beautiful_; we may even say a _handsome_ villain. _Fair_
denotes what is bright, smooth, clear, and without blemish; as, a _fair_
face. The word applies wholly to what is superficial; we can say
"_fair_, yet false." In a specific sense, _fair_ has the sense of blond,
as opposed to dark or brunette. One who possesses vivacity, wit, good
nature, or other pleasing qualities may be _attractive_ without beauty.
_Comely_ denotes an aspect that is smooth, genial, and wholesome, with a
certain fulness of contour and pleasing symmetry, tho falling short of
the _beautiful_; as, a _comely_ matron. That is _picturesque_ which
would make a striking picture.

Antonyms:

awkward, frightful, grotesque, repulsive, uncouth,
clumsy, ghastly, hideous, shocking, ungainly,
deformed, grim, horrid, ugly, unlovely,
disgusting, grisly, odious, unattractive, unpleasant.

Prepositions:

Beautiful _to_ the eye; beautiful _in_ appearance, _in_ spirit;
"beautiful _for_ situation," _Ps._ xlviii, 2; beautiful _of_ aspect,
_of_ its kind.

* * * * *

BECAUSE.

Synonyms:

as, for, inasmuch as, since.

_Because_, literally _by_-cause, is the most direct and complete word
for giving the reason of a thing. _Since_, originally denoting
succession in time, signifies a succession in a chain of reasoning, a
natural inference or result. _As_ indicates something like, coordinate,
parallel. _Since_ is weaker than _because_; _as_ is weaker than _since_;
either may introduce the reason before the main statement; thus, _since_
or _as_ you are going, I will accompany you. Often the weaker word is
the more courteous, implying less constraint; for example, _as_ you
request it, I will come, rather than I will come _because_ you request
it. _Inasmuch as_ is a formal and qualified expression, implying by just
so much, and no more; thus, _inasmuch as_ the debtor has no property, I
abandon the claim. _For_ is a loose connective, giving often mere
suggestion or indication rather than reason or cause; as, it is morning,
_for_ (not _because_) the birds are singing.

Antonyms:

altho, however, nevertheless, notwithstanding, yet.

Compare synonyms for BUT; NOTWITHSTANDING.

* * * * *

BECOMING.

Synonyms:

befitting, congruous, fit, meet, seemly,
beseeming, decent, fitting, neat, suitable,
com