legal_ or
_unlawful_. As a general rule, all acts punishable by fine or
imprisonment or both, are _criminal_ in view of the law. It is _illegal_
for a man to trespass on another's land, but it is not _criminal_; the
trespasser is liable to a civil suit for damages, but not to indictment,
fine, or imprisonment. A _felonious_ act is a _criminal_ act of an
aggravated kind, which is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary
or by death. A _flagitious_ crime is one that brings public odium.
_Vicious_ refers to the indulgence of evil appetites, habits, or
passions; _vicious_ acts are not necessarily _criminal_, or even
_illegal_; we speak of a _vicious_ horse. That which is _iniquitous_,
_i. e._, contrary to equity, may sometimes be done under the forms of
law. Ingratitude is _sinful_, hypocrisy is _wicked_, but neither is
punishable by human law; hence, neither is _criminal_ or _illegal_.
Compare SIN.

Antonyms:

innocent, lawful, meritorious, right,
just, legal, moral, virtuous.

* * * * *

DAILY.

Synonym:

diurnal.

_Daily_ is the Saxon and popular, _diurnal_ the Latin and scientific
term. In strict usage, _daily_ is the antonym of _nightly_ as _diurnal_
is of _nocturnal_. _Daily_ is not, however, held strictly to this use; a
physician makes _daily_ visits if he calls at some time within each
period of twenty-four hours. _Diurnal_ is more exact in all its uses; a
_diurnal_ flower opens or blooms only in daylight; a _diurnal_ bird or
animal flies or ranges only by day: in contradistinction to _nocturnal_
flowers, birds, etc. A _diurnal_ motion exactly fills an astronomical
day or the time of one rotation of a planet on its axis, while a _daily_
motion is much less definite.

Antonyms:

nightly, nocturnal.

* * * * *

DANGER.

Synonyms:

hazard, insecurity, jeopardy, peril, risk.

_Danger_ is exposure to possible evil, which may be either near and
probable or remote and doubtful; _peril_ is exposure to imminent and
sharply threatening evil, especially to such as results from violence.
An invalid may be in _danger_ of consumption; a disarmed soldier is in
_peril_ of death. _Jeopardy_ is nearly the same as _peril_, but
involves, like _risk_, more of the element of chance or uncertainty; a
man tried upon a capital charge is said to be put in _jeopardy_ of life.
_Insecurity_ is a feeble word, but exceeding