ority_ conferred; the sheriff has
_authority_ (not _permission_ nor _license_) to make an arrest.
_Consent_ is _permission_ by the concurrence of wills in two or more
persons, a mutual approval or acceptance of something proposed. Compare
ALLOW.

Antonyms:

denial, objection, prevention, refusal, resistance.
hindrance, opposition, prohibition,

* * * * *

PERNICIOUS.

Synonyms:

bad, evil, mischievous, pestilential,
baneful, foul, noisome, poisonous,
deadly, harmful, noxious, ruinous,
deleterious, hurtful, perverting, unhealthful,
destructive, injurious, pestiferous, unwholesome.
detrimental, insalubrious,

_Pernicious_ (L. _per_, through, and _neco_, kill) signifies having the
power of destroying or injuring, tending to hurt or kill. _Pernicious_
is stronger than _injurious_; that which is _injurious_ is capable of
doing harm; that which is _pernicious_ is likely to be _destructive_.
_Noxious_ (L. _noceo_, hurt) is a stronger word than _noisome_, as
referring to that which is _injurious_ or _destructive_. _Noisome_ now
always denotes that which is extremely disagreeable or disgusting,
especially to the sense of smell; as, the _noisome_ stench proclaimed
the presence of _noxious_ gases.

Antonyms:

advantageous, favorable, helpful, profitable, serviceable,
beneficent, good, invigorating, rejuvenating, useful,
beneficial, healthful, life-giving, salutary, wholesome.

* * * * *

PERPLEXITY.

Synonyms:

amazement, bewilderment, distraction, doubt,
astonishment, confusion, disturbance, embarrassment.

_Perplexity_ (L. _per_, through, and _plecto_, plait) is the drawing or
turning of the thoughts or faculties by turns in different directions or
toward contrasted or contradictory conclusions; _confusion_ (L.
_confusus_, from _confundo_, pour together) is a state in which the
mental faculties are, as it were, thrown into chaos, so that the clear
and distinct action of the different powers, as of perception, memory,
reason, and will is lost; _bewilderment_ is akin to _confusion_, but is
less overwhelming, and more readily recovered from; _perplexity_,
accordingly, has not the unsettling of the faculties implied in
_confusion_, nor the overwhelming of the faculties implied in
_amazement_ or _astonishm