English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 50

Antonyms:

calculation, caution, deadness, indifference, policy, timidity, calmness, coldness, dulness, lukewarmness, prudence, wariness.

ENTRANCE.

Synonyms:

access, approach, gate, introduction, accession, door, gateway, opening, adit, doorway, ingress, penetration, admission, entree, inlet, portal.

admittance, entry,

_Entrance_, the act of entering, refers merely to the fact of pa.s.sing from without to within some enclosure; _admission_ and _admittance_ refer to entering by or with some one's consent, or at least to opportunity afforded by some one's act or neglect. We may effect or force an _entrance_, but not _admittance_ or _admission_; those we gain, procure, obtain, secure, win. _Admittance_ refers to place, _admission_ refers also to position, privilege, favor, friends.h.i.+p, etc. An intruder may gain _admittance_ to the hall of a society who would not be allowed _admission_ to its members.h.i.+p. _Approach_ is a movement toward another; _access_ is coming all the way to his presence, recognition, and consideration. An unworthy favorite may prevent even those who gain _admittance_ to a king's audience from obtaining any real _access_ to the king. _Entrance_ is also used figuratively for setting out upon some career, or becoming a member of some organization; as, we speak of one's _entrance_ upon college life, or of _entrance_ into the ministry.

Antonyms:

departure, ejection, exit, refusal, withdrawal.

egress, exclusion, expulsion, rejection,

Prepositions:

Entrance _into_ a place; _on_ or _upon_ a work or course of action; _into_ or _upon_ office; _into_ battle; _by_ or _through_ the door; _within_ the gates; _into_ or _among_ the company.

ENVIOUS.

Synonyms:

jealous, suspicious.

One is _envious_ who cherishes selfish ill will toward another because of his superior success, endowments, possessions, or the like. A person is _envious_ of that which is another's, and to which he himself has no right or claim; he is _jealous_ of intrusion upon that which is his own, or to which he maintains a right or claim. An _envious_ spirit is always bad; a _jealous_ spirit may be good or bad, according to its object and tendency. A free people must be _jealous_ of their liberties if they would retain them. One is _suspicious_ of another from unfavorable indications or from a knowledge of wrong in his previous conduct, or even without reason. Compare DOUBT.

Antonyms:

contented, friendly, kindly, satisfied, trustful, well-disposed.

Prepositions:

Envious _of_ (formerly _at_ or _against_) a person; envious _of_ his wealth or power; envious _of_ him _for_, _because of_, _on account of_ his wealth or power.

EQUIVOCAL.

Synonyms:

ambiguous, enigmatical, indistinct, questionable, doubtful, indefinite, obscure, suspicious, dubious, indeterminate, perplexing, uncertain.

enigmatic,

_Equivocal_ (L. _equus_, equal, and _vox_, voice, word) denotes that which may equally well be understood in either of two or more ways.

_Ambiguous_ (L. _ambi_, around, and _ago_, drive, lead) signifies lacking in distinctness or certainty, obscure or doubtful through indefiniteness of expression. _Ambiguous_ is applied only to spoken or written statements; _equivocal_ has other applications. A statement is _ambiguous_ when it leaves the mind of the reader or hearer to fluctuate between two meanings, which would fit the language equally well; it is _equivocal_ when it would naturally be understood in one way, but is capable of a different interpretation; an _equivocal_ expression is, as a rule, intentionally deceptive, while an _ambiguous_ utterance may be simply the result of a want either of clear thought or of adequate expression. That which is _enigmatical_ must be guessed like a riddle; a statement may be purposely made _enigmatical_ in order to provoke thought and study. That is _doubtful_ which is fairly open to doubt; that is _dubious_ which has become the subject of doubts so grave as scarcely to fall short of condemnation; as, a _dubious_ reputation.

_Questionable_ may be used nearly in the sense either of _dubious_ or of _doubtful_; a _questionable_ statement is one that must be proved before it can be accepted. To say that one's honesty is _questionable_ is a mild way of saying that in the opinion of the speaker he is likely to prove dishonest. _Equivocal_ is sometimes, tho more rarely, used in this sense. A _suspicious_ character gives manifest reason to be suspected; a _suspicious_ temper is inclined to suspect the motives and intentions of others, with or without reason. Compare CLEAR.

Antonyms:

certain, evident, lucid, perspicuous, unequivocal, clear, indisputable, manifest, plain, unquestionable, distinct, indubitable, obvious, unambiguous, unquestioned.

ESTEEM, _v._

Synonyms:

appreciate, consider, estimate, prize, think, calculate, deem, hold, regard, value.

_Esteem_ and _estimate_ alike imply to set a certain mental value upon, but _esteem_ is less precise and mercantile than _calculate_ or _estimate_. We _esteem_ a jewel precious; we _estimate_ it to be worth so much money. This sense of _esteem_ is now chiefly found in literary or oratorical style, and in certain conventional phrases; as, I _esteem_ it an honor, a favor. In popular usage _esteem_, as said of persons, denotes a union of respect and kindly feeling and, in the highest sense, of moral approbation; as, one whom I highly _esteem_; the word may be used in a similar sense of material things or abstractions; as, one whose friends.h.i.+p I _esteem_; a sh.e.l.l greatly _esteemed_ for inlaid work.

To _appreciate_ anything is to be deeply or keenly sensible of or sensitive to its qualities or influence, to see its full import, be alive to its value, importance, or worth; as, to _appreciate_ beauty or harmony; to _appreciate_ one's services in a cause; the word is similarly, tho rarely, used of persons. To _prize_ is to set a high value on for something more than merely commercial reasons. One may _value_ some object, as a picture, beyond all price, as a family heirloom, or may _prize_ it as the gift of an _esteemed_ friend, without at all _appreciating_ its artistic merit or commercial value. To _regard_ (F. _regarder_, look at, observe) is to have a certain mental view favorable or unfavorable; as, I _regard_ him as a friend; or, I _regard_ him as a villain; _regard_ has a distinctively favorable sense as applied to inst.i.tutions, proprieties, duties, etc., but does not share the use of the noun _regard_ as applied to persons; we _regard_ the Sabbath; we _regard_ a person's feelings; we have a _regard_ for the person. Compare ESTEEM, _n._

ESTEEM, _n._

Synonyms:

estimate, estimation, favor, regard, respect.

_Esteem_ for a person is a favorable opinion on the basis of worth, especially of moral worth, joined with a feeling of interest in and attraction toward the person. _Regard_ for a person is the mental view or feeling that springs from a sense of his value, excellence, or superiority, with a cordial and hearty friendliness. _Regard_ is more personal and less distant than _esteem_, and adds a special kindliness; _respect_ is a more distant word than _esteem_. _Respect_ may be wholly on one side, while _regard_ is more often mutual; _respect_ in the fullest sense is given to what is lofty, worthy, and honorable, or to a person of such qualities; we may pay an external _respect_ to one of lofty station, regardless of personal qualities, showing _respect_ for the office. _Estimate_ has more of calculation; as, my _estimate_ of the man, or of his abilities, is very high. _Estimation_ involves the idea of calculation or appraisal with that of _esteem_ or _regard_, and is especially used of the feeling entertained by numbers of people; as, he stood high in public _estimation_. Compare ESTEEM, _v._; FRIENDs.h.i.+P; LOVE.

Antonyms:

abhorrence, aversion, dislike, loathing, antipathy, contempt, hatred, repugnance.

ETERNAL.