UNCLE VANYA

Webster’s Thesaurus Edition for PSAT®, SAT®, GRE®, LSAT®, GMAT®, and AP® English Test Preparation

Anton Chekhov

PSAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit ScholarshipCorporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT is a registered trademark of the CollegeBoard which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE, AP and Advanced Placement are registeredtrademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT is aregistered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this booknor endorses this book, LSAT is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neithersponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved.

PSAT® is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE®, AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this book nor endorses this book, LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved.

Uncle Vanya

Webster’s Thesaurus Edition for PSAT®, SAT®, GRE®, LSAT®,

GMAT®, and AP® English Test Preparation

Anton Chekhov

I C O N C L A S S I C S

Published by ICON Group International, Inc. 7404 Trade Street

San Diego, CA 92121 USA

www.icongrouponline.com

Uncle Vanya: Webster’s Thesaurus Edition for PSAT®, SAT®, GRE®, LSAT®, GMAT®, and AP® English Test Preparation

This edition published by ICON Classics in 2005

Printed in the United States of America.

Copyright ©2005 by ICON Group International, Inc. Edited by Philip M. Parker, Ph.D. (INSEAD); Copyright ©2005, all rights reserved.

All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Copying our publications in whole or in part, for whatever reason, is a violation of copyright laws and can lead to penalties and fines. Should you want to copy tables, graphs, or other materials, please contact us to request permission (E-mail: iconedit@san.rr.com). ICON Group often grants permission for very limited reproduction of our publications for internal use, press releases, and academic research. Such reproduction requires confirmed permission from ICON Group International, Inc.

PSAT® is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE®, AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this book nor endorses this book, LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved.

ISBN 0-497-01007-0

iii

Contents

PREFACE FROM THE EDITOR.......................................................................................... 1 PERSONS REPRESENTED ................................................................................................ 3 ACT I ................................................................................................................................ 5 ACT II ............................................................................................................................. 21 ACT III ............................................................................................................................ 41 ACT IV ............................................................................................................................ 61 GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................................... 77

Anton Chekhov 1

PREFACE FROM TH E ED ITOR

Designed for school districts, educators, and students seeking to maximize performance on standardized tests, Webster’s paperbacks take advantage of the fact that classics are frequently assigned readings in English courses. By using a running thesaurus at the bottom of each page, this edition of Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov was edited for students who are actively building their vocabularies in anticipation of taking PSAT®, SAT®, AP® (Advanced Placement®), GRE®, LSAT®, GMAT® or similar examinations.1 Webster’s edition of this classic is organized to expose the reader to a maximum number of synonyms and antonyms for difficult and often ambiguous English words that are encountered in other works of literature, conversation, or academic examinations. Extremely rare or idiosyncratic words and expressions are given lower priority in the notes compared to words which are “difficult, and often encountered” in examinations. Rather than supply a single synonym, many are provided for a variety of meanings, allowing readers to better grasp the ambiguity of the English language, and avoid using the notes as a pure crutch. Having the reader decipher a word’s meaning within context serves to improve vocabulary retention and understanding. Each page covers words not already highlighted on previous pages. If a difficult word is not noted on a page, chances are that it has been highlighted on a previous page. A more complete thesaurus is supplied at the end of the book; Synonyms and antonyms are extracted from Webster’s Online Dictionary. Definitions of remaining terms as well as translations can be found at www.websters-online-dictionary.org. Please send suggestions to websters@icongroupbooks.com

The Editor

Webster’s Online Dictionary www.websters-online-dictionary.org

1 PSAT® is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE®, AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this book nor endorses this book, LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved.

Anton Chekhov 3

PERSO NS % REPRESENTED ALEXANDER SEREBRAKOFF, a retired professor HELENA, his wife, twenty-seven years old SONIA, his daughter by a former marriage MME. VOITSKAYA, widow of a privy councilor, and mother of Serebrakoff's

first wife IVAN (VANYA) VOITSKI, her son MICHAEL ASTROFF, a doctor ILIA (WAFFLES) TELEGIN, an impoverished landowner MARINA, an old nurse A WORKMAN

The SCENE is laid on SEREBRAKOFF'S country place

Thesaurus

councilor: (n) councilman, councillor, deputy.

impoverished: (adj) indigent, broke, needy, poor, penniless, miserable, impecunious, bankrupt, barren, broken, strapped. ANTONYMS: (adj) rich, enriched, solvent.

laid: (adj) layed, lay, place, placed, put, situated, arranged, determined, dictated, hardened, ordered.

landowner: (n) landlord, laird, landholder, proprietor, squire,

owner, Franklin, freeholder, abutter, possessor, landed proprietor. ANTONYM: (n) tenant.

nurse: (n, v) nourish, nurture; (v) look after, entertain, attend, cherish, lactate, harbor, foster, cultivate, cradle.

privy: (adj) confidential, covert, personal, clandestine, ulterior, occult, latent, secret; (n) outhouse, lavatory, loo.

professor: (n) teacher, scholar,

instructor, master, trainer, tutor, don, coach, full professor, connoisseur, academic.

retired: (adj) obscure, secluded, sequestered, solitary, emeritus, secret, lonely, withdrawn, superannuated, close; (adj, v) covert.

widow: (n) woman, relict, widower, adult female, widow woman, war widow, nobbled line; (adj) widowed, additional; (v) leave behind.

Anton Chekhov 5

ACT I

[A country house on a terrace. In front of it a garden. In an avenue of trees, under an old poplar, stands a table set for tea, with a samovar, etc. Some benches and chairs stand near the table. On one of them is lying a guitar. A hammock is swung near the table. It is three o'clock in the afternoon of a cloudy day.] [MARINA, a quiet, grey-haired, little old woman, is sitting at the table knitting a stocking.] [ASTROFF is walking up and down near her.]

MARINA. [Pouring some tea into a glass] Take a little tea, my son.%

ASTROFF. [Takes the glass from her unwillingly] Somehow, I don't seem to want any.

MARINA. Then will you have a little vodka instead?

ASTROFF. No, I don't drink vodka every day, and besides, it is too hot now. [A pause] Tell me, nurse, how lo ng have we known each other?

Thesaurus

avenue: (n) road, route, sort, path, passage, approach, way, means, boulevard, course, lane.

benches: (n) bleachers. chairs: (n) seats. cloudy: (adj) dull, gloomy, nebulous,

murky, dark, turbid, foggy, muddy, misty, sunless, vaporous. ANTONYMS: (adj) clear, bright, sunny, cloudless.

don't: (adv) not; (n) taboo, prohibition.hammock: (n) berth, hill, cot, cradle,

bed, crib, to lash a hammock, stretcher, shakedown, litter, bedstead.

knitting: (n) knitwork, needlework, needlecraft, knitted fabric, web, braid, weave, creating from raw materials, knit stitch.

marina: (n) dock, harbor, port, anchorage, haven, wharf, waterfront, docking facility, quay, dockage.

poplar: (n) poplar tree, abele, cottonwood, hackmatack, wood,

white poplar, angiospermous tree, gray poplar, flowering tree, black poplar, balsam poplar.

samovar: (n) urn. unwillingly: (adv) grudgingly, loathly,

aversely, unenthusiastically, indisposedly, resentfully, involuntarily, recalcitrantly, refractorily, lothly, hesitatingly. ANTONYM: (adv) wholeheartedly.

vodka: (n) spirits, hard drink, liquor, hard liquor, strong drink.

Uncle Vanya 6

MARINA. [Thoughtfully] Let me see, how long is it? Lord--help me to remember. You first came here, into our parts--let me think--when was it? Sonia's mother was still alive--it was two winters before she died; that was eleven years ago--[thoughtfully] perhaps more.%

ASTROFF. Have I changed much since then?

MARINA. Oh, yes. You were handsome and young then, and now you are an old man and not handsome any more. You drink, too.

ASTROFF. Yes, ten years have made me another man. And why? Because I am overworked. Nurse, I am on my feet from dawn till dusk. I know no rest; at night I tremble under my blankets for fear of being dragged out to visit some one who is sick; I have toiled without repose or a day's freedom since I have known you; could I help growing old? And then, existence is tedious, anyway; it is a senseless, dirty business, this life, and goes heavily. Every one about here is silly, and after living with them for two or three years one grows silly oneself. It is inevitable. [Twisting his moustache] See what a long moustache I have grown. A foolish, long moustache. Yes, I am as silly as the rest, nurse, but not as stupid; no, I have not grown stupid. Thank God, my brain is not addled yet, though my feelings have grown numb. I ask nothing, I need nothing, I love no one, unless it is yourself alone. [He kisses her head] I had a nurse just like you when I was a child.

MARINA. Don't you want a bite of something to eat?

ASTROFF. No. During the third week of Lent I went to the epidemic at Malitskoi. It was eruptive typhoid. The peasants were all lying side by side in their huts, and the calves and pigs were running about the floor among the sick. Such dirt there was, and smoke! Unspeakable! I slaved among those people all day,

Thesaurus

addled: (adj) muddled, bewildered, acarpous, unfruitful, arid, infecund, unfertile, unprolific, sterile, stale, tainted.

came: (v) arrive, come. eruptive: (adj) erupting, explosive,

plutonic, eruptional, irruptive, active, intrusive, extrusive.

overworked: (adj) hackneyed, tired, weary, banal, clichd, elaborate, old, worn, unoriginal, trite, timeworn.

repose: (n, v) recline, peace, lie, calm;

(n) composure, ease, quiet, leisure, recreation, relaxation; (v) lay. ANTONYMS: (n, v) work; (n) activity, panic, agitation.

senseless: (adj) foolish, mindless, preposterous, pointless, irrational, absurd, stupid, insensible, idiotic, fatuous, purposeless. ANTONYMS: (adj) meaningful, wise, conscious, provoked, prudent, useful, worthwhile.

tremble: (adj, n, v) shiver; (n, v) quiver,

shudder, thrill, palpitate; (adj, v) totter, quake; (n) throb; (v) flutter, quail, falter. ANTONYMS: (v) steady, calm.

typhoid: (n) typhomania, enteric fever, typhoid fever, infectious disease.

unspeakable: (adj) ineffable, dreadful, awful, terrible, inexpressible, nasty, horrible, atrocious, indefinable, shocking; (adj, v) unutterable. ANTONYMS: (adj) nice, wonderful, pleasant, good, lovely, bearable.

Anton Chekhov 7

not a crumb passed my lips, but when I got home there was still no rest for me; a switchman was carried in from the railroad; I laid him on the operating table and he went and died in my arms under chloroform, and then my feelings that should have been deadened awoke again, my conscience tortured me as if I had killed the man. I sat down and closed my eyes--like this--and thought: will our descendants two hundred years from now, for whom we are breaking the road, remember to give us a kind word? No, nurse, they will forget.%

MARINA. Man is forgetful, but God remembers.

ASTROFF. Thank you for that. You have spoken the truth. [Enter VOITSKI from the house. He has been asleep after dinner and looks rather dishevelled. He sits down on the bench and straightens his collar.]

VOITSKI. H'm. Yes. [A pause] Yes.

ASTROFF. Have you been asleep?

VOITSKI. Yes, very much so. [He yawns] Ever since the Professor and his wife have come, our daily life seems to have jumped the track. I sleep at the wrong time, drink wine, and eat all sorts of messes for luncheon and dinner. It isn't wholesome. Sonia and I used to work together and never had an idle moment, but now Sonia works alone and I only eat and drink and sleep. Something is wrong.

MARINA. [Shaking her head] Such a confusion in the house! The Professor gets up at twelve, the samovar is kept boiling all the morning, and everything has to wait for him. Before they came we used to have dinner at one o'clock, like everybody else, but now we have it at seven. The Professor sits up all night

Thesaurus

chloroform: (adj) anaesthetic agent, opium, ether; (n) put under, chloral; (v) deaden, anesthetize, anaesthetize.

crumb: (adj, n) morsel, seed; (n) fragment, speck, scrap, grain, atom, trace, spot, iota; (adj) scantling. ANTONYMS: (n) pile, mass, lot, heap, chunk.

deadened: (adj) dead, numb, numbed, without sensation, duller, unfeeling, under, frozen, insensible, insensitive, knocked out.

dishevelled: (adj) untidy, tousled, messy, blowzy, rough, frowsy, frowzy, unkempt, sloppy, slovenly; (v) bedraggled.

forgetful: (adj) oblivious, inattentive, negligent, lax, absent-minded, casual, unmindful, neglectful, heedless, unaware; (adj, v) remiss. ANTONYMS: (adj) mindful, watchful, alert, remembering, retentive.

railroad: (n) railway, railway system,

tram road, tramway, rails, doctrine; (v) dragoon, push, coerce, bully, dispatch.

switchman: (n) hostler, manipulator, signalman, operator.

wholesome: (adj) healthy, beneficial, salubrious, healthful, salutary, sound, good, nutritious, nourishing, pure, hale. ANTONYMS: (adj) unwholesome, unhealthy, impure, indecent, sordid, warped, tainted, decadent, deadly, unsavory.

Uncle Vanya 8

writing and reading, and suddenly, at two o'clock, there goes the bell! Heavens, what is that? The Professor wants some tea! Wake the servants, light the samovar! Lord, what disorder!

ASTROFF. Will they be here long?

VOITSKI. A hundred years! The Professor has decided to make his home here.%

MARINA. Look at this now! The samovar has been on the table for two hours, and they are all out walking!

VOITSKI. All right, don't get excited; here they come. [Voices are heard approaching. SEREBRAKOFF, HELENA, SONIA, and TELEGIN come in from the depths of the garden, returning from their walk.]

SEREBRAKOFF. Superb! Superb! What beautiful views!

TELEGIN. They are wonderful, your Excellency.

SONIA. To-morrow we shall go into the woods, shall we, papa?

VOITSKI. Ladies and gentlemen, tea is ready.

SEREBRAKOFF. Won't you please be good enough to send my tea into the library? I still have some work to finish.

SONIA. I am sure you will love the woods.

HELENA, SEREBRAKOFF, and SONIA go into the house. TELEGIN sits down at the table beside MARINA.

Thesaurus

approaching: (adj) future, forthcoming, impending, imminent, oncoming, near; (adj, n) coming; (n, v) approach; (adv) nearly, almost; (prep) toward.

depths: (n) bottom, abyss, depth, lowest point, low point, depression, bowels, rock bottom, slump, midst, nadir. ANTONYM: (n) peak.

disorder: (n, v) ailment, disarray, disease, jumble, muddle; (n) clutter, disturbance, disarrangement; (v)

derange, confuse, perturb. ANTONYMS: (n, v) order; (n) orderliness, calm, peace, tranquility, health; (v) organize, align, arrange, systematize, neaten.

excited: (adj, v) animated, ardent; (adj) ablaze, enthusiastic, emotional, frantic, warm, heated, delirious, fervent, passionate. ANTONYMS: (adj) cool, unexcited, bored, tranquil, easygoing, disappointed, despairing, comatose, apathetic, sedate,

composed. gentlemen: (n) sirs, messieurs. heavens: (n) firmament, heaven, sky,

welkin, sphere, atmosphere, celestial sphere, space, skies, area, vault of heaven.

papa: (n) father, pa, daddy, Dada, sire, pappa, pop, old man, paterfamilias, cardinal, high priest.

servants: (n) staff, suite. sits: (n) sat. voices: (n) chorus.

Anton Chekhov 9

VOITSKI. There goes our learned scholar on a hot, sultry day like this, in his overcoat and goloshes and carrying an umbrella!

ASTROFF. He is trying to take good care of his health.%

VOITSKI. How lovely she is! How lovely! I have never in my life seen a more beautiful woman.

TELEGIN. Do you know, Marina, that as I walk in the fields or in the shady garden, as I look at this table here, my heart swells with unbounded happiness. The weather is enchanting, the birds are singing, we are all living in peace and contentment--what more could the soul desire? [Takes a glass of tea.]

VOITSKI. [Dreaming] Such eyes--a glorious woman!

ASTROFF. Come, Ivan, tell us something.

VOITSKI. [Indolently] What shall I tell you?

ASTROFF. Haven't you any news for us?

VOITSKI. No, it is all stale. I am just the same as usual, or perhaps worse, because I have become lazy. I don't do anything now but croak like an old raven. My mother, the old magpie, is still chattering about the emancipation of woman, with one eye on her grave and the other on her learned books, in which she is always looking for the dawn of a new life.

ASTROFF. And the Professor?

Thesaurus

chattering: (n) chatter, cackle, yak, grabbing, claver; (adj) talkative, loquacious, noisy, gabby, garrulous; (v) natter.

croak: (v) buy the farm, mutter, murmur, complain, conk, maunder, growl, perish, expire, decease; (n) croaking.

enchanting: (adj) captivating, delightful, fascinating, bewitching, lovely, alluring, magical, glamorous, adorable; (adj, v) charming, engaging.

ANTONYMS: (adj) unhappy, revolting, repulsive, repellent, foul, everyday, dull, disenchanting, annoying, uninteresting, despicable.

magpie: (n) pie, chatterbox, gossip, mag, babbler, chatterer, prater, cotinga, accumulator; (v) parrot, poll.

overcoat: (n) greatcoat, coat, cloak, robe, topcoat, surcoat, coating, overcoating, capote, chesterfield, gown.

raven: (v) guttle, feed, devour, gulp,

harry, eat; (n) crow, plunder; (adj) black, jet; (n, v) gorge.

sultry: (adj) hot, humid, muggy, oppressive, stifling, sticky, ardent, sensual, stuffy, sweltering, torrid. ANTONYMS: (adj) fresh, cool, cold, temperate, dry.

unbounded: (adj) immeasurable, limitless, endless, infinite, immense, measureless, unlimited, vast, illimitable, unmeasured, absolute.

Uncle Vanya 10

VOITSKI. % The Professor sits in his library from morning till night, as usual-- "Straining the mind, wrinkling the brow, We write, write, write, Without respite Or hope of praise in the future or now." Poor paper! He ought to write his autobiography; he would make a really splendid subject for a book! Imagine it, the life of a retired professor, as stale as a piece of hardtack, tortured by gout, headaches, and rheumatism, his liver bursting with jealousy and envy, living on the estate of his first wife, although he hates it, because he can't afford to live in town. He is everlastingly whining about his hard lot, though, as a matter of fact, he is extraordinarily lucky. He is the son of a common deacon and has attained the professor's chair, become the son-in-law of a senator, is called "your Excellency," and so on. But I'll tell you something; the man has been writing on art for twenty-five years, and he doesn't know the very first thing about it. For twenty-five years he has been chewing on other men's thoughts about realism, naturalism, and all such foolishness; for twenty-five years he has been reading and writing things that clever men have long known and stupid ones are not interested in; for twenty-five years he has been making his imaginary mountains out of molehills. And just think of the man's self-conceit and presumption all this time! For twenty-five years he has been masquerading in false clothes and has now retired absolutely unknown to any living soul; and yet see him! stalking across the earth like a demi-god!

ASTROFF. I believe you envy him.

VOITSKI. Yes, I do. Look at the success he has had with women! Don Juan himself was not more favoured. His first wife, who was my sister, was a beautiful, gentle being, as pure as the blue heaven there above us, noble, great-hearted, with

Thesaurus

everlastingly: (adv) perpetually, always, lastingly, continually, endlessly, unendingly, incessantly, permanently, constantly, undyingly; (adj, adv) forever.

foolishness: (n) folly, fatuity, craziness, nonsense, stupidity, indiscretion, ineptitude, mistake, fatuousness, irrationality; (adj, n) silliness. ANTONYMS: (n) prudence, sense, sensibleness, understanding, forethought, responsibility.

gout: (n) taste, relish, arthritis, go-out; (v) cephalalgia, earache, otalgia, odontalgia, neuralgia, lumbago, sciatica.

great-hearted: (adj) noble, magnanimous, large-hearted, bighearted, proud, chivalrous.

hardtack: (n) pilot biscuit, biscuit, mahogany, ship biscuit, pilot bread, sea biscuit; (v) hominy, hoecake.

headaches: (n) cephalalgia. masquerading: (adj) masked.

naturalism: (n) fidelity, naive realism, art movement, artistic movement.

rheumatism: (n) arthritis, atrophic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; (v) lumbago, podagra, otalgia, neuralgia, earache, cephalalgia, odontalgia, sciatica.

self-conceit: (n) conceit. whining: (adj) whimpering, whiny,

sniveling pitiful, Snively, tearful, whiney, singing, peevish; (v) fretful, lamenting; (n) sniveling.

