ENGLISH SYNONYMS EXPLAINED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER WITH COPIOUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND EXAMPLES DRAWN FROM THE BEST WRITERS 451 BY GEORGE CRABB, A.M. AUTHOR OF THE UNIVERSAL TECHNOLOGICAL DICTIONARY Sed cum idem frequentissimè plura significent, quod ovvwvvuía vocatur, jam LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE. AND SONS, LIMITED BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL 239 1898 3 Ir may seem surprising that the English, who have employed their talents successfully in every branch of literature, and in none more than in that of philology, should yet have fallen below other nations in the study of their synonyms: it cannot, however, be denied that, whilst the French and Germans have had several considerable works on the subject, we have not a single writer who has treated it in a scientific manner adequate to its importance: not that I wish by this remark to depreciate the labours of those who have preceded me; but simply to assign it as a reason why I have now been induced to come forward with an attempt to fill up what is considered a chasm in English literature. In the prosecution of my undertaking, I have profited by everything which has been written in any language upon the subject; and although I always pursued my own train of thought, yet whenever I met with anything deserving of notice I adopted it, and referred it to the author in a note. I had not proceeded far before I found it necessary to restrict myself in the choice of my materials; and accordingly laid it down as a rule not to compare any words together which were sufficiently distinguished from each other by striking features in their signification, such as abandon and quit, which require a comparison with others, though not necessarily with themselves; for the same reason I was obliged to limit myself, as a rule, to one authority for each word, unless where the case seemed to require farther exemplification. But notwithstanding all my care in this respect, I was compelled to curtail much of what I had written, for fear of increasing the volume to an inconvenient size. Although a work of this description does not afford much scope for system and arrangement, yet I laid down to myself the plan of arranging the words according to the extent or universality of their acceptation, placing those first which had the most general sense and application, and the rest in order. By this plan I found myself greatly aided in analyzing their differences, and I trust that the reader will thereby be equally benefited. In the choice of authorities I have been guided by various considerations; namely, the appropriateness of the examples; the classic purity of the author; the justness of the sentiment; and, last of all, the variety of the writers; but I am persuaded that the reader will not be dissatisfied to find that I have shown a decided preference to such authors as Addison, Johnson, Dryden, Pope, Milton, &c. At the same time it is but just to observe that this selection of authorities has been made by an actual perusal of the authors, without the assistance of Johnson's Dictionary. PREFACE. For the sentiments scattered through this work I offer no apology, although I am aware that they will not fall in with the views of many who may be competent to decide on its literary merits. I write not to please or displease any description of persons; but I trust that what I have written according to the dictates of my mind will meet the approbation of those whose good opinion I am most solicitous to obtain. Should any object to the introduction of morality in a work of science, I beg them to consider, that a writer, whose business it was to mark the nice shades of distinction between words closely allied, could not do justice to his subject without entering into all the relations of society, and showing, from the acknowledged sense of many moral and religious terms, what has been the general sense of mankind on many of the most important questions which have agitated the world. My first object certainly has been to assist the philological inquirer in ascertaining the force and comprehenɛicn of the English language; yet I should have thought my work but half completed Ład I made it a mere register of verbal distinctions. While others seize every opportunity unblushingly to avow and zealously to propagate opinions destructive of good order, it would ill become any individual of contrary sentiments to shrink from stating his convictions, when called upon as he seems to be by an occasion like that which has now offered itself. As to the rest, I throw myself on the indulgence of the public, with the assurance that having used every endeavour to deserve their approbation, I shall not make an appeal to their candour in vain. ENGLISH SYNONYMS EXPLAINED. To Abandon, Desert, Forsake, Relinquish. THE idea of leaving or separating one's self from an object is common to these terms, which differ in the circumstances or modes of leaving. The two former are more solemn acts than the two latter. Abandon, from the French abandonner, is a concretion of the words donner à ban, to give up to a public ban or outlawry. To abandon then is to expose to every misfortune which results from a formal and public denunciation; to set out of the protection of law and government; and to deny the privileges of citizenship. Desert, in Latin desertus, participle of desero, that is, de privative and ser to sow, signifying unsown, unplanted, cultivated no longer. To desert then is to leave off cultivating; and as there is something of idleness and improvidence in ceasing to render the soil productive, ideas of disapprobation accompany the word in all its metaphorical applications. He who leaves off cultivating a farm usually removes from it; hence the idea of removal and blameworthy removal, which usually attaches to the term. Forsake, in Saxon forsecan, is compounded of the primitive for and sake, seek secan, signifying to seek no more, to leave off seeking that which has been an object of search. Relinquish, in Latin relinquo, is compounded of re or retro behind and linquo to leave, that is, to leave what we would fain take with us, to leave with reluctance. To abandon is totally to withdraw ourselves from an object; to lay aside all care and concern for it; to leave it altogether to itself: to desert is to withdraw ourselves at certain times when our assistance or co-operation is required, or to separate ourselves from that to which we ought to be attached: to forsake is to withdraw our regard for and interest in an object, to keep at a distance from it: to relinquish is to leave that which has once been an object of our pursuit. Abandon and desert are employed for persons or things; forsake for persons or places; relinquish for things only. With regard to persons these terms express moral culpability in a progressive ratio downwards: abandon comprehends the violation of the most sacred ties; desert, a breach of honour and fidelity; forsake, a rupture of the social bond. We abandon those who are entirely dependent upon us for protection and support; they are left in a helpless state exposed to every danger; a child is abandoned by its parent: we desert those with whom we have entered into coalition; they are left to their own resources; a soldier deserts his comrades; a partisan deserts his friends: we forsake those with whom we have been in habits of intimacy; they are deprived of the pleasures and comforts of society: a man forsakes his companions; a lover forsakes his mistress. We are bound by every law human and divine not to abandon; we are called upon by every good principle not to desert; we are impelled by every kind feeling not to forsake. Few animals except man will abandon their young until they are enabled to provide for themselves. Interest, which is but too often the only principle that brings men together, will lead them to desert each other in the time of difficulty. We are enjoined in the gospel not to forsake the poor and needy. When abandoned by our dearest relatives, deserted by our friends, and forsaken by the world, we have always a resource in our Maker. He who abandons his offspring, or corrupts them by his example, perpetrates a greater evil than a murderer. HAWKESWORTH. After the death of Stella, Swift's benevolence was contracted, and his severity exasperated; he drove his acquaintance from his table and wondered why he was deserted. JOHNSON, Forsake me not thus, Adam !-MILTON. With regard to things (in which sense the word relinquish is synonymous) the character of abandoning varies with the circumstances and motives of the action, according to which it is either good, bad, or indifferent; deserting is always taken in an unfavourable or bad sense; the act of forsaking is indifferent; that of relinquishing is prudent or imprudent. has no means of saving it, except at the risk of his life; but an upright statesman will never desert his post when his country is in A captain may abandon his vessel when he danger, nor a true soldier desert his colours. |