There is something so natively great and good in a person that is truly devout, than an awkward man may as well pretend to be genteel as a hypocrite to be pious. Steele. AFFECTING V. Moving. AFFECTION, LOVE. AFFECTION, from the verb affect (v. To effect,) denotes the state of being kindly affected towards a person. LOVE, in low German leeve, high German liebe, from the English lief, low German leef, high German lieb dear or pleasing, the Latin libet it is pleasing, and by metathesis, from the Greek pos dear, siguifies the state of holding a person dear. These words express two sentiments of the heart which do honour to human nature; they are the bonds by which mankind are knit to each other. Both imply good will: but affection is a tender sentiment that dwells with pleasure on the object: love is a tender sentiment accompanied with longing for the object: we cannot have love without affection, but we may have affection without love. Love is the natural sentiment between near relations: affection subsists between those who are less intimately connected, being the consequence either of relation ship, friendship, or long intercourse; it is the sweetener of human society, which carries with it a thousand charms, in all the varied modes of kindness which it gives birth to; it is not so active as love, but it diffuses itself wider, and embraces a larger number of objects. Love is powerful in its effects, awakening vivid sentiments of pleasure or pain; it is a passion exclusive, restless, and capricious. Affection is a chastened feeling under the control of the understanding; it promises no more pleasure than it gives, and has but few alloys. Marriage may begin with love; but it ought to terminate in affection. But thou, whose years are more to mine allied, Dryden. AFFIRM. KIND, from the word kind kindred or family, denotes the quality or feeling engendered by the family tie. FOND, from the Saxon fandian to gape, and the German finden to find or seek, de-. notes a vehement attachment to a thing. Affectionate and fond characterize feelings; kind is an epithet applied to outward actions, as well as inward feelings; a disposition is affectionate or fond; a behaviour is kind. Affection is a settled state of the mind; kindness a temporary state of feeling, mostly discoverable by some outward sign: both are commendable and honourable, as to the nature of the feelings themselves, the objects of the feelings, and the manner in which they display themselves; the understanding always approves the kindness which affection dictates, or that which springs from a tender heart. Fondness is a less respectable feeling; it is sometimes the excess of affection, or an extravagant mode of expressing it, or an attachment to an inferior object. A person is affectionate, who has the object of his regard strongly in his mind, who participates in his pleasures and pains, and is pleased with his society. A person is kind, who expresses a tender sentiment, or does any service in a pleasant manner. A person is fond, who caresses an object, or makes it a source of pleasure to himself. Relatives should be affectionate to each other: we should be kind to all who stand in need of our kindness: children are fond of whatever affords them pleasure, or of whoever gives them indulgences. Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting of many kind shakes of the hand, and affectionate looks which we cast upon one another. Addison. TO AFFIRM, ASSEVERATE, assure, vouch, AVER, PROTEST. AFFIRM, in French affermer, Latin affirmo, compounded of af or ad and firmo to strengthen, signifies to give strength to what has been said. ASSEVERATE, in Latin asseveratus participle of assevero, compounded of as or ad and severus, signifies to make strong and positive. ASSURE, in French assurer, is compounded of the intensive syllable as or ad and sure, signifying to make sure. VOUCH is probably changed from vow. AVER, in French averer, is compounded of the intensive syllable a or ad and verus true, signifying to bear testimony to the truth. AFFIRM. PROTEST, in French protester, Latin protesto, is compounded of pro and testor to call to witness as to what we think about a thing. All these terms indicate an expression of a person's conviction. In one sense, to affirm is to declare that a thing is in opposition to denying or declaring that it is not; in the sense here chosen it signifies to declare a thing as a fact on our credit. To asseverate is to declare it with confidence. To vouch is to rest the truth of another's declaration on our own responsibility. To aver is to express the truth of a declaration unequivocally. To protest is to declare a thing solemnly, and with strong marks of sincerity. Affirmations are made of the past and present; a person affirms what he has seen and what he sees. Asseverations are strong affirmations, made in cases of doubt to remove every impression disadvantageous to one's sincerity. Assurances are made of the past, present, and future; they mark the conviction of the speaker as to what has been, or is, and his intentions as to what shall be; they are appeals to the estimation which another has in one's word. Vouching is an act for another; it is the supporting of another's assurance by our own. Averring is employed in matters of fact; we aver as to the accuracy of details; we aver on positive knowledge that sets aside all question. Protestations are stronger than either asseverations or assurances; they are accompanied with every act, look, or gesture, that can tend to impress