English Synonyms and Antonyms

melancholy is more enduring, and may become chronic. Affliction expresses a deep heart-sorrow and is
applied also to the misfortune producing such sorrow; mourning most frequently denotes sorrow publicly
expressed, or the public expression of such sorrow as may reasonably be expected; as, it is common to
observe thirty days of mourning on the death of an officer of state.
Antonyms:
See synonyms for HAPPINESS.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
156

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Prepositions:
Grief at a loss; for a friend.
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HABIT.
Synonyms:
custom, habitude, routine, system, use, fashion, practise, rule, usage, wont.
Habit is a tendency or inclination toward an action or condition, which by repetition has become easy,
spontaneous, or even unconscious, or an action or regular series of actions, or a condition so induced. Custom
is the uniform doing of the same act in the same circumstance for a definite reason; routine is the doing of
customary acts in a regular and uniform sequence and is more mechanical than custom. It is the custom of
tradesmen to open at a uniform hour, and to follow a regular routine of business until closing-time. Habit
always includes an involuntary tendency, natural or acquired, greatly strengthened by frequent repetition of
the act, and may be uncontrollable, or even unconscious. Habitude is habitual relation or association. Custom
is chiefly used of the action of many; habit of the action of one; we speak of the customs of society, the habits
of an individual. Fashion is the generally recognized custom in the smaller matters, especially in dress. A rule
is prescribed either by some external authority or by one's own will; as, it is the rule of the house; or, I make it
my invariable rule. System is the coordination of many acts or things into a unity, and is more and better than
routine. Use and usage denote the manner of using something; we speak of one person's use of language, but
of the usage of many; a use or usage is almost always a habit. Practise is the active doing of something in a
systematic way; we do not speak of the practise, but of the habit of going to sleep; we speak of a tradesman's
custom, a lawyer's or a physician's practise. Educationally, practise is the voluntary and persistent attempt to
make skill a habit; as, practise in penmanship. Wont is blind and instinctive habit like that which attaches an
animal to a locality: the word is now almost wholly poetic. Compare DRESS.
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HAPPEN.
Synonyms:
bechance, chance, fall out, supervene, befall, come to pass, occur, take place. betide, fall,
A thing is said to happen when no design is manifest, or none especially thought of; it is said to chance when
it appears to be the result of accident (compare synonyms for ACCIDENT). An incident happens or occurs;
something external or actual happens to one; a thought or fancy occurs to him. Befall and betide are transitive;
happen is intransitive; something befalls or betides a person or happens to him. Betide is especially used for
anticipated evil, thought of as waiting and coming at its appointed time; as, wo betide him! One event
supervenes upon another event, one disease upon another, etc. ["Transpire," in the sense of happen, is not
authorized by good usage: a thing that has happened is properly said to transpire when it becomes known.]
Prepositions:
An event happens to a person; a person happens on or upon a fact, discovery, etc.
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Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
157

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HAPPINESS.
Synonyms:
blessedness, delight, gladness, pleasure, bliss, ecstasy, gratification, rapture, cheer, enjoyment, joy, rejoicing,
comfort, felicity, merriment, satisfaction, contentment, gaiety, mirth, triumph.