r _litter_ are related to each other; those in
the other _groups_ may not be. _Brood_ is used chiefly of fowls and
birds, _litter_ of certain quadrupeds which bring forth many young at a
birth; we speak of a _brood_ of chickens, a _litter_ of puppies; _brood_
is sometimes applied to a family of young children. _Bevy_ is used of
birds, and figuratively of any bright and lively _group_ of women or
children, but rarely of men. _Flock_ is applied to birds and to some of
the smaller animals; _herd_ is confined to the larger animals; we speak
of a _bevy_ of quail, a _covey_ of partridges, a _flock_ of blackbirds,
or a _flock_ of sheep, a _herd_ of cattle, horses, buffaloes, or
elephants, a _pack_ of wolves, a _pack_ of hounds, a _swarm_ of bees. A
collection of animals driven or gathered for driving is called a
_drove_.

* * * * *

FLUCTUATE.

Synonyms:

hesitate, swerve, vacillate, veer,
oscillate, undulate, vary, waver.

To _fluctuate_ (L. _fluctus_, a wave) is to move like a wave with
alternate rise and fall. A pendulum _oscillates_; waves _fluctuate_ or
_undulate_; a light or a flame _wavers_; a frightened steed _swerves_
from his course; a tool or weapon _swerves_ from the mark or line; the
temperature _varies_; the wind _veers_ when it suddenly changes its
direction. That which _veers_ may steadily hold the new direction; that
which _oscillates_, _fluctuates_, _undulates_, or _wavers_ returns upon
its way. As regards mental states, he who _hesitates_ sticks (L.
_haerere_) on the verge of decision; he who _wavers_ does not stick to a
decision; he who _vacillates_ decides now one way, and now another; one
_vacillates_ between contrasted decisions or actions; he may _waver_
between decision and indecision, or between action and inaction. Persons
_hesitate_, _vacillate_, _waver_; feelings _fluctuate_ or _vary_.
Compare SHAKE.

Antonyms:

abide, adhere, hold fast, persist, stand fast, stay, stick.

* * * * *

FLUID.

Synonyms:

gas, liquid.

A _fluid_ is a substance that, like air or water, yields to any force
that tends to change its form; a _liquid_ is a body in that state in
which the particles move freely among themselves, but remain in one
mass, keeping the same volume, but taking always the form of the
containing vessel; a _liquid_ is an inelastic _fluid_; a _gas_ is an
elastic _fluid_ that tends to expand to