English Synonyms and Antonyms

reciprocal action of cause and effect, where the effect becomes in turn a cause. Many good writers hold it
incorrect to say "a mutual friend," and insist that "a common friend" would be more accurate; but "common
friend" is practically never used, because of the disagreeable suggestion that attaches to common, of ordinary
or inferior. "Mutual friend" has high literary authority (of Burke, Scott, Dickens, and others), and a
considerable usage of good society in its favor, the expression being quite naturally derived from the
thoroughly correct phrase mutual friendship.
Antonyms:
detached, distinct, separated, unconnected, unrequited, disconnected, disunited, severed, unreciprocated,
unshared. dissociated, separate, sundered,
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MYSTERIOUS.
Synonyms:
abstruse, inexplicable, recondite, cabalistic, inscrutable, secret, dark, mystic, transcendental, enigmatical,
mystical, unfathomable, hidden, obscure, unfathomed, incomprehensible, occult, unknown.
That is mysterious in the true sense which is beyond human comprehension, as the decrees of God or the
origin of life. That is mystic or mystical which has associated with it some hidden or recondite meaning,
especially of a religious kind; as, the mystic Babylon of the Apocalypse. That is dark which we can not
personally see through, especially if sadly perplexing; as, a dark providence. That is secret which is
intentionally hidden. Compare DARK.
Antonyms:
See synonyms for CLEAR.
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NAME.
Synonyms:
agnomen, denomination, prenomen, surname, appellation, designation, style, title. cognomen, epithet,
Name in the most general sense, signifying the word by which a person or thing is called or known, includes
all other words of this group; in this sense every noun is a name; in the more limited sense a name is personal,
an appellation is descriptive, a title is official. In the phrase William the Conqueror, King of England, William
is the man's name, which belongs to him personally, independently of any rank or achievement; Conqueror is
the appellation which he won by his acquisition of England; King is the title denoting his royal rank. An
epithet (Gr. epitheton, something added, from epi, on, and tithemi, put) is something placed upon a person or
thing; the epithet does not strictly belong to an object like a name, but is given to mark some assumed
characteristic, good or bad; an epithet is always an adjective, or a word or phrase used as an adjective, and is
properly used to emphasize a characteristic but not to add information, as in the phrase "the sounding sea;" the
idea that an epithet is always opprobrious, and that any word used opprobriously is an epithet is a popular
error. Designation may be used much in the sense of appellation, but is more distinctive or specific in
meaning; a designation properly so called rests upon some inherent quality, while an appellation may be
fanciful. Among the Romans the prenomen was the individual part of a man's name, the "nomen" designated
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
201

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the gens to which he belonged, the cognomen showed his family and was borne by all patricians, and the
agnomen was added to refer to his achievements or character. When scientists name an animal or a plant, they
give it a binary or binomial technical name comprising a generic and a specific appellation. In modern use, a
personal name, as John or Mary, is given in infancy, and is often called the given name or Christian name, or
simply the first name (rarely the prenomen); the cognomen or surname is the family name which belongs to
one by right of birth or marriage. Style is the legal designation by which a person or house is known in official
or business relations; as, the name and style of Baring Brothers. The term denomination is applied to a
separate religious organization, without the opprobrious meaning attaching to the word "sect;" also, to
designate any class of like objects collectively, especially money or notes of a certain value; as, the sum was
in notes of the denomination of one thousand dollars. Compare TERM.
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NATIVE.
Synonyms:
indigenous, innate, natal, natural, original.