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INJURY.
Synonyms:
blemish, disadvantage, hurt, loss, prejudice,
damage, evil, impairment, mischief, wrong.
detriment, harm, injustice, outrage,
_Injury_ (L. _in_, not, and _jus, juris_, right, law) signifies
primarily something done contrary to law or right; hence, something
contrary to some standard of right or good; whatever reduces the value,
utility, beauty, or desirableness of anything is an _injury_ to that
thing; of persons, whatever is so done as to operate adversely to one in
his person, rights, property, or reputation is an _injury_; the word is
especially used of whatever mars the integrity of the body or causes
pain; as, when rescued from the wreck his _injuries_ were found to be
very slight. _Injury_ is the general term including all the rest.
_Damage_ (L. _damnum_, loss) is that which occasions _loss_ to the
possessor; hence, any impairment of value, often with the suggestion of
fault on the part of the one causing it; _damage_ reduces value,
utility, or beauty; _detriment_ (L. _deterere_, to rub or wear away) is
similar in meaning, but far milder. _Detriment_ may affect value only;
_damage_ always affects real worth or utility; as a rule, the slightest
use of an article by a purchaser operates to its _detriment_ if again
offered for sale, tho the article may have received not the slightest
_damage_. _Damage_ is partial; _loss_ is properly absolute as far as it
is predicated at all; the _loss_ of a ship implies that it is gone
beyond recovery; the _loss_ of the rudder is a _damage_ to the ship; but
since the _loss_ of a part still leaves a part, we may speak of a
partial or a total _loss_. _Evil_ commonly suggests suffering or sin, or
both; as, the _evils_ of poverty, the social _evil_. _Harm_ is closely
synonymous with _injury_; it may apply to body, mind, or estate, but
always affects real worth, while _injury_ may concern only estimated
value. A _hurt_ is an _injury_ that causes pain, physical or mental; a
slight _hurt_ may be no real _harm_. _Mischief_ is disarrangement,
trouble, or _harm_ usually caused by some voluntary agent, with or
without injurious intent; a child's thoughtless sport may do great
_mischief_; _wrong_ is _harm_ done with _evil_ intent. An _outrage_
combines insult and _injury_. Compare synonyms for BLEMISH; CRIMINAL;
INJUSTICE.
Antonyms:
advantage, benefit, boon, improvement, service,
ameliorati
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