English Synonyms and Antonyms

Put is the most general term for bringing an object to some point or within some space, however exactly or
loosely; we may put a horse in a pasture, or put a bullet in a rifle or into an enemy. Place denotes more careful
movement and more exact location; as, to place a crown on one's head, or a garrison in a city. To lay is to
place in a horizontal position; to set is to place in an upright position; we lay a cloth, and set a dish upon a
table. To deposit is to put in a place of security for future use; as, to deposit money in a bank; the original
sense, to lay down or let down (quietly), is also common; as, the stream deposits sediment.
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QUEER.
Synonyms:
anomalous, erratic, odd, strange, bizarre, extraordinary, peculiar, uncommon, comical, fantastic, preposterous,
unique, crotchety, funny, quaint, unmatched, curious, grotesque, ridiculous, unusual, droll, laughable,
singular, whimsical. eccentric, ludicrous,
Odd is unmated, as an odd shoe, and so uneven, as an odd number. Singular is alone of its kind; as, the
singular number. What is singular is odd, but what is odd may not be singular; as, a drawerful of odd gloves.
A strange thing is something hitherto unknown in fact or in cause. A singular coincidence is one the
happening of which is unusual; a strange coincidence is one the cause of which is hard to explain. That which
is peculiar belongs especially to a person as his own; as, Israel was called Jehovah's "peculiar people," i. e.,
especially chosen and cherished by him; in its ordinary use there is the implication that the thing peculiar to
one is not common to the majority nor quite approved by them, though it may be shared by many; as, the
Shakers are peculiar. Eccentric is off or aside from the center, and so off or aside from the ordinary and what
is considered the normal course; as, genius is commonly eccentric. Eccentric is a higher and more respectful
word than odd or queer. Erratic signifies wandering, a stronger and more censorious term than eccentric.
Queer is transverse or oblique, aside from the common in a way that is comical or perhaps slightly ridiculous.
Quaint denotes that which is pleasingly odd and fanciful, often with something of the antique; as, the quaint
architecture of medieval towns. That which is funny is calculated to provoke laughter; that which is droll is
more quietly amusing. That which is grotesque in the material sense is irregular or misshapen in form or
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
239

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outline or ill-proportioned so as to be somewhat ridiculous; the French bizarre is practically equivalent to
grotesque.
Antonyms:
common, familiar, normal, regular, customary, natural, ordinary, usual.
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QUICKEN.
Synonyms:
accelerate, drive on, hasten, promote, advance, expedite, hurry, speed, despatch, facilitate, make haste, urge,
drive, further, press forward, urge on.
To quicken, in the sense here considered, is to increase speed, move or cause to move more rapidly, as
through more space or with, a greater number of motions in the same time. To accelerate is to increase the
speed of action or of motion. A motion whose speed increases upon itself is said to be accelerated, as the
motion of a falling body, which becomes swifter with every second of time. To accelerate any work is to
hasten it toward a finish, commonly by quickening all its operations in orderly unity toward the result. To