conviction on another. Affirmations are employed in giving evidence, whether accompanied with an oath or not liars deal much in asseverations and protestations. People asseverate in order to produce a conviction of their veracity; they protest in order to obtain a belief of their innocence; they over where they expect to be believed. Assurances are altogether personal; they are always made to satisfy some one of what they wish to know and believe. We ought to be sparing of our assurances of regard for another, as we ought to be suspicious of such assurances when made to ourselves. Whenever we affirm any thing on the authority of another, we ought to be particularly cautious not to vouch for its veracity if it be not unquestionable. An infidel and fear? Young. I judge in this case as Charles the Second vicdled his navy, with the bread which one of his chose of several pieces thrown before him, rather trust to the asseverations of the victuallers. Steele. AFFIRM, v. To affirm, asseverate. ASSERT, in Latin assertus, participle of assero, compounded of as or ad and sero to connect, signifies to connect words into a proposition. To affirm is said of facts; to assert, of opinions: we affirm what we know; we assert what we believe. Whoever affirms what he does not know to be true is guilty of falsehood; whoever asserts what he cannot prove to be true is guilty of folly. We contradict an affirmation; we confute an assertion. That this man, wise and virtuous as he was, passed always unentangled through the snares of life, it would be prejudice and temerity to affirm. Johnson's Life of Collins. It is asserted by a tragic poet, that "est miser nemo nisi comparatus," "-"no man is miserable, but as he is compared with others happier than himself.” This position is not strictly and philosophically true. Johnson. TO AFFIX, SUBJOIN, ATTACH, annex. AFFIX, in Latin affixus, participle of affigo, compounded of af or ad and figo to fix, signifies to fix to a thing. SUBJOIN is compounded of sub and join, signifying to join to the lower or farther extremity of a body. ATTACH, v. To adhere. ANNEX, in Latin annexus, participle of annecto, compounded of an or ad and necto to knit, signifies to knit or tie to a thing. To affix is to put any thing as an essential to any whole; to subjoin is to put any thing as a subordinate part to a whole: in the former case the part to which it is put is not specified; in the latter the syllable sub specifies the extremity as the part: to attach is to make one thing adhere to another as an accompaniment; to annex is to bring things into a general connexion with each other. A title is affixed to a book; a few lines are subjoined to a letter by way of postscript; we attach blame to a person; a certain territory is annexed to a kingdom. Letters are affixed to words in order to modify their sense: it is necessary to subjoin remarks to what requires illustration : we are apt from prejudice or particular circumstances to attach disgrace to certain professions, which are not only useful but AFFLICT. important: papers are annexed by way of appendix to some important transaction. It is improper to affir opprobrious epithets to any community of persons on account of their religious tenets. Men are not always scrupulous about the means of attaching others to their interest, when their ambitious views are to be forwarded. Every station in life, above that of extreme indigence, has certain privileges annexed to it, but none greater than those which are enjoyed by the middling classes. He that has settled in his mind determined ideas, with names afixed to them, will be able to discern their differences one from another. Locke. When they respect the inward feelings, afflict conveys the idea of deep sorrow; distress that of sorrow mixed with anxiety; trouble that of pain in a smaller degree. The death of a parent afflicts; the misfortunes of our family and friends distress; crosses in trade and domestic inconveniences trouble. In the season of affliction prayer affords the best consolation and surest supports. The assistance and sympathy of friends serve to relieve distress. We may often help ourselves out of our troubles, and remove the evil by patience and perseve rance. Afflictions may be turned to benefits if they lead a man to turn inwardly into himself, and examine the state of his heart and AFFLICTION. conscience in the sight of his Maker. The distresses of human life often serve only to enhance the value of our pleasures when we regain them. Among the troubles with which we are daily assailed, many of them are too trifling for us to be troubled by them. We last night received a piece of ill-news at our club which very sensibly afflicted every one of us. I question not but my readers themselves will be longer in suspense, Sir Roger de Coverly is dead. troubled at the hearing of it. To keep them no Addison. While the mind contemplates distress, it is acted upon and never acts, and by indulging in this contemplation it becomes more and more unfit for action. Craig. AFFLICTION, GRIEF, SORROW. AFFLICTION, v. To aflict. GRIEF, from grieve, in German grämen, Swedish gramga, &c. SORROW, in German sorge, &c. signifies care as well as sorrow. All these words mark a state of suffering which differs either in the degree or the cause, or in both. Affliction, is much stronger than grief; it lies deeper in the soul, and arises from a more powerful cause; the loss of what is most dear, the continued sickness of our friends, or a reverse of fortune, will all cause affliction; the misfortunes of others, the failure of our favourite schemes, the troubles of our country, will occasion us grief. Sorrow is less than grief; it arises from the untoward circumstances which perpetually arise in life. A disappointment, the loss of a game, our own mistake, or the negligences of others, cause sorrow. Affliction lies too deep to be vehement; it discovers itself by no striking marks in the exterior; it is lasting and does not cease when the external causes cease to act; grief may be violent, and discover itself by loud and indecorous signs; it is transitory, and ceases even before the cause which gave birth to it: sorrow discovers itself by a simthan grief, not existing beyond the moment ple expression; It is still more transient in which it is produced. A person of a tender mind is afflicted at the remembrance of his sins; he is grieved at the consciousness of bis fallibility and proneness to error; he is sorry for the faults which he has committed. Affliction is allayed: grief subsides: sorrow is soothed. It is indeed wonderful to consider how men are able to raise affliction to themselves out of every thing. Addison. continues until he has recovered himself enough to The melancholy silence that follows hereupon, and reveal his mind to his friend, raiscs in the spectators a grief that is inexpressible. Addison. The most agreeable objects recall the sorrow for her with whom he used to enjoy them. Addison. AFFORD. AFFLUENCE, v. Riches. TO AFFORD, YIELD, PRODUCE. AFFORD is probably changed from afferred, and comes from the Latin affero, compounded of af or ad and fero, signifying to bring to a person. YIELD, in Saxon geldan, German gelten to pay, restore, or give, the value, is probably connected with the Hebrew ilad to breed, or bring forth. PRODUCE, in Latin produco, compounded of pro forth and duco to bring, signifies to bring out or into existence. With afford is associated the idea of communicating a part, or property of some substance, to a person; meat affords nourishment to those who make use of it; the sun affords light and heat to all living creatures. To yield is the natural operation of any substance to give up or impart the parts or properties inherent in it; it is the natural surrender which an object makes of itself: trees yield fruit; the seed yields grain; some sorts of grain do not yield much in particular soils. Produce conveys the idea of one thing causing another to exist, or to spring out of it; it is a species of creation, the formation of a new substance: the earth produces a variety of fruits; confined air will produce an explosion. Afford and produce have a moral application; but not yield: nothing affords so great a scope for ridicule as the follies of fashion; nothing produces so much michief as the vice of drunkenness. The history of man does not afford an instance of any popular commotion that has ever produced such atrocities and atrocious characters as the French revolution. Religion is the only thing that can afford true consolation and peace of mind in the season of affliction, and the hour of death. The recollection of past incidents, particularly those which have passed in our infancy, produces the most pleasurable sensations in the mind. The generous man, in the ordinary acceptation, without respect of the demands of his family, will soon find upon the foot of his account that he has sacrificed to fools, knaves, flatterers, or the deservedly unhappy, all the opportunities of affording any future assistance where it ought to be. Steele. Their vines a shadow to their race shall yield, Their sharpen'd ends in earth their footing place, AFFORD, v. To afford, yield. SPARE, in German sparen, Latin parco, Hebrew perek to preserve, signifies here to lay apart for any particular use. The idea of deducting from one's property with convenience is common to these AFRAID. terms; but afford respects solely expenses which are no more than commensurate with our income; spare is said of things in general, which we may part with without any sensible diminution of our comfort. There are few so destitute that they cannot afford something for the relief of others, who are more destitute. He who has two things of a kind may easily spare one. Accept whate'er Eneas can afford How many men, in the common concerns of life, lend sums of money which they are not able to spare. Addison. TO AFFORD, v. To give. AFFRONT, INSULT, OUTRAGE. AFFRONT, in French affronte, from the Latin ad and frons, the forehead, signifies flying in the face of a person. INSULT, in French insulte, comes from the Latin insulto to dance or leap upon. The former of these actions marks defiance, the latter scorn and triumph. OUTRAGE is compounded of out or utter and rage or violence, signifying an act of extreme violence. An affront is a mark of reproach shown in the presence of others; it piques and mortifies: an insult is an attack made with insolence; it irritates and provokes an outrage combines all that is offensive; it wounds and injures. An intentional breach of politeness is an affront: if coupled with any external indication of hostility it is an insult: if it break forth into personal violence it is an outrage. Captious people construe every innocent freedom into an affront. When people are in a state of animosity, they seek opportu nities of offering each other insults. toxication or violent passion impel men to the commission of outrages. In The person thus conducted, who was Hannibal, seemed much disturbed, and could not forbear coraplaining to the board of