sert_ himself, or _assert_ his right to what he is willing to contend
for; or he may _assert_ in discussion what he is ready to maintain by
argument or evidence. To _assert_ without proof is always to lay oneself
open to the suspicion of having no proof to offer, and seems to arrogate
too much to one's personal authority, and hence in such cases both the
verb _assert_ and its noun _assertion_ have an unfavorable sense; we say
a mere _assertion_, a bare _assertion_, his unsupported _assertion_; he
_asserted_ his innocence has less force than he _affirmed_ or
_maintained_ his innocence. _Affirm_, _state_, and _tell_ have not the
controversial sense of _assert_, but are simply declarative. To
_vindicate_ is to defend successfully what is assailed. Almost every
criminal will _assert_ his innocence; the honest man will seldom lack
means to _vindicate_ his integrity.

Antonyms:

contradict, controvert, disprove, gainsay, refute, retract,
contravene, deny, dispute, oppose, repudiate, waive.

* * * * *

STEEP.

Synonyms:

abrupt, high, precipitous, sharp, sheer.

_High_ is used of simple elevation; _steep_ is said only of an incline
where the vertical measurement is sufficiently great in proportion to
the horizontal to make it difficult of ascent. _Steep_ is relative; an
ascent of 100 feet to the mile on a railway is a _steep_ grade; a rise
of 500 feet to the mile makes a _steep_ wagon-road; a roof is _steep_
when it makes with the horizontal line an angle of more than 45 deg.. A
_high_ mountain may be climbed by a winding road nowhere _steep_, while
a little hill may be accessible only by a _steep_ path. A _sharp_
ascent or descent is one that makes a sudden, decided angle with the
plane from which it starts; a _sheer_ ascent or descent is
perpendicular, or nearly so; _precipitous_ applies to that which is of
the nature of a precipice, and is used especially of a descent; _abrupt_
is as if broken sharply off, and applies to either acclivity or
declivity. Compare HIGH.

Antonyms:

easy, flat, gentle, gradual, horizontal, level, low, slight.

* * * * *

STORM.

Synonyms:

agitation, disturbance, tempest.

A _storm_ is properly a _disturbance_ of the atmosphere, with or without
rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning. Thus we have rain-_storm_,
snow-_storm_, etc., and by extension, magnetic _storm_. A