English Synonyms and Antonyms / With Notes on the Correct Use of Prepositions

PART II. QUESTIONS AND EXAMPLES.

1. To what objects or classes of objects does abandon apply? abdicate? cede? quit? resign? surrender? 2. Is abandon used in the favorable or unfavorable sense? desert favorable or unfavorable? forsake? 3. What does abandon commonly denote of previous relationship? forsake?

EXAMPLES.

The soldiers —— his standard in such numbers that the commander found it necessary to —— the enterprise.

France was compelled to —— Alsace and Lorraine to Germany.

In the height of his power Charles V. —— the throne.

Finding resistance vain, the defenders agreed to —— the fortress.

To the surprise of his friends, Senator Conkling suddenly —— his office.

At the stroke of the bell, the men instantly —— work.

ABASE (page 2).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does abase differ from debase? humble from humiliate? degrade from disgrace?

EXAMPLES.

To provide funds, the king resolved to —— the coinage.

He came from the scene of his disgrace, haughty and defiant, —— but not ——.

The officer who had —— himself by cowardice was —— to the ranks.

Only the base in spirit will —— themselves before wealth, rank, and power.

The messenger was so —— that no heed was paid to his message.

[378]

ABASH (page 3).

QUESTIONS.

1. What has the effect to make one abashed? 2. How does confuse differ from abash? 3. What do we mean when we say that a person is mortified? 4. Give an instance of the use of mortified where abashed could not be substituted. Why could not the words be interchanged? 5. Can one be daunted who is not abashed? 6. Is embarrass or mortify the stronger word? Give instances.

EXAMPLES.

The peasant stood —— in the royal presence.

The numerous questions —— the witness.

The speaker was —— for a moment, but quickly recovered himself.

At the revelation of such depravity, I was utterly ——.

When sensible of his error, the visitor was deeply ——.

ABBREVIATION (page 4).

QUESTIONS.

1. Is an abbreviation always a contraction? 2. Is a contraction always an abbreviation? Give instances. 3. Can we have an abbreviation of a book, paragraph, or sentence? What can be abbreviated? and what abridged?

One generation passeth away and another generation cometh, but the earth —— forever.

And there were in the same country shepherds —— in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

So great was the crowd of visitors that many were compelled to —— in the neighboring villages.

He is —— at the Albemarle.

He has —— for forty years in the same house.

By faith he —— in the land of promise, as in a strange country.

ABOLISH (page 6).

QUESTIONS.

1. Is abolish used of persons or material objects? 2. Of what is it used? Give examples. 3. What does annihilate signify? Is it stronger or weaker than abolish? 4. What terms do we use for doing away with laws, and how do those terms differ among themselves? 5. What are the differences between overthrow, suppress, and subvert? especially between the last two of those words? 6. How does prohibit differ from abolish? 7. What word do we especially use of putting an end to a nuisance? 8. What other words of this class are especially referred to? 9. Give some antonyms of abolish.

EXAMPLES.

The one great endeavor of Buddhism is to —— sorrow.

Modern science seems to show conclusively that matter is never ——.

The law, which had long been —— by the revolutionists, was at last —— by the legislature.

The ancient statute was found to have been —— by later enactments, though never formally ——.

The Supreme Court —— the adverse decision of the inferior tribunal.

Even in a republic, sedition should be promptly ——, or it may result in the —— of free institutions.

From the original settlement of Vineland, New Jersey, the sale of intoxicating liquor has been ——.

[380]

ABOMINATION (page 7).

QUESTIONS.

1. To what was abomination originally applied? 2. Does it refer to a state of mind or to some act or other object of thought? 3. How does abomination differ from aversion or disgust? 4. How does an abomination differ from an offense? from crime in general?

EXAMPLES.

After the ship began to pitch and roll, we could not look upon food without ——.

It is time that such a —— should be abated.

Capital punishment was formerly inflicted in England for trivial ——.

In spite of their high attainments in learning and art, the foulest —— were prevalent among the Greeks and Romans of classic antiquity.

ABRIDGMENT (page 7).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does an abridgment differ from an outline or a synopsis? from an abstract or digest? 2. How does an abstract or digest differ from an outline or a synopsis? 3. Does an analysis of a treatise deal with what is expressed, or with what is implied? 4. What words may we use to express a condensed view of a subject, whether derived from a previous publication or not?

EXAMPLES.

The New Testament may be regarded as an —— of religion.

There are several excellent —— of English literature.

An —— of the decision of the court was published in all the leading papers.

The publishers determined to issue an —— of their dictionary.

Such —— as U. S. for United States should be rarely used, unless in hasty writing or technical works.

ABSOLUTE (page 8).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does absolute in the strict sense denote? supreme? 2. To what are these words in such sense properly applied? 3. How are they used in a modified sense? 4. Is arbitrary ever used in a good sense? What is the chief use? Give examples. 5. How does autocratic differ from arbitrary? both these words from despotic? despotic from tyrannical? 6. Is irresponsible good or bad in its implication? arbitrary? imperative? imperious? peremptory? positive? authoritative?

EXAMPLES.

God alone is —— and ——.

The Czar of Russia is an —— ruler.

—— power tends always to be —— in its exercise.

On all questions of law in the United States the decision of the —— Court is —— and final.

Learning of the attack on our seamen, the government sent an —— demand for apology and indemnity.

Man's —— will and —— intellect have given him dominion over all other creatures on the earth, so that they are either subjugated or exterminated.

[381]

ABSOLVE (page 9).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the original sense of absolve? 2. To what does it apply? 3. What is its special sense when used with reference to sins? 4. How does it differ from acquit? forgive? justify? pardon? 5. What are the chief antonyms of absolve?

EXAMPLES.

No power under heaven can —— a man from his personal responsibility.

When the facts were known, he was —— of all blame.

ABSORB (page 9).

QUESTIONS.

1. When is a fluid said to be absorbed? 2. Is the substance of the absorbing body changed by that which it absorbs? Give instances. 3. How does consume differ from absorb? 4. Give instances of the distinctive uses of engross, swallow, imbibe, and absorb in the figurative sense. 5. What is the difference between absorb and emit? absorb and radiate?

EXAMPLES.

Tho the fuel was rapidly —— within the furnace, very little heat was —— from the outer surface.

In setting steel rails special provision must be made for their expansion under the influence of the heat that they ——.

Jip stood on the table and barked at Traddles so persistently that he may be said to have —— the conversation.

ABSTINENCE (page 10).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does abstinence differ from abstemiousness? from self-denial? 2. What is temperance regarding things lawful and worthy? regarding things vicious and injurious? 3. What is the more exact term for the proper course regarding evil indulgences?

EXAMPLES.

He was so moderate in his desires that his —— seemed to cost him no ——.

Among the Anglo-Saxons the idea of universal and total —— from all intoxicants is little more than a century old.

ABSTRACT, v.; ABSTRACTED (page 10, 11).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the difference between abstract and separate? between discriminate and distinguish?[C] 2. How does abstract, when said of the mind, differ from divert? from distract? 3. How do abstracted, absorbed, and preoccupied differ from absent-minded? 4. Can one who is preoccupied be said to be listless or thoughtless? one who is absent-minded?[382]

EXAMPLES.

He was so —— with these perplexities as to be completely —— of his surroundings.

The busy student may be excused if ——; in the merely —— or —— it is intolerable.

The power to —— one idea from all its associations and view it alone is the —— mark of a philosophical mind.

Numerous interruptions in the midst of —— occupations had made him almost ——.

[C] Note. See these words under DISCERN as referred to at the end of the paragraph on ABSTRACT in Part I. The pupil should be instructed, in all cases, to look up and read over the synonyms referred to by the words in small capitals at the end of the paragraph in Part I.

ABSURD (page 11).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the difference between absurd and paradoxical? 2. What are the distinctions between irrational, foolish, and silly? 3. What is the especial implication in unreasonable? 4. How do monstrous and preposterous compare with absurd? 5. What is the especial element common to the ludicrous, the ridiculous, and the nonsensical? 6. What are some chief antonyms of absurd?

EXAMPLES.

A statement may be disproved by deducing logically from it a conclusion that is ——.

Carlyle delighted in —— utterances.

The —— hatred of the Jews in the Middle Ages led the populace to believe the most —— slanders concerning them.

I attempted to dissuade him from the —— plan, but found him altogether ——; many of his arguments were so —— as to be positively ——.

ABUSE (page 12).

QUESTIONS.

1. To what does abuse apply? 2. How does abuse differ from damage (as in the case of rented property, e. g.)? 3. How does abuse differ from harm? 4. What words of this group are used in a bad sense? 5. Is reproach good or bad? 6. How do persecute and oppress differ? 7. Do misemploy, misuse, and pervert apply to persons or things? To which does abuse apply?

EXAMPLES.

The tenant shall not —— the property beyond reasonable wear.

—— intellectual gifts make the dangerous villain.

In his rage he began to —— and —— all who had formerly been his friends.

To be —— for doing right can never really —— a true man.

In no way has man —— his fellow man more cruelly than by —— him for his religious belief.

ACCESSORY, n. (page 13).

QUESTIONS.

1. Which words of this group are used in a good, and which in a bad sense? 2. Which are indifferently either good or bad? 3. To what does ally generally apply? colleague? 4. How does an associate compare in rank with a principal?[383] 5. Is assistant or attendant the higher word? How do both these words compare with associate? 6. In what sense are follower, henchman, and retainer used? partner? 7. What is the legal distinction between abettor and accessory? 8. To what is accomplice nearly equivalent? Which is the preferred legal term?

EXAMPLES.

The Senator differed with his —— in this matter.

The baron rode into town with a great array of armed ——.

France and Russia seem to have become firm ——.

The —— called to the —— for a fresh bandage.

All persons, but especially the young, should take the greatest care in the choice of their ——.

As he was not present at the actual commission of the crime, he was held to be only an —— and not an ——.

ACCIDENT (page 14).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the difference between accident and chance? 2. How does incident differ from both? 3. What is the special significance of fortune? 4. How does it differ in usage from chance? 5. How are accident, misadventure, and mishap distinguished?

EXAMPLES.

Gambling clings almost inseparably to games of ——.

Bruises and contusions are regarded as ordinary —— of the cavalry service.

The prudent man is careful not to tempt —— too far.

The misplacement of the switch caused a terrible ——.

Great thoughts and high purposes keep one from being greatly disturbed by the little —— of daily life.

ACQUAINTANCE (page 15).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does acquaintance between persons imply? 2. How does acquaintance differ from companionship? acquaintance from friendship? from intimacy? 3. How does fellowship differ from friendship?

EXAMPLES.

A public speaker becomes known to many persons whom he does not know, but who are ready promptly to claim —— with him.

