Part 1

SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS _An Alphabetical List of Words in Common Use, Grouped with Others of Similar and Opposite Meaning_

BY

EDITH B. ORDWAY _Author of “The Etiquette of To-Day,” “Handbook of Quotations,” Etc._

NEW YORK

GEORGE SULLY AND COMPANY

_Copyright, 1913_

BY SULLY AND KLEINTEICH

_All rights reserved_

PRINTED IN U. S. A.

PREFACE

The aim in compiling this book has been to make the list of words in common use concise yet full, and authoritative yet suggestive. Above five thousand leading words are given, and the synonyms and antonyms comprise several thousand more different words.

Actual references may be multiplied by looking up a synonym or antonym, as well as by consulting cognate words, such as the corresponding noun, verb, or adjective.

In some cases common words have been omitted, because they were composed of a root word and a prefix, intensive or privative. Their synonyms and antonyms may be found under the root word.

Occasionally within the lists words closely synonymous or antonymic have been grouped within semicolons.

The part of speech of a word is designated by an abbreviation in such cases as are necessary to save confusion.

Synonyms appear immediately after the leading word; antonyms, after the abbreviation “Ant.” This order is invariable.

In the effort to make this list authoritative, the standard dictionaries and the acknowledged authorities on the subject have been consulted.

E. B. O.

ABBREVIATIONS

_a._ Adjective.

_ad._ Adverb.

_Ant._ Antonym or Antonyms.

_conj._ Conjunction.

_interj._ Interjection.

_n._ Noun.

_p.p._ Past Participle.

_prep._ Preposition.

_Syn._ Synonym or Synonyms.

_v._ Verb.

SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

A

=Abandon.= Desert, leave, forsake, depart from, quit, give up, relinquish, discontinue, abdicate, renounce, repudiate, forswear, withdraw from, vacate, surrender, retract, recant, retire from, cast off, abjure, cede, cease, resign, forego, yield, waive, part with, let go, lay down, evacuate, drop, deliver up.

ANT. _Claim, cherish, defend, keep, hold, maintain, protect, adopt, uphold, advocate, vindicate, occupy, undertake, prosecute, pursue, follow, seek, guard, favor, retain, support, assert, haunt._

=Abandoned.= Discarded, rejected _and the p.p. of the syn. of “abandon”_; depraved, corrupt, profligate, wicked, unprincipled, shameless, sinful, hardened, impenitent, lost, demoralized, vicious, dissolute, reprobate, graceless, obdurate, licentious, incorrigible, irreclaimable, bad.

ANT. The p.p. of the ant. of “abandon”; _visited, frequented, sociable; virtuous, good, deserving, worthy, commendable, excellent, laudable; reclaimable, penitent; conscientious, correct, upright, righteous, self-controlled, high-principled, steady._

=Abandonment.= Desertion, renunciation, surrender, rejection, abandoning, relinquishment, dereliction; cession, resignation, abnegation, demission, abjuration, abdication, defection, abrogation.

ANT. _Solicitude, care, heed, watchfulness, vigilance; hospitality, entertainment, conviviality, welcome, reception; retention, completion, reclamation, support, help, correction, custody, tenacity._

=Abase.= Degrade, reduce, lower, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, humble, sink, humiliate, bring low, cast down, stoop, debase, depress, drop, take down, demean.

ANT. _Elevate, exalt, honor, promote, raise, dignify, uplift, aggrandize._

=Abasement.= Degradation, humiliation, dishonor, degeneracy, shame, depression, reduction, lowering, fall, deterioration, debasement, degeneration, vitiation, perversion, depravation, abjection, disrepute, discredit, subserviency.

ANT. _Promotion, exaltation, honor, elevation, aggrandizement, dignity, repute, reputation, standing, supremacy._

=Abash.= Bewilder, confound, disconcert, discompose, confuse, daunt, humble, dishearten, mortify, shame, humiliate, snub, discountenance.

ANT. _Embolden, cheer, encourage, animate, uphold, rally, countenance, inspirit, abet, incite, buoy._

=Abate.= Lessen, lower, reduce, diminish, moderate, decrease, decline, ebb, mitigate, subside, suppress, terminate, remove; temper, assuage, alleviate, appease, pacify; remit, allow; relax, slacken; bate, deduct; soothe, soften, qualify, allay, mollify, compose, tranquilize, quiet, quell, calm, dull, blunt; batter down, beat down, demolish, raze.

