English Synonyms and Antonyms

despotic from tyrannical? 6. Is irresponsible good or bad in its implication? arbitrary? imperative?
imperious? peremptory? positive? authoritative?
EXAMPLES.
God alone is ---- and ----.
The Czar of Russia is an ---- ruler.
---- power tends always to be ---- in its exercise.
On all questions of law in the United States the decision of the ---- Court is ---- and final.
Learning of the attack on our seamen, the government sent an ---- demand for apology and indemnity.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
303

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Man's ---- will and ---- intellect have given him dominion over all other creatures on the earth, so that they are
either subjugated or exterminated.
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ABSOLVE (page 9).
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the original sense of absolve? 2. To what does it apply? 3. What is its special sense when used with
reference to sins? 4. How does it differ from acquit? forgive? justify? pardon? 5. What are the chief antonyms
of absolve?
EXAMPLES.
No power under heaven can ---- a man from his personal responsibility.
When the facts were known, he was ---- of all blame.
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ABSORB (page 9).
QUESTIONS.
1. When is a fluid said to be absorbed? 2. Is the substance of the absorbing body changed by that which it
absorbs? Give instances. 3. How does consume differ from absorb? 4. Give instances of the distinctive uses of
engross, swallow, imbibe, and absorb in the figurative sense. 5. What is the difference between absorb and
emit? absorb and radiate?
EXAMPLES.
Tho the fuel was rapidly ---- within the furnace, very little heat was ---- from the outer surface.
In setting steel rails special provision must be made for their expansion under the influence of the heat that
they ----.
Jip stood on the table and barked at Traddles so persistently that he may be said to have ---- the conversation.
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ABSTINENCE (page 10).
QUESTIONS.
1. How does abstinence differ from abstemiousness? from self-denial? 2. What is temperance regarding things
lawful and worthy? regarding things vicious and injurious? 3. What is the more exact term for the proper
course regarding evil indulgences?
EXAMPLES.
He was so moderate in his desires that his ---- seemed to cost him no ----.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
304

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Among the Anglo-Saxons the idea of universal and total ---- from all intoxicants is little more than a century
old.
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ABSTRACT, v.; ABSTRACTED (page 10, 11).
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the difference between abstract and separate? between discriminate and distinguish?[C] 2. How
does abstract, when said of the mind, differ from divert? from distract? 3. How do abstracted, absorbed, and
preoccupied differ from absent-minded? 4. Can one who is preoccupied be said to be listless or thoughtless?
one who is absent-minded?
EXAMPLES.
He was so ---- with these perplexities as to be completely ---- of his surroundings.
The busy student may be excused if ----; in the merely ---- or ---- it is intolerable.
The power to ---- one idea from all its associations and view it alone is the ---- mark of a philosophical mind.
Numerous interruptions in the midst of ---- occupations had made him almost ----.
[C] NOTE. See these words under DISCERN as referred to at the end of the paragraph on ABSTRACT in
Part I. The pupil should be instructed, in all cases, to look up and read over the synonyms referred to by the
words in small capitals at the end of the paragraph in Part I.
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ABSURD (page 11).
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the difference between absurd and paradoxical? 2. What are the distinctions between irrational,