The —— of life must bring us into —— with many who can not be admitted within the inner circle of ——.

The —— of school and college life often develop into the most beautiful and enduring ——.

Between those most widely separated by distance of place and time, by language, station, occupation, and creed, there may yet be true —— of soul.

ACRIMONY (page 15).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does acerbity differ from asperity? asperity from acrimony? 2. How is[384] acrimony distinguished from malignity? malignity from virulence? 3. What is implied in the use of the word severity?

EXAMPLES.

A certain —— of speech had become habitual with him.

To this ill-timed request, he answered with sudden ——.

A constant sense of injustice may deepen into a settled ——.

This smooth and pleasing address veiled a deep ——.

Great —— will be patiently borne if the sufferer is convinced of its essential justice.

ACT (page 16).

QUESTIONS.

1. How is act distinguished from action? from deed? 2. Which of the words in this group necessarily imply an external effect? Which may be wholly mental?

EXAMPLES.

He who does the truth will need no instruction as to individual ——s.

—— is the truth of thought.

The —— is done.

ACTIVE (page 17).

QUESTIONS.

1. With what two sets of words is active allied? 2. How does active differ from busy? from industrious? 3. How do active and restless compare? 4. To what sort of activity does officious refer? 6. What are some chief antonyms of active?

EXAMPLES.

Being of an —— disposition and without settled purpose or definite occupation, she became —— as a hornet.

He had his —— days and hours, but could never be properly said to be ——.

An —— attendant instantly seized upon my baggage.

The true student is —— from the mere love of learning, independently of its rewards.

ACUMEN (page 18).

QUESTIONS.

1. How do sharpness, acuteness, penetration, and insight compare with acumen? 2. What is the special characteristic of acumen? To what order of mind does it belong? 3. What is sagacity? Is it attributed to men or brutes? 4. What is perspicacity? 5. What is shrewdness? Is it ordinarily good or evil? 6. Give illustrations of the uses of the above words as regards the possessors of the corresponding qualities.

EXAMPLES.

The treatise displays great critical ——.

The Indians had developed a practical —— that enabled them to follow a trail by scarcely perceptible signs almost as unerringly as the hound by scent.

[385]

ADD (page 18).

QUESTIONS.

1. How is add related to increase? How does it differ from multiply? 2. What does augment signify? Of what is it ordinarily used? 3. To what does amplify apply? 4. In what ways may a discourse or treatise be amplified?

EXAMPLES.

Care to our coffin —— a nail no doubt;
And every grin, so merry, draws one out.

—— up at night, what thou hast done by day;
And in the morning what thou hast to do.

ADDRESS, v. (page 19).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does accost always signify? greet? hail? 2. How does salute differ from accost or greet? address? 3. What is it to apostrophize?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away ——s after them.

Woman is woman's natural ——.

Self-defense compelled the European nations to be ——s against Napoleon.

The deposed monarch was found to have a strong body of ——s.

ADJACENT (page 22).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is an aim? How does it differ from mark? from goal? 2. How do end and object compare? 3. To what does aspiration apply? How does it differ in general from design, endeavor, or purpose? 4. How does purpose compare with intention? 5. What is design?[388]

EXAMPLES.

In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn
For miserable —— that end with self.

O yet we trust that somehow good
Will be the final —— of ill.

How quickly nature falls into revolt,
When gold becomes her ——.

It is not ——, but ambition that is the mother of misery in man.

AIR (page 27).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is air in the sense here considered? 2. How does air differ from appearance? 3. What is the difference between expression and look? 4. What is the sense of bearing? carriage? 5. How does mien differ from air? 6. What does demeanor include?

EXAMPLES.

I never, with important ——,
In conversation overbear.

Vice is a monster of so frightful ——,
As, to be hated, needs but to be seen.

Grief fills the room up of my absent child,
Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,
Puts on his pretty ——, repeats his words.

AIRY (page 27).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does airy agree with and differ from aerial? Give instances of the uses of the two words. 2. What does ethereal signify? sprightly? 3. Are lively and animated used in the favorable or unfavorable sense?

EXAMPLES.

—— tongues that syllable men's names, on sands and shores and desert wildernesses.

The —— mold
Incapable of stain, would soon expel
Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire,
Victorious.

Society became my glittering bride,
And —— hopes my children.

Soft o'er the shrouds —— whispers breathe,
That seemed but zephyrs to the train beneath.

ALARM (page 28).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the derivation and distinctive meaning of alarm? 2. What do affright and fright express? Give an illustration of the contrasted terms. 3. How are apprehension, disquietude, dread, and misgiving related to the danger that[389] excites them? 4. What are consternation, dismay, and terror, and how are they related to the danger? 5. What is timidity?

ALERT (page 28).

QUESTIONS.

1. To what do alert, wide-awake, and ready refer? 2. How does ready differ from alert? from prepared? 3. What does prompt signify? 4. What is the secondary meaning of alert?

EXAMPLES.

To be —— for war is one of the most effectual ways of preserving peace.

He who is not —— to-day will be less so to-morrow.

Thus ending loudly, as he would o'erleap
His destiny, —— he stood.

ALIEN, a. & n. (page 29).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does alien differ from foreign? 2. Is a foreigner by birth necessarily an alien? 3. Are the people of one country while residing in their own land foreigners or aliens to the people of other lands? 4. How can one residing in a foreign country cease to be an alien in that country? 5. How do foreign and alien differ in their figurative use?

EXAMPLES.

By —— hands thy dying eyes were closed

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to amass? 2. How is amass distinguished from accumulate? 3. Is interest amassed or accumulated? 4. How does hoard differ from store?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ——
By that sin, fell the angels.

Envy, to which th' ignoble mind's a slave,
Is —— in the learn'd or brave.

I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ——.

[394]

AMEND (page 41).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to amend? 2. How do advance, better, and improve differ from amend? 3. Are these words applied to matters decidedly bad, foul, or evil? 4. What is the difference between amend and emend?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

My enemy has long borne me a feeling of ——.

Christ was filled with —— at the hypocrisy of the Jews.

I was overcome by a sudden feeling of ——.

[395]

ANIMAL (page 45).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is an animal? a brute? a beast? 2. Is man an animal? 3. What is implied if we speak of any particular man as an animal? a brute? a beast? 4. What forms of existence does the word creature include? 5. What are the animals of a country or region collectively called?

EXAMPLES.

It is only within the last half century that societies have been organized for the prevention of cruelty to ——.

O that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into ——!

Take a —— out of his instinct, and you find him wholly deprived of understanding.

Spurning manhood and its joys to loot,
To be a lawless, lazy, sensual ——.

ANNOUNCE (page 46).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to announce? 2. Does it apply chiefly to the past or the future? 3. To what is advertise chiefly applied? propound? promulgate? publish?

EXAMPLES.

The Sphinx —— its riddles with life and death depending on the answer.

Through the rare felicity of the times you are permitted to think what you please and to —— what you please.

The songs of birds and the wild flowers in the woodlands —— the coming of spring.

ANSWER (page 46).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a verbal answer? 2. In what wider sense is answer used? 3. What is a reply? a rejoinder? 4. How does an answer to a charge, an argument, or the like, differ from a reply or rejoinder? 5. What is the special quality of a response? 6. What is a retort? How does it differ from repartee?

EXAMPLES.

I can no other —— make, but thanks.

Theirs not to make ——
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.

Upon thy princely warrant I descend,
To give thee —— of thy just demand.

He could not be content without finding a —— in Nature to every mood of his mind; and he does find it.

A man renowned for ——
Will seldom scruple to make free
With friendship's honest feeling.

Nothing is so easy and inviting as the —— of abuse and sarcasm; but it is a paltry and unprofitable contest.

[396]

ANTICIPATE, ANTICIPATION (page 47).

QUESTIONS.

1. What are the two contrasted senses of anticipate? 2. Which is now the more common? 3. How does anticipate differ from expect? from hope? from apprehend? 4. How does anticipation differ from presentiment? from apprehension? from foreboding? 5. What special element is involved in foretaste? How do foresight and forethought go beyond the meaning of anticipation?

EXAMPLES.

Then some leaped overboard with fearful yell,
As eager to —— their grave.

The enemy were decoyed from their defenses by a skilful ——.

Quips and cranks and wanton ——,
Nods and becks and wreathed smiles.

Whoever has even once become notorious by base ——, even if he speaks the truth, gains no belief.

ARTIST (page 58).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is an artist? an artisan? 2. What is an artificer? How related to artist and artisan?

EXAMPLES.

The power depends on the depth of the ——'s insight of that object he contemplates.

Infuse into the purpose with which you follow the various employments and professions of life the sense of beauty, and you are transformed at once from an —— into an ——.

If too many —— turn shopkeepers, the whole natural quantity of that business divided among them all may afford too small a share for each.

ASK (page 59).

QUESTIONS.

1. For what class of objects does one ask? For what does he beg? 2. How do entreat and beseech compare with ask? 3. What is the special sense of implore? of supplicate? 4. How are crave and request distinguished? pray and petition? 5. What kind of asking is implied in demand? in require? How do these two words differ from one another?[400]

EXAMPLES.

We, ignorant of ourselves,
—— often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good: so we find profit,
By losing of our prayers.

The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: —— ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Speak with me, pity me, open the door,
A beggar —— that never begg'd before.

Be not afraid to ——; to —— is right.
——, if thou canst, with hope; but ever ——.
Though hope be weak or sick with long delay;
—— in the darkness, if there be no light.

ASSOCIATE (page 60).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does associate imply, as used officially? What when used in popular language? 2. Do we speak of associates in crime or wrong? What words are preferred in such connection? (See synonyms for ACCESSORY.) 3. Is companion used in a good or bad sense? 4. How does it differ in use from associate? 5. What is the significance of peer? comrade? consort?

Talk not of wasted ——, —— never was wasted.

You do not weaken your —— for your family by cultivating ——s beyond its pale, but deepen and intensify it.

ATTACK, v. & n. (pages 63, 64).

QUESTIONS.

1. What special element is involved in the meaning of attack? 2. How do assail and assault differ? 3. What is it to encounter? how does this word compare with attack? How does attack differ from aggression?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

BANK (page 72).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a beach? a coast? 2. How does each of the above words differ from bank? 3. What is the distinctive sense of strand? In what style of writing is it most commonly used? 4. What are the distinctive senses of edge and brink?

[405]

BANTER (page 73).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is banter? 2. How is badinage distinguished from banter? raillery from both? 3. What is the distinctive sense of irony? 4. Is irony kindly or the reverse? badinage? banter? 5. What words of this group are distinctly hostile? 6. Is ridicule or derision the stronger word? What is the distinction between the two? between satire and sarcasm? between chaff, jeering, and mockery?

BARBAROUS (page 73).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of barbarian? 2. What is the added significance of barbaric? 3. How does barbarous in general use differ from both the above words? 4. What special element is commonly implied in savage? 5. In what less opprobrious sense may barbarous and savage be used? Give instances.

EXAMPLES.

A multitude like which the populous North
Poured never from her frozen loins, to pass
Rhene or the Danaw, when her —— sons
Came like a deluge on the south.

Or when the gorgeous East, with richest hand,
Showers on her kings —— pearl and gold.

It is most true, that a natural and secret hatred and aversation toward society, in any man, hath somewhat of the —— beast.

Thou art bought and sold among those of any wit like a —— slave.

BARRIER (page 74).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a bar? and what is its purpose? 2. What is a barrier? 3. Which word is ordinarily applied to objects of great extent? 4. Would a mountain range be termed a bar or a barrier? 5. What distinctive name is given to a mass of sand across the mouth of a river or harbor?

BATTLE (page 74).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the general meaning of conflict? 2. What is a battle? 3. How long may a battle last? 4. On how many fields may one battle be fought? 5. How does engagement differ from battle? How does combat differ? action? skirmish? fight?

BEAUTIFUL (page 76).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is necessary to constitute an object or a person beautiful? 2. Can beautiful be said of that which is harsh and ragged, however grand? 3. How is[406] beautiful related to our powers of appreciation? 4. How does pretty compare with beautiful? handsome? 5. What does fair denote? comely? picturesque?

EXAMPLES.

I pray thee, O God, that I may be —— within.

A happy youth, and their old age is —— and free.

'Twas sung, how they were —— in their lives
And in their death had not divided been.

How —— has the day been, how bright was the sun.
How lovely and joyful the course that he run.
Though he rose in a mist when his race he began
And there followed some droppings of rain!

BECOMING (page 77).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of becoming? of decent? of suitable? 2. Can that which is worthy or beautiful in itself ever be otherwise than becoming or suitable? Give instances. 3. What is the meaning of fit? How does it differ from fitting or befitting?

EXAMPLES.

A merrier man,
Within the limit of —— mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal.

Still govern thou my song,
Urania, and —— audience find, tho few.

Indeed, left nothing —— for your purpose
Untouch'd, slightly handled, in discourse.

In such a time as this, it is not ——
That every nice offense should bear his comment.

How could money be better spent than in erecting a —— building for the greatest library in the country?

BEGINNING (page 78).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what language is beginning derived? commencement? How do the two words differ in application and use? Give instances. 2. What is an origin? a source? a rise? 3. How are fount, fountain, and spring used in the figurative sense?

EXAMPLES.

For learning is the —— pure,
Out from which all glory springs.

Truth is the —— of every good to gods and men.

1. How may acid, bitter, and acrid be distinguished? pungent? caustic? 2. In metaphorical use, how are harsh and bitter distinguished? 3. What is the special significance of caustic? 4. Give examples of these words in their various uses.

BLEACH (page 82).

QUESTIONS.

1. How do bleach and blanch differ from whiten? from each other?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

A —— man is also full of faith.

Fir'd at first sight with what the Muse imparts,
In —— youth we tempt the heights of Arts.

Thy danger chiefly lies in acting well;
No crime's so great as —— to excel.

[409]

BUSINESS (page 88).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive meaning of barter? 2. What does business add to the meaning of barter? 3. What is occupation? Is it broader than business? 4. What is a vocation? 5. What (in the strict sense) is an avocation? 6. What is implied in profession? pursuit? 7. What is a transaction? 8. How does trade differ from commerce? 9. What is work? 10. What is an art in the industrial sense? a craft?

EXAMPLES.

A man must serve his time to every ——.

We turn to dust, and all our mightiest ——s die too.

CALCULATE (page 90).

QUESTIONS.

1. How do you distinguish between count and calculate? compute, reckon and estimate? 2. Which is used mostly with regard to future probabilities? 3. Do we use compute or estimate of numbers exactly known? 4. Of compute, calculate, and estimate, which is used with especial reference to the future?

EXAMPLES.

There were 4046 men in the district, by actual ——.

The time of the eclipse was —— to a second.

We ask them to —— approximately the cost of the building.

CALL (page 91).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive meaning of call? 2. Do we ever apply bellow and roar to human sounds? 3. Can you give more than one sense of cry? 4. Are shout and scream more or less expressive than call? 5. Which of the words in this group are necessarily and which ordinarily applied to articulate utterance? Which rarely, if ever, so used?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

The sophistry was so —— as to disgust the assembly.

A. T. Stewart relied on —— dealing as the secret of mercantile success.

An —— man will not steal or defraud.

—— she seems with artful care
Affecting to be unaffected.

CARE (page 94).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the special difference between care and anxiety? 2. Wherein does care differ from caution? solicitude from anxiety? watchfulness from wariness? 3. Can you give some of the senses of care? 4. Is concern as strong a term as anxiety? 5. What is circumspection? precaution? heed?

EXAMPLES.

Take her up tenderly, lift her with ——.

A military commander should have as much —— as bravery.

The invaders fancied themselves so secure against attack that they had not taken the —— to station sentinels.

[411]

CARICATURE (page 95).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive meaning of caricature? 2. What is the special difference between parody and travesty? between both and burlesque? 3. To what is caricature mostly confined? 4. How do mimicry and imitation differ? 5. Is an extravaganza an exaggeration?

EXAMPLES.

The —— that there had been a fire was proved by the smoke-blackened walls.

Extreme provocation may be a mitigating —— in a case of homicide.

CLASS (page 106).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does a class differ from a caste? 2. In what connection is rank used? order? 3. What is a coterie? How does it differ from a clique?

EXAMPLES.

An —— was formed for the relief of the poor and needy of the city.

A select —— met at the residence of one of the leading men of the city.

There is a struggle of the masses against the ——.

CLEAR (page 107).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does clear originally signify? 2. How does clear differ from transparent as regards a substance that may be a medium of vision? 3. With what meaning is clear used of an object apprehended by the senses, as an object of sight or hearing? 4. What does distinct signify? 5. What is plain? 6. What special sense does this word always retain? How does transparent differ from translucent? 7. What do lucid and pellucid signify? 8. What is the special force of limpid?

CLEVER (page 109).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of clever as used in England? 2. What was the early New England usage? 3. What is to be said of the use of smart and sharp? 4. What other words of this group are preferable to clever in many of its uses?[414]

EXAMPLES.

His brief experience in the department had made him very —— in the work now assigned him.

She was especially —— in song.

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be ——;
Do noble things, not dream them, all day long;
And so make life, death, and the vast forever
One grand, sweet song.

COMPANY (page 110).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what is company derived? What is its primary meaning? 2. For what are those associated who constitute a company? Is their association temporary or permanent? 3. What is the difference between assemblage and assembly? 4. What is a conclave? a convocation? a convention? 5. What are the characteristics of a group? 6. To what use is congregation restricted? How does meeting agree with and differ from it?

QUESTIONS.

1. How does complex differ from compound? from composite? 2. What is heterogeneous? conglomerate? 3. How does complicated differ from intricate? from involved?

CONSCIOUS (page 116).

QUESTIONS.

1. Of what things is one aware? of what is he conscious? 2. How does sensible compare with the above-mentioned words? 3. What does sensible indicate regarding the emotions, that would not be expressed by conscious?

EXAMPLES.

To be —— that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.

They are now —— it would have been better to resist the first temptation.

He was —— of a stealthy step and a bulk dimly visible through the darkness.

CONSEQUENCE (page 116).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does consequence differ from effect? both from result? 2. How do result and issue compare? 3. In what sense is consequent used?

CONTAGION (page 117).

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.

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.

DECEPTION (page 123).

QUESTIONS.

1. How is deceit distinguished from deception? from guile? fraud? lying? hypocrisy? 2. Do all of these apply to conduct as well as to speech? 3. Is deception ever innocent? 4. Have craft and cunning always a moral element? 5. How is dissimulation distinguished from duplicity?[417]

EXAMPLES.

The —— of his conduct was patent to all.

It was a matter of self-——.

The judge decided it to be a case of ——.

DEFINITION (page 124).

QUESTIONS.

1. Which is the more exact, a definition or a description? 2. What must a definition include, and what must it exclude? 3. What must a description include? 4. In what respect has interpretation a wider meaning than translation? 5. How does an explanation compare with an exposition?

QUESTIONS.

1. To what kind of reasoning does demonstration in the strict sense apply? 2. What is evidence? proof? 3. Which is the stronger term? 4. Which is the more comprehensive?

EXAMPLES.

The —— of the witness was so complete that no further —— was required.

A mathematical —— must be final and conclusive.

[418]

DESIGN (page 128).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive meaning of design? 2. What element is prominent in intention? purpose? plan? 3. Does purpose suggest more power to execute than design? 4. How does intent specifically differ from purpose? Which term do we use with reference to the Divine Being?

EXAMPLES.

The architect's —— involved much detail.

Hell is paved with good ——.

It is the —— of the voter that decides how his ballot shall be counted.

The —— of the Almighty can not be thwarted.

The adaption of means to ends in nature clearly indicates a ——, and so proves a ——er.

DESPAIR (page 129).

QUESTIONS.

1. In what order might despair, desperation, discouragement, and hopelessness follow, each as the result of the previous condition? 2. How does despondency especially differ from despair?

EXAMPLES.

The utter —— of their condition was apparent.

In weak —— he abandoned all endeavor.

DEXTERITY (page 129).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what is adroitness derived? From what dexterity? How might each be rendered? 2. How does adroitness differ in use from dexterity? 3. From what is aptitude derived, and what does it signify? 4. How does skill differ from dexterity? Which can and which can not be communicated?

EXAMPLES.

He had a natural —— for scientific investigation, and by long practise gained an inimitable —— of manipulation.

His —— in debate enabled him to evade or parry arguments or attacks which he could not answer.

The —— of the best trained workman can not equal the precision of a machine.

DICTION (page 130).

QUESTIONS.

1. Which is the more comprehensive word, diction, language, or phraseology? 2. What is the true meaning of verbiage? Should it ever be used as the equivalent of language or diction? 3. What is style? How does it compare with diction or language?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

—— spread in the camp and proved deadlier than the sword.

The —— was found to be contagious.

He is just recovering from a slight ——.

It is not good manners to talk of one's ——s.

DO (page 135).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the most comprehensive word of this group? 2. In what sense are finish[420] and complete used, and how are they discriminated from each other? 3. How do we discriminate between fulfil, realize, effect, and execute? perform and accomplish? accomplish and complete?

EXAMPLES.

A duty has been ——, a work of gratitude and affection has been ——.

It is wonderful how much can be —— by steady, plodding industry without brilliant talents.

The work is not only grand in design but it is —— with the most exquisite delicacy in every detail.

It is the duty of the legislators to make laws, of the magistrates to —— them.

Every one should labor to —— his duties faithfully, and —— the just expectations of those who have committed to him any trust.

DOCTRINE (page 136).

EXAMPLES.

The —— of an organ by the violinist was perfect.

This key is a ——, and will open the lock.

The signature was merely a printed ——.

DUTY (page 142).

QUESTIONS.

1. Do we use duty and right of civil things? or business and obligation of moral things? 2. Does responsibility imply connection with any other person or thing?

EXAMPLES.

I go because it is my ——.

We recognize a —— for the good conduct of our own children, but do we not also rest under some —— to society to exercise a good influence over the children of others?

EAGER (page 142).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinction between eager and earnest in the nature of the feeling implied? in the objects toward which it is directed? 2. How does anxious in this acceptation differ from both eager and earnest?

EXAMPLES.

Hark! the shrill trumpet sounds to horse! away!
My soul's in arms, and —— for the fray.

I am in ——. I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard!

I am —— to hear of your welfare, and of the prospects of the enterprise.

EASE (page 143).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does ease denote, in the sense here considered? Does it apply to action or condition? 2. Is facility active or passive? readiness? 3. What does ease imply, and to what may it be limited? 4. What does facility imply? readiness? 5. To what is expertness limited?

EXAMPLES.

He plays the violin with great ——, and delights an audience.

Whatever he did was done with so much ——,
In him alone 'twas natural to please.

It is often said with equal truth that we ought to take advantage of the —— which children possess of learning.

[422]

EDUCATION (page 143).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive meaning of education? instruction? teaching? 2. How is instruction or teaching related to education? 3. How does training differ from teaching? 4. What is discipline? tuition? 5. What are breeding and nurture, and how do they differ from each other? 6. How are knowledge and learning related to education?

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the distinctive meaning of migrate? What is its application? 2. What do emigrate and immigrate signify? To what do they apply? Can the two words be used of the same person and the same act? How?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

At Christmas play, and make good ——,
For Christmas comes but once a year.

It is as —— to fools to do mischief.

No true heart can find —— in another's pain or grief.

The Puritans hated bear-baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave —— to the spectators.

As Tammie glowered, amazed and curious,
The mirth and —— grew fast and furious.

And so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent —— than angling.

ENTHUSIASM (page 153).

QUESTIONS.

1. In what sense was enthusiasm formerly used? 2. What is now its prevalent and controlling meaning? 3. How does zeal differ from enthusiasm?

EXAMPLES.

An ardent —— leads to great results in exposing certain evils.

His —— was contagious and they rushed into battle.

The precept had its use; it could make men feel it right to be humane, and desire to be so, but it could never inspire them with an —— of humanity.

ENTRANCE (page 154).

QUESTIONS.

1. To what does entrance refer? 2. What do admittance and admission add to the meaning of entrance? 3. To what does admittance refer? To what additional matters does admission refer? Illustrate. 4. What is the figurative use of entrance?

EVIDENT (page 159).

QUESTIONS.

1. How do apparent and evident compare? 2. What is the special sense of manifest? How does it compare in strength with evident? 3. What is the sense of obvious? 4. How wide is the range of visible? 5. How does discernible compare with visible? What does it imply as to the observer's action? 6. What is the sense of palpable and tangible? conspicuous?

EXAMPLES.

A paradox is a real truth in the guise of an —— absurdity or contradiction.

The prime minister was —— by his absence.

The statement is a —— absurdity.

On a comparison of the two works the plagiarism was ——.

Yet from those flames
No light; but only darkness ——.

These lies are like the father that begets them; gross as a mountain, open, ——.

[429]

EXAMPLE (page 160).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the etymological meaning of example? 2. What two contradictory meanings does example derive from this primary sense? 3. How does example differ from sample? 4. How does it compare with model? with pattern? 5. How does exemplar agree with, and differ from example? 6. What is an exemplification? an ensample?

EXAMPLES.

I bid him look into the lives of men as tho himself a mirror, and from others to take an —— for himself.

We sleep, but the loom of life never stops and the —— which was weaving when the sun went down is weaving when it comes up to-morrow.

History is an —— of philosophy.

The commander was resolved to make an —— to deter others from the like offense.

EXCESS (page 160).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is excess? Is it used in the favorable or unfavorable sense? 2. What is extravagance? 3. What is exorbitance? 4. What kind of excess do overplus and superabundance denote? lavishness and profusion? 5. Is surplus used in the favorable or unfavorable sense? 6. To what do redundance and redundancy chiefly refer? 7. What words are used as synonyms of excess in the moral sense?

EXAMPLES.

Saving requires self-denial, and —— is the death of self-denial.

Where there is great —— there usually follows corresponding ——.

—— of wealth is cause of covetousness.

Haste brings ——, and —— brings want.

The —— of the demand caused unfeigned surprise.

More of the present woes of the world are due to —— than to any other single cause.

—— of language often weakens the impression of what would be impressive in sober statement.

EXECUTE (page 161).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of execute? of administer? of enforce? 2. How are the words applied in special cases? Give instances. 3. What secondary meaning has administer?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

In —— prayer, what men most admire, God least regardeth.

As a speaker, he excelled in —— address, while his opponent was at a loss to answer him because not gifted in the same way.

No more on prancing palfrey borne,
He carolled light as lark at morn,
And poured to lord and lady gay
The —— lay.

[431]

EXTERMINATE (page 163).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the derivation, and what is the original meaning of exterminate? eradicate? extirpate? 2. To what are these words severally applied?

EXAMPLES.

Since the building of the Pacific railroads in the United States, the buffalo has been quite ——.

The evil of intemperance is one exceedingly difficult to ——.

No inveterate improver should ever tempt me to —— the dandelions from the green carpet of my lawn.

FAINT (page 164).

QUESTIONS.

1. What are the chief meanings of faint? 2. How is faint a synonym of feeble or purposeless? of irresolute or timid? of dim, faded, or indistinct?

EXAMPLES.

Great is the strength of —— arms combined,
And we can combat even with the brave.

In his right hand a tipped staffe he held,
With which his —— steps he stayed still;
For he was —— with cold, and weak with eld;
That scarce his loosed limbs he hable was to weld.

FAITH (page 164).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is belief? 2. How does credence compare with belief? 3. What is conviction? assurance? 4. What is an opinion? 5. How does a persuasion compare with an opinion? 6. What is a doctrine? a creed? 7. What are confidence and reliance? 8. What is trust? 9. What elements are combined in faith? 10. How is belief often used in popular language as a precise equivalent of faith? 11. How is belief discriminated from faith in the strict religious sense?

EXAMPLES.

—— is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Put not your —— in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

—— is largely involuntary; a mathematical demonstration can not be doubted by a sane mind capable of understanding the terms and following the steps.

Every one of us, whatever our speculative ——, knows better than he practises, and recognizes a better law than he obeys.

There are few greater dangers for an army in the face of an enemy than undue ——.

[432]

FAITHFUL (page 165).

QUESTIONS.

1. In what sense may a person be called faithful? 2. In what sense may one be called trusty? 3. Is faithful commonly said of things as well as persons? is trusty? 4. What is the special difference of meaning between the two words? Give examples.

EXAMPLES.

Be thou —— unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Thy purpose —— is equal to the deed:
Who does the best his circumstance allows
Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.

FAME (page 166).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is fame? Is it commonly used in the favorable or unfavorable sense? 2. What are reputation and repute, and in which sense commonly used? 3. What is notoriety? 4. From what do eminence and distinction result? 5. How does celebrity compare with fame? 6. How does renown compare with fame? 7. What is the import of honor? of glory?

QUESTIONS.

1. What is an intellectual fancy? 2. How does a conceit differ from a fancy? a conception from both? 3. What is an emotional or personal fancy? 4. What is fancy as a faculty of the mind?

EXAMPLES.

Tell me where is —— bred;
Or in the heart or in the head?

Elizabeth united the occasional —— of her sex with that sense and sound policy in which neither man nor woman ever excelled her.

That fellow seems to me to possess but one ——, and that is a wrong one.

If she were to take a —— to anybody in the house, she would soon settle, but not till then.

FAREWELL (page 168).

QUESTIONS.

1. To what language do farewell and good-by belong etymologically? How do they differ? 2. From what language have adieu and congÉ been adopted into English? 3. What is the special significance of congÉ? 4. What are valediction and valedictory?

EXAMPLES.

—— my paper's out so nearly
I've only room for yours sincerely.

The train from out the castle drew,
But Marmion stopped to bid ——.

——! a word that must be, and hath been—
A sound which makes us linger;—yet———.

FEAR (page 168).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the generic term of this group? 2. What is fear? Is it sudden or lingering? In view of what class of dangers? 3. What is the etymological meaning of horror? What does the word signify in accepted usage? 4. What are the characteristics of affright, fright, and terror? 5. How is fear contrasted with fright and terror in actual or possible effects? 6. What is panic? What of the numbers affected by it? 7. What is dismay? How does it compare with fright and terror?[434]

EXAMPLES.

Even the bravest men may be swept along in a sudden ——.

With much more ——
I view the fight than thou that mak'st the fray.

Look in, and see Christ's chosen saint
In triumph wear his Christ-like chain;
No —— lest he should swerve or faint.

The ghastly spectacle filled every beholder with ——.

A lingering —— crept upon him as he waited in the darkness.

FEMININE (page 169).

QUESTIONS.

1. How are female and feminine discriminated? 2. What is the difference between a female voice and a feminine voice? 3. How are womanly and womanish discriminated in use?

EXAMPLES.

Notice, too, how precious are these —— qualities in the sick room.

The demand for closet-room is no mere —— fancy, but the good sense of the sex.

FETTER (page 169).

QUESTIONS.

1. What are fetters in the primary sense? 2. What are manacles and handcuffs designed to fasten or hold? gyves? 3. What are shackles and what are they intended to fasten or hold? 4. Of what material are all these restraining devices commonly composed? By what general name are they popularly known? 5. What are bonds and of what material composed? 6. Which of these words are used in the metaphorical sense?

EXAMPLES.

But first set my poor heart free,
Bound in those icy —— by thee.

Slaves can not breathe in England

···

They touch our country, and their —— fall.

FEUD (page 170).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a feud? Of what is it used? 2. Is a quarrel in word or act? contention? strife? contest? 3. How does quarrel compare in importance with the other words cited? 4. What does an affray always involve? To what may a brawl or broil be confined? 5. How do these words compare in dignity with contention, contest, controversy, and dissension?

EXAMPLES.

Beware of entrance to a ——.

