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that we always study to adapt our style to the subject, and also to the capacity of our hearers, if we are to speak in public. When we begin to write or speak, we ought previously to have fixed in our minds a clear conception of the end to be aimed at. This end we ought to keep steadily in view; and to it we ought to adapt our style. If we do not sacrifice to this great object every ill-timed ornament that may occur to our fancy, we betray a want of judgment.

In the last place, attention to style must not engross us so much, as to detract from a higher degree of attention to the thoughts. To your expression be attentive; but about your matter be solicitous.

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PART III.

SYNONYMY.

Acquirement, Acquisition, Attainment.

WE say moral or literary acquirements; acquisition of fortune; and attainment of our salvation.

Amiable, Lovely, Charming, Fascinating.

We say an amiable character; a lovely complexion; a charming singer; a fascinating orator.

Bliss, Happiness, Felicity.

The first is nearly discarded from conversation as too sublime, being used only in a solemn sense, with allusion to eternity.

Brook, Rivulet, Stream, Current, River.

These words are nearly synonymous, so far as re

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lates to particular use, &c. but are thus separated by nature: Springs make little rivulets, and these united form brooks; which coming forward in streams, compose great rivers that run into the sea.

Clear, Pellucid, Transparent.

When applied to water are strictly synonymous; but we must use only the first if speaking of air or weather.

Clever, Dextrous, Skilful, Adroit.

The word clever approaches to vulgarity, and should never be applied to things high or serious. We say to manage adroitly; to be skilful in some art; dextrous in manual exercises.

Close, Secret, Private.

Henry VII. was so close that even those who were admitted to pass private hours with him, never knew any thing of his secret counsels, or could pretend even to guess at his future intentions.

Close, Stingy, Parsimonious, Avaricious, Covetous, Niggardly, Penurious.

Close and Stingy are strictly synonymous, and stingy is a mean word; close should be used instead

thereof.

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thereof. To be parsimonious is to be excessively un-> willing to part with money on necessary occasions ; to be avaricious or covetous is having too eager a desire to obtain it. We say a man is niggardly in giving; and in spending penurious.

To Confess, Acknowledge, Avow.

To avow, supposes the person to glory in it; to acknowledge, supposes a small degree of faultiness; to confess, supposes a higher degree of guilt.

Crime, Sin, Vice.

Are by no means synonymous.

The first alludes

to a breach of human laws; the second implies of fence against God; and the last a depravation of the will. Thus, forgery is a crime; infidelity a sin; and gaming a vice.

Definition, Description.

Definition is the description of a thing by its genus and difference.

Despondency, Hopelessness, Despair,

Form a sort of climax rather than a parallel. The last implies a settled melancholy.

Discourse, Chat, Talk, Conference, Conversation. These, if not quite synonymous, are at least very

closely

closely allied. We converse together familiarly, we confer seriously, while chutting means mere frivolous and good-humoured intercourse to amuse.

Distemper, Malady, Indisposition, Disease, Disorder.

Distemper is rather a gross word, malady seems bookish, indisposition means sickness which may end in disease, which is a settled malady. means a particular complaint or illness.

Drowsy, Sleepy, inclined to Slumber.

Disorder

Drowsy is most poetical; sleepy more familiar; inclined to slumber is most proper if we speak seriously.

Dumb, Silent, Mute.

The first of these not strictly synonymous adjec tives implies incapacity or deprivation of speech; the others allude to volition.

Duration, Durability.

Are essentially and metaphysically different. Duration of time; durability of substance.

To Choose, Select, Elect.

These, though nearly synonymous, are yet appropriated in the language of conversation thus ;

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