English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 27

Synonyms:

almsgiving, charity, kind-heartedness, munificence, beneficence, generosity, kindliness, philanthropy, benignity, good-will, kindness, sympathy, bounty, humanity, liberality, unselfishness.

According to the etymology and original usage, _beneficence_ is the doing well, _benevolence_ the wis.h.i.+ng or willing well to others; but _benevolence_ has come to include _beneficence_, and to displace it. We should not now speak of _benevolence_ which did not help, unless where there was no power to help; even then we should rather say _good-will_ or _sympathy_. _Charity_, which originally meant the purest love for G.o.d and man (as in _1 Cor._ xiii), is now almost universally applied to some form of _almsgiving_, and is much more limited in meaning than _benevolence_. _Benignity_ suggests some occult power of blessing, such as was formerly ascribed to the stars; we may say a good man has an air of _benignity_. _Kindness_ and _tenderness_ are personal; _benevolence_ and _charity_ are general. _Kindness_ extends to all sentient beings, whether men or animals, in prosperity or in distress. _Tenderness_ especially goes out toward the young, feeble, and needy, or even to the dead. _Humanity_ is so much _kindness_ and _tenderness_ toward man or beast as it would be inhuman not to have; we say of some act of care or _kindness_, "common _humanity_ requires it." _Generosity_ is self-forgetful _kindness_ in disposition or action; it includes much besides giving; as, the _generosity_ of forgiveness. _Bounty_ applies to ample giving, which on a larger scale is expressed by _munificence_.

_Liberality_ indicates broad, genial kindly views, whether manifested in gifts or otherwise. We speak of the _bounty_ of a generous host, the _liberality_ or _munificence_ of the founder of a college, or of the _liberality_ of a theologian toward the holders of conflicting beliefs.

_Philanthropy_ applies to wide schemes for human welfare, often, but not always, involving large expenditures in _charity_ or _benevolence_.

Compare MERCY.

Antonyms:

barbarity, greediness, ill-will, malignity, self-seeking, brutality, harshness, inhumanity, n.i.g.g.ardliness, stinginess, churlishness, illiberality, malevolence, selfishness, unkindness.

Prepositions:

Benevolence _of_, _on the part of_, or _from_ the wealthy, _to_ or _toward_ the poor.

BIND.

Synonyms:

compel, fetter, oblige, restrict, shackle, engage, fix, restrain, secure, tie.

fasten,

_Binding_ is primarily by something flexible, as a cord or bandage drawn closely around an object or group of objects, as when we _bind_ up a wounded limb. We _bind_ a sheaf of wheat with a cord; we _tie_ the cord in a knot; we _fasten_ by any means that will make things hold together, as a board by nails, or a door by a lock. The verbs _tie_ and _fasten_ are scarcely used in the figurative sense, tho, using the noun, we speak of the _ties_ of affection. _Bind_ has an extensive figurative use. One is _bound_ by conscience or honor; he is _obliged_ by some imperious necessity; _engaged_ by his own promise; _compelled_ by physical force or its moral equivalent.

Antonyms:

free, loose, set free, unbind, unfasten, unloose, untie.

Prepositions:

Bind _to_ a pillar; _unto_ an altar; _to_ a service; bind one _with_ chains or _in_ chains; one is bound _by_ a contract; a splint is bound _upon_ a limb; the arms may be bound _to_ the sides or _behind_ the back; bind a wreath _about_, _around_, or _round_ the head; twigs are bound _in_ or _into_ f.a.gots; for military purposes, they are bound _at_ both ends and _in_ the middle; one is bound _by_ a contract, or bound _under_ a penalty to fulfil a contract.

BITTER.

Synonyms:

acerb, acidulous, caustic, pungent, stinging, acetous, acrid, cutting, savage, tart, acid, acrimonious, harsh, sharp, vinegarish, acidulated, biting, irate, sour, virulent.