[435]

FICTION (page 170).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a fiction in the most common modern meaning of the word? 2. How does a fiction differ from a novel? from a fable? from a myth? 3. How does a myth differ from a legend? 4. How do falsehood and fabrication differ from the words above mentioned? 5. Is fabrication or falsehood the more odious term? Which term is really the stronger? 6. What is a story? Is it good or bad, true or false? With what words of the group does it agree?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

—— friendships will admit of division, one may love the beauty of this, the good humor of that person, ... and so on.

A —— feeling of unrest prevailed.

Death comes to all by —— law.

GENEROUS (page 182).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the primary meaning of generous? the common meaning? 2. How does generous differ from liberal? 3. What is the distinctive sense of munificent? 4. What does munificent tell of the motive or spirit of the giver? What does generous tell? 5. How does disinterested compare with generous? 6. What is the distinctive meaning of magnanimous? How does it differ from generous as regards dealing with insults or injuries?

EXAMPLES.

To cunning men
I will be very kind; and ——
To mine own children, in good bringing up.

A —— friendship no cold medium knows,
Burns with one love, with one resentment glows.

The conqueror proved as —— in victory as he was terrible in battle.

[441]

GENIUS (page 183).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is genius? 2. What is talent? 3. Which is the higher quality? 4. Which is the more dependent upon training?

EXAMPLES.

The eternal Master found
His single —— well employ'd.

No great —— was ever without some mixture of madness.

GET (page 183).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a person said to get? 2. How is get related to expectation or desire? How is gain related to those words? 3. By what processes does one acquire? Is the thing acquired sought or desired, or not? 4. What does one earn? 5. Does a person always get what he earns or always earn what he gets? 6. What does obtain imply? Is the thing one obtains an object of desire? How does obtain differ from get? 7. What does win imply? How is one said to win a suit at law? What is the correct term in legal phrase? Why? 8. By what special element does procure differ from obtain? 9. What is especially implied in secure?

EXAMPLES.

He —— a living as umbrella mender but a poor living it is.

—— wisdom and with all thy getting, —— understanding.

In the strange city he found that all his learning would not —— him a dinner.

GIFT (page 184).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a gift? Is gift used in the good or the bad sense? Does the legal agree with the popular sense? 2. What synonymous word is always used in the evil sense? 3. What is a benefaction? a donation? What difference of usage is recognized between the two words? 4. What is a gratuity, and to whom given? 5. What is the sense and use of largess? 6. What is a present, and to whom given? 7. What is the special sense of boon? 8. What is a grant, and by whom made?

EXAMPLES.

He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl,
Dominion absolute; that right we hold
By his ——.

True love's the —— which God has given
To man alone beneath the heaven.

"——, ——, noble knights," cried the heralds.

The courts of justice had fallen so low that it was practically impossible to win a cause without a ——.

GIVE (page 185).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the primary meaning of give? the secondary meaning? 2. Can we give what is undesired? 3. Can we give what we are paid for? 4. How is give[442] always understood when there is no limitation in the context? 5. Is it correct to say "He gave it to me for nothing"? 6. What is to grant? 7. What is implied when we speak of granting a favor? 8. What is to confer? 9. What is especially implied in impart? in bestow?

EXAMPLES.

My God shall —— all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

—— to every man that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.

The court promptly —— the injunction.

The king —— upon him the honor of knighthood.

One of the pleasantest things in life is to —— instruction to those who really desire to learn.

GOVERN (page 185).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does the word govern imply? How does it differ from control? 2. How do command and control differ? 3. How do rule and govern differ? 4. What is the special significance of sway? of mold? 5. What is it to manage? 6. What is the present meaning of reign? How does it compare with rule?

EXAMPLES.

He that —— his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.

For some must follow, and some ——
Tho all are made of clay.

Daniel Webster well described the character of "Old Hickory" in the sentence, "I do not say that General Jackson did not mean to —— his country well, but I do say that General Jackson meant to —— his country."

GRACEFUL (page 186).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does graceful denote? How is it especially distinguished from beautiful?

EXAMPLES.

How —— upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace.

A —— myrtle rear'd its head.

GRIEF (page 187).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is grief? 2. How does grief compare with sorrow? with sadness? with melancholy? 3. What two chief senses has affliction? 4. What is implied in mourning, in its most common acceptation?

Sweet is —— after pain.

1. What is repugnance? aversion? 2. How does hatred compare with aversion as[445] applied to persons? as applied to things? 3. What is malice? malignity? 4. What is spite? 5. What are grudge, resentment, and revenge, and how do they compare with one another?

EXAMPLES.

Heaven has no —— like love to —— turned.

The slight put upon him filled him with deep ——.

He ne'er bore —— for stalwart blow
Ta'en in fair fight from gallant foe.

In all cases of wilful injury to person or property, the law presumes ——.

I felt from our first meeting an instinctive —— for the man, which on acquaintance deepened into a settled ——.

HAVE (page 194).

QUESTIONS.

1. To what is have applied? How widely inclusive a word is it? 2. What does possess signify? 3. What is to hold? to occupy? 4. How does be in possession compare with possess? 5. How does own compare with possess or with be in possession? 6. What is the difference between the statement that a man has reason, and the statement that he is in possession of his reason?

EXAMPLES.

Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I —— is thine.

I earnestly entreat you, for your own sakes, to —— yourselves of solid reasons.

He occupies the house, but does not —— it.

HAZARD (page 194).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of hazard? 2. How does hazard compare with danger? 3. How do risk and venture compare with chance and hazard, and with each other? 4. How do accident and casualty differ? 5. What is a contingency?

EXAMPLES.

We must take the current when it serves or lose our ——.

I have set my life upon a cast, and I will stand the —— of the die.

There is no —— in doing known duty.

Do you think it necessary to provide for every —— before taking the first step?

HEALTHY (page 195).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of healthy? of healthful? Are the words properly interchangeable? 2. What are the chief synonyms of healthy? of healthful? 3. In what sense is salubrious used, and to what is it applied? 4. To what realm does salutary belong?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

The —— time is quiet as a nun breathless with adoration.

A —— burden is this life ye bear.

All sects and churches of Christendom hold to some form of the doctrine of the —— inspiration of the Christian Scriptures.

[448]

HOME (page 201).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the general sense of abode, dwelling, and habitation? What difference is there in the use of these words? 2. From what language is home derived? What is its distinctive meaning?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

Among the inalienable rights of man are life, liberty, and the —— of happiness.

All things have an end, and so did our —— for lodgings.

The —— formed the principal amusement of our Norman kings, who for that purpose retained in their possession forests in every part of the kingdom.

The —— is up, but they shall know
The stag at bay's a dangerous foe.

HYPOCRISY (page 204).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what language is pretense derived, and what does it signify? 2. What is hypocrisy? 3. What is cant? sanctimoniousness? 4. What is pietism? formalism? sham? 5. How does affectation compare with hypocrisy?

All rests with those who read. A work or ——
Is what each makes it to himself.

He who comes up to his own —— of greatness must always have had a very low standard of it in his mind.

IDEAL (page 206).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is an ideal? 2. What is an archetype? a prototype? 3. Can a prototype be equivalent to an archetype? 4. Is an ideal primal, or the result of development? 5. What is an original? 6. What is the standard? How does it compare with the ideal? 7. How are idea and ideal contrasted?

EXAMPLES.

Be a —— to others and then all will go well.

The mind's the —— of the man.

Every man has at times in his mind the —— of what he should be, but is not.

IDIOCY (page 207).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is idiocy? 2. What is imbecility? How does it compare with idiocy? 3. How does insanity differ from idiocy or imbecility? 4. How do folly and foolishness compare with idiocy? 5. What is fatuity? stupidity?

While ——, like the finger of a clock,
Runs the great circuit, and is still at home.

And as —— bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.

IMMEDIATELY (page 211).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the primary meaning of immediately? Its meaning as an adverb of time? 2. What did by and by formerly signify? What is its present meaning? 3. What did directly formerly signify, and what does it now commonly mean? 4. What change has presently undergone? 5. Is immediately losing anything of its force? What words now seem more emphatic?

EXAMPLES.

Nothing is there to come, and nothing past,
But an eternal —— does always last.

Let us go up ——, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Obey me ——!

IMMERSE (page 212).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what language is dip derived? from what immerse? 2. How do the two words differ in dignity? How as to the completeness of the action? How as to the continuance of the object in or under the liquid? 3. Which word is preferably used as to the rite of baptism? 4. What does submerge imply? 5. What are douse and duck? 6. What special sense has dip which the other words do not share?

EXAMPLES.

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past —— its dead.

The ships of war, Congress and Cumberland, were —— by the Merrimac.

When food can not be swallowed, life may be prolonged by —— the body in nutritive fluids.

[452]

IMMINENT (page 212).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what language is imminent derived and with what primary sense? impending? 2. How do imminent and impending differ in present use? 3. How does threatening differ from the two words above given?

EXAMPLES.

And nodding Ilium waits the —— fall.

And these she does apply for warnings, portents,
And evils ——.

IMPEDIMENT (page 213).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does impediment primarily signify? obstacle? obstruction? 2. How does obstacle differ from obstruction? 3. What is a hindrance? 4. Is an impediment what one finds or what he carries? Is it momentary or constant? What did the Latin impedimenta signify? 5. What is an encumbrance? How does it differ from an obstacle or obstruction? 6. Is a difficulty within one or without?

EXAMPLES.

Something between a —— and a help.

Thus far into the bowels of the land
Have we march'd without ——.

Demosthenes became the foremost orator of the world in spite of an —— in his speech.

——s overcome are the stepping-stones by which great men rise.

IMPUDENCE (page 213).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does impertinence primarily denote? What is its common acceptation? 2. What is impudence? insolence? 3. What is officiousness? 4. What does rudeness suggest?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

Honors come by ——; riches spring from economy.

'Tis —— supports us all.

There is no success in study without close, continuous, and intense ——.

His —— in wickedness would have won him enduring honor if it had taken the form of —— in a better cause.

INFINITE (page 216).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what language is infinite derived, and with what meaning? To what may it be applied? 2. How do countless, innumerable, and numberless compare with infinite? 3. What is the use of boundless, illimitable, limitless, measureless,[454] and unlimited? 4. What are the dimensions of infinite space? What is the duration of infinite time?

EXAMPLES.

My bounty is as —— as the sea, my love as deep, the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are ——.

Man's inhumanity to man makes —— thousands mourn.

INFLUENCE (page 217).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to influence? is one influenced by external or internal force? 2. To what kind of power does actuate refer? Does one person actuate or influence another? 3. What do prompt and stir imply? 4. What is it to excite? 5. What do incite and instigate signify? How do these two words differ? 6. What do urge and impel imply? How do they differ in the source of the power exerted? 7. What do drive and compel imply, and how do these two words compare with each other?

