* * * * *
APIECE.
Synonyms:
distributively, each, individually, separately, severally.
There is no discernible difference in sense between so much
apiece and so much
each; the former is the more
common and popular, the latter the more elegant expression.
Distributively is generally used of numbers and
abstract relations.
Individually emphasizes the independence of the individuals;
separately and
severally still
more emphatically hold them apart. The signers of
a note may become jointly and severally responsible, that
is,
each liable for the entire amount, as if he had signed it alone. Witnesses are often brought
separately into
court, in order that no one may be influenced by the testimony of another. If a company of laborers demand a
dollar
apiece, that is a demand that
each shall receive that sum; if they
individually demand a dollar,
each
individual makes the demand.
Antonyms:
accumulatively, confusedly, indiscriminately, together, unitedly.
collectively,
en masse, synthetically,
* * * * *
APOLOGY.
Synonyms:
acknowledgment, defense, excuse, plea, confession, exculpation, justification, vindication.
All these words express one's answer to a charge of wrong or error that is or might be made.
Apology has
undergone a remarkable change from its old sense of a valiant
defense--as in Justin Martyr's
Apologies for the
Christian faith--to its present meaning of humble
confession and concession. He who offers an
apology admits
himself, at least technically and seemingly, in the wrong. An
apology is for what one has done or left undone;
an
excuse may be for what one proposes
to do or leave undone as well; as, one sends beforehand his
excuse
for not accepting an invitation; if he should fail either to be present or to excuse himself, an
apology would be
in order. An
excuse for a fault is an attempt at partial justification; as, one alleges haste as an
excuse for
carelessness.
Confession is a full
acknowledgment of wrong, generally of a grave wrong, with or without
apology or
excuse.
Plea ranges in sense from a prayer for favor or pardon to an attempt at full
vindication.
Defense,
exculpation,
justification, and
vindication are more properly antonyms than synonyms of
apology in
its
modern sense, and should be so given, but for their connection with its historic usage. Compare
CONFESS; DEFENSE.
Antonyms:
accusation, charge, condemnation, injury, offense, censure, complaint, imputation, insult, wrong.
Prepositions:
An apology
to the guest
for the oversight would be fitting.
* * * * *
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
47
APPARENT.
Synonyms:
likely, presumable, probable, seeming.
The
apparent is
that which appears; the word has two contrasted senses, either of that which is manifest,
visible, certain, or of that which merely seems to be and may be very different from what is; as, the
apparent
motion of the sun around the earth.
Apparent kindness casts a doubt on the reality of the kindness;
apparent
neglect implies that more care and pains may have been bestowed than we are aware of.
Presumable implies
that a thing may be reasonably supposed beforehand without any full knowledge of the facts.
Probable
implies that we know facts enough to make us moderately confident of it.
Seeming expresses great doubt of
the reality;
seeming innocence comes very near in meaning to
probable guilt.
Apparent indicates less
assurance than
probable, and more than
seeming. A man's
probable intent we believe will prove to be his real
intent; his
seeming intent we believe to be a sham; his
apparent intent
may be the true one, tho we have not
yet evidence on which to pronounce with certainty or even with confidence.
Likely is a word with a wide
range of usage, but always implying the belief that the thing is, or will be, true; it is often used with the
infinitive, as the other words of this list can not be; as, it is
likely to happen. Compare EVIDENT.
Antonyms:
doubtful, dubious, improbable, unimaginable, unlikely.
Prepositions:
(When
apparent is used in the sense of evident):
His guilt is apparent in every act
to all observers.
* * * * *
APPEAR.
Synonyms:
have the appearance
or semblance, look, seem.
Appear and
look refer to what manifests itself to the senses; to a semblance or probability presented directly to
the mind.
Seem applies to what is manifest to the mind on reflection. It suddenly
appears to me that there is
smoke in the distance; as I watch, it
looks like a fire; from my knowledge of the locality and observation of
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