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DERIVATIONS AND MEANINGS OF THE WORDS, AND THE DISTINCTIONS

BETWEEN THE SYNONYMES ILLUSTRATED BY EXAMPLES.

FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES.

BY

THE REV. JOHN PLATTS.

New Edition,

REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED; BY THE AUTHOR OF
"THE GEOGRAPHICAL TEXT-BOOK," &c.

"He... sought to find out acceptable words."-SOLOMON.

LONDON:

SOUTER & LAW, SCHOOL LIBRARY, 131 FLEET STREET.

1845.

92568

LONDON:

C. F. HODGSON, PRINTER, 1 GOUGH SQUARE, FLEET STREET.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE PRESENT EDITION.

THIS work is already so extensively known, and so highly appreciated, by the instructors of youth, that the Editor has little occasion to enlarge either upon its plan or its merits.

The numerous errors which had escaped revision in conducting the former Edition through the press, must have tended, in a measure, to diminish its usefulness. It has now been carefully revised, and the greater part entirely re-written. The derivations, it is believed, will be found very correct and complete; considerable pains having been bestowed upon this portion of the work, in order to trace each derivative to its source. A few instances will, however, be found, in which the origin of a word is involved in obscurity, either through the gradual corruption which the lapse of ages entails upon our etymology, or by reason of our partial knowledge of some of the ancient tongues. In such cases, the Editor has preferred to confess ignorance by a silent omission, rather than hazard a fanciful conjecture in which no confidence could be placed. Much attention also has been paid to the definitions, which will, it is hoped, convey to the mind of the learner the distinctive meaning of each separate Synonyme, which it is endeavored to render still clearer by the examples which follow of its most correct and authorized application and use.

In conclusion, a comparison of this with the former Edition will enable the teacher to judge how far the Editor has realized the chief object of these labors, which has been to present to the youthful student a more efficient guide in this department of English literature, and to render the work more worthy of that patronage with which the public honored its predecessor.

EDITOR.

iv

ADVERTISEMENT TO FIRST EDITION.

66

THE following work requires but few words to recommend it to the public notice. Before the appearance of Mr. Crabb's elaborate performance on English Synonymes, there was no publication on the subject worthy of notice. The learned are under great obligations to Mr. Crabb for filling up what was "considered a chasm in English literature." Still a work on a smaller scale, and with more ease of reference, suitable for schools and for persons in general, was a desideratum. Under this view, the present Dictionary of Synonymes" was compiled. The writer felt the want of such a work during the many years he was engaged in the instruction of youth; and he has some confidence that this Dictionary will be favorably received by the heads of Seminaries, and private Teachers, and that it will be the means of assisting the English student in acquiring a knowledge of his native language, and the proper distinctions of words.

This Dictionary contains many more Synonymes than are to be found in any work extant; the Alphabetical Index, at the end, will at once exhibit all the words contained in the work, and direct to the page where each particular word may be found.

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DICTIONARY

OF

ENGLISH SYNONYMES.

A.

ABANDON, [ban and donner, to give over to the ban, or proscription, Fr.] to forsake utterly, to cast off.

DESERT, [desero, to forsake, L.] to run away from one's colors; to quit meanly or treacherously.

LEAVE, [læfan, S.] to depart from.

FORSAKE, forsecan, S.] to leave in resentment or dislike.
RELINQUISH, [relinquo, L.] to withdraw a claim to.

QUIT, [quitter, F.] to leave or part with.

RESIGN, [re, back, signo, to sign or send, L.] to give up.

RENOUNCE, [re and nuncio, to declare, L.] to disown; to cast off. ABDICATE, [abdico, L.] to resign an office or trust.

SURRENDER, [Sur, and rendre, F.] to deliver up.

YIELD, [gieldan, to pay, S.] to give way.

CEDE, [cedo, to give up, L.] to give up to another.
CONCEDE, [concedo, L.] to grant; to admit as true.

FOREGO, [fore and go] to refrain from any enjoyment or pos

session.

Bad parents abandon their children; men abandon the unfortunate objects of their guilty passions; a mariner abandons his vessel and cargo in a storm when he has lost all hope of saving them; we abandon⚫our houses and property to the spoils of an invading army; men are abandoned by their friends; they abandon themselves to unlawful pleasures; we desert a post, or station; leave the country; forsake companions; relinquish claims; quit business; the soul quits the body.

Resign an office; renounce a profession, the world; abdicate a throne; surrender a town; surrender what we have in trust; cede a province; concede a point; yield to an opponent; yield not to temptation; resign an office; abandon a measure; forego a claim, or a pleasure.

ABANDONED, sinning without restraint.

PROFLIGATE, [profligatus, L.] shameless in wickedness.

REPROBATE, [reprobo, to disallow, L.] lost to virtue; lost to grace. Profligate, abandoned, and reprobate persons, or characters. The young first become abandoned; afterwards profligate; and, finally, reprobate to every good work.

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