 Section 24 of English synonyms and antonyms English synonyms and antonyms This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Dennis Sayers. English synonyms and antonyms By James Champlin Fernald Eager to emigrate Eager synonyms Animated, anxious, ardent, burning, desirous, earnest, enthusiastic, fervent, glowing, hot, impatient, impetuous, importunate, intense, intent, keen, longing, vehement, yearning, zealous. One is eager who impatiently desires to accomplish some end. One is earnest with a desire that is less impatient, but more deep, resolute, and constant. One is anxious with a desire that foresees rather the pain of disappointment than the delight of attainment. One is eager for the gratification of any appetite or passion. He is earnest in conviction, purpose, or character. Eager usually refers to some specific and immediate satisfaction, earnest to something permanent and enduring. The patriotic soldier is earnest in his devotion to his country, eager for a decisive battle. Antonyms, apathetic, calm, careless, cold, cool, dispassionate, frigid, heedless, indifferent, negligent, pragmatic, purposeless, regardless, stolid, stony, stupid, unconcerned, uninterested, unmindful, unmoved. Prepositions, eager for, more rarely, after favor, honor, etc. Eager in pursuit, ease, synonyms, easiness, expertness, facility, knack, readiness. Ease, in the sense here considered, denotes freedom from conscious or apparent effort, tax or strain. Ease may be either of condition or of action. Facility is always of action. Readiness is of action or of expected action. One lives at ease, who has no pressing cares. One stands at ease, moves or speaks with ease when wholly without constraint. Facility is always active. Readiness may be active or passive. The speaker has facility of expression, readiness of wit. Any appliance is in readiness for use. Ease of action may imply merely the possession of ample power. Facility always implies practice and skill. Anyone can press down the keys of a typewriter with ease. Only the skilled operator works the machine with facility. Readiness, in the active sense, includes much of the meaning of ease with the added idea of promptness or alertness. Easiness applies to the thing done rather than to the doer. Expertness applies to the more mechanical processes of body and mind. We speak of the readiness of an orator, but of the expertness of a gymnast. Compare comfortable, dexterity, power, antonyms, annoyance, awkwardness, constraint, difficulty, discomfort, disquiet, irritation, perplexity, trouble, uneasiness, vexation, worry, education, synonyms. Breeding, cultivation, culture, development, discipline, information, instruction, knowledge, learning, nurture, reading, schooling, study, teaching, training, tuition. Education, from the Latin, edusere, to lead or draw out, is the systematic development of cultivation of the mind and other natural powers. Education is the harmonious development of all our faculties. It begins in the nursery and goes on at school, but does not end there. It continues through life, whether we will or not. Every person, says Gibbon, has two educations, one which he receives from others, and one more important, which he gives himself. End of quote. John Lubbock, The Use of Life. Chapter 7, page 111, McMillan 94. Instruction, the impartation of knowledge by others, from the Latin instere, or to build in or into, is but a part of education, often the smallest part. Teaching is the more familiar and less formal word for instruction. Training refers not merely to the impartation of knowledge, but to the exercising of one in actions, with the design to form habits. Discipline is systematic and rigorous training, with the idea of subjection to authority and perhaps of punishment. Tuition is the technical term for teaching as the business of an instructor, or as in the routine of a school. Tuition is narrower than teaching, not like the latter word, including training. Study is emphatically what one does for himself. We speak of the teaching, training, or discipline, but not of the education or tuition of a dog or a horse. Breeding and nurture include teaching and training, especially as directed by and dependent upon home life and personal association. Breeding, having reference largely to manners, with such qualities as are deemed, distinctively characteristic of high birth. Nurture, literally nourishing, having more direct reference to moral qualities, not overlooking the physical and mental. Knowledge and learning tell nothing of mental development, apart from the capacity, to acquire and remember, and nothing whatever of that moral development, which is included in education, in its fullest and noblest sense. Learning, too, may be acquired by one's unaided industry, but any full education must be the result and great part of instruction, training and personal association. Study is emphatically what one does for himself, and, in which instruction and tuition can only point the way, encourage the student to advance and remove obstacles. Vigorous, persevering study is one of the best elements of training. Study is also used in the sense of the thing studied, a subject to be mastered by study, a studious pursuit. Compare knowledge, refinement, wisdom. Antonyms, ignorance, illiteracy. Compare synonyms for ignorant. Ephrontery. Synonyms. Assurance, audacity, boldness, brass, hardy-hood, impudence, insolence, shamelessness. Audacity, in the sense here considered, is a reckless defiance of law, decency, public opinion, or personal rights, claims, or views, approaching the meaning of impudence, or shamelessness, but always carrying the thought of the personal risk that one disregards in such defiance. The merely impudent, or shameless person, may take no thought of consequences. The audacious person recognizes and recklessly braves them. Hardy-hood defies and disregards the rational judgment of men. Ephrontery, from the Latin effrons, bare-faced, shameless, adds to audacity and hardy-hood the special element of defiance of considerations of propriety, duty, and respect for others, yet not to the extent implied in impudence or shamelessness. Impudence disregards what is due to superiors. Shamelessness defies decency. Boldness is forward-stepping courage, spoken of with reference to the presence and observation of others. Boldness, in the good sense, is courage viewed from the outside, but the word is frequently used in an unfavorable sense to indicate a lack of proper sensitiveness and modesty. Compare assurance and brave. Antonyms, bashfulness, coyness, diffidence, modesty, sensitiveness, shrinking, shyness, timidity, egotism. Synonyms, conceit, egoism, self-assertion, self-conceit, self-confidence, self-consciousness, self-esteem, vanity. Egoism is giving the eye undue supremacy and thought. Egotism is giving the eye undue prominence in speech. Egotism is sometimes used in the sense of egoism or supreme regard for oneself. Self-assertion is the claim by word, act, or manner of what one believes to be his due. Self-conceit is an overestimate of one's own powers or desserts. Conceit is a briefer expression for self-conceit. With always an offensive implication. Self-conceit is ridiculous or pitiable. Conceit arouses resentment. There is a worthy self-confidence which springs from consciousness of rectitude and of power equal to demands. Self-assertion at times becomes a duty, but self-conceit is always a weakness. Self-consciousness is the keeping of one's thoughts upon oneself with the constant anxious question of what others will think. Vanity is an over-winning admiration of self, craving equal admiration from others. Self-consciousness is commonly painful to its possessor. Vanity always a source of satisfaction. Except as it fails to receive its supposed due. Self-esteem is more solid and better founded than self-conceit, but is ordinarily a weakness and never has the worthy sense of self-confidence. Compare assurance pride. Antonyms, bashfulness, deference, diffidence, humility, modesty, self-distressed, self-forgetfulness, shyness, unobtrusiveness, unostentatiousness. Emblem, synonyms, attribute, figure, image, sign, symbol, token, type. Emblem is the English form of emblema. A Latin word of Greek origin signifying a figure beaten out on a metallic vessel by blows from within. Also a figure inlaid in wood, stone, or other material as a copy of some natural object. The Greek word symbolon denoted a victor's wreath, a check, or any object that might be compared with or found to correspond with another. Whether there was or not, anything in the objects compared to suggest the comparison. Thus an emblem resembles, a symbol represents. An emblem has some natural fitness