S.

Synonyms:

accumulate, collect, heap up, hoard up, store up.
aggregate, gather, hoard, pile up,

To _amass_ is to bring together materials that make a mass, a great bulk
or quantity. With some occasional exceptions, _accumulate_ is applied to
the more gradual, _amass_ to the more rapid gathering of money or
materials, _amass_ referring to the general result or bulk, _accumulate_
to the particular process or rate of gain. We say interest is
_accumulated_ (or _accumulates_) rather than is _amassed_; he
_accumulated_ a fortune in the course of years; he rapidly _amassed_ a
fortune by shrewd speculations. Goods or money for immediate
distribution are said to be _collected_ rather than _amassed_. They may
be _stored up_ for a longer or shorter time; but to _hoard_ is always
with a view of permanent retention, generally selfish. _Aggregate_ is
now most commonly used of numbers and amounts; as, the expenses will
_aggregate_ a round million.

Antonyms:

disperse, divide, portion, spend, waste.
dissipate, parcel, scatter, squander,

Prepositions:

Amass _for_ oneself; _for_ a purpose; _from_ a distance; _with_ great
labor; _by_ industry.

* * * * *

AMATEUR.

Synonyms:

connoisseur, critic, dilettante, novice, tyro.

Etymologically, the _amateur_ is one who loves, the _connoisseur_ one
who knows. In usage, the term _amateur_ is applied to one who pursues
any study or art simply from the love of it; the word carries a natural
implication of superficialness, tho marked excellence is at times
attained by _amateurs_. A _connoisseur_ is supposed to be so thoroughly
informed regarding any art or work as to be able to criticize or select
intelligently and authoritatively; there are many incompetent _critics_,
but there can not, in the true sense, be an incompetent _connoisseur_.
The _amateur_ practises to some extent that in regard to which he may
not be well informed; the _connoisseur_ is well informed in regard to
that which he may not practise at all. A _novice_ or _tyro_ may be a
_professional_; an _amateur_ never is; the _amateur_ may be skilled and
experienced as the _novice_ or _tyro_ never is. _Dilettante_, which had
originally the sense of _amateur_, has to some extent come to denote one
who is superficial, pretentious, and affected, whether in theory or
practise.

Preposition:

An amateur _in_ art.

* * *