Chapter Synepy to Syphilis of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Synœcious
(Syn*œ"cious) a. [Pref. syn- + Gr. house.] (Bot.) Having stamens and pistil in the same head, or, in mosses, having antheridia and archegonia on the same receptacle.

Synomocy
(Syn*om"o*cy) n. [Gr. fr. to swear with or together; sy`n with + to swear.] Sworn brotherhood; a society in ancient Greece nearly resembling a modern political club.

Synonym
(Syn"o*nym) n.; pl. Synonyms (- nimz). [F. synonyme, L. synonyma, pl. of synonymum, Gr. synw`nymon. See Synonymous.] One of two or more words (commonly words of the same language) which are equivalents of each other; one of two or more words which have very nearly the same signification, and therefore may often be used interchangeably. See under Synonymous. [Written also synonyme.]

All languages tend to clear themselves of synonyms as intellectual culture advances, the superfluous words being taken up and appropriated by new shades and combinations of thought evolved in the progress of society.

De Quincey.

His name has thus become, throughout all civilized countries, a synonym for probity and philanthropy.

Macaulay.

In popular literary acceptation, and as employed in special dictionaries of such words, synonyms are words sufficiently alike in general signification to be liable to be confounded, but yet so different in special definition as to require to be distinguished.

G. P. Marsh.

Synonyma
(||Syn*on"y*ma) n. pl. [L.] Synonyms. [Obs.] Fuller.

Synonymal
(Syn*on"y*mal) a. Synonymous. [Obs.]

Synonymally
(Syn*on"y*mal*ly), adv. Synonymously. [Obs.]

Synonyme
(Syn"o*nyme) n. Same as Synonym.

Synonymic
(Syn`o*nym"ic) n. [Cf. G. synonymik. See Synonymous.] (Gram.) The science, or the scientific treatment, of synonymous words.

Synonymic
(Syn`o*nym"ic Syn`o*nym"ic*al) a. Of or pertaining to synonyms, or synonymic; synonymous.

Synonymicon
(||Syn`o*nym"i*con) n. [NL.] A dictionary of synonyms. C. J. Smith.

Synonymist
(Syn*on"y*mist) n. [Cf. F. synonymiste.] One who collects or explains synonyms.

Synonymize
(Syn*on"y*mize) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Synonymized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Synonymizing ] To express by a synonym or synonyms; to give the synonym or synonyms corresponding to.

This word "fortis" we may synonymize after all these fashions: stout, hardy, valiant, doughty, courageous, adventurous, brave, bold, daring, intrepid.

Camden.

Synonymous
(Syn*on"y*mous) a. [Gr. sy`n with, together + name. See Syn-, and Name.] Having the character of a synonym; expressing the same thing; conveying the same, or approximately the same, idea. — Syn*on"y*mous*ly, adv.

These words consist of two propositions, which are not distinct in sense, but one and the same thing variously expressed; for wisdom and understanding are synonymous words here.

Tillotson.

Syn. — Identical; interchangeable. — Synonymous, Identical. If no words are synonymous except those which are identical in use and meaning, so that the one can in all cases be substituted for the other, we have scarcely ten such words in our language. But the term more properly denotes that the words in question approach so near to each other, that, in many or most cases, they can be used interchangeably.