the affronts he had met with among the Roman historians. Addison. It may very reasonably be expected that the old draw upon themselves the greatest part of those insults which they so much lament, and that age is rarely despised but when it is contemptible. Johnson. This is the round of a passionate man's life; he contracts debts when he is furious, which his virtue, if he has virtue, obliges him to discharge at the return of reason. He spends his time in outrage and Johnson. reparation. AFFRONT, v. Offence. AFRAID, FEARFUL, TIMOROUS, TIMID. AFRAID is changed from afeared, signifying in a state of fear. FEARFUL, as the words of which it is compounded imply, signifies full of fear. TIMOROUS and TIMID come from the Latin timidus fearful, timor fear, and timeo to fear. AGGRAVATE. The first denotes a temporary state, the three last a habit of the mind. Afraid may be used either in a physical or moral application, either as it relates to ourselves only or to others; fearful and timorous are only applied physically and personally; timid is mostly used in a moral sense. It is the character of the fearful or timoTous person to be afraid of what he imagines would hurt himself; it is not necessary for the prospect of danger to exist in order to awaken fear in such a disposition: it is the characteristic of the timid person to be afraid of offending or meeting with something painful from others; such a disposition is prevented from following the dictates of its own mind. Between fearful and timorous there is little distinction, either in sense or application, except that we say fearful of a thing, not timorous of a thing. To be always afraid of losing life is, indeed, scarcely to enjoy a life that can deserve the care of preservation. Johnson. By I know not what impatience of raillery, he is wonderfully fearful of being thought too great a believer. Steele. Then birds in airy space might safely move, Dryden. He who brings with him into a clamorous multitude the timidity of recluse speculation, will suffer himself to be driven by a burst of laughter from the fortresses of demonstration. Johnson. AFTER, BEHIND. AFTER respects order; BEHIND respects position. One runs after a person, or stands behind his chair. After is used either figuratively or literally; behind is used only literally. Men hunt after amusements; misfortunes come after one another: a garden lies behind a house; a thing is concealed behind a bush. Good after ill, and after pain delight, AGE, D. Time, Period. AGED, v. Elderly. AGENCY, v. Action, agency. AGENT, V. Actor. AGENT, v. Minister. AGENT, v. Factor. Dryden. Dryden. TO AGGRAVATE, IRRITATE, PROVOKE, EXAS PERATE, TANTALIZE. AGGRAVATE, in Latin aggravalus, participle of aggravo, compounded of the intensive syllable ag or ad and gravo to make heavy, signifies to make very heavy. IRRITATE, in Latin irritatus, participle of irrito, which is a frequentative from ira, signifies to excite anger. AGGRESSOR PROVOKE, in French provoquer, Latin provoco, compounded of pro forth, and voc to call, signifies to challenge or defy. EXASPERATE, Latin exasperatus, par ticiple of exaspero, is compounded of the intensive syllable ex and asper rough, signifying to make things exceedingly rough. TANTALIZE, in French tantaliser, Greek Tartani, comes from Tantalus, a king of Phrygia, who, having offended the gods, was destined by way of punishment to stand up to his chin in water with a tree of fair fruit hanging over his head, both of which, as he attempted to allay his hunger and thirst, fled from his touch. All these words, except the first, refer to the feelings of the mind, and in familiar discourse that also bears the same signification; but otherwise respects the outward circumstances. The crime of robbery is aggravated by any circumstances of cruelty; whatever comes across the feelings irritates; whatever awakens anger provokes; whatever heightens this anger extraordinarily exasperates; whatever raises hopes in order to frustrate them tantalizes. An appearance of unconcern for the offence and its consequences aggravates the guilt of the offender: a grating harsh sound irritates if long continued and often repeated: angry words provoke, particularly when spoken with an air of defiance; when to this be added bitter taunts and multiplied provocations, they exasperate the weather by its frequent changes tantalizes those who depend upon it for amusement. Wicked people aggravate their transgression by violence: susceptible and nervous people are most easily irritated; proud people are quickly provoked; hot and fiery people are soonest exasperated: those who wish for much, and wish for it eagerly, are oftenest tantalized: As if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief, and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another. Addison. He irritated many of his friends in London so much by his letters, that they withdrew their contributions. Johnson's Life of Savage. The animadversions of critics are commonly such as may easily provoke the sedatest writer to some quickness of resentment. Johnson. Opposition retards, censure exasperates, or neglect depresses. Johnson. Can we think that religion was designed only for a contradiction to nature; and with the greatest and most irrational tyranny in the world to tantalize? South. TO AGGRAVATE v. To heighten. AGGRESSOR, ASSAILANT. AGGRESSOR, in Latin aggressus, parti ciple of aggredior, compounded of ag or ad and gredior to step, signifies to step up to, fall upon, or attack. ASSAILANT, from assail, in French es |