Anton Chekhov 11

more admirers than he has pupils, and she loved him as only beings of angelic purity can love those who are as pure and beautiful as themselves. His mother-in-law, my mother, adores him to this day, and he still inspires a sort of worshipful awe in her. His second wife is, as you see, a brilliant beauty; she married him in his old age and has surrendered all the glory of her beauty and freedom to him. Why? What for?

ASTROFF. Is she faithful to him?

VOITSKI. Yes, unfortunately she is.%

ASTROFF. Why unfortunately?

VOITSKI. Because such fidelity is false and unnatural, root and branch. It sounds well, but there is no logic in it. It is thought immoral for a woman to deceive an old husband whom she hates, but quite moral for her to strangle her poor youth in her breast and banish every vital d esire from her heart.

TELEGIN. [In a tearful voice] Vanya, I don't like to hear you talk so. Listen, Vanya; every one who betrays husband or wife is faithless, and could also betray his country.

VOITSKI. [Crossly] Turn off the tap, Waffles.

TELEGIN. No, allow me, Vanya. My wife ran away with a lover on the day after our wedding, because my exterior was unprepossessing. I have never failed in my duty since then. I love her and am true to her to this day. I help her all I can and have given my fortune to educate the daughter of herself and her lover. I have forfeited my happiness, but I have kept my pride. And she? Her

Thesaurus

angelic: (adj) cherubic, heavenly, seraphic, virtuous, celestial, beautiful, angelical, divine, good, holy, saintly. ANTONYMS: (adj) devilish, demonic, dark, wicked.

banish: (v) dispel, expel, displace, relegate, oust, expatriate, eject, dismiss, transport, cast out; (adj, v) exile. ANTONYMS: (v) keep, embrace, adopt, invite, include.

faithless: (adj) dishonest, false, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful,

deceitful, untrustworthy, untrue, truthless, mendacious, perfidious. ANTONYMS: (adj) loyal, steadfast, true, honest.

forfeited: (adj) forfeit, lost, disfranchised, confiscated, appropriated, condemned.

strangle: (v) smother, stifle, asphyxiate, scrag, tighten, repress, constrict, pinch, strangulate; (adj, v) throttle; (n) strangling.

surrendered: (adj) given.

tearful: (adj) dolorous, maudlin, watery, weeping, teary, sad, dolourous, wet, whimpering, sorrowful; (v) mournful. ANTONYMS: (adj) cheerful, tearless.

unprepossessing: (adj) ugly, uninviting, hideous, unpleasant, unpresentable, unsightly.

worshipful: (adj, v) great; (v) honorable, noble, proud, dignified; (adj) reverential, godly, adoring, venerable, divine, doting.

Uncle Vanya 12

youth has fled, her beauty has faded according to the laws of nature, and her lover is dead. What has she kept? [HELENA and SONIA come in; after them comes MME. VOITSKAYA carrying a book. She sits down and begins to read. Some one hands her a glass of tea which she drinks without looking up.]

SONIA. [Hurriedly, to the nurse] There are some peasants waiting out there. Go and see what they want. I shall pour the tea. [Pours out some glasses of tea.] [MARINA goes out. HELENA takes a glass and sits drinking in the hammock.]

ASTROFF. I have come to see your husband. You wrote me that he had rheumatism and I know not what else, and that he was very ill, but he appears to be as lively as a cricket.%

HELENA. He had a fit of the blues yesterday evening and complained of pains in his legs, but he seems all right again to-day.

ASTROFF. And I galloped over here twenty miles at break-neck speed! No matter, though, it is not the first time. Once here, however, I am going to stay until to-morrow, and at any rate sleep _quantum satis._

SONIA. Oh, splendid! You so seldom spend the night with us. Have you had dinner yet?

ASTROFF. No.

SONIA. Good. So you will have it with us. We dine at seven now. [Drinks her tea] This tea is cold!

Thesaurus

according: (adj) pursuant, consonant, equal, agreeable, harmonious, conformable, consistent, corresponding, respondent; (adv) correspondingly, accordingly.

blues: (n) depression, blue devils, doldrums, melancholy, gloom, sorrow, distress, dejection; (adj) melancholia, mumps, lachrymals. ANTONYMS: (n) euphoria, glee, joy.

dine: (v) feed, lunch, breakfast, dining, meal, give, have supper, take tea,

grub, consume, entertain. ANTONYM: (v) abstain.

drinks: (n) refreshments, food and drink.

faded: (adj) pale, bleached, dull, exhausted, faint, washy, withered, colorless, discoloured, attenuate; (adj, v) dilapidated. ANTONYMS: (adj) vivid, Colored, colorful, fresh, vigorous, strong, bright.

lively: (adj, adv) jolly, sprightly; (adj, v) active, cheerful; (adj) energetic, agile,

keen, busy, gay, fresh, jovial. ANTONYMS: (adj) lethargic, listless, inactive, unexciting, lifeless, awkward, sad, gentle, tired, insipid, subdued.

pains: (n) nisus, labor, trouble, effort, exertion, labour, pain, care, struggle, attempt, strain.

pour: (v) gush, shed, decant, scatter, stream, flow, pelt, discharge, teem, infuse; (n, v) overflow. ANTONYMS: (v) drizzle, trickle.

Anton Chekhov 13

TELEGIN. Yes, the samovar has grown cold.%

HELENA. Don't mind, Monsieur Ivan, we will drink cold tea, then.

TELEGIN. I beg your pardon, my name is not Ivan, but Ilia, ma'am--Ilia Telegin, or Waffles, as I am sometimes called on account of my pock-marked face. I am Sonia's godfather, and his Excellency, your husband, knows me very well. I now live with you, ma'am, on this estate, and perhaps you will be so good as to notice that I dine with you every day.

SONIA. He is our great help, our right-hand man. [Tenderly] Dear godfather, let me pour you some tea.

MME. VOITSKAYA. Oh! Oh!

SONIA. What is it, grandmother?

MME. VOITSKAYA. I forgot to tell Alexander--I have lost my memory--I received a letter to-day from Paul Alexevitch in Kharkoff. He has sent me a new pamphlet.

ASTROFF. Is it interesting?

MME. VOITSKAYA. Yes, but strange. He refutes the very theories which he defended seven years ago. It is appalling!

VOITSKI. There is nothing appalling about it. Drink your tea, mamma.

MME. VOITSKAYA. It seems you never want to listen to what I have to say. Pardon me, Jean, but

Thesaurus

appalling: (adj, v) shocking, grim, terrific; (adj) alarming, dire, ghastly, dreadful, frightful, terrible, atrocious, vile. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleasant, admirable, lovely, encouraging, laudable, comforting, pleasing, agreeable, honorable, appealing, humane.

defended: (adj) shielded, secured, watched over, secure, sacred.

godfather: (n) godchild, supporter, patron, godparent, godmother,

gangster, executive; (v) christen. grandmother: (n) grandma, granny,

crone, grannie, grandam, mother, dam, grandmamma, father's mother, paternal grandmother, hag.

ma'am: (n) lady, madam, gentlewoman, milady, woman, madame, Grande dame, doll, chick, brothel keeper, bird.

mamma: (n) breast, mother, ma, knocker, boob, mum, mammy, mom, momma, mommy, mummy.

pamphlet: (n) book, leaflet, booklet, flyer, magazine, treatise, tract, writing, literature, folder, lampoon.

right-hand: (adj) righthand, right, dextral, essential.

tenderly: (adv) softly, kindly, delicately, affectionately, fondly, warmly, painfully, sensitively, caringly, sympathetically, gently. ANTONYMS: (adv) roughly, severely, disapprovingly, harshly.

Uncle Vanya 14

you have changed so in the last year that I hardly know you. You used to be a man of settled convictions and had an illuminating personality---

VOITSKI. Oh, yes. I had an illuminating personality, which illuminated no one. [A pause] I had an illuminating personality! You couldn't say anything more biting. I am forty-seven years old. Until last year I endeavoured, as you do now, to blind my eyes by your pedantry to the truths of life. But now--Oh, if you only knew! If you knew how I lie awake at night, heartsick and angry, to think how stupidly I have wasted my time when I might have been winning from life everything which my old age now forbids.%

SONIA. Uncle Vanya, how dreary!

MME. VOITSKAYA. [To her son] You speak as if your former convictions were somehow to blame, but you yourself, not they, were at fault. You have forgotten that a conviction, in itself, is nothing but a dead letter. You should have done something.

VOITSKI. Done something! Not every man is capable of being a writer _perpetuum mobile_ like your Herr Professor.

MME. VOITSKAYA. What do you mean by that?

SONIA. [Imploringly] Mother! Uncle Vanya! I entreat you!

VOITSKI. I am silent. I apologise and am silent. [A pause.]

HELENA. What a fine day! Not too hot. [A pause.]

VOITSKI. A fine day to hang oneself.

Thesaurus

dreary: (adj) depressing, drab, dull, cheerless, drear, miserable, gloomy, dark, dismal, stuffy, disconsolate. ANTONYMS: (adj) interesting, cheerful, sunny, brilliant, lively, light, exciting, clear, cheery, pleasant, exotic.

entreat: (v) beg, beseech, ask, implore, pray, adjure, appeal, request, conjure, crave, bid. ANTONYMS: (v) demand, reject.

heartsick: (adj) despondent, dejected,

brokenhearted, downcast, sad, woeful, hopeless, broken; (v) blase, sick of, used up.

illuminated: (adj) lit, lighted, luminous, enlightened, clear, light, shining, irradiated, lighter, Lighty, irradiate.

illuminating: (adj) illuminate, informative, edifying, illuminatingly, instructive, descriptive, brilliant, light, elucidate, illustrative, lighten. ANTONYMS: (adj) hidden,

unilluminating, secretive. pedantry: (v) precisianism, purism; (n)

quibbling, being pedantic, splitting hairs, conceit, pedantism, ostentation, inkhornism, fanfare, euphuism. ANTONYM: (n) creativity.

stupidly: (adv) dully, thickly, obtusely, senselessly, fatuously, slowly, insanely, unwisely, doltishly, crassly, densely. ANTONYMS: (adv) shrewdly, brightly, sensibly, wisely, sensitively, prudently, carefully.

Anton Chekhov 15

[TELEGIN tunes the guitar. MARINA appears near the house, calling the chickens.]

MARINA. Chick, chick, chick!

SONIA. What did the peasants want, nurse?

MARINA. The same old thing, the same old nonsense. Chick, chick, chick!

SONIA. Why are you calling the chickens?

MARINA. The speckled hen has disappeared with her chicks. I am afraid the crows have got her.%

[TELEGIN plays a polka. All listen in silence. Enter WORKMAN.] WORKMAN.

Is the doctor here? [To ASTROFF] Excuse me, sir, but I have been sent to fetch you.

ASTROFF. Where are you from?

WORKMAN. The factory.

ASTROFF. [Annoyed] Thank you. There is nothing for it, then, but to go. [Looking around him for his cap] Damn it, this is annoying!

SONIA. Yes, it is too bad, really. You must come back to dinner from the factory.

ASTROFF. No, I won't be able to do that. It will be too late. Now where, where-- [To the WORKMAN] Look here, my man, get me a glass of vodka, will you? [The

Thesaurus

annoying: (adj) galling, vexatious, aggravating, vexing, worrying, awkward, trying, bothersome, disagreeable; (adj, v) irritating; (n) annoyance. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleasing, delightful, pleasant, charming, satisfying, welcome, convenient.

chick: (n) nestling, biddy, bird, chit, poult, girl, wench, doll, fledgling, fowl, pullet.

chickens: (n) Galliformes, order

Galliformes. chicks: (n) brood. disappeared: (adj) lost, missing,

extinct, vanished, left. ANTONYM: (adj) remaining.

fetch: (v) carry, bring, bring in, convey, draw, elicit, deliver, catch, get, attract; (adj, n) feint.

nonsense: (n) bosh, absurdity, humbug, balderdash, foolishness, drivel, folderol, baloney, falderal, jargon, claptrap. ANTONYMS: (n)

sense, wisdom, substance, fact. polka: (n) folk dancing, folk music,

folk dance, ethnic music, folk, waltz. speckled: (adj) dotted, mottled,

piebald, specked, spotty, freckled, spotted, multicolored, flecked, brindled, blotchy. ANTONYM: (adj) limited.

workman: (n) laborer, working man, worker, employee, hand, operative, artisan, working person, lather, mechanic, artificer.

Uncle Vanya 16

WORKMAN goes out] Where--where-- [Finds his cap] One of the characters in Ostroff's plays is a man with a long moustache and short wits, like me. However, let me bid you good-bye, ladies and gentlemen. [To HELENA] I should be really delighted if you would come to see me some day with Miss Sonia. My estate is small, but if you are interested in such things I should like to show you a nursery and seed-bed whose like you will not find within a thousand miles of here. My place is surrounded by government forests. The forester is old and always ailing, so I superintend almost all the work myself.%

HELENA. I have always heard that you were very fond of the woods. Of course one can do a great deal of good by helping to preserve them, but does not that work interfere with your real calling?

ASTROFF. God alone knows what a man's real calling is.

HELENA. And do you find it interesting?

ASTROFF. Yes, very.

VOITSKI. [Sarcastically] Oh, extremely!

HELENA. You are still young, not over thirty-six or seven, I should say, and I suspect that the woods do not interest you as much as you say they do. I should think you would find them monotonous.

SONIA. No, the work is thrilling. Dr. Astroff watches over the old woods and sets out new plantations every year, and he has already received a diploma and a bronze medal. If you will listen to what he can tell you, you will agree with him entirely. He says that forests are the ornaments of the earth, that they

Thesaurus

ailing: (adj) sickly, poorly, ill, unwell, bad, indisposed, unhealthy, invalid, morbid, weak; (n) illness. ANTONYMS: (adj) well, healthy, fit, robust, vigorous.

forester: (n) ranger, arboriculturist, granger, sodbuster, husbandman, foster, foot, timberman, tree farmer, lumberjack, Forster.

good-bye: (n) bye, farewell, goodbye, goodby, vale, adios, cheerio.

monotonous: (adj) dull, flat, boring,

dreary, tedious, insipid, monotone, monotonic; (adj, v) dry, uninteresting, stupid. ANTONYMS: (adj) exciting, varied, stimulating, lively, exotic, enthralling, brilliant, flexible.

ornaments: (n) stuff, trim, ornamentation, equipments, dress, disposition, custom, curios, condition, clothing, gaudery.

superintend: (v) oversee, manage, direct, administer, control, run, supervise, govern, handle, overlook,

inspect. thrilling: (adj, n) electric; (adj) exciting,

sensational, exhilarating, electrifying, emotional, rousing, gripping, stimulating; (adj, v) impressive; (n, v) swelling. ANTONYMS: (adj) boring, depressing, discouraging, upsetting, uninspiring.

wits: (n) intellect, mind, wit, brains, common sense, presence, percipience, observation, mother wit, right mind, judgment.

Anton Chekhov 17

teach mankind to understand beauty and attune his mind to lofty sentiments. Forests temper a stern climate, and in countries where the climate is milder, less strength is wasted in the battle with nature, and the people are kind and gentle. The inhabitants of such countries are handsome, tractable, sensitive, graceful in speech and gesture. Their philosophy is joyous, art and science blossom among them, their treatment of women is full of exquisite nobility---

VOITSKI. [Laughing] Bravo! Bravo! All that is very pretty, but it is also unconvincing. So, my friend [To ASTROFF] you must let me go on burning firewood in my stoves and building my sheds of planks.%

ASTROFF. You can burn peat in your stoves and build your sheds of stone. Oh, I don't object, of course, to cutting wood from necessity, but why destroy the forests? The woods of Russia are trembling under the blows of the axe. Millions of trees have perished. The homes of the wild animals and birds have been desolated; the rivers are shrinking, and many beautiful landscapes are gone forever. And why? Because men are too lazy and stupid to stoop down and pick up their fuel from the ground. [To HELENA] Am I not right, Madame? Who but a stupid barbarian could burn so much beauty in his stove and destroy that which he cannot make? Man is endowed with reason and the power to create, so that he may increase that which has been given him, but until now he has not created, but demolished. The forests are disappearing, the rivers are running dry, the game is exterminated, the climate is spoiled, and the earth becomes poorer and uglier every day. [To VOITSKI] I read irony in your eye; you do not take what I am saying seriously, and--and--after all, it may very well be nonsense. But when I pass peasant-forests that I have preserved from the axe, or hear the rustling of the young plantations set out with my own hands, I feel as if I had had some small share in improving the climate, and that if mankind is happy a thousand years from now I will have been a little bit responsible for their happiness. When I plant a little birch tree and then see it budding into young green and swaying in the wind,

Thesaurus

attune: (v) fit, tune, accommodate, reconcile, modulate, key, coordinate, adapt, harmonize, conform, tune up.

barbarian: (n) Goth, vandal, brute; (adj) heathen, barbaric, barbarous, uncivilized, uncultured, wild, rude, foreign. ANTONYMS: (adj) cultured, refined; (n) native, citizen.

bravo: (v) murderer, slayer, Cain, matador, sabreur; (n) thug, liquidator; (adj) bully, hotspur, enfant perdu, scapegrace.

desolated: (adj) devastated, ravaged, ruined, destroyed, blasted, forlorn, damned, damn, darned, cadaverous, bony.

exterminated: (adj) broken, extinct, destroyed completely, lost, wiped out, annihilated.

perished: (adj) decayed, emperished, rotting, annihilated, fallen, lost, moldy, nonexistent, putrefied, dead, decomposed.

rustling: (n) rustle, whispering,

whisper, larceny; (adj) murmurous, susurrous, active, soughing.

stoop: (v) crouch, bend, deign, condescend, descend, squat, couch, cringe, lean, lower oneself; (n) porch. ANTONYM: (v) straighten.

tractable: (adj, prep) docile; (adj) obedient, ductile, tame, gentle, yielding, manageable; (adj, v) pliable, flexible, pliant, plastic. ANTONYMS: (adj) intractable, unmanageable, unruly, rebellious.

Uncle Vanya 18

my heart swells with pride and I--[Sees the WORKMAN, who is bringing him a glass of vodka on a tray] however--[He drinks] I must be off. Probably it is all nonsense, anyway. Good-bye. [He goes toward the house. SONIA takes his arm and goes with him.]

SONIA. When are you coming to see us again?

ASTROFF. I can't say.%

SONIA. In a month? [ASTROFF and SONIA go into the house. HELENA and VOITSKI walk over to the terrace.]

HELENA. You have behaved shockingly again. Ivan, what sense was there in teasing your mother and talking about _perpetuum mobile?_ And at breakfast you quarreled with Alexander again. Really, your behaviour is too petty.

VOITSKI. But if I hate him?

HELENA. You hate Alexander without reason; he is like every one else, and no worse than you are.

VOITSKI. If you could only see your face, your gestures! Oh, how tedious your life must be.