to suggest that for which it stands. A symbol has been chosen or agreed upon to suggest something else, with or without natural fitness. A sign does actually suggest the thing with or without reason, and with or without intention or choice. A symbol may be also an emblem. Thus the elements of bread and wine in the Lord's Supper are both appropriate emblems and his own chosen symbols of suffering and death. A statement of doctrine is often called a symbol of faith, but it is not an emblem. On the other hand, the same thing may be both a sign and a symbol. The figure of the alphabet is a sign which indicates a sound, but letters are often used as mathematical, chemical, or astronomical symbols. A token is something given or done as a pledge or expression of feeling or intent. While the sign may be unintentional, the token is voluntary. Looks may be signs of regard. A gift is a token. A ring, which is a natural emblem of eternity and also its accepted symbol, is frequently given as a token of friendship or love. A figure, in the sense here considered, is something that represents an idea to the mind, somewhat as a form is represented to the eye. As in drawing, painting, or sculpture. As representing a future reality, a figure may be practically the same as a type. An image is a visible representation, especially in sculpture, having or supposed to have a close resemblance to that which it represents. A type is, in religion, a representation of a greater reality to come. We speak of one object as the type of the class whose characteristics it exhibits, as in the case of animal or vegetable types. An attribute in art is some accessory used to characterize a figure or scene. The attribute is often an emblem or symbol. Thus the eagle is the attribute of Saint John as an emblem of lofty spiritual vision. Compare sign. Immigrate. Synonyms. Immigrate. Migrate. To migrate is to change one's dwelling place, usually with the idea of repeated change, or of periodical return. It applies to wandering tribes of men and to many birds and animals. Emigrate and immigrate carry the idea of a permanent change of residence to some other country or some distant region. The two words are used distinctively of human beings and apply to the same person and the same act, according to the side from which the action is viewed. Prepositions. A person emigrates from the land he leaves. He emigrates to the land where he takes up his abode. End of Section 24. Read by Dennis Sayers in Modesto, California for LibriVox. Section 25 of English Synonyms and Antonyms. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by James O'Connor. English Synonyms and Antonyms by James Chaplin Fernald. Employ to enmity. Employ. Synonyms. Call. Engage. Engross. Hire. Make use of. Use. Use up. In general terms, it may be said that to employ is to devote to one's purpose. To use is to rend a subservient to one's purpose. What is used is viewed as more absolutely an instrument than what is employed. A merchant employs a clerk. He uses pen and paper. As a rule, use is not set of persons except in a degrading sense, as the conspirators used him as a go-between. Hence the expression common in some religious circles. That God would use me. Is not to be commended. It also has the fault of representing the human worker as absolutely a passive and helpless instrument. The phrase is altogether unscriptural. The scripture says, We are laborers together with co-workers with God. That which is used is often consumed in the using. Or in familiar phrase, used up. As we used 20 tons of coal last winter. In such cases we could not substitute employ. A person may be employed in his own work. Or in that of another. In the latter case, the service is always understood to be for pay. In this connection, employ is a word of more dignity than hire. A general is employed in his country's service. A mercenary adventurer is hired to fight a tyrant's battles. It is unsuitable, according to present usage, to speak of hiring a pastor. The scripture indeed says of the preacher, The laborer is worthy of his hire. But this sense is archaic. And hire now implies that the one hired works directly and primarily for the pay. As expressed in the noun, hireling. A pastor is properly said to be called. Or when the business side of the transaction is referred to, engaged, or possibly employed at a certain salary. Prepositions. Employ in, on, upon, or about a work, business, etc. For a purpose. At a stipulated salary. In. Verb. Synonyms. Break off. Cease. Close. Complete. Conclude. Desist. Expire. Finish. Quit. Stop. Terminate. Wind up. That ends or is ended of which there is no more. Whether or not more was intended or needed. That is, closed, completed, concluded, or finished, which has come to an expected or appropriate end. A speech may be ended almost as soon as begun, because of the speaker's illness or of tumult in the audience. In such a case the speech is neither closed, completed, nor finished, nor in the strict sense concluded. An argument may be closed with nothing proved. When an argument is concluded, all that is deemed necessary to prove the point has been stated. To finish is to do the last thing there is to do, as I have finished my course. Second Timothy. Fourth, Verse 7. Finish has come to me not merely to complete in the essentials, but to perfect in all the minute details, as in the expression to add the finishing touches. The enumeration is completed. The poem, the picture, the statue is finished. To terminate may be either to bring to an arbitrary or to an appropriate end, as he terminated his remarks abruptly. The spire terminates in a cross. A thing stops at comes to rest from motion, or the motion stops or ceases when the object comes to rest. Stop frequently signifies to bring or come to a sudden and decided cessation of motion, progress, or action of any kind. Compare to, do, transact. Antonyms, see synonyms for begin. End, noun, synonyms, accomplishment, achievement, bound, boundary, cessation, close, completion, conclusion, consequence, consummation, design, effect, expiration, extent, extremity, finale, fini, finish, fulfillment, goal, intent, issue, limit, outcome, period, point, purpose, result, termination, terminus, tip, utmost, uttermost. The end is the terminal part of a material object that has length. The extremity is distinctively the terminal point and may thus be but part of the end in the general sense of that word. The extremity is viewed as that which is most remote from some center or some mean or standard position. The southern end of South America includes all Patagonia. The southern extremity or point is Cape Horn. Tip has nearly the same meaning as extremity, but is set of small or slight and tapering objects as the tip of the finger. Point in such connections is set of that which is drawn out to exceeding fineness or sharpness as the point of a needle, a fork, or a sword. Extremity is set of something considerable. We do not speak of the extremity of a needle. Terminus is chiefly used to designate the end of a line of travel or transportation, specifically the furthest station in any direction on a railway, or by extension the town or village where it is situated. Termination is the Latin and more formal word for the Saxon end, but is chiefly used of time, words, undertakings, or abstractions of any kind. Expiration signifies the coming to an end in the natural course of things as the expiration of a year or of a lease. It is used of things of some consequence. We do not ordinarily speak of the expiration of an hour or of a day. Limit implies some check to or restraint upon further advance, right, or privilege as the limits of an estate compared to boundary. A goal is an end sought or striven for as in a race. For the figurative senses of end and its associated words compare the synonyms for the verb end, also for aim, consequence, design. Antonyms see synonyms for beginning. Endeavour, verb, synonyms, attempt, essay, strive, try, undertake. To attempt is to take action somewhat experimentally with the hope and purpose of accomplishing a certain result. To endeavor is to attempt strenuously and with firm and enduring purpose. To attempt expresses a single act. To endeavor a continuous exertion. We say I will endeavor, not I will attempt while I live. To attempt is with the view of accomplishing. To essay with the view of testing our own powers. To undertake is to accept or take upon oneself as an obligation. As some business, labor, or trust, the word often implies complete assurance of success. As I will undertake to produce the witness. To strive suggests little of the result, much of toil, strain, and contest in seeking it. I will strive to fulfill your