Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Synonym"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Synonym \Syn"o*nym\, n.
1. An incorrect or incorrectly applied scientific name, as a
new name applied to a species or genus already properly
named, or a specific name preoccupied by that of another
species of the same genus; -- so used in the system of
nomenclature (which see) in which the correct scientific
names of certain natural groups (usually genera, species,
and subspecies) are regarded as determined by priority.
2. One of two or more words corresponding in meaning but of
different languages; a heteronym. [Rare]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Synonym \Syn"o*nym\ (s[i^]n"[-o]*n[i^]m), n.; pl. {Synonyms}
(-n[i^]mz). [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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
synonym
n : two words that can be interchanged in a context are said to
be synonymous relative to that context [syn: {equivalent
word}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.