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In this title, the broadest possible definition of the term 'synonym' has been
adopted, as being the one that will be most useful to users. Even words whose
meaning is quite distantly related to that of the headword are listed if they can be
used to get the same message across in appropriate contexts. Synonyms are not
restricted to single words, and some expressions can be quite colourful: for
example, the synonyms for
tinker
include not only
fiddle (with)
and
try to mend
, but
also
rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic
.
The synonyms in each entry are grouped together in synonym sets. Major synonym
sets correspond roughly to different senses of a word in a dictionary. Each major
synonym set is numbered, and many have more delicate subdivisions, which are
separated by semicolons. At the start of almost every synonym set is a 'core
synonym': the term which is closest in meaning to the headword in that particular
sense. Core synonyms are displayed in BOLD CAPITALS. Only a very few words
have no core synonym. Some synonym sets have more than one core synonym; for
example at
avant-garde
(adjective), both
innovative
and
advanced
are very close in
meaning to the headword, so both are given as core synonyms. Two different core
synonyms within the same sense group may emphasize slightly different aspects of
the meaning of the headword. For example, at
dutiful
, the first core synonym given
is
conscientious
, followed by a group of words closely related to this aspect of its
meaning. Then, after a semicolon, a second core synonym,
obedient
, is given, with
a further group of synonyms grouped around that aspect of the meaning.
Synonyms whose usage is restricted in some way, for example regionalisms or very
formal or informal words, are placed at the end of each major synonym set and
labelled accordingly. See Register below.
Illustrative examples
Almost every synonym set in
NOTE
is illustrated with a carefully chosen example of
the word in use in the relevant sense. These are authentic examples of natural
usage taken from the British National Corpus and the files of the Oxford Reading
Programme (see Linguistic evidence below). They have occasionally been lightly
edited to make the sense more apparent or to eliminate digressions. The examples
can therefore be trusted for guidance on using unfamiliar words in an idiomatic way.
Where part of an example is displayed in bold type, this indicates that some or all
of the synonyms can be substituted for that particular phrase, not just for the
headword alone. Thus at
attached
, the example given is:
she was very attached to her brother.
In this case the synonyms are all equivalent to
attached to
:
FOND OF, devoted to, full of regard for, full of admiration for; affectionate
towards, tender towards, caring towards; <informal> mad about, crazy
about, nuts about.
In the entry for
impute
, the example given is:
he imputes selfish views to me.
This is followed by the synonym set:
ATTRIBUTE, ascribe, assign, credit, accredit, chalk up; connect with,
associate with, lay on, lay at the door of; <informal> pin on, stick on.
The synonyms up to the first semicolon are synonyms for
impute
, and those after it
are synonyms for
impute to
.