wishes, i.e., that is, I will spare no labor and exertion to do it. Try is the most comprehensive of these words. The original idea of testing or experimenting is not thought of when a man says, I will try. To attempt suggests giving up. If the thing is not accomplished at a stroke. To try implies using other means and studying out other ways if not at first successful. Endeavor is more mild and formal. The pilot in the burning pilot house does not say I will endeavor or I will attempt to hold the ship to her course, but I'll try, sir. Antonyms. Abandoned. Dismiss. Drop. Give up. Let go. Neglect. Omit. Overlook. Pass by. Throw away. Throw over. Throw up. Endeavor. Noun. Synonyms. Attempt. Effort. Essay. Exertion. Struggle. Trial. Effort denotes the voluntary putting forth of power to attain or accomplish some specific thing. It reaches toward a definite end. Exertion is a putting forth of power without special reference to an object. Every effort is an exertion, but not every exertion is an effort. Attempt is more experimental than effort. Endeavor less strenuous, but more continuous. An effort is a single act, an endeavor a continued series of acts. An endeavor is sustained and enduring and maybe lifelong. We do not have a society of Christian attempt or of Christian effort, but of Christian endeavor. A struggle is a violent effort or a strenuous exertion. An essay is an attempt, effort or endeavor, made as a test of the powers of the one who makes it, compared to endeavor verb. Indoor. Synonyms. Abide. Afford. Allow. Bear. Bear up under. Bear with. Brook. Permit. Put up with. Submit to. Suffer. Support. Sustain. Tolerate. Undergo. Bear is the most general of these words. It is metaphorically to hold up or keep up a burden of care, pain, grief, annoyance, or the like without sinking, lamenting, or repining. Allow and permit involve large concession of the will. Put up with and tolerate imply decided aversion and reluctant withholding of opposition or interference. Whispering is allowed by the school teacher who does not forbid nor censure it. One puts up with the presence of a disagreeable visitor. A state tolerates a religion which it would be glad to suppress. To endure is to bear with strain and resistance, but with conscious power. Indoor conveys a full suggestion of contest and conquest than bear. One may choose to endure the pain of a surgical operation rather than take anesthetics. He permits the thing to come which he must brace himself to endure when it comes. To afford is to be equal to a pecuniary demand, i.e. that is, to be able to bear it. To brook is quietly to put up with provocation or insult. Abide combines the senses of a wait and endure as I will abide the result. Compare to abide, support. Antonyms break, break down, despair, droop, fail, fate, fall, falter, give out, give up, sink, succumb, surrender, yield. Enemy synonyms, adversary, antagonist, competitor, foe, opponent, rival. An enemy in private life is one who is moved by hostile feeling with active disposition to injure, but in military language all who fight on the opposite side are called enemies, or collectively the enemy, where no personal animosity may be implied. Foe, which is rather a poetical and literary word, implies intensely hostile spirit and purpose. An antagonist is one who opposes and is opposed actively and with intensity of effort. An opponent, one in whom the attitude of resistance is the more prominent. A competitor, one who seeks the same object for which another is striving. Antagonists in wrestling, competitors in business, opponents in debate, may contend with no personal ill will. Rivals in love, ambition, et cetera, rarely avoid inimical feeling. Adversary was formally much used in the general sense of antagonist or opponent, but is now less common and largely restricted to the hostile sense. An adversary is ordinarily one who not only opposes another in fact, but does so with hostile spirit, or perhaps out of pure malignity, as the great adversary compares synonyms for ambition. Antonyms, a better accessory, accomplice, ally, friend, helper, supporter, prepositions. He was the enemy of my friend in the contest. Inmity, synonyms, acrimony, animosity, antagonism, bitterness, hatred, hostility, ill will, malevolence, malice, malignity, rank or spite. Inmity is a state of being an enemy, or the feeling and disposition characterizing an enemy, compared to enemy. Animosity denotes a feeling more active in vehement, but often less enduring and determined than inmity. Inmity distinctly recognizes its object as an enemy to be met or dealt with accordingly. Hostility is inmity in action. The term hostilities between nations denotes actual armed collision. Bitterness is a resentful feeling arising from a belief that one has been wronged. Acrimony is a kindred feeling, but deeper and more persistent, and may arise from the crossing of one's wishes or plans by another, where no injustice or wrong is felt. Antagonism as between two competing authors or merchants does not necessarily imply inmity, but ordinarily suggests the shade, at least, of hostile feeling. Malice is a disposition or intent to injure others for the gratification of some evil passion. Malignity is intense and violent inmity, hatred, or malice. Compare synonyms for acrimony, anger, hatred. Antonyms, agreement, alliance, amity, concord, friendship, harmony, kindliness, kindness, regard, sympathy. End of section 25, recording by James O'Connor, Randolph, Massachusetts, December 2009. Section 26 of English synonyms and antonyms. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. English synonyms and antonyms by James Champlin-Fernald from entertain to esteem now. Entertain synonyms, amuse, beguile, cheer, delight, despot, divert, enliven, gratify, interest, occupy, please, recreate. To entertain in the sense here considered is to engage and pleasantly occupy the attention. To amuse is to occupy the attention in an especially bright and cheerful way, often with that which excites merriment or laughter, as he entertained us with an amusing story. To divert is to turn from serious thoughts or laborious pursuits to something that lightly and agreeably occupies the mind. One may be entertained or amused who has nothing serious or laborious from which to be diverted. To recreate, literally to recreate, is to engage mind or body in some pleasing activity that restores strength and energy for serious work. To beguile is, as it were, to cheat, into cheer and comfort by something that insensibly draws thought or feeling away from pain or disquiet. We beguile a weary hour, cheer the despondent, divert the preoccupied, enliven a dull evening or company, gratify our friend's wishes, entertain, interest, please, a listening audience, occupy idle time, disport ourselves when merry, recreate when worn with toil. We amuse ourselves or others with whatever pleasantly passes the time without special exertion each according to his taste. Antonyms, annoy, bore, busy, disquiet, distract, disturb, tire, weary. Entertainment, synonyms, amusement, cheer, delight, diversion, enjoyment, frolic, fun, merriment, pastime, pleasure, recreation, sport. Entertainment and recreation imply thought and mental occupation, though in an agreeable, refreshing way. They are therefore words of a higher order. Entertainment, apart from its special senses of a public performance or a social party and predominantly even there, is used of somewhat mirthful mental delight. Recreation may and usually does combine the mental with the physical. Amusement and pastime are nearly equivalent. The latter, probably the lighter word. Many slight things may be pastimes, which we should hardly dignify by the name of amusements. Sports are almost wholly on the physical plane, though involving a certain grade of mental action. Fox hunting, horse racing and baseball are sports. Certain sports may afford entertainment or recreation to certain persons according to their individual tastes. But entertainment and recreation are capable of a meaning so high as to never be approached by any meaning of sport. Cheer may be very quiet, as the cheer of a bright fire to an aged traveller. Merriment is with liveliness and laughter. Fun and frolic are apt to be boisterous. Amusement is a form of enjoyment, but enjoyment may be too keen to be called amusement. Compare synonyms for entertain. Antonyms, ennui, fatigue, labour, lassitude, toil, weariness, work. Enthusiasm. Synonyms, ardour, devotion, eagerness, earnestness, ecstasy, excitement, extravagance, fanaticism, fervency, fervour, frenzy, inspiration, intensity, passion, rapture, transport, vehemence, warmth, zeal. The old meaning of enthusiasm implies a pseudo-inspiration, an