English Synonyms and Antonyms

quarrel compare in importance with the other words cited? 4. What does an affray always involve? To what
may a brawl or broil be confined? 5. How do these words compare in dignity with contention, contest,
controversy, and dissension?
EXAMPLES.
Could we forbear ---- and practise love We should agree as angels do above.
"Between my house and yours," he answered, "There is a ---- of five hundred years."
Beware of entrance to a ----.
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FICTION (page 170).
QUESTIONS.
1. What is a fiction in the most common modern meaning of the word? 2. How does a fiction differ from a
novel? from a fable? from a myth? 3. How does a myth differ from a legend? 4. How do falsehood and
fabrication differ from the words above mentioned? 5. Is fabrication or falsehood the more odious term?
Which term is really the stronger? 6. What is a story? Is it good or bad, true or false? With what words of the
group does it agree?
EXAMPLES.
O scenes surpassing ----, and yet true, Scenes of accomplished bliss.
A ---- strange is told of thee.
I believe the whole account from beginning to end to be a pure ----.
A thing sustained by such substantial evidence could not be a mere ---- of the imagination.
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FIERCE (page 171).
QUESTIONS.
1. What does fierce signify? 2. To what does ferocious refer? How do the two words differ? 3. What does
savage signify?
EXAMPLES.
---- was the day; the wintry sea Moaned sadly on New England's strand, When first the thoughtful and the
free, Our fathers, trod the desert land.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
372

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Contentions ----, Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause.
The ---- savages massacred the survivors to the last man.
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FINANCIAL (page 172).
QUESTIONS.
1. To what does monetary directly refer? 2. How does pecuniary agree with and differ from monetary? 3. To
what does financial especially apply? 4. In what connection is fiscal most commonly used?
EXAMPLES.
The ---- year closes with the society out of debt.
He was rejoiced to receive the ---- aid at a time when it was most needed.
In a ---- panic, many a sound business house goes down for want of power to realize instantly on valuable
securities.
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FINE (page 172).
QUESTIONS.
1. From what is fine derived, and what is its original meaning? 2. How, from this primary meaning does fine
become a synonym of excellent and beautiful? 3. How does it come into connection with clarified, clear,
pure, refined? 4. How is it connected with dainty, delicate, and exquisite? 5. How does fine come to be a
synonym for minute, comminuted? How for filmy, tenuous? for keen, sharp? Give instances of the use of fine
in its various senses.
EXAMPLES.
Some people are more ---- than wise.
---- feathers do not always make ---- birds.
The ----est balances must be kept under glass, because so ----ly adjusted as to be ---- to a film of dust or a
breath of air.
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FIRE (page 173).
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the essential fact underlying the visible phenomena which we call fire? 2. What is combustion? 3.
How wide is its range of meaning? 4. What is a conflagration?
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
373

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EXAMPLES.
He's gone, and who knows how he may report Thy words by adding fuel to the ----?
Lo! as he comes, in Heaven's array, And scattering wide the ---- of day.
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FLOCK (page 173).
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the most general word of this group? 2. What is a group, and of what class of objects may it be
composed? 3. To what class of animals does brood apply? to what class does litter apply? 4. Of what is bevy
used? flock? 5. To what is herd limited? 6. Of what is pack used? 7. What is a drove?
EXAMPLES.
What is not good for the ---- is not good for the bee.
He heard the bleating of the ----s and the twitter of birds among the trees.
The lowing ---- winds slowly o'er the lea.
Excited ----s gathered at the corners discussing the affair.
A ---- of brightly clad women and children were enjoying a picnic under the trees.
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FLUCTUATE (page 173).
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the meaning of fluctuate? 2. In what one characteristic do swerve and veer differ from oscillate,