EXAMPLES.

He was —— by his own violent passions to desperate crime.

And well she can ——.

Fine thoughts are wealth, for the right use of which
Men are and ought to be accountable,
If not to Thee, to those they ——.

INHERENT (page 218).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does inherent signify? 2. To what realm of thought does immanent belong? What does it signify? How does it differ from inherent? Which is applied to the Divine Being? 3. To what do congenital, innate, and inborn apply as distinguished from inherent and intrinsic? 4. With what special reference does congenital occur in medical and legal use? 5. What is the difference in use between innate and inborn? 6. What does inbred add to the sense of innate or inborn? 7. What is ingrained?

EXAMPLES.

An —— power in the life of the world.

All men have an —— right to life, liberty, and protection.

He evinced an —— stupidity that seemed almost tantamount to —— idiocy.

Many philosophers hold that God is —— in nature.

Any stable currency must be founded at last upon something, as gold or silver, that has —— value.

The wrongs and abuses which are —— in the very structure and constitution of society as it now exists throughout Christendom.

INJURY (page 219).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what language is injury derived? What is its primary meaning? Its[455] derived meaning? 2. How inclusive a word is injury? 3. From what is damage derived, and with what original sense? detriment? How do these words compare in actual use? 4. How does damage compare with loss? How can a loss be said to be partial? 5. What is evil, and with what frequent suggestion? 6. What is harm? hurt? How do these words compare with injury? 7. What is mischief? How caused, and with what intent?

EXAMPLES.

Nothing can work me ——, except myself; the —— that I sustain I carry about with me, and never am a real sufferer but by my own fault.

Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,
And won thy love, doing thee ——.

INJUSTICE (page 220).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is injustice? 2. How does wrong differ from injustice in legal use? How in popular use? 3. What is iniquity in the legal sense? in the common sense?

EXAMPLES.

War in men's eyes shall be a monster of ——.

No man can mortgage his —— as a pawn for his fidelity.

Such an act is an —— upon humanity.

INNOCENT (page 220).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does innocent in the full sense signify? 2. Is innocent positive or negative? How does it compare with righteous, upright, or virtuous? 3. In what two applications may immaculate, pure, and sinless be used? 4. With what limited sense is innocent used of moral beings? 5. In what sense is innocent applied to inanimate substances?

EXAMPLES.

They are as —— as grace itself.

For blessings ever wait on —— deeds,
And tho a late, a sure reward succeeds.

The wicked flee where no man pursueth, but the —— are bold as a lion.

A daughter, and a goodly babe;
... the queen receives
Much comfort in't: says, My poor prisoner,
I am —— as you.

INQUISITIVE (page 221).

QUESTIONS.

1. What are the characteristics of an inquisitive person? 2. Is inquisitive ever used in a good sense? What, in that sense, is ordinarily preferred? 3. What does curious signify, and how does it differ from inquisitive?[456]

EXAMPLES.

His was an anxiously —— mind, a scrupulously conscientious heart.

Adrian was the most —— man that ever lived, and the most universal inquirer.

I am —— to know the cause of this sudden change of purpose.

INSANITY (page 221).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is insanity in the widest sense? in its restricted use? Which use is the more frequent? 2. From what is lunacy derived? What did it originally imply? In what sense is it now used? 3. What is madness? 4. What is derangement? delirium? 5. What is the specific meaning of dementia? 6. What is aberration? 7. What is the distinctive meaning of hallucination? 8. What is monomania? 9. What are frenzy and mania?

EXAMPLES.

Go—you may call it ——, folly—you shall not chase my gloom away.

All power of fancy over reason is a degree of ——.

INTERPOSE (page 222).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to interpose? 2. How does intercede differ from interpose? 3. What is it to intermeddle? How does it differ from meddle? from interfere? 4. What do arbitrate and mediate involve?

These make and —— the balance of the mind.

The good old rule
Sufficeth them,—the simple plan,
That they should take who have the power
And they should —— who can.

—— thy shop, and thy shop will —— thee.

[458]

KILL (page 226).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to kill? 2. To what are assassinate, execute, and murder restricted? 3. What is the specific meaning of murder? execute? assassinate? To what class of persons is the latter word ordinarily applied? 4. What is it to slay? 5. To what is massacre limited? With what special meaning is it used? 6. To what do butcher and slaughter primarily apply? What is the sense of each when so used? 7. What is it to despatch?

EXAMPLES.

To look into her eyes was to —— doubt.

Two presidents of the United States have been ——.

Hamilton was —— in a duel by Aaron Burr.

The place was carried by storm, and the inhabitants —— without distinction of age or sex.

KIN (page 227).

QUESTIONS.

1. How does kind compare with kin? 2. What do kin and kindred denote? 3. What is affinity? How does it differ from consanguinity?

EXAMPLES.

A little more than ——, and less than ——.

He held his seat,—a friend to the human ——.

The patient bride, a little sad,
Leaving of home and ——.

KNOWLEDGE (page 227).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is knowledge? How does it differ from information? 2. What is perception? apprehension? cognizance? 3. What is intuition? 4. What is experience, and how does it differ from intuition? 5. What is learning? erudition?

EXAMPLES.

—— comes, but wisdom lingers.

The child is continually seeking ——; hence his endless questions.

'Tis the sunset of life gives me mystical ——,
And coming events cast their shadows before.

——s lie at the very foundation of all reasoning.

LANGUAGE (page 228).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the derivation of language? What was its original signification? How wide is its present meaning? 2. As regards the use of words, what does language denote in the general and in the restricted sense? 3. What does speech always involve? 4. Can we speak of the speech of animals? of their language? 5. What is a dialect? a barbarism? an idiom? 6. What is a patois? How does it differ from a dialect? 7. What is a vernacular?[459]

EXAMPLES.

We must be free or die, who speak the ——
That Shakespeare spake: the faith and morals hold
Which Milton held.

—— is great; but silence is greater.

An infant crying in the night,
An infant crying for the light,
And with no —— but a cry.

Thought leapt out to wed with Thought,
Ere Thought could wed itself with ——.

A Babylonish ——
Which learned pedants much affect.

O! good, my lord, no Latin;
I'm not such a truant since my coming
As not to know the —— I have lived in.

LARGE (page 229).

QUESTIONS.

1. To how many dimensions does large apply? How does it differ from long? 2. How does large compare with great? with big?

EXAMPLES.

Courage, the mighty attribute of powers above,
By which those —— in war, are —— in love.

Everything is twice as —— measured on a three-year-old's three-foot scale as on a thirty-year-old's six-foot scale.

And his —— manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble,
Pipes and whistles in its sound.

LAW (page 229).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the definition of law in its ideal? What does it signify in common use? 2. What are the characteristics of command and commandment? of an edict? 3. What is a mandate? a statute? an enactment? 4. In what special connection is formula commonly used? ordinance? order? 5. What is the meaning of law in such an expression as "the laws of nature?" What in more strictly scientific use? 6. What is a code? jurisprudence? legislation? What is an economy? Is law ever a synonym for these words, and in what way?

EXAMPLES.

Order is Heaven's first ——; and this confest,
Some are, and must be, greater than the rest.

Those he commands move only in ——,
Nothing in love.

His fair large front and eye sublime declared
Absolute ——.

We have strict ——, and most biting ——.

Napoleon gave France the best —— of —— she has ever possessed.[460]

—— is physical, established sequence; intellectual, a condition of intellectual action in order that truth may be reached; and moral, an imperative which determines the right guidance of our higher life.

LIBERTY (page 230).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is freedom? 2. What is liberty in the primary sense? in the widest sense? 3. How do freedom and liberty compare? 4. How is independence used in distinction from freedom and liberty? 5. Is freedom or liberty more freely used in a figurative sense? 6. What is license? How does it compare with liberty and freedom?

EXAMPLES.

In Rousseau's philosophy —— is conceived of as lawlessness.

When —— from her mountain-height
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night,
And set the stars of glory there.

The —— to go higher than we are is given only when we have fulfilled amply the duty of our present sphere.

—— they mean when they cry ——!
For who loves that must first be wise and good.

LIGHT (page 231).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is light? 2. What are the characteristics of a flame? a blaze? 3. What is a flare? a flash? 4. What is the sense of glare and glow? How do they differ, and to what are they applied? 5. To what do shine and sheen refer? 6. What do glimmer, glitter, and shimmer denote? 7. What is gleam? a glitter? a sparkle? glistening? 8. What is scintillation? in what two senses used? 9. To what are twinkle and twinkling applied? 10. What is illumination? incandescence?

EXAMPLES.

From a little spark may burst a mighty ——.

A —— as of another life, my kindling soul received.

It is ——, that enables us to see the differences between things; and it is Christ that gives us ——.

White with the whiteness of the snow,
Pink with faintest rosy ——,
They blossom on their sprays.

Ghastly in the —— of day.

—— in golden coats like images.

So —— a good deed in a naughty world.

There's but the —— of a star
Between a man of peace and war.

[461]

LISTEN (page 232).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does hear signify? What does listen add to the meaning of hear? 2. What does attend add to the meaning of listen? 3. What does heed further imply? 4. What is the difference between listen for and listen to?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

It is always well to —— at people when addressing them.

Having eyes they —— not, and having ears hear not.

Then gently —— your brother man,
Still gentler sister woman;
Tho' they may gang a kennin wrang,
To step aside is human.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that —— for the morning.

How peacefully the broad and golden moon
Comes up to —— upon the reaper's toil!

I am monarch of all I ——,
My right there is none to dispute;
From the center all round to the sea,
I am lord of the fowl and the brute.

But, ——, the morn in russet mantle clad,
Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill.

LOVE (page 235).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is affection? 2. What may be given as a brief definition of love? 3. Does affection apply to persons or things? To what does love apply? 4. What term is preferable to love as applying to articles of food and the like? 5. How does love differ from affection? from friendship?

EXAMPLES.

Peace, commerce, and honest —— with all nations help to form the bright constellation which has gone before us.

And you must love him ere to you he will seem worthy of your ——.

Yet pity for a horse o'erdriven
And —— in which my hound has part
Can hang no weight upon my heart,
In its assumptions up to heaven.

Such —— and unbroken faith
As temper life's worst bitterness.

MAKE (page 236).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the essential idea of make? 2. How is make allied with create? 3. How is make allied with compose or constitute? 4. What are some chief antonyms for make? 5. What are the prepositions chiefly used with make, and how employed?[463]

EXAMPLES.

In the beginning God —— the heaven and the earth.

The mason ——, the architect ——.

I assert confidently that it is in the power of one American mother to —— as many gentlemen as she has sons.

