sediment.

* * * * *

QUEER.

Synonyms:

anomalous, erratic, odd, strange,
bizarre, extraordinary, peculiar, uncommon,
comical, fantastic, preposterous, unique,
crotchety, funny, quaint, unmatched,
curious, grotesque, ridiculous, unusual,
droll, laughable, singular, whimsical.
eccentric, ludicrous,

_Odd_ is unmated, as an _odd_ shoe, and so uneven, as an _odd_ number.
_Singular_ is alone of its kind; as, the _singular_ number. What is
_singular_ is _odd_, but what is _odd_ may not be _singular_; as, a
drawerful of _odd_ gloves. A _strange_ thing is something hitherto
unknown in fact or in cause. A _singular_ coincidence is one the
happening of which is unusual; a _strange_ coincidence is one the cause
of which is hard to explain. That which is _peculiar_ belongs especially
to a person as his own; as, Israel was called Jehovah's "_peculiar_
people," _i. e._, especially chosen and cherished by him; in its
ordinary use there is the implication that the thing _peculiar_ to one
is not common to the majority nor quite approved by them, though it may
be shared by many; as, the Shakers are _peculiar_. _Eccentric_ is off or
aside from the center, and so off or aside from the ordinary and what is
considered the normal course; as, genius is commonly _eccentric_.
_Eccentric_ is a higher and more respectful word than _odd_ or _queer_.
_Erratic_ signifies wandering, a stronger and more censorious term than
_eccentric_. _Queer_ is transverse or oblique, aside from the common in
a way that is _comical_ or perhaps slightly _ridiculous_. _Quaint_
denotes that which is pleasingly _odd_ and fanciful, often with
something of the antique; as, the _quaint_ architecture of medieval
towns. That which is _funny_ is calculated to provoke laughter; that
which is _droll_ is more quietly amusing. That which is _grotesque_ in
the material sense is irregular or misshapen in form or outline or
ill-proportioned so as to be somewhat _ridiculous_; the French _bizarre_
is practically equivalent to _grotesque_.

Antonyms:

common, familiar, normal, regular,
customary, natural, ordinary, usual.

* * * * *

QUICKEN.

Synonyms:

accelerate, drive on, hasten, promote,
advance, expedite, hurry, speed,
despatch, facilitate, make haste, urg