A comma links items (as synonyms, idiomatic equivalents, members of a single group or subgroup of related or contrasted words or of antonyms) that are alike in their relationship to the entry word:
Entry Word: conservative
Function: adjective
2 Synonyms controlled, discreet, moderate, reasonable, restrained, temperate, unexcessive, unextreme
Related Words cautious, chary, wary; circumspect, politic, proper, prudent
Contrasted Words expansive, unconstrained; excessive, freewheeling, uncontrolled, unrestrained
A semicolon signals a break in continuity and is used in Related Words and Contrasted Words lists (as between the two subgroups in the Related Words and Contrasted Words lists at conservative 2 above) to separate subgroups of words which differ in their relation to the entry word. A semicolon is also used to separate antonyms that belong to different classes of opposites.
Entry Word: arise
Function: verb
1 Synonyms RISE 4, ascend, aspire, lift, mount, soar, up, uprear
Antonyms recline; slump
A semicolon may also appear at the end of a main-entry Synonyms list to introduce a compare cross-reference:
Entry Word: honorable
Function: adjective
1 deserving of or entitled to honor . . .
Synonyms estimable, high-principled, noble, sterling, worthy; VENERABLE 1
Parentheses enclose variant spellings, as the main entry cake verb 1, where "crust (or incrust)" appears in a Synonyms list, and at secondary entries, where that particular synonym is styled accordingly:
Entry Word: encrust (or incrust)
Function: verb
Synonyms CAKE 1, . . .
Parentheses also enclose a particle or particles usually associated with a base word:
Entry Word: adore
Function: verb
3 to love, admire, or enjoy excessively . . .
Synonyms dote (on or upon), idolize, worshipEntry Word: dote (on or upon)
Function: verb
Synonyms ADORE 3, . . .
Similarly, parentheses may indicate usage alternatives in idiomatic expressions:
Entry Word: slavery
Function: noun
2 Synonyms bondage, . . .
Idioms the yoke (or chains) of slavery
Here the user is being alerted that he or she may choose one of two elements when employing this particular idiom. Parentheses are also used in main-entry Synonyms lists to enclose plural suffixes of words that are sometimes, often, or usually but not always used in the plural:
Entry Word: scad
Function: noun
usually scads plural
a great number or abundance . . .
Synonyms gob(s), heap(s), jillion, load(s), million, oodles, quantity
Parentheses enclose material indicating a typical or, occasionally, a sole object of reference, as in the shared-meaning statement at express verb 2, where the parentheses enclose an adjunct:
to give expression to (as a thought, an opinion, or an emotion)
or at abrogate verb 2:
Antonyms establish, fix (as a right, a quality, or a custom)
where an antonym or a group of antonyms are associated with a particular object or group of objects of reference -- a restriction or limitation to which the thesaurus user should be alerted.
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