1. What is the conduct specially characteristic of a meddlesome person? of an intrusive person? of one who is obtrusive? officious? 2. To what is obtrusive chiefly applied? intrusive? officious? meddlesome?

EXAMPLES.

Where sorrow's held —— and turned out,
There wisdom will not enter nor true power,
Nor aught that dignifies humanity.

A —— monkey had been among the papers.

MELODY (page 238).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is harmony? melody? In what special feature does the one differ from the other? 2. How many parts are required for harmony? how many for melody? 3. What is unison? 4. What does music include?

EXAMPLES.

Sweetest ——
Are those that are by distance made more sweet.

——, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory.

Ring out ye crystal spheres
And with your ninefold ——
Make up full consort to the angelic ——.

MEMORY (page 239).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is memory in the special and in the general sense? 2. What is remembrance, and how distinguished from memory? 3. Is remembrance voluntary or involuntary? 4. What is recollection, and what does it involve? 5. What is reminiscence? retrospection? How do these two words differ?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

A great —— will be strong to live, as well as to think.

God is a ——: and they that worship him must worship him in —— and in truth.

MINUTE (page 242).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of minute? 2. When is a thing said to be comminuted? 3. How does fine differ from comminuted? 4. What terms are applied to an account extended to minute particulars? to an examination similarly extended?[466]

EXAMPLES.

No —— room so warm and bright,
Wherein to read, wherein to write.

Life hangs on, held by a —— thread.

An organism so —— as to be visible only under the microscope, yet possessed of life, motion, and seeming intelligence is a source of ceaseless wonder.

MISFORTUNE (page 242).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is misfortune? Is the sufferer considered blameworthy for it? 2. What is calamity? disaster? 3. In what special sense are the words affliction, chastening, trial, and tribulation used? How are these four words discriminated the one from another?

EXAMPLES.

He's not valiant that dares die,
But he that boldly bears ——.

I never knew a man in life who could not bear another's —— perfectly like a Christian.

MODEL (page 243).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a model? a pattern? How are they distinguished from one another? 2. Which admits of freedom or idealization?

EXAMPLES.

Things done without ——, in their issue
Are to be fear'd.

Be a —— to others, and then all will go well.

Washington and his compeers had no —— of a federal republic with constitutional bonds and limitations.

Moses was admonished, See that thou make all things according to the —— shewed to thee in the mount.

MODESTY (page 244).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is modesty in the general sense? In what specific sense is the word also used? 2. What is bashfulness? diffidence? coyness? reserve?

EXAMPLES.

For silence and chaste —— is woman's genuine praise, and to remain quiet within the house.

If a young lady has that discretion and ——, without which all knowledge is little worth, she will never make an ostentatious parade of it.

His shrinking —— was often mistaken for a proud ——.

MONEY (page 244).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is money? specie? cash? 2. How does property differ from money? 3. What is bullion? capital?[467]

EXAMPLES.

I am not covetous for ——;
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost.

For the love of —— is the root of all evil.

He converted all his —— into ready ——.

One who undertakes to do business without —— is likely to be speedily straitened for ——.

—— in reversion may be of far less value than —— in hand.

MOROSE (page 245).

QUESTIONS.

1. By what characteristics are the morose distinguished? the sullen and sulky? 2. How does sullen differ from sulky? 3. What is the meaning of surly? 4. Which of these words denote transient moods and which denote enduring states or disposition?

EXAMPLES.

1. What is the signification of however as a conjunction? of nevertheless? 2. Which is the most emphatic word of the group and what does it signify? 3. How do yet and still compare with notwithstanding? with but? 4. What is the force of tho and altho? 5. How does notwithstanding as a preposition differ from despite or in spite of?

EXAMPLES.

—— do thy worst, old Time; despite thy wrong,
My love shall in my verse ever live young.

—— till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace.

There was an immense crowd —— the inclement weather.

OATH (page 254).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is an oath? an affidavit? How does the affidavit differ from the oath? 2. What is an adjuration? 3. What is a vow? How does it differ from an oath? 4. Of what words is oath a popular synonym? 5. In what do anathema,[471] curse, execration, and imprecation agree? 6. What is an anathema? 7. Is a curse just or unjust? 8. What does execration express? imprecation?

EXAMPLES.

Better is it that thou shouldest not ——, than that thou shouldest —— and not pay.

Then how can any man be said
To break an —— he never made?

OBSCURE (page 255).

No, no ——ing the vast wheel of time,
That round and round still turns with onward might.

OLD (page 257).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does old signify? 2. How do old and ancient compare? 3. What contrasted senses has old? 4. What is the special force of olden? 5. In what sense are gray, hoary, and olden used of material objects? 6. To what is aged chiefly applied? 7. To what do decrepit, gray, and hoary apply, as said of human beings? 8. To what does senile apply? 9. In what sense is elderly used? 10. What are the primary and derived meanings of remote? 11. What does venerable express?

EXAMPLES.

The hills,
Rock-ribbed and —— as the sun,—the vales
Stretching in pensive quietness between;
The —— woods, ...
... and, poured round all,
—— ocean's gray and melancholy waste,—
Are but the solemn decorations all
Of the great tomb of man.

Through the sequestered vale of rural life,
The —— patriarch guileless held
The tenor of his way.

O good —— head which all men knew!

Shall we, shall —— men, like —— trees,
Strike deeper their vile root, and closer cling,
Still more enamored of their wretched soil?

OPERATION (page 258).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does operation denote? and by what kind of agent is it effected? 2. What do performance and execution denote? and by what kind of agents are they effected? 3. How does performance differ from execution?

EXAMPLES.

It requires a surgical —— to get a joke well into a Scotch understanding.

His promises were, as he then was, mighty;
But his ——, as he is now, nothing.

[473]

ORDER (page 258).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does instruction imply? direction? 2. How does order compare with direction? 3. To what classes of persons are orders especially given? How does an order in the commercial sense become authoritative? 4. How does command compare with order? 5. In what sense is requirement used? By what authority is a requirement made? 6. In what sense is prohibition used? injunction?

EXAMPLES.

General Sherman writes in his Memoirs, "I have never in my life questioned or disobeyed an ——."

"Ye shall become like God"—transcendent fate!
That God's —— forgot, she plucked and ate.

OSTENTATION (page 259).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is ostentation? How does it compare with boasting? display? show? 2. What is pomp? pageant or pageantry? What do the two latter words suggest, and how do they compare with pomp? 3. From what is parade derived? What is its primary meaning? With what implication is it always used in the metaphorical sense? How does parade compare with ostentation?

EXAMPLES.

The boast of heraldry, the —— of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave.
Await alike the inevitable hour;
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

The President's salary does not permit ——, nor, indeed, is —— expected of him.

With all his wealth, talent, and learning, he was singularly free from ——.

OVERSIGHT (page 260).

QUESTIONS.

1. In what two contrasted senses is oversight used? 2. How does superintendence compare with oversight? 3. With what special reference is control used? 4. What kind of a term is surveillance, and what does it imply?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

Speak of me as I am; nothing ——
Nor aught set down in malice.

We would not dissemble nor —— [our transgressions] before the face of Almighty God, our heavenly Father.

I shall never attempt to —— my own foibles by exposing the error of another.

PARDON, v. (page 262).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to pardon? 2. To what does forgive refer? 3. How do pardon and forgive differ in use in accordance with the difference in meaning? 4. What is it to remit? to condone? to excuse?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

With —— bear the lot to thee assigned,
Nor think it chance, nor murmur at the load,
For know what man calls Fortune is from God.

There is, however, a limit at which —— ceases to be a virtue.

PAY (page 266).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is pay? compensation? remuneration? recompense? 2. What is an allowance? 3. What are wages? earnings? 4. What is hire? what does it imply? 5. For what is salary paid? How does it differ from wages? 6. What is a fee, and for what given?

EXAMPLES.

I am not aware that ——, or even favors, however gracious, bind any man's soul.

Our praises are our ——.

Carey, in early life, was a country minister with a small ——.

Laborers are remunerated by ——, and officials by ——.

PEOPLE (page 266).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a community? a commonwealth? 2. What is a people? a race? 3. What is a state? a nation? 4. What does population signify? tribe?

EXAMPLES.

A —— may let a king fall, and still remain a ——, but if a king let his —— slip from him, he is no longer a king.

Questions of —— have played a great part in the politics and wars of the latter half of the nineteenth century, the Germanic ——, the Slavonic ——, the Italian, and the Greek ——s struggling to assert their unity.

PERCEIVE (page 267).

QUESTIONS.

1. What class of things do we perceive? 2. How does apprehend differ in scope from perceive? 3. What does conceive signify? 4. How does comprehend compare with apprehend? with conceive?

EXAMPLES.

We may —— the tokens of the divine agency without being able to —— or —— the divine Being.

... Admitted once to his embrace,
Thou shalt —— that thou wast blind before.

O horror! horror! horror! Tongue nor heart
Can not —— nor name thee!

[477]

PERFECT (page 268).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is perfect in the fullest and highest sense? 2. What is absolute in the fullest sense? 3. What is perfect in the limited sense, and in popular language?

EXAMPLES.

And you, my lords—methinks you do not well,
To bear with their —— objections.

Whining, purblind, —— boy!

Good Lord! what madness rules in brainsick men
When, for so slight and frivolous a cause,
Such —— emulations shall arise.

PHYSICAL (page 272).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does material signify? 2. What idea does physical add to that contained in material? 3. To what do bodily, corporal, and corporeal apply? 4. How do bodily and corporal differ from corporeal? 5. To what is corporal now for the most part limited?[479]

EXAMPLES.

—— punishment is practically abandoned in the greater number of American schools.

Man has two parts, the one —— and earthly, the other immaterial and spiritual.

These races are all clearly differentiated by other —— traits than the color of the skin.

We can not think of substance save in terms that imply —— properties.

PITIFUL (page 273).

QUESTIONS.

1. What was the original meaning of pitiful? What does it now signify? 2. How does pitiful differ in use from pitiable? 3. What was the early and what is the present sense of piteous?

EXAMPLES.

There is something pleading and —— in the simplicity of perfect ignorance.

The most —— sight one ever sees is a young man doing nothing; the Furies early drag him to his doom.

O, the most —— cry of the poor souls!

PITY (page 273).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is pity? sympathy? 2. How does sympathy in its exercise differ from pity? 3. How does pity differ from mercy? 4. How does compassion compare with mercy and pity? 5. How does commiseration differ from compassion?

EXAMPLES.

Nothing but the Infinite —— is sufficient for the infinite pathos of human life.

He hallows every heart he once has swayed,
And when his presence we no longer share,
Still leaves —— as a relic there.

PLEAD (page 274).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to plead in the ordinary sense? in the legal sense? 2. How do argue and advocate differ? 3. What do beseech, entreat, and implore imply? 4. How does solicit compare with the above words?

