English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 9

Prepositions:

An agent _of_ the company _for_ selling, etc.

AGREE.

Synonyms:

accede, admit, coincide, concur, accept, approve, combine, consent, accord, a.s.sent, comply, harmonize.

acquiesce,

_Agree_ is the most general term of this group, signifying to have like qualities, proportions, views, or inclinations, so as to be free from jar, conflict, or contradiction in a given relation. To _concur_ is to _agree_ in general; to _coincide_ is to _agree_ in every particular.

Whether in application to persons or things, _concur_ tends to expression in action more than _coincide_; we may either _concur_ or _coincide_ in an opinion, but _concur_ in a decision; views _coincide_, causes _concur_. One _accepts_ another's terms, _complies_ with his wishes, _admits_ his statement, _approves_ his plan, _conforms_ to his views of doctrine or duty, _accedes_ or _consents_ to his proposal.

_Accede_ expresses the more formal agreement, _consent_ the more complete. To _a.s.sent_ is an act of the understanding; to _consent_, of the will. We may _concur_ or _agree_ with others, either in opinion or decision. One may silently _acquiesce_ in that which does not meet his views, but which he does not care to contest. He _admits_ the charge brought, or the statement made, by another--_admit_ always carrying a suggestion of reluctance. _a.s.sent_ is sometimes used for a mild form of _consent_, as if agreement in the opinion a.s.sured approval of the decision.

Antonyms:

contend, demur, disagree, oppose, contradict, deny, dispute, protest, decline, differ, dissent, refuse.

Prepositions:

I agree _in_ opinion _with_ the speaker; _to_ the terms proposed; persons agree _on_ or _upon_ a statement of principles, rules, etc.; we must agree _among_ ourselves.

AGRICULTURE.

Synonyms:

cultivation, gardening, kitchen-gardening, culture, horticulture, market-gardening, farming, husbandry, tillage.

floriculture,

_Agriculture_ is the generic term, including at once the science, the art, and the process of supplying human wants by raising the products of the soil, and by the a.s.sociated industries; _farming_ is the practise of _agriculture_ as a business; there may be theoretical _agriculture_, but not theoretical _farming_; we speak of the science of _agriculture_, the business of _farming_; scientific _agriculture_ may be wholly in books; scientific _farming_ is practised upon the land; we say an _agricultural_ college rather than a college of _farming_. _Farming_ refers to the _cultivation_ of considerable portions of land, and the raising of the coa.r.s.er crops; _gardening_ is the close _cultivation_ of a small area for small fruits, flowers, vegetables, etc., and while it may be done upon a farm is yet a distinct industry. _Gardening_ in general, _kitchen-gardening_, the _cultivation_ of vegetables, etc., for the household, _market-gardening_, the raising of the same for sale, _floriculture_, the _culture_ of flowers, and _horticulture_, the _culture_ of fruits, flowers, or vegetables, are all departments of _agriculture_, but not strictly nor ordinarily of _farming_; _farming_ is itself one department of _agriculture_. _Husbandry_ is a general word for any form of practical _agriculture_, but is now chiefly poetical.

_Tillage_ refers directly to the work bestowed upon the land, as plowing, manuring, etc.; _cultivation_ refers especially to the processes that bring forward the crop; we speak of the _tillage_ of the soil, the _cultivation_ of corn; we also speak of land as in a state of _cultivation_, under _cultivation_, etc. _Culture_ is now applied to the careful development of any product to a state of perfection, especially by care through successive generations; the choice varieties of the strawberry have been produced by wise and patient _culture_; a good crop in any year is the result of good _cultivation_.

AIM.

Synonyms:

aspiration, endeavor, intention, tendency.

design, goal, mark, determination, inclination, object, end, intent, purpose,

The _aim_ is the direction in which one shoots, or sometimes that which is aimed at. The _mark_ is that at which one shoots; the _goal_, that toward which one runs. All alike indicate the direction of _endeavor_.

The _end_ is the point at which one expects or hopes to close his labors; the _object_, that which he would grasp as the reward of his labors. _Aspiration_, _design_, _endeavor_, _purpose_, referring to the mental acts by which the _aim_ is attained, are often used as interchangeable with _aim_. _Aspiration_ applies to what are viewed as n.o.ble _aims_; _endeavor_, _design_, _intention_, _purpose_, indifferently to the best or worst. _Aspiration_ has less of decision than the other terms; one may aspire to an _object_, and yet lack the fixedness of _purpose_ by which alone it can be attained. _Purpose_ is stronger than _intention_. _Design_ especially denotes the adaptation of means to an end; _endeavor_ refers to the exertions by which it is to be attained. One whose _aims_ are worthy, whose _aspirations_ are high, whose _designs_ are wise, and whose _purposes_ are steadfast, may hope to reach the _goal_ of his ambition, and will surely win some _object_ worthy of a life's _endeavor_. Compare AMBITION; DESIGN.

Antonyms:

aimlessness, heedlessness, negligence, purposelessness, avoidance, neglect, oversight, thoughtlessness.

carelessness,

AIR.

Synonyms:

appearance, demeanor, manner, sort, bearing, expression, mien, style, behavior, fas.h.i.+on, port, way.

carriage, look,

_Air_ is that combination of qualities which makes the entire impression we receive in a person's presence; as, we say he has the _air_ of a scholar, or the _air_ of a villain. _Appearance_ refers more to the dress and other externals. We might say of a travel-soiled pedestrian, he has the _appearance_ of a tramp, but the _air_ of a gentleman.

_Expression_ and _look_ especially refer to the face. _Expression_ is oftenest applied to that which is habitual; as, he has a pleasant _expression_ of countenance; _look_ may be momentary; as, a _look_ of dismay pa.s.sed over his face. We may, however, speak of the _look_ or _looks_ as indicating all that we look at; as, he had the _look_ of an adventurer; I did not like his _looks_. _Bearing_ is rather a lofty word; as, he has a n.o.ble _bearing_; _port_ is practically identical in meaning with _bearing_, but is more exclusively a literary word.

_Carriage_, too, is generally used in a good sense; as, that lady has a good _carriage_. _Mien_ is closely synonymous with _air_, but less often used in a bad sense. We say a rakish _air_ rather than a rakish _mien_.

_Mien_ may be used to express some prevailing feeling; as, "an indignant _mien_." _Demeanor_ goes beyond _appearance_, including conduct, behavior; as, a modest _demeanor_. _Manner_ and _style_ are, in large part at least, acquired. Compare BEHAVIOR.

AIRY.

Synonyms:

aerial, ethereal, frolicsome, joyous, lively, animated, fairylike, gay, light, sprightly.

_Aerial_ and _airy_ both signify of or belonging to the air, but _airy_ also describes that which seems as if made of air; we speak of _airy_ shapes, _airy_ nothings, where we could not well say _aerial_; _ethereal_ describes its object as belonging to the upper air, the pure ether, and so, often, heavenly. _Sprightly_, spiritlike, refers to light, free, cheerful activity of mind and body. That which is _lively_ or _animated_ may be agreeable or the reverse; as, an _animated_ discussion; a _lively_ company.

Antonyms:

clumsy, heavy, ponderous, sluggish, wooden.

dull, inert, slow, stony,

ALARM.

Synonyms: