War and pestilence are properly ——, while the loss of a battle may be a ——, but not a ——.
Fortune is not satisfied with inflicting one ——.
The failure of the crops of two successive years proved an irreparable —— to the emigrants.
1. What is the central distinction between antecedent and cause? 2. How are the words cause, condition, and occasion illustrated by the fall of an avalanche?[412] 3. And the antonyms consequence? effect? outgrowth? result? 4. What are causality and causation? 5. How are origin and source related to cause?
Where there is an effect there must be also a ——.
It is necessary to know something of the —— of a man before we can safely trust him.
The —— of the river was found to be a small lake among the hills.
What was given as the —— of the quarrel was really but the ——.
1. What feelings are combined in chagrin? 2. How do you distinguish between chagrin, disappointment, humiliation, mortification, and shame? 3. Which involves a sense of having done wrong?
The king's —— at the limitations imposed upon him was painfully manifest.
He is not wholly lost who yet can blush from ——.
1. What is the distinction between change and exchange? Are they ever used as equivalent, and how? 2. Can you distinguish between modify and qualify?
The tailor offered to —— the armholes of the coat.
We requested the pianist to —— his music by introducing a few popular tunes.
We often fail to recognize the actor who —— his costume between the acts.
1. How do you distinguish between character and reputation? constitution and disposition? 2. Is nature a broader word than any of the preceding? 3. If so, why?
The philanthropist's —— for charity is often a great source of annoyance to him.
Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for 'tis their —— to.
Misfortune may cause the loss of friends and reputation, yet if the man has not yielded to wrong, his —— is superior to loss or change.
1. What are the shades of difference between choose, cull, elect, pick, prefer, and[413] select? 2. Also between the antonyms cast away, decline, dismiss, refuse, repudiate? 3. Does select imply more care or judgment than choose?
The prettiest flowers had all been ——.
Jacob was —— to Esau, tho he was the younger.
When a man deliberately —— to do wrong, there is little hope for him.
1. To what classes of things do we apply accompaniment? concomitant? circumstance? event? fact? incident? occurrence? situation? 2. Can you give some instances of the use of circumstance? 3. Is it a word of broader meaning than incident?
The —— that there had been a fire was proved by the smoke-blackened walls.
Extreme provocation may be a mitigating —— in a case of homicide.
1. How does a class differ from a caste? 2. In what connection is rank used? order? 3. What is a coterie? How does it differ from a clique?
An —— was formed for the relief of the poor and needy of the city.
A select —— met at the residence of one of the leading men of the city.
There is a struggle of the masses against the ——.
1. What does clear originally signify? 2. How does clear differ from transparent as regards a substance that may be a medium of vision? 3. With what meaning is clear used of an object apprehended by the senses, as an object of sight or hearing? 4. What does distinct signify? 5. What is plain? 6. What special sense does this word always retain? How does transparent differ from translucent? 7. What do lucid and pellucid signify? 8. What is the special force of limpid?
1. What is the meaning of clever as used in England? 2. What was the early New England usage? 3. What is to be said of the use of smart and sharp? 4. What other words of this group are preferable to clever in many of its uses?[414]
His brief experience in the department had made him very —— in the work now assigned him.
She was especially —— in song.
1. From what is company derived? What is its primary meaning? 2. For what are those associated who constitute a company? Is their association temporary or permanent? 3. What is the difference between assemblage and assembly? 4. What is a conclave? a convocation? a convention? 5. What are the characteristics of a group? 6. To what use is congregation restricted? How does meeting agree with and differ from it?
The room contained a large —— of miscellaneous objects.
A fellow that makes no figure in ——.
A great —— had met, but without organization or officers.
If ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful ——.
1. What is it to compel? 2. What does force imply? 3. What is the especial significance of coerce? 4. What does constrain imply? In what favorable sense is it used?
Even if we were not willing, they possessed the power of —— us to do justice.
