English Synonyms and Antonyms

Chapter 93

Antonyms:

acknowledge, a.s.sert, cherish, defend, maintain, proclaim, uphold, advocate, avow, claim, hold, own, retain, vindicate.

REPENTANCE.

Synonyms:

compunction, contriteness, regret, self-condemnation, contrition, penitence, remorse, sorrow.

_Regret_ is _sorrow_ for any painful or annoying matter. One is moved with _penitence_ for wrong-doing. To speak of _regret_ for a fault of our own marks it as slighter than one regarding which we should express _penitence_. _Repentance_ is _sorrow_ for sin with _self-condemnation_, and complete turning from the sin. _Penitence_ is transient, and may involve no change of character or conduct. There may be _sorrow_ without _repentance_, as for consequences only, but not _repentance_ without _sorrow_. _Compunction_ is a momentary sting of conscience, in view either of a past or of a contemplated act. _Contrition_ is a subduing _sorrow_ for sin, as against the divine holiness and love. _Remorse_ is, as its derivation indicates, a biting or gnawing back of guilt upon the heart, with no turning of heart from the sin, and no suggestion of divine forgiveness.

Antonyms:

approval, content, obduracy, self-complacency, comfort, hardness, obstinacy, self-congratulation, complacency, impenitence, self-approval, stubbornness.

Prepositions:

Repentance _of_ or _in_ heart, or _from_ the heart; repentance _for_ sins; _before_ or _toward_ G.o.d; _unto_ life.

REPORT.

Synonyms:

account, narrative, rehearsal, rumor, story, description, recital, relation, statement, tale.

narration, record,

_Account_ carries the idea of a commercial summary. A _statement_ is definite, confined to essentials and properly to matters within the personal knowledge of the one who states them; as, an ante-mortem _statement_. A _narrative_ is a somewhat extended and embellished _account_ of events in order of time, ordinarily with a view to please or entertain. A _description_ gives especial scope to the pictorial element. A _report_ (L. _re_, back, and _porto_, bring), as its etymology implies, is something brought back, as by one sent to obtain information, and may be concise and formal or highly descriptive and dramatic. Compare ALLEGORY; HISTORY; RECORD.

REPROOF.

Synonyms:

admonition, chiding, disapproval, reprimand, animadversion, comment, objurgation, reproach, blame, condemnation, rebuke, reproval, censure, criticism, reflection, upbraiding.

check, denunciation, reprehension,

_Blame_, _censure_, and _disapproval_ may either be felt or uttered; _comment_, _criticism_, _rebuke_, _reflection_, _reprehension_, and _reproof_ are always expressed. The same is true of _admonition_ and _animadversion_. _Comment_ and _criticism_ may be favorable as well as censorious; they imply no superiority or authority on the part of him who utters them; nor do _reflection_ or _reprehension_, which are simply turning the mind back upon what is disapproved. _Reprehension_ is supposed to be calm and just, and with good intent; it is therefore a serious matter, however mild, and is capable of great force, as expressed in the phrase severe _reprehension_. _Reflection_ is often from mere ill feeling, and is likely to be more personal and less impartial than _reprehension_; we often speak of unkind or unjust _reflections_. _Rebuke_, literally a stopping of the mouth, is administered to a forward or hasty person; _reproof_ is administered to one intentionally or deliberately wrong; both words imply authority in the reprover, and direct expression of _disapproval_ to the face of the person _rebuked_ or _reproved_. _Reprimand_ is official _censure_ formally administered by a superior to one under his command.

_Animadversion_ is _censure_ of a high, authoritative, and somewhat formal kind. _Rebuke_ may be given at the outset, or in the midst of an action; _animadversion_, _reflection_, _reprehension_, _reproof_, always follow the act; _admonition_ is antic.i.p.atory, and meant to be preventive. _Check_ is allied to _rebuke_, and given before or during action; _chiding_ is nearer to _reproof_, but with more of personal bitterness and less of authority. Compare CONDEMN; REPROVE.

Antonyms:

applause, approval, encomium, eulogy, panegyric, praise.

approbation, commendation,

REPROVE.

Synonyms:

admonish, condemn, reprimand, blame, expostulate with, reproach, censure, find fault with, take to task, chasten, rebuke, upbraid, check, remonstrate with, warn.

chide, reprehend,

To _censure_ is to p.r.o.nounce an adverse judgment that may or may not be expressed to the person _censured_; to _reprove_ is to _censure_ authoritatively, openly, and directly to the face of the person _reproved_; to _rebuke_ is to _reprove_ with sharpness, and often with abruptness, usually in the midst of some action or course of action deemed censurable; to _reprimand_ is to _reprove_ officially; to _blame_ is a familiar word signifying to pa.s.s _censure_ upon, make answerable, as for a fault; _blame_ and _censure_ apply either to persons or acts; _reprove_ and _rebuke_ are applied chiefly, and _reprimand_ exclusively to persons. To _reproach_ is to _censure_ openly and vehemently, and with intense personal feeling as of grief or anger; as, to _reproach_ one for ingrat.i.tude; _reproach_ knows no distinction of rank or character; a subject may _reproach_ a king or a criminal judge. To _expostulate_ or _remonstrate with_ is to mingle reasoning and appeal with _censure_ in the hope of winning one from his evil way, _expostulate_ being the gentler, _remonstrate_ the severer word.

_Admonish_ is the mildest of _reproving_ words, and may even be used of giving a caution or warning where no wrong is implied, or of simply reminding of duty which might be forgotten. _Censure_, _rebuke_, and _reprove_ apply to wrong that has been done; _warn_ and _admonish_ refer to antic.i.p.ated error or fault. When one is _admonished_ because of wrong already done, the view is still future, that he may not repeat or continue in the wrong. Compare CONDEMN; REPROOF.

Antonyms:

abet, approve, countenance, impel, instigate, applaud, cheer, encourage, incite, urge on.

REQUITE.

Synonyms:

avenge, punish, remunerate, revenge, compensate, quit, repay, reward, pay, reciprocate, retaliate, satisfy, pay off, recompense, return, settle with.

To _repay_ or to _retaliate_, to _punish_ or to _reward_, may be to make some return very inadequate to the benefit or injury received, or the right or wrong done; but to _requite_ (according to its etymology) is to make so full and adequate a _return_ as to _quit_ oneself of all obligation of favor or hostility, of punishment or _reward_. _Requite_ is often used in the more general sense of _recompense_ or _repay_, but always with the suggestion, at least, of the original idea of full equivalent; when one speaks of _requiting_ kindness with ingrat.i.tude, the expression gains force from the comparison of the actual with the proper and appropriate _return_. Compare PAY.

Antonyms:

absolve, excuse, forgive, overlook, pa.s.s over, acquit, forget, neglect, pardon, slight.

Preposition:

To requite injury _with_ injury is human, but not Christian.

REST.