English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 35

CIRc.u.mSTANCE.

Synonyms:

accompaniment, fact, item, point, concomitant, feature, occurrence, position, detail, incident, particular, situation.

event,

A _circ.u.mstance_ (L. _circ.u.m_, around, and _sto_, stand), is something existing or occurring in connection with or relation to some other fact or event, modifying or throwing light upon the princ.i.p.al matter without affecting its essential character; an _accompaniment_ is something that unites with the princ.i.p.al matter, tho not necessary to it; as, the piano _accompaniment_ to a song; a _concomitant_ goes with a thing in natural connection, but in a subordinate capacity, or perhaps in contrast; as, cheerfulness is a _concomitant_ of virtue. A _circ.u.mstance_ is not strictly, nor usually, an occasion, condition, effect, or result. (See these words under CAUSE.) Nor is the _circ.u.mstance_ properly an _incident_. (See under ACCIDENT.) We say, "My decision will depend upon _circ.u.mstances_"--not "upon _incidents_." That a man wore a blue necktie would not probably be the cause, occasion, condition, or _concomitant_ of his committing murder; but it might be a very important _circ.u.mstance_ in identifying him as the murderer. All the _circ.u.mstances_ make up the _situation_. A certain disease is the cause of a man's death; his suffering is an _incident_; that he is in his own home, that he has good medical attendance, careful nursing, etc., are consolatory _circ.u.mstances_. With the same idea of subordination, we often say, "This is not a _circ.u.mstance_ to that." So a person is said to be in easy _circ.u.mstances_. Compare EVENT.

Prepositions:

"Mere situation is expressed by '_in_ the circ.u.mstances'; action affected is performed '_under_ the circ.u.mstances.'" [M.]

CLa.s.s.

Synonyms:

a.s.sociation, circle, clique, company, grade, rank, caste, clan, club, coterie, order, set.

A _cla.s.s_ is a number or body of persons or objects having common pursuits, purposes, attributes, or characteristics. A _caste_ is hereditary; a _cla.s.s_ may be independent of lineage or descent; members.h.i.+p in a _caste_ is supposed to be for life; members.h.i.+p in a _cla.s.s_ may be very transient; a religious and ceremonial sacredness attaches to the _caste_, as not to the _cla.s.s_. The rich and the poor form separate _cla.s.ses_; yet individuals are constantly pa.s.sing from each to the other; the _cla.s.ses_ in a college remain the same, but their members.h.i.+p changes every year. We speak of _rank_ among hereditary n.o.bility or military officers; of various _orders_ of the priesthood; by accommodation, we may refer in a general way to the higher _ranks_, the lower _orders_ of any society. _Grade_ implies some regular scale of valuation, and some inherent qualities for which a person or thing is placed higher or lower in the scale; as, the coa.r.s.er and finer _grades_ of wool; a man of an inferior _grade_. A _coterie_ is a small company of persons of similar tastes, who meet frequently in an informal way, rather for social enjoyment than for any serious purpose. _Clique_ has always an unfavorable meaning. A _clique_ is always fractional, implying some greater gathering of which it is a part; the a.s.sociation breaks up into _cliques_. Persons unite in a _coterie_ through simple liking for one another; they withdraw into a _clique_ largely through aversion to outsiders. A _set_, while exclusive, is more extensive than a _clique_, and chiefly of persons who are united by common social station, etc.

_Circle_ is similar in meaning to _set_, but of wider application; we speak of scientific and religious as well as of social _circles_.

Prepositions:

A cla.s.s _of_ merchants; the senior cla.s.s _at_ (sometimes _of_) Harvard; the cla.s.ses _in_ college.

CLEANSE.

Synonyms:

brush, dust, purify, scour, sponge, wash, clean, lave, rinse, scrub, sweep, wipe.

disinfect, mop,

To _clean_ is to make clean by removing dirt, impurities, or soil of any kind. _Cleanse_ implies a worse condition to start from, and more to do, than _clean_. Hercules _cleansed_ the Augean stables. _Cleanse_ is especially applied to purifying processes where liquid is used, as in the flus.h.i.+ng of a street, etc. We _brush_ clothing if dusty, _sponge_ it, or _sponge_ it off, if soiled; or _sponge_ off a spot. Furniture, books, etc., are _dusted_; floors are _mopped_ or _scrubbed_; metallic utensils are _scoured_; a room is _swept_; soiled garments are _washed_; foul air or water is _purified_. _Cleanse_ and _purify_ are used extensively in a moral sense; _wash_ in that sense is archaic. Compare AMEND.

