ny,
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ALARM.
Synonyms:
affright, disquietude, fright, solicitude,
apprehension, dread, misgiving, terror,
consternation, fear, panic, timidity.
dismay,
_Alarm_, according to its derivation _all'arme_, "to arms," is an
arousing to meet and repel danger, and may be quite consistent with true
courage. _Affright_ and _fright_ express sudden _fear_ which, for the
time at least, overwhelms courage. The sentinel discovers with _alarm_
the sudden approach of the enemy; the unarmed villagers view it with
_affright_. _Apprehension_, _disquietude_, _dread_, _misgiving_, and
_solicitude_ are in anticipation of danger; _consternation_, _dismay_,
and _terror_ are overwhelming _fear_, generally in the actual presence
of that which is terrible, though these words also may have an
anticipative force. _Timidity_ is a quality, habit, or condition, a
readiness to be affected with _fear_. A person of great _timidity_ is
constantly liable to needless _alarm_ and even _terror_. Compare FEAR.
Antonyms:
assurance, calmness, confidence, repose, security.
Prepositions:
Alarm was felt _in_ the camp, _among_ the soldiers, _at_ the news.
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ALERT.
Synonyms:
active, lively, prepared, vigilant,
brisk, nimble, prompt, watchful,
hustling, on the watch, ready, wide-awake.
_Alert_, _ready_, and _wide-awake_ refer to a watchful promptness for
action. _Ready_ suggests thoughtful preparation; the wandering Indian is
_alert_, the trained soldier is _ready_. _Ready_ expresses more life and
vigor than _prepared_. The gun is _prepared_; the man is _ready_.
_Prompt_ expresses readiness for appointment or demand at the required
moment. The good general is _ready_ for emergencies, _alert_ to perceive
opportunity or peril, _prompt_ to seize occasion. The sense of _brisk_,
_nimble_ is the secondary and now less common signification of _alert_.
Compare ACTIVE; ALIVE; NIMBLE; VIGILANT.
Antonyms:
drowsy, dull, heavy, inactive, slow, sluggish, stupid.
* * * * *
ALIEN, _a._
Synonyms:
conflicting, distant, inappropriate, strange,
contradictory, foreign, irrelevant, unconnected,
contrary, hostile, opposed, unlike.
contrasted, impertinent, remote,
_Foreign_ refers to differenc
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