English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 101

SPONTANEOUS.

Synonyms:

automatic, impulsive, involuntary, voluntary, free, instinctive, unbidden, willing.

That is _spontaneous_ which is freely done, with no external compulsion and, in human actions, without special premeditation or distinct determination of the will; that is _voluntary_ which is freely done with distinct act of will; that is _involuntary_ which is independent of the will, and perhaps in opposition to it; a _willing_ act is not only in accordance with will, but with desire. Thus _voluntary_ and _involuntary_, which are antonyms of each other, are both partial synonyms of _spontaneous_. We speak of _spontaneous_ generation, _spontaneous_ combustion, _spontaneous_ sympathy, an _involuntary_ start, an _unbidden_ tear, _voluntary_ agreement, _willing_ submission.

A babe's smile in answer to that of its mother is _spontaneous_; the smile of a pouting child wheedled into good humor is _involuntary_. In physiology the action of the heart and lungs is called _involuntary_; the growth of the hair and nails is _spontaneous_; the action of swallowing is _voluntary_ up to a certain point, beyond which it becomes _involuntary_ or _automatic_. In the fullest sense of that which is not only without the will but distinctly in opposition to it, or compulsory, _involuntary_ becomes an antonym, not only of _voluntary_ but of _spontaneous_; as, _involuntary_ servitude. A _spontaneous_ outburst of applause is of necessity an act of volition, but so completely dependent on sympathetic impulse that it would seem frigid to call it _voluntary_, while to call it _involuntary_ would imply some previous purpose or inclination not to applaud.

SPY.

Synonyms:

detective, emissary, scout.

The _scout_ and the _spy_ are both employed to obtain information of the numbers, movements, etc., of an enemy. The _scout_ lurks on the outskirts of the hostile army with such concealment as the case admits of, but without disguise; a _spy_ enters in disguise within the enemy's lines. A _scout_, if captured, has the rights of a prisoner of war; a _spy_ is held to have forfeited all rights, and is liable, in case of capture, to capital punishment. An _emissary_ is rather political than military; sent rather to secretly influence opponents than to bring information concerning them; so far as he does the latter, he is not only an _emissary_, but a _spy_.

STAIN.

Synonyms:

blot, discolor, dishonor, soil, sully, tinge, color, disgrace, dye, spot, tarnish, tint.

To _color_ is to impart a color desired or undesired, temporary or permanent, or, in the intransitive use, to a.s.sume a color in any way; as, he _colored_ with shame and vexation. To _dye_ is to impart a color intentionally and with a view to permanence, and especially so as to pervade the substance or fiber of that to which it is applied. To _stain_ is primarily to _discolor_, to impart a color undesired and perhaps unintended, and which may or may not be permanent. Thus, a character "_dyed_ in the wool" is one that has received some early, permanent, and pervading influence; a character _stained_ with crime or guilt is debased and perverted. _Stain_ is, however, used of giving an intended and perhaps pleasing color to wood, gla.s.s, etc., by an application of coloring-matter which enters the substance a little below the surface, in distinction from painting, in which coloring-matter is spread upon the surface; _dyeing_ is generally said of wool, yarn, cloth, or similar materials which are dipped into the _coloring_ liquid.

Figuratively, a standard or a garment may be _dyed_ with blood in honorable warfare; an a.s.sa.s.sin's weapon is _stained_ with the blood of his victim. To _tinge_ is to _color_ slightly, and may also be used of giving a slight flavor, or a slight admixture of one ingredient or quality with another that is more p.r.o.nounced.

STATE.

Synonyms:

affirm, aver, declare, predicate, set forth, allege, avouch, depose, p.r.o.nounce, specify, a.s.sert, avow, express, propound, swear, a.s.severate, certify, inform, protest, tell, a.s.sure, claim, maintain, say, testify.

To _state_ (L. _sto_, stand) is to _set forth_ explicitly, formally, or particularly in speech or writing. _a.s.sert_ (L. _ad_, to, and _sero_, bind) is strongly personal, signifying to _state_ boldly and positively what the one making the statement has not attempted and may not attempt to prove. _Affirm_ has less of egotism than _a.s.sert_ (as seen in the word _self-a.s.sertion_), coming nearer to _aver_. It has more solemnity than _declare_, and more composure and dignity than _a.s.severate_, which is to _a.s.sert_ excitedly. In legal usage, _affirm_ has a general agreement with _depose_ and _testify_; it differs from _swear_ in not invoking the name of G.o.d. To _a.s.sure_ is to _state_ with such authority and confidence as the speaker feels ought to make the hearer sure.

_Certify_ is more formal, and applies rather to written doc.u.ments or legal processes. _a.s.sure_, _certify_, _inform_, apply to the person; _affirm_, etc., to the thing. _a.s.sert_ is combative; _a.s.sure_ is conciliatory. I _a.s.sert_ my right to cross the river; I _a.s.sure_ my friend it is perfectly safe. To _aver_ is to _state_ positively what is within one's own knowledge or matter of deep conviction. One may _a.s.sert_ himself, or _a.s.sert_ his right to what he is willing to contend for; or he may _a.s.sert_ in discussion what he is ready to maintain by argument or evidence. To _a.s.sert_ without proof is always to lay oneself open to the suspicion of having no proof to offer, and seems to arrogate too much to one's personal authority, and hence in such cases both the verb _a.s.sert_ and its noun _a.s.sertion_ have an unfavorable sense; we say a mere _a.s.sertion_, a bare _a.s.sertion_, his unsupported _a.s.sertion_; he _a.s.serted_ his innocence has less force than he _affirmed_ or _maintained_ his innocence. _Affirm_, _state_, and _tell_ have not the controversial sense of _a.s.sert_, but are simply declarative. To _vindicate_ is to defend successfully what is a.s.sailed. Almost every criminal will _a.s.sert_ his innocence; the honest man will seldom lack means to _vindicate_ his integrity.

Antonyms:

contradict, controvert, disprove, gainsay, refute, retract, contravene, deny, dispute, oppose, repudiate, waive.

STEEP.

Synonyms:

abrupt, high, precipitous, sharp, sheer.

_High_ is used of simple elevation; _steep_ is said only of an incline where the vertical measurement is sufficiently great in proportion to the horizontal to make it difficult of ascent. _Steep_ is relative; an ascent of 100 feet to the mile on a railway is a _steep_ grade; a rise of 500 feet to the mile makes a _steep_ wagon-road; a roof is _steep_ when it makes with the horizontal line an angle of more than 45. A _high_ mountain may be climbed by a winding road nowhere _steep_, while a little hill may be accessible only by a _steep_ path. A _sharp_ ascent or descent is one that makes a sudden, decided angle with the plane from which it starts; a _sheer_ ascent or descent is perpendicular, or nearly so; _precipitous_ applies to that which is of the nature of a precipice, and is used especially of a descent; _abrupt_ is as if broken sharply off, and applies to either acclivity or declivity. Compare HIGH.

Antonyms:

easy, flat, gentle, gradual, horizontal, level, low, slight.

STORM.

Synonyms:

agitation, disturbance, tempest.

A _storm_ is properly a _disturbance_ of the atmosphere, with or without rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning. Thus we have rain-_storm_, snow-_storm_, etc., and by extension, magnetic _storm_. A _tempest_ is a _storm_ of extreme violence, always attended with some precipitation, as of rain, from the atmosphere. In the moral and figurative use, _storm_ and _tempest_ are not closely discriminated, except that _tempest_ commonly implies greater intensity. We speak of _agitation_ of feeling, _disturbance_ of mind, a _storm_ of pa.s.sion, a _tempest_ of rage.

Antonyms:

calm, fair weather, hush, peace, serenity, stillness, tranquillity.

STORY.

Synonyms:

account, legend, narrative, recital, relation, anecdote, myth, novel, record, tale.

incident, narration,

A _story_ is the telling of some series of connected incidents or events, whether real or fict.i.tious, in prose or verse, orally or in writing; or the series of incidents or events thus related may be termed a _story_. In children's talk, a _story_ is a common euphemism for a falsehood. _Tale_ is nearly synonymous with _story_, but is somewhat archaic; it is used for an imaginative, legendary, or fict.i.tious _recital_, especially if of ancient date; as, a fairy _tale_; also, for an idle or malicious report; as, do not tell _tales_; "where there is no _tale_-bearer, the strife ceaseth." _Prov._ xxvi, 20. An _anecdote_ tells briefly some _incident_, a.s.sumed to be fact. If it pa.s.ses close limits of brevity, it ceases to be an _anecdote_, and becomes a _narrative_ or _narration_. A traditional or mythical _story_ of ancient times is a _legend_. A history is often somewhat poetically called a _story_; as, the _story_ of the American civil war. Compare ALLEGORY; FICTION; HISTORY.

Antonyms:

annals, biography, chronicle, history, memoir.