ANT. _Increase, prolong, magnify, foment, enlarge, extend, aggravate, continue, develop, revive, raise, enhance, amplify._

=Abatement.= Subsidence, decline, lowering, reduction, decrease; allowance, discount, rebate, depreciation, drawback; moderation, lessening, mitigation, assuagement, remission, sinking, settling, waning, fading, ebb, evanishment, declension, deduction, diminution.

ANT. _Increase, augmentation, enlargement, increment, accretion, development, growth, aggrandizement, dilation, accession._

=Abbreviate.= Shorten, contract, curtail, reduce, abridge, condense, epitomize, compress.

ANT. _Lengthen, extend, elongate, dilate, expand, amplify, enlarge, produce, stretch, prolong, expatiate._

=Abbreviation.= Abridgment, contraction, condensation, compend, abstract, epitome, reduction, summary, curtailment, compression.

ANT. _Expansion, amplification, expatiation, extension, production, enlargement, dilation._

=Abdicate.= Resign, relinquish _office_ (_especially of the throne_), surrender, abandon, vacate, forego, renounce, give up, cede.

ANT. _Retain, claim, occupy, maintain, usurp, seize, grasp._

=Abdomen.= Belly, paunch, ventral region, visceral cavity.

=Abduct.= Take away (_surreptitiously or forcibly_), kidnap, run away with, carry off, spirit away, drag away.

ANT. _Restore, reinstate, adduct._

=Abduction.= Withdrawal, drawing away, abstraction, kidnapping, seizure, appropriation.

ANT. _Adduction, replacement, restitution, restoration, surrender, reinstatement._

=Aberrant.= Wandering, rambling, divergent, deviating, devious, erratic; irregular, abnormal, unusual, exceptional.

ANT. _Regular, true, consistent, uniform, consecutive, normal, natural, continuous._

=Aberration.= Wandering, divergence, irregularity, rambling, disconnectedness, hallucination, illusion, delusion, eccentricity, singularity, peculiarity.

ANT. _Uniformity, consecutiveness, regularity, progression, continuity, order, type, norm._

=Abet.= Aid, assist, promote, support, sanction, uphold, countenance, encourage, advocate, incite, instigate, embolden, favor, foment, connive at, coöperate with.

ANT. _Hinder, impede, obstruct, frustrate, baffle, confound, counteract, deter, discourage, thwart, contradict, disconcert, disapprove, denounce, dissuade, expose._

=Abettor.= Assistant, helper, aid, ally, coöperator, advocate, confederate, accomplice, accessory, adviser, promoter, instigator, associate, coadjutor.

ANT. _Opponent, foe, adversary, antagonist, rival, dissuader, detector, baffler, disconcerter._

=Abeyance.= Suspense, suspension, expectancy, waiting, anticipation, dormancy, intermission, quiescence, suppression, expectation.

ANT. _Renewal, revival, resuscitation, action, operation, exercise, force, possession._

=Abhor.= Hate, detest, loathe, shrink from, recoil from, shudder at, abominate, despise, dislike, eschew, nauseate, revolt at.

ANT. _Crave, desire, enjoy, covet, esteem, like, love, relish, admire, approve, affect._

=Abhorrent.= Odious, offensive, shocking, repugnant, loathsome, revolting, horrible, repellent, repulsive, nauseating.

ANT. _Admirable, enjoyable, lovely, estimable, desirable._

=Abide.= Wait for, await, attend; endure, tolerate, bear, suffer; anticipate, watch for, expect; bide, continue, reside, dwell, sojourn, tarry, lodge, rest, stay, inhabit, remain.

ANT. _Abandon, shun; resist, reject, avoid; deport, migrate, move, journey, continue, proceed, progress._

=Abiding.= Lasting, continuing, permanent, durable, constant, stable, immutable, changeless, unchanging.

ANT. _Ephemeral, fickle, changeable, unsubstantial, perishable._

=Ability.= Power, force, might, efficiency, vigor, skill, energy, dexterity, adroitness, skilfulness, cleverness, ingenuity, talent, aptitude, facility, knack, expertness, readiness, quickness, strength, capacity, qualification, competency, genius, caliber, capability, capableness, faculty, gift, parts.

