English Synonyms and Antonyms

Chapter 136

QUESTIONS.

1. To what is _contagion_ now limited by the best medical usage? 2. To what is the term _infection_ applied?

EXAMPLES.

During the plague in London persons walked in the middle of the streets for fear of the ---- from the houses.

The mob thinks by ---- for the most part, catching an opinion like a cold.

No pestilence is so much to be dreaded as the ---- of bad example.

CONTINUAL (page 117).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does _continuous_ differ from _continual_? _incessant_ from _ceaseless_? Give examples.

CONTRAST (page 118).

QUESTIONS.

1. How is _contrast_ related to _compare_? 2. What are the special senses of _differentiate_, _discriminate_ and _distinguish_?

CONVERSATION (page 118).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the essential meaning of _conversation_? 2. How does _conversation_ differ from _talk_? 3. How is _discourse_ related to _conversation_? 4. What are the special senses of _dialogue_ and _colloquy_?

EXAMPLES.

There can be no ---- with a great genius, who does all the ----ing.

Nor wanted sweet ----, the banquet of the mind.

CONVEY (page 119).

QUESTIONS.

1. In what do _convey_, _transmit_, and _transport_ agree? What is the distinctive sense of _convey_? 2. To what cla.s.s of objects does _transport_ refer? 3. To what cla.s.s of objects do _transfer_, _transmit_, and _convey_ apply? 4. Which is the predominant sense of the latter words?

CRIMINAL (page 120).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive meaning of _criminal_? How does it differ from _illegal_ or _unlawful_? 2. What is _felonious_? _flagitious_? 3.

What is the primary meaning of _iniquitous_? 4. Is an _iniquitous_ act necessarily _criminal_?

DANGER (page 121).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive meaning of _danger_? 2. Does _danger_ or _peril_ suggest the more immediate evil? 3. How are _jeopardy_ and _risk_ distinguished from _danger_ and _peril_?

EXAMPLES.

Delay always breeds ----.

The careful rider avoids running ----.

Stir, at your ----!

DECAY (page 122).

QUESTIONS.

1. What sort of things _decay_? _putrefy_? _rot_? 2. What is the essential difference between _decay_ and _decompose_?

EXAMPLES.

The flowers wither, the tree"s trunk ----.

The water was ---- by the electric current.