English Synonyms and Antonyms

claims he asserts his right to take; what he assumes he takes.
* * * * *
ASSURANCE.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
55

---

Synonyms:
arrogance, boldness, impudence, self-confidence, assertion, confidence, presumption, self-reliance,
assumption, effrontery, self-assertion, trust.
Assurance may have the good sense of a high, sustained confidence and trust; as, the saint's assurance of
heaven. Confidence is founded upon reasons; assurance is largely a matter of feeling. In the bad sense,
assurance is a vicious courage, with belief of one's ability to outwit or defy others; the hardened criminal is
remarkable for habitual assurance. For the calm conviction of one's own rectitude and ability, self-confidence
is a better word than assurance; self-reliance expresses confidence in one's own resources, independently of
others' aid. In the bad sense assurance is less gross than impudence, which is (according to its etymology) a
shameless boldness. Assurance is in act or manner; impudence may be in speech. Effrontery is impudence
defiantly displayed. Compare FAITH; PRIDE.
Antonyms:
bashfulness, consternation, distrust, hesitancy, shyness, confusion, dismay, doubt, misgiving, timidity.
* * * * *
ASTUTE.
Synonyms:
acute, discerning, penetrating, sharp, clear-sighted, discriminating, penetrative, shrewd, crafty, keen,
perspicacious, subtile, cunning, knowing, sagacious, subtle.
Acute, from the Latin, suggests the sharpness of the needle's point; keen, from the Saxon, the sharpness of the
cutting edge. Astute, from the Latin, with the original sense of cunning has come to have a meaning that
combines the sense of acute or keen with that of sagacious. The astute mind adds to acuteness and keenness
an element of cunning or finesse. The astute debater leads his opponents into a snare by getting them to make
admissions, or urge arguments, of which he sees a result that they do not perceive. The acute, keen intellect
may take no special advantage of these qualities; the astute mind has always a point to make for itself, and
seldom fails to make it. A knowing look, air, etc., in general indicates practical knowledge with a touch of
shrewdness, and perhaps of cunning; in regard to some special matter, it indicates the possession of reserved
knowledge which the person could impart if he chose. Knowing has often a slightly invidious sense. We speak
of a knowing rascal, meaning cunning or shrewd within a narrow range, but of a knowing horse or dog, in the
sense of sagacious, implying that he knows more than could be expected of such an animal. A knowing child
has more knowledge than would be looked for at his years, perhaps more than is quite desirable, while to
speak of a child as intelligent is altogether complimentary.
Antonyms:
blind, idiotic, shallow, stolid, undiscerning, dull, imbecile, short-sighted, stupid, unintelligent.
* * * * *
ATTACHMENT.
Synonyms:
adherence, devotion, friendship, regard, adhesion, esteem, inclination, tenderness, affection, estimation, love,
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
56

---

union.
An attachment is a feeling that binds a person by ties of heart to another person or thing; we speak of a man's
adherence to his purpose, his adhesion to his party, or to anything to which he clings tenaciously, tho with no
special tenderness; of his attachment to his church, to the old homestead, or to any persons or objects that he
may hold dear. Affection expresses more warmth of feeling; we should not speak of a mother's attachment to
her babe, but of her affection or of her devotion. Inclination expresses simply a tendency, which may be good
or bad, yielded to or overcome; as, an inclination to study; an inclination to drink. Regard is more distant than