almost frantic extravagance in behalf of something supposed to be an expression of the divine will. This sense remains as a controlling one in the kindred-noun enthusiast. Enthusiasm is now chiefly the meaning of an earnest and commendable devotion, an intense and eager interest. Against the hindrances of the world nothing great and good can be carried without a certain fervour, intensity and vehemence. These joined with faith, courage and hopefulness make enthusiasm. Zeal is burning earnestness, always tending to vigorous action with all the devotion of enthusiasm, though often without its hopefulness. Compare eager. Antonyms. Calculation, calmness, caution, coldness, deadness, dullness, indifference, lukewarmness, policy, prudence, timidity, weariness. Entrance. Synonyms. Access, accession, aided, admission, admittance, approach, door, doorway, entree, entry, gate, gateway, ingress, inlet, introduction, opening, penetration, portal. Entrance. The act of entering refers merely to the fact of passing from without to within some enclosure. Admission and admittance refer to entering by or with someone's consent, or at least to opportunity afforded by someone's act or neglect. We may affect or force an entrance, but not admittance or admission. Those we gain, procure, obtain, secure, win. Admittance refers to place, admission refers also to position, privilege, favor, friendship, etc. An intruder may gain admittance to the whole of a society who would not be allowed admission to its membership. Approach is a movement toward another. Access is coming all the way to his presence, recognition and consideration. An unworthy favorite may prevent even those who gain admittance to a king's audience from obtaining any real access to the king. Entrance is also used figuratively for setting out upon some career or becoming a member of some organization as we speak of one's entrance upon college life or of entrance into the ministry. Antonyms, departure, egress, ejection, exclusion, exit, expulsion, refusal, rejection, withdrawal, prepositions, entrance into a place, on or upon a work or course of action, into or upon office, into battle, by or through the door, within the gates, into or among the company. Envious, synonyms, jealous, suspicious. One is envious who cherishes selfish ill will toward another because of his superior success, endowments, possessions or the like. A person is envious of that which is another's and to which he himself has no right or claim. He is jealous of intrusion upon that which is his own or to which he maintains a right or claim. An envious spirit is always bad. A jealous spirit may be good or bad according to its object and tendency. A free people must be jealous of their liberties if they would retain them. He is suspicious of another from unfavorable indications or from a knowledge of wrong in his previous conduct or even without reason compare doubt. Antonyms contented, friendly, kindly satisfied, trustful, well-disposed, prepositions, envious of formally at or against a person, envious of his wealth or power, envious of him for, because of, of his wealth or power. Equivocal synonyms ambiguous, doubtful, dubious, enigmatic enigmatical, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, obscure, perplexing, questionable, suspicious, uncertain. Equivocal, Latin equous, equal and vox voice word denotes that which may equally well be understood in either of two meanings. Ambiguous Latin ambi, around and agor, drive, lead, signifies lacking indistinctness or certainty, obscure or doubtful through indefiniteness of expression. Ambiguous is applied only to spoken or written statements. Equivocal has other applications. A statement is ambiguous when it leaves the mind of the reader or hearer to fluctuate between two meanings, which would fit the language equally well. It is equivocal when it would naturally be understood in one way but is capable of a different interpretation. An equivocal expression is, as a rule, intentionally deceptive, while an ambiguous utterance may be simply the result of a want of either clear thought or of adequate expression. That which is enigmatical must be guest lack or riddle. A statement may be purposely made enigmatical in order to provoke thought and study. That is doubtful, which is fairly open to doubt. That is dubious, which has become the subject of doubt so grave as to scarcely fall short of condemnation as a dubious reputation. Questionable may be used nearly in the sense either of dubious or of doubtful. A questionable statement is one that must be proved before it can be accepted. To say that one's honesty is questionable is a mild way of saying that in the opinion of the speaker he is likely to prove dishonest. Equivocal is sometimes, though more rarely used in this sense. A suspicious character gives manifest reason to be suspected. A suspicious temper is inclined to suspect the motives and intentions of others with or without reason. Compare clear antonyms, certain, clear, distinct, evident, indisputable, indubitable, lucid, manifest, obvious, perspicuous, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal, questionable, unquestioned. Esteem, verb, synonyms, appreciate, calculate, consider, deem, estimate, hold, prize, regard, think, value. Esteem and estimate are like implied to set a certain mental value upon, but esteem is less precise and mercantile than calculate or estimate. We esteem a dual precious. We estimate it to be worth so much money. This sense of esteem is now chiefly found in literary or oratorical style and in certain conventional phrases as I esteem at an honour, a favour. In popular usage esteem, a set of persons denotes a union of respect and kindly feeling and in the highest sense of moral approbation as one whom I highly esteem. The word may be used in a similar sense of material things or abstractions as one whose friendship I esteem, a shell greatly esteemed for inlaid work. To appreciate anything is to be deeply or keenly sensible of or sense to its qualities or influence, to see its full import, to be alive to its value, importance or worth as to appreciate beauty or harmony, to appreciate one's services in a cause. The word is similarly though fairly used of persons. To prize is to set a high value on for something more than merely commercial reasons. One may value some object as a picture, beyond all price as a family heirloom, or may prize it as the gift of an esteemed friend without at all appreciating its autistic merit or commercial value. To regard French, Regardez, look at, observe is to have a certain mental view favourable or unfavourable. As I regard him as a friend or I regard him as a villain regard has a distinctively favourable sense as applied to institutions properties, duties etc. but does not share the use of the noun regard as applied to persons. We regard the Sabbath we regard a person's feelings we have a regard for the person compare esteem, noun esteem, noun synonyms estimate, estimation favour, regard, respect esteem for a person is a favourable opinion on the basis of worth, especially of moral worth, joined with a feeling of interest in and attraction toward the person. Regard for a person is the mental view or feeling that springs from a sense of his value excellence or superiority the cordial and hearty friendliness regard is more personal and less distant than esteem and adds a special kindliness respect is a more distant word than esteem respect may be wholly on one side while regard is more often mutual respect in the fullest sense is given to what is lofty, worthy and honourable or to a person of such qualities we may pay an external respect to one of lofty station regardless of personal qualities showing respect for the office estimate has more of calculation as my estimate of the man or of his abilities is very high estimation involves idea of calculation or appraisal with that of esteem or regard and is especially used of the feeling entertained by numbers of people as he stood high in public estimation compare esteem, verb friendship, love antonyms, abhorrence antipathy aversion, contempt dislike, hatred loathing, repugnance end of section 26 recording by Estelle Jobson Rome, Italy section 27 of English synonyms and antonyms this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by James O'Connor English synonyms and antonyms by James Champlin-Fernald eternal to exterminate eternal synonyms deathless endless heonian everlasting everlasting immortal imperishable never ending never failing perennial perpetual timeless unceasing undying unending unfading unfailing without end eternal strictly signifies without beginning or end in which sense it applies to God alone everlasting applies