ANT. _Incapacity, weakness, inability, unreadiness, maladroitness, imbecility, impotence, disability, inaptitude, inefficiency, incompetence, disqualification, helplessness, stupidity, folly._

=Abject.= Base, vile, mean, low, despicable, contemptible, worthless, groveling, fawning, beggarly, servile, cringing, miserable, degraded, menial, ignoble.

ANT. _Dignified, honorable, exalted, worthy, venerable, illustrious, independent, princely, self-assertive, self-reliant, vain, arrogant, insolent, haughty._

=Abjure.= Renounce, relinquish, reject, forswear, forego, repudiate, disown, give up, retract, revoke, recant, disavow, disclaim, withdraw, take back, deny, apostatize, discard.

ANT. _Claim, advocate, acknowledge, profess, vindicate, assert, demand, retain, appropriate, avow._

=Able.= Accomplished, adroit, talented, clever, ingenious, apt, skilful, efficient, capable, fitted, learned, gifted, masterly, telling, vigorous, strong, proficient, competent, versed, practical, endowed, powerful, mighty.

ANT. _Incapable, ineffective, unqualified, stupid, inept, weak, inefficient, unskilful, silly, incompetent._

=Ablution.= Washing, bathing, cleansing, lavation, purification, baptism.

ANT. _Pollution, defilement, dirt, soilure, contamination, taint, stain, abomination, impurity._

=Abnegation.= Denial, abjuration, renunciation, rejection, surrender, abandonment, disallowance, abstinence.

ANT. _Assertion, vindication, license, claim, indulgence, concession; affirmation, allegation, statement, declaration, word, averment, deposition; proposal, proffer._

=Abnormal.= Singular, unnatural, unusual, irregular, peculiar, exceptional, aberrant, erratic, monstrous, preternatural.

ANT. _Normal, regular, usual, natural, typical, customary, ordinary, common._

=Aboard.= On board, on the ship, afloat, inside, within.

ANT. _Ashore, aground._

=Abode.= Home, house, place, residence, domicile, habitation, dwelling, lodging, quarters, seat.

ANT. _Halt, tent, bivouac, perch._

=Abolish.= Abrogate, annul, destroy, repeal, revoke, suppress, terminate, rescind, cancel, nullify, suppress, overthrow, extirpate, remove, prohibit, set aside, end, stamp out.

ANT. _Establish, support, sustain, cherish, confirm, continue, restore, revive, reinstate, institute, promote, legalize._

=Abominable.= Hateful, horrible, loathsome, abhorrent, foul, odious, offensive, detestable, impure, execrable.

ANT. _Desirable, admirable, enjoyable, pleasing, pure, delectable._

=Abomination.= Offense, horror, shame, wickedness, abhorrence, aversion, disgust, curse, pollution, iniquity, defilement, corruption, nuisance, annoyance.

ANT. _Acquisition, enjoyment, gratification, blessing, desire, longing, delight, benefit, pleasure, satisfaction._

=Aboriginal.= Primitive, primeval, primary, pristine, native, original, indigenous, autochthonous.

ANT. _Subsequent, imported, exotic, recent, modern, late, novel, fresh, immigrant, adventitious_.

=Abortion.= Failure, miscarriage, disappointment, non-success, vain effort, defect, frustration, blunder.

ANT. _Success, consummation, completion, realization, perfection, achievement, development, exploit, feat._

=Abound.= Team, swarm, multiply, swell, increase, flow, luxuriate, flourish, prevail, wanton, revel, exuberate.

ANT. _Waste, lack, wane, vanish, lessen, decrease, die, decay, fall._

=About.= Concerning, regarding, touching, relative to, with reference to, in regard to; near, surrounding, around; almost, nearly, well-nigh; ready, on the point of, on the eve of; around, hind part before.

ANT. _Afar, distant, remote; precisely, exactly._

=Above.= Overhead, aloft, on high; before, previously; higher, having precedence; over, exceeding, beyond, superior, excessive.

ANT. _Below, beneath, within; later, subsequently; lower; less, diminished._

=Aboveboard.= Openly, candidly, frankly, sincerely, fairly, ingenuously, unreservedly, guilelessly.

