EARDING, EARDED. Also YIRD, YEARD, YIRTH. |
| earl | A rank above viscount, below marquis > EARLS. |
| earn | To gain or deserve for one's labor or service > EARNS, EARNING, EARNED. |
| ears | (3rd.) EAR, to produce corn ears. |
| ease | To give rest or relief to > EASES, EASING, EASED. |
| east | (Verb, archaic) to move or turn east > EASTS, EASTING, EASTED. |
| easy | Not difficult > EASIER, EASIEST; EASILY; (noun) a communication code word for the letter E; (verb) to stop rowing > EASIES, EASYING, EASIED. |
| eath | (Obs.) easy. Also EATHE, ETHE. |
| eats | (3rd.) EAT, to consume by mouth. |
| eaus | (Pl.) EAU, water. |
| eaux | (Pl.) EAU, water. |
| eave | The lower edge of a roof > EAVES. |
| ebbs | (3rd.) EBB, to move back from the land. |
| ebon | Ebony > EBONS. |
| ecad | A plant assumed to have adapted to its environment > ECADS. |
| ecce | (Ital.) behold, here is. Also ECCO. |
| ecco | (Ital.) behold, here is. Also ECCE. |
| eche | (Obs.) to eke > ECHES, ECHING, ECHED. Also ECH, EECH, EIK, EKE, ICH. |
| echo | A reflected sound > ECHOES; (verb) to reflect sound > ECHOS, ECHOING, ECHOED. |
| echt | (Ger.) genuine, authentic. |
| ecod | (Arch.) a mild oath. Also EGAD, EGADS, IGAD. |
| ecos | (Pl.) ECO, ecology. |
| ecru | (Fr.) (having) the color or appearance of unbleached stuff, as silk, linen, or the like > ECRUS. |
| ecus | (Pl.) ECU, the European monetary unit. |
| eddo | A kind of yam, aka TARO, DASHEEN > EDDOES. |
| eddy | To move against the main current > EDDIES, EDDYING, EDDIED. |
| edge | To provide with an edge (a bounding or dividing line) > EDGES, EDGING, EDGED. |
| edgy | Nervous > EDGIER, EDGIEST; EDGILY. |
| edhs | (Pl.) EDH, a Hebrew letter. |
| edit | To correct and prepare for publication > EDITS, EDITING, EDITED. |
| eech | (Obs.) to eke > EECHES, EECHING, EECHED. Also ECH, ECHE, EIK, EKE, ICH. |
| eeew | an interjection used to express disgust. |
| eels | (Pl.) EEL, any of various fishes with long smooth cylindrical or ribbon-shaped bodies. |
| eely | Like an eel > EELIER, EELIEST. |
| eery | Weird > EERIER, EERIEST; EERILY. Also EERIE. |
| eevn | (Milton) evening > EEVNS. Also EEVEN, EEVNING. |
| effs | (3rd.) EFF, euphemism for fuck. |
| efts | (Pl.) EFT, a newt. |
| egad | (Arch.) a mild oath. Also ECOD, EGADS, IGAD. |
| egal | (Shakesp.) equal. 'Whose souls do bear an egal yoke of love'. |
| eger | A bore or sudden rise of the tide > EGERS. Also EAGER, EAGRE. |
| eggs | (3rd.) EGG, to add eggs to. |
| eggy | Like an egg, tasting of egg > EGGIER, EGGIEST. |
| egis | (Greek) protection, defense; patronage, sponsorship > EGISES. Also AEGIS. |
| egma | (Shakesp.) an enigma > EGMAS. |
| egos | (Pl.) EGO, the "I" or self. |
| ehed | (Pt.) EH, to say 'eh'. |
| eide | (Pl.) EIDOS, an essence. |
| eiks | (3rd.) EIK, to eke. |
| eild | Old age > EILDS. Also ELD. |
| eina | (Afrikaans) expressing sudden pain. |
| eine | (Obs.) eyes. Also EYNE, EYEN. |
| eish | (S. Afr.) expressing surprise, dismay. |
| eked | (Pt.) EKE, to add. |
| ekes | (3rd.) EKE, to add. |
| ekka | (Hindi) a small one-horse carriage > EKKAS. |
| elan | (Fr.) ardor inspired by passion or enthusiasm > ELANS. |
| elds | (Pl.) ELD, old age. |
| elfs | (3rd.) ELF, to tangle hair. |
| elhi | (US) pertaining to school grades 1 to 12. This is an adjective > no -S. |
| elks | (Pl.) ELK, a large deer found in Canada. |
| ells | (Pl.) ELL, an old measure of length equal to 45 inches. |
| elms | (Pl.) ELM, a tree of genus Ulmus. |
| elmy | Full of elm trees > ELMIER, ELMIEST. |
| else | In a different place, time, or way. |
| elts | (Pl.) ELT, a young sow. |
| emes | (Pl.) EME, obs. for uncle. |
| emeu | An emu > EMEUS. |
| emic | Relating to a type of linguistic analysis. |
| emir | (Arabic) an Eastern ruler > EMIRS. Also EMEER, AMIR, AMEER. |
| emit | To send forth > EMITS, EMITTING, EMITTED. |
| emma | Formerly, a signaller's name for the letter M > EMMAS. |
| emmy | A gold plated statuette awarded annually for television > EMMYS. |
| emos | (Pl.) EMO, a type of music combining traditional rock with emotional lyrics. |
| empt | (Dial.) to empty > EMPTS, EMPTING, EMPTED. |
| emus | (Pl.) EMU, a flightless bird. |
| emyd | A genus of freshwater terrapin > EMYDS. Also EMYDE, EMYS. |
| emys | A genus of freshwater terrapin > EMYDES. Also EMYD, EMYDE. |
| ends | (3rd.) END, to finish or close. |
| enes | (Pl.) ENE, evening. |
| enew | In falconry, to drive or plunge into water > ENEWS, ENEWING, ENEWED. [OF. en + eau]. |
| engs | (Pl.) ENG, a phonetic symbol representing the sound ng. |
| enol | A chemical compound > ENOLS. |
| enow | (Obs.) enough. |
| ents | (Coll.) entertainments. |
| enuf | (Coll.) enough. |
| envy | To be envious of > ENVIES, ENVYING, ENVIED. |
| eoan | Of or pertaining to the dawn. |
| eons | (Pl.) EON, a long time. |
| eorl | (Obs.) an earl > EORLS. |
| epee | (Fr.) a sword similar to the foil but with a larger guard and a heavier blade of triangular cross section > EPEES. |
| epha | (Hebrew) a Hebrew dry measure of about 23 litres > EPHAS. Also EPHAH. |
| epic | A long narrative poem > EPICS. |
| epos | (Greek) an epic poem > EPOSES. |
| eras | (Pl.) ERA, a main division of geological time. |
| ered | (Pt.) ERE, to plough. |
| eres | (3rd.) ERE, to plough. |
| erev | (Hebrew) the day before > EREVS. |
| ergo | (Lat.) therefore; hence; (noun) an ergometer > ERGOS. |
| ergs | (Pl.) ERG, a unit of work measuring force of one dyne applied over one centimeter. |
| erhu | a Chinese two-stringed musical instrument, played with a bow. |
| eric | (Irish) a blood-fine paid by a murderer in old Irish law > ERICS. Also ERICK, ERIACH. |
| erks | (Pl.) ERK, an aircraftman. |
| erne | The sea-eagle > ERNES. |
| erns | (3rd.) ERN, to earn. |
| eros | (Greek) the sum of the self-preservative, as opposed to self-destructive, instincts > EROSES. |
| errs | (3rd.) ERR, to make a mistake. |
| erst | Before, formerly. Also EARST. |
| eruv | (Hebrew) an area, circumscribed by a symbolic line, within which certain activities forbidden to Orthodox Jews on the Sabbath are permitted > ERUVS, ERUVIM or ERUVIN. |
| eses | (Pl.) ES, the letter S. |
| esky | A portable insulated container for keeping drinks cool > ESKIES. |
| esne | (OE) a domestic slave in Old English times > ESNES. |
| espy | To catch sight of > ESPIES, ESPYING, ESPIED. |
| esse | (Lat.) actual existence, essence > ESSES. [L. esse, to be]. |
| ests | (Pl.) EST, a programme designed to develop human potential. |
| etas | (Pl.) ETA, a letter in the Greek alphabet. |
| etat | (Fr.) the staff of an army, including all officers above the rank of colonel > ETATS. |
| etch | To engrave with acid > ETCHES, ETCHING, ETCHED. |
| eten | A giant > ETENS. Also ETTIN. |
| ethe | (Obs.) easy. Also EATH, EATHE. |
| eths | (Pl.) ETH, a Hebrew letter. |
| etic | Relating to a type of linguistic analysis. |
| etna | A vessel for heating liquids > ETNAS. |
| etui | (Fr.) a small ornamental case for holding e.g. needles > ETUIS. Also ETWEE. |
| euge | (Greek) an interjection meaning well done. |
| eugh | (Spenser) a yew > EUGHS. |
| euks | (3rd.) EUK, to itch. |
| euoi | (Greek) a cry expressing Bacchic frenzy. Also EVOHE, EVHOE, EVOE. |
| euro | 1. (Aborig.) a WALLAROO, any of several large types of kangaroo > EUROS. |
| even | Level, smooth > EVENER, EVENEST; EVENLY; (verb) to make even > EVENS, EVENING, EVENED. |
| ever | At all times. |
| eves | (Pl.) EVE, evening. |
| evet | A newt > EVETS. Also EFT. |
| evil | Bad > EVILER or EVILLER, EVILEST or EVILLEST; EVILLY; (noun) something bad > EVILS. |
| evoe | (Greek) a cry expressing Bacchic frenzy. Also EVOHE, EVHOE, EUOI. |
| evos | (Pl.) EVO, evening. |
| ewer | A jug with a wide mouth, esp. a water-jug of the kind formerly used in bedrooms > EWERS. |
| ewes | (Pl.) EWE, a female sheep. |
| ewks | (3rd.) EWK, to itch. |
| ewts | (Pl.) EWT, a newt. |
| exam | An examination > EXAMS. |
| exec | (Abbr.) executive > EXECS. |
| exed | (Pt.) EX, to cross out or delete. |
| exes | (Pl.) EX, the letter X; someone no longer in a previous relationship. |
| exit | To go out > EXITS, EXITING, EXITED. |
| exon | Any segment of a gene which consists of CODONS > EXONS. Cf. INTRON. |
| expo | An exhibition or public showing > EXPOS. |
| exul | (Spenser) exile > EXULS. |
| eyas | A young hawk taken from the nest for training > EYASES. Also NYAS, EYASS. |
| eyed | (Pt.) EYE, to look at carefully. |
| eyen | (Obs.) eyes. Also EYNE, EINE. |
| eyer | One who eyes > EYERS. |
| eyes | (3rd.) EYE, to look at carefully. |
| eyne | (Obs.) eyes. Also EYEN, EINE. |
| eyot | A small island in a river > EYOTS. |
| eyra | (Guarani) a S. American wild cat, aka JAGUARUNDI, JAGUARONDI > EYRAS. |
| eyre | A journey in circuit of certain judges called justices in eyre > EYRES. |
| eyry | A bird of prey's nest > EYRIES. Also AERIE, AIERY, AERY, AYRIE, EYRIE. |