Synonyms:

achieve, attain, gain, procure, secure,

acquire, earn, obtain, receive, win.

_Get_ is a most comprehensive word. A person _gets_ whatever he comes to

possess or experience, whether with or without endeavor, expectation, or

desire; he _gets_ a bargain, a blow, a fall, a fever; he _gains_ what he

comes to by effort or striving; the swimmer _gains_ the shore; a man

_acquires_ by continuous and ordinarily by slow process; as, one

_acquires_ a foreign language. A person is sometimes said to _gain_ and

often to _acquire_ what has not been an object of direct endeavor; in

the pursuits of trade, he incidentally _gains_ some knowledge of foreign

countries; he _acquires_ by association with others a correct or

incorrect accent; he _acquires_ a bronzed complexion by exposure to a

tropical sun; in such use, what he _gains_ is viewed as desirable, what

he _acquires_ as slowly and gradually resulting. A person _earns_ what

he gives an equivalent of labor for, tho he may not _get_ it. On the

other hand, he may _get_ what he has not _earned_; the temptation to

all dishonesty is the desire to _get_ a living or a fortune without

_earning_ it. When one _gets_ the object of his desire, he is said to

_obtain_ it, whether he has _gained_ or _earned_ it or not. _Win_

denotes contest, with a suggestion of chance or hazard; in popular

language, a person is often said to _win_ a lawsuit, or to _win_ in a

suit at law, but in legal phrase he is said to _gain_ his suit, case, or

cause. In _receiving_, one is strictly passive; he may _get_ an estate

by his own exertions or by inheritance; in the latter case he is said to

_receive_ it. One _obtains_ a thing commonly by some direct effort of

his own; he _procures_ it commonly by the intervention of some one else;

he _procures_ a dinner or an interview; he _secures_ what has seemed

uncertain or elusive, when he _gets_ it firmly into his possession or

under his control. Compare synonyms for ATTAIN; MAKE; REACH.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for ABANDON.

* * * * *

GIFT.

Synonyms:

benefaction, boon, bribe, grant, largess,

bequest, bounty, donation, gratuity, present.

A _gift_ is in the popular, and also in the legal sense that which is

voluntarily bestowed without expectation of return or compensation.

_Gift_ is now almost always used in the good sense, _bribe_ always in

the evil sense to signify payment for a dishonorable service under the

semblance of a _gift_. In Scriptural language _gift_ is often used for

_bribe_. "The king by judgment establisheth the land; but he that

receiveth _gifts_ overthroweth it." _Prov._ xxix, 4. A _benefaction_ is

a charitable _gift_, generally of large amount, and viewed as of

enduring value, as an endowment for a college. A _donation_ is

something, perhaps of great, never of trivial value, given usually on

some public ground, as to a cause or to a person representing a cause,

but not necessarily of value beyond the immediate present; as, a

_donation_ to a pastor. A _gratuity_ is usually something of moderate

value and is always given as to an inferior, and as of favor, not of

right; as, a _gratuity_ to a waiter. _Largess_ is archaic for a

bountiful _gratuity_, usually to be distributed among many, as among the

heralds at ancient tournaments. A _present_ is a _gift_ of friendship,

or conciliation, and given as to an equal or a superior; no one's pride

is hurt by accepting what is viewed as strictly a _present_. A _boon_ is

a _gift_ that has been desired or craved or perhaps asked, or something

freely given that meets some great desire. A _grant_ is commonly

considerable in amount and given by public authority; as, a _grant_ of

public lands for a college.

Antonyms:

compensation, earnings, guerdon, penalty, remuneration, wages.

* * * * *

GIVE.

Synonyms:

bestow, communicate, deliver, grant, supply.

cede, confer, furnish, impart,

To _give_ is primarily to transfer to another's possession or ownership

without compensation; in its secondary sense in popular use, it is to

put into another's possession by any means and on any terms whatever; a

buyer may say "_Give_ me the goods, and I will _give_ you the money;" we

speak of _giving_ answers, information, etc., and often of _giving_ what

is not agreeable to the recipient, as blows, medicine, reproof; but when

there is nothing in the context to indicate the contrary, _give_ is

always understood in its primary sense; as, this book was _given_ me.

_Give_ thus becomes, like _get_, a term of such general import as to be

a synonym for a wide variety of words. To _grant_ is to put into one's

possession in some formal way, or by authoritative act; as, Congress

_grants_ lands to a railroad corporation. To speak of _granting_ a favor

carries a claim or concession of superiority on the part of the one by

whom the _grant_ may be made; to _confer_ has a similar sense; as, to

_confer_ a degree or an honor; we _grant_ a request or petition, but do

not _confer_ it. To _impart_ is to _give_ of that which one still, to a

greater or less degree, retains; the teacher _imparts_ instruction. To

_bestow_ is to _give_ that of which the receiver stands in especial

need; we _bestow_ alms.

Prepositions:

We give money _to_ a person _for_ a thing, _for_ a purpose, etc. (or

without proposition, _give_ a person a sum of money); we give a thing

_to_ or _into_ one's care or keeping; the weary fugitive gave himself up

_to_ his pursuers.

* * * * *

GOVERN.

Synonyms:

command, curb, influence, mold, reign over, rule,

control, direct, manage, reign, restrain, sway.

_Govern_ carries the idea of authoritative administration or some

exercise of authority that is at once effective and continuous;

_control_ is effective, but may be momentary or occasional. One

_controls_ what he holds or can hold at will absolutely in check; as, a

skilful horseman _controls_ a spirited horse; a person _controls_ his

temper; we say to one who is excited, "_control_ yourself." A person

_commands_ another when he has, or claims, the right to make that other

do his will, with power of inflicting penalty if not obeyed; he

_controls_ another whom he can effectually prevent from doing anything

contrary to his will; he _governs_ one whom he actually does cause,

regularly or constantly, to obey his will; a parent may _command_ a

child whom he can not _govern_ or _control_. The best teachers are not

greatly prone to _command_, but _govern_ or _control_ their pupils

largely by other means. _Command_ is, however, often used in the sense

of securing, as well as requiring, submission or obedience, as when we

speak of a _commanding_ influence; a man _commands_ the situation when

he can shape events as he pleases; a fortress _commands_ the region when

no enemy can pass against its resistance. _Govern_ implies the exercise

of knowledge and judgment as well as power. To _rule_ is more absolute

and autocratic than to _govern_; to _sway_ is to move by quiet but

effectual influence; to _mold_ is not only to influence feeling and

action, but to shape character; to _manage_ is to secure by skilful

contrivance the doing of one's will by those whom one can not directly

_control_; a wise mother, by gentle means, _sways_ the feelings and

_molds_ the lives of her children; to be able to _manage_ servants is an

important element of good housekeeping. The word _reign_, once so

absolute, now simply denotes that one holds the official station of

sovereign in a monarchy, with or without effective power; the Queen of

England _reigns_; the Czar of Russia both _reigns_ and _rules_.

Antonyms:

be in subjection, be subject, comply, obey, submit, yield.

* * * * *

GRACEFUL.

Synonym:

beautiful.

That which is _graceful_ is marked by elegance and harmony, with ease of

action, attitude, or posture, or delicacy of form. _Graceful_ commonly

suggests motion or the possibility of motion; _beautiful_ may apply to

absolute fixity; a landscape or a blue sky is _beautiful_, but neither

is _graceful_. _Graceful_ commonly applies to beauty as addressed to

the eye, tho we often speak of a _graceful_ poem or a _graceful_

compliment. _Graceful_ applies to the perfection of motion, especially

of the lighter motions, which convey no suggestion of stress or strain,

and are in harmonious curves. Apart from the thought of motion,

_graceful_ denotes a pleasing harmony of outline, proportion, etc., with

a certain degree of delicacy; a Hercules is massive, an Apollo is

_graceful_. We speak of a _graceful_ attitude, _graceful_ drapery.

Compare BEAUTIFUL; BECOMING.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for AWKWARD.

* * * * *

GRIEF.

Synonyms:

affliction, melancholy, regret, sorrow, trouble,

distress, mourning, sadness, tribulation, wo.

_Grief_ is acute mental pain resulting from loss, misfortune, or deep

disappointment. _Grief_ is more acute and less enduring than _sorrow_.

_Sorrow_ and _grief_ are for definite cause; _sadness_ and _melancholy_

may arise from a vague sense of want or loss, from a low state of

health, or other ill-defined cause; _sadness_ may be momentary;

_melancholy_ is more enduring, and may become chronic. _Affliction_

expresses a deep heart-sorrow and is applied also to the misfortune

producing such _sorrow_; _mourning_ most frequently denotes sorrow

publicly expressed, or the public expression of such _sorrow_ as may

reasonably be expected; as, it is common to observe thirty days of

_mourning_ on the death of an officer of state.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for HAPPINESS.

Prepositions:

Grief _at_ a loss; _for_ a friend.

* * * * *

HABIT.

Synonyms:

custom, habitude, routine, system, use,

fashion, practise, rule, usage, wont.

_Habit_ is a tendency or inclination toward an action or condition,

which by repetition has become easy, spontaneous, or even unconscious,

or an action or regular series of actions, or a condition so induced.

_Custom_ is the uniform doing of the same act in the same circumstance

for a definite reason; _routine_ is the doing of customary acts in a

regular and uniform sequence and is more mechanical than _custom_. It is

the _custom_ of tradesmen to open at a uniform hour, and to follow a

regular _routine_ of business until closing-time. _Habit_ always

includes an involuntary tendency, natural or acquired, greatly

strengthened by frequent repetition of the act, and may be

uncontrollable, or even unconscious. _Habitude_ is habitual relation or

association. _Custom_ is chiefly used of the action of many; _habit_ of

the action of one; we speak of the _customs_ of society, the _habits_ of

an individual. _Fashion_ is the generally recognized _custom_ in the

smaller matters, especially in dress. A _rule_ is prescribed either by

some external authority or by one's own will; as, it is the _rule_ of

the house; or, I make it my invariable _rule_. _System_ is the

coordination of many acts or things into a unity, and is more and better

than _routine_. _Use_ and _usage_ denote the manner of using something;

we speak of one person's _use_ of language, but of the _usage_ of many;

a _use_ or _usage_ is almost always a _habit_. _Practise_ is the active

doing of something in a systematic way; we do not speak of the

_practise_, but of the _habit_ of going to sleep; we speak of a

tradesman's _custom_, a lawyer's or a physician's _practise_.

Educationally, _practise_ is the voluntary and persistent attempt to

make skill a _habit_; as, _practise_ in penmanship. _Wont_ is blind and

instinctive _habit_ like that which attaches an animal to a locality:

the word is now almost wholly poetic. Compare DRESS.

* * * * *

HAPPEN.

Synonyms:

bechance, chance, fall out, supervene,

befall, come to pass, occur, take place.

betide, fall,

A thing is said to _happen_ when no design is manifest, or none

especially thought of; it is said to _chance_ when it appears to be the

result of accident (compare synonyms for ACCIDENT). An incident

_happens_ or _occurs_; something external or actual _happens_ to one; a

thought or fancy _occurs_ to him. _Befall_ and _betide_ are transitive;

_happen_ is intransitive; something _befalls_ or _betides_ a person or

_happens_ to him. _Betide_ is especially used for anticipated evil,

thought of as waiting and coming at its appointed time; as, wo _betide_

him! One event _supervenes_ upon another event, one disease upon

another, etc. ["Transpire," in the sense of _happen_, is not authorized

by good usage: a thing that has _happened_ is properly said to

_transpire_ when it becomes known.]

Prepositions:

An event happens _to_ a person; a person happens _on_ or _upon_ a fact,

discovery, etc.

* * * * *

HAPPINESS.

Synonyms:

blessedness, delight, gladness, pleasure,

bliss, ecstasy, gratification, rapture,

cheer, enjoyment, joy, rejoicing,

comfort, felicity, merriment, satisfaction,

contentment, gaiety, mirth, triumph.

_Gratification_ is the giving any mental or physical desire something

that it craves; _satisfaction_ is the giving such a desire all that it

craves. _Happiness_ is the positively agreeable experience that springs

from the possession of good, the _gratification_ or _satisfaction_ of

the desires or the relief from pain and evil. _Comfort_ may be almost

wholly negative, being found in security or relief from that which pains

or annoys; there is _comfort_ by a warm fireside on a wintry night; the

sympathy of a true friend affords _comfort_ in sorrow. _Enjoyment_ is

more positive, always implying something to be definitely and

consciously delighted in; a sick person finds _comfort_ in relief from

pain, while he may be far from a state of _enjoyment_. _Pleasure_ is

still more vivid, being an arousing of the faculties to an intensely

agreeable activity; _satisfaction_ is more tranquil than _pleasure_,

being the agreeable consciousness of having all that our faculties

demand or crave; when a worthy _pleasure_ is past, a worthy

_satisfaction_ remains. As referring to a mental state, _gratification_

is used to denote a mild form of _happiness_ resulting from some

incident not of very great importance; _satisfaction_ should properly

express a _happiness_ deeper, more complete, and more abiding; but as

intellect or sensibilities of a low order may find _satisfaction_ in

that which is very poor or unworthy, the word has come to be feeble and

tame in ordinary use. _Happiness_ is more positive than _comfort_,

_enjoyment_, or _satisfaction_, more serene and rational than

_pleasure_; _pleasure_ is of necessity transient; _happiness_ is

abiding, and may be eternal; thus, we speak of _pleasures_, but the

plural of _happiness_ is scarcely used. _Happiness_, in the full sense,

is mental or spiritual or both, and is viewed as resulting from some

worthy _gratification_ or _satisfaction_; we may speak of a brute as

experiencing _comfort_ or _pleasure_, but scarcely as in possession of

_happiness_; we speak of vicious _pleasure_, _delight_, or _joy_, but

not of vicious _happiness_. _Felicity_ is a philosophical term, colder

and more formal than _happiness_. _Gladness_ is _happiness_ that

overflows, expressing itself in countenance, voice, manner, and action.