EXAMPLES.

Speak to me low, my Savior, low and sweet,

···

Lest I should fear and fall, and miss thee so,
Who art not missed by any that ——.

Speaking of the honor paid to good men, is it not time to —— for a reform in the writing of biographies?

[480]

PLEASANT (page 275).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does pleasant add to the sense of pleasing? 2. How does pleasant compare with kind? 3. What does good-natured signify? How does it compare with pleasant?

She is not —— for the sake of seeming ——, but —— for the sake of being kind.

He was so generally —— that nobody thanked him for it.

Her air, her manners, all who saw admired; —— tho coy, and gentle tho retired.

POVERTY (page 279).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does poverty strictly denote? What does it signify in ordinary use? 2. What does privation signify? How does it compare with distress? 3. What is indigence? destitution? penury? 4. What does pauperism properly signify? How does it differ from beggary and mendicancy?

POWER (page 279).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is power? 2. Is power limited to intelligent agents, or how widely applied? 3. How does ability compare with power? 4. What is capacity, and how related to power and to ability? 5. What is competency? faculty? talent? 6. What are dexterity and skill? How are they related to talent? 7. What is efficacy? efficiency?

EXAMPLES.

Bismarck was the one great figure of all Europe, with more —— for good or evil than any other human being possessed at that time.

The soul, in its highest sense, is a vast —— for God.

I reckon it is an oversight in a great body of metaphysicians that they have been afraid to ascribe our apprehensions of —— to intuition. In consequence of this neglect, some never get the idea of ——, but merely of succession, within the bare limits of experience.

PRAISE (page 280).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is praise? By how many is it given, and how is it expressed? 2. What is applause? by how many given? and how expressed? 3. What is acclamation? How does it differ from applause? 4. How does approbation differ from praise? 5. What does approval add to the meaning of praise? 6. How does compliment compare with praise? 7. What is flattery?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

These matters have been fully explained in —— chapters of this work.

The reader will be helped to an understanding of this process by a careful study of the diagram on the —— page.

In —— times many things were attributed to witchcraft that now have a scientific explanation.

[484]

PRICE (page 285).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the cost of an article? the price? 2. How do cost and price ordinarily differ? 3. In what exceptional case may cost and price agree? 4. What does price always imply? 5. What is the meaning of value? How does market value differ from intrinsic value? 6. How does value differ from worth? 7. To what are charge and expense ordinarily applied?

EXAMPLES.

I'll give thee England's treasure,
Enough to —— such another island,
So thou wilt make me live.

'Tis gold which ——s admittance.

—— the truth, and sell it not.

[488]

PURE (page 296).

QUESTIONS.

1. What does pure signify? 2. In what sense are material substances said to be pure? 3. What does pure denote in moral and religious use? 4. How does pure compare with innocent? with virtuous?

EXAMPLES.

Water from melted snow is ——r than rain-water, as it descends through the air in a solid form, incapable of absorbing atmospheric gases.

Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds —— and quiet take
That for a hermitage.

In every place incense shall be offered unto my name and a —— offering, saith the Lord of hosts.

QUEER (page 297).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of odd? singular? Are odd and singular precise equivalents? 2. When is a thing called strange? 3. What is the primary meaning of peculiar? With what implication is it now commonly used? 4. What is the meaning of eccentric? How does it differ in use from odd or queer? 5. How does erratic compare with eccentric? 6. What is the primary meaning of queer? its common meaning? 7. What is the significance of quaint? grotesque?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

Timidity is a —— defect in a reformer.

Social and political leaders look to vested interests, and hence are inclined to regard all —— measures as ——.

RARE (page 300).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of unique? Can any one of a number of things of the same kind be unique? 2. What is the primary meaning of rare? What added sense is often blended with this primary meaning? 3. Is extraordinary favorable or unfavorable in meaning?

EXAMPLES.

Nothing is so —— as time.

That which gives to the Jews their —— position among the nations is what we are accustomed to regard as their sacred history.

And what is so —— as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days.

REACH (page 300).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to reach in the sense here considered? 2. What is it to arrive? 3. What does attain add to the meaning of arrive? What does gain add?[490]

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

He that oppresseth the poor ——eth his Maker.

Her answer ——ed me; for she said, "I never ask their crimes, for we have all come short."

Moses was ——ed of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

This witness is true. Therefore —— them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.

[494]

REST (page 313).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is ease? quiet? rest? 2. What is recreation, and how is it related to rest? 3. What is repose in the primary, and what in the derived, sense? 4. How does repose compare with rest? 5. What is a pause? 6. How does sleep compare with repose and rest?

EXAMPLES.

Seek out, less often sought than found,
A soldier's grave—for thee the best;
Then look around, and choose thy ground,
And take thy ——.

Her manners had not that ——
That stamps the cast of Vere de Vere.

Shall I not take mine —— in mine inn?

RESTRAIN (page 315).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is it to restrain? 2. How does constrain differ from restrain? 3. How does restrain differ from restrict? 4. How does repress compare with restrain? suppress?

Friendship gives no —— to make ourselves disagreeable.

All men are created equal, and endowed with certain inalienable ——s.

RUSTIC (page 321).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what are rural and rustic alike derived? How do the two words agree in general signification? How are they discriminated in use? 2. What is the meaning of pastoral? of bucolic?

EXAMPLES.

How still the morning of the hallowed day!
Mute is the voice of —— labor, hush'd
The plowboy's whistle and the milkmaid's song.

The —— arbor which the summit crowned
Was woven of shining smilax, trumpet-vine,
Clematis, and the wild white eglantine.

When hunting tribes begin to domesticate animals, they enter usually upon the —— stage.

SACRAMENT (page 321).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a religious service in the extended sense? 2. What is a sacrament?[496] 3. What is an observance? an ordinance? 4. How do sacrament and ordinance differ? 5. What is a rite?

EXAMPLES.

Religion will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ——s.

Nothing tends more to unite men's hearts than joining together in the same prayers and ——s.

SALE (page 323).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is change or exchange? 2. What is barter? sale? 3. What is a bargain in the strict sense? 4. What is trade in the broad and in the limited sense?

EXAMPLES.

Honor sits smiling at the —— of truth.

I'll give thrice as much land to any well-deserving friend,
But in the way of ——, mark ye me,
I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.

Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made
To coin a penny in the way of ——.

SAMPLE (page 323).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is a sample? a specimen? 2. How do sample and specimen compare as indications of the quality of that which they respectively represent?

But ——, in the technical and limited sense of the term, is appropriated to the knowledge of material objects, and of the external world. This knowledge is gained or acquired by means of the ——s, and hence, to be more exact, we call it sensible ——, or, more briefly, sense ——.

——s sweet,
Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart.

SENSIBILITY (page 328).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is sensibility in the philosophical sense? in popular use? 2. What does sensitiveness denote? 3. What is susceptibility? How does it compare with sensitiveness? 4. How are susceptibility and sensitiveness discriminated in physics?

EXAMPLES.

The —— of the external surface of the body is a special endowment adapted to the elements around and calculated to protect the interior parts from injury.

—— to pleasure is of necessity also —— to pain.

Every mind is in a peculiar state of —— to certain impressions.

[498]

SEVERE (page 329).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is severe? rigid? strict? 2. How does rigorous compare with rigid? 3. What does austere signify? What element is always found in an austere character?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

And Cain said, My punishment is great than I can ——.

1. What is it to teach? 2. How does instruct surpass teach in signification? 3. What secondary sense has instruct? 4. What is the full meaning of educate? 5. What is it to train? 6. To what is train commonly applied where educate could not well be used? 7. What is it to discipline? 8. What does nurture signify, and how does it compare with educate?

EXAMPLES.

Plato returned to Athens and began to ——; like his master, he —— without money and without price.

For the most effective mechanical work both mind and hand must be ——ed in childhood.[504]

The Highlanders flocking to him from all quarters, though ill-armed, and worse ——ed, made him undervalue any enemy who, he thought, was yet to encounter him.

TERM (page 354).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the literal meaning of term? 2. Is this meaning retained in the figurative uses of the word? 3. What are the articles of a contract? the terms of a contract? 4. What is a condition? 5. What is a term in the logical sense? 6. How does term in ordinary use compare with word, expression, or phrase?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in ——.

Out of the —— of Roman and Teutonic elements arose the modern world of Europe.

UTILITY (page 363).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what is utility derived, and what is its primary meaning? 2. How is utility discriminated from use and usefulness? 3. What is the derivation and primary meaning of expediency? 4. How are expediency and utility used as regards moral action? Which is the inferior word in such use? 5. How does policy in such use compare with expediency and utility?

EXAMPLES.

Principle is ever my motto, not ——.

Two words form the key of the Baconian doctrine, —— and progress. The ancient philosophy disdained to be useful, and was content to be stationary.[507]

Justice itself is the great standing —— of civil society, and any departure from it, under any circumstances, rests under the suspicion of being no —— at all.

The fundamental objection to the doctrine of ——, in all its modifications is that taken by Dr. Reid, viz., "that agreeableness and —— are not moral conceptions, nor have they any connection with morality. What a man does merely because it is agreeable is not virtue."

VACANT (page 363).

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the meaning of empty? of vacant? 2. To what does vacant especially refer? 3. What is the difference between an empty house and a vacant house? 4. What is the difference in dignity between the two words? 5. What is the significance of void and devoid? 6. What does waste imply? 7. In what sense is vacuous used?

EXAMPLES.

—— heads console with —— sound.

The watch-dog's voice that bay'd the whispering wind
And the loud laugh that spoke the —— mind.

VENAL (page 365).

QUESTIONS.

1. From what is venal derived, and with what meaning? mercenary? hireling? 2. How are mercenary and venal discriminated from hireling?

EXAMPLES.

The closing quarter of the nineteenth century may be termed the —— era of American politics. Never before has legislation been so universally, so unscrupulously, and unblushingly for sale.

The body of Greeks, immortalized under the name of the Ten Thousand, ... though embarking on a foreign —— service, were by no means outcasts, or even men of extreme poverty.

It is not the hire, but the working only for the hire that makes the ——.

VENERATION (page 366).

QUESTIONS.

1. By what qualities is awe inspired? 2. What elements are present and what lacking in awe? 3. What is dread and by what aroused? 4. How do reverence and veneration differ from awe or dread? 5. How does adoration compare with veneration?

EXAMPLES.

EXAMPLES.

—— is the fruit of exertion; it supposes conquest of temptation.

In seeing that a thing is right, we see at the same time that it is our —— to do it.

It is true that —— is the best policy; but if this be the motive of honest dealing, there is no real ——.

Where is that chastity of —— that felt a stain like a wound?

[509]

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