Read Ebook: Döderlein's Hand-book of Latin Synonymes by Doederlein Ludwig Von Taylor Samuel H Samuel Harvey Author Of Introduction Etc Arnold Henry Hamilton Translator

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Note that the letterforms I/i and J/j are distinguished in print, but are alphabetized together. U/u and V/v are treated as distinct letters.

Introduction Author's Preface Handbook of Synonymes Index of Greek Words Publisher's Advertising

INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

The advantages of the study of synonymes in a classical course, are too great to be neglected. A knowledge of them gives to the student a fulness and precision of his author's meaning otherwise unattainable. The point of a sentence often turns upon a delicate shade of thought conveyed by a particular word, which another of similar signification would not give; if this delicate shade is not appreciated, the writer's thought is either misapprehended, or but imperfectly understood.

Again, the habit of observing the proper use of words related to each other in meaning, as whether one is generic, and the other specific, one abstract, the other concrete, one literal, the other figurative, or whatever be the ground and nature of the difference, is one of the essential benefits of classical study. The whole process of such study, when rightly conducted, is that of "arbitrating between conflicting probabilities;" and the closest power of arbitration is often requisite in determining the particular idea conveyed by related words. Or, if the distinctions are drawn out, as they are in a treatise on synonymes, the mind of the student is trained to close and discriminating observation, in being required to note and fix these distinctions, and to give a definite form to them in his own mind, and to express them in his own language.

Besides the more direct advantages resulting from the study of synonymes, an increased interest will thereby be given to classical studies There is a natural fondness in the youthful mind for the process of comparison, for tracing resemblances and differences. This element should not be neglected when it can be turned to so good account. It will help to relieve the tedium and barrenness of classical study, as too often conducted, and to give some living features to languages which are too generally looked upon as "dead."

The meaning of a particular word is often given more distinctly by stating its opposite. The relation, or shade of thought, which cannot be conveyed fully by a direct definition, nor perhaps, indeed, by words at all, is made clear and distinct by showing to what it is opposed. This valuable means of elucidation, the author has used with great success in this work.

While the author has "omitted all detail in the treatment of Greek synonymes" in this compend, he has very wisely sought out the nearest corresponding Greek expression, and placed it with the Latin word to be explained. Thus the Greek word, to the more advanced scholar, will often throw light upon the Latin, and the Latin in turn upon the Greek. In this way the work is indirectly valuable in elucidating Greek synonymes.

The present edition of this work is reprinted from the second London edition, which is essentially the same as the first, with a few corrections and improvements.

S. H. T.

ANDOVER, JANUARY, 1858.

The wish has been expressed to me from different quarters, and particularly by several respectable schoolmasters, to see the essential results of my larger work on Latin Synonymes and Etymologies compressed into a Hand-book. Although within the twelve years since I began to work at the long-neglected study of Latin Synonymes, the market has been almost glutted with works of the same sort, in the form of hand-books, by Habicht, Ramshorn, Jentzen, and Schmalfeld, I have not, on that acount, the least hesitation in complying with the wish expressed to me, by publishing the present Abridgment; for, in asserting that my method and the arrangement of my materials are totally distinct from what have been adopted by those deserving authors, I trust that I am neither extolling myself, nor underrating them. The Abridgment which I here submit to the Public contains, I hope, all that is essential in my larger work;--to effect which object I have omitted certain things of less direct importance; namely,--

First,--All etymological deductions. Not wishing, however, entirely to renounce my principle of associating the etymology with the synonyme, I have inserted it between parentheses, whenever it was not either so obvious as to make the insertion unnecessary, or so far-fetched as to make the etymology doubtful. Many instances of this sort will and must, especially to him who is not conversant with etymological researches, appear singularly uncouth; but it would have led me too far to refer, in every instance, to the principles established in the Treatise on the Formation of Latin Words, which I have subjoined to my larger work as a Supplement. I must, therefore, entreat those readers and critics into whose hands my treatise has not fallen, to ignore the words included between parentheses, or to suspend their verdict concerning them.

Secondly,--I have omitted all parallel passages, and such as have an affinity with each other, without possessing any stringent force as proofs. On the other hand, I have given at length those passages in the classics in which the ancients, in the course of speech, and not by means of grammatical reflections, have introduced synonymes in contrast with each other, and thus taught their differences; and where such passages were wanting, I have frequently brought into juxta-position several passages from one and the same author, in which he seems to have indicated some peculiar force in a particular expression.

Thirdly,--I have omitted all critical and exegetical discussions. The more scientific form of my larger work not only afforded me the opportunity, but imposed the obligation of entering upon such discussions; but in the present Abridgment I have thought it best, except in a very few cases, to omit them altogether.

Fourthly,--I have omitted all detail in the treatment of the Greek synonymes. Nevertheless, I have thought it of essential importance to search for the nearest corresponding expression, both in the Greek and German languages, and place them by the side of the Latin synonyme; and at the same time to ascertain, and make intuitive, as it were, the precise meaning and extent of the Latin expression, by the introduction of such words as are strictly in opposition to it.

Fifthly,--I have omitted the views of other writers on synonymes. In my larger work I introduced, often only as literary curiosities, distinctions derived from the Latin grammarians, Varro, Cicero, Agraetius, Pseudo-fronto, and Pseudo-palaemon; and I also quoted, whether agreeing with or differing from me, the modern writers on synonymes, Popma, Hill, Dumesnil, Smitson, Habicht, Ramshorn, Jentzen, and others. Instead of which I must here content myself with merely referring to such quotations as are contained in my larger work; and have therefore added, at the end of each article, the volume and page of that work in which these quotations are to be found.

Sixthly,--I have omitted such synonymes as are of very rare occurrence, and distinguished from each other by a very slight difference. In my larger work I have treated as synonymes many expressions, ???? ????????, that occur but once, and whose differences, on that very account, cannot be deduced from the general usage of the language, but can merely be guessed at from etymology and other sources. Such expressions are of no importance with reference to the object of this Hand-book. The same may be said of many synonymes which can be distinguished, as it were, only by a microscope. Such synonymes are found throughout my larger work in great numbers, and have drawn upon me the reproach of "hair-splitting." The fact I must acknowledge, but cannot admit it to be a reproach; for surely it is the proper vocation of a scientific writer on synonymes, not so much to distinguish words that merely resemble each other in meaning, as those that are apparently equivalent. The greater their apparent equivalence, the more difficult it is to grasp their essential difference, and the more indispensable the aid of a guide to synonymes. If, therefore, it be admitted, that words identical in meaning do not exist, and that it is morally impossible, if I may use the expression, that they should exist, the only questions are, whether, in such cases, it is worth while to search out their differences, and whether it is possible to find them out. Science will answer the first question, without hesitation, in the affirmative; and with respect to the second, there can at least be no presumption in making the attempt. A distinction is soon obtained when several words are contrasted with the word under consideration; and if these contrasted words are also synonymous with each other, it must follow, that the affinity of the several words in meaning is so close, as to permit their interchange, as synonymes, under all circumstances. Their differences are altogether unimportant with reference to speaking and writing, but highly important as far as the intimate and more refined knowledge of the language itself is concerned. It is on this account that hair-splitting is allowable. Can there be a doubt that a distinction will be slight in proportion as it has its origin in the individual feelings of those by whom a language is used? Such distinctions in synonymes are, consequently, most felt in one's native language; it is only necessary that the feelings in which they have their origin should not be vague and unformed. In the introduction to the fourth part of my work I have evinced, I hope, sufficient liberality and tolerance with regard to the obligation of conforming to these hair-breadth distinctions, and selecting one's expressions accordingly. So much in justification of those reprobated hair-splittings; those discoveries of atoms, or, as my deceased friend Bremi expressed it, keen discernment of atoms, which in my larger work, more devoted to science than to instruction, found their proper place; but in the present Hand-book, intended for the use of schools, especially in the art of writing Latin, my predilection for such nice distinctions would be sadly out of place. Distinctions of that sort I have, therefore, for the most part, omitted, but not with the intention of silently retracting them.

These arrangements, combined with an almost studied precision of expression, have enabled me to reduce the six volumes of my larger work on Synonymes to this Abridgment, of about fifteen. The etymological part of my researches I reserve for a separate volume, of about the same size as the present, which will make its appearance as an Etymological Hand-book of the Latin language.

May the present publication, and that which I announce, meet with the same favorable and indulgent reception that has fallen to the share of my larger work with all its defects.

HANDBOOK

LATIN SYNONYMES.

ABOLERE means 'to annul,' to 'annihilate,' and, as far as possible, to remove from the universe and cast into oblivion; but +delere+ 'to destroy,' to bring a thing to nought, and make it useless.

ADHUC; HACTENUS; HUCUSQUE. +Adhuc+ refers to time, up to this moment; +hactenus+ and +hucusque+ have a local reference, up to this place, or this point.

ADVOCATUS; CAUSIDICUS. +Advocatus+ means in the writers of the silver age 'a counsel' in relation to his services and to his client, as his friend and assistant; +causidicus+, in relation to his station and profession, often with the contemptuous accessory notion of his being a hireling.

ALAPA; COLAPHUS. +Alapa+ denotes a blow with the flat hand on the face, as a gentle punishment, like a slap on the cheek, or box on the ear; +colaphus+ , a blow on the head with the clenched fist, betokening anger and rage, like a cuff, a thump.

ANIMADVERTERE; NOTARE. +Animadvertere+ means, to observe mentally, and take notice of; but +notare+, to make distinguishable by a mark.

ANNALES; HISTORIAE. +Annales+ means a comprehensive historical work, principally and especially a history of former ages, composed from documents, like Livy and Tacitus; +historiae+, particularly a work on the history of the times in which the author himself has lived, as Sallust and Tacitus.

ANUS; VETULA. +Anus+ denotes an old lady, with respect, and also as a term of reproach; an old woman, with reference to her weakness, credulity, loquacity, and so forth: +vetula+, an old woman, with reference to her ugliness and disagreeableness.

ASCIA; SECURIS. +Ascia+ is the carpenter's axe, to split wood; +securis+, the butcher's cleaver, to cut meat.

AUGURIA; AUSPICIA; PRODIGIA; OSTENTA; PORTENTA; MONSTRA; OMINA. +Auguria+ and +auspicia+ are appearances in the ordinary course of nature, which for the most part possess a meaning for those only who are skilful in the interpretation of signs; +auguria+ for the members of the college of augurs, who are skilled in such things; +auspicia+, for the magistrates, who have the right to take auspices: whereas +prodigia+, +ostenta+, +portenta+, +monstra+, are appearances out of the ordinary course of nature, which strike the common people, and only receive a more exact interpretation from the soothsayer: lastly, +omina+ are signs which any person, to whom they occur, can interpret for himself, without assistance. The primary notion in +prodigium+ is, that the appearance is replete with meaning, and pregnant with consequences; in +ostentum+, that it excites wonder, and is great in its nature: in +portentum+, that it excites terror, and threatens danger; in +monstrum+, that it is unnatural and ugly.

AXES; PLANCAE; TABULAE. +Axes+ or +asses+, and +plancae+, are unwrought boards, as they come from the saw, and +asses+ as a usual term, +plancae+ as a technical term; whereas +tabulae+ are boards that have been made smooth by the plane, to serve the purposes of luxury.

BALBUS; BLAESUS. +Balbus+ denotes stammering as an habitual quality, whereas +Blaesus+, as a temporary condition.

BREVIS; CURTUS. +Brevis+ means short by nature; whereas +curtus+ , means shortened.

CANDELA; LUCERNA. +Candela+ is a candle, which can be carried about like a torch, as ??????, whereas +lucerna+ can only be considered as a burning light on a table, like ??????.

CAPER; HIRCUS; HOEDUS. +Caper+ is the general name for a he-goat, and that which is used in natural history, ??????; +hircus+ is an old full-grown he-goat, ???????? whereas +haedus+, +hoedus+ , a kid, ??????.

CARO; PULPA; VISCERA; EXTA; INTESTINA; ILIA. 1. +Caro+ means flesh in its general sense, as a material substance, in opp. to fat, nerves, muscles, and so forth; +pulpa+, especially, eatable and savory flesh, in opp. to bones; +viscera+, all flesh, and every fleshy substance between the skin and the bones. 2. +Viscera+, in a narrower sense, means generally, the inner parts of the body; whereas +exta+ means the inner parts of the upper part of the body, as the heart, lungs, and so forth; +intestina+, +interanea+, and +ilia+, the inner parts of the lower part of the body, namely, the entrails; and indeed +intestina+, and, in the age after Augustus, +interanea+, meant the guts as digestive organs; +ilia+, all that is contained in the lower part of the body, and particularly those parts that are serviceable.

CATERVA; COHORS; AGMEN; GREX; GLOBUS; TURBA. +Caterva+, +cohors+, and +agmen+, denote an assembled multitude in regular order, and +caterva+, as a limited whole, according to a sort of military arrangement; +cohors+, as respecting and observing the leadership of a commanding officer; +agmen+, as a solemn procession; whereas +turba+, +grex+, and +globus+, denote a multitude assembled in no regular order, +grex+, without form or order; +turba+, with positive disorder and confusion; +globus+, a thronging mass of people, which, from each person pressing towards the centre, assumes a circular form.

CELEBER; INCLYTUS; CLARUS; ILLUSTRIS; NOBILIS. +Celeber+ and +inclytus+ denote celebrity, as general expressions, chiefly as belonging to things, and seldom as belonging to persons, except in poetry; +clarus+, +illustris+, and +nobilis+, with an especial political reference; +clarus+ means renowned for eminent services to one's country; +illustris+ renowned for rank and virtue; +nobilis+ belonging to a family whose members have already been invested with the honors of the state.

CHORDA; FIDES. +Chorda+ in the sing. and plur. means a complete collection of strings, or a string-instrument.

COERCERE; COMPESCERE. +Coercere+ denotes restriction, as an act of power and superior strength; whereas +compescere+ as an act of sovereign authority and wisdom.

COMMODARE; MUTUUM DARE. +Commodare+ means to lend without formality and stipulation, on the supposition of receiving the thing lent again when it is done with. +Mutuum dare+ is to grant a loan on the supposition of receiving an equivalent when the time of the loan expires. +Commodatio+ is an act of kindness; +mutuum datio+ is a matter of business.

COMPLEMENTUM; SUPPLEMENTUM. +Complementum+ serves, like a keystone, to make anything complete, to crown the whole, whereas +supplementum+ serves to fill up chasms, to supply omissions.

CONCEDERE; PERMITTERE; CONNIVERE. +Concedere+ and +permittere+ mean, to grant something which a man has full right to dispose of; +concedere+, in consequence of a request or demand, in opp. to refusing, like ??????????; +permittere+, from confidence in a person, and liberality, in opp. to forbidding, like ???????; whereas +indulgere+ and +connivere+ mean to grant something, which may properly be forbidden; +indulgere+ , from evident forbearance; +connivere+ , from seeming oversight.

CONCESSUM EST; LICET; FAS EST. +Concessum est+ means, what is generally allowed, like ??????, and has a kindred signification with +licet+, +licitum est+, which mean what is allowed by human laws, whether positive, or sanctioned by custom and usage, like ????? ????; +fas est+ means what is allowed by divine laws, whether the precepts of religion, or the clear dictates of the moral sense, like ????? ????.

CONCILIUM; CONCIO; COMITIA; COETUS; CONVENTUS. 1. +Concilium+, +concio+, and +comitia+ are meetings summoned for fixed purposes; +concilium+ , an assembly of noblemen and persons of distinction, of a committee, of the senate, the individual members of which are summoned to deliberate, like ?????????; whereas +concio+ and +comitia+ mean a meeting of the community, appointed by public proclamation, for passing resolutions or hearing them proposed; +concio+ means any orderly meeting of the community, whether of the people or of the soldiery, in any state or camp, like ????????; +comitia+ is an historical term, confined to a Roman meeting of the people, as ???????? to an Athenian, and ???? to a Spartan. 2. +Coetus+ and +conventus+ are voluntary assemblies; +coetus+ for any purpose, for merely social purposes, for a conspiracy, and so forth, like ???????; whereas +conventus+, for a serious purpose, such as the celebration of a festival, the hearing of a discourse, and so forth, like ????????, ?????????.

CONCLAVE, CUBICULUM. +Conclave+ is the most general term for any closed room, and especially a room of state; +cubiculum+ is a particular expression for a dwelling-room.

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