Synonymy Paragraphs
Brief paragraphs discriminating words of closely associated meaning from one another have been placed at a number of entries. They are signaled by an indented boldface synonym. 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:
Main Entry: ²answer
Function: verb
synonym ANSWER, RESPOND, REPLY, REJOIN, RETORT mean to say, write, or do something in return. ANSWER implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need <answered all the questions>. RESPOND may suggest an immediate or quick reaction <responded eagerly to a call for volunteers>. REPLY implies making a return commensurate with the original question or demand <an invitation that requires you to reply>. REJOIN often implies sharpness or quickness in answering <"who asked you?" she rejoined>. RETORT suggests responding to an explicit charge or criticism by way of retaliation <he retorted to the attack with biting sarcasm>.
When a word is included in a synonymy paragraph, the main entry for that word is followed by a run-on "synonym see" cross-reference, which refers to the entry where the synonymy paragraph appears:
Main Entry: ²respond
Function: verb
. . . synonym see ANSWER
When a word is a main entry at which there is a synonymy 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" note, which refers to the entry where the other paragraph may be found:
Main Entry: ¹nat.u.ral
Function: adjective
synonym NATURAL, INGENUOUS, NAIVE, UNSOPHISTICATED, ARTLESS mean free from pretension or calculation . . . synonym see in addition REGULARMain Entry: ¹reg.u.lar Function: adjective
synonym REGULAR, NORMAL, TYPICAL, NATURAL mean being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average . . .
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