English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 4

ABSTRACT, _v._

Synonyms:

appropriate, distract, purloin, steal, detach, divert, remove, take away, discriminate, eliminate, separate, withdraw.

distinguish,

The central idea of _withdrawing_ makes _abstract_ in common speech a euphemism for _appropriate_ (unlawfully), _purloin_, _steal_. In mental processes we _discriminate_ between objects by _distinguis.h.i.+ng_ their differences; we _separate_ some one element from all that does not necessarily belong to it, _abstract_ it, and view it alone. We may _separate_ two ideas, and hold both in mind in comparison or contrast; but when we _abstract_ one of them, we drop the other out of thought.

The mind is _abstracted_ when it is _withdrawn_ from all other subjects and concentrated upon one, _diverted_ when it is drawn away from what it would or should attend to by some other interest, _distracted_ when the attention is divided among different subjects, so that it can not be given properly to any. The trouble with the _distracted_ person is that he is not _abstracted_. Compare DISCERN.

Antonyms:

add, complete, fill up, restore, unite.

combine, conjoin, increase, strengthen,

Prepositions:

The purse may be abstracted _from_ the pocket; the substance _from_ the accidents; a book _into_ a compend.

ABSTRACTED.

Synonyms:

absent, heedless, listless, preoccupied, absent-minded, inattentive, negligent, thoughtless.

absorbed, indifferent, oblivious,

As regards mental action, _absorbed_, _abstracted_, and _preoccupied_ refer to the cause, _absent_ or _absent-minded_ to the effect. The man _absorbed_ in one thing will appear _absent_ in others. A _preoccupied_ person may seem _listless_ and _thoughtless_, but the really _listless_ and _thoughtless_ have not mental energy to be _preoccupied_. The _absent-minded_ man is _oblivious_ of ordinary matters, because his thoughts are elsewhere. One who is _preoccupied_ is intensely busy in thought; one may be _absent-minded_ either through intense concentration or simply through inattention, with fitful and aimless wandering of thought. Compare ABSTRACT.

Antonyms:

alert, on hand, ready, wide-awake.

attentive, prompt, thoughtful,

ABSURD.

Synonyms:

anomalous, ill-considered, ludicrous, ridiculous, chimerical, ill-judged, mistaken, senseless, erroneous, inconclusive, monstrous, stupid, false, incorrect, nonsensical, unreasonable, foolish, infatuated, paradoxical, wild.

ill-advised, irrational, preposterous,

That is _absurd_ which is contrary to the first principles of reasoning; as, that a part should be greater than the whole is _absurd_. A _paradoxical_ statement appears at first thought contradictory or _absurd_, while it may be really true. Anything is _irrational_ when clearly contrary to sound reason, _foolish_ when contrary to practical good sense, _silly_ when petty and contemptible in its folly, _erroneous_ when containing error that vitiates the result, _unreasonable_ when there seems a perverse bias or an intent to go wrong. _Monstrous_ and _preposterous_ refer to what is overwhelmingly _absurd_; as, "_O monstrous!_ eleven buckram men grown out of two,"

SHAKESPEARE _1 King Henry IV_, act ii, sc. 4. The _ridiculous_ or the _nonsensical_ is worthy only to be laughed at. The lunatic's claim to be a king is _ridiculous_; the Mother Goose rimes are _nonsensical_.

Compare INCONGRUOUS.

Antonyms:

certain, incontrovertible, rational, substantial, consistent, indisputable, reasonable, true, demonstrable, indubitable, sagacious, undeniable, demonstrated, infallible, sensible, unquestionable, established, logical, sound, wise.

incontestable,

ABUSE.

Synonyms:

aggrieve, impose on _or_ oppress, ruin, damage, upon, persecute, slander, defame, injure, pervert, victimize, defile, malign, prost.i.tute, vilify, disparage, maltreat, rail at, violate, harm, misemploy, ravish, vituperate, ill-treat, misuse, reproach, wrong.

ill-use, molest, revile,

_Abuse_ covers all unreasonable or improper use or treatment by word or act. A tenant does not _abuse_ rented property by "reasonable wear,"

though that may _damage_ the property and _injure_ its sale; he may _abuse_ it by needless defacement or neglect. It is possible to _abuse_ a man without _harming_ him, as when the criminal _vituperates_ the judge; or to _harm_ a man without _abusing_ him, as when the witness tells the truth about the criminal. _Defame_, _malign_, _rail at_, _revile_, _slander_, _vilify_, and _vituperate_ are used always in a bad sense. One may be justly _reproached_. To _impose on_ or to _victimize_ one is to _injure_ him by _abusing_ his confidence. To _persecute_ one is to _ill-treat_ him for opinion's sake, commonly for religious belief; to _oppress_ is generally for political or pecuniary motives. "Thou shalt not _oppress_ an hired servant that is poor and needy," _Deut._ xxiv, 14. _Misemploy_, _misuse_, and _pervert_ are commonly applied to objects rather than to persons. A dissolute youth _misemploys_ his time, _misuses_ his money and opportunities, _harms_ his a.s.sociates, _perverts_ his talents, _wrongs_ his parents, _ruins_ himself, _abuses_ every good gift of G.o.d.

Antonyms:

applaud, conserve, favor, protect, sustain, benefit, consider, laud, regard, tend, care for, eulogize, panegyrize, respect, uphold, cherish, extol, praise, s.h.i.+eld, vindicate.

ACCESSORY.

Synonyms:

abetter _or_ abettor, a.s.sociate, companion, henchman, accomplice, attendant, confederate, partic.i.p.ator, ally, coadjutor, follower, partner, a.s.sistant, colleague, helper, retainer.

_Colleague_ is used always in a good sense, _a.s.sociate_ and _coadjutor_ generally so; _ally_, _a.s.sistant_, _a.s.sociate_, _attendant_, _companion_, _helper_, either in a good or a bad sense; _abetter_, _accessory_, _accomplice_, _confederate_, almost always in a bad sense.

_Ally_ is oftenest used of national and military matters, or of some other connection regarded as great and important; as, _allies_ of despotism. _Colleague_ is applied to civil and ecclesiastical connections; members of Congress from the same State are _colleagues_, even though they may be bitter opponents politically and personally. An _a.s.sociate_ Justice of the Supreme Court is near in _rank_ to the Chief Justice. A surgeon's _a.s.sistant_ is a physician or medical student who shares in the treatment and care of patients; a surgeon's _attendant_ is one who rolls bandages and the like. _Follower_, _henchman_, _retainer_ are persons especially devoted to a chief, and generally bound to him by necessity, fee, or reward. _Partner_ has come to denote almost exclusively a business connection. In law, an _abettor_ (the general legal spelling) is always present, either actively or constructively, at the commission of the crime; an _accessory_ never. An _accomplice_ is usually a princ.i.p.al; an _accessory_ never. If present, though only to stand outside and keep watch against surprise, one is an _abettor_, and not an _accessory_. At common law, an _accessory_ implies a princ.i.p.al, and can not be convicted until after the conviction of the princ.i.p.al; the _accomplice_ or _abettor_ can be convicted as a princ.i.p.al.

_Accomplice_ and _abettor_ have nearly the same meaning, but the former is the popular, the latter more distinctively the legal term. Compare APPENDAGE; AUXILIARY.

Antonyms:

adversary, chief, foe, leader, princ.i.p.al, antagonist, commander, hinderer, opponent, rival.

betrayer, enemy, instigator, opposer,