_Acid_, _sour_, and _bitter_ agree in being contrasted with _sweet_, but the two former are sharply distinguished from the latter. _Acid_ or _sour_ is the taste of vinegar or lemon-juice; _bitter_ that of qua.s.sia, quinine, or strychnine. _Acrid_ is nearly allied to _bitter_. _Pungent_ suggests the effect of pepper or snuff on the organs of taste or smell; as, a _pungent_ odor. _Caustic_ indicates the corroding effect of some strong chemical, as nitrate of silver. In a figurative sense, as applied to language or character, these words are very closely allied. We say a _sour_ face, _sharp_ words, _bitter_ complaints, _caustic_ wit, _cutting_ irony, _biting_ sarcasm, a _stinging_ taunt, _harsh_ judgment, a _tart_ reply. _Harsh_ carries the idea of intentional and severe unkindness, _bitter_ of a severity that arises from real or supposed ill treatment. The _bitter_ speech springs from the sore heart. _Tart_ and _sharp_ utterances may not proceed from an intention to wound, but merely from a wit recklessly keen; _cutting_, _stinging_, and _biting_ speech indicates more or less of hostile intent, the latter being the more deeply malicious. The _caustic_ utterance is meant to burn, perhaps wholesomely, as in the satire of Juvenal or Cervantes. Compare MOROSE.

Antonyms:

dulcet, honeyed, luscious, nectared, saccharine, sweet.

BLEACH, _v._

Synonyms:

blanch, make white, whiten, whitewash.

To _whiten_ is to _make white_ in general, but commonly it means to overspread with white coloring-matter. _Bleach_ and _blanch_ both signify to _whiten_ by depriving of color, the former permanently, as linen; the latter either permanently (as, to _blanch_ celery) or temporarily (as, to _blanch_ the cheek with fear). To _whitewash_ is to _whiten_ superficially, especially by false approval.

Antonyms:

blacken, color, darken, dye, soil, stain.

BLEMISH.

Synonyms:

blot, defacement, disgrace, injury, spot, blur, defect, dishonor, reproach, stain, brand, deformity, fault, smirch, stigma, crack, dent, flaw, soil, taint, daub, disfigurement, imperfection, speck, tarnish.

Whatever mars the beauty or completeness of an object is a _blemish_, whether original, as squinting eyes, or the result of accident or disease, etc., as the pits of smallpox. A _blemish_ is superficial; a _flaw_ or _taint_ is in structure or substance. In the moral sense, we speak of a _blot_ or _stain_ upon reputation; a _flaw_ or _taint_ in character. A _defect_ is the want or lack of something; _fault_, primarily a failing, is something that fails of an apparent intent or disappoints a natural expectation; thus a sudden dislocation or displacement of geological strata is called a _fault_. Figuratively, a _blemish_ comes from one's own ill-doing; a _brand_ or _stigma_ is inflicted by others; as, the _brand_ of infamy.

BLOW.

Synonyms:

box, concussion, disaster, misfortune, stripe, buffet, cuff, knock, rap, stroke, calamity, cut, lash, shock, thump.

A _blow_ is a sudden impact, as of a fist or a club; a _stroke_ is a sweeping movement; as, the _stroke_ of a sword, of an oar, of the arm in swimming. A _shock_ is the sudden encounter with some heavy body; as, colliding railway-trains meet with a _shock_; the _shock_ of battle. A _slap_ is given with the open hand, a _lash_ with a whip, thong, or the like; we speak also of the _cut_ of a whip. A _buffet_ or _cuff_ is given only with the hand; a _blow_ either with hand or weapon. A _cuff_ is a somewhat sidelong _blow_, generally with the open hand; as, a _cuff_ or _box_ on the ear. A _stripe_ is the effect or mark of a _stroke_. In the metaphorical sense, _blow_ is used for sudden, stunning, staggering _calamity_ or sorrow; _stroke_ for sweeping _disaster_, and also for sweeping achievement and success. We say a _stroke_ of paralysis, or a _stroke_ of genius. We speak of the _buffets_ of adverse fortune. _Shock_ is used of that which is at once sudden, violent, and prostrating; we speak of a _shock_ of electricity, the _shock_ of an amputation, a _shock_ of surprise. Compare BEAT.

BLUFF.