ANT. _Secretly, elusively, underhand, deceitfully, wilily._

=Above-named.= Named before, aforesaid, above-mentioned, above-cited, above-described, mentioned above.

ANT. _Named below, described below, hereinafter named._

=Abrasion.= Rubbing, friction, wearing away _or_ off, disintegration, attrition.

ANT. _Accretion, augmentation, increment; supplement, reinforcement._

=Abreast.= Alongside, side by side, aligned; against, off, opposite to.

ANT. _Ahead, astern; behind._

=Abridge.= Abbreviate, shorten, condense, diminish, reduce, contract, cut down, deprive of, divest of, epitomize, compress.

ANT. _Amplify, expand, spread out, extend, dilate._

=Abridgment.= Summary, synopsis, compend, analysis, abstract, abbreviation, epitome, outline, compendium, digest.

ANT. _Amplification, expatiation, exposition, annotation, paraphrase, expansion, comment._

=Abroad.= Far away, distant, apart, dispersed, aloof, adrift; distracted, confused, dazed, confounded; forth, out of doors.

ANT. _Near, close, collected, fast, housed; composed, poised, self-contained; within._

=Abrogate.= Abolish, cancel, set aside, annul, make void, overrule, invalidate, nullify, repeal.

ANT. _Enact, confirm, enforce, establish, continue, revive._

=Abrogation.= Repeal, rescinding, annulment, abolition, revocation, voidance, cancelation, setting aside; discontinuance, disestablishment.

ANT. _Enactment, institution, establishment; sanction, continuance, confirmation._

=Abrupt.= Sudden, unexpected, hasty, ill-timed, precipitate; steep, precipitous, craggy, rough, rugged, jagged; short, blunt, curt, unceremonious; stiff, cramped, harsh, disconnected.

ANT. _Easy, gliding; polished, smooth, undulating; expected, courteous, elegant, complaisant, suave._

=Abscond.= Depart, steal away, decamp, bolt, disappear, run off, hide, withdraw, retreat, escape, elope, slink _or_ sneak off, absent one’s self.

ANT. _Show, appear, emerge, issue, present one’s self._

=Absence.= Non-attendance, non-appearance, non-existence, absenteeism; inattention, abstraction, preoccupation, musing; want, lack, privation, defect, deficiency.

ANT. _Presence, existence, manifestation, evidence, supply; attention, consideration; immanence, inherency._

=Absent.= Away, gone; abstracted, preoccupied, inattentive, dreaming.

ANT. _Present, here; attentive, alert._

=Absolute.= Perfect, complete, supreme, autocratic, authoritative, commanding, independent, unrestricted, unqualified, unlimited, unconditioned, self-existent, self-determined, ideal; despotic, arbitrary, exacting, domineering, tyrannical, imperious, dictatorial, irresponsible; positive, actual, real, veritable, genuine, certain, categorical, unquestionable.

ANT. _Related, responsible, conditioned, limited, qualified, restricted, accountable; ductile, humble, lenient, meek, mild, yielding, compliant, complaisant; dubious, contingent, defective, deficient, wanting, lacking, mutilated, incomplete._

=Absolution.= Acquittal, remission, release, deliverance, forgiveness, pardon, shriving, shrift; indulgence, justification.

ANT. _Charge, accusation, condemnation, censure, conviction; penance, purgation, fasting, flagellation._

=Absolve.= Acquit, clear, exonerate, forgive, free, liberate, release, pardon, set free, discharge, exempt, exculpate.

ANT. _Accuse, condemn, convict, impeach, charge, compel; obligate, oblige, bind._

=Absorb.= Take in, consume, imbibe, swallow, suck up, exhaust; engross, engage, immerse, occupy, arrest, rivet (_of attention_).

ANT. _Give up, disgorge, send out, radiate, throw off, eject; dissipate, distract, disperse._

=Absorption.= Absorbing, imbibing, assimilation, destruction, consumption, exhaustion; engrossment, engagement, occupation, immersion.

ANT. _Ejection, rejection, expulsion, discharge; inadvertency, inattention, oversight, disregard._

=Abstain.= Refrain, resist, forbear, desist, deny one’s self, avoid, cease, stop, withhold, give up, relinquish.

ANT. _Indulge, wanton, revel, yield to, gratify._

=Abstemious.= Abstinent, sober, moderate, temperate, sparing, frugal, self-denying, continent.

ANT. _Sensual, self-indulgent, intemperate, greedy._

=Absterge.= Wipe off, purge, cleanse, purify, scrub, sponge, scour.

ANT. _Soil, pollute, begrime, contaminate, bespatter, bedaub._

=Abstersive.= Cleansing, purging, purifying, scouring; detergent, cathartic.

ANT. _Corruptive, contaminative, offensive._

=Abstinence.= Temperance, abstemiousness, self-control, self-restraint, self-denial, sobriety, fasting, continence, moderation, frugality.

ANT. _Excess, intoxication, self-indulgence, sensuality, wantonness, intemperance, greed, gluttony, revelry, dissipation._

=Abstinent.= Abstaining, fasting; abstemious, sober, temperate, self-restraining, self-denying, continent, austere.

ANT. _Sensual, self-indulgent, intemperate, epicurean, dissipated, incontinent, debauched._

=Abstract=, _n._ Epitome, summary, abridgment, compend, synopsis, syllabus, outline, digest, brief, compendium, gist, drift, contents.

ANT. _Amplification, disquisition, exposition, expansion, expatiation._

=Abstract=, _v._ Appropriate, withdraw, remove, separate, take away, detach, purloin, part, eliminate, distract, discriminate, abridge.

ANT. _Add, complete, increase, restore, unite, conjoin, fill up, strengthen, combine._

=Abstracted.= Separated, withdrawn, removed; subtle, refined, abstruse; inattentive, preoccupied, dreaming, absent-minded, oblivious, thoughtless, negligent, indifferent, heedless, absorbed, absent.

ANT. _Intelligible, lucid, transparent; attentive, intent, observant, alert, prompt, ready, thoughtful, wide-awake._

=Abstraction.= Disconnection, disjunction, removal, isolation, separation; preoccupation, revery, inattention, absorption, absence; taking, abduction, seizure, stealing, appropriation, purloining; classification, generalization.

ANT. _Addition, conjunction, union, restitution, importation, restoration; enumeration, analysis; attention, specification, observation, individualization._

=Abstruse.= Hidden, difficult, recondite, profound, deep, curious, occult, dark, obscure, mystical, hard, vague, indefinite, mysterious, abstract, transcendental.

ANT. _Patent, simple, obvious, trite, intelligible, manifest, lucid, clear, easy, plain, popular, superficial._

=Absurd.= Ludicrous, monstrous, nonsensical, preposterous, senseless, ridiculous, foolish, irrational, wild, unreasonable.

ANT. _Sensible, rational, reasonable, logical, wise, sagacious, sound, substantial, philosophical, reflective, consistent, true._

=Absurdity.= Unreasonableness, irrationality, foolishness, folly, fatuity, idiocy, extravagance, drivel.

ANT. _Reason, possibility; truism, axiom, maxim, adage._

=Abundance.= Profusion, wealth, affluence; flow, flood, overflow; copiousness, fertility, richness, largeness, store, plenty, exuberance, plenteousness.

ANT. _Scarcity, deficiency, rarity, scantiness, dearth, failure, poverty._

=Abundant.= Abounding, flowing, plentiful, liberal, bountiful, sufficient, lavish, plenteous, much, copious, replete, full, teeming.

ANT. _Rare, scarce, scant, deficient, insufficient, short, niggardly, sparing, impoverished, dry, drained._

=Abuse=, _n._ Misuse, dishonor, maltreatment, outrage, reviling, obloquy, defamation, insult, disparagement, reproach, ill usage.

ANT. _Kindness, praise, deference, respect, honor, good treatment, good usage._

=Abuse=, _v._ Harm, ill-treat, ill-use, injure, wrong, maltreat, oppress, molest, malign, impose on, ruin, victimize, slander, violate, ravish, defile, disparage, damage, defame, misuse.

ANT. _Cherish, protect, regard, shield, respect, care for, tend, benefit; laud, favor, applaud, extol, eulogize, praise; uphold, sustain, vindicate, conserve._

=Abusive.= Insulting, rude, denunciatory, reproachful, injurious, offensive, reviling, insolent, scurrilous, opprobrious.

