English Synonyms and Antonyms — Alarm to Alliance

affright, disquietude, fright, solicitude, apprehension, dread, misgiving, terror, consternation, fear, panic, timidity.

dismay, _Alarm_, according to its derivation _all'arme_, "to arms," is an arousing to meet and repel danger, and may be quite consistent with true courage.

_Affright_ and _fright_ express sudden _fear_ which, for the time at least, overwhelms courage.

The sentinel discovers with _alarm_ the sudden approach of the enemy; the unarmed villagers view it with _affright_.

_Apprehension_, _disquietude_, _dread_, _misgiving_, and _solicitude_ are in anticipation of danger; _consternation_, _dismay_, and _terror_ are overwhelming _fear_, generally in the actual presence of that which is terrible, though these words also may have an anticipative force.

_Timidity_ is a quality, habit, or condition, a readiness to be affected with _fear_.

A person of great _timidity_ is constantly liable to needless _alarm_ and even _terror_.

Compare FEAR.

Antonyms: assurance, calmness, confidence, repose, security.

Prepositions: Alarm was felt _in_ the camp, _among_ the soldiers, _at_ the news.

* * * * * ALERT.

Synonyms: active, lively, prepared, vigilant, brisk, nimble, prompt, watchful, hustling, on the watch, ready, wide-awake.

_Alert_, _ready_, and _wide-awake_ refer to a watchful promptness for action.

_Ready_ suggests thoughtful preparation; the wandering Indian is _alert_, the trained soldier is _ready_.

_Ready_ expresses more life and vigor than _prepared_.

The gun is _prepared_; the man is _ready_.

_Prompt_ expresses readiness for appointment or demand at the required moment.

The good general is _ready_ for emergencies, _alert_ to perceive opportunity or peril, _prompt_ to seize occasion.

The sense of _brisk_, _nimble_ is the secondary and now less common signification of _alert_.

Compare ACTIVE; ALIVE; NIMBLE; VIGILANT.

Antonyms: drowsy, dull, heavy, inactive, slow, sluggish, stupid.

* * * * * ALIEN, _a.

_ Synonyms: conflicting, distant, inappropriate, strange, contradictory, foreign, irrelevant, unconnected, contrary, hostile, opposed, unlike.

contrasted, impertinent, remote, _Foreign_ refers to difference of birth, _alien_ to difference of allegiance.

In their figurative use, that is _foreign_ which is _remote_, _unlike_, or _unconnected_; that is _alien_ which is _conflicting_, _hostile_, or _opposed_.

_Impertinent_ and _irrelevant_ matters can not claim consideration in a certain connection;

_inappropriate_ matters could not properly be considered.

Compare ALIEN, _n.

_; CONTRAST, _v.

_ Antonyms: akin, apropos, germane, proper, appropriate, essential, pertinent, relevant.

Prepositions: Such a purpose was alien _to_ (or _from_) my thought: _to_ preferable.

* * * * * ALIEN, _n.

_ Synonyms: foreigner, stranger.

A naturalized citizen is not an _alien_, though a _foreigner_ by birth, and perhaps a _stranger_ in the place where he resides.

A person of foreign birth not naturalized is an _alien_, though he may have been resident in the country a large part of a lifetime, and ceased to be a _stranger_ to its people or institutions.

He is an _alien_ in one country if his allegiance is to another.

The people of any country still residing in their own land are, strictly speaking, _foreigners_ to the people of all other countries, rather than _aliens_; but _alien_ and _foreigner_ are often used synonymously.

Antonyms: citizen, fellow-countryman, native-born inhabitant, countryman, native, naturalized person.

Prepositions: Aliens _to_ (more rarely _from_) our nation and laws; aliens _in_ our land, _among_ our people.

* * * * * ALIKE.

Synonyms: akin, equivalent, kindred, same, analogous, homogeneous, like, similar, equal, identical, resembling, uniform.

_Alike_ is a comprehensive word, signifying as applied to two or more objects that some or all qualities of one are the same as those of the other or others; by modifiers _alike_ may be made to express more or less resemblance; as, these houses are somewhat (_i.

e. _, partially) _alike_; or, these houses are exactly (_i.

e. _, in all respects) _alike_.

Cotton and wool are _alike_ in this, that they can both be woven into cloth.

Substances are _homogeneous_ which are made up of elements of the _same_ kind, or which are the _same_ in structure.

Two pieces of iron may be _homogeneous_ in material, while not _alike_ in size or shape.

In geometry, two triangles are _equal_ when they can be laid over one another, and fit, line for line and angle for angle; they are _equivalent_ when they simply contain the same amount of space.

An _identical_ proposition is one that says the same thing precisely in subject and predicate.

_Similar_ refers to close resemblance, which yet leaves room for question or denial of complete likeness or identity.

