English Synonyms and Antonyms

 associate as used officially implies a chief, leader, or principal, to whom the associate is not fully equal in
rank. Associate is popularly used of mere friendly relations, but oftener implies some work, enterprise, or
pursuit in which the associated persons unite. We rarely speak of associates in crime or wrong, using
confederates or accomplices instead. Companion gives itself with equal readiness to the good or evil sense, as
also does comrade. One may be a companion in travel who would not readily become an associate at home. A
lady advertises for a companion; she would not advertise for an associate. Peer implies equality rather than
companionship; as, a jury of his peers. Comrade expresses more fellowship and good feeling than companion.
Fellow has almost gone out of use in this connection, except in an inferior or patronizing sense. Consort is a
word of equality and dignity, as applied especially to the marriage relation. Compare ACCESSORY;
ACQUAINTANCE; FRIENDSHIP.
Antonyms:
antagonist, foe, hinderer, opponent, opposer, rival, stranger. enemy,
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
54

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Prepositions:
These were the associates of the leader in the enterprise.
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ASSOCIATION.
Synonyms:
alliance, confederacy, familiarity, lodge, club, confederation, federation, participation, community,
conjunction, fellowship, partnership, companionship, connection, fraternity, society, company, corporation,
friendship, union.
We speak of an alliance of nations, a club of pleasure-seekers, a community of Shakers, a company of soldiers
or of friends, a confederacy, confederation, federation, or union of separate states under one general
government, a partnership or company of business men, a conjunction of planets. The whole body of
Freemasons constitute a fraternity; one of their local organizations is called a lodge. A corporation or
company is formed for purposes of business; an association or society (tho also incorporated) is for learning,
literature, benevolence, religion, etc. Compare ASSOCIATE; ACQUAINTANCE; FRIENDSHIP.
Antonyms:
disintegration, independence, isolation, separation, solitude.
Prepositions:
An association of scholars for the advancement of knowledge; association with the good is ennobling.
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ASSUME.
Synonyms:
accept, arrogate, postulate, put on, affect, claim, presume, take, appropriate, feign, pretend, usurp.
The distinctive idea of assume is to take by one's own independent volition, whether well or ill, rightfully or
wrongfully. One may accept an obligation or assume an authority that properly belongs to him, or he may
assume an obligation or indebtedness that could not be required of him. He may assume authority or office
that is his right; if he assumes what does not belong to him, he is said to arrogate or usurp it. A man may
usurp the substance of power in the most unpretending way; what he arrogates to himself he assumes with a
haughty and overbearing manner. One assumes the robes or insignia of office by putting them on, with or
without right. If he takes to himself the credit and appearance of qualities he does not possess, he is said to
affect or feign, or to pretend to, the character he thus assumes. What a debater postulates he openly states and
takes for granted without proof; what he assumes he may take for granted without mention. A favorite trick of
the sophist is quietly to assume as true what would at once be challenged if expressly stated. What a man