240 



THE STANDARD DICTIONARY OF FACTS 



To Execute. Fulfill. Perform. To execui. 

 bring about an end; it involves active measures, and is 

 peculiarly applicable to that which is extraordinary, or 

 that which requires particular spirit and talents; MMBMfl 

 of ambition are executed; to fulfill is to satisfy a moral 

 obligation. We fulfill the duties of citizens; to perform 

 is to carry through bv simple action or labor; it is more 

 particularly applicable to the ordinary and regular busi- 

 ness of We; we perform a work or a task. 



To Exercise. Practice. We exercise in that where 

 the powers are called forth; we practice in that where 

 frequency and habitude of action is requ 



Exigency. Emergency. The exigency is more com- 

 mon, out less pressing; the emergency is imperious 

 when it comes, but comes less frequently. A prudent 

 traveler will never carry more money with him than 

 what will supply the exigencies of his journey; and in 

 case of an emergency will rather borrow of his friends 

 than risk his property. 



I I xonerate, Exculpate. The first is the act of 

 another: the second is one's own act. We exonerate 

 him upon whom a charge lias lain, or who has the load 

 of guilt; we exculpate ourselves when there is any 

 danger of being blamed: circumstances may sometimes 

 tend to exonerate; the explanation of some person is 

 requisite to exculpate. 



Expedient, Resource. The expedient is an arti- 

 ficial means; the resource is a natural means. A cun- 

 ning man is fruitful in expedients; a fortunate man 

 abounds in resources. 



Expedient. Fit. The expediency of a thing depends 

 altogether upon the outward circumstances; the fitness 

 is determined by a moral rule. 



To Explain, Expound, Interpret. Single words or 

 sentences are explained; a whole work, or considerable 

 part* of it. are expounded ; the sense of any writing or 

 symbolical sign is interpreted. 



. "To Explain, Illustrate. Elucidate. To explain is 

 simply to render intelligible; to illustrate and elucidate 

 are to give additional clearness. Everything requires 

 to be explained to one who is ignorant of it; but the 

 best informed will require to have abstruse subjects 

 illustrated, and obscure subjects elucidated. 



To Expostulate, Remonstrate. We expostulate 

 in a tone of authority; we remonstrate in a tone of com- 

 plaint. He who expostulates passes a censure, and 

 claims to be heard; he who remonstrates presents his 

 case and requests to be heard. 



Extraneous, Extrinsic, Foreign. The extraneous 

 is that which forms no necessary or natural part of 

 anything; the extrinsic is that which forms a part or 

 has a connection, but only in an indirect form; it is 

 not an inherent or component part; the foreign is that 

 which forms no part whatever, and has no kind of con- 

 nection. 



Extraordinary, Remarkable. The extraordinary 

 is that which is out of the ordinary course, but it does 

 not always excite remark, and is not, therefore, remark- 

 able, as when we speak of an extraordinary loan; on 

 the other hand, when the extraordinary conveys the 

 idea of what deserves notice, it expresses much more 

 than remarkable. 



Extravagant, Prodigal, Lavish, Profuse. The 

 extravagant man spends his money without reason; 

 the prodigal man spends it in excesses. One may be 

 extravagant with a small sum where it exceeds one's 

 means; one can be prodigal only with large sums; 

 lavish and profuse are properly applied to particular 

 actions, the former to denote an expenditure more or 

 less wasteful or superfluous, the latter to denote a full 

 supply without any sort of scant. 



Exuberant, Luxuriant. These terms are both ap- 

 plied to vegetation in a flourishing state; but exuber- 

 ance expresses the excess, and luxuriance the perfection. 



Facetious. ( onversable, Pleasant, Jocular, Jo- 

 cose. Facetious may be employed either for writing 

 or conversation; the rest only in conversation. The 

 facetious man deals in that kind of discourse which may 

 excite laughter; a conversable man may instruct as 

 well -as amuse; the pleasant man says everything in a 

 pleasant manner; 'his pleasantry even on the most 

 delicate subject is without offense; the person speaking 

 is jocose; the thing said, or the manner of saying it, 

 is jocular. 



I .11 tious. Seditious. Factious is an epithet to 

 characterize the tempera of men; seditious character- 

 izes their conduct. The factious man attempts to 

 raise himself into importance, he aims at authority, 

 and seeks to interfere in the measures of government; 

 the seditious man attempts to excite others, and to 

 provoke their resistance to established authority: the 

 first wants to be a law-giver; the second does not hesi- 

 tate to be a law-breaker. 



