n. - (foll. By of) espousing of (a cause etc.).

- archaic marriage, betrothal.

n. (also expresso) (pl. -s) strong black coffee made under steam pressure. [italian, = pressed out]

—n. - approximate judgement, esp. Of cost, value, size, etc.

- statement of approximate charge for work to be undertaken. —v. (-ting) (also absol.) 1 form an estimate or opinion of.

- (foll. By that) make a rough calculation.

- (often foll. By at) form an estimate; adjudge. estimator n. [latin aestimo fix the price of]

—n. - a native or national of estonia in eastern europe. B person of estonian descent.

- language of estonia. —adj. Of estonia, its people, or language.

v. (-ging) 1 (usu. In passive; often foll. By from) alienate; make hostile or indifferent.

- (as estranged adj.) (of a husband or wife) no longer living with his or her spouse. estrangement n. [latin: related to *strange]

n. (brit. Oestrogen) 1 sex hormone developing and maintaining female characteristics of the body.

- this produced artificially for use in medicine. [greek oistros frenzy, *-gen]

n. (pl. -ies) 1 infinite (esp. Future) time.

- endless life after death.

- being eternal.

- colloq. (often prec. By an) a very long time. [latin: related to *eternal]

- ring n. Finger-ring esp. Set with gems all round.

adj. - light, airy.

- highly delicate, esp. In appearance.

- heavenly. ethereally adv. [greek: related to *ether]

n. A hydrocarbon of the alkene series.

v. (-ting) 1 make (a plant) pale by excluding light.

- give a sickly colour to (a person). etiolation n. [latin stipula straw]