mplished or the result to be
attained, and is understood to be original. One may make a _drawing_ of
any well-known mechanism, or a _drawing_ from another man's _design_;
but if he says, "The _design_ is mine," he claims it as his own
invention or composition. In written composition an _outline_ gives
simply the main divisions, and in the case of a sermon is often called a
_skeleton_; a somewhat fuller suggestion of illustration, treatment, and
style is given in a _sketch_. A lawyer's _brief_ is a succinct statement
of the main facts involved in a case, and of the main heads of his
argument on points of law, with reference to authorities cited; the
_brief_ has none of the vagueness of a _sketch_, being sufficiently
exact and complete to form, on occasion, the basis for the decision of
the court without oral argument, when the case is said to be "submitted
on _brief_." Compare DESIGN.

* * * * *

SKILFUL.

Synonyms:

accomplished, apt, dexterous, happy, proficient,
adept, clever, expert, ingenious, skilled,
adroit, deft, handy, practised, trained.

_Skilful_ signifies possessing and using readily practical knowledge and
ability, having alert and well-trained faculties with reference to a
given work. One is _adept_ in that for which he has a natural gift
improved by practise; he is _expert_ in that of which training,
experience, and study have given him a thorough mastery; he is
_dexterous_ in that which he can do effectively, with or without
training, especially in work of the hand or bodily activities. In the
case of the noun, "an expert" denotes one who is "experienced" in the
fullest sense, a master of his branch of knowledge. A _skilled_ workman
is one who has thoroughly learned his trade, though he may be naturally
quite dull; a _skilful_ workman has some natural brightness, ability,
and power of adaptation, in addition to his acquired knowledge and
dexterity. Compare CLEVER; DEXTERITY; POWER.

Antonyms:

awkward, clumsy, inexpert, shiftless, unskilled, untrained.
bungling, helpless, maladroit, unhandy, untaught,

Prepositions:

Skilful _at_ or _in_ a work, _with_ a pen or tool of any kind.

* * * * *

SLANDER.

Synonyms:

asperse, decry, disparage, revile,
backbite, defame, libel, traduce,
calumniate, depreciate, malign, vilify.

To