English Synonyms and Antonyms — Mind to Mysterious

brain, instinct, reason, spirit, consciousness, intellect, sense, thought, disposition, intelligence, soul, understanding.

_Mind_, in a general sense, includes all the powers of sentient being apart from the physical factors in bodily faculties and activities; in a limited sense, _mind_ is nearly synonymous with _intellect_, but includes _disposition_, or the tendency toward action, as appears in the phrase "to have a _mind_ to work."

As the seat of mental activity, _brain_ (colloquially _brains_) is often used as a synonym for _mind_, _intellect_, _intelligence_.

_Thought_, the act, process, or power of thinking, is often used to denote the thinking faculty, and especially the _reason_.

The _instinct_ of animals is now held by many philosophers to be of the same nature as the _intellect_ of man, but inferior and limited; yet the apparent difference is very great.

An _instinct_ is a propensity prior to experience and independent of instruction.

PALEY _Natural Philosophy_ ch. 18. In this sense we speak of human _instincts_, thus denoting tendencies independent of reasoning or instruction.

The _soul_ includes the _intellect_, sensibilities, and will; beyond what is expressed by the word _mind_, the _soul_ denotes especially the moral, the immortal nature; we say of a dead body, the _soul_ (not the _mind_) has fled.

_Spirit_ is used especially in contradistinction from matter; it may in many cases be substituted for _soul_, but _soul_ has commonly a fuller and more determinate meaning; we can conceive of _spirits_ as having no moral nature; the fairies, elves, and brownies of mythology might be termed _spirits_, but not _souls_.

In the figurative sense, _spirit_ denotes animation, excitability, perhaps impatience; as, a lad of _spirit_; he sang with _spirit_; he replied with _spirit_.

_Soul_ denotes energy and depth of feeling, as when we speak of soulful eyes;

or it may denote the very life of anything; as, "the hidden _soul_ of harmony," MILTON _L'Allegro_ l. 144. _Sense_ may be an antonym of _intellect_, as when we speak of the _sense_ of hearing; but _sense_ is used also as denoting clear mental action, good judgment, acumen; as, he is a man of _sense_, or, he showed good _sense_; _sense_, even in its material signification, must be reckoned among the activities of _mind_, tho dependent on bodily functions; the _mind_, not the eye, really sees;

the _mind_, not the ear, really hears.

_Consciousness_ includes all that a sentient being perceives, knows, thinks, or feels, from whatever source arising and of whatever character, kind, or degree, whether with or without distinct thinking, feeling, or willing; we speak of the _consciousness_ of the brute, of the savage, or of the sage.

The _intellect_ is that assemblage of faculties which is concerned with knowledge, as distinguished from emotion and volition.

_Understanding_ is the Saxon word of the same general import, but is chiefly used of the reasoning powers; the _understanding_, which Sir Wm.

Hamilton has called "the faculty of relations and comparisons," is distinguished by many philosophers from _reason_ in that "_reason_ is the faculty of the higher cognitions or a priori truth."

Antonyms: body, brawn, brute force, material substance, matter.

* * * * * MINUTE.

Synonyms: circumstantial, diminutive, little, slender, comminuted, exact, particular, small, critical, fine, precise, tiny.

detailed, That is _minute_ which is of exceedingly limited dimensions, as a grain of dust, or which attends to matters of exceedingly slight amount or apparent importance; as, a _minute_ account; _minute_ observation.

That which is broken up into _minute_ particles is said to be _comminuted_;

things may be termed _fine_ which would not be termed _comminuted_; as, _fine_ sand; _fine_ gravel; but, in using the adverb, we say a substance is finely _comminuted_, _comminuted_ referring more to the process, _fine_ to the result.

An account extended to very _minute_ particulars is _circumstantial_, _detailed_, _particular_; an examination so extended is _critical_, _exact_, _precise_.

Compare FINE.

Antonyms: See synonyms for LARGE.

* * * * * MISFORTUNE.

Synonyms: adversity, disappointment, ill fortune, ruin, affliction, disaster, ill luck, sorrow, bereavement, distress, misadventure, stroke, blow, failure, mischance, trial, calamity, hardship, misery, tribulation, chastening, harm, mishap, trouble, chastisement, ill, reverse, visitation.

_Misfortune_ is adverse fortune or any instance thereof, any untoward event, usually of lingering character or consequences, and such as the sufferer is not deemed directly responsible for; as, he had the _misfortune_ to be born blind.

Any considerable _disappointment_, _failure_, or _misfortune_, as regards outward circumstances, as loss of fortune, position, and the like, when long continued or attended with enduring consequences, constitutes _adversity_.

For the loss of friends by death we commonly use _affliction_ or _bereavement_.

_Calamity_ and _disaster_ are used of sudden and severe _misfortunes_, often overwhelming; _ill fortune_ and _ill luck_, of lighter troubles and failures.

We speak of the _misery_ of the poor, the _hardships_ of the soldier.

_Affliction_, _chastening_, _trial_, and _tribulation_ have all an especially religious bearing, suggesting some disciplinary purpose of God with beneficent design.

_Affliction_ may be keen and bitter, but brief; _tribulation_ is long and wearing.

We speak of an _affliction_, but rarely of a _tribulation_, since _tribulation_ is viewed as a continuous process, which may endure for years or for a lifetime; but we speak of our daily _trials_.

Compare CATASTROPHE.

Antonyms: blessing, consolation, gratification, pleasure, success, boon, good fortune, happiness, prosperity, triumph.

comfort, good luck, joy, relief, * * * * * MOB.

Synonyms: canaille, dregs of the people, masses, rabble, crowd, lower classes, 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, unobtrusiveness.

coldness, diffidence, _Bashfulness_ is a shrinking from notice without assignable 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, assumption, forwardness, indiscretion, self-conceit, assurance, 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 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 accumulated _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, passage, transit, _Motion_ is _change_ of place or position in space; _transition_ is a passing from one point or position in space 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 competition, 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 assembly 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 passionate 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.

* * * * * MUTUAL.

Synonyms: common, correlative, interchangeable, joint, reciprocal.

That is _common_ to which two or more persons have the same or equal claims, or in which they have equal interest or participation; in the strictest sense, that is _mutual_ (Latin _mutare_, to change) which is freely interchanged; that is _reciprocal_ in respect to which one act or movement is met by a corresponding act or movement in return; we speak of our _common_ country, _mutual_ affection, _reciprocal_ obligations, the _reciprocal_ action of cause and effect, where the effect becomes in turn a cause.

Many good writers hold it incorrect to say "a _mutual_ friend," and insist that "a _common_ friend" would be more accurate; but "_common_ friend" is practically never used, because of the disagreeable suggestion that attaches to _common_, of ordinary or inferior.

"_Mutual_ friend" has high literary authority (of Burke, Scott, Dickens, and others), and a considerable usage of good society in its favor, the expression being quite naturally derived from the thoroughly correct phrase _mutual_ friendship.

Antonyms: detached, distinct, separated, unconnected, unrequited, disconnected, disunited, severed, unreciprocated, unshared.

dissociated, separate, sundered, * * * * * MYSTERIOUS.

Synonyms: abstruse, inexplicable, recondite, cabalistic, inscrutable, secret, dark, mystic, transcendental, enigmatical, mystical, unfathomable, hidden, obscure, unfathomed, incomprehensible, occult, unknown.

That is _mysterious_ in the true sense which is beyond human comprehension, as the decrees of God or the origin of life.

That is _mystic_ or _mystical_ which has associated with it some _hidden_ or _recondite_ meaning, especially of a religious kind; as, the _mystic_ Babylon of the Apocalypse.

That is _dark_ which we can not personally see through, especially if sadly perplexing; as, a _dark_ providence.

That is _secret_ which is intentionally _hidden_.

Compare DARK.

Antonyms: See synonyms for CLEAR.

* * * * * NAME.

Synonyms: