A Selection of English Synonyms ...

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 Excerpt: ... real unkindness or coldness; while only carelessness is implied if he is charged with negligence. The verb ' to neglect' is a conjugate of both these adjectives and substantives. We might say, ' He did not use to neglect his business, but he has been very negligent of it lately;' ' I did not think he would neglect his friends, but he has been very neglectful of me.' ABSENT, ABSTRACTED. 'Absent' refers merely to the circumstance of the attention being withdrawn from outward objects; ' abstracted' implies also concentration of the thoughts on something foreign to what is before us. One who is ' absent' does not attend to what is around him--it may be from languor of mind or carelessness; but one who is ' abstracted' is inattentive because he is thinking of something else. ' Absence ' is therefore a habit; ' abstraction' an accident. We do sometimes, indeed, speak of an habitually absent person as ' abstracted;' but one who is from any particular cause in an abstracted state of mind would not be called an ' absent' person. Byron's Dying Gladiator, who ' Heard it, but he heeded not; his thoughts Were with his heart, and that was far away, ' was then abstracted; but to call him absent would be ludicrous. TRIFLING, TRIVIAL. A trifling matter is one merely of small importance: a trivial matter is a small matter made too much of. The word ' trivial' implies contempt, which ' trifling' does not. By saying, ' He never neglects a trifling matter, ' we are rather supposed to praise; but in blaming a person for frivolity, we often say, ' He is always engrossed with trivial concerns.' The substantive ' trifle' is conjugate to both. FATHERLY, PATERNAL J MOTHERLY, MATERNAL J BROTHERLY, FRATERNAL J KINGLY, REGAL. These pairs of words are formed from corresponding roots in Lat...