Employers may —— their employees into voting as they demand, but for the secret ballot.
These considerations —— us to aid them to the utmost of our power.
1. By what is complaining prompted? murmuring? repining? 2. Which finds outward expression, and which is limited to the mental act? 3. To whom does one complain, in the formal sense of the word? 4. With whom does one remonstrate?
It is not pleasant to live with one who is constantly ——ing.
The dog gave a low —— which frightened the tramp away.
1. How does complex differ from compound? from composite? 2. What is heterogeneous? conglomerate? 3. How does complicated differ from intricate? from involved?
1. Of what things is one aware? of what is he conscious? 2. How does sensible compare with the above-mentioned words? 3. What does sensible indicate regarding the emotions, that would not be expressed by conscious?
To be —— that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.
They are now —— it would have been better to resist the first temptation.
He was —— of a stealthy step and a bulk dimly visible through the darkness.
1. How does consequence differ from effect? both from result? 2. How do result and issue compare? 3. In what sense is consequent used?
1. To what is contagion now limited by the best medical usage? 2. To what is the term infection applied?
During the plague in London persons walked in the middle of the streets for fear of the —— from the houses.
The mob thinks by —— for the most part, catching an opinion like a cold.
No pestilence is so much to be dreaded as the —— of bad example.
1. How does continuous differ from continual? incessant from ceaseless? Give examples.
1. How is contrast related to compare? 2. What are the special senses of differentiate, discriminate and distinguish?
1. What is the essential meaning of conversation? 2. How does conversation differ[416] from talk? 3. How is discourse related to conversation? 4. What are the special senses of dialogue and colloquy?
There can be no —— with a great genius, who does all the ——ing.
Nor wanted sweet ——, the banquet of the mind.
1. In what do convey, transmit, and transport agree? What is the distinctive sense of convey? 2. To what class of objects does transport refer? 3. To what class of objects do transfer, transmit, and convey apply? 4. Which is the predominant sense of the latter words?
1. What is the distinctive meaning of criminal? How does it differ from illegal or unlawful? 2. What is felonious? flagitious? 3. What is the primary meaning of iniquitous? 4. Is an iniquitous act necessarily criminal?
1. What is the distinctive meaning of danger? 2. Does danger or peril suggest the more immediate evil? 3. How are jeopardy and risk distinguished from danger and peril?
Delay always breeds ——.
The careful rider avoids running ——.
Stir, at your ——!
1. What sort of things decay? putrefy? rot? 2. What is the essential difference between decay and decompose?
The flowers wither, the tree's trunk ——.
The water was —— by the electric current.
1. How is deceit distinguished from deception? from guile? fraud? lying? hypocrisy? 2. Do all of these apply to conduct as well as to speech? 3. Is deception ever innocent? 4. Have craft and cunning always a moral element? 5. How is dissimulation distinguished from duplicity?[417]
The —— of his conduct was patent to all.
It was a matter of self-——.
The judge decided it to be a case of ——.
1. Which is the more exact, a definition or a description? 2. What must a definition include, and what must it exclude? 3. What must a description include? 4. In what respect has interpretation a wider meaning than translation? 5. How does an explanation compare with an exposition?
A prompt —— of the difficulty prevented a quarrel.
The —— of scenery was admirable.
The seer gave an —— of the dream.
Many a controversy may be instantly ended by a clear —— of terms.
1. What are the chief distinctions between deliberate? consult? consider? meditate? reflect? 2. Do large gatherings of people consult, or meditate, or deliberate? 3. Do we reflect on things past or things to come? 4. How many persons are necessarily implied in consult, confer, and debate as commonly used? in deliberate, consider, ponder, reflect? in meditate? 5. What idea of time is implied in deliberate?
The matter was carefully —— in all its bearings.
The legislature —— for several days.
1. What is the essential difference between illusion and delusion? How does hallucination differ from both? 2. Which word is used especially of objects of sight?
The —— of the sick are sometimes pitiful.
