We speak of an alliance of nations, a club of pleasure-seekers, a community of Shakers, a company of soldiers or of friends, a confederacy, confederation, federation, or union of separate states under one general government, a partnership or company of business men, a conjunction of planets. The whole body of Freemasons constitute a fraternity; one of their local organizations is called a lodge. A corporation or company is formed for[61] purposes of business; an association or society (tho also incorporated) is for learning, literature, benevolence, religion, etc. Compare [ASSOCIATE]; [ACQUAINTANCE]; [FRIENDSHIP].
Antonyms:
| disintegration, | independence, | isolation, | separation, | solitude. |
Prepositions:
An association of scholars for the advancement of knowledge; association with the good is ennobling.
ASSUME.
Synonyms:
| accept, | arrogate, | postulate, | put on, |
| affect, | claim, | presume, | take, |
| appropriate, | feign, | pretend, | usurp. |
The distinctive idea of assume is to take by one's own independent volition, whether well or ill, rightfully or wrongfully. One may accept an obligation or assume an authority that properly belongs to him, or he may assume an obligation or indebtedness that could not be required of him. He may assume authority or office that is his right; if he assumes what does not belong to him, he is said to arrogate or usurp it. A man may usurp the substance of power in the most unpretending way; what he arrogates to himself he assumes with a haughty and overbearing manner. One assumes the robes or insignia of office by putting them on, with or without right. If he takes to himself the credit and appearance of qualities he does not possess, he is said to affect or feign, or to pretend to, the character he thus assumes. What a debater postulates he openly states and takes for granted without proof; what he assumes he may take for granted without mention. A favorite trick of the sophist is quietly to assume as true what would at once be challenged if expressly stated. What a man claims he asserts his right to take; what he assumes he takes.