English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 74

canaille, dregs of the people, ma.s.ses, rabble, crowd, lower cla.s.ses, populace, the vulgar.

The _populace_ are poor and ignorant, but may be law-abiding; a _mob_ is disorderly and lawless, but may be rich and influential. The _rabble_ is despicable, worthless, purposeless; a _mob_ may have effective desperate purpose. A _crowd_ may be drawn by mere curiosity; some strong, pervading excitement is needed to make it a _mob_. Compare PEOPLE.

MODEL.

Synonyms:

archetype, facsimile, original, representation, copy, image, pattern, standard, design, imitation, prototype, type.

example, mold,

A _pattern_ is always, in modern use, that which is to be copied; a _model_ may be either the thing to be copied or the _copy_ that has been made from it; as, the _models_ in the Patent Office. A _pattern_ is commonly superficial; a _model_ is usually in relief. A _pattern_ must be closely followed in its minutest particulars by a faithful copyist; a _model_ may allow a great degree of freedom. A sculptor may idealize his living _model_; his workmen must exactly _copy_ in marble or metal the _model_ he has made in clay. Compare EXAMPLE; IDEA; IDEAL.

MODESTY.

Synonyms:

backwardness, constraint, reserve, timidity, bashfulness, coyness, shyness, un.o.btrusiveness.

coldness, diffidence,

_Bashfulness_ is a shrinking from notice without a.s.signable reason.

_Coyness_ is a half encouragement, half avoidance of offered attention, and may be real or affected. _Diffidence_ is self-distrust; _modesty_, a humble estimate of oneself in comparison with others, or with the demands of some undertaking. _Modesty_ has also the specific meaning of a sensitive shrinking from anything indelicate. _Shyness_ is a tendency to shrink from observation; _timidity_, a distinct fear of criticism, error, or failure. _Reserve_ is the holding oneself aloof from others, or holding back one's feelings from expression, or one's affairs from communication to others. _Reserve_ may be the retreat of _shyness_, or, on the other hand, the contemptuous withdrawal of pride and haughtiness.

Compare ABASH; PRIDE; TACITURN.

Antonyms:

abandon, confidence, haughtiness, pertness, arrogance, egotism, impudence, sauciness, a.s.sumption, forwardness, indiscretion, self-conceit, a.s.surance, frankness, loquaciousness, self-sufficiency, boldness, freedom, loquacity, sociability.

conceit,

MONEY.

Synonyms:

bills, cash, funds, property, bullion, coin, gold, silver, capital, currency, notes, specie.

_Money_ is the authorized medium of exchange; coined _money_ is called _coin_ or _specie_. What are termed in England bank-_notes_ are in the United States commonly called _bills_; as, a five-dollar _bill_. The _notes_ of responsible men are readily transferable in commercial circles, but they are not _money_; as, the stock was sold for $500 in _money_ and the balance in merchantable paper. _Cash_ is _specie_ or _money_ in hand, or paid in hand; as, the _cash_ account; the _cash_ price. In the legal sense, _property_ is not _money_, and _money_ is not _property_; for _property_ is that which has inherent value, while _money_, as such, has but representative value, and may or may not have intrinsic value. _Bullion_ is either _gold_ or _silver_ uncoined, or the coined metal considered without reference to its coinage, but simply as merchandise, when its value as _bullion_ may be very different from its value as _money_. The word _capital_ is used chiefly of acc.u.mulated _property_ or _money_ invested in productive enterprises or available for such investment.

MOROSE.

Synonyms:

acrimonious, dogged, ill-natured, splenetic, churlish, gloomy, severe, sulky, crabbed, gruff, snappish, sullen, crusty, ill-humored, sour, surly.

The _sullen_ and _sulky_ are discontented and resentful in regard to that against which they are too proud to protest, or consider all protest vain; _sullen_ denotes more of pride, _sulky_ more of resentful obstinacy. The _morose_ are bitterly dissatisfied with the world in general, and disposed to vent their ill nature upon others. The _sullen_ and _sulky_ are for the most part silent; the _morose_ growl out bitter speeches. A _surly_ person is in a state of latent anger, resenting approach as intrusion, and ready to take offense at anything; thus we speak of a _surly_ dog. _Sullen_ and _sulky_ moods may be transitory; one who is _morose_ or _surly_ is commonly so by disposition or habit.

Antonyms:

amiable, complaisant, gentle, kind, pleasant, benignant, friendly, good-natured, loving, sympathetic, bland, genial, indulgent, mild, tender.

MOTION.

Synonyms:

act, change, movement, process, transition.

action, move, pa.s.sage, transit,

_Motion_ is _change_ of place or position in s.p.a.ce; _transition_ is a pa.s.sing from one point or position in s.p.a.ce to another. _Motion_ may be either abstract or concrete, more frequently the former; _movement_ is always concrete, that is, considered in connection with the thing that moves or is moved; thus, we speak of the _movements_ of the planets, but of the laws of planetary _motion_; of military _movements_, but of perpetual _motion_. _Move_ is used chiefly of contests or compet.i.tion, as in chess or politics; as, it is your _move_; a shrewd _move_ of the opposition. _Action_ is a more comprehensive word than _motion_. We now rarely speak of mental or spiritual _motions_, but rather of mental or spiritual _acts_ or _processes_, or of the laws of mental _action_, but a formal proposal of _action_ in a deliberative a.s.sembly is termed a _motion_. Compare ACT.

Antonyms:

immobility, quiescence, quiet, repose, rest, stillness.

MOURN.

Synonyms:

bemoan, deplore, lament, regret, rue, sorrow.

bewail, grieve,

To _mourn_ is to feel or express sadness or distress because of some loss, affliction, or misfortune; _mourning_ is thought of as prolonged, _grief_ or _regret_ may be transient. One may _grieve_ or _mourn_, _regret_, _rue_, or _sorrow_ without a sound; he _bemoans_ with suppressed and often inarticulate sounds of grief; he _bewails_ with pa.s.sionate utterance, whether of inarticulate cries or of spoken words.

He _laments_ in plaintive or pathetic words, as the prophet Jeremiah in his "Lamentations." One _deplores_ with settled sorrow which may or may not find relief in words. One is made to _rue_ an act by some misfortune resulting, or by some penalty or vengeance inflicted because of it. One _regrets_ a slight misfortune or a hasty word; he _sorrows_ over the death of a friend.

Antonyms:

be joyful, exult, joy, make merry, rejoice, triumph.