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fluid is a substance that, like air or water, yields to any force that tends to change its form; a liquid is a body
in that state in which the particles move freely among themselves, but remain in one mass, keeping the same
volume, but taking always the form of the containing vessel; a liquid is an inelastic fluid; a gas is an elastic
fluid that tends to expand to the utmost limits of the containing space. All liquids are fluids, but not all fluids
are liquids; air and all the gases are fluids, but they are not liquids under ordinary circumstances, tho capable
of being reduced to a liquid form by special means, as by cold and pressure. Water at the ordinary temperature
is at once a fluid and a liquid.
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FOLLOW.
Synonyms:
accompany, come after, go after, obey, pursue, attend, copy, heed, observe, result, chase, ensue, imitate,
practise, succeed.
Anything that comes after or goes after another, either in space or in time, is said to follow it. A servant
follows or attends his master; a victorious general may follow the retiring enemy merely to watch and hold
him in check; he chases or pursues with intent to overtake and attack; the chase is closer and hotter than the
pursuit. (Compare synonyms for HUNT.) One event may follow another either with or without special
connection; if it ensues, there is some orderly connection; as, the ensuing year; if it results from another, there
is some relation of effect, consequence, or inference. A clerk observes his employer's directions. A child
obeys his parent's commands, follows or copies his example, imitates his speech and manners. The compositor
follows copy; the incoming succeeds the outgoing official.
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FOOD.
Synonyms:
aliment, feed, nourishment, pabulum, sustenance, diet, fodder, nutriment, provender, viands, fare, forage,
nutrition, regimen, victuals.
Food is, in the popular sense, whatever one eats in contradistinction to what one drinks. Thus, we speak of
food and drink, of wholesome, unwholesome, or indigestible food; but in a more scientific sense whatever,
when taken into the digestive organs, serves to build up structure or supply waste may be termed food; the
word is extended to plants to signify whatever taken in any way into the organism serves similar purposes;
thus, we speak of liquid food, plant food, etc.; in this wider sense food is closely synonymous with nutriment,
nourishment, and sustenance. Diet refers to the quantity and quality of food habitually taken, with reference to
preservation of health. Victuals is a plain, homely word for whatever may be eaten; we speak of choice
viands, cold victuals. Nourishment and sustenance apply to whatever can be introduced into the system as a
means of sustaining life; we say of a convalescent, he is taking nourishment. Nutriment and nutrition have
more of scientific reference to the vitalizing principles of various foods; thus, wheat is said to contain a great
amount of nutriment. Regimen considers food as taken by strict rule, but applies more widely to the whole
ordering of life. Fare is a general word for all table supplies, good or bad; as, sumptuous fare; wretched fare.
Feed, fodder, and provender are used only of the food of the lower animals, feed denoting anything
consumed, but more commonly grain, fodder denoting hay, cornstalks, or the like, sometimes called "long
feed;" provender is dry feed, whether grain or hay, straw, etc. Forage denotes any kind of food suitable for
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
147
horses and cattle, primarily as obtained by a military force in scouring the country, especially an enemy's
country.
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FORMIDABLE.
Synonyms:
dangerous, redoubted, terrible, tremendous.
That which is formidable is worthy of fear if encountered or opposed; as, a formidable array of troops, or of
evidence. Formidable is a word of more dignity than dangerous, and suggests more calm and collected power
than terrible; formidable is less overwhelming than tremendous. A loaded gun is dangerous; a park of artillery
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