HELENA. It is tedious, yes, and dreary! You all abuse my husband and look on me with compassion; you think, "Poor woman, she is married to an old man." How well I understand your compassion! As Astroff said just now, see how you thoughtlessly destroy the forests, so that there will soon be none left. So you also destroy mankind, and soon fidelity and purity and self-sacrifice will

Thesaurus

fidelity: (n) constancy, devotion, faithfulness, adherence, allegiance, loyalty, faith, dedication, exactness; (adj, n) honesty, truth. ANTONYMS: (n) infidelity, unfaithfulness, disloyalty, inaccuracy, faithlessness, dishonesty, unreliability.

self-sacrifice: (n) martyrdom, renunciation.

shockingly: (adv) scandalously, dreadfully, shamefully, disgracefully, horridly, awfully, surprisingly,

offensively, terrifically, startlingly, revoltingly. ANTONYMS: (adv) pleasantly, commendably, predictably, properly.

teasing: (n) tease, play, joke, fun, banter; (adj) quizzical, vexatious, pestering, annoying, playful; (v) worrying. ANTONYM: (n) seriousness.

tedious: (adj) tiresome, boring, dreary, slow, heavy, humdrum, irksome, lifeless; (adj, v) monotonous, arid,

dry. ANTONYMS: (adj) exciting, varied, easy, readable, lively, entertaining, enthralling, brisk, concise, exotic, pleasant.

thoughtlessly: (adv) carelessly, inconsiderately, heedlessly, rashly, imprudently, inattentively, hastily, negligently, indiscreetly, unheedingly; (adj, adv) foolishly. ANTONYMS: (adv) considerately, carefully, cautiously, prudently, sensibly, wisely.

Anton Chekhov 19

have vanished with the woods. Why cannot you look calmly at a woman unless she is yours? Because, the doctor was right, you are all possessed by a devil of destruction; you have no mercy on the woods or the birds or on women or on one another.%

VOITSKI. I don't like your philosophy.

HELENA. That doctor has a sensitive, weary face--an interesting face. Sonia evidently likes him, and she is in love with him, and I can understand it. This is the third time he has been here since I have come, and I have not had a real talk with him yet or made much of him. He thinks I am disagreeable. Do you know, Ivan, the reason you and I are such friends? I think it is because we are both lonely and unfortunate. Yes, unfortunate. Don't look at me in that way, I don't like it.

VOITSKI. How can I look at you otherwise when I love you? You are my joy, my life, and my youth. I know that my chances of being loved in return are infinitely small, do not exist, but I ask nothing of you. Only let me look at you, listen to your voice--

HELENA. Hush, some one will overhear you. [They go toward the house.]

VOITSKI. [Following her] Let me speak to you of my love, do not drive me away, and this alone will be my greatest happiness!

HELENA. Ah! This is agony! [TELEGIN strikes the strings of his guitar and plays a polka. MME. VOITSKAYA writes something on the leaves of her pamphlet.] [The curtain falls.]

Thesaurus

calmly: (adv) stilly, tranquilly, coolly, serenely, placidly, sedately, smoothly, peacefully, easily, undisturbedly, steadily. ANTONYMS: (adv) anxiously, hysterically, nervously, agitatedly, uncontrollably, histrionically, restlessly, frantically, irritably, emotionally, tensely.

disagreeable: (adj) nasty, offensive, uncomfortable, distasteful, cantankerous, cross, ungrateful,

abhorrent, horrible, bad, painful. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleasant, friendly, amiable, inoffensive, acceptable, desirable, easygoing, happy, pleasing, sweet, nice.

guitar: (n) acoustic guitar, uke, electric guitar.

infinitely: (adv) greatly, vastly, immensely, immeasurably, boundlessly, enormously, unboundedly, hugely, ceaselessly, unendingly; (adj, adv) incalculably.

ANTONYM: (adv) finitely. overhear: (v) catch, eavesdrop, listen,

overheard, understand, fold up, befool, fascinate, entrance, enchant, enamour.

weary: (adj, n, v) fatigue; (v) exhaust, tire out; (adj) tired, exhausted, fatigued, aweary, beat, languid; (n, v) jade, bore. ANTONYMS: (adj) energetic, fresh, lively, untiring, hopeful, refreshed; (v) refresh, enliven, energize, activate, rally.

Anton Chekhov 21

ACT I I

[The dining-room of SEREBRAKOFF'S house. It is night. The tapping of the WATCHMAN'S rattle is heard in the garden. SEREBRAKOFF is dozing in an arm-chair by an open window and HELENA is sitting beside him, also half asleep.]

SEREBRAKOFF. [Rousing himself] Who is here? Is it you, Sonia?

HELENA. It is I.%

SEREBRAKOFF. Oh, it is you, Nelly. This pain is intolerable.

HELENA. Your shawl has slipped down. [She wraps up his legs in the shawl] Let me shut the window.

SEREBRAKOFF. No, leave it open; I am suffocating. I dreamt just now that my left leg belonged to some one else, and it hurt so that I woke. I don't believe this is gout, it is more like rheumatism. What time is it?

Thesaurus

dining-room: (n) canteen, restaurant. dozing: (adj) drowsy, dozy, nodding,

napping, asleep, sleepy, tired. hurt: (adj, n, v) damage, detriment;

(adj, n) evil; (n, v) wound, pain, ache, distress; (n) disadvantage, lesion; (v) afflict; (adj, v) injure. ANTONYMS: (adj) unhurt, unaffected, healed; (v) encourage, please, protect, repair, defend; (n, v) help; (n) reparation, pleasure.

intolerable: (adj) unbearable,

insupportable, painful, obnoxious, detestable, inexcusable, deplorable, undesirable, hard, excruciating, difficult. ANTONYMS: (adj) bearable, tolerable, acceptable, reasonable, nice, understandable, lovable, excusable, inoffensive, manageable.

rattle: (n, v) jingle, jangle, clatter; (n) click, clang, clack; (v) bang, confuse, shake, patter, disconcert.

shawl: (n) wrap, mantle, cape, muffler, scarf, pall, mantlet Mantua, wrapper,

kerchief, headscarf, stole. suffocating: (adj) choking, oppressive,

smothering, close, stifling, suffocative, suffocatingly, suffocate, sultry, stifle, overpowering.

tapping: (n) draining of the furnace, paracentesis, to tap, tick, tapotement, sound, patter, drainage, clapping, casting, restriking.

woke: (v) arouse. wraps: (n) concealment, veil of

secrecy, cover.

Uncle Vanya 22

HELENA. Half past twelve. [A pause.]

SEREBRAKOFF. I want you to look for Batushka's works in the library to-morrow. I think we have him.%

HELENA. What is that?

SEREBRAKOFF. Look for Batushka to-morrow morning; we used to have him, I remember. Why do I find it so hard to breathe?

HELENA. You are tired; this is the second night you have had no sleep.

SEREBRAKOFF. They say that Turgenieff got angina of the heart from gout. I am afraid I am getting angina too. Oh, damn this horrible, accursed old age! Ever since I have been old I have been hateful to myself, and I am sure, hateful to you all as well.

HELENA. You speak as if we were to blame for your being old.

SEREBRAKOFF. I am more hateful to you than to any one.

HELENA gets up and walks away from him, sitting down at a distance. SEREBRAKOFF.

You are quite right, of course. I am not an idiot; I can understand you. You are young and healthy and beautiful, and longing for life, and I am an old dotard, almost a dead man already. Don't I know it? Of course I see that it is foolish for me to live so long, but wait! I shall soon set you all free. My life cannot drag on much longer.

Thesaurus

accursed: (adj) execrable, abominable, detestable, accurst, hateful, damned, damnable, maledict, blasted; (v) atrocious, stranded.

angina: (n) angina pectoris, cardiopathy, sore throat, heart disease, croup; (v) twinge, stomach ache, twitch, heartburn, gripe; (adj) croupy.

breathe: (n, v) respire, subsist, imply; (n) breath, bespeak; (adj, n, v) live; (v) exhale, exist, emit, rest, be.

ANTONYMS: (v) suffocate, hide, choke, asphyxiate, drain, die, inhale.

dotard: (n) driveler, doter, weakling, fuddy-duddy, dote, dotant, dodo; (adj) doddering.

gets: (n) getting. hateful: (adj) disgusting, execrable,

nasty, abominable, hideous, despicable, repulsive, distasteful, foul; (adj, v) odious, obnoxious. ANTONYMS: (adj) delightful, kind, nice, benign, desirable.

idiot: (n) dolt, blockhead, dunce, dimwit, moron, cretin, ass, imbecile, oaf, changeling, idiocy. ANTONYM: (n) intellectual.

longing: (n, v) desire, aspiration; (adj) eager, wistful, nostalgic; (n) nostalgia, wish, hankering, urge, appetite; (adj, n) yearning. ANTONYMS: (n) apathy, disinclination; (adj) satisfied, unconcerned.

twelve: (adj, n) dozen, XII; (n) boxcars, large integer.

Anton Chekhov 23

HELENA. You are overtaxing my powers of endurance. Be quiet, for God's sake!

SEREBRAKOFF. It appears that, thanks to me, everybody's power of endurance is being overtaxed; everybody is miserable, only I am blissfully triumphant. Oh, yes, of course!

HELENA. Be quiet! You are torturing me.%

SEREBRAKOFF. I torture everybody. Of course.

HELENA. [Weeping] This is unbearable! Tell me, what is it you want me to do?

SEREBRAKOFF. Nothing.

HELENA. Then be quiet, please.

SEREBRAKOFF. It is funny that everybody listens to Ivan and his old idiot of a mother, but the moment I open my lips you all begin to feel ill-treated. You can't even stand the sound of my voice. Even if I am hateful, even if I am a selfish tyrant, haven't I the right to be one at my age? Haven't I deserved it? Haven't I, I ask you, the right to be respected, now that I am old?

HELENA. No one is disputing your rights. [The window slams in the wind] The wind is rising, I must shut the window. [She shuts it] We shall have rain in a moment. Your rights have never been questioned by anybody. [The WATCHMAN in the garden sounds his rattle.]

SEREBRAKOFF. I have spent my life working in the interests of learning. I am used to my

Thesaurus

blissfully: (adv) gladly, joyfully, blessedly, delightfully, joyously, cheerfully, ecstatically, merrily, delightedly, gleefully, contentedly. ANTONYM: (adv) sadly.

disputing: (adj) opposed; (v) disputant.

endurance: (adj, n) sufferance; (n) stamina, tolerance, courage, permanence, continuance, energy, fortitude, tenacity, duration, toughness. ANTONYMS: (n)

weakness, inconsistency, impatience, frailty, discontinuation, discontinuance, death.

overtaxed: (adj) tired. sake: (n, v) interest, reason, motive,

ground; (v) advantage, cause; (n) object, account, design, purpose, saki.

shuts: (adj) closed. torturing: (n) torture, excruciation,

crucifixion, torment, agony, anguish, dismemberment; (adj) harrowing, agonizing, torturesome, agonising.

tyrant: (n) dictator, oppressor, autocrat, disciplinarian, bully, authoritarian, sovereign, czar, monarch, suzerain, stickler.

unbearable: (adj) insufferable, excruciating, insupportable, unendurable, hateful, unacceptable, repugnant, impossible, grievous, enormous, dreadful. ANTONYMS: (adj) bearable, manageable, imperceptible, tolerable, wonderful, lovable, nice, pleasant.

Uncle Vanya 24

library and the lecture hall and to the esteem and admiration of my colleagues. Now I suddenly find myself plunged in this wilderness, condemned to see the same stupid people from morning till night and listen to their futile conversation. I want to live; I long for success and fame and the stir of the world, and here I am in exile! Oh, it is dreadful to spend every moment grieving for the lost past, to see the success of others and sit here with nothing to do but to fear death. I cannot stand it! It is more than I can bear. And you will not even forgive me for being old!

HELENA. Wait, have patience; I shall he old myself in four or five years.%

[SONIA comes in.] SONIA.

Father, you sent for Dr. Astroff, and now when he comes you refuse to see him. It is not nice to give a man so much trouble for nothing.

SEREBRAKOFF. What do I care about your Astroff? He understands medicine about as well as I understand astronomy.

SONIA. We can't send for the whole medical faculty, can we, to treat your gout?

SEREBRAKOFF. I won't talk to that madman!

SONIA. Do as you please. It's all the same to me. [She sits down.]

SEREBRAKOFF. What time is it?

HELENA. One o'clock.

SEREBRAKOFF. It is stifling in here. Sonia, hand me that bottle on the table.

Thesaurus

astronomy: (n) astrology, astrometry, physics, astrodynamics, astrophysical, astrophysics.

esteem: (n) deference, admiration; (n, v) respect, value, consideration, account; (v) appreciate, deem, adore, admire, count. ANTONYMS: (v) scorn, hate, disdain, insult, despise, abominate, abhor, dislike, reject; (n) disesteem, disapproval.

futile: (adj) useless, empty, ineffective, frivolous, idle, abortive, bootless,

hopeless, meaningless, vain, hollow. ANTONYMS: (adj) successful, useful, fruitful, meaningful, worthwhile, promising, productive, effective.

grieving: (adj) sorrowful, bereft, bereaved, mournful, aggrieved, sad, teenful, despondent; (v) grief, affliction; (n) sorrow.

madman: (n) bedlamite, maniac, crazy, loony, nut, madcap, looney, loco, sufferer, raver, nutcase.

o'clock: (n) period, hours.

stifling: (adj) close, oppressive, sweltering, stuffy, heavy, hot, torrid, sticky; (n) crushing, quelling, suppression. ANTONYMS: (adj) fresh, airy, cool, temperate.

wilderness: (adj, n, v) desert; (adj, n) wild; (n) wasteland, solitude, badlands, wildness, frontier, boondocks, backwoods; (adj) Sahara; (v) squandering. ANTONYM: (n) metropolis.

Anton Chekhov 25

SONIA. Here it is. [She hands him a bottle of medicine.]

SEREBRAKOFF. [Crossly] No, not that one! Can't you understand me? Can't I ask you to do a thing?

SONIA. Please don't be captious with me. Some people may like it, but you must spare me, if you please, because I don't. Besides, I haven't the time; we are cutting the hay to-morrow and I must get up early.%

[VOITSKI comes in dressed in a long gown and carrying a candle.] VOITSKI.

A thunderstorm is coming up. [The lightning flashes] There it is! Go to bed, Helena and Sonia. I have come to take your place.

SEREBRAKOFF. [Frightened] No, n o, no! Don't leave me alone with him! Oh, don't. He will begin to lecture me.

VOITSKI. But you must give them a little rest. They have not slept for two nights.

SEREBRAKOFF. Then let them go to bed, but you go away too! Thank you. I implore you to go. For the sake of our former friendship do not protest against going. We will talk some other time---

VOITSKI. Our former friendship! Our former---

SONIA. Hush, Uncle Vanya!

SEREBRAKOFF. [To his wife] My darling, don't leave me alone with him. He will begin to lecture me.

Thesaurus

captious: (adj, n, v) critical; (adj) peevish, cantankerous, irritable, hypercritical, faultfinding, fastidious, fretful, querulous, caviling; (adj, n) exacting. ANTONYMS: (adj) praising, commendatory, complimentary, encouraging, flattering.

darling: (adj, n) beloved, pet, favorite, sweet; (adj) costly, cute, pretty; (adj, v) precious; (n) love, deary, angel. ANTONYMS: (n) foe, rival.

gown: (n) robe, clothing, cassock,

vestment, wrapper, overclothes, outerwear, uniform, tunic, clothes; (v) clothe.

implore: (v) beg, beseech, supplicate, ask, conjure, crave, pray, importune, appeal, plead, solicit. ANTONYMS: (v) demand, grant, reject.

lecture: (n, v) discourse, harangue, reprimand, sermon, rebuke, talk, censure; (n) speech, oration; (v) chide, preach. ANTONYMS: (v) praise; (n) compliment.

lightning: (n) levin, electricity, thunderbolt, Leven, ignis fatuus, heat lightning, forked lightning, fetter, dart, chain lightning; (adj) wind.

nights: (adj) nightly; (n) night. thunderstorm: (n) storm, electrical

storm, electric storm, tempest, hurricane, gale, downpour, rainstorm, shower, snowstorm; (adj) earthquake.

Uncle Vanya 26

VOITSKI. This is ridiculous.%

[MARINA comes in carrying a candle.] SONIA.

You must go to bed, nurse, it is late. MARINA.

I haven't cleared away the tea things. Can't go to bed yet. SEREBRAKOFF.

No one can go to bed. They are all worn out, only I enjoy perfect happiness. MARINA.

[Goes up to SEREBRAKOFF and speaks tenderly] What's the matter, master? Does it hurt? My own legs are aching too, oh, so badly. [Arranges his shawl about his legs] You have had this illness such a long time. Sonia's dead mother used to stay awake with you too, and wear herself out for you. She loved you dearly. [A pause] Old people want to be pitied as much as young ones, but nobody cares about them somehow. [She kisses SEREBRAKOFF'S shoulder] Come, master, let me give you some linden-tea and warm your poor feet for you. I shall pray to God for you.

SEREBRAKOFF. [Touched] Let us go, Marina.

MARINA. My own feet are aching so badly, oh, so badly! [She and SONIA lead SEREBRAKOFF out] Sonia' s mother used to wear herself out with sorrow and weeping. You were still little and foolish then, Sonia. Come, come, master. [SEREBRAKOFF, SONIA and MARINA go out.]

HELENA. I am absolutely exhausted by him, and can hardly stand.

Thesaurus

aching: (adj) sore, achy, hurt, uncomfortable, tender, hurtful, agonizing; (n) ache, pain, hurting; (v) griped.

dearly: (adv) affectionately, preciously, darlingly, sweetly, petly, expensively, belovedly, intimately, highly, heartfeltly, lovely.

exhausted: (adj) fatigued, tired, spent, dry, empty, depleted, jaded, enervated, faint; (adj, v) gone, weak. ANTONYMS: (adj) fresh, refreshed,

strong, restored, vigorous, unexhausted, replenished, remaining, energized, invigorated, restocked.

foolish: (adj) childish, fool, crazy, dumb, daft, fatuous, stupid, unwise, preposterous, dopey; (adj, n) silly. ANTONYMS: (adj) wise, sensible, shrewd, prudent, visionary, diplomatic, levelheaded, sane, rational, mature, judicious.

sorrow: (n, v) regret, lament, grieve; (v) mourn; (n) mourning, heartache,

repentance, remorse; (adj, n) sadness, misery; (adj, n, v) distress. ANTONYMS: (n) joy, delight, happiness, peace, hopefulness, cheerfulness, shamelessness, calm, content; (v) rejoice.

speaks: (n) talks. weeping: (adj) tearful, lachrymose,

dolourous, dolorous; (n, v) lament, lamentation; (v) wailing; (n) sobbing, tears, cry; (adj, n) howling. ANTONYM: (n) celebration.

Anton Chekhov 27

VOITSKI. You are exhausted by him, and I am exhausted by my own self. I have not slept for three nights.%

HELENA. Something is wrong in this house. Your mother hates everything but her pamphlets and the professor; the professor is vexed, he won't trust me, and fears you; Sonia is angry with her father, and with me, and hasn't spoken to me for two weeks; I am at the end of my strength, and have come near bursting into tears at least twenty times to-day. Something is wrong in this house.

VOITSKI. Leave speculating alone.

HELENA. You are cultured and intelligent, Ivan, and you surely understand that the world is not destroyed by villains and conflagrations, but by hate and malice and all this spiteful tattling. It is your duty to make peace, and not to growl at everything.

VOITSKI. Help me first to make peace with myself. My darling! [Seizes her hand.]

HELENA. Let go! [She drags her hand away] Go away!

VOITSKI. Soon the rain will be over, and all nature will sigh and awake refreshed. Only I am not refreshed by the storm. Day and night the thought haunts me like a fiend, that my life is lost for ever. My past does not count, because I frittered it away on trifles, and the present has so terribly miscarried! What shall I do with my life and my love? What is to become of them? This wonderful feeling of mine will be wasted and lost as a ray of sunlight is lost that falls into a dark chasm, and my life will go with it.

Thesaurus

chasm: (n) breach, gap, hiatus, gulf, ravine, hole, abysm, vacancy, canyon, aperture, emptiness. ANTONYMS: (n) junction, closure.

fiend: (n) monster, devil, fanatic, brute, deuce, incubus, goblin, ogre, enthusiast, daemon, addict. ANTONYM: (n) angel.

growl: (adj, n, v) snarl; (n, v) roar, bark, howl, yap, moan, thunder; (v) gnarl, mutter, complain, croak.

refreshed: (adj) invigorated,

rejuvenated, reinvigorated, new, novel, revived, impudent, energizing, overbold, energising, clean. ANTONYM: (adj) tired.

speculating: (n) conception. spiteful: (adj) malicious, malevolent,

sinister, nasty, malignant, venomous, despiteful, ill-natured, vindictive, cruel, hateful. ANTONYMS: (adj) benevolent, harmless, merciful, kindhearted, friendly, pleasant, loving, benign, generous, gentle,

flattering. tattling: (n) betrayal, babble, state's

evidence; (adj) blabbermouthed, not close; (v) talkative, futile, loquacious.

trifles: (n) jests, nonsense, nugae, trivia.

vexed: (adj) troubled, irritated, angry, pestered, peeved, harassed, sore, harried, uneasy, cross, offended. ANTONYMS: (adj) calm, uncomplicated.

Uncle Vanya 28

HELENA. I am as it were benumbed when you speak to me of your love, and I don't know how to answer you. Forgive me, I have nothing to say to you. [She tries to go out] Good-night!

VOITSKI. [Barring the way] If you only knew how I am tortured by the thought that beside me in this house is another life that is being lost forever--it is yours! What are you waiting for? What accursed philosophy stands in your way? Oh, understand, understand---

HELENA. [Looking at him intently] Ivan, you are drunk!

VOITSKI. Perhaps. Perhaps.%

HELENA. Where is the doctor?

VOITSKI. In there, spending the night with me. Perhaps I am drunk, perhaps I am; nothing is impossible.

HELENA. Have you just been drinking together? Why do you do that?

VOITSKI. Because in that way I get a taste of life. Let me do it, Helena!

HELENA. You never used to drink, and you never used to talk so much. Go to bed, I am tired of you.

VOITSKI. [Falling on his knees before her] My sweetheart. my beautiful one---

HELENA. [Angrily] Leave me alone! Really, this has become too disagreeable.

Thesaurus

benumbed: (adj) torpid, asleep, stiff, insensible, dull, dead, numbed, hardened, drugged, uninterested, cold.

drinking: (n) consumption, ingestion, intake, potation, drunkenness, crapulence, boozing, drinkable, uptake, intemperateness, booze.

drunk: (adj) tipsy, wet, tight, blotto, drunken, inebriated; (adj, n) inebriate; (n) boozer, dipsomaniac, drunkard, drinker. ANTONYMS: (adj) straight,

clearheaded; (n) teetotaler. forgive: (v) absolve, excuse, acquit,

remit, pardon, justify, to forgive, exonerate, overlook, clear, to excuse. ANTONYMS: (v) condemn, punish, castigate.

intently: (adv) fixedly, attentively, seriously, raptly, intensely, closely, steadily, eagerly, absorbedly, hard, steadfastly. ANTONYM: (adv) absently.

knees: (n) knee.

stands: (n) bleachers, stood, grandstand, standing, stop, covered stand, standpoint, stall, sales booth, reviewing stand, rack.

sweetheart: (n) dear, girl, darling, mistress, flame, beloved, boyfriend, love, steady; (adj, n) beau, admirer. ANTONYMS: (n) foe, enemy.

tortured: (adj) anguished, suffering, agonized, excruciate, excruciated, gnarled, hagridden, miserable, woeful, hurt.

Anton Chekhov 29

[HELENA goes out. A pause.] VOITSKI [Alone] She is gone! I met her first ten years ago, at her sister's house,

when she was seventeen and I was thirty-seven. Why did I not fall in love with her then and propose to her? It would have been so easy! And now she would have been my wife. Yes, we would both have been waked to-night by the thunderstorm, and she would have been frightened, but I would have held her in my arms and whispered: "Don't be afraid! I am here." Oh, enchanting dream, so sweet that I laugh to think of it. [He laughs] But my God! My head reels! Why am I so old? Why won't she understand me? I hate all that rhetoric of hers, that morality of indolence, that absurd talk about the destruction of the world--- [A pause] Oh, how I have been deceived! For years I have worshipped that miserable gout-ridden professor. Sonia and I have squeezed this estate dry for his sake. We have bartered our butter and curds and peas like misers, and have never kept a morsel for ourselves, so that we could scrape enough pennies together to send to him. I was proud of him and of his learning; I received all his words and writings as inspired, and now? Now he has retired, and what is the total of his life? A blank! He is absolutely unknown, and his fame has burst like a soap-bubble. I have been deceived; I see that now, basely deceived.%

ASTROFF comes in. He has his coat on, but is without his waistcoat or collar, and is slightly drunk. TELEGIN follows him, carrying a guitar.

ASTROFF. Play!

TELEGIN. But every one is asleep.

ASTROFF. Play!

TELEGIN begins to play softly. ASTROFF.

Are you alone here? No women about? [Sings with his arms akimbo.]

Thesaurus

basely: (adv) vilely, bottomly, sordidly, shamefully, foully, menially, lowly, depravedly, villainously, badly, poorly.

curds: (n) fleetings. deceived: (adj) mistaken, misguided. indolence: (n) laziness, inaction,

lethargy, inertia, inactivity, listlessness, slowness, torpor, sluggishness, apathy; (adj, n) sloth. ANTONYMS: (n) energy, nimbleness, activity, bustle,

liveliness, vigor. laughs: (n) diversion, comedy,

amusement, sport, recreation, merriment, entertainment, levity.

morsel: (n, v) bite, mouthful; (n) crumb, chew, particle, fragment, taste, piece, nibble; (adj, v) gobbet, mite.

peas: (n) beans, bean, bills. pennies: (n) change. rhetoric: (n) oratory, eloquence,

grandiosity, rant, empty talk,

elocution, flourish, declamation, grandiloquence, bombast, palaver.

scrape: (n, v) scratch, graze, score, mark; (v) rub, pare, rake, grate, chafe, abrade; (n) abrasion.

squeezed: (adj) cramped. waistcoat: (n) CHUDDER, barbe,

garment, jerkin, jubbah, oilskins, pilot jacket, pajamas, cardigan, singlet, talma jacket.

worshipped: (adj) adored, idolized, venerable.

Uncle Vanya 30

"The hut is cold, the fire is dead; Where shall the master lay his head?" The thunderstorm woke me. It was a heavy shower. What time is it?

VOITSKI. The devil only knows.%

ASTROFF. I thought I heard Helena's voice.

VOITSKI. She was here a moment ago.

ASTROFF. What a beautiful woman! [Looking at the medicine bottles on the table] Medicine, is it? What a variety we have; prescriptions from Moscow, from Kharkoff, from Tula! Why, he has been pestering all the towns of Russia with his gout! Is he ill, or simply shamming?

VOITSKI. He is really ill.

ASTROFF. What is the matter with you to-night? You seem sad. Is it because you are sorry for the professor?

VOITSKI. Leave me alone.

ASTROFF. Or in love with the professor's wife?

VOITSKI. She is my friend.

ASTROFF. Already?

VOITSKI. What do you mean by "already"?

Thesaurus

alone: (adj) forlorn, individual, lonely, lonesome; (adj, adv) only, apart; (adv) solely, entirely, exclusively, separately, individually. ANTONYMS: (adj) overshadowed, ordinary, mobbed, equaled, crowded, accompanied, common, grouped, surpassed; (adv) jointly; (n) foe.

cold: (n) chilliness, chill; (adj) chilly, frigid, distant, indifferent, aloof, callous, icy, apathetic, impassive. ANTONYMS: (adj) warm, friendly,

hot, prepared, burning, affectionate, loving, soporific, fervid; (n) heat, warmth.

devil: (n) fiend, demon, ghost, monster, Lucifer, Satan, Beelzebub, deuce, daemon; (v) torment, rag. ANTONYM: (n) angel.

master: (n) captain, instructor, lord; (v) control, conquer, command, dominate, defeat; (adj, n) original, head, ace. ANTONYMS: (n) underling, servant, novice, amateur.

medicine: (n) drug, medication, medicament, therapy, physic, treatment, remedy, cathartic, medical science, preparation; (v) medicate.

pestering: (n) harassment, annoyance; (adj) pesky, carking, vexatious, vexing, cranky, disagreeable; (adj, v) teasing; (v) worrying, tormenting.

shower: (n, v) wash, rain, hail, drizzle, bath; (v) sprinkle, bathe, shed, scatter; (n) rain shower, rainfall. ANTONYM: (n) trickle.

Anton Chekhov 31

ASTROFF. A woman can only become a man's friend after having first been his acquaintance and then his beloved--then she becomes his friend.%

VOITSKI. What vulgar philosophy!

ASTROFF. What do you mean? Yes, I must confess I am getting vulgar, but then, you see, I am drunk. I usually only drink like this once a month. At such times my audacity and temerity know no bounds. I feel capable of anything. I attempt the most difficult operations and do them magnificently. The most brilliant plans for the future take shape in my head. I am no longer a poor fool of a doctor, but mankind's greatest benefactor. I evolve my own system of philosophy and all of you seem to crawl at my feet like so many insects or microbes. [To TELEGIN] Play, Waffles!

TELEGIN. My dear boy, I would with all my heart, but do listen to reason; everybody in the house is asleep.

ASTROFF. Play!

TELEGIN plays softly. ASTROFF.

I want a drink. Come, we still have some brandy left. And then, as soon as it is day, you will come home with me. [He sees SONIA, who comes in at that moment.]

ASTROFF. I beg your pardon, I have no collar on.

[He goes out quickly, followed by TELEGIN. SONIA.

Uncle Vanya, you and the doctor have been drinking! The good fellows have

Thesaurus

audacity: (n) nerve, audaciousness, effrontery, arrogance, temerity, cheek, impertinence, insolence, courage; (n, v) impudence; (adj, n) presumption. ANTONYMS: (n) cowardice, propriety, decorum, circumspection, courtesy, fear, respect, spinelessness, reticence.

benefactor: (n) sponsor, patron, backer, supporter, giver, Good Samaritan, contributor, benefactress, philanthropist, helper, humanitarian.

ANTONYMS: (n) antagonist, opposer, detractor.

crawl: (adv, v) grovel, lag; (n, v) clamber, climb; (v) sneak, fawn, cringe, teem, swarm, scramble, inch. ANTONYMS: (v) fly, rush, hurry, hasten, dart, dash, lead, soothe, speed.

magnificently: (adv) beautifully, grandly, superbly, gloriously, majestically, gorgeously, sumptuously, marvelously,

wonderfully, fantastically, showily. ANTONYMS: (adv) poorly, modestly, badly, abysmally, simply, meagerly, incompetently.

microbes: (n) microorganisms, bacteria.

temerity: (n) nerve, effrontery, hardihood, boldness, rashness, imprudence, audaciousness, carelessness, assurance, indiscretion, venturesomeness. ANTONYMS: (n) caution, care, reticence.

Uncle Vanya 32

been getting together! It is all very well for him, he has always done it, but why do you follow his example? It looks dreadfully at your age.%

VOITSKI. Age has nothing to do with it. When real life is wanting one must create an illusion. It is better than nothing.

SONIA. Our hay is all cut and rotting in these daily rains, and here you are busy creating illusions! You have given up the farm altogether. I have done all the work alone until I am at the end of my strength--[Frightened] Uncle! Your eyes are full of tears!

VOITSKI. Tears? Nonsense, there are no tears in my eyes. You looked at me then just as your dead mother used to, my darling--[He eagerly kisses her face and hands] My sister, my dearest sister, where are you now? Ah, if you only knew, if you only knew!

SONIA. If she only knew what, Uncle?

VOITSKI. My heart is bursting. It is awful. No matter, though. I must go. [He goes out.]

SONIA. [Knocks at the door] Dr. Astroff! Are you awake? Please come here for a minute.

ASTROFF. [Behind the door] In a moment. [He appears in a few seconds. He has put on his collar and waistcoat.]

ASTROFF. What do you want?

Thesaurus

appears: (n) appearing. bursting: (adj) explosive, teeming,

chock-full, full, complete, paroxysmal, exploding, disruptive, detonating, crowded; (n) outbreak. ANTONYM: (adj) hungry.

creating: (v) create; (n) making. dearest: (n) dear, darling, love, honey,

lover, sweetheart, loved one, baby; (adj) precious, intimate, sweet.

dreadfully: (adj, adv) frightfully, shockingly; (adv) fearfully,

appallingly, hideously, horrendously, horribly, atrociously, ghastly, tremendously, horridly. ANTONYMS: (adv) pleasantly, wonderfully, happily, hardly, superbly, well.

eagerly: (adv) zealously, readily, keenly, fervently, avidly, greedily, enthusiastically, intently, earnestly, impatiently, actively. ANTONYMS: (adv) apathetically, nonchalantly, grudgingly, patiently, halfheartedly,

reluctantly, unenthusiastically. illusion: (n, v) delusion; (n) fantasy,

apparition, deception, magic, fancy, deceit, dissimulation, phantom, trick, vision. ANTONYMS: (n) reality, fact.

illusions: (n) fantasy. rains: (n) wet. rotting: (adj) rotten, decaying,

decayed, moldering, mouldering, decomposing, putrid; (n) rot, putrefaction, decomposition, deep etching.

Anton Chekhov 33

SONIA. Drink as much as you please yourself if you don't find it revolting, but I implore you not to let my uncle do it. It is bad for him.%

ASTROFF. Very well; we won't drink any more. I am going home at once. That is settled. It will be dawn by the time the horses are harnessed.

SONIA. It is still raining; wait till morning.

ASTROFF. The storm is blowing over. This is only the edge of it. I must go. And please don't ask me to come and see your father any more. I tell him he has gout, and he says it is rheumatism. I tell him to lie down, and he sits up. To-day he refused to see me at all.

SONIA. He has been spoilt. [She looks in the sideboard] Won't you have a bite to eat?

ASTROFF. Yes, please. I believe I will.

SONIA. I love to eat at night. I am sure we shall find something in here. They say that he has made a great many conquests in his life, and that the women have spoiled him. Here is some cheese for you. [They stand eating by the sideboard.]

ASTROFF. I haven't eaten anything to-day. Your father has a very difficult nature. [He takes a bottle out of the sideboard] May I? [He pours himself a glass of vodka] We are alone here, and I can speak frankly. Do you know, I could not stand living in this house for even a month? This atmosphere would stifle me. There is your father, entirely absorbed in his books, and his gout; there is your Uncle Vanya with his hypochondria, your grandmother, and finally, your step-mother--

Thesaurus

bite: (n, v) nip, cut, taste, hurt, pain; (v) pinch, chew, erode, gnaw, eat; (n) morsel. ANTONYMS: (n) lot, whole, mildness.

blowing: (n) processing, insufflation, bravado; (v) fanning, blow out; (adj) windy, breezy.

eaten: (v) eat. hypochondria: (n) hypo, melancholia,

melancholy, anxiety, anxiousness. raining: (adj) rainy, showery, drizzly;

(n) woe. ANTONYM: (adj) dry.

revolting: (adj) offensive, loathsome, nasty, foul, detestable, nauseating, nauseous, horrible, hideous, repellent; (adj, v) sickening. ANTONYMS: (adj) attractive, pleasant, tasty, delicious, edible, lovable, delightful, appealing, lovely.

sideboard: (n) cupboard, closet, cellaret, credenza, cabinet, counter, locker, credence, press, snack bar, bin.

spoiled: (adj) bad, rotten, stale, spoil,

coddled, pampered, corrupt, damaged, spoilt, putrid, rancid. ANTONYM: (adj) unspoiled.

spoilt: (adj) spoiled, blighted, be stunted, destroyed, unsound, corrupt, disordered, reproduced fraudulently, defective, defiled, big.

stifle: (v) smother, suffocate, repress, dampen, muffle, extinguish, strangle, quell, hush up, asphyxiate, check. ANTONYMS: (v) express, arouse, stimulate, light, exacerbate, show.

Uncle Vanya 34

SONIA. What about her?

ASTROFF. A human being should be entirely beautiful: the face, the clothes, the mind, the thoughts. Your step-mother is, of course, beautiful to look at, but don't you see? She does nothing but sleep and eat and walk and bewitch us, and that is all. She has no responsibilities, everything is done for her--am I not right? And an idle life can never be a pure one. [A pause] However, I may be judging her too severely. Like your Uncle Vanya, I am discontented, and so we are both grumblers.%

SONIA. Aren't you satisfied with life?

ASTROFF. I like life as life, but I hate and despise it in a little Russian country village, and as far as my own personal life goes, by heaven! there is absolutely no redeeming feature about it. Haven't you noticed if you are riding through a dark wood at night and see a little light shining ahead, how you forget your fatigue and the darkness and the sharp twigs that whip your face? I work, that you know--as no one else in the country works. Fate beats me on without rest; at times I suffer unendurably and I see no light ahead. I have no hope; I do not like people. It is long since I have loved any one.

SONIA. You love no one?

ASTROFF. Not a soul. I only feel a sort of tenderness for your old nurse for old-times' sake. The peasants are all alike; they are stupid and live in dirt, and the educated people are hard to get along with. One gets tired of them. All our good friends are petty and shallow and see no farther than their own noses; in one word, they are dull. Those that have brains are hysterical, devoured with a mania for self-analysis. They whine, they hate, they pick faults everywhere with unhealthy sharpness. They sneak up to me sideways, look

Thesaurus

bewitch: (adj, n, v) fascinate; (adj, v) charm, attract; (v) enchant, entrance, enrapture, witch, spell, beguile, enamor; (n, v) allure. ANTONYM: (v) disgust.

despise: (v) disdain, loathe, depreciate, abhor, dislike, detest, slight, hate; (n, v) contemn; (n) contempt, deride. ANTONYMS: (v) respect, love, adore, appreciate, cherish, like, praise, accept.

devoured: (adj) eaten up.

discontented: (adj, v) querulous, complaining; (adj) disaffected, disgruntled, malcontent, unsatisfied, dissatisfied, displeased, miserable, put out, ungratified. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleased, satisfied, happy, content.

mania: (n) passion, craze, delirium, fad, fury, enthusiasm, rage, obsession; (adj, n) insanity, lunacy, madness.

sneak: (adj, n, v) slink; (v) lurk, creep,

crawl, fawn; (adj, n) coward; (adj, v) grovel; (n) informer; (n, v) skulk, snitch; (adj) dastard.

twigs: (n) sprays. unendurably: (adv) intolerably,

excruciatingly, dreadfully, unspeakably.

whine: (n, v) groan, cry, whimper, grumble, sigh, wail, squeal, screech; (v) complain, howl; (n) complaint. ANTONYMS: (n) happiness; (v) praise, compliment.

Anton Chekhov 35

at me out of a corner of the eye, and say: "That man is a lunatic," "That man is a wind-bag." Or, if they don't know what else to label me with, they say I am strange. I like the woods; that is strange. I don't eat meat; that is strange, too. Simple, natural relations between man and man or man and nature do not exist. [He tries to go out; SONIA prevents him.]

SONIA. I beg you, I implore you, not to drink any more!

ASTROFF. Why not?

SONIA. It is so unworthy of you. You are well-bred, your voice is sweet, you are even--more than any one I know--handsome. Why do you want to resemble the common people that drink and play cards? Oh, don't, I beg you! You always say that people do not create anything, but only destroy what heaven has given them. Why, oh, why, do you destroy yourself? Oh, don't, I implore you not to! I entreat you!

ASTROFF. [Gives her his hand] I won't drink any more.%

SONIA. Promise me.

ASTROFF. I give you my word of honour.

SONIA. [Squeezing his hand] Thank you.

ASTROFF. I have done with it. You see, I am perfectly sober again, and so I shall stay till the end of my life. [He looks his watch] But, as I was saying, life holds nothing for me; my race is run. I am old, I am tired, I am trivial; my sensibilities are dead. I could never attach myself to any one again. I love no one, and never shall! Beauty alone has the power to touch me still. I am

Thesaurus

attach: (v) append, adhere, add, affix, bind, link, associate, assign, nail, apply, annex. ANTONYMS: (v) undo, separate, unfasten, disconnect, free, deflect, dissociate, loosen, quit, take, unscrew.

resemble: (v) seem, imitate, compare, correspond, to resemble, agree, look, simulate; (adj) look like; (n) resemblance; (adv) alike.

sober: (adj, v) grave, sedate; (adj) sane, earnest, quiet, solemn, moderate,

modest, serene, dull, somber. ANTONYMS: (adj) intoxicated, unrestrained, drunk, playful, sensational, emotional, cheerful, frivolous, funny, muddled, delirious.

trivial: (adj) trifling, frivolous, little, small, commonplace, superficial, petty, paltry, inconsiderable, piddling, slight. ANTONYMS: (adj) important, vital, major, urgent, profound, crucial, consequential, considerable, enormous, mature,

serious. unworthy: (adj) undeserving, base,

disgraceful, ignoble, low, contemptible, despicable, ugly, unmerited, unseemly, shameful. ANTONYMS: (adj) deserving, valuable, honorable, estimable, reputable.

well-bred: (adj) courteous, mannerly, urbane, civil, genteel, gentlemanly, refined, nice, sophisticated, thoughtful, debonair.

Uncle Vanya 36

deeply moved by it. Helena could turn my head in a day if she wanted to, but that is not love, that is not affection-- [He shudders and covers his face with his hands.]

SONIA. What is it?

ASTROFF. Nothing. During Lent one of my patients died under chloroform.%

SONIA. It is time to forget that. [A pause] Tell me, doctor, if I had a friend or a younger sister, and if you knew that she, well--loved you, what would you do?

ASTROFF. [Shrugging his shoulders] I don't know. I don't think I should do anything. I should make her understand that I could not return her love--however, my mind is not bothered about those things now. I must start at once if I am ever to get off. Good-bye, my dear girl. At this rate we shall stand here talking till morning. [He shakes hands with her] I shall go out through the sitting-room, because I am afraid your uncle might detain me. [He goes out.]

SONIA. [Alone] Not a word! His heart and soul are still locked from me, and yet for some reason I am strangely happy. I wonder why? [She laughs with pleasure] I told him that he was well-bred and handsome and that his voice was sweet. Was that a mistake? I can still feel his voice vibrating in the air; it caresses me. [Wringing her hands] Oh! how terrible it is to be plain! I am plain, I know it. As I came out of church last Sunday I overheard a woman say, "She is a dear, noble girl, but what a pity she is so ugly!" So ugly! [HELENA comes in and throws open the window.]

HELENA. The storm is over. What delicious air! [A pause] Where is the doctor?

Thesaurus

bothered: (adj) troubled, disturbed, nervous, distraught, uneasy, concerned, upset, annoyed, harassed, vexed, fazed. ANTONYMS: (adj) peaceful, unconcerned, pleased, serene, untroubled, content.

delicious: (adj, v) delicate; (adj) tasteful, pleasing, delightful, appetizing, agreeable, sweet, toothsome, savory, enjoyable, dainty. ANTONYMS: (adj) tasteless, distasteful, yucky, unsavory,

unpleasant, unappetizing, revolting, nauseating, inedible, gross, dry.

detain: (v) arrest, confine, catch, capture, apprehend, stay, keep, jail, imprison, incarcerate, retard. ANTONYMS: (v) free, liberate, rush.

knew: (adj) known; (v) recognize, wist.shakes: (n) hangover, jitters,

nervousness, tension, anxiety. strangely: (adv) curiously, queerly,

unusually, funnily, peculiarly, weirdly, marvelously, uncommonly,

extraordinarily, singularly, bizarrely. ANTONYMS: (adv) typically, ordinarily, harmoniously.

vibrating: (adj) tremulous, vibratory, vibrant, swinging, hollow, moving, oscillating, that oscillates, resonant; (n) shaking system.

wringing: (adj) saturated, soaked, soaked to the skin, soaking wet, sodden, sopping, sopping wet, wet, wet through, wringing wet, soaking. ANTONYM: (adj) dry.

Anton Chekhov 37

SONIA. He has gone. [A pause.]

HELENA. Sonia!

SONIA. Yes?

HELENA. How much longer are you going to sulk at me? We have not hurt each other. Why not be friends? We have had enough of this.%

SONIA. I myself--[She embraces HELENA] Let us make peace.

HELENA. With all my heart. [They are both moved.]

SONIA. Has papa gone to bed?

HELENA. No, he is sitting up in the drawing-room. Heaven knows what reason you and I had for not speaking to each other for weeks. [Sees the open sideboard] Who left the sideboard open?

SONIA. Dr. Astroff has just had supper.

HELENA. There is some wine. Let us seal our friendship.

SONIA. Yes, let us.

HELENA. Out of one glass. [She fills a wine-glass] So, we are friends, are we?

Thesaurus

friendship: (n) association, familiarity, affection, companionship, friendliness, intimacy, company, attachment, relationship; (n, v) amity, concord. ANTONYMS: (n) hostility, animosity, antagonism, conflict, formality, rivalry, hatred, detachment, distance, isolation.

heaven: (n) Eden, firmament, bliss, Elysium, sky, nirvana, glory, Elysian Fields, Garden of Eden, utopia; (adj) celestial. ANTONYM: (n) misery.

longer: (adj) longest, better, lengest; (adv) farther; (n) yearner, thirster.

seal: (n, v) stamp; (v) plug, bar, caulk, stop, shut; (n) cachet, hallmark, imprint, signet; (adj) conclude. ANTONYMS: (n, v) open; (v) unseal.

speaking: (n) talk, discourse, speech, public speaking, reading, oral presentation, recital, recitation, disputation; (v) speak; (adj) expressive. ANTONYMS: (adj) nonspeaking, silent.

sulk: (v) mope, pout, brood, glower, stew, grizzle, frown, gripe; (n) mood, temper, sulkiness. ANTONYMS: (v) grin, smile.

supper: (n) meal, tea, lunch, repast, reception, mealtime, siesta, social affair; (v) dejeuner, bever, whet.

wine: (n) vino, spirits, beer, saki, sake, Macon, maconnais, alcohol, liquor, dessert wine; (adj) mauve.

Uncle Vanya 38

SONIA. Yes. [They drink and kiss each other] I have long wanted to make friends, but somehow, I was ashamed to. [She weeps.]

HELENA. Why are you crying?

SONIA. I don't know. It is nothing.%

HELENA. There, there, don't cry. [She weeps] Silly! Now I am crying too. [A pause] You are angry with me because I seem to have married your father for his money, but don't believe the gossip you hear. I swear to you I married him for love. I was fascinated by his fame and learning. I know now that it was not real love, but it seemed real at the time. I am innocent, and yet your clever, suspicious eyes have been punishing me for an imaginary crime ever since my marriage.

SONIA. Peace, peace! Let us forget the past.

HELENA. You must not look so at people. It is not becoming to you. You must trust people, or life becomes impossible.

SONIA. Tell me truly, as a friend, are you happy?

HELENA. Truly, no.

SONIA. I knew it. One more question: do you wish your husband were young?

HELENA. What a child you are! Of course I do. Go on, ask something else.

Thesaurus

ashamed: (adj) hangdog, guilty, embarrassed, sheepish, remorseful, regretful, bashful, disconcerted, contrite, chagrined; (v) dashed. ANTONYMS: (adj) proud, arrogant, unremorseful, unashamed, pleased, blatant, bold, happy, unabashed, unrepentant.

becomes: (v) become. fascinated: (adj) captivated, absorbed,

gripped, engrossed, interested, attentive, preoccupied, entranced,

attracted, enchanted, enthralled. ANTONYMS: (adj) indifferent, disinterested, disenchanted, detached.

gossip: (n, v) chatter, rumor, chitchat, gab, talk, babble, natter, tattle; (n) chatterbox, conversation, small talk. ANTONYM: (n) truth.

imaginary: (adj) fictitious, unreal, false, mythical, illusory, ideal, hypothetical, visionary, fictional, notional, chimerical. ANTONYMS:

(adj) real, palpable, actual, concrete, prosaic, normal, true.

punishing: (adj) gruelling, arduous, labourious, laborious, hard, heavy, punitive, backbreaking, clayey, accented, severe. ANTONYM: (adj) undemanding.

swear: (v) declare, assure, assert, affirm, curse, pledge; (n, v) promise, avow, depone, depose, aver. ANTONYMS: (v) distrust, refute, deny, compliment.

Anton Chekhov 39

SONIA. Do you like the doctor?

HELENA. Yes, very much indeed.%

SONIA. [Laughing] I have a stupid face, haven't I? He has just gone out, and his voice is still in my ears; I hear his step; I see his face in the dark window. Let me say all I have in my heart! But no, I cannot speak of it so loudly. I am ashamed. Come to my room and let me tell you there. I seem foolish to you, don't I? Talk to me of him.

HELENA. What can I say?

SONIA. He is clever. He can do everything. He can cure the sick, and plant woods.

HELENA. It is not a question of medicine and woods, my dear, he is a man of genius. Do you know what that means? It means he is brave, profound, and of clear insight. He plants a tree and his mind travels a thousand years into the future, and he sees visions of the happiness of the human race. People like him are rare and should be loved. What if he does drink and act roughly at times? A man of genius cannot be a saint in Russia. There he lives, cut off from the world by cold and storm and endless roads of bottomless mud, surrounded by a rough people who are crushed by poverty and disease, his life one continuous struggle, with never a day's respite; how can a man live like that for forty years and keep himself sober and unspotted? [Kissing SONIA] I wish you happiness with all my heart; you deserve it. [She gets up] As for me, I am a worthless, futile woman. I have always been futile; in music, in love, in my husband's house--in a word, in everything. When you come to think of it, Sonia, I am really very, very unhappy. [Walks excitedly up and down] Happiness can never exist for me in this world. Never. Why do you laugh?

Thesaurus

bottomless: (adj) limitless, infinite, deep, unlimited, profound, immeasurable, fathomless, boundless, unfounded, groundless, unplumbed. ANTONYMS: (adj) shallow, bottomed, limited, restricted.

ears: (n) antenna. excitedly: (adv) passionately,

feverishly, wildly, frantically, nervously, ardently, enthusiastically, eagerly, animatedly, fervently,

cheerfully. ANTONYMS: (adv) lifelessly, patiently, peacefully, nonchalantly, indifferently, despondently, unenthusiastically.

kissing: (n) hugging, cuddling, fondling, arousal, foreplay, necking; (adj) embracing, adhering closely, billing, clinging, interosculant.

respite: (n, v) pause, rest, lull; (n) repose, intermission, recess, break, remission, relief, cessation, interruption.

travels: (n) actions, expedition. unspotted: (adj) unblemished,

unstained, unsoiled, stainless, pure, blameless, immaculate, undefaced, undeformed, spotless, untarnished.

worthless: (adj, v) futile, vain; (adj) vile, idle, empty, trifling, void, trivial, cheap, miserable, null. ANTONYMS: (adj) precious, useful, worthwhile, priceless, meaningful, helpful, invaluable, deserving, valid, worthy, substantial.

Uncle Vanya 40

SONIA. [Laughing and covering her face with her hands] I am so happy, so happy!

HELENA. I want to hear music. I might play a little.%

SONIA. Oh, do, do! [She embraces her] I could not possibly go to sleep now. Do play!

HELENA. Yes, I will. Your father is still awake. Music irritates him when he is ill, but if he says I may, then I shall play a little. Go, Sonia, and ask him.

SONIA. Very well. [She goes out. The WATCHMAN'S rattle is heard in the garden.]

HELENA. It is long since I have heard music. And now, I shall sit and play, and weep like a fool. [Speaking out of the window] Is that you rattling out there, Ephim?

VOICE OF THE WATCHMAN. It is I.

HELENA. Don't make such a noise. Your master is ill.

VOICE OF THE WATCHMAN. I am going away this minute. [Whistles a tune.]

SONIA. [Comes back] He says, no. [The curtain falls.]

Thesaurus

awake: (v) wake, awaken, realize, waken; (adj) alive, alert, attentive, conscious, keen, intelligent; (adj, v) broad awake. ANTONYMS: (adj) unconscious, sleeping, comatose, sleepy, relaxed; (v) deaden, lull, sleep.

covering: (n) cover, coating, blanket, coat, casing, wrapper, case, concealment, awning; (adj, n, v) clothing; (n, v) apparel. ANTONYMS: (prep) exactly, beneath.

curtain: (n, v) cover; (n) barrier, drapery, blind, screen, mantle, mask, shade, pall, shroud; (v) hide.

fool: (n) blockhead, dunce, clown, idiot, ass, booby, buffoon; (v) deceive, bamboozle; (n, v) joke, gull. ANTONYM: (n) savant.

heard: (n) hearing. noise: (n, v) clatter, echo; (n) clamor,

hubbub, racket, sound, disturbance, uproar, din, buzz, clang. ANTONYMS: (n) silence, quiet,

quietness, sense. rattling: (adj) lively, brisk, racy,

marvelous, fantastic, zippy, snappy, spanking, merry; (adv) very, real.

sleep: (n, v) nap, repose, doze, kip, slumber, catnap; (adj, n, v) lie; (v) hibernate, nod; (n) dream; (adj, v) lodge. ANTONYMS: (v) awaken; (n) alertness, agitation.

weep: (v) wail, bawl, lament, sob, blubber, moan, howl, drip, greet, whimper; (n) tear.

Anton Chekhov 41

ACT I I I

[The drawing-room of SEREBRAKOFF'S house. There are three doors: one to the right, one to the left, and one in the centre of the room. VOITSKI and SONIA are sitting down. HELENA is walking up and down, absorbed in thought.]

VOITSKI. We were asked by the professor to be here at one o'clock. [Looks at his watch] It is now a quarter to one. It seems he has some communication to make to the world.%

HELENA. Probably a matter of business.

VOITSKI. He never had any business. He writes twaddle, grumbles, and eats his heart out with jealousy; that's all he does.

SONIA. [Reproachfully] Uncle!

VOITSKI. All right. I beg your pardon. [He points to HELENA] Look at her. Wandering up and down from sheer idleness. A sweet picture, really.

Thesaurus

absorbed: (adj) rapt, intent, immersed, fixed, deep, engaged, preoccupied, pensive, fascinated, enthralled, held. ANTONYMS: (adj) bored, disinterested, distracted, restless, unfocused, uninterested, indifferent, shallow, superficial, detached.

eats: (n) grub, chuck, food, meat, meal, diet, nurture, eat, dinner, board, feed.

idleness: (n) lethargy, laziness, torpor, inactivity, idling, unemployment, sloth, inaction, inertia, faineance,

idlesse. ANTONYMS: (n) energy, activity, bustle, liveliness, responsibility.

jealousy: (n) suspicion, jealous, jealousness, envy, envious, alertness, distrust, contention, competition, scruple, qualm.

pardon: (v) excuse, condone, forgive, acquit, spare; (n) amnesty, forgiveness, grace; (adj, v) justify, exonerate, exculpate. ANTONYMS: (n, v) blame; (v) punish, castigate,

condemn, convict; (n) intolerance. twaddle: (n, v) chatter, drivel, babble,

gabble; (n) nonsense, baloney, humbug, hogwash, bosh, rubbish, tosh. ANTONYMS: (n) sense, fact.

wandering: (adj) itinerant, nomadic, erratic, rambling, errant, migratory; (adj, v) stray, vagrant, vagabond, unsettled; (n) peregrination. ANTONYM: (adj) resident.

Uncle Vanya 42

HELENA. I wonder you are not bored, droning on in the same key from morning till night. [Despairingly] I am dying of this tedium. What shall I do?

SONIA. [Shrugging her shoulders] There is plenty to do if you would.%

HELENA. For instance?

SONIA. You could help run this place, teach the children, care for the sick--isn't that enough? Before you and papa came, Uncle Vanya and I used to go to market ourselves to deal in flour.

HELENA. I don't know anything about such things, and besides, they don't interest me. It is only in novels that women go out and teach and heal the peasants; how can I suddenly begin to do it?

SONIA. How can you live here and not do it? Wait awhile, you will get used to it all. [Embraces her] Don't be sad, dearest. [Laughing] You feel miserable and restless, and can't seem to fit into this life, and your restlessness is catching. Look at Uncle Vanya, he does nothing now but haunt you like a shadow, and I have left my work to-day to come here and talk with you. I am getting lazy, and don't want to go on with it. Dr. Astroff hardly ever used to come here; it was all we could do to persuade him to visit us once a month, and now he has abandoned his forestry and his practice, and comes every day. You must be a witch.

VOITSKI. Why should you languish here? Come, my dearest, my beauty, be sensible! The blood of a Nixey runs in your veins. Oh, won't you let yourself be one? Give your nature the reins for once in your life; fall head over ears in love

Thesaurus

awhile: (adj) in transitu, en passant; (adv) briefly.

despairingly: (adv) forlornly, desperately, despondently, dejectedly, sadly, desolately, disconsolately, resignedly, sorrowfully, frantically, franticly. ANTONYMS: (adv) energetically, expectantly, cheerfully.

droning: (adj) buzzing, humming, abuzz, booming, monotonous, noisy; (n) bourdon, dawdler, drone pipe,

idleness, monotone. ANTONYM: (adj) varied.

haunt: (n, v) resort, ghost; (n) den, hangout, home; (v) pursue, follow, stalk, afflict, persecute; (adj) harass.

languish: (adj, v) flag, drop, fail; (adj, n, v) droop; (v) decline, die, decay, ache; (n, v) pine, yearn, wither. ANTONYMS: (v) thrive, change.

restlessness: (n) anxiety, disquiet, impatience, fidget, uneasiness, disquietude, unrest, fidgetiness,

agitation, insomnia; (adj, n) nervousness. ANTONYMS: (n) calm, contentment, restfulness, peace.

runs: (n) Aztec two-step, sickness, Montezuma's revenge.

tedium: (n) ennui, monotony, tediousness, dullness, sameness, dreariness, lifelessness, difficulty, drabness; (adj) dull work, humdrum. ANTONYMS: (n) excitement, diversion, variation, entertainment, ease.

Anton Chekhov 43

with some other water sprite and plunge down head first into a deep pool, so that the Herr Professor and all of us may have our hands free again.%

HELENA. [Angrily] Leave me alone! How cruel you are! [She tries to go out.]

VOITSKI. [Preventing her] There, there, my beauty, I apologise. [He kisses her hand] Forgive me.

HELENA. Confess that you would try the patience of an angel.

VOITSKI. As a peace offering I am going to fetch some flowers which I picked for you this morning: some autumn roses, beautiful, sorrowful roses. [He goes out.]

SONIA. Autumn roses, beautiful, sorrowful roses!

[She and HELENA stand looking out of the window.] HELENA.

September already! How shall we live through the long winter here? [A pause] Where is the doctor?

SONIA. He is writing in Uncle Vanya's room. I am glad Uncle Vanya has gone out, I want to talk to you about something.

HELENA. About what?

SONIA. About what?

[She lays her head on HELENA'S breast.] HELENA.

[Stroking her hair] There, there, that will do. Don't, Sonia.