to that which may or may not have beginning but will never cease eternal is also used in this more limited sense endless without end in its utmost reach is not distinguishable from everlasting but endless is constantly used in inferior senses especially in mechanics as in the phrases an endless screw an endless chain everlasting and endless are both used in a limited sense of protracted indefinite but not infinite duration as the everlasting hills endless debates so we speak of interminable quarrels eternal holds quite strictly to the vast and sacred meaning in which it is applied to the divine being and the future state everlasting endless and eternal may be applied to that which has no life as everlasting chains endless night eternal death immoral applies to that which now has life and is forever exempt from death timeless carries perhaps the fullest idea of eternal as above and beyond time and not to be measured by it event synonyms case circumstance consequence contingency end episode fact fortune incident sequel etymologically the incident is that which falls in the event that which comes out event is thus greater and more signal than incident we speak of trifling incidents, great events incidents of daily life events of history circumstance agrees with incidents in denoting a matter of relatively slight importance but implies a more direct connection with the principal matter circumstantial evidence is evidence from seemingly minor matters directly connected with a case incidental evidence would be some evidence that happened unexpectedly to touch it an occurrence is etymologically that which we run against without thought of its origin connection or tendency an episode is connected with the main course of events like an incident or circumstance but is of more independent interest and importance outcome is the Saxon, an event the Latin for expressing the same original idea consequence or result would express more of logical connection and be more comprehensive the end may be simple cessation the event is what has been accomplished the event of a war is victory or defeat the end of the war is reached when the treaty of peace is signed since the future is contingent event comes to have the meaning of a contingency as in the event of his death the policy will at once fall do compare to circumstance consequence every synonyms all any both each either all and both are collective any each and every are distributive any makes no selection and may not reach to the full limits of all each and every make no exception or omission and must extend to all a promise made to all omits none a promise made to any may not reach all a promise made to everyone is so made that no individual shall fail to be aware of it a promise made to each is made to the individuals personally one by one each is thus more individual each is thus more individual each is thus more individual and specific than every every classifies each individualizes each divides both unites if a certain sum is given to each of two persons both together must receive twice the amount both must be aware of what has been separately communicated to each a man may fire both barrels of a gun by a single movement if he fires each barrel he discharges them separately either properly denotes one of two indefinitely to the exclusion of the other the use of either in the sense of each or both though sustained by good authority is objectionable because ambiguous his friend sat on either side of the room would naturally mean on one side or the other if the meaning is on both sides it would be better to say so evident synonyms apparent clear conspicuous discernible distinct glaring manifest obvious open palpable perceptible plain tangible transparent unmistakable visible that is apparent which clearly appears to the senses or to the mind as soon as the attention is directed toward it that is evident of which the mind is made sure by some inference that supplements the facts of perception the marks of a struggle were apparent in broken shrubbery and trampled ground and the finding of a mutilated body and a rifled purse made it evident that robbery and murder had been committed that is manifest which we can lay the hand upon manifest is thus stronger than evident as touch is more absolute than sight that the picture was a modern copy of an ancient work was evident one comparison with the original its inferiority was manifest that is obvious which is directly in the way so that it cannot be missed as the application of the remark was obvious visible applies to all that can be perceived by the sense of sight whether the noonday sun a ship on the horizon or a microscopic object discernible applies to that which is dimly or faintly visible requiring strain and effort in order to be seen as the ship was discernible through the mist that is conspicuous which stands out so as necessarily or strikingly to attract the attention palpable and tangible express more emphatically the thought of manifest antonyms concealed covert dark impalpable imperceptible invisible latent obscure secret undiscovered unimagined unknown unseen example synonyms type in sample exempla exemplification ideal model pattern precedent prototype sample specimen standard type warning model model warning sample specimen followed shunned sample specimen class archetype prototype conform Christ as being an example or leaving an example for his disciples example comes nearer to the possible freedom of the model than to the necessary exactness of the pattern often we cannot in a given case exactly imitate the best example but only adapt its teachings to altered circumstances in its application to a person or thing that can scarcely be distinguished from example but example is most frequently used for an act or course of action for which exemplar is not used as one sets a good or a bad example an exemplification is an illustrative working out in action of a principal or law without any reference to its being copied or repeated an example guides an exemplification illustrates or explains in sample is the same as example but is practically obsolete outside of scriptural or theological language compare to model sample excess synonyms dissipation exorbitance intemperance lavishness all the plus prodigality profusion redundancy superabundance superfluity surplus waste wastefulness excess is more than enough of anything and since this in very many cases indicates either of judgment or of self-control the word is used frequently in an unfavorable sense careless expenditure in excess of income is extravagance we may also have extravagance of language professions etc as extravagance is excess in outlay exorbitance is excess in demands and especially in pecuniary demands upon surplus and superabundance to know in the main a satisfactory and superfluity and undesirable excess lavishness and profusion a generous bountiful or amiable excess as a profusion of fair hair lavishness of hospitality surplus is neutral having none of the unfavorable meaning that often attaches to excess a surplus is that which remains over after all demands are met redundance or redundancy refers chiefly to literary style denoting an excess of words or meta excess in the moral sense is expressed by dissipation prodigality intemperance etc antonyms dirt deficiency destitution economy failure frugality inadequacy insufficiency lack need poverty scantiness shortcoming want execute to execute is to follow through to the end put into absolute and final effect in action to administer is to conduct as one holding a trust as a minister and not an originator the sheriff executes a writ the trustee administers in a state a charity etc to enforce is to put into effect by force actual or potential to administer the laws is the province of a court of justice to execute the laws is the province of a sheriff marshal constable or other executive officer to administer the law is to declare or apply it to execute the law is to put it in force for this in force is the more general word to execute the more specific from signifying to super intend officially some application or inflection administer passes by a natural transition to signify inflict meet out dispense and blows medicine etc are said to be administered a usage thoroughly established and reputable in spite of pedantic objections in force signifies also to present and urge home by intellectual and moral force as to enforce a precept or a duty compare to do kill make exercise synonyms act action activity application drill employment exertion occupation operation performance practice use exercise in the ordinary sense is the easy natural action of any power exertion is the putting of any power to strain and tax and