_Joy_ is more intense than _happiness_, deeper than _gladness_, to which

it is akin, nobler and more enduring than _pleasure_. _Gaiety_ is more

superficial than _joy_, more demonstrative than _gladness_. _Rejoicing_

is _happiness_ or _joy_ that finds utterance in word, song, festivity,

etc. _Delight_ is vivid, overflowing _happiness_ of a somewhat transient

kind; _ecstasy_ is a state of extreme or extravagant _delight_ so that

the one affected by it seems almost beside himself with _joy_; _rapture_

is closely allied to _ecstasy_, but is more serene, exalted, and

enduring. _Triumph_ is such _joy_ as results from victory, success,

achievement. _Blessedness_ is at once the state and the sense of being

divinely blessed; as, the _blessedness_ of the righteous. _Bliss_ is

ecstatic, perfected _happiness_; as, the _bliss_ of heaven. Compare

COMFORT.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for GRIEF.

* * * * *

HAPPY.

Synonyms:

blessed, cheering, gay, lucky, rejoiced,

blissful, cheery, glad, merry, rejoicing,

blithe, delighted, jocund, mirthful, smiling,

blithesome, delightful, jolly, pleased, sprightly,

bright, dexterous, joyful, prosperous, successful,

buoyant, felicitous, joyous, rapturous, sunny.

cheerful, fortunate,

_Happy_ primarily refers to something that comes "by good hap," a chance

that brings prosperity, benefit, or success.

And grasps the skirts of _happy_ chance.

TENNYSON _In Memoriam_ lxiii, st. 2.

In this sense _happy_ is closely allied to _fortunate_ and _lucky_. (See

FORTUNATE.) _Happy_ has, however, so far diverged from this original

sense as to apply to advantages where chance is not recognized, or is

even excluded by direct reference to the divine will, when it becomes

almost equivalent to _blessed_.

Behold, _happy_ is the man whom God correcteth.

_Job_ v, 17.

_Happy_ is also applied to the ready dexterity or skill by which

favorable results (usually in minor matters) are secured, when it

becomes a synonym for _dexterous_, _felicitous_, and the associated

words; as, he has a _happy_ wit; _happy_ at retort (compare CLEVER). In

its most frequent present use, _happy_ is applied to the state of one

enjoying happiness, or to that by which happiness is expressed; as, a

_happy_ heart; a _happy_ face; _happy_ laughter; _happy_ tears (compare

synonyms for HAPPINESS). _Cheerful_ applies to the possession or

expression of a moderate and tranquil happiness. A _cheery_ word

spontaneously gives cheer to others; a _cheering_ word is more

distinctly planned to cheer and encourage. _Gay_ applies to an effusive

and superficial happiness (often not really worthy of that name) perhaps

resulting largely from abundant animal spirits: we speak of _gay_

revelers or a _gay_ horse. A _buoyant_ spirit is, as it were, borne up

by joy and hope. A _sunny_ disposition has a constant tranquil

brightness that irradiates all who come within its influence.

Antonyms:

Compare synonyms for GRIEF.

Prepositions:

A happy event _for_ him; happy _at_ a reply; happy _in_ his home, _with_

his friends, _among_ his children; happy _at_ the discovery, _over_ his

success.

* * * * *

HARMONY.

Synonyms:

accord, concurrence, consistency, uniformity,

accordance, conformity, consonance, union,

agreement, congruity, symmetry, unison,

amity, consent, unanimity, unity.

concord,

When tones, thoughts, or feelings, individually different, combine to

form a consistent and pleasing whole, there is _harmony_. _Harmony_ is

deeper and more essential than _agreement_; we may have a superficial,

forced, or patched-up _agreement_, but never a superficial, forced, or

patched-up _harmony_. _Concord_ is less full and spiritual than

_harmony_. _Concord_ implies more volition than _accord_; as, their

views were found to be in perfect _accord_; or, by conference _concord_

was secured; we do not secure _accord_, but discover it. We may speak of

being in _accord_ with a person on one point, but _harmony_ is wider in

range. _Conformity_ is correspondence in form, manner, or use; the word

often signifies submission to authority or necessity, and may be as far

as possible from _harmony_; as, the attempt to secure _conformity_ to an

established religion. _Congruity_ involves the element of suitableness;

_consistency_ implies the absence of conflict or contradiction in views,

statements, or acts which are brought into comparison, as in the

different statements of the same person or the different periods of one

man's life; _unanimity_ is the complete hearty _agreement_ of many;

_consent_ and _concurrence_ refer to decision or action, but _consent_

is more passive than _concurrence_; one speaks by general _consent_ when

no one in the assembly cares to make formal objection; a decision of the

Supreme Court depends upon the _concurrence_ of a majority of the

judges. Compare AGREE; FRIENDSHIP; MELODY.

Antonyms:

antagonism, contest, discord, hostility, schism,

battle, controversy, disproportion, incongruity, separation,

conflict, difference, dissension, inconsistency, variance,

contention, disagreement, disunion, opposition, warfare.

* * * * *

HARVEST.

Synonyms:

crop, harvest-home, ingathering, result,

fruit, harvesting, proceeds, return,

growth, harvest-tide, produce, yield.

harvest-feast, harvest-time, product,

harvest-festival, increase, reaping,

_Harvest_, from the Anglo-Saxon, signified originally "autumn," and as

that is the usual season of gathering ripened _crops_ in Northern lands,

the word came to its present meaning of the season of gathering ripened

grain or _fruits_, whether summer or autumn, and hence a _crop_ gathered

or ready for gathering; also, the act or process of gathering a _crop_

or _crops_. "The _harvest_ truly is great, but the laborers are few,"

_Luke_ x, 2. "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are

white already to _harvest_," _John_ iv, 35. _Harvest_ is the elegant and

literary word; _crop_ is the common and commercial expression; we say a

man sells his _crop_, but we should not speak of his selling his

_harvest_; we speak of an ample or abundant _harvest_, a good _crop_.

_Harvest_ is applied almost wholly to grain; _crop_ applies to almost

anything that is gathered in; we speak of the potato-_crop_, not the

potato-_harvest_; we may say either the wheat-_crop_ or the

wheat-_harvest_. _Produce_ is a collective word for all that is produced

in farming or gardening, and is, in modern usage, almost wholly

restricted to this sense; we speak of _produce_ collectively, but of a

_product_ or various _products_; vegetables, _fruits_, eggs, butter,

etc., may be termed farm-_produce_, or the _products_ of the farm.

_Product_ is a word of wider application than _produce_; we speak of the

_products_ of manufacturing, the _products_ of thought, or the _product_

obtained by multiplying one number by another. The word _proceeds_ is

chiefly used of the _return_ from an investment: we speak of the

_produce_ of a farm, but of the _proceeds_ of the money invested in

farming. The _yield_ is what the land gives up to the farmer's demand;

we speak of the _return_ from an expenditure of money or labor, but of

the _yield_ of corn or oats. _Harvest_ has also a figurative use, such

as _crop_ more rarely permits; we term a religious revival a _harvest_

of souls; the _result_ of lax enforcement of law is a _harvest_ of

crime. As regards time, _harvest_, _harvest-tide_, and _harvest-time_

alike denote the period or season when the crops are or should be

gathered (_tide_ being simply the old Saxon word for _time_).

_Harvest-home_ ordinarily denotes the _festival_ of _harvest_, and when

used to denote simply the season always gives a suggestion of festivity

and rejoicing, such as _harvest_ and _harvest-time_ by themselves do not

express.

* * * * *

HATRED.

Synonyms:

abhorrence, detestation, hostility, rancor,

anger, dislike, ill will, repugnance,

animosity, enmity, malevolence, resentment,

antipathy, grudge, malice, revenge,

aversion, hate, malignity, spite.

_Repugnance_ applies to that which one feels himself summoned or

impelled to do or to endure, and from which he instinctively draws back.

_Aversion_ is the turning away of the mind or feelings from some person

or thing, or from some course of action, etc. _Hate_, or _hatred_, as

applied to persons, is intense and continued _aversion_, usually with

disposition to injure; _anger_ is sudden and brief, _hatred_ is

lingering and enduring; "Her wrath became a _hate_," TENNYSON _Pelleas

and Ettarre_ st. 16. As applied to things, _hatred_ is intense

_aversion_, with desire to destroy or remove; _hatred_ of evil is a

righteous passion, akin to _abhorrence_, but more vehement. _Malice_

involves the active intent to injure; in the legal sense, _malice_ is

the intent to injure, even tho with no personal _ill will_; as, a

highwayman would be said to entertain _malice_ toward the unknown

traveler whom he attacks. _Malice_ is direct, pressing toward a result;

_malignity_ is deep, lingering, and venomous, tho often impotent to act;

_rancor_ (akin to _rancid_) is cherished _malignity_ that has soured and

festered and is virulent and implacable. _Spite_ is petty _malice_ that

delights to inflict stinging pain; _grudge_ is deeper than _spite_; it

is sinister and bitter; _grudge_, _resentment_, and _revenge_ are all

retaliatory, _grudge_ being the disposition, _revenge_ the determination

to repay real or supposed offense with injury; _revenge_ may denote also

the retaliatory act; _resentment_, the best word of the three, always

holds itself to be justifiable, but looks less certainly to action than

_grudge_ or _revenge_. Simple goodness may arouse the _hatred_ of the

wicked; they will be moved to _revenge_ only by what they deem an injury

or affront. Compare ABOMINATION; ANGER; ANTIPATHY; ENMITY.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for FRIENDSHIP; LOVE.

* * * * *

HAVE.

Synonyms:

be in possession of, hold, occupy, own, possess.

be possessed of,

_Have_ is the most general word, and is applied to whatever belongs to

or is connected with one; a man _has_ a head or a head-ache, a fortune

or an opinion, a friend or an enemy; he _has_ time, or _has_ need; he

may be said to _have_ what is his own, what he has borrowed, what has

been entrusted to him, or what he has stolen. To _possess_ a thing is to

_have_ the ownership with control and enjoyment of it. To _hold_ is to

_have_ in one's hand, or securely in one's control; a man _holds_ his

friend's coat for a moment, or he _holds_ a struggling horse; he _holds_

a promissory note, or _holds_ an office. To _own_ is to _have_ the right

of property in; to _possess_ is to _have_ that right in actual exercise;

to _occupy_ is to _have_ possession and use, with some degree of

permanency, with or without ownership. A man _occupies_ his own house or

a room in a hotel; a man may _own_ a farm of which he is not in

possession because a tenant _occupies_ it and is determined to _hold_

it; the proprietor _owns_ the property, but the tenant _is in

possession_. To _be in possession_ differs from _possess_ in that to

_possess_ denotes both right and fact, while to _be in possession_

denotes simply the fact with no affirmation as to the right. To _have_

reason is to be endowed with the faculty; to _be in possession of_ one's

reason denotes that the faculty is in actual present exercise.

* * * * *

HAZARD.

Synonyms:

accident, chance, danger, jeopardy, risk,

casualty, contingency, fortuity, peril, venture.

_Hazard_ is the incurring the possibility of loss or harm for the

possibility of benefit; _danger_ may have no compensating alternative.

In _hazard_ the possibilities of gain or loss are nearly balanced; in

_risk_ the possibility of loss is the chief thought; the foolhardy take

great _risks_ in mere wantonness; in _chance_ and _venture_ the hope of

good predominates; we speak of a merchant's _venture_, but of an

insurance company's _risk_; one may be driven by circumstances to run a

_risk_; he freely seeks a _venture_; we speak of the _chance_ of

winning, the _hazard_ or _risk_ of losing. _Accidents_ are incalculable;

_casualties_ may be to a certain extent anticipated; death and wounds

are _casualties_ of battle, certain to happen to some, but uncertain as

to whom or how many. A _contingency_ is simply an indeterminable future

event, which may or may not be attended with _danger_ or _risk_. See

ACCIDENT; DANGER.

Antonyms:

assurance, necessity, protection, safety, surety.

certainty, plan, safeguard, security,

* * * * *

HEALTHY.

Synonyms:

hale, hygienic, sanitary, vigorous,

healthful, salubrious, sound, well,

hearty, salutary, strong, wholesome.

_Healthy_ is most correctly used to signify possessing or enjoying

health or its results; as, a _healthy_ person; a _healthy_ condition.

_Healthful_ signifies promotive of health, tending or adapted to confer,

preserve, or promote health; as, a _healthful_ climate. _Wholesome_ food

in a _healthful_ climate makes a _healthy_ man. With _healthful_ are

ranged the words _hygienic_, _salubrious_, _salutary_, _sanitary_, and

_wholesome_, while the other words are associated with _healthy_.

_Salubrious_ is always used in the physical sense, and is chiefly

applied to air or climate. _Salutary_ is now chiefly used in the moral

sense; as, a _salutary_ lesson.

