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Synonyms

Discriminating words of closely associated meaning from one another have been placed at a number of entries. They are signaled by the boldface italic synonyms. Each paragraph begins with a list of the words to be discussed in it, followed by a concise statement of the element of meaning that the words have in common. The discriminations themselves are amplified with verbal illustrations:

cautious . . . adjective . . .
synonyms CAUTIOUS, CIRCUMSPECT, WARY, CHARY mean prudently watchful and discreet in the face of danger or risk. CAUTIOUS implies the exercise of forethought usually prompted by fear of danger <a cautious driver>. CIRCUMSPECT suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding <circumspect in his business dealings>. WARY emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it <keeps a wary eye on the competition>. CHARY implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely <chary of signing papers without having read them first>.

When a word is included in a synonym paragraph, the main entry for that word is followed by a run-on synonym see . . ., which refers to the entry where the synonym paragraph appears:

cir·cum·spect . . . adjective . . . synonym see CAUTIOUS

When a word is a main entry at which there is a synonym paragraph and is also included in another paragraph elsewhere, the paragraph at the main entry is followed by a run-on synonym see in addition . . ., which refers to the entry where the other paragraph may be found:

¹nat·u·ral . . . adjective . . .
synonym NATURAL, INGENUOUS, NAIVE, UNSOPHISTICATED, ARTLESS mean free from pretension or calculation . . . synonym see in addition REGULAR
¹reg·u·lar . . . adjective . . .
synonym REGULAR, NORMAL, TYPICAL, NATURAL mean being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average. . .