English Synonyms and Antonyms

Chapter 120

The cruelty and envy of the people ---- by our dastard n.o.bles, who Have all forsook me, hath devoured the rest.

State churches have ever been unwilling to ---- dissent.

ALLUDE (page 36).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive sense of _allude_? of _advert_? of _refer_?

2. How do the above words compare with _mention_ as to explicitness? 3.

How do _hint_ and _insinuate_ differ?

EXAMPLES.

Late in the eighteenth century Cowper did not venture to do more than ---- to the great allegorist [Bunyan], saying:

"I name thee not, lest so despised a name Should move a sneer at thy deserved fame."

ALLURE (page 37).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to _allure_? 2. How does _allure_ differ from _attract_?

from _lure_? 3. What does _coax_ express? 4. What is it to _cajole_? to _decoy_? to _inveigle_? 5. How does _seduce_ differ from _tempt_? 6. Is _win_ used in the favorable or unfavorable sense?

EXAMPLES.

The ruddy square of comfortable light ---- him, as the beacon blaze ---- The bird of pa.s.sage.

But Satan now is wiser than of yore, And ---- by making rich, not making poor.

He had a strange gift of ---- friends, and of ---- the love of women.

ALSO (page 37).

QUESTIONS.

1. Into what two groups are the synonyms for _also_ naturally divided?

2. Which words simply add a fact or thought? 3. Which distinctly imply that what is added is like that to which it is added?

EXAMPLES.

Thine to work ---- to pray, Clearing th.o.r.n.y wrongs away; Plucking up the weeds of sin, Letting heaven"s warm sunshine in.

ALTERNATIVE (page 38).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the difference between _choice_ and _alternative_ in the strict use of language? 2. Is _alternative_ always so severely restricted by leading writers? 3. What do _choice_, _pick_, _election_, and _preference_ imply regarding one"s wishes? _alternative_?

_resources_?

EXAMPLES.

Homer delights to call Ulysses "the man of many ----."

AMa.s.s (page 38).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to _ama.s.s_? 2. How is _ama.s.s_ distinguished from _acc.u.mulate_? 3. Is interest _ama.s.sed_ or _acc.u.mulated_? 4. How does _h.o.a.rd_ differ from _store_?

EXAMPLES.

By daring and successful speculation, he ---- a prodigious fortune.

The sum was the ---- savings of an industrious and frugal life.

O, to what purpose dost thou ---- thy words, That thou return"st no greeting to thy friends?

AMATEUR (page 39).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the difference between _amateur_ and _connoisseur_? between _connoisseur_ and _critic_? 2. Which word carries a natural implication of superficialness? 3. How do _novice_ and _tyro_ differ from _amateur_?

EXAMPLES.