Antonyms:

delicate, failing, ill, unsound, worn,

diseased, fainting, sick, wasted, worn down,

emaciated, fragile, unhealthy, weak, worn out.

exhausted, frail,

* * * * *

HELP.

Synonyms:

abet, befriend, foster, succor, uphold.

aid, cooperate, second, support,

assist, encourage, stand by, sustain,

_Help_ expresses greater dependence and deeper need than _aid_. In

extremity we say "God _help_ me!" rather than "God _aid_ me!" In time of

danger we cry "_help! help!_" rather than "_aid! aid!_" To _aid_ is to

_second_ another's own exertions. We can speak of _helping_ the

helpless, but not of _aiding_ them. _Help_ includes _aid_, but _aid_ may

fall short of the meaning of _help_. In law to _aid_ or _abet_ makes one

a principal. (Compare synonyms for ACCESSORY.) To _cooperate_ is to

_aid_ as an equal; to _assist_ implies a subordinate and secondary

relation. One _assists_ a fallen friend to rise; he _cooperates_ with

him in helping others. _Encourage_ refers to mental _aid_, as _uphold_

now usually does; _succor_ and _support_, oftenest to material

assistance. We _encourage_ the timid or despondent, _succor_ the

endangered, _support_ the weak, _uphold_ those who else might be shaken

or cast down. Compare ABET; PROMOTE.

Antonyms:

counteract, discourage, oppose, resist, thwart, withstand.

Prepositions:

Help _in_ an enterprise _with_ money; help _to_ success; _against_ the

enemy.

* * * * *

HERETIC.

Synonyms:

dissenter, heresiarch, non-conformist, schismatic.

Etymologically, a _heretic_ is one who takes or chooses his own belief,

instead of the belief of his church; hence, a _heretic_ is one who

denies commonly accepted views, or who holds opinions contrary to the

recognized standard or tenets of any established religious,

philosophical, or other system, school, or party; the religious sense of

the word is the predominant one; a _schismatic_ is primarily one who

produces a split or rent in the church. A _heretic_ differs in doctrine

from the religious body with which he is connected; a _schismatic_

differs in doctrine or practise, or in both. A _heretic_ may be

reticent, or even silent; a _schismatic_ introduces divisions. A

_heresiarch_ is the author of a heresy or the leader of a heretical

party, and is thus at once a _heretic_ and a _schismatic_. With

advancing ideas of religious liberty, the odious sense once attached to

these words is largely modified, and _heretic_ is often used playfully.

_Dissenter_ and _non-conformist_ are terms specifically applied to

English subjects who hold themselves aloof from the Church of England;

the former term is extended to non-adherents of the established church

in some other countries, as Russia.

* * * * *

HETEROGENEOUS.

Synonyms:

confused, mingled, unhomogeneous,

conglomerate, miscellaneous, unlike,

discordant, mixed, variant,

dissimilar, non-homogeneous, various.

Substances quite _unlike_ are _heterogeneous_ as regards each other. A

_heterogeneous_ mixture is one whose constituents are not only unlike

in kind, but unevenly distributed; cement is composed of substances such

as lime, sand, and clay, which are _heterogeneous_ as regards each

other, but the cement is said to be homogeneous if the different

constituents are evenly mixed throughout, so that any one portion of the

mixture is exactly like any other. A substance may fail of being

homogeneous and yet not be _heterogeneous_, in which case it is said to

be _non-homogeneous_ or _unhomogeneous_; a bar of iron that contains

flaws, air-bubbles, etc., or for any other reason is not of uniform

structure and density throughout, tho no foreign substance be mixed with

the iron, is said to be _non-homogeneous_. A _miscellaneous_ mixture may

or may not be _heterogeneous_; if the objects are alike in kind, but

different in size, form, quality, use, etc., and without special order

or relation, the collection is _miscellaneous_; if the objects differ in

kind, such a mixture is also, and more strictly, _heterogeneous_; a pile

of unassorted lumber is _miscellaneous_; the contents of a school-boy's

pocket are commonly _miscellaneous_ and might usually be termed

_heterogeneous_ as well. See COMPLEX.

Antonyms:

alike, homogeneous, identical, like, pure, same, similar, uniform.

* * * * *

HIDE.

Synonyms:

bury, cover, entomb, overwhelm, suppress,

cloak, disguise, inter, screen, veil.

conceal, dissemble, mask, secrete.

_Hide_ is the general term, including all the rest, signifying to put

out of sight or beyond ready observation or approach; a thing may be

_hidden_ by intention, by accident, or by the imperfection of the

faculties of the one from whom it is _hidden_; in their games, children

_hide_ the slipper, or _hide_ themselves from each other; a man

unconsciously _hides_ a picture from another by standing before it, or

_hides_ a thing from himself by laying something else over it. Even an

unconscious object may _hide_ another; as, a cloud _hides_ the sun, or a

building _hides_ some part of the prospect by intervening between it and

the observer's position. As an act of persons, to _conceal_ is always

intentional; one may _hide_ his face in anger, grief, or abstraction; he

_conceals_ his face when he fears recognition. A house is _hidden_ by

foliage; the bird's nest is artfully _concealed_. _Secrete_ is a

stronger word than _conceal_, and is used chiefly of such material

objects as may be separated from the person, or from their ordinary

surroundings, and put in unlooked-for places; a man _conceals_ a scar

on his face, but does not _secrete_ it; a thief _secretes_ stolen goods;

an officer may also be said to _secrete_ himself to watch the thief. A

thing is _covered_ by putting something over or around it, whether by

accident or design; it is _screened_ by putting something before it,

always with some purpose of protection from observation, inconvenience,

attack, censure, etc. In the figurative use, a person may _hide_

honorable feelings; he _conceals_ an evil or hostile intent. Anything

which is effectually _covered_ and _hidden_ under any mass or

accumulation is _buried_. Money is _buried_ in the ground; a body is

_buried_ in the sea; a paper is _buried_ under other documents. Whatever

is _buried_ is _hidden_ or _concealed_; but there are many ways of

_hiding_ or _concealing_ a thing without _burying_ it. So a person may

be _covered_ with wraps, and not _buried_ under them. _Bury_ may be used

of any object, _entomb_ and _inter_ only of a dead body. Figuratively,

one may be said to be _buried_ in business, in study, etc. Compare

IMMERSE; PALLIATE.

Antonyms:

admit, disclose, exhume, manifest, show,

advertise, discover, expose, promulgate, tell,

avow, disinter, lay bare, publish, uncover,

betray, divulge, lay open, raise, unmask,

confess, exhibit, make known, reveal, unveil.

* * * * *

HIGH.

Synonyms:

elevated, exalted, noble, steep, towering,

eminent, lofty, proud, tall, uplifted.

_Deep_, while an antonym of _high_ in usage, may apply to the very same

distance simply measured in an opposite direction, _high_ applying to

vertical distance measured from below upward, and _deep_ to vertical

distance measured from above downward; as, a _deep_ valley nestling

between _high_ mountains. _High_ is a relative term signifying greatly

raised above any object, base, or surface, in comparison with what is

usual, or with some standard; a table is _high_ if it exceeds thirty

inches; a hill is not _high_ at a hundred feet. That is _tall_ whose

height is greatly in excess of its breadth or diameter, and whose actual

height is great for an object of its kind; as, a _tall_ tree; a _tall_

man; _tall_ grass. That is _lofty_ which is imposing or majestic in

height; we term a spire _tall_ with reference to its altitude, or

_lofty_ with reference to its majestic appearance. That is _elevated_

which is raised somewhat above its surroundings; that is _eminent_ which

is far above them; as, an _elevated_ platform; an _eminent_ promontory.

In the figurative sense, _elevated_ is less than _eminent_, and this

less than _exalted_; we speak of _high_, _lofty_, or _elevated_

thoughts, aims, etc., in the good sense, but sometimes of _high_

feelings, looks, words, etc., in the invidious sense of haughty or

arrogant. A _high_ ambition may be merely selfish; a _lofty_ ambition is

worthy and _noble_. _Towering_, in the literal sense compares with

_lofty_ and majestic; but in the figurative sense, its use is almost

always invidious; as, a _towering_ passion; a _towering_ ambition

disregards and crushes all opposing considerations, however rational,

lovely, or holy. Compare STEEP.

Antonyms:

base, degraded, dwarfed, inferior, low, mean, short, stunted.

deep, depressed,

* * * * *

HINDER.

Synonyms:

baffle, clog, foil, obstruct, retard,

balk, counteract, frustrate, oppose, stay,

bar, delay, hamper, prevent, stop,

block, embarrass, impede, resist, thwart.

check, encumber, interrupt,

To _hinder_ is to keep from action, progress, motion, or growth, or to

make such action, progress, motion, or growth later in beginning or

completion than it would otherwise have been. An action is _prevented_

by anything that comes in before it to make it impossible; it is

_hindered_ by anything that keeps it from either beginning or ending so

soon as it otherwise would, or as expected or intended. It is more

common, however, to say that the start is _delayed_, the progress

_hindered_. An action that is _hindered_ does not take place at the

appointed or appropriate time; that which is _prevented_ does not take

place at all; to _hinder_ a thing long enough may amount to _preventing_

it. A railroad-train may be _hindered_ by a snow-storm from arriving on

time; it may by special order be _prevented_ from starting. To _retard_

is simply to make slow by any means whatever. To _obstruct_ is to

_hinder_, or possibly to _prevent_ advance or passage by putting

something in the way; to _oppose_ or _resist_ is to _hinder_, or

possibly to _prevent_ by directly contrary or hostile action, _resist_

being the stronger term and having more suggestion of physical force;

_obstructed_ roads _hinder_ the march of an enemy, tho there may be no

force strong enough to _oppose_ it; one _opposes_ a measure, a motion,

an amendment, or the like; it is a criminal offense to _resist_ an

officer in the discharge of his duty; the physical system may _resist_

the attack of disease or the action of a remedy. Compare CONQUER;

IMPEDIMENT; OBSTRUCT.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for QUICKEN.

Prepositions:

Hinder one _in_ his progress; _from_ acting promptly; _by_ opposition.

* * * * *

HISTORY.

Synonyms:

account, biography, muniment, record,

annals, chronicle, narration, register,

archives, memoir, narrative, story.

autobiography, memorial, recital,

_History_ is a systematic record of past events. _Annals_ and

_chronicles_ relate events with little regard to their relative

importance, and with complete subserviency to their succession in time.

_Annals_ are yearly records; _chronicles_ follow the order of time. Both

necessarily lack emphasis, selection, and perspective. _Archives_ are

public _records_, which may be _annals_, or _chronicles_, or deeds of

property, etc. _Memoirs_ generally record the lives of individuals or

facts pertaining to individual lives. A _biography_ is distinctively a

written _account_ of one person's life and actions; an _autobiography_

is a _biography_ written by the person whose life it records. _Annals_,

_archives_, _chronicles_, _biographies_, and _memoirs_ and other

_records_ furnish the materials of _history_. _History_ recounts events

with careful attention to their importance, their mutual relations,

their causes and consequences, selecting and grouping events on the

ground of interest or importance. _History_ is usually applied to such

an _account_ of events affecting communities and nations, tho sometimes

we speak of the _history_ of a single eminent life. Compare RECORD.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for FICTION.

* * * * *

HOLY.

Synonyms:

blessed, devoted, hallowed, saintly,

consecrated, divine, sacred, set apart.

_Sacred_ is applied to that which is to be regarded as inviolable on any

account, and so is not restricted to divine things; therefore in its

lower applications it is less than _holy_. That which is _sacred_ may

be made so by institution, decree, or association; that which is _holy_

is so by its own nature, possessing intrinsic moral purity, and, in the

highest sense, absolute moral perfection. God is _holy_; his commands

are _sacred_. _Holy_ may be applied also to that which is _hallowed_;

as, "the place whereon thou standest is _holy_ ground," _Ex._ iii, 5. In

such use _holy_ is more than _sacred_, as if the very qualities of a

spiritual or divine presence were imparted to the place or object.

_Divine_ has been used with great looseness, as applying to anything

eminent or admirable, in the line either of goodness or of mere power,

as to eloquence, music, etc., but there is a commendable tendency to

restrict the word to its higher sense, as designating that which belongs

to or is worthy of the Divine Being. Compare PERFECT; PURE.

Antonyms:

abominable, cursed, polluted, unconsecrated, unholy, wicked,

common, impure, secular, unhallowed, unsanctified, worldly.

* * * * *

HOME.

Synonyms:

abode, dwelling, habitation, hearthstone, ingleside,

domicil, fireside, hearth, house, residence.

_Abode_, _dwelling_, and _habitation_ are used with little difference of

meaning to denote the place where one habitually lives; _abode_ and

_habitation_ belong to the poetic or elevated style. Even _dwelling_ is

not used in familiar speech; a person says "my _house_," "my _home_," or

more formally "my _residence_." _Home_, from the Anglo-Saxon, denoting

originally a _dwelling_, came to mean an endeared _dwelling_ as the

scene of domestic love and happy and cherished family life, a sense to

which there is an increasing tendency to restrict the word--desirably

so, since we have other words to denote the mere dwelling-place; we say

"The wretched tenement could not be called _home_," or "The humble cabin

was dear to him as the _home_ of his childhood."

_Home_'s not merely four square walls,

Tho with pictures hung and gilded;

_Home_ is where affection calls--

Where its shrine the heart has builded.

Thus the word comes to signify any place of rest and peace, and

especially heaven, as the soul's peaceful and eternal dwelling-place.

