he wise. "I might have been _abashed_ by their authority."
GLADSTONE _Homeric Synchron._, p. 72. [H. '76.] To _confuse_ is to bring
into a state of mental bewilderment; to _confound_ is to overwhelm the
mental faculties; to _daunt_ is to subject to a certain degree of fear.
_Embarrass_ is a strong word, signifying primarily hamper, hinder,
impede. A solitary thinker may be _confused_ by some difficulty in a
subject, or some mental defect; one is _embarrassed_ in the presence of
others, and because of their presence. Confusion is of the intellect,
embarrassment of the feelings. A witness may be _embarrassed_ by
annoying personalities, so as to become _confused_ in statements. To
_mortify_ a person is to bring upon him a painful sense of humiliation,
whether because of his own or another's fault or failure. A pupil is
_confused_ by a perplexing question, a general _confounded_ by
overwhelming defeat. A hostess is _discomposed_ by the tardiness of
guests, a speaker _disconcerted_ by a failure of memory. The criminal
who is not _abashed_ at detection may be _daunted_ by the officer's
weapon. Sudden joy may _bewilder_, but will not _abash_. The true
worshiper is _humbled_ rather than _abashed_ before God. The parent is
_mortified_ by the child's rudeness, the child _abashed_ at the parent's
reproof. The _embarrassed_ speaker finds it difficult to proceed. The
mob is _overawed_ by the military, the hypocrite _shamed_ by exposure.
"A man whom no denial, no scorn could _abash_." FIELDING _Amelia_ bk.
iii, ch. 9, p. 300. [B. & S. '71.] Compare CHAGRIN; HINDER.

Antonyms:

animate, cheer, encourage, rally,
buoy, embolden, inspirit, uphold.

* * * * *

ABATE.

Synonyms:

decline, ebb, mitigate, reduce,
decrease, lessen, moderate, subside.
diminish, lower,

The storm, the fever, the pain _abates_. Interest _declines_.
Misfortunes may be _mitigated_, desires _moderated_, intense anger
_abated_, population _decreased_, taxes _reduced_. We _abate_ a
nuisance, _terminate_ a controversy, _suppress_ a rebellion. See
ALLEVIATE.

Antonyms:

aggravate, enhance, foment, rage,
amplify, enlarge, increase, raise,
continue, extend, magnify, revive.
develop,

Prepositions:

Abate _in_ fury; abated _by_ law.

* * * * *

ABBREVIATION.

Synonyms:

abridgment, contraction.

An _abbreviation_ is a shorte