<Rich, wealthy, affluent, opulent>.
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Substitute wealthy for rich. Is the meaning exactly the same? Is Goldsmith's description of the village preacher—"passing rich with forty pounds a year"—as effective if wealthy is substituted? What is the difference between riches and wealth? Which implies the greater degree of possession, which the more permanence and stability? Which word suggests the more personal relationship with money? Which word the more definitely denotes money or its immediate equivalent? Why do we say "get-rich-quick schemes" rather than "get-wealthy-quick schemes"? What besides the possession of wealth does affluent suggest? Could we say that a rich miser lives in affluence? If not, why not? A poor clerk who has ten dollars to spend as he pleases may feel affluent. A rich banker may be a man of affluence in his town. What power does this suggest that he has besides the possession of a great deal of money? Explain all that Swift implies by the word opulence in the quotation "There in full opulence a banker dwelt, Who all the joys and pangs of riches felt." If you substitute affluence, what different impression do you get?
<Rural, rustic, pastoral, bucolic>.
"The rural inhabitants of a country." Are the people being spoken of favorably, unfavorably, or neutrally? How would the meaning be affected if they were called rustic inhabitants? Would you ordinarily speak of the rural or the rustic population to distinguish it from the urban? Would you speak of rural or rustic activities? rural or rustic manners? When the two adjectives may be employed, is one of them unflattering? Is a rustic bridge something to be ashamed of? a rustic chair? a rustic gate? What, then, is the degree of reproach that attaches to each of the two adjectives? the degree of commendation? Wherein do pastoral scenes differ from rural? pastoral amusements from rustic? Can you trace a connection between the pastor of a church and a pastoral life? Do you often hear the word bucolic? In what mood is it oftenest uttered? Which of the four adjectives best fits into Goldsmith's dignified lament: "And ____ mirth and manners are no more"?
<Silent, reserved, uncommunicative, reticent, taciturn>. (This group may be contrasted with the Talkative group, below.)
We pass through a crowded room and notice that some of its occupants are not adding their voices to the chatter. We resolve to study these unspeaking persons. Some of them merely have nothing to say, or are timid or preoccupied; or it may be they deliberately have set themselves not to talk. These are silent. Some plainly desire not to talk, it may be in general or it may be upon some particular topic; they may (but need not) regard themselves as superior to their associates, or for some other reason let aloofness or coldness creep into their manner. These are reserved. Others withhold information that persons about them are, or would be, interested in. These are uncommunicative. Others maintain their own counsel; they neglect opportunities to reveal their thoughts, plans, and the like. These are reticent. Others are disinclined—and habitually, we perceive—to talking. These are taciturn.
Sentences: The ____ prisoner evaded all questions. He was as ____ as nature itself; he never gave his views upon any subject. He was ____ about the firm's affairs, especially toward persons who seemed inquisitive. We knew there had been a love affair in his life, but he was ____ on the subject. She sat ____ throughout the discussion. If to be ____ is golden, Lucas should have been a billionaire.
<Sing, chant, carol, warble, troll, yodel, croon, hum, chirp, chirrup>.
You hear a "concord of sweet sounds," not instrumental but vocal, and wish to tell me so. You say that some person sings. Then you recall that I am something of an expert in music, and you cast about for the word that shall state specifically the kind of singing that is being done. Does the person sing solemnly in a more or less uniform tone? You tell me that he chants. Does he sing gladly, spontaneously, high-spiritedly, as if his heart were pouring over with joy? You say that he carols. Does he sing with vibratory notes and little runs, as in bird-music? You say that he warbles. Does he sing loudly and freely? You say that he trolls. Does he sing with peculiar modulations from the regular into a falsetto voice? You say that he yodels. Does he sing a simple, perhaps tender, song in a low tone (as a lullaby to an infant)? You say that he croons. Does he sing with his lips closed? You say that he hums. Does he utter the short, perhaps sharp, notes of certain birds and insects? You say that he chirps or chirrups.
Assignment for further discrimination: <trill, pipe, quaver, peep, cheep, twitter>.