Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

synonymsmore about synonyms

synonyms


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Synonym  \Syn"o*nym\  (s[i^]n"[-o]*n[i^]m),  n.;  pl  {Synonyms} 
  (-n[i^]mz).  [F.  synonyme,  L.  synonyma,  pl  of  synonymum  Gr 
  synw`nymon.  See  {Synonymous}.] 
  One  of  two  or  more  words  (commonly  words  of  the  same 
  language)  which  are  equivalents  of  each  other  one  of  two  or 
  more  words  which  have  very  nearly  the  same  signification,  and 
  therefore  may  often  be  used  interchangeably.  See  under 
  {Synonymous}.  [Written  also  {synonyme}.] 
 
  All  languages  tend  to  clear  themselves  of  synonyms  as 
  intellectual  culture  advances,  the  superfluous  words 
  being  taken  up  and  appropriated  by  new  shades  and 
  combinations  of  thought  evolved  in  the  progress  of 
  society.  --De  Quincey. 
 
  His  name  has  thus  become  throughout  all  civilized 
  countries,  a  synonym  for  probity  and  philanthropy. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  In  popular  literary  acceptation,  and  as  employed  in 
  special  dictionaries  of  such  words  synonyms  are  words 
  sufficiently  alike  in  general  signification  to  be 
  liable  to  be  confounded,  but  yet  so  different  in 
  special  definition  as  to  require  to  be  distinguished. 
  --G.  P.  Marsh. 




more about synonyms