Fair, Clear. Fair is used in a positive sense; clear 

 in a negative sense: there must be some brightness in 

 what is fair; there must be no spots in what is clear. 

 The weather is said to be fair, which is not only free 

 from what is disagreeable, but somewhat enlivened by 

 the sun; it is clear when it is free from clouds or mists. 



I ;iiili. Creed. These words are synonymous when 

 taken for the thing trusted in or believed; but they 

 differ in this, that faith has always a reference to the 

 principle in the mind; creed only respects the thing 

 which is the object of faith. 



Faith, Fidelity. Faith here denotes a mode of 

 action, namely, in acting true to the faith which others 

 repose in us; fidelity, a disposition of the mind to ad- 

 here to that faith which others repose in us. We keep 

 our faith; we show our fidelity. 



Faithful, Trusty. Faithful respects the principle 

 altogether: it is suited to all relations and stations, 

 public and private; trusty includes not only the prin- 

 ciple, but the mental qualifications in general; it applies 

 to those in whom particular trust is to be placed. It is 

 the part of a Christian to be faithful to all his engage- 

 ments; it is a particular excellence in a servant to oe 

 trusty. 



Faithless. Perfidious, Treacherous. A faithless 

 man is faithless only for his own interest; a perfidious 

 man is expressly so to the injury of another. Perfidy 

 may lie in the will to do; treachery lies altogether in 

 the thing done. A friend is perfidious whenever he 

 evinces his perfidy; but he is said to be treacherous 

 only in the particular instance in which he betrays the 

 confidence and interests of another. 



Fall, Downfall, Ruin. Fall applies to that which 

 is erect; downfall to that which is elevated. Every- 

 thing which is set up, although as trifling as a stick, 

 may have a fall; but we speak of the downfall of the 

 loftiest trees or the tallest spires. A man may recover 

 from his fall, but his downfall is commonly followed by 

 the entire ruin of his concerns, and often of himself. 



Fallacious, Deceitful, Fraudulent. The fallacious 

 has respect to falsehood in opinion; deceitful to that 

 which is externally false: our hopes are often fallacious; 

 the appearances of things are often deceitful. Falla- 

 cious, as characteristic of the mind, excludes the idea 

 of design; deceitful excludes the idea of mistake; fraud- 

 ulent is a gross species of the deceitful. 



Fame, Reputation, Renown. Fame may be ap- 

 plied to any object, good, bad, or indifferent; reputa- 

 tion is applied only to real eminence in some depart- 

 ment; renown is employed only for extraordinary men 

 and brilliant exploits. 



Fame, Report, Rumor, Hearsay. Fame serves 

 to form or establish a character either of a person or a 

 thing; it will be good or bad, according to circumstances; 

 the fame of our Saviour's miracles went abroad through 

 the land; a report serves to communicate information 

 of events; it may be more or less correct according to 

 the veracity or authenticity of the reporter; a rumor 

 serves the purposes of fiction; it is more or less vague 

 according to the temper of the times and the nature of 

 the events; the hearsay serves for information or in- 

 struction, and is seldom so incorrect as it is familiar. 



Famous, Celebrated, Renowned, Illustrious. 

 Famous signifies literally having fame or the cavise of 

 fame; it is applicable to that which causes a noise or 

 sensation; to that which is talked of, written upon, 

 discussed, and thought of; to that which is circulated 

 among all ranks and orders of men; celebrated signifies 

 literally kept in the memory by a celebration or memo- 

 rial, and is applicable to that which is prais<><l and 

 honored with solemnity; renowned signifies literally 

 possessed of a name, and is applicable to whatever 

 extends the name, or causes the name to be often re- 

 peated; illustrious signifies literally what has or gives 

 a luster: it is applicable to whatever confers dignity. 



Fanciful, Fantastical; Whimsical, Capricious. 

 Fanciful is said of that which is irregular in the taste or 

 judgment; fantastical is said of that which violates all 

 propriety, as well as regularity: the former may consist 

 of a simple deviation from rule; the latter is something 

 extravagant; whimsical is a species of the fanciful in 

 regard to one's likes or dislikes; capricious respects 

 errors of temper, or irregularities of feeling. 



Fancy, Imagination. The fancy only employs 

 itself about things without regarding their nature; but 

 the imagination aims at tracing a resemblance, and 

 getting a true copy. The fancy consequently forms 

 combinations, either real or unreal, as chance may 

 direct; but the imagination is seldomer led astray. 

 The fancy is busy in dreams, or when the mind is in a 

 disordered state; but the imagination is supposed to 

 act when the intellectual powers are in full play. 



Fatigue, Weariness, Lassitude. Fatigue is an 



