Search results for 'tag:Negatives tag:Synonyms' matching tags 'Negatives' and 'Synonyms'

Re: TEst problem

Avangi — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:54:45 GMT

Hi guys,

I just looked at the link. Note that there are a number of meanings listed. #2 is Hoa Thai's, where "sequence" might be a synonym; #1 is Belly's, where "progress" is a synonym.

I think it's safe to say, "We watched the progress / progression of the disease," where "progression" could mean "in stages" or "in a sequence," but it could just as well refer to a gradual deterioration - "quality" in a negative sense.

Edit. My American Heritage also gives the #1 definition as "progress." Ironically, MW Unabridged gives "progression" 2c: the process of advancing especially to a better or higher condition: gradual development

Belly, I didn't elaborate on the first example because I couldn't get a handle on it, although I was sure that "progress" was the correct choice. Having now read Hoa Thai's offerings and looked at some references and re-read the test example, I believe Hoa Thai's analysis applies perfectly to this situation. "Every trend pointed toward" is already pregnant with "progression" in the time sense. What it pointed toward was an improved level of quality.

Re: I cannot distinguish these words!

Arvsworld — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:08:38 GMT

Hi there.

Dictionary.com gives you several definitions from several online dictionaries. Try it out. It also uses your word in example sentences, and it often lists origins and synonyms.

Inter- is a prefix that stands for "between."

To interrupt is to stop or bother.
To interfere is to meddle.
To intervene is to come between.

You see how interrupt and interfere can sometimes be perceived as "rudeness." That's why they usually have negative connotations. Intervene is more neutral (and sometimes positive, like you said).

Sprout and germinate are similar terms.

Re: moist and damp

milky — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:16:37 GMT

In many cases, "damp" has negative connotation, in others neutral connotation. In certain cases the words are not synonymous at all and in others they are synonyms.

The dew moistened/dampened the fields.

Damp/dampen/moisten the edges of the pastry and seal.

The building was damp/moist.

A cold damp/moist hand brushed his neck.

Re: synonym

nona the brit — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:19:14 GMT

Play is not itself either positive or negative. You have to put it in a context.

I don't believe there is a synonym of play that shows a negative slant.

synonym

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:12:45 GMT

What's the synonym of 'play' in a negative meaning. Let's say someone spends 12 hours a day on computer games. It can be slang.
thanks

Re: What is the opposite to a religious proselyte?

The17pointscale — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:07:57 GMT

Stannum,

While arcane could be interpreted as beige, I'd say that I often (and by often, I mean less than once a month) hear it used as more of a cerise. Sure, something that is mysterious, obscure, or esoteric, isn't necessarily negative, but in my culture (Seattle, WA, USA), I think that the latter two synonyms are certainly perceived negatively, and thus, saying that something which someone considers personally important is arcane could be perceived as a slight. Wow, that was some sloppy sentence! In any case, I don't think that your word choice was poor, I just think that the words could be perceived as charged.

It sounds like this is all water under the bridge now, so it's probably not worth mentioning, but I strongly agree with your assertion that OMG's vocabularly choices in his initial response were wayyyyyyy more charged than yours. It seemed like he jumped from a few potentially incendiary words to a pool of them. He certainly found pride somewhere between the lines rather than in the actual post, and he introduced his own thoughts on the difference between atheists and agnostics. However, I guess I just didn't interpret it as a personal attack or a jab back at you; I just thought it was a wild yet plausible extrapolation on your hypothetical. Yes, it turns out that he was widely missing your point, but his response seemed to me at least a little bit valid. Perhaps I'm being too charitable about his post, but it seems like we're all rather guilty of responding too strongly in these forums.

-Andrew

Re: connotation vs synonyms

Grammar Geek — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 02:16:55 GMT

Hi Anon,

A synonym is just a word that can be substituted for another word with little difference in meaning.

Connontation is what comes to mind when you think of a word. Connotation is often contrasted with "denotation," which is (basically) what a word means in the dictionary.

This page in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connotation) gives a good example: Strong-willed, stubborn, pig-headed.

They are all synonyms, and mean roughly the same thing. But "strong-willed" can be seen as a positive thing, and "pig-headed" is seen as a negative thing. The positive or negative emotional reaction you have to a word is the connotation.

Re: Difference between till & until

Marius Hancu — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:02:53 GMT

There's some differentiation between the two here, they seem to be considered synonyms only for the meaning 2:

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till

Function:preposition

1 chiefly Scotland a : to a place of arrival : through to : as far as <till an end> b : to or toward a limit or goal <changed till a dragon> c : TO -- used to introduce an indirect object or complement of various adjectives and nouns <gie it till him> <aye kind till his ain> d : AT, BY, FOR, OF, CONCERNING

2 : throughout the interval extending to : during the whole time from the starting point up to : up or down to a specified time : UNTIL -- used with an implication of termination or change at the time mentioned <till his return> <till after four o'clock> <till next week> <to live till ninety>

3 : at any time before or before the arrival, appearance, or beginning of -- used after a negative expression with an implication that the action or condition began or is to begin at the specified time <a refund which I did not get till ten years later>

4 -- used as a function word indicating position before the clock hour <five minutes till three>

http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com
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Re: self-anointed

No-frills — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 18:20:18 GMT

My mistake, however we should keep in mind that synonyms have their shades of meaning, and, say, self-anointed sounds more negative than positive. At least I've seen this word in negative context. The word has retained its original powerful meaning otherwise it wouldn't have survived through history and would've been disposed of as unnecessarily long.

aÂ·noint (É-noint')
tr.v., aÂ·nointÂ·ed, aÂ·nointÂ·ing, aÂ·noints.

To apply oil, ointment, or a similar substance to.
To put oil on during a religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration.
To choose by or as if by divine intervention.

[Middle English enointen, from Old French enoint, past participle of enoindre, from Latin inunguere, inÅ«nct- : in-, on; see inâ² + unguere, to smear.]

anointer aÂ·noint'er n.
anointment aÂ·noint'ment n.

I realize that as a native speaker you have a better understanding of meaning. I'm only a person who reads dictionaries and is far from the living and ever-changing essence of language

Re: occur and happen

Marius Hancu — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:42:27 GMT

synonyms CHANCE, OCCUR, TRANSPIRE, BEFALL, BETIDE:

happen is a general term without special connotation and signifies to take place either with or without plan, motivation, or apparent or assignable cause.

OCCUR, often interchangeable with HAPPEN, has the additional meaning of be found, be met with, exist, may more strongly suggest an event which commands attention or consideration, and is more frequent than HAPPEN with negatives <a sluggish, smoke-colored animal, occurring in shallow swamp waters -- L.P.Schultz> <a bismuth bearing vein occurs on Charley Creek -- Encyc. Americana> <when once a certain detachment from possessive vice and objective ambition has occurred in the mind -- J.C.Powys> <this is possible in theory, but, actually, never seemed to occur -- V.G.Heiser>

http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (26 Oct. 2006).