cially in a natural, regular, or orderly way; as, the _transition_
from spring to summer, or from youth to manhood. An _innovation_ is a
_change_ that breaks in upon an established order or custom; as, an
_innovation_ in religion or politics. For the distinctions between the
other words compare the synonyms for CHANGE, _v._ In the religious sense
_regeneration_ is the vital _renewing_ of the soul by the power of the
divine Spirit; _conversion_ is the conscious and manifest _change_ from
evil to good, or from a lower to a higher spiritual state; as, in _Luke_
xxii, 32, "when thou art _converted_, strengthen thy brethren." In
popular use _conversion_ is the most common word to express the idea of
_regeneration_.

Antonyms:

constancy, fixedness, invariability, steadiness,
continuance, fixity, permanence, unchangeableness,
firmness, identity, persistence, uniformity.

Prepositions:

We have made a change _for_ the better; the change _from_ winter to
spring; the change _of_ a liquid _to_ or _into_ a gas; a change _in_
quality; a change _by_ absorption or oxidation.

* * * * *

CHARACTER.

Synonyms:

constitution, genius, personality, reputation, temper,
disposition, nature, record, spirit, temperament.

_Character_ is what one is; _reputation_, what he is thought to be; his
_record_ is the total of his known action or inaction. As a rule, a
man's _record_ will substantially express his _character_; his
_reputation_ may be higher or lower than his _character_ or _record_
will justify. _Repute_ is a somewhat formal word, with the same general
sense as _reputation_. One's _nature_ includes all his original
endowments or propensities; _character_ includes both natural and
acquired traits. We speak of one's physical _constitution_ as strong or
weak, etc., and figuratively, always with the adjective, of his mental
or moral _constitution_. Compare CHARACTERISTIC.

Prepositions:

The witness has a character _for_ veracity; his character is _above_
suspicion; the character _of_ the applicant.

* * * * *

CHARACTERISTIC.

Synonyms:

attribute, feature, peculiarity, sign, trace,
character, indication, property, singularity, trait.
distinction, mark, quality,

A _characteristic_ belongs to the nature or _character_ of the person,
thing, or class, and serves to i