English Synonyms and Antonyms

But ranges from the faintest contrast to absolute negation; as, I am willing to go, but (on the other hand)
content to stay; he is not an honest man, but (on the contrary) a villain. The contrast may be with a silent
thought; as, but let us go (it being understood that we might stay longer). In restrictive use, except and
excepting are slightly more emphatic than but; we say, no injury but a scratch; or, no injury except some
painful bruises. Such expressions as "words are but breath" (nothing but) may be referred to the restrictive use
by ellipsis. So may the use of but in the sense of unless; as, "it never rains but it pours." To the same head
must be referred the conditional use; as, "you may go, but with your father's consent" (i. e., "provided you
have," "except that you must have," etc.). "Doubt but" is now less used than the more logical "doubt that." But
never becomes a full synonym for and; and adds something like, but adds something different; "brave and
tender" implies that tenderness is natural to the brave; "brave but tender" implies that bravery and tenderness
are rarely combined. For the concessive use, compare NOTWITHSTANDING.
* * * * *
BY.
Synonyms:
by dint of, by means of, through, with.
By refers to the agent; through, to the means, cause, or condition; with, to the instrument. By commonly refers
to persons; with, to things; through may refer to either. The road having become impassable through long
disuse, a way was opened by pioneers with axes. By may, however, be applied to any object which is viewed
as partaking of action and agency; as, the metal was corroded by the acid; skill is gained by practise. We speak
of communicating with a person by letter. Through implies a more distant connection than by or with, and
more intervening elements. Material objects are perceived by the mind through the senses.
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CABAL.
Synonyms:
combination, confederacy, crew, gang, conclave, conspiracy, faction, junto.
A conspiracy is a combination of persons for an evil purpose, or the act of so combining. Conspiracy is a
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
78

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distinct crime under common, and generally under statutory, law. A faction is more extensive than a
conspiracy, less formal in organization, less definite in plan. Faction and its adjective, factious, have always
an unfavorable sense. Cabal commonly denotes a conspiracy of leaders. A gang is a company of workmen all
doing the same work under one leader; the word is used figuratively only of combinations which it is meant to
stigmatize as rude and mercenary; crew is used in a closely similar sense. A conclave is secret, but of larger
numbers, ordinarily, than a cabal, and may have honorable use; as, the conclave of cardinals.
* * * * *
CALCULATE.
Synonyms:
account, consider, enumerate, rate, cast, count, estimate, reckon, compute, deem, number, sum up.
Number is the generic term. To count is to number one by one. To calculate is to use more complicated
processes, as multiplication, division, etc., more rapid but not less exact. Compute allows more of the element
of probability, which is still more strongly expressed by estimate. We compute the slain in a great war from
the number known to have fallen in certain great battles; compute refers to the present or the past, estimate
more frequently to the future; as, to estimate the cost of a proposed building. To enumerate is to mention item
by item; as, to enumerate one's grievances. To rate is to estimate by comparison, as if the object were one of a
series. We count upon a desired future; we do not count upon the undesired. As applied to the present, we