of Greek origin. The Gr. ἐξ out of, etymologically = L. ex- (see prec.) occurs only before vowels, as in the words adopted into Eng. in the forms exanthema, exarch, exegesis, exodus, exorcize, etc. Before consonants it is replaced by the related and synonymous form ἐκ-, which becomes ec- in Latin, and hence in the Eng. derivatives, as ecbasis, eccentric, eclipse, ecstasy, etc.