exercise drive for a horse is so much as will develop strength and health and not appreciably weary qualifying adjectives we may bring exercise up to the full sense of exertion as violent exercise exercise is action taken at any time with a view to employing maintaining or increasing power or merely for enjoyment practice is systematic exercise with a view to the acquirement of facility and skill in some pursuit a person takes a walk for exercise what takes time for practice on the piano practice is also used to putting into action and effect what one has learned or holds as a theory as the practice of law or medicine a profession of religion is good but the practice of it is better drill is systematic rigorous and commonly practiced under a teacher or commander compare to have it antonyms idleness inaction inactivity relaxation expense synonyms cost expenditure the cost of a thing is whatever one surrenders or gives up for it intentionally or unintentionally or even unconsciously expenses what is laid out by calculation or intention we say he won his fame at the cost of his life I know it to my cost we speak of a joke at another's expense at another's cost would seem to make it a more serious matter there is a tendency to use cost of what we pay for a possession expense of what we pay for a service we speak of the cost of goods the expense of making up outlay is used of some definite expenditure as for the purchase of supplies outgo of a steady drain or of incidental expenses see price antonyms gain income proceeds profit receipts returns explicit synonym express both explicit and express are opposed to what is merely implicit or implied that which is explicit is unfolded so that it may not be obscure doubtful or ambiguous that which is express is uttered or stated so decidedly that it may not be forgotten nor overlooked an explicit statement is too clear to be misunderstood an express command is too emphatic to be disregarded compare to clear antonyms ambiguous doubtful implicit implied indefinite indeterminate uncertain vague extemporaneous synonyms extemporary extemporar impromptu improvised originally signifying of or from the time or occasion has come to mean done or made with but little if any preparation and is now chiefly applied to addresses of which the thought has been prepared and only the language and incidental treatment left to the suggestion of the moment so that an extemporaneous speech is understood to be anyone that is not read or recited impromptu keeps its original sense denoting something that springs from the instant the impromptu utterance is generally brief, direct and vigorous the extemporaneous speech may chance to be prosy offhand is still more emphatic as to the readiness and freedom of the utterance unpremeditated is graver and more formal denoting absolute water preparation but is rather too heavy a word to be applied to such apt ready utterance as is generally designated by impromptu antonyms elaborated premeditated prepared read recited studied written exterminate synonyms annihilate destroy eradicate expel extirpate overthrow remove root out uproot wipe out exterminate from Latin X out and terminus a boundary signified primarily to drive beyond the bounds or limits of a country the word is applied to races or animals and is now almost exclusively used for removal by death individuals are now said to be banished or expelled eradicate from Latin E out and radix root is primarily applied to numbers of groups of plants which it is desired to remove effectually from the soil a single tree may be uprooted but is not said to be eradicated we labor to eradicate or root out noxious weeds to extirpate from Latin X out and stirps stem stock is not only to destroy the individuals of any race of plants or animals but the very stock so that the race can never be restored we speak of eradicating a disease of extirpating a cancer exterminating wild beasts or hostile tribes we seek to eradicate or extirpate all vices and evils compare to abolish antonyms augment beget breed build up cherish colonize develop foster increase plant populate propagate replenish settle end of section 27 recording by James O'Connor Randolph Massachusetts December 2009 section 28 of English synonyms and antonyms this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information visit LibriVox.org English synonyms and antonyms by James Champlin Fernald faint to fetter faint synonyms dim exhausted faded faint hearted faltering fatigued feeble hearted ill-defined indistinct irresolute languid listless purposeless timid weak wearied worn worn down worn out faint with the general sense of lacking strength or effectiveness a wide range of meaning signifying overcome with physical weakness or exhaustion or lacking in purpose courage or energy as set of persons or lacking definiteness or distinctness of color or sound as set of written characters voices or musical notes a person may be faint when physically wearied or when overcome with fear he may be a faint adherent because naturally feeble or purposeless or because half hearted in the cause he may be a faltering supporter because naturally irresolute or because faint hearted and timid in view of perils that threaten a listless worker with mental energy and purpose written characters may be faint or dim either because originally written with poor ink or because they have become faded by time and exposure antonyms bright brilliant clear conspicuous daring energetic strong sturdy vigorous prepositions faint with hunger faint in color faith synonyms ascent assurance belief confidence conviction credence need doctrine reliance trust belief as an intellectual process is the acceptance of something as true on other grounds than personal observation and experience we give credence to a report ascent to a proposition or to a proposal which is stronger than credence credence might be described as prima facie belief credence is a more formal word than belief and seems to imply somewhat more of volition we speak of giving credence to a report but not of giving belief goods are sold on credit we give one credit for good intentions conviction is a belief established by argument or evidence assurance is belief beyond the reach of argument as the Christians assurance of salvation an opinion is a general conclusion held as probable though without full certainty a persuasion is a more confident opinion involving the heart as well as the intellect in religion a doctrine is a statement of belief regarding a single point a creed is a summary statement of doctrines confidence is a firm dependence upon a statement as true or upon a person as worthy reliance is confidence on which we act or are ready to act unquestioningly we have a calm reliance upon the uniformity of nature trust is a practical and tranquil resting of the mind upon the integrity kindness, friendship or promises of a person we have trust in God faith is a union of belief and trust faith is chiefly personal belief may be quite personal we speak of belief of a proposition faith in a promise because the promise emanates from a person but belief in a person is often used with no appreciable difference from faith in religion it is common to distinguish between intellectual belief of religious truth as any other truth might be believed and belief of the heart or saving faith antonyms denial disbelief descent distrust doubt infidelity misgiving rejection skepticism suspicion unbelief faithful synonyms firm incorruptible loyal staunch sure true trustworthy trusty unwavering a person is faithful who will keep faith whether with or without power to aid or serve a person or thing is trusty that possesses such qualities as to justify the confidence and dependence we may speak of a faithful but feeble friend we say a trusty agent a trusty steed a trusty sword antonyms capricious faithless false fickle unfaithful untrue prepositions faithful in service to duty to comrade or commander faithful among the faithless fame synonyms celebrity credit distinction eminence honor laurels notoriety redown reputation repute fame is the widely disseminated report of a person's character deeds or abilities and is oftenest used in the favorable sense reputation and repute are more limited than fame good or bad notoriety is evil repute or a dishonorable counterfeit of fame eminence and distinction may result from rank station or character celebrity is limited in range we speak of local celebrity or world-wide fame fame in its best sense may be defined as the applause of numbers renown as such applause worthily won we speak of the conquerors fame the patriots renown glory and honor are of good import honor may be given for qualities or acts that should not win