Syn*on"y*mous (?), a. [Gr. &?;;
sy`n with, together + &?;, &?;, name. See Syn-, and
Name.] Having the character of a synonym; expressing the
same thing; conveying the same, or approximately the same, idea.
-- Syn*on"y*mous*ly, adv.
These words consist of two propositions, which are not
distinct in sense, but one and the same thing variously expressed; for
wisdom and understanding are synonymous words
here.
Tillotson.
Syn. -- Identical; interchangeable. -- Synonymous,
Identical. If no words are synonymous except those which
are identical in use and meaning, so that the one can in all
cases be substituted for the other, we have scarcely ten such words in
our language. But the term more properly denotes that the words in
question approach so near to each other, that, in many or most cases,
they can be used interchangeably. 1. Words may thus coincide in
certain connections, and so be interchanged, when they can not
be interchanged in other connections; thus we may speak either
strength of mind or of force of mind, but we say the
force (not strength) of gravitation. 2. Two words may
differ slightly, but this difference may be unimportant to the
speaker's object, so that he may freely interchange them; thus it
makes but little difference, in most cases, whether we speak of a
man's having secured his object or having attained his
object. For these and other causes we have numerous words which may,
in many cases or connections, be used interchangeably, and these are
properly called synonyms. Synonymous words "are words
which, with great and essential resemblances of meaning, have, at the
same time, small, subordinate, and partial differences, -- these
differences being such as either originally and on the ground of their
etymology inhered in them; or differences which they have by usage
acquired in the eyes of all; or such as, though nearly latent now,
they are capable of receiving at the hands of wise and discreet
masters of the tongue. Synonyms are words of like significance
in the main, but with a certain unlikeness as well."
Trench.
Syn*on"y*mous (?), a. [Gr. &?;;
sy`n with, together + &?;, &?;, name. See Syn-, and
Name.] Having the character of a synonym; expressing the
same thing; conveying the same, or approximately the same, idea.
-- Syn*on"y*mous*ly, adv.
These words consist of two propositions, which are not
distinct in sense, but one and the same thing variously expressed; for
wisdom and understanding are synonymous words
here.
Tillotson.
Syn. -- Identical; interchangeable. -- Synonymous,
Identical. If no words are synonymous except those which
are identical in use and meaning, so that the one can in all
cases be substituted for the other, we have scarcely ten such words in
our language. But the term more properly denotes that the words in
question approach so near to each other, that, in many or most cases,
they can be used interchangeably. 1. Words may thus coincide in
certain connections, and so be interchanged, when they can not
be interchanged in other connections; thus we may speak either
strength of mind or of force of mind, but we say the
force (not strength) of gravitation. 2. Two words may
differ slightly, but this difference may be unimportant to the
speaker's object, so that he may freely interchange them; thus it
makes but little difference, in most cases, whether we speak of a
man's having secured his object or having attained his
object. For these and other causes we have numerous words which may,
in many cases or connections, be used interchangeably, and these are
properly called synonyms. Synonymous words "are words
which, with great and essential resemblances of meaning, have, at the
same time, small, subordinate, and partial differences, -- these
differences being such as either originally and on the ground of their
etymology inhered in them; or differences which they have by usage
acquired in the eyes of all; or such as, though nearly latent now,
they are capable of receiving at the hands of wise and discreet
masters of the tongue. Synonyms are words of like significance
in the main, but with a certain unlikeness as well."
Trench.