* * * * *

HONEST.

Synonyms:

candid, frank, ingenuous, true,

equitable, genuine, just, trustworthy,

fair, good, sincere, trusty,

faithful, honorable, straightforward, upright.

One who is _honest_ in the ordinary sense acts or is always disposed to

act with careful regard for the rights of others, especially in matters

of business or property; one who is _honorable_ scrupulously observes

the dictates of a personal honor that is higher than any demands of

mercantile law or public opinion, and will do nothing unworthy of his

own inherent nobility of soul. The _honest_ man does not steal, cheat,

or defraud; the _honorable_ man will not take an unfair advantage that

would be allowed him, or will make a sacrifice which no one could

require of him, when his own sense of right demands it. One who is

_honest_ in the highest and fullest sense is scrupulously careful to

adhere to all known truth and right even in thought. In this sense

_honest_ differs from _honorable_ as having regard rather to absolute

truth and right than to even the highest personal honor. Compare CANDID;

JUSTICE.

Antonyms:

deceitful, faithless, hypocritical, perfidious, unfaithful,

dishonest, false, lying, traitorous, unscrupulous,

disingenuous, fraudulent, mendacious, treacherous, untrue.

* * * * *

HORIZONTAL.

Synonyms:

even, flat, level, plain, plane.

_Horizontal_ signifies in the direction of or parallel to the horizon.

For practical purposes _level_ and _horizontal_ are identical, tho

_level_, as the more popular word, is more loosely used of that which

has no especially noticeable elevations or inequalities; as, a _level_

road. _Flat_, according to its derivation from the Anglo-Saxon _flet_, a

floor, applies to a surface only, and, in the first and most usual

sense, to a surface that is _horizontal_ or _level_ in all directions; a

line may be _level_, a floor is _flat_; _flat_ is also applied in a

derived sense to any _plane_ surface without irregularities or

elevations, as a picture may be painted on the _flat_ surface of a

perpendicular wall. _Plane_ applies only to a surface, and is used with

more mathematical exactness than _flat_. The adjective _plain_,

originally the same word as _plane_, is now rarely used except in the

figurative senses, but the original sense appears in the noun, as we

speak of "a wide _plain_." We speak of a _horizontal_ line, a _flat_

morass, a _level_ road, a _plain_ country, a _plane_ surface

(especially in the scientific sense). That which is _level_ may not be

_even_, and that which is _even_ may not be _level_; a _level_ road may

be very rough; a slope may be _even_.

Antonyms:

broken, inclined, rolling, rugged, sloping,

hilly, irregular, rough, slanting, uneven.

* * * * *

HUMANE.

Synonyms:

benevolent, compassionate, human, pitying,

benignant, forgiving, kind, sympathetic,

charitable, gentle, kind-hearted, tender,

clement, gracious, merciful, tender-hearted.

_Human_ denotes what pertains to mankind, with no suggestion as to its

being good or evil; as, the _human_ race; _human_ qualities; we speak of

_human_ achievements, virtues, or excellences, _human_ follies, vices,

or crimes. _Humane_ denotes what may rightly be expected of mankind at

its best in the treatment of sentient beings; a _humane_ enterprise or

endeavor is one that is intended to prevent or relieve suffering. The

_humane_ man will not needlessly inflict pain upon the meanest thing

that lives; a _merciful_ man is disposed to withhold or mitigate the

suffering even of the guilty. The _compassionate_ man sympathizes with

and desires to relieve actual suffering, while one who is _humane_ would

forestall and prevent the suffering which he sees to be possible.

Compare MERCY; PITIFUL; PITY.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for BARBAROUS.

* * * * *

HUNT.

Synonyms:

chase, hunting, inquisition, pursuit, search.

A _hunt_ may be either the act of pursuing or the act of seeking, or a

combination of the two. A _chase_ or _pursuit_ is after that which is

fleeing or departing; a _search_ is for that which is hidden; a _hunt_

may be for that which is either hidden or fleeing; a _search_ is a

minute and careful seeking, and is especially applied to a locality; we

make a _search_ of or through a house, for an object, in which

connection it would be colloquial to say a _hunt_. _Hunt_ never quite

loses its association with field-sports, where it includes both _search_

and _chase_; the _search_ till the game is hunted out, and the _chase_

till it is hunted down. Figuratively, we speak of literary _pursuits_,

or of the _pursuit_ of knowledge; a _search_ for reasons; the _chase_

of fame or honor; _hunt_, in figurative use, inclines to the unfavorable

sense of _inquisition_, but with more of dash and aggressiveness; as, a

_hunt_ for heresy.

* * * * *

HYPOCRISY.

Synonyms:

affectation, formalism, pretense, sanctimony,

cant, pharisaism, sanctimoniousness, sham.

dissimulation, pietism,

_Pretense_ (L. _praetendo_) primarily signifies the holding something

forward as having certain rights or claims, whether truly or falsely; in

the good sense, it is now rarely used except with a negative; as, there

can be no _pretense_ that this is due; a false _pretense_ implies the

possibility of a true _pretense_; but, alone and unlimited, _pretense_

commonly signifies the offering of something for what it is not.

_Hypocrisy_ is the false _pretense_ of moral excellence, either as a

cover for actual wrong, or for the sake of the credit and advantage

attaching to virtue. _Cant_ (L. _cantus_, a song), primarily the

singsong iteration of the language of any party, school, or sect,

denotes the mechanical and pretentious use of religious phraseology,

without corresponding feeling or character; _sanctimoniousness_ is the

assumption of a saintly manner without a saintly character. As _cant_ is

_hypocrisy_ in utterance, so _sanctimoniousness_ is _hypocrisy_ in

appearance, as in looks, tones, etc. _Pietism_, originally a word of

good import, is now chiefly used for an unregulated emotionalism;

_formalism_ is an exaggerated devotion to forms, rites, and ceremonies,

without corresponding earnestness of heart; _sham_ (identical in origin

with _shame_) is a trick or device that puts one to shame, or that

shamefully disappoints expectation or falsifies appearance.

_Affectation_ is in matters of intellect, taste, etc., much what

_hypocrisy_ is in morals and religion; _affectation_ might be termed

petty _hypocrisy_. Compare DECEPTION.

Antonyms:

candor, genuineness, ingenuousness, sincerity, truth,

frankness, honesty, openness, transparency, truthfulness.

* * * * *

HYPOCRITE.

Synonyms:

cheat, deceiver, dissembler, impostor, pretender.

A _hypocrite_ (Gr. _hypokrites_, one who answers on the stage, an actor,

especially a mimic actor) is one who acts a false part, or assumes a

character other than the real. _Deceiver_ is the most comprehensive

term, including all the other words of the group. The _deceiver_ seeks

to give false impressions of any matter where he has an end to gain; the

_dissembler_ or _hypocrite_ seeks to give false impressions in regard to

himself. The _dissembler_ is content if he can keep some base conduct or

evil purpose from being discovered; the _hypocrite_ seeks not merely to

cover his vices, but to gain credit for virtue. The _cheat_ and

_impostor_ endeavor to make something out of those they may deceive. The

_cheat_ is the inferior and more mercenary, as the thimble-rig gambler;

the _impostor_ may aspire to a fortune or a throne. Compare HYPOCRISY.

Antonyms:

The antonyms of _hypocrite_ are to be found only in phrases embodying

the adjectives candid, honest, ingenuous, sincere, true, etc.

* * * * *

HYPOTHESIS.

Synonyms:

conjecture, scheme, supposition, system,

guess, speculation, surmise, theory.

A _hypothesis_ is a statement of what is deemed possibly true, assumed

and reasoned upon as if certainly true, with a view of reaching truth

not yet surely known; especially, in the sciences, a _hypothesis_ is a

comprehensive tentative explanation of certain phenomena, which is meant

to include all other facts of the same class, and which is assumed as

true till there has been opportunity to bring all related facts into

comparison; if the _hypothesis_ explains all the facts, it is regarded

as verified; till then it is regarded as a working _hypothesis_, that

is, one that may answer for present practical purposes. A _hypothesis_

may be termed a comprehensive _guess_. A _guess_ is a swift conclusion

from data directly at hand, and held as probable or tentative, while one

confessedly lacks material for absolute certainty. A _conjecture_ is

more methodical than a _guess_, while a _supposition_ is still slower

and more settled; a _conjecture_, like a _guess_, is preliminary and

tentative; a _supposition_ is more nearly final; a _surmise_ is more

floating and visionary, and often sinister; as, a _surmise_ that a

stranger may be a pickpocket. _Theory_ is used of the mental

coordination of facts and principles, that may or may not prove correct;

a machine may be perfect in _theory_, but useless in fact. _Scheme_ may

be used as nearly equivalent to _theory_, but is more frequently applied

to proposed action, and in the sense of a somewhat visionary plan. A

_speculation_ may be wholly of the brain, resting upon no facts worthy

of consideration; _system_ is the highest of these terms, having most of

assurance and fixity; a _system_ unites many facts, phenomena, or

doctrines into an orderly and consistent whole; we speak of a _system_

of theology, of the Copernican _system_ of the universe. Compare SYSTEM.

Antonyms:

certainty, demonstration, discovery, evidence, fact, proof.

* * * * *

IDEA.

Synonyms:

apprehension, design, impression, plan,

archetype, fancy, judgment, purpose,

belief, fantasy, model, sentiment,

conceit, ideal, notion, supposition,

concept, image, opinion, theory,

conception, imagination, pattern, thought.

_Idea_ is in Greek a _form_ or an _image_. The word signified in early

philosophical use the _archetype_ or primal _image_ which the Platonic

philosophy supposed to be the _model_ or _pattern_ that existing objects

imperfectly embody. This high sense has nearly disappeared from the word

_idea_, and has been largely appropriated by _ideal_, tho something of

the original meaning still appears when in theological or philosophical

language we speak of the _ideas_ of God. The present popular use of

_idea_ makes it to signify any product of mental _apprehension_ or

activity, considered as an object of knowledge or thought; this

coincides with the primitive sense at but a single point--that an _idea_

is mental as opposed to anything substantial or physical; thus, almost

any mental product, as a _belief_, _conception_, _design_, _opinion_,

etc., may now be called an _idea_. Compare FANCY; IDEAL.

Antonyms:

actuality, fact, reality, substance.

* * * * *

IDEAL.

Synonyms:

archetype, model, pattern, prototype, standard.

idea, original,

An _ideal_ is that which is conceived or taken as the highest type of

excellence or ultimate object of attainment. The _archetype_ is the

primal form, actual or imaginary, according to which any existing thing

is constructed; the _prototype_ has or has had actual existence; in the

derived sense, as in metrology, a _prototype_ may not be the original

form, but one having equal authority with that as a _standard_. An

_ideal_ may be primal, or may be slowly developed even from failures and

by negations; an _ideal_ is meant to be perfect, not merely the thing

that has been attained or is to be attained, but the best conceivable

thing that could by possibility be attained. The artist's _ideal_ is his

own mental image, of which his finished work is but an imperfect

expression. The _original_ is the first specimen, good or bad; the

_original_ of a master is superior to all copies. The _standard_ may be

below the _ideal_. The _ideal_ is imaginary, and ordinarily

unattainable; the _standard_ is concrete, and ordinarily attainable,

being a measure to which all else of its kind must conform; as, the

_standard_ of weights and measures, of corn, or of cotton. The _idea_ of

virtue is the mental concept or image of virtue in general; the _ideal_

of virtue is the mental concept or image of virtue in its highest

conceivable perfection. Compare EXAMPLE; IDEA.

Antonyms:

accomplishment, action, doing, fact, practise,

achievement, attainment, embodiment, incarnation, reality,

act, development, execution, performance, realization.

* * * * *

IDIOCY.

Synonyms:

fatuity, foolishness, incapacity, stupidity.

folly, imbecility, senselessness,

_Idiocy_ is a state of mental unsoundness amounting almost or quite to

total absence of understanding. _Imbecility_ is a condition of mental

weakness, which may or may not be as complete as that of _idiocy_, but

is at least such as to incapacitate for the serious duties of life.

_Incapacity_, or lack of legal qualification for certain acts,

necessarily results from _imbecility_, but may also result from other

causes, as from insanity or from age, sex, etc.; as, the _incapacity_ of

a minor to make a contract. _Idiocy_ or _imbecility_ is weakness of

mind, while insanity is disorder or abnormal action of mind. _Folly_ and

_foolishness_ denote a want of mental and often of moral balance.

_Fatuity_ is sometimes used as equivalent to _idiocy_, but more

frequently signifies conceited and excessive _foolishness_ or _folly_.

_Stupidity_ is dulness and slowness of mental action which may range all

the way from lack of normal readiness to absolute _imbecility_. Compare

INSANITY.

Antonyms:

acuteness, brilliancy, common sense, sagacity, soundness,

astuteness, capacity, intelligence, sense, wisdom.

* * * * *

IDLE.

Synonyms:

inactive, inert, slothful, trifling, unoccupied,

indolent, lazy, sluggish, unemployed, vacant.

_Idle_ in all uses rests upon its root meaning, as derived from the

Anglo-Saxon _idel_, which signifies vain, empty, useless. _Idle_ thus

denotes not primarily the absence of action, but vain action--the

absence of useful, effective action; the _idle_ schoolboy may be very

actively whittling his desk or tormenting his neighbors. Doing nothing

whatever is the secondary meaning of _idle_. One may be temporarily

_idle_ of necessity; if he is habitually _idle_, it is his own fault.