Thesaurus

angel: (n, v) sponsor, support; (n) backer, cherub, messenger, patron, benefactor, saint; (adj) Dulcinea, goddess; (adj, n) darling. ANTONYMS: (n) fiend, devil, jerk, demon.

apologise: (v) excuse, defend, support, pardon, palliate, mitigating, colour, rationalize, rationalise, plead, pled.

patience: (n) endurance, fortitude, longanimity, equanimity, tolerance, resignation, restraint, composure,

sufferance; (n, v) moderation, calmness. ANTONYMS: (n) impatience, eagerness, intolerance, annoyance.

pause: (n, v) halt, interruption, adjournment, delay, respite, stop; (adj, n, v) rest; (n) intermission, gap; (adj, v) discontinue; (v) hesitate. ANTONYMS: (n) decisiveness, continuation, start; (v) proceed.

plunge: (n, v) drop, dive, fall, jump; (v) douse, duck, submerge, crash, dunk,

plummet; (adj, v) immerse. ANTONYMS: (n, v) rise; (v) hesitate; (n) improvement.

sorrowful: (adj) melancholy, doleful, sad, rueful, lugubrious, gloomy, dreary, grievous, piteous, unhappy, mournful. ANTONYMS: (adj) cheerful, content, joyful, successful.

sprite: (n) fairy, imp, pixie, gnome, faerie, leprechaun, brownie, hob, ghost, nymph, dwarf. ANTONYM: (n) unfairness.

Uncle Vanya 44

SONIA. I am ugly!

HELENA. You have lovely hair.%

SONIA. Don't say that! [She turns to look at herself in the glass] No, when a woman is ugly they always say she has beautiful hair or eyes. I have loved him now for six years, I have loved him more than one loves one's mother. I seem to hear him beside me every moment of the day. I feel the pressure of his hand on mine. If I look up, I seem to see him coming, and as you see, I run to you to talk of him. He is here every day now, but he never looks at me, he does not notice my presence. It is agony. I have absolutely no hope, no, no hope. Oh, my God! Give me strength to endure. I prayed all last night. I often go up to him and speak to him and look into his eyes. My pride is gone. I am not mistress of myself. Yesterday I told Uncle Vanya I couldn't control myself, and all the servants know it. Every one knows that I love him.

HELENA. Does he?

SONIA. No, he never notices me.

HELENA. [Thoughtfully] He is a strange man. Listen, Sonia, will you allow me to speak to him? I shall be careful, only hint. [A pause] Really, to be in uncertainty all these years! Let me do it!

[SONIA nods an affirmative.] HELENA.

Splendid! It will be easy to find out whether he loves you or not. Don't be ashamed, sweetheart, don't worry. I shall be careful; he will not notice a thing. We only want to find out whether it is yes or no, don't we? [A pause] And if it is no, then he must keep away from here, is that so?

Thesaurus

agony: (n) torture, suffering, torment, distress, misery, passion, pain, grief, pang, sorrow, throe. ANTONYMS: (n) pleasure, joy, euphoria, bliss, happiness, ecstasy, peace, content.

endure: (adj, n, v) continue, support; (n, v) bear, suffer, stand, be; (v) accept, undergo, allow, stay, tolerate. ANTONYMS: (v) perish, die, break, fall, discontinue, crumble, end, enjoy, resign, quit, collapse.

hint: (v) suggest; (adj, n) trace; (n)

suggestion, intimation, inkling, cue, allusion; (n, v) tip, touch, dash; (adj, v) intimate. ANTONYM: (n) overtone.

mistress: (n) dame, concubine, madame, inamorata, lady, lover, fancy woman, doxy, girl, kept woman, missis.

ugly: (adj, adv) surly; (adj) nasty, repulsive, frightful, forbidding, disagreeable, hideous, gruesome, evil, offensive, shocking. ANTONYMS: (adj) attractive,

flowing, ornamental, nice, lovely, pleasant, safe, kind, gentle, appealing, agreeable.

uncertainty: (n) doubtfulness, suspicion, distrust, indecision, suspense, irresolution, hesitation, incertitude, dubiety, question, dubiousness. ANTONYMS: (n) certainty, decisiveness, confidence, clarity, sureness, definiteness, resolution, predictability, security, certitude, understanding.

Anton Chekhov 45

[SONIA nods.] HELENA.

It will be easier not to see him any more. We won't put off the examination an instant. He said he had a sketch to show me. Go and tell him at once that I want to see him.%

SONIA. [In great excitement] Will you tell me the whole truth?

HELENA. Of course I will. I am sure that no matter what it is, it will be easier for you to bear than this uncertainty. Trust to me, dearest.

SONIA. Yes, yes. I shall say that you want to see his sketch. [She starts out, but stops near the door and looks back] No, it is better not to know--and yet--there may be hope.

HELENA. What do you say?

SONIA. Nothing. [She goes out.]

HELENA. [Alone] There is no greater sorrow than to know another's secret when you cannot help them. [In deep thought] He is obviously not in love with her, but why shouldn't he marry her? She is not pretty, but she is so clever and pure and good, she would make a splendid wife for a country doctor of his years. [A pause] I can understand how the poor child feels. She lives here in this desperate loneliness with no one around her except these colourless shadows that go mooning about talking nonsense and knowing nothing except that they eat, drink, and sleep. Among them appears from time to time this Dr. Astroff, so different, so handsome, so interesting, so charming. It is like seeing the moon rise on a dark night. Oh, to surrender oneself to his embrace! To lose oneself in his arms! I am a little in love with him myself!

Thesaurus

colourless: (adj) colorless, drab, pale, neutral, wan, pallid, ashen, clear, white, washy, bloodless. ANTONYM: (adj) colorful.

embrace: (v) comprise, adopt, comprehend, contain, admit, espouse, include; (n, v) clasp, hug, grip, bosom. ANTONYMS: (v) reject, exclude, spurn, shun, renounce, release, loose, disbelieve.

lives: (n) life, living, estate, existence, earnest living.

loneliness: (n) desolation, aloneness, isolation, solitariness, lonesomeness, bleakness, forlornness, desolateness, temperament, unhappiness; (adj, n) solitude. ANTONYMS: (n) inclusion, cheerfulness, hopefulness.

mooning: (adj) unaware, preoccupied, forgetful, absent-minded, mindless.

oneself: (n) herself, himself, themselves, personal, private, selfness, self, yourself, me, person, own.

sketch: (n, v) plan, outline, draft, scheme, picture, project; (n) drawing, cartoon, plot; (v) paint, draw.

surrender: (v) concede, abandon, give up, capitulate, submit, deliver; (adj, n) resignation; (n, v) resign, render, release; (n) capitulation. ANTONYMS: (v) conquer, appropriate, persevere, subdue, enforce; (n, v) fight, win; (n) capture, confrontation, conquest, victory.

Uncle Vanya 46

Yes, I am lonely without him, and when I think of him I smile. That Uncle Vanya says I have the blood of a Nixey in my veins: "Give rein to your nature for once in your life!" Perhaps it is right that I should. Oh, to be free as a bird, to fly away from all your sleepy faces and your talk and forget that you have existed at all! But I am a coward, I am afraid; my conscience torments me. He comes here every day now. I can guess why, and feel guilty already; I should like to fall on my knees at Sonia's feet and beg her forgiveness, and weep.%

[ASTROFF comes in carrying a portfolio.] ASTROFF.

How do you do? [Shakes hands with her] Do you want to see my sketch? HELENA.

Yes, you promised to show me what you had been doing. Have you time now?

ASTROFF. Of course I have!

He lays the portfolio on the table, takes out the sketch and fastens it to the table with thumb-tacks.

ASTROFF. Where were you born?

HELENA. [Helping him] In St. Petersburg.

ASTROFF. And educated?

HELENA. At the Conservatory there.

ASTROFF. You don't find this life very interesting, I dare say?

Thesaurus

conscience: (n) moral sense, Conscience money, sense of right and wrong, scruple, intention, tender conscience, small voice, principles, morals, morality, inward monitor. ANTONYM: (n) indifference.

coward: (n) cur, pantywaist, sneak, dastard, milksop, weakling, milquetoast; (adj) gutless, chickenhearted, pusillanimous, chicken-hearted. ANTONYMS: (n) daredevil, stalwart; (adj) brave.

forgiveness: (n) mercy, condonation, clemency, kindness, pity, remission, leniency, absolution, grace, compassion; (n, v) pardon. ANTONYMS: (n) condemnation, cruelty, harshness.

lonely: (adj) deserted, lone, dreary, solitary, forsaken, desert; (adj, n) isolated, alone; (adv) lonesomely, solely, solitarily. ANTONYMS: (adj) sheltered, populous, cheerful, nearby; (n) foe.

portfolio: (n) brief-case, album, folder, case, investment portfolio, file, budget, bandolier, chair, brief case, function.

rein: (n) bridle, curb, restraint, check, strap; (v) leash, harness, contain, rule, rein in, confine.

sleepy: (adj) drowsy, dozy, slow, lazy, hypnotic, inactive, comatose, dull, heavy, dreamy; (adv) asleep. ANTONYMS: (adj) awake, energetic, vigorous, clear, lively, refreshed.

Anton Chekhov 47

HELENA. Oh, why not? It is true I don't know the country very well, but I have read a great deal about it.%

ASTROFF. I have my own desk there in Ivan's room. When I am absolutely too exhausted to go on I drop everything and rush over here to forget myself in this work for an hour or two. Ivan and Miss Sonia sit rattling at their counting-boards, the cricket chirps, and I sit beside them and paint, feeling warm and peaceful. But I don't permit myself this luxury very often, only once a month. [Pointing to the picture] Look there! That is a map of our country as it was fifty years ago. The green tints, both dark and light, represent forests. Half the map, as you see, is covered with it. Where the green is striped with red the forests were inhabited by elk and wild goats. Here on this lake, lived great flocks of swans and geese and ducks; as the old men say, there was a power of birds of every kind. Now they have vanished like a cloud. Beside the hamlets and villages, you see, I have dotted down here and there the various settlements, farms, hermit's caves, and water-mills. This country carried a great many cattle and horses, as you can see by the quantity of blue paint. For instance, see how thickly it lies in this part; there were great herds of them here, an average of three horses to every house. [A pause] Now, look lower down. This is the country as it was twenty-five years ago. Only a third of the map is green now with forests. There are no goats left and no elk. The blue paint is lighter, and so on, and so on. Now we come to the third part; our country as it appears to-day. We still see spots of green, but not much. The elk, the swans, the black-cock have disappeared. It is, on the whole, the picture of a regular and slow decline which it will evidently only take about ten or fifteen more years to complete. You may perhaps object that it is the march of progress, that the old order must give place to the new, and you might be right if roads had been run through these ruined woods, or if factories and schools had taken their place. The people then would have become better educated and healthier and richer, but as it is, we have nothing of the sort. We have the same swamps and mosquitoes; the

Thesaurus

carried: (adj) conveyed, imported. dotted: (adj) speckled, dappled,

specked, spotted, dashed, stippled, scattered, spotty, dot, mottled, broken.

forests: (n) country. geese: (n) ducks, goose, game birds,

order Anseriformes, wildfowl, birds, Anatidae, Anseriformes, family Anatidae.

goats: (n) suborder Ruminantia, Ruminantia, giraffes, deer, frank

Capra, genus Capra, bison, antelopes, family Bovidae, camels, Capra.

healthier: (adj) fitter. ANTONYM: (adj) worse.

inhabited: (v) populous, full of people, arrayed, clothed, dressed, accustomed, habited; (adj, v) peopled; (adj) occupied, settled, housing. ANTONYMS: (adj) unoccupied, uninhabited, business.

mosquitoes: (n) crane flies, Nematocera, gnats, fungus gnats,

Culicidae, suborder Nematocera, family Culicidae.

striped: (adj) stripy, brindled, variegated, lined, banded, virgated, zoned, paled, with stripes.

swans: (n) geese, Anseriformes, order Anseriformes, ducks, screamers.

thickly: (adv) deeply, heavily, thick, viscously, thicksetly, solidly, dully, dumbly, compactly, closely, turbidly. ANTONYMS: (adv) thinly, finely, slightly, sparsely, loosely, distinctly.

Uncle Vanya 48

same disease and want; the typhoid, the diphtheria, the burning villages. We are confronted by the degradation of our country, brought on by the fierce struggle for existence of the human race. It is the consequence of the ignorance and unconsciousness of starving, shivering, sick humanity that, to save its children, instinctively snatches at everything that can warm it and still its hunger. So it destroys everything it can lay its hands on, without a thought for the morrow. And almost everything has gone, and nothing has been created to take its place. [Coldly] But I see by your face that I am not interesting you.%

HELENA. I know so little about such things!

ASTROFF. There is nothing to know. It simply isn't interesting, that's all.

HELENA. Frankly, my thoughts were elsewhere. Forgive me! I want to submit you to a little examination, but I am embarrassed and don't know how to begin.

ASTROFF. An examination?

HELENA. Yes, but quite an innocent one. Sit down. [They sit down] It is about a certain young girl I know. Let us discuss it like honest people, like friends, and then forget what has passed between us, shall we?

ASTROFF. Very well.

HELENA. It is about my step-daughter, Sonia. Do you like her?

ASTROFF. Yes, I respect her.

HELENA. Do you like her--as a woman?

Thesaurus

coldly: (adv) frigidly, icily, coolly, indifferently, frostily, distantly, gelidly, reservedly, bleakly, wintrily, frozenly. ANTONYMS: (adv) warmly, affectionately, sympathetically, sensitively, kindly, cheerfully, emotionally.

degradation: (n) fall, abasement, degeneracy, corruption, abjection, debasement, decadence, degeneration, humiliation, deposition, disgrace. ANTONYMS:

(n) elevation, glorification, honor. diphtheria: (n) contagion, contagious

disease. morrow: (n) morning, future, mean

solar day, day. shivering: (adj) quivering, shaking,

trembling, shaky, quaking, tremulous, shuddering, chilled; (n) chill, cold, shiver. ANTONYM: (adj) composed.

snatches: (n) grasp, gain, catch. starving: (adj) famished, hungry,

malnourished, voracious, skinny, undernourished, thin, empty, peckish; (adj, v) starved; (n) starvation. ANTONYMS: (adj) satiated, healthy.

unconsciousness: (n) blackout, insensibility, grogginess, loss of consciousness, coma, trance, stupefaction, faint, unawareness, ignorance, torpor. ANTONYM: (n) awareness.

Anton Chekhov 49

ASTROFF. [Slowly] No.%

HELENA. One more word, and that will be the last. You have not noticed anything?

ASTROFF. No, nothing.

HELENA. [Taking his hand] You do not love her. I see that in your eyes. She is suffering. You must realise that, and not come here any more.

ASTROFF. My sun has set, yes, and then I haven't the time. [Shrugging his shoulders] Where shall I find time for such things? [He is embarrassed.

HELENA. Bah! What an unpleasant conversation! I am as out of breath as if I had been running three miles uphill. Thank heaven, that is over! Now let us forget everything as if nothing had been said. You are sensible. You understand. [A pause] I am actually blushing.

ASTROFF. If you had spoken a month ago I might perhaps have considered it, but now--[He shrugs his shoulders] Of course, if she is suffering--but I cannot understand why you had to put me through this examination. [He searches her face with his eyes, and shakes his finger at her] Oho, you are wily!

HELENA. What does this mean?

ASTROFF. [Laughing] You are a wily one! I admit that Sonia is suffering, but what does this examination of yours mean? [He prevents her from retorting, and goes on quickly] Please don't put on such a look of surprise; you know perfectly well why I come here every day. Yes, you know perfectly why and for whose

Thesaurus

blushing: (adj) rosy, coy, blushful, flushed, red, shy, bashful, overmodest, ruddy; (adv) blushingly, ablush. ANTONYM: (adj) pale.

embarrassed: (adj) awkward, abashed, uncomfortable, disconcerted, bashful, sheepish, shy, shamefaced, mortified, discomfited, chagrined. ANTONYMS: (adj) relaxed, unabashed, natural, talkative.

sensible: (adj) aware, sagacious, prudent, rational, judicious,

perceptible, sane, wise, intelligent, appreciable, sage. ANTONYMS: (adj) ludicrous, crazy, unreasonable, stupid, silly, ridiculous, reckless, idiotic, outrageous, imprudent, mad.

unpleasant: (adj, n) harsh; (adj) disagreeable, obnoxious, ugly, nasty, sour, awkward, repulsive, forbidding, bad, hard. ANTONYMS: (adj) delightful, agreeable, wonderful, nice, enjoyable, attractive, comfortable, charming, inoffensive,

amicable, cordial. uphill: (adj) rising, hard, difficult,

climbing, acclivitous, tough, arduous; (n) ascending, ascent, acclivity; (adv) up. ANTONYMS: (adj) downhill, facile.

wily: (adj) cunning, crafty, foxy, artful, tricky, deceitful, designing, astute, guileful; (adj, v) shrewd, subtle. ANTONYMS: (adj) straightforward, open, guileless, honest, ingenuous, straight.

Uncle Vanya 50

sake I come! Oh, my sweet tigress! don't look at me in that way; I am an old bird!

HELENA. [Perplexed] A tigress? I don't understand you.%

ASTROFF. Beautiful, sleek tigress, you must have your victims! For a whole month I have done nothing but seek you eagerly. I have thrown over everything for you, and you love to see it. Now then, I am sure you knew all this without putting me through your examination. [Crossing his arms and bowing his head] I surrender. Here you have me--now, eat me.

HELENA. You have gone mad!

ASTROFF. You are afraid!

HELENA. I am a better and stronger woman than you think me. Good-bye. [She tries to leave the room.]

ASTROFF. Why good-bye? Don't say good-bye, don't waste words. Oh, how lovely you are--what hands! [He kisses her hands.]

HELENA. Enough of this! [She frees her hands] Leave the room! You have forgotten yourself.

ASTROFF. Tell me, tell me, where can we meet to-morrow? [He puts his arm around her] Don't you see that we must meet, that it is inevitable? [He kisses her. VOITSKI comes in carrying a bunch of roses, and stops in the doorway.]

Thesaurus

bird: (n) wench, poultry, fowl, girl, birdie, hen, chick, Bronx cheer, shuttlecock, archaeornis, archeopteryx.

bowing: (n) obeisance, playing, gesticulation, capitulation, genuflection, scraping, submission; (adj) bowed, bent, fawning, submissive.

bunch: (n, v) crowd, clump, pack, bundle, group, huddle; (n) batch, lot, band, troop, gang. ANTONYMS: (v)

spread, separate, scatter; (n) individual.

crossing: (n) transit, ford, intersection, hybridization, crossbreeding, passage, voyage, mating, crossway, crosswalk, cruise.

puts: (n) stocks, securities, preferred stock, common stock, bonds.

sleek: (adj) glossy, silky, shiny, slippery, silken, satiny, satin, even; (adj, v) slick, smooth; (v) polish. ANTONYMS: (adj) rough, shaggy,

coarse. stops: (n) Chicago, Michigan,

Newmarket, boodle, halts, stop, stoppages, stopped, stopping, card game, moolah.

stronger: (adj) reprobate, insensible, reproof, iniquity, hardening, shameless, graceless, immoralities, ministry; (v) Milman, misery.

tigress: (n) tiger, shrew. victims: (n) dead, wounded, losses,

fatalities.

Anton Chekhov 51

HELENA. [Without seeing VOITSKI] Have pity! Leave me, [lays her head on ASTROFF'S shoulder] Don't! [She tries to break away from him.]

ASTROFF. [Holding her by the waist] Be in the forest tomorrow at two o'clock. Will you? Will you?

HELENA. [Sees VOITSKI] Let me go! [Goes to the window deeply embarrassed] This is appalling!

VOITSKI. [Throws the flowers on a chair, and speaks in great excitement, wiping his face with his handkerchief] Nothing--yes, yes, nothing.%

ASTROFF. The weather is fine to-day, my dear Ivan; the morning was overcast and looked like rain, but now the sun is shining again. Honestly, we have had a very fine autumn, and the wheat is looking fairly well. [Puts his map back into the portfolio] But the days are growing short.

HELENA. [Goes quickly up to VOITSKI] You must do your best; you must use all your power to get my husband and myself away from here to-day! Do you hear? I say, this very day!

VOITSKI. [Wiping his face] Oh! Ah! Oh! All right! I--Helena, I saw everything!

HELENA. [In great agitation] Do you hear me? I must leave here this very day! [SEREBRAKOFF, SONIA, MARINA, and TELEGIN come in.]

