English Synonyms and Antonyms Part 62

HIGH.

Synonyms:

elevated, exalted, n.o.ble, steep, towering, eminent, lofty, proud, tall, uplifted.

_Deep_, while an antonym of _high_ in usage, may apply to the very same distance simply measured in an opposite direction, _high_ applying to vertical distance measured from below upward, and _deep_ to vertical distance measured from above downward; as, a _deep_ valley nestling between _high_ mountains. _High_ is a relative term signifying greatly raised above any object, base, or surface, in comparison with what is usual, or with some standard; a table is _high_ if it exceeds thirty inches; a hill is not _high_ at a hundred feet. That is _tall_ whose height is greatly in excess of its breadth or diameter, and whose actual height is great for an object of its kind; as, a _tall_ tree; a _tall_ man; _tall_ gra.s.s. That is _lofty_ which is imposing or majestic in height; we term a spire _tall_ with reference to its alt.i.tude, or _lofty_ with reference to its majestic appearance. That is _elevated_ which is raised somewhat above its surroundings; that is _eminent_ which is far above them; as, an _elevated_ platform; an _eminent_ promontory.

In the figurative sense, _elevated_ is less than _eminent_, and this less than _exalted_; we speak of _high_, _lofty_, or _elevated_ thoughts, aims, etc., in the good sense, but sometimes of _high_ feelings, looks, words, etc., in the invidious sense of haughty or arrogant. A _high_ ambition may be merely selfish; a _lofty_ ambition is worthy and _n.o.ble_. _Towering_, in the literal sense compares with _lofty_ and majestic; but in the figurative sense, its use is almost always invidious; as, a _towering_ pa.s.sion; a _towering_ ambition disregards and crushes all opposing considerations, however rational, lovely, or holy. Compare STEEP.

Antonyms:

base, degraded, dwarfed, inferior, low, mean, short, stunted.

deep, depressed,

HINDER.

Synonyms:

baffle, clog, foil, obstruct, r.e.t.a.r.d, balk, counteract, frustrate, oppose, stay, bar, delay, hamper, prevent, stop, block, embarra.s.s, impede, resist, thwart.

check, enc.u.mber, interrupt,

To _hinder_ is to keep from action, progress, motion, or growth, or to make such action, progress, motion, or growth later in beginning or completion than it would otherwise have been. An action is _prevented_ by anything that comes in before it to make it impossible; it is _hindered_ by anything that keeps it from either beginning or ending so soon as it otherwise would, or as expected or intended. It is more common, however, to say that the start is _delayed_, the progress _hindered_. An action that is _hindered_ does not take place at the appointed or appropriate time; that which is _prevented_ does not take place at all; to _hinder_ a thing long enough may amount to _preventing_ it. A railroad-train may be _hindered_ by a snow-storm from arriving on time; it may by special order be _prevented_ from starting. To _r.e.t.a.r.d_ is simply to make slow by any means whatever. To _obstruct_ is to _hinder_, or possibly to _prevent_ advance or pa.s.sage by putting something in the way; to _oppose_ or _resist_ is to _hinder_, or possibly to _prevent_ by directly contrary or hostile action, _resist_ being the stronger term and having more suggestion of physical force; _obstructed_ roads _hinder_ the march of an enemy, tho there may be no force strong enough to _oppose_ it; one _opposes_ a measure, a motion, an amendment, or the like; it is a criminal offense to _resist_ an officer in the discharge of his duty; the physical system may _resist_ the attack of disease or the action of a remedy. Compare CONQUER; IMPEDIMENT; OBSTRUCT.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for QUICKEN.

Prepositions:

Hinder one _in_ his progress; _from_ acting promptly; _by_ opposition.

HISTORY.

Synonyms:

account, biography, muniment, record, annals, chronicle, narration, register, archives, memoir, narrative, story.

autobiography, memorial, recital,

_History_ is a systematic record of past events. _Annals_ and _chronicles_ relate events with little regard to their relative importance, and with complete subserviency to their succession in time.