_Lazy_ signifies indisposed to exertion, averse to labor; idleness is in

fact; laziness is in disposition or inclination. A _lazy_ person may

chance to be employed in useful work, but he acts without energy or

impetus. We speak figuratively of a _lazy_ stream. The _inert_ person

seems like dead matter (characterized by inertia), powerless to move;

the _sluggish_ moves heavily and toilsomely; the most active person may

sometimes find the bodily or mental powers _sluggish_. _Slothful_

belongs in the moral realm, denoting a self-indulgent aversion to

exertion. "The _slothful_ hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him

to bring it again to his mouth," _Prov._ xxvi, 15. _Indolent_ is a

milder term for the same quality; the _slothful_ man hates action; the

_indolent_ man loves inaction. Compare VAIN.

Antonyms:

active, busy, diligent, employed, industrious, occupied, working.

* * * * *

IGNORANT.

Synonyms:

ill-informed, unenlightened, unlearned, untaught,

illiterate, uninformed, unlettered, untutored.

uneducated, uninstructed, unskilled,

_Ignorant_ signifies destitute of education or knowledge, or lacking

knowledge or information; it is thus a relative term. The most learned

man is still _ignorant_ of many things; persons are spoken of as

_ignorant_ who have not the knowledge that has become generally diffused

in the world; the _ignorant_ savage may be well instructed in matters of

the field and the chase, and is thus more properly _untutored_ than

_ignorant_. _Illiterate_ is without letters and the knowledge that comes

through reading. _Unlettered_ is similar in meaning to _illiterate_, but

less absolute; the _unlettered_ man may have acquired the art of reading

and writing and some elementary knowledge; the _uneducated_ man has

never taken any systematic course of mental training. _Ignorance_ is

relative; _illiteracy_ is absolute; we have statistics of _illiteracy_;

no statistics of _ignorance_ are possible.

Antonyms:

educated, learned, sage, skilled, trained, well-informed, wise.

instructed,

* * * * *

IMAGINATION.

Synonyms:

fancy, fantasy, phantasy.

The old psychology treated of the _Reproductive Imagination_, which

simply reproduces the images that the mind has in any way acquired, and

the _Productive Imagination_ which modifies and combines mental images

so as to produce what is virtually new. To this _Reproductive

Imagination_ President Noah Porter and others have given the name of

_phantasy_ or _fantasy_ (many psychologists preferring the former

spelling). _Phantasy_ or _fantasy_, so understood, presents numerous and

varied images, often combining them into new forms with exceeding

vividness, yet without any true constructive power, but with the mind

adrift, blindly and passively following the laws of association, and

with reason and will in torpor; the mental images being perhaps as

varied and as vivid, but also as purposeless and unsystematized as the

visual images in a kaleidoscope; such _fantasy_ (often loosely called

_imagination_) appears in dreaming, reverie, somnambulism, and

intoxication. _Fantasy_ in ordinary usage simply denotes capricious or

erratic _fancy_, as appears in the adjective _fantastic_. _Imagination_

and _fancy_ differ from _fantasy_ in bringing the images and their

combinations under the control of the will; _imagination_ is the broader

and higher term, including _fancy_; _imagination_ is the act or power of

imaging or of reimaging objects of perception or thought, of combining

the products of knowledge in modified, new, or ideal forms--the creative

or constructive power of the mind; while _fancy_ is the act or power of

forming pleasing, graceful, whimsical, or odd mental images, or of

combining them with little regard to rational processes of construction;

_imagination_ in its lower form. Both _fancy_ and _imagination_

recombine and modify mental images; either may work with the other's

materials; _imagination_ may glorify the tiniest flower; _fancy_ may

play around a mountain or a star; the one great distinction between them

is that _fancy_ is superficial, while _imagination_ is deep, essential,

spiritual. Wordsworth, who was the first clearly to draw the

distinction between the _fancy_ and the _imagination_, states it as

follows:

To aggregate and to associate, to evoke and to combine, belong as

well to the _imagination_ as to the _fancy_; but either the

materials evoked and combined are different; or they are brought

together under a different law, and for a different purpose. _Fancy_

does not require that the materials which she makes use of should be

susceptible of changes in their constitution from her touch; and

where they admit of modification, it is enough for her purpose if it

be slight, limited, and evanescent. Directly the reverse of these

are the desires and demands of the _imagination_. She recoils from

everything but the plastic, the pliant, and the indefinite. She

leaves it to _fancy_ to describe Queen Mab as coming:

'In shape no bigger than an agate stone

On the forefinger of an alderman.'

Having to speak of stature, she does not tell you that her gigantic

angel was as tall as Pompey's Pillar; much less that he was twelve

cubits or twelve hundred cubits high; or that his dimensions

equalled those of Teneriffe or Atlas; because these, and if they

were a million times as high, it would be the same, are bounded. The

expression is, 'His stature reached the sky!' the illimitable

firmament!--When the _imagination_ frames a comparison, ... a sense

of the truth of the likeness from the moment that it is perceived

grows--and continues to grow--upon the mind; the resemblance

depending less upon outline of form and feature than upon expression

and effect, less upon casual and outstanding than upon inherent and

internal properties.[B]

_Poetical Works, Pref. to Ed. of 1815_, p. 646, app. [T. & H. '51.]

So far as actual images are concerned, both _fancy_ and _imagination_

are limited to the materials furnished by the external world; it is

remarkable that among all the representations of gods or demigods,

fiends and demons, griffins and chimaeras, the human mind has never

invented one organ or attribute that is not presented in human or animal

life; the lion may have a human head and an eagle's wings and claws, but

in the various features, individually, there is absolutely nothing new.

But _imagination_ can transcend the work of _fancy_, and compare an

image drawn from the external world with some spiritual truth born in

the mind itself, or infuse a series of images with such a spiritual

truth, molding them as needed for its more vivid expression.

The _imagination_ modifies images, and gives unity to variety; it

sees all things in one.... There is the epic _imagination_, the

perfection of which is in Milton; and the dramatic, of which

Shakspeare is the absolute master.

COLERIDGE _Table Talk_ June 23, '34.

_Fancy_ keeps the material image prominent and clear, and works not only

with it, but for it; _imagination_ always uses the material object as

the minister of something greater than itself, and often almost loses

the object in the spiritual idea with which she has associated it, and

for which alone she values it. _Fancy_ flits about the surface, and is

airy and playful, sometimes petty and sometimes false; _imagination_

goes to the heart of things, and is deep, earnest, serious, and seeks

always and everywhere for essential truth. _Fancy_ sets off, variegates,

and decorates; _imagination_ transforms and exalts. _Fancy_ delights and

entertains; _imagination_ moves and thrills. _Imagination_ is not only

poetic or literary, but scientific, philosophical, and practical. By

_imagination_ the architect sees the unity of a building not yet begun,

and the inventor sees the unity and varied interactions of a machine

never yet constructed, even a unity that no human eye ever can see,

since when the machine is in actual motion, one part may hide the

connecting parts, and yet all keep the unity of the inventor's thought.

By _imagination_ a Newton sweeps sun, planets, and stars into unity with

the earth and the apple that is drawn irresistibly to its surface, and

sees them all within the circle of one grand law. Science, philosophy,

and mechanical invention have little use for _fancy_, but the creative,

penetrative power of _imagination_ is to them the breath of life, and

the condition of all advance and success. See also FANCY; IDEA.

[B] The whole discussion from which the quotation is taken is worthy of,

and will well repay, careful study.

* * * * *

IMMEDIATELY.

Synonyms:

at once, instanter, presently, straightway,

directly, instantly, right away, this instant,

forthwith, now, right off, without delay.

The strong and general human tendency to procrastination is shown in the

progressive weakening of the various words in this group. _Immediately_

primarily signifies without the intervention of anything as a medium,

hence without the intervention of any, even the briefest, interval or

lapse of time. _By and by_, which was once a synonym, has become an

antonym of _immediately_, meaning at some (perhaps remote) future time.

_Directly_, which once meant with no intervening time, now means after

some little while; _presently_ no longer means in this very present, but

before very long. Even _immediately_ is sliding from its

instantaneousness, so that we are fain to substitute _at once_,

_instantly_, etc., when we would make promptness emphatic. _Right away_

and _right off_ are vigorous conversational expressions in the United

States.

Antonyms:

after a while, by and by, hereafter, in the future, some time.

* * * * *

IMMERSE.

Synonyms:

bury, dip, douse, duck, immerge, plunge, sink, submerge.

_Dip_ is Saxon, while _immerse_ is Latin for the same initial act; _dip_

is accordingly the more popular and commonplace, _immerse_ the more

elegant and dignified expression in many cases. To speak of baptism by

immersion as _dipping_ now seems rude; tho entirely proper and usual in

early English. Baptists now universally use the word _immerse_. To _dip_

and to _immerse_ alike signify to _bury_ or _submerge_ some object in a

liquid; but _dip_ implies that the object _dipped_ is at once removed

from the liquid, while _immerse_ is wholly silent as to the removal.

_Immerse_ also suggests more absolute completeness of the action; one

may _dip_ his sleeve or _dip_ a sponge in a liquid, if he but touches

the edge; if he _immerses_ it, he completely _sinks_ it under, and

covers it with the liquid. _Submerge_ implies that the object can not

readily be removed, if at all; as, a _submerged_ wreck. To _plunge_ is

to _immerse_ suddenly and violently, for which _douse_ and _duck_ are

colloquial terms. _Dip_ is used, also, unlike the other words, to denote

the putting of a hollow vessel into a liquid in order to remove a

portion of it; in this sense we say _dip up_, _dip out_. Compare

synonyms for BURY.

Preposition:

The object is immersed _in_ water.

* * * * *

IMMINENT.

Synonyms:

impending, threatening.

_Imminent_, from the Latin, with the sense of projecting over, signifies

liable to happen at once, as some calamity, dangerous and close at hand.

_Impending_, also from the Latin, with the sense of hanging over, is

closely akin to _imminent_, but somewhat less emphatic. _Imminent_ is

more immediate, _impending_ more remote, _threatening_ more contingent.

An _impending_ evil is almost sure to happen at some uncertain time,

perhaps very near; an _imminent_ peril is one liable to befall very

speedily; a _threatening_ peril may be near or remote, but always with

hope that it may be averted.

Antonyms:

chimerical, doubtful, problematical, unexpected, unlikely.

contingent, improbable,

* * * * *

IMPEDIMENT.

Synonyms:

bar, clog, encumbrance, obstacle,

barrier, difficulty, hindrance, obstruction.

_Difficulty_ makes an undertaking otherwise than easy. That which rests

upon one as a burden is an _encumbrance_. An _impediment_ is primarily

something that checks the foot or in any way makes advance slow or

difficult; an _obstacle_ is something that stands across the way, an

_obstruction_ something that is built or placed across the way. An

_obstruction_ is always an _obstacle_, but an _obstacle_ may not always

be properly termed an _obstruction_; boxes and bales placed on the

sidewalk are _obstructions_ to travel; an ice-floe is an _obstacle_ to

navigation, and may become an _obstruction_ if it closes an inlet or

channel. A _hindrance_ (kindred with _hind_, _behind_) is anything that

makes one come behind or short of his purpose. An _impediment_ may be

either what one finds in his way or what he carries with him;

_impedimenta_ was the Latin name for the baggage of a soldier or of an

army. The tendency is to view an _impediment_ as something constant or,

at least for a time, continuous; as, an _impediment_ in one's speech. A

_difficulty_ or a _hindrance_ may be either within one or without; a

speaker may find _difficulty_ in expressing himself, or _difficulty_ in

holding the attention of restless children. An _encumbrance_ is always

what one carries with him; an _obstacle_ or an _obstruction_ is always

without. To a marching soldier the steepness of a mountain path is a

_difficulty_, loose stones are _impediments_, a fence is an

_obstruction_, a cliff or a boulder across the way is an _obstacle_; a

knapsack is an _encumbrance_.

Antonyms:

advantage, aid, assistance, benefit, help, relief, succor.

* * * * *

IMPUDENCE.

Synonyms:

assurance, impertinence, intrusiveness, presumption,

boldness, incivility, officiousness, rudeness,

effrontery, insolence, pertness, sauciness.

forwardness,

_Impertinence_ primarily denotes what does not pertain or belong to the

occasion or the person, and hence comes to signify interference by word

or act not consistent with the age, position, or relation of the person

interfered with or of the one who interferes; especially, forward,

presumptuous, or meddlesome speech. _Impudence_ is shameless

_impertinence_. What would be arrogance in a superior becomes

_impertinence_ or _impudence_ in an inferior. _Impertinence_ has less of

intent and determination than _impudence_. We speak of thoughtless

_impertinence_, shameless _impudence_. _Insolence_ is literally that

which is against custom, _i. e._, the violation of customary respect and

courtesy. _Officiousness_ is thrusting upon others unasked and undesired

service, and is often as well-meant as it is annoying. _Rudeness_ is the

behavior that might be expected from a thoroughly uncultured person, and

may be either deliberate and insulting or unintentional and even

unconscious. Compare ARROGANCE; ASSURANCE; EFFRONTERY; PERTNESS.

Antonyms:

bashfulness, diffidence, lowliness, modesty,

coyness, humility, meekness, submissiveness.

Prepositions:

The impudence _of_, or impudence _from_, a subordinate _to_ a superior.

* * * * *

INCONGRUOUS.

Synonyms:

absurd, ill-matched, inharmonious,

conflicting, inapposite, irreconcilable,

contradictory, inappropriate, mismatched,

contrary, incommensurable, mismated,

discordant, incompatible, repugnant,

discrepant, inconsistent, unsuitable.

Two or more things that do not fit well together, or are not adapted to

each other, are said to be _incongruous_; a thing is said to be

_incongruous_ that is not adapted to the time, place, or occasion; the

term is also applied to a thing made up of ill-assorted parts or

_inharmonious_ elements. _Discordant_ is applied to all things that jar

in association like musical notes that are not in accord; _inharmonious_

has the same original sense, but is a milder term. _Incompatible_

primarily signifies unable to sympathize or feel alike; _inconsistent_

means unable to stand together. Things are _incompatible_ which can not

exist together in harmonious relations, and whose action when associated

tends to ultimate extinction of one by the other. _Inconsistent_ applies

to things that can not be made to agree in thought with each other, or

with some standard of truth or right; slavery and freedom are

_inconsistent_ with each other in theory, and _incompatible_ in fact.

_Incongruous_ applies to relations, _unsuitable_ to purpose or use; two

colors are _incongruous_ which can not be agreeably associated; either

may be _unsuitable_ for a person, a room, or an occasion.

_Incommensurable_ is a mathematical term, applying to two or more

quantities that have no common measure or aliquot part.

Antonyms:

accordant, agreeing, compatible, consistent, harmonious, suitable.

Preposition:

The illustrations were incongruous _with_ the theme.

* * * * *

INDUCTION.

Synonyms:

deduction, inference.

_Deduction_ is reasoning from the general to the particular; _induction_

is reasoning from the particular to the general. _Deduction_ proceeds

from a general principle through an admitted instance to a conclusion.

_Induction_, on the other hand, proceeds from a number of collated

instances, through some attribute common to them all, to a general

principle. The proof of an _induction_ is by using its conclusion as the

premise of a new _deduction_. Thus what is ordinarily known as

scientific _induction_ is a constant interchange of _induction_ and

_deduction_. In _deduction_, if the general rule is true, and the

special case falls under the rule, the conclusion is certain;

_induction_ can ordinarily give no more than a probable conclusion,

because we can never be sure that we have collated all instances. An

_induction_ is of the nature of an _inference_, but while an _inference_

may be partial and hasty, an _induction_ is careful, and aims to be

complete. Compare DEMONSTRATION; HYPOTHESIS.

* * * * *

INDUSTRIOUS.

Synonyms:

active, busy, employed, occupied,

assiduous, diligent, engaged, sedulous.

_Industrious_ signifies zealously or habitually applying oneself to any

work or business. _Busy_ applies to an activity which may be temporary,

_industrious_ to a habit of life. We say a man is _busy_ just now; that

is, _occupied_ at the moment with something that takes his full

attention. It would be ridiculous or satirical to say, he is

_industrious_ just now. But _busy_ can be used in the sense of

_industrious_, as when we say he is a _busy_ man. _Diligent_ indicates

also a disposition, which is ordinarily habitual, and suggests more of

heartiness and volition than _industrious_. We say one is a _diligent_,

rather than an _industrious_, reader of the Bible. In the use of the

nouns, we speak of plodding _industry_, but not of plodding _diligence_.

Compare ACTIVE; INDUSTRY.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for IDLE.

* * * * *

INDUSTRY.

Synonyms:

application, diligence, labor, persistence,

assiduity, effort, pains, sedulousness.

attention, exertion, patience,

constancy, intentness, perseverance,

_Industry_ is the quality, action, or habit of earnest, steady, and

continued attention or devotion to any useful or productive work or

task, manual or mental. _Assiduity_ (L. _ad_, to, and _sedeo_, sit), as

the etymology suggests, sits down to a task until it is done.

_Diligence_ (L. _diligo_, love, choose) invests more effort and

exertion, with love of the work or deep interest in its accomplishment;

_application_ (L. _ad_, to, and _plico_, fold) bends to its work and

concentrates all one's powers upon it with utmost intensity; hence,

_application_ can hardly be as unremitting as _assiduity_. _Constancy_

is a steady devotion of heart and principle. _Patience_ works on in

spite of annoyances; _perseverance_ overcomes hindrances and

difficulties; _persistence_ strives relentlessly against opposition;

_persistence_ has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, implying that

one persists in spite of considerations that should induce him to

desist. _Industry_ is _diligence_ applied to some avocation, business,

or profession. _Labor_ and _pains_ refer to the _exertions_ of the

worker and the tax upon him, while _assiduity_, _perseverance_, etc.,

refer to his continuance in the work.

Antonyms:

changeableness, idleness, inconstancy, neglect, remissness,

fickleness, inattention, indolence, negligence, sloth.

* * * * *

INFINITE.

Synonyms:

absolute, illimitable, limitless, unconditioned,

boundless, immeasurable, measureless, unfathomable,

countless, innumerable, numberless, unlimited,

eternal, interminable, unbounded, unmeasured.

_Infinite_ (L. _in_, not, and _finis_, limit) signifies without bounds

or limits in any way, and may be applied to space, time, quantity, or

number. _Countless_, _innumerable_, and _numberless_, which should be

the same as _infinite_, are in common usage vaguely employed to denote

what it is difficult or practically impossible to count or number, tho

perhaps falling far short of _infinite_; as, _countless_ leaves, the

_countless_ sands on the seashore, _numberless_ battles, _innumerable_

delays. So, too, _boundless_, _illimitable_, _limitless_, _measureless_,

and _unlimited_ are loosely used in reference to what has no apparent or

readily determinable limits in space or time; as, we speak of the

_boundless_ ocean. _Infinite_ space is without bounds, not only in fact,

but in thought; _infinite_ time is truly _eternal_. Compare synonyms for

ETERNAL.

Antonyms:

bounded, finite, measurable, restricted, small,

brief, limited, moderate, shallow, transient,

circumscribed, little, narrow, short, transitory.

evanescent,

* * * * *

INFLUENCE.

Synonyms:

actuate, draw, impel, induce, move, stir,

compel, drive, incite, instigate, persuade, sway,

dispose, excite, incline, lead, prompt, urge.

To _influence_ (L. _in_, in or into, and _fluo_, flow) is to affect,

modify, or act upon by physical, mental, or moral power, especially in

some gentle, subtle, and gradual way; as, vegetation is _influenced_ by

light; every one is _influenced_ to some extent by public opinion;

_influence_ is chiefly used of power acting from without, tho it may be

used of motives regarded as forces acting upon the will. _Actuate_

refers solely to mental or moral power _impelling_ one from within. One

may _influence_, but can not directly _actuate_ another; but one may be

_actuated_ to cruelty by hatred which another's misrepresentation has

aroused. _Prompt_ and _stir_ are words of mere suggestion toward some

course of action; _dispose_, _draw_, _incline_, _influence_, and _lead_

refer to the use of mild means to awaken in another a purpose or

disposition to act. To _excite_ is to arouse one from lethargy or

indifference to action. _Incite_ and _instigate_, to spur or goad one to

action, differ in the fact that _incite_ may be to good, while

_instigate_ is always to evil (compare ABET). To _urge_ and _impel_

signify to produce strong excitation toward some act. We are _urged_

from without, _impelled_ from within. _Drive_ and _compel_ imply

irresistible influence accomplishing its object. One may be _driven_

either by his own passions or by external force or urgency; one is

_compelled_ only by some external power; as, the owner was _compelled_

by his misfortunes to sell his estate. Compare COMPEL; DRIVE.

Antonyms:

deter, dissuade, impede, prevent, restrain, retard.

discourage, hinder, inhibit,

Prepositions:

Actuated _to_ crime _by_ revenge.

* * * * *

INHERENT.

Synonyms:

congenital, indispensable, innate, native,

essential, indwelling, inseparable, natural,

immanent, infixed, internal, subjective.

inborn, ingrained, intrinsic,

inbred, inhering, inwrought,

_Inherent_ signifies permanently united as an element or original

quality, naturally existent or incorporated in something so as to have

become an integral part. _Immanent_ is a philosophic word, to denote

that which dwells in or pervades any substance or spirit without

necessarily being a part of it, and without reference to any working out

(compare SUBJECTIVE). That which is _inherent_ is an _inseparable_ part

of that in which it inheres, and is usually thought of with reference to

some outworking or effect; as, an _inherent_ difficulty. God is said to

be _immanent_ (not _inherent_) in the universe. Frequently _intrinsic_

and _inherent_ can be interchanged, but _inherent_ applies to qualities,

while _intrinsic_ applies to essence, so that to speak of _intrinsic_

excellence conveys higher praise than if we say _inherent_ excellence.

_Inherent_ and _intrinsic_ may be said of persons or things;

_congenital_, _inborn_, _inbred_, _innate_, apply to living beings.

_Congenital_ is frequent in medical and legal use with special

application to defects; as, _congenital_ idiocy. _Innate_ and _inborn_

are almost identical, but _innate_ is preferred in philosophic use, as

when we speak of _innate_ ideas; that which is _inborn_, _congenital_,

or _innate_ may be original with the individual, but that which is

_inbred_ is inherited. _Ingrained_ signifies dyed in the grain, and

denotes that which is deeply wrought into substance or character.

Antonyms:

accidental, extrinsic, outward, superficial, supplemental,

casual, fortuitous, subsidiary, superfluous, transient,

external, incidental, superadded, superimposed, unconnected.

* * * * *

INJURY.

Synonyms:

blemish, disadvantage, hurt, loss, prejudice,

damage, evil, impairment, mischief, wrong.

detriment, harm, injustice, outrage,

_Injury_ (L. _in_, not, and _jus, juris_, right, law) signifies

primarily something done contrary to law or right; hence, something

contrary to some standard of right or good; whatever reduces the value,

utility, beauty, or desirableness of anything is an _injury_ to that

thing; of persons, whatever is so done as to operate adversely to one in

his person, rights, property, or reputation is an _injury_; the word is

especially used of whatever mars the integrity of the body or causes

pain; as, when rescued from the wreck his _injuries_ were found to be

very slight. _Injury_ is the general term including all the rest.

_Damage_ (L. _damnum_, loss) is that which occasions _loss_ to the

possessor; hence, any impairment of value, often with the suggestion of

fault on the part of the one causing it; _damage_ reduces value,

utility, or beauty; _detriment_ (L. _deterere_, to rub or wear away) is

similar in meaning, but far milder. _Detriment_ may affect value only;

_damage_ always affects real worth or utility; as a rule, the slightest

use of an article by a purchaser operates to its _detriment_ if again

offered for sale, tho the article may have received not the slightest

_damage_. _Damage_ is partial; _loss_ is properly absolute as far as it

is predicated at all; the _loss_ of a ship implies that it is gone

beyond recovery; the _loss_ of the rudder is a _damage_ to the ship; but

since the _loss_ of a part still leaves a part, we may speak of a

partial or a total _loss_. _Evil_ commonly suggests suffering or sin, or

both; as, the _evils_ of poverty, the social _evil_. _Harm_ is closely

synonymous with _injury_; it may apply to body, mind, or estate, but

always affects real worth, while _injury_ may concern only estimated

value. A _hurt_ is an _injury_ that causes pain, physical or mental; a

slight _hurt_ may be no real _harm_. _Mischief_ is disarrangement,

trouble, or _harm_ usually caused by some voluntary agent, with or

without injurious intent; a child's thoughtless sport may do great

_mischief_; _wrong_ is _harm_ done with _evil_ intent. An _outrage_

combines insult and _injury_. Compare synonyms for BLEMISH; CRIMINAL;

INJUSTICE.

Antonyms:

advantage, benefit, boon, improvement, service,

amelioration, blessing, help, remedy, utility.

Prepositions:

The injury _of_ the cause; an injury _to_ the structure; injury _by_

fire; _by_ or _from_ collision, interference, etc.

* * * * *

INJUSTICE.

Synonyms:

grievance, injury, unfairness, unrighteousness, wrong.

iniquity,

_Injustice_ is a violation or denial of justice, an act or omission that

is contrary to equity or justice; as, the _injustice_ of unequal taxes.

In legal usage a _wrong_ involves _injury_ to person, property, or

reputation, as the result of evil intent; _injustice_ applies to civil

damage or loss, not necessarily involving _injury_ to person or

property, as by misrepresentation of goods which does not amount to a

legal warranty. In popular usage, _injustice_ may involve no direct

_injury_ to person, property, interest, or character, and no harmful

intent, while _wrong_ always involves both; one who attributes another's

truly generous act to a selfish motive does him an _injustice_.

_Iniquity_, in the original sense, is a want of or a deviation from

equity; but it is now applied in the widest sense to any form of

ill-doing. Compare synonyms for CRIMINAL; SIN.

Antonyms:

equity, faithfulness, impartiality, lawfulness, righteousness,

fairness, honesty, integrity, rectitude, uprightness.

fair play, honor, justice, right,

* * * * *

INNOCENT.

Synonyms:

blameless, guiltless, inoffensive, spotless,

clean, harmless, pure, stainless,

clear, immaculate, right, upright,

faultless, innocuous, righteous, virtuous.

guileless, innoxious, sinless,

_Innocent_, in the full sense, signifies not tainted with sin; not

having done wrong or violated legal or moral precept or duty; as, an

_innocent_ babe. _Innocent_ is a negative word, expressing less than

_righteous_, _upright_, or _virtuous_, which imply knowledge of good and

evil, with free choice of the good. A little child or a lamb is

_innocent_; a tried and faithful man is _righteous_, _upright_,

_virtuous_. _Immaculate_, _pure_, and _sinless_ may be used either of

one who has never known the possibility of evil or of one who has

perfectly and triumphantly resisted it. _Innocent_ is used of inanimate

substances in the sense of _harmless_; as, an _innocent_ remedy, that

is, one not dangerous, even if not helpful. _Innocent_, in a specific

case, signifies free from the guilt of a particular act, even tho the

total character may be very evil; as, the thief was found to be

_innocent_ of the murder. See CANDID; PURE.

Antonyms:

Compare synonyms for CRIMINAL.

* * * * *

INQUISITIVE.

Synonyms:

curious, meddlesome, peeping, scrutinizing,

inquiring, meddling, prying, searching.

intrusive,

An _inquisitive_ person is one who is bent on finding out all that can

be found out by inquiry, especially of little and personal matters, and

hence is generally _meddlesome_ and _prying_. _Inquisitive_ may be used

in a good sense, tho in such connection _inquiring_ is to be preferred;

as, an _inquiring_ mind. As applied to a state of mind, _curious_

denotes a keen and rather pleasurable desire to know fully something to

which one's attention has been called, but without the active tendency

that _inquisitive_ implies; a well-bred person may be _curious_ to know,

but will not be _inquisitive_ in trying to ascertain, what is of

interest in the affairs of another.

Antonyms:

apathetic, heedless, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested.

careless, inattentive,

Prepositions:

Inquisitive _about_, _concerning_, _in regard to_, _regarding_ trifles.

* * * * *

INSANITY.

Synonyms:

aberration, delirium, frenzy, madness,

alienation, dementia, hallucination, mania,

craziness, derangement, lunacy, monomania.

Of these terms _insanity_ is the most exact and comprehensive, including

in its widest sense all morbid conditions of mind due to diseased action

of the brain or nervous system, but in its more frequent restricted use

applied to those forms in which the mental disorder is persistent, as

distinguished from those in which it is temporary or transient.

_Craziness_ is a vague popular term for any sort of disordered mental

action, or for conduct suggesting it. _Lunacy_ originally denoted

intermittent _insanity_, supposed to be dependent on the changes of the

moon (L. _luna_): the term is now applied in general and legal use to

any form of mental unsoundness except idiocy. _Madness_ is the old

popular term, now less common, for _insanity_ in its widest sense, but

with suggestion of excitement, akin to _mania_. In the derived sense,

_lunacy_ denotes what is insanely foolish, _madness_ what is insanely

desperate. _Derangement_ is a common euphemism for _insanity_.

_Delirium_ is always temporary, and is specifically the _insanity_ of

disease, as in acute fevers. _Dementia_ is a general weakening of the

mental powers: the word is specifically applied to senile _insanity_,

dotage. _Aberration_ is eccentricity of mental action due to an abnormal

state of the perceptive faculties, and is manifested by error in

perceptions and rambling thought. _Hallucination_ is the apparent

perception of that which does not exist or is not present to the senses,

as the seeing of specters or of reptiles in delirium tremens.

_Monomania_ is mental _derangement_ as to one subject or object.

_Frenzy_ and _mania_ are forms of raving and furious _insanity_. Compare

synonyms for DELUSION; IDIOCY.

Antonyms:

clearness, good sense, lucidity, rationality, sanity.

* * * * *

INTERPOSE.

Synonyms:

arbitrate, intercept, intermeddle, meddle,

intercede, interfere, interrupt, mediate.

To _interpose_ is to place or come between other things or persons,

usually as a means of obstruction or prevention of some effect or result

that would otherwise occur, or be expected to take place. _Intercede_

and _interpose_ are used in a good sense; _intermeddle_ always in a bad

sense, and _interfere_ frequently so. To _intercede_ is to come between

persons who are at variance, and plead with the stronger in behalf of

the weaker. One may _interpose_ with authority; he _intercedes_ by

petition. To _intermeddle_ is to thrust oneself into the concerns of

others with a petty officiousness; _meddling_ commonly arises from idle

curiosity; "every fool will be _meddling_," _Prov._ xx, 3; to

_interfere_ is to intrude into others' affairs with more serious

purpose, with or without acknowledged right or propriety. _Intercept_ is

applied to an object that may be seized or stopped while in transit; as,

to _intercept_ a letter or a messenger; _interrupt_ is applied to an

action which might or should be continuous, but is broken in upon (L.

_rumpere_, to break) by some disturbing power; as, the conversation was

_interrupted_. One who _arbitrates_ or _mediates_ must do so by the

request or at least with the consent of the contending parties; the

other words of the group imply that he steps in of his own accord.

Antonyms:

avoid, keep aloof, keep out, retire, stand back,

hold aloof, keep away, let alone, stand aside, stand off,

hold off, keep clear, let be, stand away, withdraw.

Prepositions:

Interpose _between_ the combatants; _in_ the matter.

* * * * *

INVOLVE.

Synonyms:

complicate, embroil, implicate, include,

embarrass, entangle, imply, overwhelm.

To _involve_ (L. _in_, in, and _volvo_, roll) is to roll or wind up with

or in so as to combine inextricably or inseparably, or nearly so; as,

the nation is _involved_ in war; the bookkeeper's accounts, or the

writer's sentences are _involved_. _Involve_ is a stronger word than

_implicate_, denoting more complete entanglement. As applied to persons,

_implicate_ is always used in an unfavorable sense, and _involve_

ordinarily so; but _implicate_ applies only to that which is wrong,

while _involve_ is more commonly used of that which is unfortunate; one

is _implicated_ in a crime, _involved_ in embarrassments, misfortunes,

or perplexities. As regards logical connection that which is _included_

is usually expressly stated; that which is _implied_ is not stated, but

is naturally to be inferred; that which is _involved_ is necessarily to

be inferred; as, a slate roof is _included_ in the contract; that the

roof shall be water-tight is _implied_; the contrary supposition

_involves_ an absurdity. See COMPLEX.

Antonyms:

disconnect, distinguish, explicate, extricate, remove, separate.

disentangle,

* * * * *

JOURNEY.

Synonyms:

excursion, pilgrimage, transit, trip,

expedition, tour, travel, voyage.

A _journey_ (F. _journee_, from L. _diurnus_, daily) was primarily a

day's work; hence, a movement from place to place within one day, which

we now describe as "a day's _journey_;" in its extended modern use a

_journey_ is a direct going from a starting-point to a destination,

ordinarily over a considerable distance; we speak of a day's _journey_,

or the _journey_ of life. _Travel_ is a passing from place to place, not

necessarily in a direct line or with fixed destination; a _journey_

through Europe would be a passage to some destination beyond or at the

farther boundary; _travel_ in Europe may be in no direct course, but may

include many _journeys_ in different directions. A _voyage_, which was

formerly a _journey_ of any kind, is now a going to a considerable

distance by water, especially by sea; as, a _voyage_ to India. A _trip_

is a short and direct _journey_. A _tour_ is a _journey_ that returns to

the starting-point, generally over a considerable distance; as, a

bridal _tour_, or business _tour_. An _excursion_ is a brief _tour_ or

_journey_, taken for pleasure, often by many persons at once; as, an

_excursion_ to Chautauqua. _Passage_ is a general word for a _journey_

by any conveyance, especially by water; as, a rough _passage_ across the

Atlantic; _transit_, literally the act of passing over or through, is

used specifically of the conveyance of passengers or merchandise; rapid

_transit_ is demanded for suburban residents or perishable goods.

_Pilgrimage_, once always of a sacred character, retains in derived uses

something of that sense; as, a _pilgrimage_ to Stratford-on-Avon.

Prepositions:

A journey _from_ Naples _to_ Rome; _through_ Mexico; _across_ the

continent; _over_ the sea; a journey _into_ Asia; _among_ savages; _by_

land, _by_ rail, _for_ health, _on_ foot, _on_ the cars, etc.

* * * * *

JUDGE.

Synonyms:

arbiter, arbitrator, justice, referee, umpire.

A _judge_, in the legal sense, is a judicial officer appointed or

elected to preside in courts of law, and to decide legal questions duly

brought before him; the name is sometimes given to other legally

constituted officers; as, the _judges_ of election; in other relations,

any person duly appointed to pass upon the merits of contestants or of

competing articles may be called a _judge_; as, the _judges_ at an

agricultural fair, or at a race-track; in the widest sense, any person

who has good capacity for judging is called a _judge_; as, a person is

said to be a _judge_ of pictures, or a good _judge_ of a horse, etc. In

most games the _judge_ is called an _umpire_; as, the _umpire_ of a game

of ball or cricket. A _referee_ is appointed by a court to decide

disputed matters between litigants; an _arbitrator_ is chosen by the

contending parties to decide matters in dispute without action by a

court. In certain cases an _umpire_ is appointed by a court to decide

where _arbitrators_ disagree. _Arbiter_, with its suggestion of final

and absolute decision, has come to be used only in a high or sacred

sense; as, war must now be the _arbiter_; the Supreme _Arbiter_ of our

destinies. The _judges_ of certain courts, as the United States Supreme

Court, are technically known as _justices_.

* * * * *

JUSTICE.

Synonyms:

equity, impartiality, legality, rightfulness,

fairness, integrity, rectitude, truth,

fair play, justness, right, uprightness,

faithfulness, law, righteousness, virtue.

honor, lawfulness,

In its governmental relations, human or divine, _justice_ is the giving

to every person exactly what he deserves, not necessarily involving any

consideration of what any other may deserve; _equity_ (the quality of

being equal) is giving every one as much advantage, privilege, or

consideration as is given to any other; it is that which is equally

right or just to all concerned; _equity_ is equal _justice_ and is thus

a close synonym for _fairness_ and _impartiality_, but it has a

philosophical and legal precision that those words have not. In legal

proceedings cases arise for which the _law_ has not adequately provided,

or in which general provisions, just in the main, would work individual

hardship. The system of _equity_, devised to supply the insufficiencies

of _law_, deals with cases "to which the _law_ by reason of its

universality can not apply." "_Equity_, then, ... is the soul and spirit

of all _law_; positive _law_ is construed and rational _law_ is made by

it." BLACKSTONE bk. iii, ch. 27, p. 429. In personal and social

relations _justice_ is the rendering to every one what is due or

merited, whether in act, word, or thought; in matters of reasoning, or

literary work of any kind, _justice_ is close, faithful, unprejudiced,

and unbiased adherence to essential truth or fact; we speak of the

_justice_ of a statement, or of doing _justice_ to a subject.

_Integrity_, _rectitude_, _right_, _righteousness_ and _virtue_ denote

conformity of personal conduct to the moral law, and thus necessarily

include _justice_, which is giving others that which is their due.

_Lawfulness_ is an ambiguous word, meaning in its narrower sense mere

_legality_, which may be very far from _justice_, but in its higher

sense signifying accordance with the supreme _law_ of _right_, and thus

including perfect _justice_. _Justness_ refers rather to logical

relations than to practical matters; as, we speak of the _justness_ of a

statement or of a criticism. See JUDGE, _n._

Antonyms:

dishonesty, inequity, partiality, unlawfulness, untruth,

favoritism, injustice, unfairness, unreasonableness, wrong.

Prepositions:

The justice _of_ the king; _to_ or _for_ the oppressed.

* * * * *

KEEP.

Synonyms:

carry, defend, hold, preserve, retain,

carry on, detain, maintain, protect, support,

celebrate, fulfil, obey, refrain, sustain,

conduct, guard, observe, restrain, withhold.

_Keep_, signifying generally to have and retain in possession, is the

terse, strong Saxon term for many acts which are more exactly

discriminated by other words. We _keep_, _observe_, or _celebrate_ a

festival; we _keep_ or _hold_ a prisoner in custody; we _keep_ or

_preserve_ silence, _keep_ the peace, _preserve_ order--_preserve_ being

the more formal word; we _keep_ or _maintain_ a horse, a servant, etc.;

a man _supports_ his family; we _keep_ or _obey_ a commandment; _keep_

or _fulfil_ a promise. In the expressions to _keep_ a secret, _keep_

one's own counsel, _keep_ faith, or _keep_ the faith, such words as

_preserve_ or _maintain_ could not be substituted without loss. A person

_keeps_ a shop or store, _conducts_ or _carries on_ a business; he

_keeps_ or _carries_ a certain line of goods; we may _keep_ or

_restrain_ one from folly, crime, or violence; we _keep_ from or

_refrain_ from evil, ourselves. _Keep_ in the sense of _guard_ or

_defend_ implies that the defense is effectual. Compare CELEBRATE;

RESTRAIN.

Prepositions:

Keep _in_ hand, _in_ mind, _in_ or _within_ the house; _from_ evil; _out

of_ mischief; keep _to_ the subject; keep _for_ a person, an occasion,

etc.

* * * * *

KILL.

Synonyms:

assassinate, despatch, massacre, put to death, slay.

butcher, execute, murder, slaughter,

To _kill_ is simply to deprive of life, human, animal, or vegetable,

with no suggestion of how or why. _Assassinate_, _execute_, _murder_,

apply only to the taking of human life; to _murder_ is to _kill_ with

premeditation and malicious intent; to _execute_ is to _kill_ in

fulfilment of a legal sentence; to _assassinate_ is to _kill_ by

assault; this word is chiefly applied to the _killing_ of public or

eminent persons through alleged political motives, whether secretly or

openly. To _slay_ is to _kill_ by a blow, or by a weapon. _Butcher_ and

_slaughter_ apply primarily to the _killing_ of cattle; _massacre_ is

applied primarily and almost exclusively to human beings, signifying to

_kill_ them indiscriminately in large numbers; to _massacre_ is said

when there is no chance of successful resistance; to _butcher_ when the

_killing_ is especially brutal; soldiers mown down in a hopeless charge

are said to be _slaughtered_ when no brutality on the enemy's part is

implied. To _despatch_ is to _kill_ swiftly and in general quietly,

always with intention, with or without right.

