Copyright, 1913
G. P. Putnam's Sons
(Under the title Synonyms, Antonyms, and Associated Words)
The purpose of this book, as conceived by the author, is not to attempt tocreate or to influence usage by pointing out which words should or shouldnot be used, nor to explain the meaning of terms, but simply to provide ina form convenient for reference and study the words that can be used,leaving it to those who consult its pages to determine for themselves,with the aid of a dictionary if necessary, which words supply theinformation they are looking for or express most accurately the thoughtsin their minds. The questions, therefore, that were constantly in theauthor's mind while he was preparing the manuscript were not, is thisword used? nor should it be used? but is it a word that some one maywant to know as a matter of information or to use in giving expression tosome thought? When the word in question seemed to be one that would be ofservice it was given a place in the collection to which it belongs.Believing the book would be consulted by students and workers in specialfields, the author incorporated into it many words, including sometechnical terms, that might, in the case of a work of more restrictedusefulness, have been omitted.
It happens frequently that the word which one thinks of first does notexpress the exact shade of thought one desires to express and some otherword of similar meaning is necessary. For this reason there is, for thosewho want to write and speak with precision and effectiveness, an importantuse for collections of synonyms. Throughout this book synonyms means wordsthat are similar in meaning or which express the same general idea withshades of difference. Those who use this work should bear in mind that allwords that are classified as synonyms cannot be used interchangeably; thatthere are differences in meaning between them; and that, before using anunfamiliar word, they should ascertain its meaning and usage in adictionary. Antonyms are words that are opposed to another word inmeaning. Such words are helpful when it is desired to express contrastedor conflicting ideas or thoughts. In many instances, however, a list ofantonyms is unnecessary. For example, no antonyms of good are foundafter the synonyms of that word because one thinks of bad instantly whenconsidering the opposite of good; and under bad numerous synonyms,which are also the antonyms of good, are found.
It is not an infrequent occurrence for a word to be required that isneither a synonym nor an antonym of a familiar term but merely associatedwith it in meaning and usage. Such a word cannot when unknown ormomentarily forgotten be easily found in a dictionary. In this volumecollections of such words are found after the general terms with whichthey are associated. This feature of the book will be of service as amemory-help when a word cannot be recalled and also, which is perhaps ofgreater importance, by enabling writers and students to learn of wordsobjectively or through their associations.
By turning to the word that is thought of first or to the word with whichthe term that is wanted is associated and reading the collections therepresented, any word that may be desired will be found.
The author spared no effort to make his work as complete as possible; andhe believes that it will be appreciated for its comprehensiveness,modernity, and practical usefulness. He will be pleased to receive fro