In the soft light the —— was complete.
1. To what kind of reasoning does demonstration in the strict sense apply? 2. What is evidence? proof? 3. Which is the stronger term? 4. Which is the more comprehensive?
The —— of the witness was so complete that no further —— was required.
A mathematical —— must be final and conclusive.
1. What is the distinctive meaning of design? 2. What element is prominent in intention? purpose? plan? 3. Does purpose suggest more power to execute than design? 4. How does intent specifically differ from purpose? Which term do we use with reference to the Divine Being?
The architect's —— involved much detail.
Hell is paved with good ——.
It is the —— of the voter that decides how his ballot shall be counted.
The —— of the Almighty can not be thwarted.
The adaption of means to ends in nature clearly indicates a ——, and so proves a ——er.
1. In what order might despair, desperation, discouragement, and hopelessness follow, each as the result of the previous condition? 2. How does despondency especially differ from despair?
The utter —— of their condition was apparent.
In weak —— he abandoned all endeavor.
1. From what is adroitness derived? From what dexterity? How might each be rendered? 2. How does adroitness differ in use from dexterity? 3. From what is aptitude derived, and what does it signify? 4. How does skill differ from dexterity? Which can and which can not be communicated?
He had a natural —— for scientific investigation, and by long practise gained an inimitable —— of manipulation.
His —— in debate enabled him to evade or parry arguments or attacks which he could not answer.
The —— of the best trained workman can not equal the precision of a machine.
1. Which is the more comprehensive word, diction, language, or phraseology? 2. What is the true meaning of verbiage? Should it ever be used as the equivalent of language or diction? 3. What is style? How does it compare with diction or language?
The —— of the discourse was plain and emphatic.
The —— of a written contract should be such as to prevent misunderstandings.
The poetic —— of Milton is so exquisitely perfect that another word can scarcely ever be substituted for the one he has chosen without marring the line.
1. Which pertain mostly to realities, and which are matters of judgment—difference, disparity, distinction, or inconsistency? 2. What do we mean by "a distinction without a difference"?
The proper —— should be carefully observed in the use of "shall" and "will."
The —— between black and white is self-evident.
The —— of our representatives' conduct with their promises is unpardonable.
1. To what sort of objects do we apply behold, discern, distinguish, observe, and see? 2. What do behold and distinguish suggest in addition to seeing?
With the aid of a great telescope we may —— what stars are double.
—— the upright man.
Let us minutely —— the color of the goods.
1. What is the distinctive meaning of detect? discover? invent? 2. How do discover and invent differ? 3. Is detect often used in a favorable sense?
An experienced policeman acquires wonderful skill in ——ing criminals.
Newton —— the law of gravitation.
To —— a machine, one must first understand the laws of mechanics.
1. What was the early and general meaning of sick and sickness in English? 2. How long did that usage prevail? 3. What is the present restriction upon the use of these words in England? What words are there commonly substituted? 4. What is the prevalent usage in the United States?
—— spread in the camp and proved deadlier than the sword.
The —— was found to be contagious.
He is just recovering from a slight ——.
It is not good manners to talk of one's ——s.
1. What is the most comprehensive word of this group? 2. In what sense are finish[420] and complete used, and how are they discriminated from each other? 3. How do we discriminate between fulfil, realize, effect, and execute? perform and accomplish? accomplish and complete?
A duty has been ——, a work of gratitude and affection has been ——.
It is wonderful how much can be —— by steady, plodding industry without brilliant talents.
The work is not only grand in design but it is —— with the most exquisite delicacy in every detail.
It is the duty of the legislators to make laws, of the magistrates to —— them.
Every one should labor to —— his duties faithfully, and —— the just expectations of those who have committed to him any trust.
1. To what matters do we apply the word creed? doctrine? dogma? principle? 2. Which is the more inclusive word? 3. Is dogma used favorably or unfavorably?
The —— rests either upon the authority of the Scriptures, or upon a decision of the Church.
A man may have upright ——s even while he disregards commonly received ——s.
1. Do we apply doubt, distrust, surmise, and suspect mostly to persons and things, or to motives and intentions? 2. Is mistrust used of persons or of things? 3. Is it used, in a favorable or an unfavorable sense?
We do not —— that the earth moves around the sun.
Nearly every law of nature was by man first ——, then proved to be true.
I —— my own heart.
I —— that man from the outset.
1. To what class of objects do we apply disbelief? doubt? hesitation? misgiving? 2. Which of these words most commonly implies an unfavorable meaning? 3. What meaning has skepticism as applied to religious matters?
We feel no —— in giving our approval.
The jury had ——s of his guilt.
We did all we could to further the enterprise, but still had our ——s as to the outcome.
1. Can you give the distinction between a copy and a duplicate? a facsimile, and an imitation? 2. What sort of a copy is a transcript?
The —— of an organ by the violinist was perfect.
This key is a ——, and will open the lock.
The signature was merely a printed ——.
1. Do we use duty and right of civil things? or business and obligation of moral things? 2. Does responsibility imply connection with any other person or thing?
I go because it is my ——.
We recognize a —— for the good conduct of our own children, but do we not also rest under some —— to society to exercise a good influence over the children of others?
1. What is the distinction between eager and earnest in the nature of the feeling implied? in the objects toward which it is directed? 2. How does anxious in this acceptation differ from both eager and earnest?
I am in ——. I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard!
I am —— to hear of your welfare, and of the prospects of the enterprise.
1. What does ease denote, in the sense here considered? Does it apply to action or condition? 2. Is facility active or passive? readiness? 3. What does ease imply, and to what may it be limited? 4. What does facility imply? readiness? 5. To what is expertness limited?
He plays the violin with great ——, and delights an audience.
It is often said with equal truth that we ought to take advantage of the —— which children possess of learning.
1. What is the distinctive meaning of education? instruction? teaching? 2. How is instruction or teaching related to education? 3. How does training differ from teaching? 4. What is discipline? tuition? 5. What are breeding and nurture, and how do they differ from each other? 6. How are knowledge and learning related to education?
The true purpose of —— is to cherish and unfold the seed of immortality already sown within us.
—— maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.
For natural abilities are like natural plants that need pruning by ——; and ——s themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
A branch of —— is often put to an improper use, for fear of its being idle.
1. What is audacity? hardihood? 2. What special element does effrontery add to the meaning of audacity and hardihood? 3. What is impudence? shamelessness? 4. How does effrontery compare with these words? 5. What is boldness? Is it used in a favorable or an unfavorable sense?
When they saw the —— of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men they marvelled.
I am not a little surprised at the easy —— with which political gentlemen in and out of Congress take it upon them to say that there are not a thousand men in the North who sympathize with John Brown.
1. What is egoism and how does it differ from egotism? 2. What is self-assertion? self-conceit? 3. Does conceit differ from self-conceit, and how? 4. What is self-confidence? Is it worthy or unworthy? 5. Is self-assertion ever a duty? self-conceit? 6. What is vanity? How does it differ from self-confidence? from pride? 7. What is self-esteem? How does it differ from self-conceit? from self-confidence?
—— may puff a man up, but never prop him up.
—— is as ill at ease under indifference, as tenderness is under the love which it can not return.
1. From what language is emblem derived? What did it originally signify? 2. What is the derivation and primary meaning of symbol? 3. How do the two words compare as now used? 4. How does a sign suggest something other than itself? 5. Can the same thing be both an emblem and a symbol? a sign and a symbol? 6. What is a token? a figure? an image? a type?
Moses, as Israel's deliverer, was a —— of Christ.
1. What is the distinctive meaning of migrate? What is its application? 2. What do emigrate and immigrate signify? To what do they apply? Can the two words be used of the same person and the same act? How?