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Using Your Thesaurus

Search Help

To search for a word in the thesaurus, tap on your app's search icon (typically a magnifying glass), then type in a word. The most relevant results will be found in the Search Index, an alphabetical list of hyperlinks to all main entry words in the thesaurus. It is placed at the start of the ebook so the search will find relevant results here first; later search results may be less useful, as they typically include every occurrence of the word in the ebook.

If your e-reading app does not have a search feature, we recommend browsing the thesaurus instead. To do this, go to the Table of Contents and select Search Index A-Z. Select a letter, then select the link to the appropriate range of words. Scroll until you find the desired word, then tap on the hyperlink.

Guide to Entries

Main Entry Words

Main entry words are printed in large bold type:

eagerness

Variant Spellings

Common acceptable variant spellings are shown in full:

email or e-mail NOUN

Fixed Phrases

Fixed phrases are printed in small bold type introduced by a circular bullet:

empathize VERB

● empathize with = identify with, understand, relate to, feel for, sympathize with, have a rapport with, feel at one with, be on the same wavelength as

Parts of Speech

Parts of speech are shown in small capitals. Where a word has several senses for one part of speech, the senses are numbered:

edition NOUN

1 a rare first edition of a Dickens novel = printing, publication 2 The Christmas edition of the catalogue is out now. = copy, impression, number 3 = version, volume, issue 4 We'll be back in our next edition in a week's time. = programme (TV, Radio)

A change in part of speech is indicated by a solid arrow:

elbow NOUN The boat was moored at the elbow of the river. = joint, turn, corner, bend, angle, curve ▸ VERB They elbowed me out of the way. = push, force, crowd (informal), shoulder, knock, bump, shove, nudge, jostle, hustle

Alternatives

The key synonym for each sense is given in bold type, with other alternatives given in roman:

ear NOUN

1 He has a fine ear for music. = sensitivity, taste, discrimination, appreciation, musical perception

Examples

Example sentences are given in italics:

eve NOUN

1 the eve of his 27th birthday = night before, day before, vigil 2 when Europe stood on the eve of war in 1914 = brink, point, edge, verge, threshold

Opposites

Opposites are given after the list of alternatives and are introduced by a solid square:

edible ADJECTIVE = safe to eat, harmless, wholesome, palatable, digestible, eatable, comestible (rare), fit to eat, good ◼ OPPOSITE: inedible

Related Words

Related words are introduced by a solid square:

sky NOUN = heavens, firmament, upper atmosphere, azure (poetic), welkin (archaic), vault of heaven, rangi (N.Z.) ◼ RELATED WORD: adjective celestial

Labels

Labels show the restricted region or register of a word or phrase:

evening NOUN = dusk (archaic), night, sunset, twilight, sundown, eve, vesper (archaic), eventide (archaic, poetic), gloaming (Scot. poetic), e'en (archaic, poetic), close of day, crepuscule, even, evo (Austral. slang)

Usage Notes

Usage notes are introduced by the heading USAGE:

USAGE The spelling of elusive, as in a shy, elusive character, should be noted. This adjective derives from the verb elude, and should not be confused with the rare word illusive meaning `not real' or `based on illusion'.

Cross References

Cross references refer the user to another entry where full information is given.

enquire see inquire