it but it is always given as something good and worthy we can speak of an evil fame not of evil honor glory has a more exalted and often a sacred sense antonyms contempt continually discredit disgrace dishonor disrepute humiliation ignominy infamy obscurity shame fanaticism bigotry credulity intolerance superstition fanaticism is extravagant or even frenzied zeal bigotry is obstinate and unreasoning attachment to a cause or creed fanaticism and bigotry usually include intolerance which is unwillingness to tolerate beliefs or opinions contrary to one's own superstition is ignorant and irrational religious belief credulity is not distinctively religious but is a general readiness to believe without sufficient evidence with a proneness to accept the marvelous bigotry is narrow fanaticism is fierce superstition is ignorant credulity is weak intolerance is severe bigotry has not the capacity to reason fairly fanaticism has not the patience superstition has not the knowledge and mental discipline intolerance has not the disposition bigotry, fanaticism and superstition are perversions of the religious sentiment credulity and intolerance often accompany skepticism or atheism antonyms cynicism free thinking indifference latitudinarianism fanciful synonyms chimerical fantastic grotesque imaginative visionary that is fanciful which is dictated or suggested by fancy independently of more serious considerations the fantastic is the fanciful with the added elements of grand extravagance the fanciful swings away from the real or the ordinary lightly and pleasantly the fantastic extravagantly the grotesque ridiculously a fanciful arrangement of objects is commonly pleasing a fantastic arrangement is striking a grotesque arrangement is laughable a fanciful theory or suggestion may be clearly recognized as such a visionary scheme is erroneously supposed to have a basis in fact compare synonyms for dream idea imagination antonyms accurate calculable commonplace literal ordinary prosaic real reasonable regular sensible solid sound sure true synonyms belief and desire humor idea image imagination inclination liking mood predilection supposition vagary whim an intellectual fancy is a mental image imagination or resemblance a conceit has less of the picturesque and more of the theoretic than a fancy a conceit is somewhat aside from the common laws of reasoning as a fancy is lighter and more airy than the common mode of thought a conceit or fancy may be wholly unfounded while a conception always has or is believed to have some answering reality compare reason an intellectual fancy or conceit may be pleasing or amusing but is never worth serious discussion we speak of a mere fancy a drole or odd conceit an emotional or personal fancy is a capricious liking formed with slight reason and no exercise of judgment and liable to fade as lightly as it was formed in a broader sense the fancy signifies the faculty by which fancies or mental images are formed associated or combined compare synonyms for dream idea imagination antonyms actuality certainty fact reality truth verity prepositions to have a fancy for or take a fancy to a person or thing farewell synonyms goodbye leave taking parking salutation valediction valedictory goodbye is the homely and hearty farewell the formal English word at parting adieu from the French is still more ceremonious than farewell quand j'ai also from the French is commonly contemptuous or super sillious and equivalent to dismissal valediction is a learned word never in popular use a valedictory is a public farewell to a company or assembly prepositions I bade farewell to my comrades or without preposition I bade my comrades farewell I took a sad farewell of my friends fear synonyms a fright apprehension consternation dismay disquiet dread fright horror panic terror timidity trembling tremor trepidation fear is the generic term denoting an emotion excited by threatening evil with a desire to avoid or escape it fear may be sudden or lingering in view of present of imminent danger in the latter sense dread is often or used horror etymologically a shivering or shuddering denotes a shuddering fear accompanied with abhorrence or such a shock to the feelings and sensibilities as may exist without fear as when one suddenly encounters some ghastly spectacle we say of a desperate but fettered criminal I looked upon him with horror where horror includes fear it is fear mangled with abhorrence see abhor a fright and terror are always sudden and in actual presence of that which is terrible fear may overwhelm terror may serve one to desperate defense fright and terror render one incapable of defense fear may be controlled by force of will fright and terror overwhelm the will terror paralyzes fright may cause one to fly to scream or to swim fright is largely a fear of the intellect and the imagination terror of all the faculties bodily and mental panic is a sudden fear or fright affecting numbers at once vast armies or crowded audiences are liable to panic upon slight occasion in a like sense we speak of a financial panic dismay is a helpless sinking of heart in view of some overwhelming peril or sorrow dismay is more reflective enduring and despairing than fright a horse is subject to fright or terror but not to dismay awe is a reverential fear compare alarm antonyms see synonyms for fortitude feminine synonyms effeminate female womanish womanly we apply female to the sex feminine to the qualities especially the finer physical or mental qualities that distinguish the female sex family or to the objects appropriate for or especially employed by them a female voice is the voice of a woman a feminine voice may belong to a man womanish denotes the undesirable womanly the admirable or lovely qualities of woman womanly tears would suggest respect and sympathy womanish tears a touch of contempt the word effeminate is always used reproachfully and only of men as possessing womanly traits such as are inconsistent with true manliness antonyms see synonyms for masculine fetter synonyms bondage bonds chains custody endurance duress guives handcuffs imprisonment irons manacles shackles bonds may be of cord leather or any other substance manacles and handcuffs are for the hands fetters are primarily chains or jointed iron fastenings for the feet guives may be for either a shackle is a metallic ring clasp or bracelet like fastening for encircling and restraining a limb commonly one of a pair used either for hands or feet bonds fetters and chains are used in a general way for almost any form of restraint guives is now wholly poetic and the other words are mostly restricted to the literary style handcuffs is the specific and irons the general term in popular usage as the prisoner was put in irons bonds chains and shackles are frequently used in the metaphorical sense end of section 28 read by denises and modesto california for LibriVox section 29 of english synonyms and antonyms this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Linnie English synonyms and antonyms by James Champling-Fernold feud to follow feud synonyms afraid animosity bitterness broil contention contest controversy dispute dissension enmity fray hostility quarrel strife a feud is enmity between families clans or parties with acts of hostility mutually retaliated and avenged feud is rarely used of individuals never of nations while all the other words of the group may refer to that which is transient a feud is long enduring and often hereditary dissension is used of a number of persons of a party or other organization bitterness is in feeling only enmity and hostility involve will and purpose to oppose or injure quarrel is in word or act or both commonly slight and transient as we speak of childish quarrels contention and strife may be in word or deed contest ordinarily involves some form of action contest is often used in a good sense contention and strife very rarely so controversy is commonly in words strife extends from a verbal controversy to the contests of armies a fray broil and broil like quarrel are words of inferior dignity in a fray or broil may arise at a street corner the fray always involves physical force the broil or broil may be confined to violent language fiction synonyms allegory epilogue fable fabrication falsehood figment invention legend myth novel romance story fiction is now chiefly used of a prose work in narrative form in which the characters are partly designed to portray human life with or without a practical lesson a romance portrays what is picturesque or striking as a mere fiction may not do novel is a general name for any continuous fictitious narrative especially a love story fiction and novel are used with little difference of meaning