To say "this is the _identical_ man," is to say not merely that he is _similar_ to the one I have in mind, but that he is the very _same_ person.

Things are _analogous_ when they are _similar_ in idea, plan, use, or character, tho perhaps quite unlike in appearance; as, the gills of fishes are said to be _analogous_ to the lungs in terrestrial animals.

Antonyms: different, dissimilar, distinct, heterogeneous, unlike.

Prepositions: The specimens are alike _in_ kind; they are all alike _to_ me.

* * * * * ALIVE.

Synonyms: active, breathing, live, quick, alert, brisk, lively, subsisting, animate, existent, living, vivacious.

animated, existing, _Alive_ applies to all degrees of life, from that which shows one to be barely _existing_ or _existent_ as a living thing, as when we say he is just _alive_, to that which implies the very utmost of vitality and power, as in the words "he is all _alive_," "thoroughly _alive_."

So the word _quick_, which began by signifying "having life," is now mostly applied to energy of life as shown in swiftness of action.

_Breathing_ is capable of like contrast.

We say of a dying man, he is still _breathing_; or we speak of a _breathing_ statue, or "_breathing_ and sounding, beauteous battle," TENNYSON _Princess_ can.

v, l. 155, where it means having, or seeming to have, full and vigorous breath, abundant life.

Compare ACTIVE; ALERT; NIMBLE.

Antonyms: dead, defunct, dull, lifeless, deceased, dispirited, inanimate, spiritless.

Prepositions: Alive _in_ every nerve; alive _to_ every noble impulse; alive _with_ fervor, hope, resolve; alive _through_ all his being.

* * * * * ALLAY.

Synonyms: alleviate, compose, quiet, still, appease, mollify, soothe, tranquilize.

calm, pacify, _Allay_ and _alleviate_ are closely kindred in signification, and have been often interchanged in usage.

But, in strictness, to _allay_ is to lay to rest, _quiet_ or _soothe_ that which is excited; to _alleviate_, on the other hand, is to lighten a burden.

We _allay_ suffering by using means to _soothe_ and _tranquilize_ the sufferer; we _alleviate_ suffering by doing something toward removal of the cause, so that there is less to suffer; where the trouble is wholly or chiefly in the excitement, to _allay_ the excitement is virtually to remove the trouble; as, to _allay_ rage or panic; we _alleviate_ poverty, but do not _allay_ it.

_Pacify_, directly from the Latin, and _appease_, from the Latin through the French, signify to bring to peace; to _mollify_ is to soften; to _calm_, _quiet_, or _tranquilize_ is to make still;

_compose_, to place together, unite, adjust to a calm and settled condition; to _soothe_ (originally to assent to, humor) is to bring to pleased quietude.

We _allay_ excitement, _appease_ a tumult, _calm_ agitation, _compose_ our feelings or countenance, _pacify_ the quarrelsome, _quiet_ the boisterous or clamorous, _soothe_ grief or distress.

Compare ALLEVIATE.

Antonyms: agitate, excite, kindle, rouse, stir up.

arouse, fan, provoke, stir, * * * * * ALLEGE.

Synonyms: adduce, asseverate, claim, maintain, produce, advance, assign, declare, offer, say, affirm, aver, introduce, plead, state.

assert, cite, To _allege_ is formally to state as true or capable of proof, but without proving.

To _adduce_, literally to lead to, is to bring the evidence up to what has been _alleged_.

_Adduce_ is a secondary word;

nothing can be _adduced_ in evidence till something has been _stated_ or _alleged_, which the evidence is to sustain.

An _alleged_ fact stands open to question or doubt.

To speak of an _alleged_ document, an _alleged_ will, an _alleged_ crime, is either to question, or at least very carefully to refrain from admitting, that the document exists, that the will is genuine, or that the crime has been committed.

_Alleged_ is, however, respectful; to speak of the "so-called" will or deed, etc. , would be to cast discredit upon the document, and imply that the speaker was ready to brand it as unquestionably spurious; _alleged_ simply concedes nothing and leaves the question open.

To _produce_ is to bring forward, as, for instance, papers or persons.

_Adduce_ is not used of persons; of them we say _introduce_ or _produce_.

When an _alleged_ criminal is brought to trial, the counsel on either side are accustomed to _advance_ a theory, and _adduce_ the strongest possible evidence in its support; they will _produce_ documents and witnesses, _cite_ precedents, _assign_ reasons, _introduce_ suggestions, _offer_ pleas.

The accused will usually _assert_ his innocence.

Compare STATE.

* * * * * ALLEGIANCE.

Synonyms: devotion, fealty, loyalty, obedience, subjection.

faithfulness, homage, _Allegiance_ is the obligation of fidelity and obedience that an individual owes to his government or sovereign, in return for the protection he receives.

The feudal uses of these words have mostly passed away with the state of society that gave them birth; but their origin still colors their present meaning.

A patriotic American feels an enthusiastic _loyalty_ to the republic; he takes, on occasion, an oath of _allegiance_ to the government, but his _loyalty_ will lead him to do more than mere _allegiance_ could demand; he pays _homage_ to God alone, as the only king and lord, or to those principles of right that are spiritually supreme; he acknowledges the duty of _obedience_ to all rightful authority; he resents the idea of _subjection_.

_Fealty_ is becoming somewhat rare, except in elevated or poetic style.

We prefer to speak of the _faithfulness_ rather than the _fealty_ of citizen, wife, or friend.

Antonyms: disaffection, disloyalty, rebellion, sedition, treason.

Prepositions: We honor the allegiance _of_ the citizen _to_ the government; the government has a right to allegiance _from_ the citizen.

* * * * * ALLEGORY.

Synonyms: fable, fiction, illustration, metaphor, parable, simile.

In modern usage we may say that an _allegory_ is an extended _simile_, while a _metaphor_ is an abbreviated _simile_ contained often in a phrase, perhaps in a word.

The _simile_ carries its comparison on the surface, in the words _as_, _like_, or similar expressions; the _metaphor_ is given directly without any note of comparison.

The _allegory_, _parable_, or _fable_ tells its story as if true, leaving the reader or hearer to discover its fictitious character and learn its lesson.

All these are, in strict definition, _fictions_; but the word _fiction_ is now applied almost exclusively to novels or romances.

An _allegory_ is a moral or religious tale, of which the moral lesson is the substance, and all descriptions and incidents but accessories, as in "The Pilgrim's Progress."

A _fable_ is generally briefer, representing animals as the speakers and actors, and commonly conveying some lesson of practical wisdom or shrewdness, as "The _Fables_ of Æsop."

A

_parable_ is exclusively moral or religious, briefer and less adorned than an _allegory_, with its lesson more immediately discernible, given, as it were, at a stroke.

Any comparison, analogy, instance, example, tale, anecdote, or the like which serves to let in light upon a subject may be called an _illustration_, this word in its widest use including all the rest.

Compare FICTION; STORY.

Antonyms: chronicle, fact, history, narrative, record.

* * * * * ALLEVIATE.

Synonyms: abate, lighten, reduce, remove, assuage, mitigate, relieve, soften.

lessen, moderate, Etymologically, to _alleviate_ is to lift a burden toward oneself, and so _lighten_ it for the bearer; to _relieve_ is to lift it back from the bearer, nearly or quite away; to _remove_ is to take it away altogether.

_Alleviate_ is thus less than _relieve_; _relieve_, ordinarily, less than _remove_.

We _alleviate_, _relieve_ or _remove_ the trouble; we _relieve_, not _alleviate_, the sufferer.

_Assuage_ is, by derivation, to sweeten; _mitigate_, to make mild; _moderate_, to bring within measure; _abate_, to beat down, and so make less.

We _abate_ a fever;

_lessen_ anxiety; _moderate_ passions or desires; _lighten_ burdens;

_mitigate_ or _alleviate_ pain; _reduce_ inflammation; _soften_, _assuage_, or _moderate_ grief; we _lighten_ or _mitigate_ punishments;

we _relieve_ any suffering of body or mind that admits of help, comfort, or remedy.

_Alleviate_ has been often confused with _allay_.

Compare ALLAY.

Antonyms: aggravate, embitter, heighten, intensify, make worse.

augment, enhance, increase, magnify, * * * * * ALLIANCE.

Synonyms: coalition, confederation, fusion, partnership, compact, federation, league, union.

confederacy, _Alliance_ is in its most common use a connection formed by treaty between sovereign states as for mutual aid in war.

_Partnership_ is a mercantile word; _alliance_ chiefly political or matrimonial.

_Coalition_ is oftenest used of political parties; _fusion_ is now the more common word in this sense.

In an _alliance_ between nations there is no surrender of sovereignty, and no _union_ except for a specified time and purpose.

_League_ and _alliance_ are used with scarcely perceptible difference of meaning.

In a _confederacy_ or _confederation_ there is an attempt to unite separate states in a general government without surrender of sovereignty.

_Union_ implies so much concession as to make the separate states substantially one.

_Federation_ is mainly a poetic and rhetorical word expressing something of the same thought, as in Tennyson's "_federation_ of the world," _Locksley Hall_, l. 128. The United States is not a _confederacy_ nor an _alliance_; the nation might be called a _federation_, but prefers to be styled a federal _union_.

Antonyms: antagonism, disunion, enmity, schism, separation, discord, divorce, hostility, secession, war.

Prepositions: Alliance _with_ a neighboring people; _against_ the common enemy; _for_ offense and defense; alliance _of_, _between_, or _among_ nations.

* * * * * ALLOT.

Synonyms: