English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 7

Address the memorial _to_ the legislature; the president addressed the people _in_ an eloquent speech; he addressed an intruder _with_ indignation.

ADDRESS, _n._

Synonyms:

adroitness, discretion, manners, readiness, courtesy, ingenuity, politeness, tact.

dexterity,

_Address_ is that indefinable something which enables a man to gain his object without seeming exertion or contest, and generally with the favor and approval of those with whom he deals. It is a general power to direct to the matter in hand whatever qualities are most needed for it at the moment. It includes _adroitness_ and _discretion_ to know what to do or say and what to avoid; _ingenuity_ to devise; _readiness_ to speak or act; the _dexterity_ that comes of practise; and _tact_, which is the power of fine touch as applied to human character and feeling.

_Courtesy_ and _politeness_ are indispensable elements of good _address_. Compare SPEECH.

Antonyms:

awkwardness, clumsiness, ill-breeding, stupidity, boorishness, fatuity, ill manners, unmannerliness, clownishness, folly, rudeness, unwisdom.

Prepositions:

Address _in_ dealing with opponents; the address _of_ an accomplished intriguer; an address _to_ the audience.

ADEQUATE.

Synonyms:

able, competent, fitted, satisfactory, adapted, equal, fitting, sufficient, capable, fit, qualified, suitable.

commensurate,

_Adequate_, _commensurate_, and _sufficient_ signify _equal_ to some given occasion or work; as, a sum _sufficient_ to meet expenses; an _adequate_ remedy for the disease. _Commensurate_ is the more precise and learned word, signifying that which exactly measures the matter in question. _Adapted_, _fit_, _suitable_, and _qualified_ refer to the qualities which match or suit the occasion. A clergyman may have strength _adequate_ to the work of a porter; but that would not be a _fit_ or _suitable_ occupation for him. Work is _satisfactory_ if it satisfies those for whom it is done, though it may be very poor work judged by some higher standard. _Qualified_ refers to acquired abilities; _competent_ to both natural and acquired; a _qualified_ teacher may be no longer _competent_, by reason of ill health. _Able_ and _capable_ suggest general ability and reserved power, _able_ being the higher word of the two. An _able_ man will do something well in any position. A _capable_ man will come up to any ordinary demand. We say an _able_ orator, a _capable_ accountant.

Antonyms:

disqualified, inferior, unequal, unsatisfactory, useless, inadequate, insufficient, unfit, unsuitable, worthless.

incompetent, poor, unqualified,

Prepositions:

Adequate _to_ the demand; _for_ the purpose.

ADHERENT.

Synonyms:

aid, ally, disciple, partisan, supporter.

aider, backer, follower,

An _adherent_ is one who is devoted or attached to a person, party, principle, cause, creed, or the like. One may be an _aider_ and _supporter_ of a party or church, while not an _adherent_ to all its doctrines or claims. An _ally_ is more independent still, as he may differ on every point except the specific ground of union. The _Allies_ who overthrew Napoleon were united only against him. _Allies_ are regarded as equals; _adherents_ and _disciples_ are followers. The _adherent_ depends more on his individual judgment, the _disciple_ is more subject to command and instruction; thus we say the _disciples_ rather than the _adherents_ of Christ. _Partisan_ has the narrow and odious sense of adhesion to a party, right or wrong. One may be an _adherent_ or _supporter_ of a party and not a _partisan_. _Backer_ is a sporting and theatrical word, personal in its application, and not in the best usage. Compare ACCESSORY.

Antonyms:

adversary, betrayer, enemy, opponent, traitor.

antagonist, deserter, hater, renegade,

Prepositions:

Adherents _to_ principle; adherents _of_ Luther.

ADHESIVE.

Synonyms:

cohesive, gummy, sticky, viscous.

glutinous, sticking, viscid,

_Adhesive_ is the scientific, _sticking_ or _sticky_ the popular word.

That which is _adhesive_ tends to join itself to the surface of any other body with which it is placed in contact; _cohesive_ expresses the tendency of particles of the same substance to hold together. Polished plate gla.s.s is not _adhesive_, but such plates packed together are intensely _cohesive_. An _adhesive_ plaster is in popular language a _sticking_-plaster. _Sticky_ expresses a more limited, and generally annoying, degree of the same quality. _Glutinous_, _gummy_, _viscid_, and _viscous_ are applied to fluid or semi-fluid substances, as pitch or tar.

Antonyms:

free, inadhesive, loose, separable.

Preposition:

The stiff, wet clay, adhesive _to_ the foot, impeded progress.

ADJACENT.

Synonyms: