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phatic to be disregarded. Compare CLEAR. Antonyms: ambiguous, implicit, indefinite, uncertain, doubtful, implied, indeterminate, vague. * * * * * EXTEMPORANEOUS. Synonyms: extemporary, impromptu, offhand, extempore, improvised, unpremeditated. _Extemporaneous_, originally signifying _of_ or _from the time_ or _occasion_, has come to mean done or made with but little (if any) preparation, and is now chiefly applied to addresses of which the thought has been prepared, and only the language and incidental treatment left to the suggestion of the moment, so that an _extemporaneous_ speech is understood to be any one that is not read or recited; _impromptu_ keeps its original sense, denoting something that springs from the instant; the _impromptu_ utterance is generally brief, direct, and vigorous; the _extemporaneous_ speech may chance to be prosy. _Offhand_ is still more emphatic as to the readiness and freedom of the utterance. _Unpremeditated_ is graver and more formal, denoting absolute want of preparation, but is rather too heavy a word to be applied to such apt, ready utterance as is generally designated by _impromptu_. Antonyms: elaborated, premeditated, prepared, read, recited, studied, written. * * * * * EXTERMINATE. Synonyms: annihilate, eradicate, overthrow, uproot, banish, expel, remove, wipe out. destroy, extirpate, root out, _Exterminate_ (L. _ex_, out, and _terminus_, a boundary) signified primarily to drive beyond the bounds or limits of a country; the word is applied to races of men or animals, and is now almost exclusively used for removal by death; individuals are now said to be _banished_ or _expelled_. _Eradicate_ (L. _e_, out, and _radix_, root) is primarily applied to numbers or groups of plants which it is desired to remove effectually from the soil; a single tree may be _uprooted_, but is not said to be _eradicated_; we labor to _eradicate_ or _root out_ noxious weeds. To _extirpate_ (L. _ex_, out, and _stirps_, stem, stock) is not only to _destroy_ the individuals of any race of plants or animals, but the very stock, so that the race can never be restored; we speak of _eradicating_ a disease, of _extirpating_ a cancer, _exterminating_ wild beasts or hostile tribes; we seek to _eradicate_ or _extirpate_ all vices and evils. Compare ABOLISH.
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