Prepositions:

To kill _with_ or _by_ sword, famine, pestilence, care, grief, etc.;

killed _for_ his money, _by_ a robber, _with_ a dagger.

* * * * *

KIN.

Synonyms:

affinity, blood, descent, kind, race,

alliance, consanguinity, family, kindred, relationship.

birth,

_Kind_ is broader than _kin_, denoting the most general _relationship_,

as of the whole human species in man_kind_, human_kind_, etc.; _kin_ and

_kindred_ denote direct _relationship_ that can be traced through either

blood or marriage, preferably the former; either of these words may

signify collectively all persons of the same blood or members of the

same family, relatives or relations. _Affinity_ is _relationship_ by

marriage, _consanguinity_ is _relationship_ by blood. There are no true

antonyms of _kin_ or _kindred_, except those made by negatives, since

strangers, aliens, foreigners, and foes may still be _kin_ or _kindred_.

* * * * *

KNOWLEDGE.

Synonyms:

acquaintance, erudition, learning, recognition,

apprehension, experience, light, scholarship,

cognition, information, lore, science,

cognizance, intelligence, perception, wisdom.

comprehension, intuition,

_Knowledge_ is all that the mind knows, from whatever source derived or

obtained, or by whatever process; the aggregate of facts, truths, or

principles acquired or retained by the mind, including alike the

_intuitions_ native to the mind and all that has been learned respecting

phenomena, causes, laws, principles, literature, etc. There is a

tendency to regard _knowledge_ as accurate and systematic, and to a

certain degree complete. _Information_ is _knowledge_ of fact, real or

supposed, derived from persons, books, or observation, and is regarded

as casual and haphazard. We say of a studious man that he has a great

store of _knowledge_, or of an intelligent man of the world, that he has

a fund of varied _information_. _Lore_ is used only in poetic or

elevated style, for accumulated _knowledge_, as of a people or age, or

in a more limited sense for _learning_ or _erudition_. We speak of

_perception_ of external objects, _apprehension_ of intellectual truth.

Simple _perception_ gives a limited _knowledge_ of external objects,

merely as such; the _cognition_ of the same objects is a _knowledge_ of

them in some relation; _cognizance_ is the formal or official

_recognition_ of something as an object of _knowledge_; we take

_cognizance_ of it. _Intuition_ is primary _knowledge_ antecedent to all

teaching or reasoning, _experience_ is _knowledge_ that has entered

directly into one's own life; as, a child's _experience_ that fire will

burn. _Learning_ is much higher than _information_, being preeminently

wide and systematic _knowledge_, the result of long, assiduous study;

_erudition_ is recondite _learning_ secured only by extraordinary

industry, opportunity, and ability. Compare ACQUAINTANCE; EDUCATION;

SCIENCE; WISDOM.

Antonyms:

ignorance, inexperience, misconception, rudeness,

illiteracy, misapprehension, misunderstanding, unfamiliarity.

* * * * *

LANGUAGE.

Synonyms:

barbarism, expression, patois, vernacular,

dialect, idiom, speech, vocabulary.

diction, mother tongue, tongue,

_Language_ (F. _langage_ < L. _lingua_, the tongue) signified originally

_expression_ of thought by spoken words, but now in its widest sense it

signifies _expression_ of thought by any means; as, the _language_ of

the eyes, the _language_ of flowers. As regards the use of words,

_language_ in its broadest sense denotes all the uttered sounds and

their combinations into words and sentences that human beings employ for

the communication of thought, and, in a more limited sense, the words or

combinations forming a means of communication among the members of a

single nation, people, or race. _Speech_ involves always the power of

articulate utterance; we can speak of the _language_ of animals, but not

of their _speech_. A _tongue_ is the _speech_ or _language_ of some one

people, country, or race. A _dialect_ is a special mode of speaking a

_language_ peculiar to some locality or class, not recognized as in

accordance with the best usage; a _barbarism_ is a perversion of a

_language_ by ignorant foreigners, or some usage akin to that. _Idiom_

refers to the construction of phrases and sentences, and the way of

forming or using words; it is the peculiar mold in which each _language_

casts its thought. The great difficulty of translation is to give the

thought expressed in one _language_ in the _idiom_ of another. A

_dialect_ may be used by the highest as well as the lowest within its

range; a _patois_ is distinctly illiterate, belonging to the lower

classes; those who speak a _patois_ understand the cultured form of

their own language, but speak only the degraded form, as in the case of

the Italian lazzaroni or the former negro slaves in the United States.

_Vernacular_, from the Latin, has the same general sense as the Saxon

_mother tongue_, of one's native _language_, or that of a people; as,

the Scriptures were translated into the _vernacular_. Compare DICTION.

* * * * *

LARGE.

Synonyms:

abundant, coarse, gigantic, long,

ample, colossal, grand, massive,

big, commodious, great, spacious,

broad, considerable, huge, vast,

bulky, enormous, immense, wide.

capacious, extensive,

_Large_ denotes extension in more than one direction, and beyond the

average of the class to which the object belongs; we speak of a _large_

surface or a _large_ solid, but of a _long_ line; a _large_ field, a

_large_ room, a _large_ apple, etc. A _large_ man is a man of more than

ordinary size; a _great_ man is a man of remarkable mental power. _Big_

is a more emphatic word than _large_, but of less dignity. We do not say

that George Washington was a _big_ man.

Antonyms:

brief, limited, minute, scanty, small,

diminutive, little, narrow, short, tiny,

inconsiderable, mean, paltry, slender, trifling,

infinitesimal, microscopic, petty, slight, trivial.

insignificant,

* * * * *

LAW.

Synonyms:

canon, economy, legislation, principle,

code, edict, mandate, regulation,

command, enactment, order, rule,

commandment, formula, ordinance, statute.

decree, jurisprudence, polity,

_Law_, in its ideal, is the statement of a _principle_ of right in

mandatory form, by competent authority, with adequate penalty for

disobedience; in common use, the term is applied to any legislative act,

however imperfect or unjust. _Command_ and _commandment_ are personal

and particular; as, the _commands_ of a parent; the ten _commandments_.

An _edict_ is the act of an absolute sovereign or other authority; we

speak of the _edict_ of an emperor, the _decree_ of a court. A _mandate_

is specific, for an occasion or a purpose; a superior court issues its

_mandate_ to an inferior court to send up its records. _Statute_ is the

recognized legal term for a specific _law_; _enactment_ is the more

vague and general expression. We speak of algebraic or chemical

_formulas_, municipal _ordinances_, military _orders_, army

_regulations_, ecclesiastical _canons_, the _rules_ of a business house.

_Law_ is often used, also, for a recognized _principle_, whose violation

is attended with injury or loss that acts like a penalty; as, the _laws_

of business; the _laws_ of nature. In more strictly scientific use, a

natural _law_ is simply a recognized system of sequences or relations;

as, Kepler's _laws_ of planetary distances. A _code_ is a system of

_laws_; _jurisprudence_ is the science of _law_, or a system of _laws_

scientifically considered, classed, and interpreted; _legislation_,

primarily the act of legislating, denotes also the body of _statutes_

enacted by a legislative body. An _economy_ (Gr. _oikonomia_, primarily

the management of a house) is any comprehensive system of

administration; as, domestic _economy_; but the word is extended to the

administration or government of a state or people, signifying a body of

_laws_ and _regulations_, with the entire system, political or

religious, especially the latter, of which they form a part; as, the

_code_ of Draco, Roman _jurisprudence_, British _legislation_, the

Mosaic _economy_. _Law_ is also used as a collective noun for a system

of _laws_ or recognized _rules_ or _regulations_, including not only all

special _laws_, but the _principles_ on which they are based. The Mosaic

_economy_ is known also as the Mosaic _law_, and we speak of the English

common _law_, or the _law_ of nations. _Polity_ (Gr. _politeia_, from

_polis_, a city) signifies the form, constitution, or method of

government of a nation, state, church, or other institution; in usage it

differs from _economy_ as applying rather to the system, while _economy_

applies especially to method, or to the system as administered; an

_economy_ might be termed a _polity_ considered with especial reference

to its practical administration, hence commonly with special reference

to details or particulars, while _polity_ has more reference to broad

_principles_.

* * * * *

LIBERTY.

Synonyms:

emancipation, freedom, independence, license.

In general terms, it may be said that _freedom_ is absolute, _liberty_

relative; _freedom_ is the absence of restraint, _liberty_ is primarily

the removal or avoidance of restraint; in its broadest sense, it is the

state of being exempt from the domination of others or from restricting

circumstances. _Freedom_ and _liberty_ are constantly interchanged; the

slave is set at _liberty_, or gains his _freedom_; but _freedom_ is the

nobler word. _Independence_ is said of states or nations, _freedom_ and

_liberty_ of individuals; the _independence_ of the United States did

not secure _liberty_ or _freedom_ to its slaves. _Liberty_ keeps quite

strictly to the thought of being clear of restraint or compulsion;

_freedom_ takes a wider range, applying to other oppressive influences;

thus, we speak of _freedom_ from annoyance or intrusion. _License_ is,

in its limited sense, a permission or privilege granted by adequate

authority, a bounded _liberty_; in the wider sense, _license_ is an

ignoring and defiance of all that should restrain, and a reckless doing

of all that individual caprice or passion may choose to do--a base and

dangerous counterfeit of _freedom_. Compare ALLOW; PERMISSION.

Antonyms:

captivity, imprisonment, oppression, slavery,

compulsion, necessity, serfdom, superstition,

constraint, obligation, servitude, thraldom.

* * * * *

LIGHT.

Synonyms:

blaze, gleam, glow, shimmer,

flame, gleaming, illumination, shine,

flare, glimmer, incandescence, shining,

flash, glistening, luster, sparkle,

flicker, glistering, scintillation, twinkle,

glare, glitter, sheen, twinkling.

_Light_, strictly denoting a form of radiant energy, is used as a

general term for any luminous effect discernible by the eye, from the

faintest phosphorescence to the _blaze_ of the noonday sun. A _flame_ is

both hot and luminous; if it contains few solid particles it will yield

little _light_, tho it may afford intense heat, as in the case of a

hydrogen-_flame_. A _blaze_ is an extensive, brilliant _flame_. A

_flare_ is a wavering _flame_ or _blaze_; a _flash_ is a _light_ that

appears and disappears in an instant; as, a _flash_ of lightning; the

_flash_ of gunpowder. The _glare_ and _glow_ are steady, the _glare_

painfully bright, the _glow_ subdued; as, the _glare_ of torches; the

_glow_ of dying embers. _Shine_ and _shining_ refer to a steady or

continuous emission of _light_; _sheen_ is a faint _shining_, usually by

reflection. _Glimmer_, _glitter_, and _shimmer_ denote wavering _light_.

We speak of the _glimmer_ of distant lamps through the mist; of the

_shimmer_ of waves in sun_light_ or moon_light_. A _gleam_ is not

wavering, but transient or intermittent; a sudden _gleam_ of _light_

came through the half-open door; a _glitter_ is a hard _light_; as, the

_glitter_ of burnished arms. A _sparkle_ is a sudden _light_, as of

sparks thrown out; _scintillation_ is the more exact and scientific term

for the actual emission of sparks, also the figurative term for what

suggests such emission; as, _scintillations_ of wit or of genius.

_Twinkle_ and _twinkling_ are used of the intermittent _light_ of the

fixed stars. _Glistening_ is a _shining_ as from a wet surface.

_Illumination_ is a wide-spread, brilliant _light_, as when all the

windows of a house or of a street are lighted. The _light_ of

_incandescence_ is intense and white like that from metal at a white

heat.

Antonyms:

blackness, darkness, dusk, gloominess, shade,

dark, dimness, gloom, obscurity, shadow.

* * * * *

LIKELY.

Synonyms:

apt, conceivable, liable, probable,

credible, conjectural, presumable, reasonable.

_Apt_ implies a natural fitness or tendency; an impetuous person is

_apt_ to speak hastily. _Liable_ refers to a contingency regarded as

unfavorable; as, the ship was _liable_ to founder at any moment.

_Likely_ refers to a contingent event regarded as very probable, and

usually, tho not always, favorable; as, an industrious worker is

_likely_ to succeed. _Credible_ signifies readily to be believed; as, a

_credible_ narrative; _likely_ in such connection is used ironically to

signify the reverse; as, a _likely_ story! A thing is _conceivable_ of

which the mind can entertain the possibility; a thing is _conjectural_

which is conjectured as possible or probable without other support than

a conjecture, or tentative judgment; a thing is _presumable_ which, from

what is antecedently known, may betaken for granted in advance of proof.

_Reasonable_ in this connection signifies such as the reason can be

satisfied with, independently of external grounds for belief or

disbelief; as, that seems a _reasonable_ supposition. Compare APPARENT.

Antonyms:

doubtful, improbable, questionable, unreasonable.

dubious, incredible, unlikely,

* * * * *

LISTEN.