_Annals_ are yearly records; _chronicles_ follow the order of time. Both necessarily lack emphasis, selection, and perspective. _Archives_ are public _records_, which may be _annals_, or _chronicles_, or deeds of property, etc. _Memoirs_ generally record the lives of individuals or facts pertaining to individual lives. A _biography_ is distinctively a written _account_ of one person's life and actions; an _autobiography_ is a _biography_ written by the person whose life it records. _Annals_, _archives_, _chronicles_, _biographies_, and _memoirs_ and other _records_ furnish the materials of _history_. _History_ recounts events with careful attention to their importance, their mutual relations, their causes and consequences, selecting and grouping events on the ground of interest or importance. _History_ is usually applied to such an _account_ of events affecting communities and nations, tho sometimes we speak of the _history_ of a single eminent life. Compare RECORD.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for FICTION.

HOLY.

Synonyms:

blessed, devoted, hallowed, saintly, consecrated, divine, sacred, set apart.

_Sacred_ is applied to that which is to be regarded as inviolable on any account, and so is not restricted to divine things; therefore in its lower applications it is less than _holy_. That which is _sacred_ may be made so by inst.i.tution, decree, or a.s.sociation; that which is _holy_ is so by its own nature, possessing intrinsic moral purity, and, in the highest sense, absolute moral perfection. G.o.d is _holy_; his commands are _sacred_. _Holy_ may be applied also to that which is _hallowed_; as, "the place whereon thou standest is _holy_ ground," _Ex._ iii, 5. In such use _holy_ is more than _sacred_, as if the very qualities of a spiritual or divine presence were imparted to the place or object.

_Divine_ has been used with great looseness, as applying to anything eminent or admirable, in the line either of goodness or of mere power, as to eloquence, music, etc., but there is a commendable tendency to restrict the word to its higher sense, as designating that which belongs to or is worthy of the Divine Being. Compare PERFECT; PURE.

Antonyms:

abominable, cursed, polluted, unconsecrated, unholy, wicked, common, impure, secular, unhallowed, unsanctified, worldly.

HOME.

Synonyms:

abode, dwelling, habitation, hearthstone, ingleside, domicil, fireside, hearth, house, residence.

_Abode_, _dwelling_, and _habitation_ are used with little difference of meaning to denote the place where one habitually lives; _abode_ and _habitation_ belong to the poetic or elevated style. Even _dwelling_ is not used in familiar speech; a person says "my _house_," "my _home_," or more formally "my _residence_." _Home_, from the Anglo-Saxon, denoting originally a _dwelling_, came to mean an endeared _dwelling_ as the scene of domestic love and happy and cherished family life, a sense to which there is an increasing tendency to restrict the word--desirably so, since we have other words to denote the mere dwelling-place; we say "The wretched tenement could not be called _home_," or "The humble cabin was dear to him as the _home_ of his childhood."

_Home_'s not merely four square walls, Tho with pictures hung and gilded; _Home_ is where affection calls-- Where its shrine the heart has builded.

Thus the word comes to signify any place of rest and peace, and especially heaven, as the soul's peaceful and eternal dwelling-place.

HONEST.

Synonyms:

candid, frank, ingenuous, true, equitable, genuine, just, trustworthy, fair, good, sincere, trusty, faithful, honorable, straightforward, upright.

One who is _honest_ in the ordinary sense acts or is always disposed to act with careful regard for the rights of others, especially in matters of business or property; one who is _honorable_ scrupulously observes the dictates of a personal honor that is higher than any demands of mercantile law or public opinion, and will do nothing unworthy of his own inherent n.o.bility of soul. The _honest_ man does not steal, cheat, or defraud; the _honorable_ man will not take an unfair advantage that would be allowed him, or will make a sacrifice which no one could require of him, when his own sense of right demands it. One who is _honest_ in the highest and fullest sense is scrupulously careful to adhere to all known truth and right even in thought. In this sense _honest_ differs from _honorable_ as having regard rather to absolute truth and right than to even the highest personal honor. Compare CANDID; JUSTICE.