Comments on: On the Use of “Nemesis”

By: Daniel "Jester"

Daniel "Jester" — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:49:45 +0000

Arch Enemy is also a Melodic Death Metal Band, not very good in my opinion.

By: Leisureguy

Leisureguy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:03:35 +0000

I find that I use it often when I’m looking for just the right word. To take an example at random: Disinclined.

I look it up, and I find that there’s a little cluster of words with similar but distinct meanings: disinclined, indisposed, hesitant, reluctant, loath, averse. Each is discussed (with examples) to distinguish it from the others.

Analogous words are also listed for further exploration: Antipathetic, unsympathetic: opposing, resisting (see “resist”): balking, shying, boggling, sticking, stickling (see “demur”): objecting, protesting (see “object”, verb). And antonyms are provided as well.

It’s an invaluable book if you like to use precisely the right word. As Mark Twain wrote, the difference between the right word and the word that’s almost right is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.

By: Maeve

Maeve — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:51:34 +0000

Leisureguy,
I followed your link. This looks like a book for the serious word lover.

Thanks,
Maeve

By: Leisureguy

Leisureguy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:49:52 +0000

Every writer should surely have a copy of Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms: A Dictionary of Discriminated Synonyms With Antonyms and Analogous and Contrasted Words and spend some time each day reading it.