ANT. _Respectful, attentive, laudatory, kind, flattering, courteous, complimentary, obsequious._

=Abut.= Be adjacent, extend, impinge, project, approximate, be contiguous, adjoin; end, border.

ANT. _Diverge, recede, return, retreat, recurve._

=Abutment.= Terminal support, buttress.

=Abuttal.= Adjacency, contiguity, nearness, juxtaposition; boundary, terminus, limit, termination.

ANT. _Interval, separation, gap, chasm, interspace, fissure, breach._

=Abyss.= Gulf, gorge, deep, chasm, profound, abysm; the pit.

ANT. _Surface, abutment, adhesion, contact, contiguity; heaven._

=Academical.= Scholastic, learned, literary, collegiate, classical.

ANT. _Illiterate, ignorant, unschooled._

=Academy.= School, seminary, institute, college, gymnasium, high school; scientific body, association of artists.

=Accede.= Consent, assent, acquiesce, comply, agree, accept, concur, approve, coincide.

ANT. _Decline, withdraw, refuse, demur, protest, dissent, reject._

=Accelerate.= Hasten, quicken, speed, precipitate, despatch, expedite, hurry, urge, push forward, press on; forward, advance, further.

ANT. _Delay, impede, clog, hinder, retard, drag, obstruct._

=Accent=, _n._ Stress, beat, emphasis, rhythm, pulsation, intonation, cadence, tone, modulation, ictus.

ANT. _Monotony, equableness, babble, flow, smoothness._

=Accentuate=, =Accent=, _v._ Lay stress upon, put the ictus on; emphasize, mark, make prominent.

ANT. _Make light of, make insignificant, underestimate, ignore._

=Accept.= Take, receive; admit, agree to, approve, acknowledge, avow; estimate, regard, value, construe.

ANT. _Refuse, decline, reject, ignore, disown, repudiate._

=Acceptable.= Welcome, pleasing, grateful, gratifying, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, seasonable, desirable, expedient.

ANT. _Unpleasant, disagreeable, annoying, grievous, ungrateful, unwelcome._

=Acceptance.= Reception, taking; acknowledgment, approbation, approval, satisfaction, gratification.

ANT. _Rejection, refusal, repudiation, exclusion._

=Acceptation.= Meaning, significance, sense, import, interpretation, construction, understanding; approval, adoption, acceptance.

=Access.= Entrance, approach, passage, avenue, entry; admission, admittance, audience, interview; addition, increase, gain; accession; attack, onset, fit, paroxysm.

ANT. _Exit, egress, departure; exclusion; repulse, recoil; retirement, retreat; quiescence, inertia, languor, torpor._

=Accessary=, _see_ =Accessory=.

=Accessible.= Easy of access, approachable, affable, conversible.

ANT. _Distant, cold, unapproachable, difficult._

=Accession.= Addition, increase, enlargement, extension, augmentation; arrival, influx; attainment (_of power_).

ANT. _Abandonment, decrease, ebb, drain, subsidence, departure, resignation, diminution._

=Accessory=, _n._ Confederate, assistant, helper, associate, accomplice; detail, accompaniment, subordinate element; companion, partner.

ANT. _Foe, rival, adversary, antagonist, opponent, enemy; principal, instigator._

=Accessory=, _a._ Assisting, aiding, abetting, helping, acceding, additional; supplemental, subservient, subsidiary, subordinate, conducive; accompanying, contributory, auxiliary.

ANT. _Essential, inherent; superfluous, irrelevant._

=Accident.= Chance, disaster, happening, hazard, incident, misfortune, calamity, adventure, casualty, mishap, possibility.

ANT. _Certainty, provision, plan, intention, appointment, calculation, law, necessity, purpose, preparation._

=Accidental.= Casual, unintended, fortuitous, chance; incidental, immaterial, non-essential; occasional, contingent, adventitious.

ANT. _Intended, purposed, prepared, appointed, certain._

=Acclamation.= Applause, cheer, outcry, homage, gratulation, salutation.

ANT. _Censure, execration, denunciation, obloquy, sibilation._

=Acclivity.= Rise, incline, ascent, steep, hill, height.