Synonyms

9.2a Synonyms are traditionally described as words different in sound-form but identical or similar in meaning. I.V. Arnold gives the following definition of synonyms.

I.V. Arnold

"Synonyms are two or more words of the same language, belonging to the same part of speech and possessing one or more identical or nearly identical denotational meanings, interchangeable, at least in some contexts, without any considerable alteration in denotational meaning, but differing morphemic composition, phonemic shape, shades of meaning, connotations, affective value, valency and idiomatic use."

The principal function of synonyms is to represent the same phenomenon in different aspects, shades and variations. A carefully chosen word from a group of synonyms is a great asset both on the printed page and in a speaker's utterance. It was Mark Twain who said that the difference between the right word and just the right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning-bug.