Antonyms:

befoul, bespatter, debase, deprave, soil, stain, taint, besmear, contaminate, defile, pollute, spoil, sully, vitiate.

besmirch, corrupt,

Prepositions:

Cleanse _of_ or _from_ physical or moral defilement; cleanse _with_ an instrument; _by_ an agent; the room was cleansed _by_ the attendants _with_ soap and water.

CLEAR.

Synonyms:

apparent, intelligible, pellucid, transparent, diaphanous, limpid, perspicuous, unadorned, distinct, lucid, plain, unambiguous, evident, manifest, straightforward, unequivocal, explicit, obvious, translucent, unmistakable.

_Clear_ (L. _clarus_, bright, brilliant) primarily refers to that which s.h.i.+nes, and impresses the mind through the eye with a sense of l.u.s.ter or splendor. A substance is said to be _clear_ that offers no impediment to vision--is not dim, dark, or obscure. _Transparent_ refers to the medium through which a substance is seen, _clear_ to the substance itself, without reference to anything to be seen through it; we speak of a stream as _clear_ when we think of the water itself; we speak of it as _transparent_ with reference to the ease with which we see the pebbles at the bottom. _Clear_ is also said of that which comes to the senses without dimness, dulness, obstruction, or obscurity, so that there is no uncertainty as to its exact form, character, or meaning, with something of the brightness or brilliancy implied in the primary meaning of the word _clear_; as, the outlines of the s.h.i.+p were _clear_ against the sky; a _clear_ view; a _clear_ note; "_clear_ as a bell;" a _clear_, frosty air; a _clear_ sky; a _clear_ statement; hence, the word is used for that which is free from any kind of obstruction; as, a _clear_ field.

_Lucid_ and _pellucid_ refer to a s.h.i.+ning clearness, as of crystal. A _transparent_ body allows the forms and colors of objects beyond to be seen through it; a _translucent_ body allows light to pa.s.s through, but may not permit forms and colors to be distinguished; plate gla.s.s is _transparent_, ground gla.s.s is _translucent_. _Limpid_ refers to a liquid clearness, or that which suggests it; as, _limpid_ streams. That which is _distinct_ is well defined, especially in outline, each part or object standing or seeming apart from any other, not confused, indefinite, or blurred; _distinct_ enunciation enables the hearer to catch every word or vocal sound without perplexity or confusion; a _distinct_ statement is free from indefiniteness or ambiguity; a _distinct_ apprehension of a thought leaves the mind in no doubt or uncertainty regarding it. That is _plain_, in the sense here considered, which is, as it were, level to the thought, so that one goes straight on without difficulty or hindrance; as, _plain_ language; a _plain_ statement; a _clear_ explanation. _Perspicuous_ is often equivalent to _plain_, but _plain_ never wholly loses the meaning of _unadorned_, so that we can say the style is _perspicuous_ tho highly ornate, when we could not call it at once ornate and _plain_. Compare EVIDENT.

Antonyms:

ambiguous, dim, foggy, mysterious, opaque, unintelligible, cloudy, dubious, indistinct, obscure, turbid, vague.

Prepositions:

Clear _to_ the mind; clear _in_ argument; clear _of_ or _from_ annoyances.

CLEVER.

Synonyms:

able, capable, happy, keen, sharp, adroit, dexterous, ingenious, knowing, skilful, apt, expert, intellectual, quick, smart, bright, gifted, intelligent, quick-witted, talented.

_Clever_, as used in England, especially implies an apt.i.tude for study or learning, and for excellent tho not preeminent mental achievement.

The early New England usage as implying simple and weak good nature has largely affected the use of the word throughout the United States, where it has never been much in favor. _Smart_, indicating das.h.i.+ng ability, is now coming to have a suggestion of unscrupulousness, similar to that of the word _sharp_, which makes its use a doubtful compliment. The discriminating use of such words as _able_, _gifted_, _talented_, etc., is greatly preferable to an excessive use of the word _clever_. Compare Ac.u.mEN; ASTUTE; POWER.

Antonyms:

awkward, clumsy, foolish, ignorant, slow, thick-headed, bungling, dull, idiotic, senseless, stupid, witless.

COLLISION.