Synonyms and antonyms: An alphabetical list of words in common use, grouped with others of similar and opposite meaning

About this book

This work is a reference compendium that gathers English words in alphabetical order, pairing each entry with a thorough list of synonyms and, where appropriate, its opposite terms. The opening pages demonstrate the format: the entry “Abandoned” is followed by a cascade of related adjectives, “discarded, rejected,” etc., and then a contrasting set marked “ANT.” for antonyms such as “visited, virtuous, reclaimable.” Each subsequent headword receives the same treatment, with concise definitions, extensive synonym clusters, and a mirrored antonym column, creating a dense network of lexical relationships for the reader to explore.

Compiled by Edith B. Ordway, the text reflects a late‑19th‑century scholarly tone, employing formal diction and exhaustive enumeration typical of the period’s lexical manuals. Its meticulous, almost encyclopedic style will appeal to writers seeking precise alternatives, students of English seeking to expand their vocabulary, and anyone with an interest in the historical development of synonymy and antonymy. The book’s systematic layout makes it a useful tool for both academic study and practical composition.

Opening lines

=Abandoned.= Discarded, rejected and the p.p. of the syn. of “abandon”; depraved, corrupt, profligate, wicked, unprincipled, shameless, sinful, hardened, impenitent, lost, demoralized, vicious, dissolute, reprobate, graceless, obdurate, licentious, incorrigible, irreclaimable, bad. …

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