Particular, Peculiar, Singular,

Appear synonymous adjectives adverbially used, yet can scarcely be accounted such upon close investigation. We say Timon is a singular fellowhis manners and dress are equally particular-and his ideas in general are peculiar to himself.

Preface, Prelude, Proem, Prologue, Exordium. We say the preface to a book, the prelude to a piece of musie, the prologue to a play, and the exordium to an oration.

Prerogative, Privilege.

We say the king's prerogatives, and the people's privileges.

Prevalent, Prevailing.

The last is a shade nearer vulgarity than the other.

Pride, Vanity.

Pride makes us esteem ourselves ;; vunity makes us desire the esteem of others.

Primary, Primitive.

We say primary as opposed to secondary.-Time

and

and place, quantity and quality, are primary affections; those which derive from them, as continuity from time, divisibility from quantity, and the like, are secondaries.-World is a primitive word, worldly a derivative. The seven primitive colours are, violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. We say primitive manners, primitive hospitality when speaking of about two centuries back.

Primate, Archbishop, Metropolitan.

Primate

Are nearly, if not strictly synonymous. is chiefly used when we speak of Ireland; but at the time England was divided into ecclesiastical provinces in the year 1152, the Archbishop of Canterbury, as chief Metropolitan, claimed to be called Primate of all England, while York retained his pretensions to be denominated Primate of England as before.

Ready, Prompt.

The first seems to imply excellence, the other usually contains somewhat of reproach.-You were too prompt in your replies.

Renounce, Desist, Quit, Leave off.

We desist, from the difficulty of accomplishing.

We

We renounce, on account of the disagreeableness of the object, or pursuit. We quit, for the sake of some other thing which interests us more; and we leave off, because we are weary of the design.

Reply, Rejoinder, Answer, Response.

Of these synonymies, the first seems the political term, rejoinder is always wholly a law term, and response seems dedicated to the schools.

Resentment, Displeasure, Indignation,

Are nearly synonymous. Though ingratitude, or unmerited insult justly incurs our very serious displeasure, they ought not to excite lasting resentment towards the guilty individual, but only such honest indignation against the vice, as may guard us from all seduction to similar offences.

Reverse, Contrary,

Are not synonymous.

Sickness is the reverse of

health, and youth the reverse of age. Vice is contrary to virtue.

Riddles, Rebuses, Enigmas, Charades,

Have doubtless a very close affinity, without being synonymous terms. A riddle means little else than

an

an enigma. The riddle may be prose, but the anigma should be verse; the rebus must include a name and charade is a new device of the same kind.

Ridicule, Raillery, Derision, Banter,

Are much too nearly allied, yet naturally at a good distance from strict synonymy. The second and fourth being agreeable sources of amusement and innocent mirth, while the other two are odious and terrifying.

Rule, Sway, Government,

Are not precisely synonymous, though similar. Sway, has by far the gentlest meaning of the three: the husband rules by his authority, the wife sways by influence.

Sly, Artful, Cunning, Crafty, Insidious, Knowing, Are not far from an exact synonymy. The word knowing is vulgar.

Sullen, Austere, Churlish, Sour, Surly,

Are not really synonymous. We say a sullen girl, when young, is likely to end her days a sour old maid; and that a churlish boy gives intimation

of

of being at the close of life, either an austere father, if he marries early, or else a surly old bachelor, if he never marries at all.

Surprized, Astonished, Amazed, Confounded.

I am surprized with what is new or unexpected; I am astonished at what is vast or great; I am amazed with what is incomprehensible; I am confounded with what is shocking or terrible.

Suspicion, Jealousy.

Are not synonymous, while the women consider the latter as half a compliment, the former as a cruel and heavy offence.

Symbol, Type, Emblem, Figure, Sign, Impress,

Device, &c.

The first seems best adapted to conversation upon ancient literature.-We say the Egyptian Hieroglyphics were symbols, sometimes of the things they meant to bring before our minds, sometimes of those things, virtues, or attributes.-Types are seemingly more shadowy than symbols are on one side yet less so on the other. The brazen serpent was a type of our Saviour's Crucifixion.-Types are no types till what they prefigure is embodied by time.-Of Em

blems