English Synonyms and Antonyms

Adroitness (F. à, to, and droit, right) and dexterity (L. dexter, right, right-hand) might each be rendered
"right-handedness;" but adroitness carries more of the idea of eluding, parrying, or checking some hostile
movement, or taking advantage of another in controversy; dexterity conveys the idea of doing, accomplishing
something readily and well, without reference to any action of others. We speak of adroitness in fencing,
boxing, or debate; of dexterity in horsemanship, in the use of tools, weapons, etc. Aptitude (L. aptus, fit,
fitted) is a natural readiness, which by practise may be developed into dexterity. Skill is more exact to line,
rule, and method than dexterity. Dexterity can not be communicated, and, oftentimes can not even be
explained by its possessor; skill to a very great extent can be imparted; "skilled workmen" in various trades are
numbered by thousands. Compare ADDRESS; CLEVER; POWER; SKILFUL.
Prepositions:
Dexterity of hand, of movement, of management; with the pen; in action, in manipulating men; at cards.
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DICTION.
Synonyms:
expression, phrase, style, vocabulary, language, phraseology, verbiage, wording.
An author's diction is strictly his choice and use of words, with no special reference to thought; expression
regards the words simply as the vehicle of the thought. Phrase and phraseology apply to words or
combinations of words which are somewhat technical; as, in legal phraseology; in military phrase. Diction is
general; wording is limited; we speak of the diction of an author or of a work, the wording of a proposition, of
a resolution, etc. Verbiage never bears this sense (see CIRCUMLOCUTION.) The language of a writer or
speaker may be the national speech he employs; as, the English or French language; or the word may denote
his use of that language; as, the author's language is well (or ill) chosen. Style includes diction, expression,
rhetorical figures such as metaphor and simile, the effect of an author's prevailing tone of thought, of his
personal traits--in short, all that makes up the clothing of thought in words; thus, we speak of a figurative
style, a frigid or an argumentative style, etc., or of the style of Macaulay, Prescott, or others. An author's
vocabulary is the range of words which he brings into his use. Compare LANGUAGE.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
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DIE.
Synonyms:
cease, decline, expire, perish, decease, depart, fade, wither.
Die, to go out of life, become destitute of vital power and action, is figuratively applied to anything which has
the appearance of life.
Where the dying night-lamp flickers.
TENNYSON Locksley Hall st. 40.
An echo, a strain of music, a tempest, a topic, an issue, dies. Expire (literally, to breathe out) is a softer word
for die; it is used figuratively of things that cease to exist by reaching a natural limit; as, a lease expires; the
time has expired. To perish (literally, in Latin, to go through, as in English we say, "the fire goes out") is
oftenest used of death by privation or exposure; as, "I perish with hunger," Luke xv, 17; sometimes, of death
by violence. Knowledge and fame, art and empires, may be said to perish; the word denotes utter destruction
and decay.
Antonyms:
be born, come into being, flourish, rise again, begin, come to life, grow, rise from the dead, be immortal, exist,
live, survive.
Prepositions:
To die of fever; by violence; rarely, with the sword, famine, etc. (Ezek. vii, 15); to die for one's country; to die