4. Find the dominant synonym in the following groups of synonyms. Explain your choice.

to glimmer — to glisten — to blaze — to shine — to sparkle — to flash — to gleam;

to glare — to gaze — to peep — to look — to stare — to glance;

to astound — to surprise — to amaze — to puzzle — to astonish;

strange — quaint — odd — queer;

to saunter — to stroll — to wander — to walk — to roam;

scent — perfume — smell — odour — aroma;

to brood — to reflect — to meditate — to think;

to fabricate — to manufacture — to produce — to create — to make;

furious — enraged — angry;

to sob — to weep — to cry;

exact — precise — accurate;

savage — uncivilized — barbarous;

hide — conceal — disguise;

agree — approve — consent;

cry — weep — scream — shriek;

lazy — indolent — idle — vain;

clever — able — intelligent — keen — sharp;

ignorant — illiterate — uneducated — misinformed;

agile — nimble — alert — quick — brisk — active.

4. Arrange the following ideographic synonyms according to their degree of intensity. Translate them into Russian. Use them in sentences of your own.

Ask, implore, beg.

Longing, desire, wish.

Wither, decay, fade.

Handsome, pretty, beautiful.

Irritate, annoy.

Pierce, penetrate.

Alarmed, frightened, terrified.

Abominable, detestable, execrable.

Happiness, pleasure, delight.

Astonishment, consternation, surprise.

Excuse, pardon, forgive.

Accident, disaster, misfortune.

Malicious, naughty, nasty, wicked.

Genius, capability, talent.

6. Classify, the following synonyms in two columns according to:

A. Degree (intensity) of the referent;

B. Brief or lengthy duration of the referent.

1. gratify, please, exalt, content, satisfy, delight;

2. cry, weep, sob;

3. glance, gaze, glare, stare;

4. tremble, shiver, shudder, shake;

5. worship, love, like, adore, admire;

6. talk, say, tell, speak;

7. roar, shout, cry. bellow, yell;

8. astound, surprise, amaze, astonish;

9. cold, cool, chilly;

10. want, long, yearn, desire, wish;

11. vast, immense, large.

7. Comment on the stylistic usage of the synonyms. Point out euphemistic, archaic, poetical, and dialectal synonyms.

girl — lass

trousers — unmentionables

pretty — bonny

possible — feasible

shut up! — hush!

toothpowder — dentifrice

learned — erudite

good-bye — farewell

stomach — belly

gay — blithe

foolish — unwise

evening — eventide

lodger — paying guest

yes — aye

also — eke

musician — minstrel

lake — mere

country — clime

fighting man — warrior

bomb — device

7. Analyse the reasons for using the euphemisms given below and classify them according to the following groups:

1. superstitious taboos (devil — deuce, dickens);

2. social and moral taboos (to spit — to expectorate, pantaloons — nether garments);

3. the need to soften painful news (to die — to pass away, to be no more);

4. using a learned word which sounds less familiar, hence less offensive (overeating — indigestion).

Translate them into Russian.

To eat — to partake of food, to partake of refreshment, to refresh oneself.

To die — to breathe one's last, to depart this life, to pay one's debt to nature, to go to one's last home, to go the way of all flesh, to kick the bucket, to hop the twig, to join the majority.

Mad — deranged, insane.

Cemetery — memorial park, necropolis.

Sweat — perspiration.

Foolish — unwise.

God — Dear me! Oh, my! Good gracious! Golly! Gosh!

Trousers — inexpressibles, inexplicables, indescribables, unmentionables, unwhisperables, one's mustn't -mention -'ems, one's sit-upons, sine qua non, drawers, pants.

Pawn-shop — loan-office.

Pregnant — in the family way, in an interesting (delicate) condition.

Toilet — water-closet, retiring room, public comfort station, ladies and gents, loo.