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Unfeelingness, the Saxon word that should be the exact equivalent of apathy, really means more, a lack of the
feeling one ought to have, a censurable hardness of heart. Indifference and insensibility designate the absence
of feeling toward certain persons or things; apathy, entire absence of feeling. Indifference is a want of interest;
insensibility is a want of feeling; unconcern has reference to consequences. We speak of insensibility of heart,
immobility of countenance. Stoicism is an intentional suppression of feeling and deadening of sensibilities,
while apathy is involuntary. Compare CALM; REST; STUPOR.
Antonyms:
agitation, disturbance, feeling, sensibility, sympathy, alarm, eagerness, frenzy, sensitiveness, turbulence,
anxiety, emotion, fury, storm, vehemence, care, excitement, passion, susceptibility, violence. distress,
Prepositions:
The apathy of monastic life; apathy toward good.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
46
* * * * *
APIECE.
Synonyms:
distributively, each, individually, separately, severally.
There is no discernible difference in sense between so much apiece and so much each; the former is the more
common and popular, the latter the more elegant expression. Distributively is generally used of numbers and
abstract relations. Individually emphasizes the independence of the individuals; separately and severally still
more emphatically hold them apart. The signers of a note may become jointly and severally responsible, that
is, each liable for the entire amount, as if he had signed it alone. Witnesses are often brought separately into
court, in order that no one may be influenced by the testimony of another. If a company of laborers demand a
dollar apiece, that is a demand that each shall receive that sum; if they individually demand a dollar, each
individual makes the demand.
Antonyms:
accumulatively, confusedly, indiscriminately, together, unitedly. collectively, en masse, synthetically,
* * * * *
APOLOGY.
Synonyms:
acknowledgment, defense, excuse, plea, confession, exculpation, justification, vindication.
All these words express one's answer to a charge of wrong or error that is or might be made. Apology has
undergone a remarkable change from its old sense of a valiant defense--as in Justin Martyr's Apologies for the
Christian faith--to its present meaning of humble confession and concession. He who offers an apology admits
himself, at least technically and seemingly, in the wrong. An apology is for what one has done or left undone;
an excuse may be for what one proposes to do or leave undone as well; as, one sends beforehand his excuse
for not accepting an invitation; if he should fail either to be present or to excuse himself, an apology would be
in order. An excuse for a fault is an attempt at partial justification; as, one alleges haste as an excuse for
carelessness. Confession is a full acknowledgment of wrong, generally of a grave wrong, with or without
apology or excuse. Plea ranges in sense from a prayer for favor or pardon to an attempt at full vindication.
Defense, exculpation, justification, and vindication are more properly antonyms than synonyms of apology in
its modern sense, and should be so given, but for their connection with its historic usage. Compare
CONFESS; DEFENSE.
Antonyms:
accusation, charge, condemnation, injury, offense, censure, complaint, imputation, insult, wrong.
Prepositions:
An apology to the guest for the oversight would be fitting.
* * * * *
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
47
APPARENT.
Synonyms:
likely, presumable, probable, seeming.
The apparent is that which appears; the word has two contrasted senses, either of that which is manifest,
visible, certain, or of that which merely seems to be and may be very different from what is; as, the apparent
motion of the sun around the earth. Apparent kindness casts a doubt on the reality of the kindness; apparent
neglect implies that more care and pains may have been bestowed than we are aware of. Presumable implies
that a thing may be reasonably supposed beforehand without any full knowledge of the facts. Probable
implies that we know facts enough to make us moderately confident of it. Seeming expresses great doubt of
the reality; seeming innocence comes very near in meaning to probable guilt. Apparent indicates less
assurance than probable, and more than seeming. A man's probable intent we believe will prove to be his real
intent; his seeming intent we believe to be a sham; his apparent intent may be the true one, tho we have not
yet evidence on which to pronounce with certainty or even with confidence. Likely is a word with a wide
range of usage, but always implying the belief that the thing is, or will be, true; it is often used with the
infinitive, as the other words of this list can not be; as, it is likely to happen. Compare EVIDENT.
Antonyms:
doubtful, dubious, improbable, unimaginable, unlikely.
Prepositions:
(When apparent is used in the sense of evident): His guilt is apparent in every act to all observers.
* * * * *
APPEAR.
Synonyms:
have the appearance or semblance, look, seem.
Appear and look refer to what manifests itself to the senses; to a semblance or probability presented directly to
the mind. Seem applies to what is manifest to the mind on reflection. It suddenly appears to me that there is
smoke in the distance; as I watch, it looks like a fire; from my knowledge of the locality and observation of
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