le; an ancient text is _emended_ by a critic who
believes that what seems to him the better reading is what the author
wrote. Compare ALLEVIATE.

Antonyms:

aggravate, debase, harm, mar, tarnish,
blemish, depress, impair, spoil, vitiate.
corrupt, deteriorate, injure,

* * * * *

AMIABLE.

Synonyms:

agreeable, engaging, lovable, pleasing,
attractive, gentle, lovely, sweet,
benignant, good-natured, loving, winning,
harming, kind, pleasant, winsome.

_Amiable_ combines the senses of _lovable_ or _lovely_ and _loving_; the
_amiable_ character has ready affection and kindliness for others, with
the qualities that are adapted to win their love; _amiable_ is a higher
and stronger word than _good-natured_ or _agreeable_. _Lovely_ is often
applied to externals; as, a _lovely_ face. _Amiable_ denotes a
disposition desirous to cheer, please, and make happy. A selfish man of
the world may have the art to be _agreeable_; a handsome, brilliant, and
witty person may be _charming_ or even _attractive_, while by no means
_amiable_. The _engaging_, _winning_, and _winsome_ add to amiability
something of beauty, accomplishments, and grace. The _benignant_ are
calmly kind, as from a height and a distance. _Kind_, _good-natured_
people may be coarse and rude, and so fail to be _agreeable_ or
_pleasing_; the really _amiable_ are likely to avoid such faults by
their earnest desire to please. The _good-natured_ have an easy
disposition to get along comfortably with every one in all
circumstances. A _sweet_ disposition is very sure to be _amiable_, the
_loving_ heart bringing out all that is _lovable_ and _lovely_ in
character.

Antonyms:

acrimonious, crusty, hateful, ill-tempered, surly,
churlish, disagreeable, ill-conditioned, morose, unamiable,
crabbed, dogged, ill-humored, sour, unlovely,
cruel, gruff, ill-natured, sullen,

* * * * *

AMID.

Synonyms:

amidst, amongst, betwixt, mingled with,
among, between, in the midst of, surrounded by.

_Amid_ or _amidst_ denotes _surrounded by_; _among_ or _amongst_ denotes
_mingled with_. _Between_ (archaic or poetic, _betwixt_) is said of two
persons or objects, or of two groups of persons or objects. "Let there
be no strife, I pray thee, _