SWIFT (1667-1745).—Prose.

Spread reports, kindle dissension, cultivate acquaintance, prepare for a journey, reproach with lukewarmness, lurk in the dark, assign a reason, liable to an objection, profess principles, disapprove of a project, endeavour to introduce, take a degree, depend upon credit, please the majority, publicly disown a spurious piece, disprove assertions, disqualify for employment, serve for a lesson, break into rules, wear livery, leave off vice, undergo toil, increase hypocrisy, reform the world, make one's self acceptable, expose the scene, power to do mischief.

ADDISON (1672-1719).-Prose.

Foretell an event, turn to account, give credit to history, profits have accrued to, accuse of practices, make use of, address the senate, peruse a book, conduce to understanding, gratify curiosity, give account, do justice, presage dignity, pass over in silence, have reputation of, apply to, thirst after knowledge, raise curiosity, make appearance, listen to narratives, smoke a pipe, overhear conversation, taken for a merchant, pass for a Jew, open lips, discern errors, espouse a party, observe neutrality, contribute to diversion, gratify a reader, enjoy obscurity, expose one to civilities, fall into a dream, set a value upon, opportunity of observing, received letters, change colour, put one in mind of.

POPE (1688-1744).—Poetry.

Plunge in business, ease the soul, quit an empire, seek retreat, guide steps, dread a death-bed, make reflections, feel pain, impart knowledge, blest with reason, hail my native shores, pay homage, write an epistle, aid meditation, lull to rest, wear a robe, deface names, resign a place, publish letters, shew disapprobation, provide relief, discharge thy shafts, cause discontent, command fidelity, dart a javelin, hide faults, discover faults, keep their course.

JOHNSON (1709-1784).—Prose.

Pursue phantoms, perform promises, supply deficiencies, begin a course, grant desire, pass life, enlarge bounds, neglect officiousness, discover the cause, satisfy desires, quicken attention, cure disease, seek an opportunity, multiply pleasures, lighten a load, relieve distress, detect fraud, defeat oppression, diffuse happiness, catch a fugitive, hinder enjoyment, persist in a design, relate a history, close life, restrain curiosity, disappoint a purpose, despise riches, violate a promise, incur a penalty, confer a gift, provoke resentment, take possession of, choose friends, wonder at tales, listen to counsel, obtain gratification, forfeit liberty, solicit admission.

COWPER (1731-1800).—Poetry.

Defeat a design, seek repose, sway sceptre, improved plan, ascribe invention to, enjoy a ramble, incur fatigue, mount a stile, leap a fence, impair a relish, serve occasions, conduct the eye, view scenes, exhila rate the spirit, lull the spirit, fill the mind, soothe the ear, haunt the ear, possess a treasure, indulge dreams, afford refuge, know the value,

enjoy coolness, deface the panels, commit wrong, maintain health, feel the impression, derive advantage, afford comfort, spread a feast, love life, indulge the mind, regale the sense, anticipate return, prefer sloth to, supply wants, mature the fruits, forbids growth, abuse gifts, squander life, regret sweets, denounce death on, indulge liberty, void of sympathy, dead to friendship, dull of heart.

GIBBON (1737-1794).-Prose.

Erect a throne, present a front, derive comfort, diffuse vapour, fertilise the soil, convey produce, collect rain, enhance value, afford food, encourage industry, deserve the appellation, exhale odours, retain a vestige, pursue a life, trace features, lessen toil, increase wealth, acquire possession, perform a journey, consume herbage, maintain correspondence, afford refuge, pitch a tent, escape the yoke, achieve conquest, exercise jurisdiction, solicit friendship, perform a march, pursue a foe, enjoy benefits, abuse power, endanger life, convene an assembly, traverse the desert, accept atonement.

JUNIUS.

Compliance with laws, enact laws, maintain honour, administer justice, grateful for preservation, extend respect, fill with resentment, insult a temper, read history, invade rights, rouse attention, justify suspicion, take a resolution, acquainted with merit, observe the condition, obedient to the laws, conduct affairs, hurry into excesses, rouse indignation, produce a change, ascend the throne, insure happiness, alter scene, produce effects, reduce to a state, reduce to despair, to act under the auspices of, deserting principles, save money, give proof of, conceal talents, astonish the world, exert power, form a plan, adhere to a system, adopt measures, to increase the debt, rouse resistance, to support a war, raise money, repeal an act, tax colonies, revive a question, bury in oblivion, interpose authority.

SOUTHEY (1774-1843).-Prose.

Bow beneath burdens, wear clothes, shed light, collect rarities, protest innocence, bring an accusation, excite hope, circulate intelligence, require knowledge, publish an account, complete a collection, support the poor, enact laws, redress grievances, came in sight of, made the signal for, steering direct for, shorten distance, effect landing, take charge of, bid defiance to, execute plans, gain victory, make the attempt, opened a fire, try their strength, suspect deceit, lead the way, take a station, drop anchor, increase the difficulty, bear a part in, receive a wound, occasion apprehension, display heroism, render assistance, examine a wound.

COBBETT (1762-1835).-Prose.

Derive from a source, owe it to accident, give a claim to, bestow marks of respect, to entitle a man to, desirous to see, apply the mind, worthy of praise, time occupied, enjoy benefit, produce feelings, defend property, afford protection secure punishment, entail calamity on, bear in mind, pursue a path, take a step, enter on a path, attain knowledge, communicate thoughts.

BYRON (1788-1824).—Poetry.

Feel the glow, lift the eye to, keep vigil, brook control, spread the couch, hear a voice, violate a shrine, deface walls, guard relics, enslave the heart, man the tops, preserve restraint, nerve strength, withdraw a ray, survey the shore, climb a mountain, hold converse with, leave a trace, breezes rise, billows swell, keep watch, mark scenes, vessel glides, morn dawns, clouds break, the wolf roams, storms gather, seek peril, sway a nation, hurl defiance, tufted hill, aged trees, winds fan, inhale breeze, flocks play, trees wave, streams flow.

BROUGHAM.-Prose.

Discharge an office, instant in the pursuit of, unprofitable repetition, offer advice, trespass upon the province, singular happiness, anxiously entreat, adapted to study, sharpen attention, tenacious memory, receive impression, cross a threshold, plunged into waters, cast an eye, squander time, store minds, set at nought, wander in darkness, want assistance, provide for sustenance, time allotted, confine myself to.

JEFFREY.-Prose.

Consult comfort, confer honour, to express a sense of, repay an obligation, chargeable with ingratitude, do justice to, confer distinction, render precious, happy to understand, sufficient to render, receive education, imbibe a relish, cheer the course of life, recall an image, watch over progress, distribute prizes, ply a task, break a tie, assume an office, enter upon a theme.

CAMPBELL.-Prose.

Experience sensations, misconstrue an expression, taught by experience, to sympathise with the hopes, well-meant advice, shew regard, follow a custom, to tender a service, efface truths, influence associations, aid recollection, kindle zeal, sully the face, aggravate terrors, forge a seal, counterfeit a resemblance, unmask an impostor, give a signal, animate the character, pervade the habits, invest with interest, evils cling to, appeal to principle, attain strength, cherish the principle.

DICKENS.-Prose.

Revisit a place, take several turns, conquer irresolution, forfeit claim, know nothing of, keep an eye to business, apologise for negligence, recover from effects, induce the idea, carry a cane, pitch the voice, oblige the company, relapse into silence, feel difficulty, disposed for sale, pay attention, enter into conversation, captivate attention, leave home, fall into a habit, take advantage of, deserve confidence, do credit to, repose confidence in, refrain from seeing, deprive of opportunity, anxious for an answer, make way through, express affection, shake the head, check confidence and simplicity, share sorrow, enter into enjoyment, begin repast, take departure, execute a trust, to gain an end, evince consciousness, tear one's self away, breaking faith.

III. APPROPRIATE WORDS.

422. A word having nearly the same meaning as another is usually said to be its synonym. It is rare, however, to find two words of exactly the same signification; and among several of those called synonyms, one is generally more suitable than the rest for the purpose in hand.

Thus, intellect, genius, and talent, though frequently used for each other, have appropriate meanings. Intellect is understanding; there cannot be genius or talent without intellect, but there may be intellect without genius or talent. Intellect is general, the others are specific. Intellect is required in various degrees, for success in any business; talent has reference to particular pursuits-a talent for languages, imitation, &c.; whereas genius is more rare, and more imaginative-a genius for poetry, painting, &c. Again, contagion and infection are thus distinguished, the former being applied to disease caught by touch, the latter to fever, &c., caught by breathing poisoned air.

[The following are given as specimens of synonyms, to shew the importance of the subject. The student is referred for complete information to Crabbe's work, or Carpenter's Abridgment.]

Accost, Salute, Address, Direct.-We accost one whom we do not know; we salute a friend; we address a person, whether we know him or not; we also address a letter, but direct a servant to deliver it.

Active, Diligent, Assiduous, Industrious, Laborious.-An active man is one who keeps moving, whether to the purpose or not; a diligent man plods to accomplish a purpose; an assiduous man keeps to his work without interruption; an industrious man loses no time; a laborious man works hard with mind or body.

Amend, Correct, Reform, Rectify, Improve, Better.-A person amends his conduct; corrects an error; reforms his life; rectifies mistakes; improves his mind; and betters his condition.

Comprehend, Understand, Conceive. We comprehend a subject, a science; we understand a language; we conceive a design, a plan.

Conscience, Conscientiousness, Consciousness.-Conscience is the faculty of distinguishing good from evil; conscientiousness is the exertion of that faculty, sometimes the name applied to the faculty itself; consciousness is the state of being aware of anything.

Corporeal, Corporal.-The first refers to what is in the body; the second what is applied to the body.

Courage, Fortitude.-The first enables us to act, to face danger; the second to endure attacks, pain, grief.

Custom, Habit, Practice, Experience.-Custom is repetition of an act; habit is the consequence of the repetition. The custom of taking snuff may in time become a habit. A custom is also a national usage; a habit is a personal manner. Practice is performance, regular or irregular, frequent or unfrequent; but custom is generally considered as periodically recurring, or constantly existing. Experience is the result of much practice.

Falsehood, Fallacy, Falseness.-Falsehood is a lie, in a particular sense ; falseness is hollowness, insincerity, general untruth; fallacy is a deception-a term in logic.

Fine, Beautiful, Elegant, Graceful, Handsome, Pretty.—Fine has three chief meanings: grand or lofty-fine tragedy, fine scenery, fine sentiments; beautiful, as-fine weather, fine fields; gaudy, as her dress was too fine. Fine fellow, ship, idea, object, reply, feathers, day, morning; beautiful woman, face, scene, picture, poem; elegant appearance, exterior, costume; graceful step, movement, attitude; handsome man, face, fortune, conduct; pretty woman, toy, flower.

Human, Humane.-Human mind, life, power; humane conduct.

Take, Receive, Accept.-We take when we make a thing ours, whether actively or passively, willingly or unwillingly; we receive when another gives what we have a right to; we accept when what is given is by favour. We take money, time, advice, offence, shelter, delight in, a house, &c.; we receive a letter, a message, a friend; accept a favour, an obligation, an offer, a present.

Exercise.

Distinguish between-Pride and vanity; invent and discover; contemptible and contemptuous; crime, vice, sin; bad, wicked, evil; ask, beg, request; air, manner; right, claim; slow, tedious; daily, diurnal; old, aged; fresh, new, modern; lie, lay; active, busy.

Tell and inform; praise and flatter; incite and encourage; power, strength, and force; reprove, censure, scold; corporeal, corporal, bodily; intellectual, intelligent, intelligible; repose, rest, peace, quiet; incident, accident, occurrence; magnificent, sublime, splendid, august; destructive, destructible; contemptuous, contemptible; evident, obvious, plain, conspicuous, visible; universal, general; important, consequential; proud, haughty, overbearing; sin, vice, crime; equity, justice, righteousness; habitual, customary; beauty, grace, elegance, handsomeness; address, direction; costume, dress, apparel, clothing, raiment, garment; brave, courageous, bold, audacious; conquer, surmount, overcome.

IV. SELECTION OF WORDS.

423. When choice lies between two or more words equally appropriate, the following observations are worthy of attention :

424. Saxon-English words are generally shorter, more forcible, and at the same time more familiar, than those derived from Latin and Greek. The tendency of good authors for some years past has been to recur to them-'I would never say felicity if I could say happiness,' says one.

425. The use of Latin-English, however, is often desirable, to give elevation and elegant variety to style; and the student should exercise himself in translating one set of words into the other, so as to have either at command.