English Synonyms and Antonyms

enthusiasm. Zeal is burning earnestness, always tending to vigorous action with all the devotion of
enthusiasm, tho often without its hopefulness. Compare EAGER.
Antonyms:
calculation, caution, deadness, indifference, policy, timidity, calmness, coldness, dulness, lukewarmness,
prudence, wariness.
* * * * *
ENTRANCE.
Synonyms:
access, approach, gate, introduction, accession, door, gateway, opening, adit, doorway, ingress, penetration,
admission, entrée, inlet, portal. admittance, entry,
Entrance, the act of entering, refers merely to the fact of passing from without to within some enclosure;
admission and admittance refer to entering by or with some one's consent, or at least to opportunity afforded
by some one's act or neglect. We may effect or force an entrance, but not admittance or admission; those we
gain, procure, obtain, secure, win. Admittance refers to place, admission refers also to position, privilege,
favor, friendship, etc. An intruder may gain admittance to the hall of a society who would not be allowed
admission to its membership. Approach is a movement toward another; access is coming all the way to his
presence, recognition, and consideration. An unworthy favorite may prevent even those who gain admittance
to a king's audience from obtaining any real access to the king. Entrance is also used figuratively for setting
out upon some career, or becoming a member of some organization; as, we speak of one's entrance upon
college life, or of entrance into the ministry.
Antonyms:
departure, ejection, exit, refusal, withdrawal. egress, exclusion, expulsion, rejection,
Prepositions:
Entrance into a place; on or upon a work or course of action; into or upon office; into battle; by or through the
door; within the gates; into or among the company.
* * * * *
ENVIOUS.
Synonyms:
jealous, suspicious.
One is envious who cherishes selfish ill will toward another because of his superior success, endowments,
possessions, or the like. A person is envious of that which is another's, and to which he himself has no right or
claim; he is jealous of intrusion upon that which is his own, or to which he maintains a right or claim. An
envious spirit is always bad; a jealous spirit may be good or bad, according to its object and tendency. A free
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
131

---

people must be jealous of their liberties if they would retain them. One is suspicious of another from
unfavorable indications or from a knowledge of wrong in his previous conduct, or even without reason.
Compare DOUBT.
Antonyms:
contented, friendly, kindly, satisfied, trustful, well-disposed.
Prepositions:
Envious of (formerly at or against) a person; envious of his wealth or power; envious of him for, because of,
on account of his wealth or power.
* * * * *
EQUIVOCAL.
Synonyms:
ambiguous, enigmatical, indistinct, questionable, doubtful, indefinite, obscure, suspicious, dubious,
indeterminate, perplexing, uncertain. enigmatic,
Equivocal (L. equus, equal, and vox, voice, word) denotes that which may equally well be understood in either
of two or more ways. Ambiguous (L. ambi, around, and ago, drive, lead) signifies lacking in distinctness or
certainty, obscure or doubtful through indefiniteness of expression. Ambiguous is applied only to spoken or
written statements; equivocal has other applications. A statement is ambiguous when it leaves the mind of the
reader or hearer to fluctuate between two meanings, which would fit the language equally well; it is equivocal
when it would naturally be understood in one way, but is capable of a different interpretation; an equivocal
expression is, as a rule, intentionally deceptive, while an ambiguous utterance may be simply the result of a
want either of clear thought or of adequate expression. That which is enigmatical must be guessed like a
riddle; a statement may be purposely made enigmatical in order to provoke thought and study. That is