TELEGIN. I am not very well myself, your Excellency. I have been limping for two days, and my head--

Thesaurus

agitation: (n) disturbance, excitement, tumult, stirring, convulsion, stir, commotion, emotion, unrest, shake, turmoil. ANTONYMS: (n) serenity, calm, equanimity, rest, peace, deterrent.

autumn: (n) fall, season, downfall, descent, declivity, harvest.

handkerchief: (n) hankie, kerchief, bandanna, cravat, hanky, wipe, bandana, collar, shawl; (n, v) napkin; (v) sudary.

limping: (n) lameness, gimp, claudication, gimpiness, gameness; (adj) hobbling, crippled, halting, inefficient, imperfect, claudicant.

overcast: (adj) dark, cloudy, dim, dull, gloomy, heavy, muddy, dismal; (n, v) cloud; (adj, v) obscure; (v) darken. ANTONYMS: (adj) sunny, clear.

shining: (adj, v) brilliant; (adj) lustrous, radiant, glossy, luminous, glorious, glowing; (adj, n) lucid, resplendent, clear; (v) shine. ANTONYMS: (adj)

dull, pale, blemished. shoulder: (v) carry, push, hold, jostle,

sustain, support, assume, accept; (n, v) elbow; (n) back, flange.

waist: (n) waistline, shank, middle, belly, isthmus, hourglass, undersurface; (adj) stricture, middle constriction, neck, wasp.

wheat: (n) corn, spelt, bulgur, emmer, hard wheat, maize, bulghur, wheat berry, soft wheat, food grain, Indian corn.

Uncle Vanya 52

SEREBRAKOFF. Where are the others? I hate this house. It is a regular labyrinth. Every one is always scattered through the twenty-six enormous rooms; one never can find a soul. [Rings] Ask my wife and Madame Voitskaya to come here!

HELENA. I am here already.%

SEREBRAKOFF. Please, all of you, sit down.

SONIA. [Goes up to HELENA and asks anxiously] What did he say?

HELENA. I'll tell you later.

SONIA. You are moved. [looking quickly and inquiringly into her face] I understand; he said he would not come here any more. [A pause] Tell me, did he? [HELENA nods.]

SEREBRAKOFF. [To TELEGIN] One can, after all, become reconciled to being an invalid, but not to this country life. The ways of it stick in my throat and I feel exactly as if I had been whirled off the earth and landed on a strange planet. Please be seated, ladies and gentlemen. Sonia! [SONIA does not hear. She is standing with her head bowed sadly forward on her breast] Sonia! [A pause] She does not hear me. [To MARINA] Sit down too, nurse. [MARINA sits down and begins to knit her stocking] I crave your indulgence, ladies and gentlemen; hang your ears, if I may say so, on the peg of attention. [He laughs.]

VOITSKI. [Agitated] Perhaps you do not need me--may I be excused?

SEREBRAKOFF. No, you are needed now more than any one.

Thesaurus

crave: (v) covet, ask, want, beseech, implore, wish, long, entreat, desire, fancy, claim. ANTONYMS: (v) dislike, spurn, loathe, hate, detest, grant.

excused: (adj) privileged, immune. indulgence: (adj, n) gratification,

delight; (n) allowance, extravagance, debauchery, hobby, tolerance, luxury, enjoyment, leniency, pardon. ANTONYMS: (n) denial, virtue, intolerance, uprightness, necessity,

indifference, dismay, severity. inquiringly: (adv) enquiringly,

inquisitively, nosily, curiously, pryingly, interestedly, searchingly, inquiring, quizzically, intrusively.

invalid: (adj) false, illogical, unreasonable, null, weak, void, unhealthy, sick, flawed; (n) infirm; (v) disable. ANTONYMS: (adj) valid, legitimate, current, healthy, true, watertight, correct.

labyrinth: (n) inner ear, tangle,

confusion, complication, internal ear, web, unit, system; (adj, n) network; (v) eel, labyrinthian.

reconciled: (adj) consistent, resigned, serene, meet; (v) made friends, affriended. ANTONYM: (adj) unreconciled.

stocking: (n) hosiery, boothose, trunk hose, supplying, stocking level, tights, silk stocking, nylons, nylon stocking, rayon stocking; (adj) stockinged.

Anton Chekhov 53

VOITSKI. What is it you want of me?

SEREBRAKOFF. You--but what are you angry about? If it is anything I have done, I ask you to forgive me.%

VOITSKI. Oh, drop that and come to business; what do you want? [MME. VOITSKAYA comes in.]

SEREBRAKOFF. Here is mother. Ladies and gentlemen, I shall begin. I have asked you to assemble here, my friends, in order to discuss a very important matter. I want to ask you for your assistance and advice, and knowing your unfailing amiability I think I can count on both. I am a book-worm and a scholar, and am unfamiliar with practical affairs. I cannot, I find, dispense with the help of well-informed people such as you, Ivan, and you, Telegin, and you, mother. The truth is, _manet omnes una nox,_ that is to say, our lives are in the hands of God, and as I am old and ill, I realise that the time has come for me to dispose of my property in regard to the interests of my family. My life is nearly over, and I am not thinking of myself, but I have a young wife and daughter. [A pause] I cannot continue to live in the country; we were not made for country life, and yet we cannot afford to live in town on the income derived from this estate. We might sell the woods, but that would be an expedient we could not resort to every year. We must find some means of guaranteeing to ourselves a certain more or less fixed yearly income. With this object in view, a plan has occurred to me which I now have the honour of presenting to you for your consideration. I shall only give you a rough outline, avoiding all details. Our estate does not pay on an average more than two per cent on the money invested in it. I propose to sell it. If we then invest our capital in bonds, it will earn us four to five per cent, and we should probably have a surplus over of several thousand roubles, with which we could buy a summer cottage in Finland--

Thesaurus

amiability: (n) geniality, affableness, kindness, friendliness, courtesy, cordiality, amiableness, affability, kindliness, joviality, hospitality. ANTONYMS: (n) unfriendliness, hostility, unkindness.

avoiding: (n) shunning; (adj) fugitive, antisocial.

cent: (adj) picayune, mill, pistareen; (n) subunit, rupee, red cent, centime.

dispense: (v) allot, deal, administer, assign, deal out, apportion, dole out,

give, issue, diffuse, furnish. ANTONYMS: (v) prohibit, receive, withhold.

expedient: (adj) fit, advisable, becoming, desirable, adequate, apt, convenient, suitable; (n) contrivance, resource, artifice. ANTONYMS: (adj) inappropriate, inexpedient, impractical, futile, detrimental, inconvenient, foolish.

unfailing: (adj) infallible, reliable, constant, unerring, dependable,

certain, foolproof, inexhaustible, perpetual, steady, trustworthy. ANTONYMS: (adj) uncertain, unsure, impermanent, inconsistent, erratic, undependable.

well-informed: (adj) educated, conversant, knowing, wise, intelligent, studious, versed.

yearly: (adv) annually, each year, every year, per annum, per year, by year; (adj) perennial, anniversary, periodic, annual tickets; (n) a year.

Uncle Vanya 54

VOITSKI. Hold on! Repeat what you just said; I don't think I heard you quite right.%

SEREBRAKOFF. I said we would invest the money in bonds and buy a cottage in Finland with the surplus.

VOITSKI. No, not Finland--you said something else.

SEREBRAKOFF. I propose to sell this place.

VOITSKI. Aha! That was it! So you are going to sell the place? Splendid. The idea is a rich one. And what do you propose to do with my old mother and me and with Sonia here?

SEREBRAKOFF. That will be decided in due time. We can't do everything at once.

VOITSKI. Wait! It is clear that until this moment I have never had a grain of sense in my head. I have always been stupid enough to think that the estate belonged to Sonia. My father bought it as a wedding present for my sister, and I foolishly imagined that as our laws were made for Russians and not Turks, my sister's estate would come down to her child.

SEREBRAKOFF. Of course it is Sonia's. Has any one denied it? I don't want to sell it without Sonia's consent; on the contrary, what I am doing is for Sonia's good.

VOITSKI. This is absolutely incomprehensible. Either I have gone mad or--or--

MME. VOITSKAYA. Jean, don't contradict Alexander. Trust to him; he knows better than we do what is right and what is wrong.

Thesaurus

contradict: (v) deny, oppose, belie, conflict, confute, controvert, contravene, disprove, refute, invalidate, impugn. ANTONYMS: (v) agree, match, correspond, approve, corroborate, prove, support, reinforce.

contrary: (adj, n) contradictory, reverse; (adj) adverse, conflicting, unfavorable, perverse, cross, disobedient, alien, different, obstinate. ANTONYMS: (adj) similar,

harmonious, helpful, obliging, compatible, complaisant, concordant, parallel, agreeable, cooperative, favorable.

foolishly: (adv) idiotically, ridiculously, stupidly, indiscreetly, silly, insanely, injudiciously, preposterously, absurdly, senselessly; (adj, adv) madly. ANTONYMS: (adv) sensibly, solemnly, shrewdly, prudently, responsibly, judiciously, carefully, rationally.

incomprehensible: (adj) inapprehensible, inscrutable, inarticulate, abstruse, cryptic, unfathomable, puzzling, obscure, inexplicable, inconceivable, unaccountable. ANTONYMS: (adj) comprehensible, explicable, understandable, intelligible, legible, obvious, straightforward.

invest: (n, v) empower, endow, vest, dress; (v) clothe, commit, enthrone, endue, crown, indue, adorn.

Anton Chekhov 55

VOITSKI. I shan't. Give me some water. [He drinks] Go ahead! Say anything you please--anything!

SEREBRAKOFF. I can't imagine why you are so upset. I don't pretend that my scheme is an ideal one, and if you all object to it I shall not insist. [A pause.]

TELEGIN. [With embarrassment] I not only nourish feelings of respect toward learning, your Excellency, but I am also drawn to it by family ties. My brother Gregory's wife's brother, whom you may know; his name is Constantine Lakedemonoff, and he used to be a magistrate--

VOITSKI. Stop, Waffles. This is business; wait a bit, we will talk of that later. [To SEREBRAKOFF] There now, ask him what he thinks; this estate was bought from his uncle.%

SEREBRAKOFF. Ah! Why should I ask questions? What good would it do?

VOITSKI. The price was ninety-five thousand roubles. My father paid seventy and left a debt of twenty-five. Now listen! This place could never have been bought had I not renounced my inheritance in favour of my sister, whom I deeply loved--and what is more, I worked for ten years like an ox, and paid off the debt.

SEREBRAKOFF. I regret ever having started this conversation.

VOITSKI. Thanks entirely to my own personal efforts, the place is entirely clear of debts, and now, when I have grown old, you want to throw me out, neck and crop!

Thesaurus

crop: (adj, v) clip, reap, shave; (v) browse, top, graze, cultivate, cut; (n, v) fruit, harvest; (n) craw.

embarrassment: (n) abashment, difficulty, quandary, discomfiture, humiliation, bewilderment, mortification, uneasiness, shame; (n, v) distress; (adj, n) dilemma. ANTONYMS: (n) confidence, honor, pride, shortage.

inheritance: (adj, n) heritage; (n) heredity, heirloom, birthright,

bequest, legacy, dowry, estate, appanage, heirship; (v) descent.

nourish: (v) foster, keep, bring up, nurture, sustain, aliment, cherish, feed, maintain, cultivate; (n, v) cradle. ANTONYMS: (v) starve, sap.

pretend: (adv, v) assume; (adj, v) sham, counterfeit, fake, play; (v) dissimulate, dissemble, make believe, imagine, affect, act. ANTONYMS: (adj, v) real; (adj) genuine, natural, sincere.

regret: (n, v) grieve, sorrow; (v) bewail, lament, mourn, bemoan, deplore; (n) remorse, penitence, compunction, contrition. ANTONYMS: (v) welcome, praise; (n) idealism, shamelessness, joy, satisfaction.

seventy: (n) large integer. toward: (prep) to, towards,

approaching, headed for, just before, of, in the direction of; (adv, prep) on; (adv) about, around, by. ANTONYMS: (prep) from, away.

Uncle Vanya 56

SEREBRAKOFF. I can't imagine what you are driving at.

VOITSKI. For twenty-five years I have managed this place, and have sent you the returns from it like the most honest of servants, and you have never given me one single word of thanks for my work, not one--neither in my youth nor now. You allowed me a meagre salary of five hundred roubles a year, a beggar's pittance, and have never even thought of adding a rouble to it.%

SEREBRAKOFF. What did I know about such things, Ivan? I am not a practical man and don't understand them. You might have helped yourself to all you wanted.

VOITSKI. Yes, why did I not steal? Don't you all despise me for not stealing, when it would have been only justice? And I should not now have been a beggar!

MME. VOITSKAYA. [Sternly] Jean!

TELEGIN. [Agitated] Vanya, old man, don't talk in that way. Why spoil such pleasant relations? [He embraces him] Do stop!

VOITSKI. For twenty-five years I have been sitting here with my mother like a mole in a burrow. Our every thought and hope was yours and yours only. By day we talked with pride of you and your work, and spoke your name with veneration; our nights we wasted reading the books and papers which my soul now loathes.

TELEGIN. D on't, Vanya, don't. I can't stand it.

SEREBRAKOFF. [Wrathfully] What under heaven do you want, anyway?

Thesaurus

beggar: (n) mendicant, mumper, pauper, tramp, sponger, joker, poor man, cadger, bloke; (v) beg, pauperize. ANTONYM: (n) giver.

burrow: (adj, v) delve, dig, gouge, mine; (n, v) tunnel, earth; (n) lair, den, hole, cavity; (v) nestle. ANTONYMS: (v) fill, plant.

meagre: (adj) exiguous, paltry, necessitous, miserable, marginal, meagerly, gaunt, emaciated, inadequate, deficient, beggarly.

ANTONYM: (adj) ample. mole: (n) jetty, freckle, spy, bulwark,

nevus, mol, groyne, blemish, birthmark; (adj, v) mound; (v) embankment.

pittance: (n) mite, meed, alimony, chicken feed, a few, donation, a smidgen, a little bit, driblet, trifle, payment.

spoil: (n, v) ruin; (v) rot, corrupt, mar, deface, sack; (adj, v) impair, damage, injure, harm, indulge. ANTONYMS:

(v) improve, conserve, enliven, help, abuse, beautify, deny, neglect, correct, respect, clean.

steal: (v) purloin, abstract, sneak, filch, pinch, creep, misappropriate, rob, pilfer; (n) bargain; (n, v) snatch.

veneration: (n) respect, awe, honor, devotion, esteem, adoration, deference, estimation, worship, admiration, thaumatolatry. ANTONYMS: (n) contempt, disapproval.

Anton Chekhov 57

VOITSKI. We used to think of you as almost superhuman, but now the scales have fallen from my eyes and I see you as you are! You write on art without knowing %anything about it. Those books of yours which I used to admire are not worth one copper kopeck. You are a hoax!

SEREBRAKOFF. Can't any one make him stop? I am going!

HELENA. Ivan, I command you to stop this instant! Do you hear me?

VOITSKI. I refuse! [SEREBRAKOFF tries to get out of the room, but VOITSKI bars the door] Wait! I have not done yet! You have wrecked my life. I have never lived. My best years have gone for nothing, have been ruined, thanks to you. You are my most bitter enemy!

TELEGIN. I can't stand it; I can't stand it. I am going. [He goes out in great excitement.]

SEREBRAKOFF. But what do you want? What earthly right have you to use such language to me? Ruination! If this estate is yours, then take it, and let me be ruined!

HELENA. I am going away out of this hell this minute. [Shrieks] This is too much!

VOITSKI. My life has been a failure. I am clever and brave and strong. If I had lived a normal life I might have become another Schopenhauer or Dostoieffski. I am losing my head! I am going crazy! Mother, I am in despair! Oh, mother!

MME. VOITSKAYA. [Sternly] Listen, Alexander! [SONIA falls on her knees beside the nurse and nestles against her.]

Thesaurus

admire: (v) revere, look up to, idolize, appreciate, adore, wonder, praise, worship, admiring, esteem, honor. ANTONYMS: (v) despise, loathe, scorn, hate, condemn, abhor, disrespect, detest, disregard, disapprove, deprecate.

earthly: (adj, n) terrestrial; (adj) carnal, worldly, conceivable, human, geotic, secular, terrene, temporal, telluric, sublunary. ANTONYMS: (adj) spiritual, divine, ethereal, immortal,

impossible, improbable, inconceivable, celestial.

hoax: (adj, n) fake; (v) dupe, defraud, gull, kid, bamboozle; (n) fraud, deceit; (n, v) humbug, swindle, trick. ANTONYM: (adj) real.

kopeck: (n) kopek. ruination: (n) ruin, desolation,

downfall, destruction, ruining, undoing, decay, demolition, collapse, laying waste, fall. ANTONYM: (n) making.

superhuman: (adj) supernatural, heavenly, preterhuman, superman, epic, daring, godlike, gallant, brave, celestial, incredible. ANTONYM: (adj) normal.

wrecked: (adv, v) aground; (adj) destroyed, shipwrecked, ruined, disabled, doomed, falling apart, falling down; (v) grounded, swamped, cast away. ANTONYMS: (adj) whole, pristine.

yours: (adj) own.

Uncle Vanya 58

SONIA. Oh, nurse, nurse!

VOITSKI. Mother! What shall I do? But no, don't speak! I know what to do. [To SEREBRAKOFF] And you will understand me! [He goes out through the door in the centre of the room and MME. VOITSKAYA follows him.]

SEREBRAKOFF. Tell me, what on earth is the matter? Take this lunatic out of my sight! I cannot possibly live under the same roof with him. His room [He points to the centre door] is almost next door to mine. Let him take himself off into the village or into the wing of the house, or I shall leave here at once. I cannot stay in the same house with him.%

HELENA. [To her husband] We are leaving to-day; we must get ready at once for our departure.

SEREBRAKOFF. What a perfectly dreadful man!

SONIA. [On her knees beside the nurse and turning to her father. She speaks with emotion] You must be kind to us, papa. Uncle Vanya and I are so unhappy! [Controlling her despair] Have pity on us. Remember how Uncle Vanya and Granny used to copy and translate your books for you every night--every, every night. Uncle Vanya has toiled without rest; he would never spend a penny on us, we sent it all to you. We have not eaten the bread of idleness. I am not saying this as I should like to, but you must understand us, papa, you must be merciful to us.

HELENA. [Very exited, to her husband] For heaven's sake, Alexander, go and have a talk with him--explain!

Thesaurus

books: (n) notebook, account, ledger, literature, accountancy.

controlling: (adj) ruling, chief, dominant, influential, capital, predominant, prevailing, domineering, guiding; (n) administration, steering. ANTONYMS: (adj) lenient, insignificant.

despair: (n) disappointment, desolation, dejection, melancholy, gloom, desperation, depression,

dismay, discouragement, pessimism, sorrow. ANTONYMS: (n) happiness, hopefulness, expectation, joy, cheer, cheerfulness, resilience, elation, joyfulness.

lunatic: (n) madman, maniac, bedlamite; (adj) insane, foolish, moonstruck, mad, mental, deranged, idiotic; (adj, n) madcap. ANTONYM: (adj) sensible.

merciful: (adj) humane, gracious, lenient, compassionate, kind,

clement, benign, kindly, gentle, beneficent, forgiving. ANTONYMS: (adj) pitiless, merciless, unforgiving, spiteful, harsh, impatient, severe, hardhearted.

penny: (n) change, coin, centime, copper, groat, subunit, money, mite, doit, small change, denomination.

translate: (v) construe, transform, decipher, explain, render, read, convert, define, turn, understand, alter. ANTONYM: (v) stagnate.

Anton Chekhov 59

SEREBRAKOFF. Very well, I shall have a talk with him, but I won't apologise for a thing. I am not angry with him, but you must confess that his behaviour has been strange, to say the least. Excuse me, I shall go to him.%

[He goes out through the centre door.] HELENA.

