ec-

I. prefix

Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin, from Greek ek, from ex — more at ex-

: out of : outside of : outside

eccyesis

II. combining form or eco- also oec- or oeco- or oiko-

Etymology: earlier also yco-, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French yco-, from Late Latin oeco-, oiko-, from Greek oik-, oiko-, from oikos house, habitation — more at vicinity

1.

a. : household

economy

b. : economic and

eco-cultural

2. : habitat or environment especially as a factor significantly influencing the mode of life or the course of development

ecospecies

ecosystem

ecad

III. combining form or eco-

: ecological or environmental

ecocatastrophe

* * *

var. of ex-³ before a consonant: eccentric.

* * *

ec-,

prefix. the form of ex-² (Cf. ↑ex-) before consonants, as in »

eccentric, eclectic, ecstasy.

EC (no periods),

1. Eastern Caribbean: »

EC$3 million.

2. European Community: »

The EC expects to be one of the largest consumers of nuclear fuel by the year 2000 (Kenneth Brown).

E.C.,

East Central (a postal district in London).