Posted on April 29, 2021
This is an update of my post published on April 29, 2010:
On this date in 1852, the first edition of an English-language thesaurus created by Dr. Peter Mark Roget was published. It included 15,000 words. Since that year, Roget's Thesaurus has never been out of print, and the words inside have steadily grown—and it's very near half a million words by now!
Here's what it is: A thesaurus is a list of words organized by concept, with synonyms (words with the same or similar meanings) and sometimes antonyms (words with opposite meanings) listed together.
Here's what it's NOT: It is not a list with which writers and students can simply swap words, because often the meanings of the words - aka their definitions - or the feeling-tones of the words - aka their connotations - are different.
People using a thesaurus can browse a list looking for just the right word.
Here's an example: in one section of Roget's Thesaurus we find market, mart, emporium, open air market, marketplace, flea market, auction room, street market, shop, store, depot, warehouse, bazaar, trading post, arcade, trading center, department store, chain store, trade fair, exchange, exhibition, boutique, supermarket, grocery store, superstore, cash and carry, convenience store, stall, booth, stand, corner shop, kiosk, newsstand, counter, vending machine, shopping center, mall, fete...
Here's an example: in one section of Roget's Thesaurus we find market, mart, emporium, open air market, marketplace, flea market, auction room, street market, shop, store, depot, warehouse, bazaar, trading post, arcade, trading center, department store, chain store, trade fair, exchange, exhibition, boutique, supermarket, grocery store, superstore, cash and carry, convenience store, stall, booth, stand, corner shop, kiosk, newsstand, counter, vending machine, shopping center, mall, fete...
Each of these words has a particular meaning and tone. A J.C.Penny's isn't a boutique or kiosk, and the tiny floral shop on the corner isn't a grocery store or trading post.
Dr. Roget started his word list in 1805, two years before Daniel Webster started writing his dictionary. Dr. Roget used his list privately for almost 50 years before publishing it. He lived a long life (until age 90!) and was able to see his work through 28 printings (and, of course, there have been many, many more since then).
Rate the following words for their connotation.
Which of each word pair is more positive (or less negative) than the other?
Slim....skinny
Obese...sturdy
Immature...young
Timid...cautious
Communicative...babbling
Gossipy...newsy
Fanciful...untrue
Precise...fastidious
Deceptive...unrealistic
Idiotic...foolish
Slim....skinny
Obese...sturdy
Immature...young
Timid...cautious
Communicative...babbling
Gossipy...newsy
Fanciful...untrue
Precise...fastidious
Deceptive...unrealistic
Idiotic...foolish
Inquisitive...nosy
My Answers: I think that these words are more positive (less negative): slim, sturdy, young, cautious, communicative, newsy, fanciful, precise, unrealistic, foolish, inquisitive. Do you agree?
Brain POP Jr has some activities about synonyms and antonyms.
Scholastic has lessons on connotations!
One way to come up with the right word is to brainstorm and create a word cloud...Like, what does "comfort food" mean to you?
One way to come up with the right word is to brainstorm and create a word cloud...Like, what does "comfort food" mean to you?
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