English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 26

Prepositions:

Beautiful _to_ the eye; beautiful _in_ appearance, _in_ spirit; "beautiful _for_ situation," _Ps._ xlviii, 2; beautiful _of_ aspect, _of_ its kind.

BECAUSE.

Synonyms:

as, for, inasmuch as, since.

_Because_, literally _by_-cause, is the most direct and complete word for giving the reason of a thing. _Since_, originally denoting succession in time, signifies a succession in a chain of reasoning, a natural inference or result. _As_ indicates something like, coordinate, parallel. _Since_ is weaker than _because_; _as_ is weaker than _since_; either may introduce the reason before the main statement; thus, _since_ or _as_ you are going, I will accompany you. Often the weaker word is the more courteous, implying less constraint; for example, _as_ you request it, I will come, rather than I will come _because_ you request it. _Inasmuch as_ is a formal and qualified expression, implying by just so much, and no more; thus, _inasmuch as_ the debtor has no property, I abandon the claim. _For_ is a loose connective, giving often mere suggestion or indication rather than reason or cause; as, it is morning, _for_ (not _because_) the birds are singing.

Antonyms:

altho, however, nevertheless, notwithstanding, yet.

Compare synonyms for BUT; NOTWITHSTANDING.

BECOMING.

Synonyms:

befitting, congruous, fit, meet, seemly, beseeming, decent, fitting, neat, suitable, comely, decorous, graceful, proper, worthy.

That is _becoming_ in dress which suits the complexion, figure, and other qualities of the wearer, so as to produce on the whole a pleasing effect. That is _decent_ which does not offend modesty or propriety.

That is _suitable_ which is adapted to the age, station, situation, and other circ.u.mstances of the wearer; coa.r.s.e, heavy boots are _suitable_ for farm-work; a juvenile style of dress is not _suitable_ for an old lady. In conduct much the same rules apply. The dignity and gravity of a patriarch would not be _becoming_ to a child; at a funeral lively, cheery sociability would not be _decorous_, while noisy hilarity would not be _decent_; sumptuous display would not be _suitable_ for a poor person. _Fit_ is a compendious term for whatever fits the person, time, place, occasion, etc.; as, a _fit_ person; a _fit_ abode; a _fit_ place.

_Fitting_, or _befitting_, is somewhat more elegant, implying a nicer adaptation. _Meet_, a somewhat archaic word, expresses a moral fitness; as, _meet_ for heaven. Compare BEAUTIFUL.

Antonyms:

awkward, ill-fitting, indecent, unbecoming, unseemly, ill-becoming, improper, indecorous, unfit, unsuitable.

Prepositions:

The dress was becoming _to_ the wearer. Such conduct was becoming _in_ him.

BEGINNING.

Synonyms:

arising, inauguration, origin, source, commencement, inception, outset, spring, fount, initiation, rise, start.

fountain, opening,

The Latin _commencement_ is more formal than the Saxon _beginning_, as the verb _commence_, is more formal than _begin_. _Commencement_ is for the most part restricted to some form of action, while _beginning_ has no restriction, but may be applied to action, state, material, extent, enumeration, or to whatever else may be conceived of as having a first part, point, degree, etc. The letter A is at the _beginning_ (not the _commencement_) of every alphabet. If we were to speak of the _commencement_ of the Pacific Railroad, we should be understood to refer to the enterprise and its initiatory act; if we were to refer to the roadway we should say "Here is the _beginning_ of the Pacific Railroad."

In the great majority of cases _begin_ and _beginning_ are preferable to _commence_ and _commencement_ as the simple, idiomatic English words, always accurate and expressive. "In the _beginning_ was the word,"

_John_ i, 1. An _origin_ is the point from which something starts or sets out, often involving, and always suggesting causal connection; as, the _origin_ of evil; the _origin_ of a nation, a government, or a family. A _source_ is that which furnishes a first and continuous supply, that which flows forth freely or may be readily recurred to; as, the _source_ of a river; a _source_ of knowledge; a _source_ of inspiration; fertile land is a _source_ (not an _origin_) of wealth. A _rise_ is thought of as in an action; we say that a lake is the _source_ of a certain river, or that the river takes its _rise_ from the lake.

Motley wrote of "The _Rise_ of the Dutch Republic." _Fount_, _fountain_, and _spring_, in their figurative senses, keep close to their literal meaning. Compare CAUSE.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for END.

BEHAVIOR.

Synonyms:

action, breeding, conduct, deportment, manner, bearing, carriage, demeanor, life, manners.

_Behavior_ is our _action_ in the presence of others; _conduct_ includes also that which is known only to ourselves and our Maker. _Carriage_ expresses simply the manner of holding the body, especially in sitting or walking, as when it is said of a lady "she has a fine _carriage_."

_Bearing_ refers to the bodily expression of feeling or disposition; as, a haughty _bearing_; a n.o.ble _bearing_. _Demeanor_ is the bodily expression, not only of feelings, but of moral states; as, a devout _demeanor_. _Breeding_, unless with some adverse limitation, denotes that _manner_ and _conduct_ which result from good birth and training.

_Deportment_ is _behavior_ as related to a set of rules; as, the pupil's _deportment_ was faultless. A person's _manner_ may be that of a moment, or toward a single person; his _manners_ are his habitual style of _behavior_ toward or before others, especially in matters of etiquette and politeness; as, good _manners_ are always pleasing.

Prepositions:

The behavior _of_ the pastor _to_ or _toward_ his people, _on_ or _upon_ the streets, _before_ the mult.i.tude, or _in_ the church, _with_ the G.o.dly, or _with_ the worldly, was alike faultless.

BEND.

Synonyms:

bias, curve, diverge, mold, submit, twist, bow, deflect, incline, persuade, turn, warp, crook, deviate, influence, stoop, twine, yield.

In some cases a thing is spoken of as _bent_ where the parts make an angle; but oftener to _bend_ is understood to be to draw to or through a curve; as, to _bend_ a bow. To _submit_ or _yield_ is to _bend_ the mind humbly to another's wishes. To _incline_ or _influence_ is to _bend_ another's wishes toward our own; to _persuade_ is to draw them quite over. To _warp_ is to _bend_ silently through the whole fiber, as a board in the sun. To _crook_ is to _bend_ irregularly, as a _crooked_ stick. _Deflect_, _deviate_, and _diverge_ are said of any turning away; _deviate_ commonly of a slight and gradual movement, _diverge_ of a more sharp and decided one. To _bias_ is to cut across the texture, or incline to one side; in figurative use always with an unfavorable import. _Mold_ is a stronger work than _bend_; we may _bend_ by a superior force that which still resists the constraint; as, a _bent_ bow; we _mold_ something plastic entirely to some desired form.

BENEVOLENCE.