English Synonyms and Antonyms — Neglect to Notwithstanding, prep.

carelessness, heedlessness, negligence, scorn, default, inadvertence, omission, slackness, disregard, inattention, oversight, slight, disrespect, indifference, remissness, thoughtlessness.

failure, neglectfulness, _Neglect_ (L. _nec_, not, and _lego_, gather) is the failing to take such care, show such attention, pay such courtesy, etc. , as may be rightfully or reasonably expected.

_Negligence_, which is the same in origin, may be used in almost the same sense, but with a slighter force, as when Whittier speaks of "the _negligence_ which friendship loves;"

but _negligence_ is often used to denote the quality or trait of character of which the act is a manifestation, or to denote the habit of neglecting that which ought to be done.

_Neglect_ is transitive, _negligence_ is intransitive; we speak of _neglect_ of his books, friends, or duties, in which cases we could not use _negligence_;

_negligence_ in dress implies want of care as to its arrangement, tidiness, etc. ; _neglect_ of one's garments would imply leaving them exposed to defacement or injury, as by dust, moths, etc. _Neglect_ has a passive sense which _negligence_ has not; the child was suffering from _neglect_, _i.

e. _, from being neglected by others; the child was suffering from _negligence_ would imply that he himself was neglectful.

The distinction sometimes made that _neglect_ denotes the act, and _negligence_ the habit, is but partially true; one may be guilty of habitual _neglect_ of duty; the wife may suffer from her husband's constant _neglect_, while the _negligence_ which causes a railroad accident may be that of a moment, and on the part of one ordinarily careful and attentive; in such cases the law provides punishment for criminal _negligence_.

Antonyms: See synonyms for CARE.

Prepositions: Neglect _of_ duty, _of_ the child _by_ the parent; there was neglect _on the part of_ the teacher.

* * * * * NEW.

Synonyms: fresh, modern, new-made, upstart, juvenile, new-fangled, novel, young, late, new-fashioned, recent, youthful.

That which is _new_ has lately come into existence, possession, or use;

a _new_ house is just built, or in a more general sense is one that has just come into the possession of the present owner or occupant.

_Modern_ denotes that which has begun to exist in the present age, and is still existing; _recent_ denotes that which has come into existence within a comparatively brief period, and may or may not be existing still.

_Modern_ history pertains to any period since the middle ages; _modern_ literature, _modern_ architecture, etc. , are not strikingly remote from the styles and types prevalent to-day.

That which is _late_ is somewhat removed from the present, but not far enough to be called _old_.

That which is _recent_ is not quite so sharply distinguished from the past as that which is _new_; _recent_ publications range over a longer time than _new_ books.

That which is _novel_ is either absolutely or relatively unprecedented in kind; a _novel_ contrivance is one that has never before been known; a _novel_ experience is one that has never before occurred to the same person; that which is _new_ may be of a familiar or even of an ancient sort, as a _new_ copy of an old book.

_Young_ and _youthful_ are applied to that which has life; that which is _young_ is possessed of a comparatively _new_ existence as a living thing, possessing actual youth; that which is _youthful_ manifests the attributes of youth.

(Compare YOUTHFUL.

) _Fresh_ applies to that which has the characteristics of newness or youth, while capable of deterioration by lapse of time; that which is unworn, unspoiled, or unfaded; as, a _fresh_ countenance, _fresh_ eggs, _fresh_ flowers.

_New_ is opposed to _old_, _modern_ to _ancient_, _recent_ to _remote_, _young_ to _old_, _aged_, etc. Antonyms: See synonyms for OLD.

* * * * * NIMBLE.

Synonyms: active, alert, bustling, prompt, speedy, spry, agile, brisk, lively, quick, sprightly, swift.

_Nimble_ refers to lightness, freedom, and quickness of motion within a somewhat narrow range, with readiness to turn suddenly to any point;

_swift_ applies commonly to more sustained motion over greater distances; a pickpocket is _nimble_-fingered, a dancer _nimble_-footed;

an arrow, a race-horse, or an ocean steamer is _swift_; Shakespeare's "_nimble_ lightnings" is said of the visual appearance in sudden zigzag flash across the sky.

Figuratively, we speak of _nimble_ wit, _swift_ intelligence, _swift_ destruction.

_Alert_, which is strictly a synonym for _ready_, comes sometimes near the meaning of _nimble_ or _quick_, from the fact that the ready, wide-awake person is likely to be _lively_, _quick_, _speedy_.

Compare ACTIVE; ALERT.

Antonyms: clumsy, dull, heavy, inactive, inert, slow, sluggish, unready.

dilatory, * * * * * NORMAL.

Synonyms: common, natural, ordinary, regular, typical, usual.

That which is _natural_ is according to nature; that which is _normal_ is according to the standard or rule which is observed or claimed to prevail in nature; a deformity may be _natural_, symmetry is _normal_;

the _normal_ color of the crow is black, while the _normal_ color of the sparrow is gray, but one is as _natural_ as the other.

_Typical_ refers to such an assemblage of qualities as makes the specimen, genus, etc. , a type of some more comprehensive group, while _normal_ is more commonly applied to the parts of a single object; the specimen was _typical_;

color, size, and other characteristics, _normal_.

The _regular_ is etymologically that which is according to rule, hence that which is steady and constant, as opposed to that which is fitful and changeable;

the _normal_ action of the heart is _regular_.

That which is _common_ is shared by a great number of persons or things; disease is _common_, a _normal_ state of health is rare.

Compare GENERAL; USUAL.

Antonyms: abnormal, irregular, peculiar, singular, unprecedented, exceptional, monstrous, rare, uncommon, unusual.

* * * * * NOTWITHSTANDING, _conj.

_ Synonyms: altho(ugh), howbeit, nevertheless, tho(ugh), but, however, still, yet.

_However_ simply waives discussion, and (like the archaic _howbeit_) says "be that as it may, this is true;" _nevertheless_ concedes the truth of what precedes, but claims that what follows is none the less true; _notwithstanding_ marshals the two statements face to face, admits the one and its seeming contradiction to the other, while insisting that it can not, after all, withstand the other; as, _notwithstanding_ the force of the enemy is superior, we shall conquer.

_Yet_ and _still_ are weaker than _notwithstanding_, while stronger than _but_.

_Tho_ and _altho_ make as little as possible of the concession, dropping it, as it were, incidentally; as, "_tho_ we are guilty, thou art good;" to say "we are guilty, _but_ thou art good," would make the concession of guilt more emphatic.

Compare BUT; YET.

* * * * * NOTWITHSTANDING, _prep.

_ Synonyms: despite, in spite of.

_Notwithstanding_ simply states that circumstances shall not be or have not been allowed to withstand; _despite_ and _in spite of_ refer primarily to personal and perhaps spiteful opposition; as, he failed _notwithstanding_ his good intentions; or, he persevered _in spite of_ the most bitter hostility.

When _despite_ and _in spite of_ are applied to inanimate things, it is with something of personification; "_in spite of_ the storm" is said as if the storm had a hostile purpose to oppose the undertaking.

* * * * * OATH.

Synonyms: