English Synonyms and Antonyms

primary school. Primal is chiefly poetic, in the sense of prime; as, the primal curse. Primordial is first in an
order of succession or development; as, a primordial leaf. Primitive frequently signifies having the original
characteristics of that which it represents, as well as standing first in time; as, the primitive church. Primitive
also very frequently signifies having the original or early characteristics without remoteness in time. Primeval
simplicity is the simplicity of the earliest ages; primitive simplicity may be found in retired villages now.
Pristine is an elegant word, used almost exclusively in a good sense of that which is original and perhaps
ancient; as, pristine purity, innocence, vigor. That which is both an original and natural product of a soil or
country is said to be indigenous; that which is actually produced there is said to be native, though it may be of
foreign extraction; humming-birds are indigenous to America; canaries may be native, but are not indigenous.
Immemorial refers solely to time, independently of quality, denoting, in legal phrase, "that whereof the
memory of man runneth not to the contrary;" as, an immemorial custom; an immemorial abuse. Compare
OLD.
Antonyms:
adventitious, foreign, late, new, recent. exotic, fresh, modern, novel,
Compare synonyms for NEW.
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PROFIT.
Synonyms:
advantage, expediency, proceeds, service, avail, gain, receipts, usefulness, benefit, good, return, utility,
emolument, improvement, returns, value.
The returns or receipts include all that is received from an outlay or investment; the profit is the excess (if
any) of the receipts over the outlay; hence, in government, morals, etc., the profit is what is really good,
helpful, useful, valuable. Utility is chiefly used in the sense of some immediate or personal and generally
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
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some material good. Advantage is that which gives one a vantage-ground, either for coping with competitors
or with difficulties, needs, or demands; as to have the advantage of a good education; it is frequently used of
what one has beyond another or secures at the expense of another; as, to have the advantage of another in an
argument, or to take advantage of another in a bargain. Gain is what one secures beyond what he previously
possessed. Benefit is anything that does one good. Emolument is profit, return, or value accruing through
official position. Expediency has respect to profit or advantage, real or supposed, considered apart from or
perhaps in opposition to right, in actions having a moral character. Compare UTILITY.
Antonyms:
damage, detriment, harm, injury, ruin, destruction, disadvantage, hurt, loss, waste.
Prepositions:
The profit of labor; on capital; in business.
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PROGRESS.
Synonyms:
advance, development, improvement, proficiency, advancement, growth, increase, progression. attainment,
Progress (L. pro, forward, gradior, go) is a moving onward or forward, whether in space or in the mental or
moral realm, and may be either mechanical, individual, or social. Attainment, development, and proficiency
are more absolute than the other words of the group, denoting some point of advantage or of comparative
perfection reached by forward or onward movement; we speak of attainments in virtue or scholarship,
proficiency in music or languages, the development of new powers or organs; proficiency includes the idea of
skill. Advance may denote either a forward movement or the point gained by forward movement, but always
relatively with reference to the point from which the movement started; as, this is a great advance. Advance
admits the possibility of retreat; progress (L. progredi, to walk forward) is steady and constant forward
movement, admitting of pause, but not of retreat; advance suggests more clearly a point to be reached, while