English Synonyms and Antonyms

Chapter 186

REFINEMENT (page 305).

QUESTIONS.

1. To what does _civilization_ apply, and what does it denote? 2. What is _refinement_? 3. What is the primary meaning of _cultivation_? the derived meaning? 4. By what word is _cultivation_ now largely superseded? 5. What does _culture_ denote?

EXAMPLES.

What is ----? It is the humanization of man in society, the satisfaction for him in society of the true law of human nature.

Giving up wrong pleasure is not self-sacrifice, but self-----.

This refined taste is the consequence of education and habit; we are born only with a capacity of entertaining this ----.

RELIABLE (page 306).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is to be said of the controversy regarding the formation and use of the word _reliable_? 2. What do _trusty_ and _trustworthy_ denote? 3.

How does _reliable_ compare with these words? 4. What meaning may _reliable_ convey that _trusty_ and _trustworthy_ would not?

EXAMPLES.

Good lack! quoth he, yet bring it me My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my ---- sword, When I do exercise.

The first voyage to America, of which we have any perfectly ---- account, was performed by the Nors.e.m.e.n.

RELIGION (page 307).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the original sense of _piety_? the derived sense? 2. What is _religion_? What does it include? 3. What is _worship_? _devotion_? 4.

What is _morality_? _G.o.dliness_? _holiness_? 5. How is _theology_ related to _religion_?

EXAMPLES.

---- is man"s belief in a being or beings, mightier than himself and inaccessible to his senses, but not indifferent to his sentiments and actions, with the feelings and practises which flow from such belief.

----, whose soul sincere Fears G.o.d, and knows no other fear.

To deny the freedom of the will is to make ---- impossible.

Systematic ---- may be defined as the substance of the Christian faith in a scientific form.

REND (page 309).

QUESTIONS.

1. To what are _rend_ and _tear_ usually applied? Which is the stronger word? 2. In what connection is _rive_ used, and in what sense? 3. What does _lacerate_ signify? 4. How does _mangle_ compare with _lacerate_?

5. What do _burst_ and _rupture_ signify? Which is the stronger word?

When is a steam-boiler said to be _ruptured_? 6. What does _rip_ signify?

EXAMPLES.

Storms do not ---- the sail that is furled.

Oh, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious, periwig-pated fellow ---- a pa.s.sion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings.

And now a bubble ----s, and now a world.

The first blood shed in the revolutionary struggle; a mere drop in amount, but a deluge in its effects, ----ing the colonies forever from the mother country.

RENOUNCE (page 309).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what is _renounce_ derived, and in what sense used? _recant_?

_retract_? 2. What is it to _discard_? 3. How does _revoke_ compare with _recall_ in original meaning and in present use? 4. What is the derivation and the distinctive meaning of _abjure_? 5. In what sense is _repudiate_ used?

EXAMPLES.

On his knees, with his hand on the Bible, Galileo was compelled to ---- and curse the doctrine of the movement of the earth.

He adds his soul to every other loss, and by the act of suicide, ---- earth to forfeit heaven.

He had no spiritual adviser, no human comforter, and was entirely in the hands of those who were determined that he should ---- or die.

REPENTANCE (page 310).