except that novel characterizes a work in which the emotional legend is especially prominent the moral of the fable is expressed formally the lesson of the fiction if any is inwrought a fiction is studied a myth grows up without intent a legend may be true but cannot be historically verified a myth has been received as true at some time but is now known to be false a fabrication is designed to deceive it is a less odious word than falsehood but is really stronger as a falsehood may be a sudden unprimeditated statement while a fabrication is a series of statements carefully studied and fitted together in order to deceive the falsehood is all false the fabrication may mingle the true with the false a figment is something imaginary which the one who utters it may or may not believe to be true we say that statement is a figment of his imagination the story may be either true or false and covers the various senses of all the words in the group apologue a word simply transferred from greek into english is the same as fable compare allegory antonyms certainty fact history literalness reality truth verity fears synonyms ferocious fiery furious impetuous raging violent wild fears signifies having a furious and cruel nature or being in a furious and cruel mood more commonly the latter it applies to that which is now intensely excited or liable to intense and sudden excitement ferocious refers to a state or disposition that which is fears, flashes or blazes ferocious steadily burns we speak of a ferocious animal a fierce passion a fiery spirit with a good disposition is quickly excitable in a good cause but may not be fears or ferocious savage signifies untrained uncultivated ferocious always denotes a tendency to violence it is more distinctly than the other words a person may be deeply intensely cruel and not at all ferocious a ferocious countenance expresses habitual ferocity a fierce countenance may express habitual fierceness or only the sudden anger of the moment that which is wild is simply unrestrained the word may imply no anger or harshness as wild delight wild alarm antonyms affectionate docile gentle harmless kind mild patient peaceful submissive sweet tame monetary pecuniary these words all relate to money receipts or expenditures monetary relates to actual money coin currency as the monetary system a monetary transaction is one in which money is transferred pecuniary refers to that in which money is involved but less directly we speak of one's pecuniary interests with no special reference to the handling of cash financial applies especially to governmental revenues or expenditures or to private transactions of considerable moment we speak of a pecuniary reward a financial enterprise we give a needy person pecuniary not financial assistance it is common to speak of the fiscal rather than the financial year fine synonyms beautiful clarified clear comminuted dainty delicate elegant excellent exquisite gauzy handsome keen pure refined sensitive sharp slender slight small smooth splendid subtle tenuous fin fin from latin finis end to a full end finished from this rude sense many derived meanings branch out causing words quite remote from each other to be alike synonyms of fine that which is truly finished brought to an ideal end is excellent of its kind and beautiful if a thing that admits of beauty as a fine house fine trees fine woman If a thing that admits of the removal of impurities, it is not finished till these are removed, and hence fine signifies clarified, clear, pure, refined as fine gold. That which is finished is apt to be polished, smooth to the touch, minutely exact in outline. Hence fine comes to be a synonym for all words like dainty, delicate, exquisite, as fine manners, a fine touch, fine perceptions. As that which is delicate is apt to be small, by an easy extension of meaning, fine becomes a synonym for slender, slight, minute, comminuted, as a fine thread, fine send. Or for filmy, tenuous, thin, as a fine lace, fine wire, and as a thin edge is keen, sharp, fine becomes also a synonym for these words, as a fine point, a fine edge, compare, beautiful, minute, antonyms, big, blunt, clumsy, coarse, great, heavy, huge, immense, large, rude, stout, thick, fire, synonyms, blaze, burning, combustion, conflagration, flame. Combustion is the essential fact which is at the basis of that assemblage of visible phenomenon which we call fire. Combustion being the continuous chemical combination of a substance with some element as oxygen evolving heat and extending from slow processes such as those by which the heat of the human body is maintained to the processes producing the most intense light also as in a blessed furnace or on the surface of the sun. Fire is always attended with light as well as heat, blaze, flame, etc. designates the mingled light and heat of a fire. Combustion is the scientific, fire the popular term. A conflagration is an extensive fire, compare, light, flock, synonyms, bevy, brood, kavi, drove, group, hatch, herd, litter, lot, pack, set, swarm. Group is the general word for any gathering of a small number of objects, whether of persons, animals, or inanimate things. The individuals in the brood or litter are related to each other those in the other groups may not be. Brood is used chiefly of fowls and birds, litter of certain quadrupeds which bring forth many young at a birth. We speak of a brood of chickens, a litter of puppies. Brood is sometimes applied to a family of young children. Bevy is used of birds and figuratively of any bright and lively group of women or children but rarely of men. Flock is applied to birds and to some of the smaller animals. Herd is confined to the larger animals. We speak of a bevy of quail, a kavi of partridges, a flock of blackbirds, or a flock of sheep, a herd of cattle, horses, buffaloes, or elephants, a pack of wolves, a pack of hounds, a swarm of bees. A collection of animals driven or gathered for driving is called a drove. Fluctuate. Synonyms hesitate, oscillate, swerve, underlate, vacillate, vary, veer, waver. To fluctuate from Latin, fluctus, a wave, is to move like a wave with alternate rise and fall. A pendulum oscillates, waves fluctuate or underlate, a light or a flame wavers. A frightened steed swerves from his course, a tool or weapon swerves from the mark or a line. The temperature varies, the wind veers when it suddenly changes its direction. That which veers may steadily hold a new direction, that which oscillates, fluctuates, underlates, or wavers, returns upon its way. As regards mental states, he who hesitates sticks from Latin, hairete, on the verge of decision. He who wavers does not stick to a decision, he who vacillates, decides now one way and now another. One vacillates between contrasted decisions or actions. He may waver between decision and indecision or between action and inaction. Persons hesitate, vacillate, waver. Feelings fluctuate or vary. Compare, shake. Antonyms abide, adhere, hold fast, persist, stand fast, stay, stick, fluid, synonyms, gas, liquid. A fluid is a substance that, like air or water, yields to any force that tends to change its form. A liquid is a body in that state in which the particles move freely among themselves, but remain in one mass, keeping the same volume, but taking always the form of the containing vessel. A liquid is an inelastic fluid, a gas is an elastic fluid that tends to expand to the utmost limits of the containing space. All liquids are fluids, but not all fluids are liquids. Air and all the gases are fluids, but they are not liquids under ordinary circumstances, though capable of being reduced to a liquid form by special means as by code and pressure. Water at the ordinary temperature is at once a fluid and a liquid. Follow, synonyms, accompany, attend, chase, come after, copy, ensue, pursue, go after, heed, imitate, obey, observe, practice, pursue, result, succeed. Anything that comes after or goes after another, either in space or in time, is said to follow it. A servant follows or attends his master. A victorious general may follow the retiring enemy merely to watch and hold him in check. He chases or pursues with intent to overtake and attack. The chase is closer and hotter than the pursuit, compare synonyms for hunt. One event may follow another, either with or without special connection. If it ensues, there is some orderly connection, as the ensuing ear. If it results from another, there is some relation of effect, consequence or inference. A clerk observes his employer's directions. A child obeys his parent's commands, follows or copies his example, imitates his speech and manners. The compositor follows copy. The incoming succeeds the outgoing official. End of section 29.