t assemblage of faculties which is concerned with
knowledge, as distinguished from emotion and volition. _Understanding_
is the Saxon word of the same general import, but is chiefly used of the
reasoning powers; the _understanding_, which Sir Wm. Hamilton has called
"the faculty of relations and comparisons," is distinguished by many
philosophers from _reason_ in that "_reason_ is the faculty of the
higher cognitions or a priori truth."

Antonyms:

body, brawn, brute force, material substance, matter.

* * * * *

MINUTE.

Synonyms:

circumstantial, diminutive, little, slender,
comminuted, exact, particular, small,
critical, fine, precise, tiny.
detailed,

That is _minute_ which is of exceedingly limited dimensions, as a grain
of dust, or which attends to matters of exceedingly slight amount or
apparent importance; as, a _minute_ account; _minute_ observation. That
which is broken up into _minute_ particles is said to be _comminuted_;
things may be termed _fine_ which would not be termed _comminuted_; as,
_fine_ sand; _fine_ gravel; but, in using the adverb, we say a substance
is finely _comminuted_, _comminuted_ referring more to the process,
_fine_ to the result. An account extended to very _minute_ particulars
is _circumstantial_, _detailed_, _particular_; an examination so
extended is _critical_, _exact_, _precise_. Compare FINE.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for LARGE.

* * * * *

MISFORTUNE.

Synonyms:

adversity, disappointment, ill fortune, ruin,
affliction, disaster, ill luck, sorrow,
bereavement, distress, misadventure, stroke,
blow, failure, mischance, trial,
calamity, hardship, misery, tribulation,
chastening, harm, mishap, trouble,
chastisement, ill, reverse, visitation.

_Misfortune_ is adverse fortune or any instance thereof, any untoward
event, usually of lingering character or consequences, and such as the
sufferer is not deemed directly responsible for; as, he had the
_misfortune_ to be born blind. Any considerable _disappointment_,
_failure_, or _misfortune_, as regards outward circumstances, as loss of
fortune, position, and the like, when long continued or attended with
enduring consequences, constitutes _adversity_. For the loss of friends
by death we