Be gentle with him; try to quiet him. [She follows him out.] SONIA.

[Nestling nearer to MARINA] Nurse, oh, nurse! MARINA.

It's all right, my baby. When the geese have cackled they will be still again. First they cackle and then they stop.

SONIA. Nurse!

MARINA. You are trembling all over, as if you were freezing. There, there, little orphan baby, God is merciful. A little linden-tea, and it will all pass away. Don't cry, my sweetest. [Looking angrily at the door in the centre of the room] See, the geese have all gone now. The devil take them! [A shot is heard. HELENA screams behind the scenes. SONIA shudders.]

MARINA. Bang! What's that?

SEREBRAKOFF. [Comes in reeling with terror] Hold him! hold him! He has gone mad! [HELENA and VOITSKI are seen struggling in the doorway.]

HELENA. [Trying to wrest the revolver from him] Give it to me; give it to me, I tell you!

VOITSKI. Let me go, Helena, let me go! [He frees himself and rushes in, looking

Thesaurus

cackle: (n, v) giggle, snicker, chatter; (v) gaggle, crow, chortle; (adj) prattle, prate; (n) laugh, yack, laughter.

confess: (adj, v) own, allow, admit, avow; (v) concede, profess, recognize, divulge, disclose, reveal, receive. ANTONYMS: (v) suppress, hide, dispute, conceal, repress, harbor.

freezing: (adj, v) icy, frosty, glacial; (adj) chilly, arctic, frigid, bitter, chill; (n) freeze, congelation, refrigeration. ANTONYMS: (adj) boiling,

sweltering, warm, mild, tropical, torrid, balmy.

orphan: (n) waif, caterpillar, nymph, nympha, cocoon, Aurelia, tyke, staddle, youngster, shaver; (adj) orphaned.

reeling: (adj) giddy, intoxicated, tipsy, queer, lightheaded, groggy, fuddled, bewildered; (n) titubation, rotary straightening.

revolver: (n) gun, pistol, colt, handgun, firearm, shooter, rod,

Saturday night special, revolving door, repeater.

rushes: (n) rush, grasses. trembling: (adj, n) shaking; (adj, n, v)

tremor; (adj) shaky, quaking, shivering, flutter; (n) palpitation, quiver, vibration, shiver, quake. ANTONYMS: (adj) stable, steady.

wrest: (adj, v) distort, twist; (v) extort, contort, extract, wring, wrench, deform, warp, squeeze, turn.

Uncle Vanya 60

everywhere for SEREBRAKOFF] Where is he? Ah, there he is! [He shoots at him. %A pause] I didn't get him? I missed again? [Furiously] Damnation! Damnation! To hell with him! [He flings the revolver on the floor, and drops helpless into a chair. SEREBRAKOFF stands as if stupefied. HELENA leans against the wall, almost fainting.]

HELENA. Take me away! Take me away! I can't stay here--I can't!

VOITSKI. [In despair] Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?

SONIA. [Softly] Oh, nurse, nurse! [The curtain falls.]

Thesaurus

damnation: (n) damn, condemnation, anathema, state, curse, execration, judgment, oath, imprecation, denunciation, denouncement.

drops: (n) tear. everywhere: (adv) everyplace, all over,

far and wide, overall, somewhere, far and near, about, where; (adv, pron) anywhere; (adv, n) anyplace; (adj) throughout. ANTONYM: (adv) nowhere.

furiously: (adv) irately, angrily,

fiercely, wildly, violently, ragingly, wrathfully, infuriatedly, rabidly, impetuously, frantically. ANTONYM: (adv) sluggishly.

helpless: (adj, v) forlorn, destitute, abandoned; (adj) powerless, weak, defenseless, disabled, impotent, feeble, hopeless, unable. ANTONYMS: (adj) strong, independent, capable, invulnerable, armed, powerful, impervious.

missed: (adj) lost, irretrievable,

incomprehensible, bemused, confounded, befuddled, baffled, disoriented, helpless, at sea, bewildered.

shall: (n) must, necessity; (v) require, bequeath, leave.

stupefied: (adj) stunned, amazed, astonished, bewildered, astounded, dumbfounded, stupid, confused, flabbergasted, dumfounded, groggy. ANTONYMS: (adj) precise, unimpressed.

Anton Chekhov 61

ACT % I V

[VOITSKI'S bedroom, which is also his office. A table stands near the window; on it are ledgers, letter scales, and papers of every description. Near by stands a smaller table belonging to ASTROFF, with his paints and drawing materials. On the wall hangs a cage containing a starling. There is also a map of Africa on the wall, obviously of no use to anybody. There is a large sofa covered with buckram. A door to the left leads into an inner room; one to the right leads into the front hall, and before this door lies a mat for the peasants with their muddy boots to stand on. It is an autumn evening. The silence is profound. TELEGIN and MARINA are sitting facing one another, winding wool.]

TELEGIN. Be quick, Marina, or we shall be called away to say good-bye before you have finished. The carriage has already been ordered.

MARINA. [Trying to wind more quickly] I am a little tired.

TELEGIN. They are going to Kharkoff to live.

MARINA. They do well to go.

Thesaurus

belonging: (adj) appertaining, appertinent, apropos, apposite; (n) household, family, appendage, appurtenance, intimacy, commodity, closeness. ANTONYM: (n) antipathy.

buckram: (adj) stiff, starchy, besotted, formal, blotto, blind drunk; (v) formality, stiffness, stiffen; (n) fabric, cloth.

cage: (n, v) jail; (n) basket, birdcage, hutch, gaol, frame, corral, cell; (v) confine, imprison, enclose.

ANTONYMS: (v) release; (n) freedom, liberation.

leads: (n) slating, pieced leads, slates, pile driving leads, tiling.

muddy: (adj) turbid, filthy, boggy, cloudy, dark, unclean, dingy, grimy, miry; (adj, v) foul, sloppy. ANTONYMS: (adj) clean, dry; (v) clarify, cleanse.

paints: (n) colors. scales: (adj) balance, weighbridge; (n)

steelyard, mill Scales.

sofa: (n) couch, lounge, divan, bench, davenport, seat, squab, chair, form, convertible, daybed.

starling: (n) mina, myna, sterling, common starling, minah, myna bird, mynah bird, oscine bird; (adj) earthquake, loud.

winding: (n) twist, wind, turn; (adj) indirect, crooked, circuitous, meandering, twisty, wandering; (adj, n) twisting, twisted. ANTONYMS: (adj) direct, unbent.

Uncle Vanya 62

TELEGIN. They have been frightened. The professor's wife won't stay here an hour longer. "If we are going at all, let's be off," says she, "we shall go to Kharkoff and look about us, and then we can send for our things." They are travelling light. It seems, Marina, that fate has decreed for them not to live here.%

MARINA. And quite rightly. What a storm they have just raised! It was shameful!

TELEGIN. It was indeed. The scene was worthy of the brush of Aibazofski.

MARINA. I wish I'd never laid eyes on them. [A pause] Now we shall have things as they were again: tea at eight, dinner at one, and supper in the evening; everything in order as decent folks, as Christians like to have it. [Sighs] It is a long time since I have eaten noodles.

TELEGIN. Yes, we haven't had noodles for ages. [A pause] Not for ages. As I was going through the village this morning, Marina, one of the shop-keepers called after me, "Hi! you hanger-on!" I felt it bitterly.

MARINA. Don't pay the least attention to them, master; we are all dependents on God. You and Sonia and all of us. Every one must work, no one can sit idle. Where is Sonia?

TELEGIN. In the garden with the doctor, looking for Ivan. They fear he may lay violent hands on himself.

MARINA. Where is his pistol?

TELEGIN. [Whispers] I hid it in the cellar. [VOITSKI and ASTROFF come in.]

Thesaurus

brush: (n, v) broom, touch, kiss; (v) sweep, polish, graze, clean; (n) brushwood, conflict, copse, encounter.

cellar: (n) basement, cellarage, wine cellar, godown, warehouse, winery, silo, pit, excavation, story, storey.

decreed: (adj) appointed, lawful, prescribed, legal, inevitable, appointive.

dependents: (n) clientele. folks: (n) people, folk, tribe, relations,

household, house, relatives, relative, kindred, lineage, kin.

idle: (adj) lazy, indolent, inactive, free, unfounded, fruitless, baseless, groundless, frivolous, empty, disengaged. ANTONYMS: (adj) active, employed, industrious, energetic, meaningful, productive, worthwhile, diligent; (v) change, run, work.

noodles: (n) pasta. pistol: (n) firearm, gun, gat, revolver,

rod, Captain Bobadil, derringer, spray gun, shooter, drawcansir, Thraso.

shameful: (adj) scandalous, dishonorable, opprobrious, shocking, ignominious, disreputable, despicable; (adj, v) foul, base, gross, black. ANTONYMS: (adj) honorable, noble, dignified, admirable, faultless, reputable, glorious, compassionate, praiseworthy, commendable, excellent.

Anton Chekhov 63

VOITSKI. Leave me alone! [To MARINA and TELEGIN] Go away! Go away and leave me to myself, if but for an hour. I won't have you watching me like this!

TELEGIN. Yes, yes, Vanya. [He goes out on tiptoe.]

MARINA. The gander cackles; ho! ho! ho!

[She gathers up her wool and goes out.] VOITSKI.

Leave me by myself! ASTROFF.

I would, with the greatest pleasure. I ought to have gone long ago, but I shan't leave you until you have returned what you took from me.%

VOITSKI. I took nothing from you.

ASTROFF. I am not jesting, don't detain me, I really must go.

VOITSKI. I took nothing of yours.

ASTROFF. You didn't? Very well, I shall have to wait a little longer, and then you will have to forgive me if I resort to force. We shall have to bind you and search you. I mean what I say.

VOITSKI. Do as you please. [A pause] Oh, to make such a fool of myself! To shoot twice and miss him both times! I shall never forgive myself.

ASTROFF. When the impulse came to shoot, it would have been as well had you put a bullet through your own head.

Thesaurus

bind: (adj, v) attach, fix, fasten, affix; (n) band; (v) bandage, lace, fetter, bundle, truss, combine. ANTONYMS: (v) untie, unbind, free, unfasten, unravel, permit, loosen, loose, let; (n, v) release; (n) pleasure.

bullet: (n) shot, round, pellet, slug, projectile, missile, stone, carcass, delivery, grenade, sphere.

gander: (n) glance, look, glimpse, cock, idiot, numskull, booby, bonehead, blockhead, jackass, tomfool.

impulse: (n) pulse, urge, impulsion, force, motive, whim, drive, goad, motivation, momentum, incentive. ANTONYMS: (n) aversion, disincentive, disinclination.

jesting: (adj) jocular, jocose, facetious, humorous, playful; (n) banter, humor, comedy, pleasantry, fun, joke. ANTONYM: (n) tragedy.

ought: (n, v) need; (v) had better, should, have, possessed, owned, owed, behoove; (n) aught, zero, duty.

resort: (n, v) repair, haunt; (n) expedient, refuge, holiday resort, playground, covert, retreat; (v) recur, rendezvous, frequent. ANTONYM: (v) rise.

shoot: (v) discharge, flash, drive, dart, dash, send, photograph; (n) scion, branch; (n, v) sprout, hunt. ANTONYM: (v) trickle.

wool: (n) fur, coat, pile, down, woolen, woollen, yarn, hair, cashmere, alpaca, shoddy.

Uncle Vanya 64

VOITSKI. [Shrugging his shoulders] Strange! I attempted murder, and am not going to be arrested or brought to trial. That means they think me mad. [With a bitter laugh] Me! I am mad, and those who hide their worthlessness, their dullness, their crying he artlessness behind a professor's mask, are sane! Those who marry old men and then deceive them under the noses of all, are sane! I saw you kiss her; I saw you in each other's arms!

ASTROFF. Yes, sir, I did kiss her; so there. [He puts his thumb to his nose.]

VOITSKI. [His eyes on the door] No, it is the earth that is mad, because she still bears us on her breast.%

ASTROFF. That is nonsense.

VOITSKI. Well? Am I not a madman, and therefore irresponsible? Haven't I the right to talk nonsense?

ASTROFF. This is a farce! You are not mad; you are simply a ridiculous fool. I used to think every fool was out of his senses, but now I see that lack of sense is a man's normal state, and you are perfectly normal.

VOITSKI. [Covers his face with his hands] Oh! If you knew how ashamed I am! These piercing pangs of shame are like nothing on earth. [In an agonised voice] I can't endure them! [He leans against the table] What can I do? What can I do?

ASTROFF. Nothing.

VOITSKI. You must tell me something! Oh, my God! I am forty-seven years old. I may live to sixty; I still have thirteen years before me; an eternity! How shall I be

Thesaurus

agonised: (adj) painful. artlessness: (n) simplicity, naivete,

naturalness, ingenuousness, naiveness, naivety, unaffectedness, spontaneity, lack of pretension, rusticity, impulsiveness. ANTONYMS: (n) artfulness, sophistication, affectedness.

deceive: (v) cheat, circumvent, bamboozle, pretend, hoax, fool, cozen, trick, beguile; (n, v) dupe; (n) fraud. ANTONYMS: (v) guide,

inform, undeceive, protect. dullness: (n) apathy, bluntness,

boredom, dreariness, flatness, tedium, obtuseness, torpor, monotony, lethargy; (adj, n) phlegm. ANTONYMS: (n) brightness, intensity, brilliance, excitement, intelligence, shine, asperity, animation, gloss, clarity, variation.

pangs: (n) anguish, compunction, contrition, distress.

piercing: (adj, n) sharp, cutting; (adj, v)

keen, penetrating, biting, bitter, harsh, shrill; (adj) high, raw, loud. ANTONYMS: (adj) quiet, dull, soft, hot.

thirteen: (n) long dozen, large integer. worthlessness: (n) emptiness,

uselessness, paltriness, trashiness, insignificance, nothingness, negativity, purposelessness, pride, pointlessness; (adj) inanity. ANTONYMS: (n) importance, worth, helpfulness, appropriateness.

Anton Chekhov 65

able to endure life for thirteen years? What shall I do? How can I fill them? Oh, don't you see? [He presses ASTROFF'S hand convulsively] Don't you see, if only I could live the rest of my life in some new way! If I could only wake some still, bright morning and feel that life had begun again; that the past was forgotten and had vanished like smoke. [He weeps] Oh, to begin life anew! Tell me, tell me how to begin.%

ASTROFF. [Crossly] What nonsense! What sort of a new life can you and I look forward to? We can have no hope.

VOITSKI. None?

ASTROFF. None. Of that I am convinced.

VOITSKI. Tell me what to do. [He puts his hand to his heart] I feel such a burning pain here.

ASTROFF. [Shouts angrily] Stop! [Then, more gently] It may be that posterity, which will despise us for our blind and stupid lives, will find some road to happiness; but we--you and I--have but one hope, the hope that we may be visited by visions, perhaps by pleasant ones, as we lie resting in our graves. [Sighing] Yes, brother, there were only two respectable, intelligent men in this county, you and I. Ten years or so of this life of ours, this miserable life, have sucked us under, and we have become as contemptible and petty as the rest. But don't try to talk me out of my purpose! Give me what you took from me, will you?

VOITSKI. I took nothing from you.

ASTROFF. You took a little bottle of morphine out of my medicine-case. [A pause]

Thesaurus

anew: (adv) again, newly, lately, recently, over again, once more, once again, new; (adj) only yesterday, the other day, just now.

contemptible: (adj) abject, mean, base, pitiful, little, worthless, unworthy, miserable, ignoble, abominable, shameful. ANTONYMS: (adj) estimable, admired, deserving, worthy, honorable, respectable, respectful, noble, generous, commendable, good.

convulsively: (adv) spasmodically, paroxysmally, spasticly, with convulsions.

graves: (n) Robert Graves, Robert Ranke Graves.

morphine: (n) apomorphine; (adj) cocaine, opium.

petty: (adj) insignificant, trivial, little, frivolous, paltry, puny, negligible, light, mean, minute, exiguous. ANTONYMS: (adj) important, serious, generous, profound,

significant, expansive, crucial, considerable, broadminded, enormous.

posterity: (n) race, descendants, issue, offspring, descendant, future, generation, progeny, breed, descendent, spat.

vanished: (adj, v) extinct, lost; (adj) disappeared, departed, missing, died out, absent, dead, wiped out, bygone; (v) exhausted. ANTONYMS: (adj) found, living.

Uncle Vanya 66

Listen! If you are positively determined to make an end to yourself, go into the woods and shoot yourself there. Give up the morphine, or there will be a lot of talk and guesswork; people will think I gave it to you. I don't fancy having to perform a post-mortem on you. Do you think I should find it interesting? [SONIA comes in.]

VOITSKI. Leave me alone.%

ASTROFF. [To SONIA] Sonia, your uncle has stolen a bottle of morphine out of my medicine-case and won't give it up. Tell him that his behaviour is--well, unwise. I haven't time, I must be going.

SONIA. Uncle Vanya, did you take the morphine?

ASTROFF. Yes, he took it. [A pause] I am absolutely sure.

SONIA. Give it up! Why do you want to frighten us? [Tenderly] Give it up, Uncle Vanya! My misfortune is perhaps even greater than yours, but I am not plunged in despair. I endure my sorrow, and shall endure it until my life comes to a natural end. You must endure yours, too. [A pause] Give it up! Dear, darling Uncle Vanya. Give it up! [She weeps] You are so good, I am sure you will have pity on us and give it up. You must endure your sorrow, Uncle Vanya; you must endure it. [VOITSKI takes a bottle from the drawer of the table and hands it to ASTROFF.]

VOITSKI. There it is! [To SONIA] And now, we must get to work at once; we must do something, or else I shall not be able to endure it.

Thesaurus

drawer: (n) draftsman, drawers, till, designer, box car, cartoonist, commode, engraver, chest, case, locker.

frighten: (v) cow, alarm, daunt, terrify, appall, scare, affright, intimidate, terrorize, appal; (n, v) fright. ANTONYMS: (v) comfort, reassure, soothe, calm.

guesswork: (n) guess, conjecture, theory, supposition, shot, estimate, speculation, surmise, suspicion,

approximation, assumption. ANTONYM: (n) fact.

misfortune: (n) accident, hardship, misadventure, disaster, calamity, mischance, catastrophe, mishap, bad luck, misery, affliction. ANTONYMS: (n) joy, bonus, opportunity, privilege, success, happiness.

positively: (adv) absolutely, definitely, decidedly, unequivocally, expressly, emphatically, categorically, clearly, confidently; (adv, int) surely; (adj, adv)

really. ANTONYMS: (adv) disapprovingly, pessimistically, uncertainly, doubtfully, inauspiciously, ill.

took: (adj) taken; (v) receive. unwise: (adj, n) silly, stupid, absurd,

indiscreet; (adj) imprudent, injudicious, ridiculous, senseless, inadvisable, impolitic, unreasonable. ANTONYMS: (adj) sensible, prudent, thoughtful, sagacious, judicious, advisable.

Anton Chekhov 67

SONIA. Yes, yes, to work! As soon as we have seen them off we shall go to work. [She nervously straightens out the papers on the table] Everything is in a muddle!

ASTROFF. [Putting the bottle in his case, which he straps together] Now I can be off.%

[HELENA comes in.] HELENA.

Are you here, Ivan? We are starting in a moment. Go to Alexander, he wants to speak to you.

SONIA. Go, Uncle Vanya. [She takes VOITSKI 'S arm] Come, you and papa must make peace; that is absolutely necessary. [SONIA and VOITSKI go out.]

HELENA. I am going away. [She gives ASTROFF her hand] Good-bye.

ASTROFF. So soon?

HELENA. The carriage is waiting.

ASTROFF. Good-bye.

HELENA. You promised me you would go away yourself to-day.

ASTROFF. I have not forgotten. I am going at once. [A pause] Were you frightened? Was it so terrible?

HELENA. Yes.

Thesaurus

bottle: (n) container, jug, flask, cruet, vial, pot, phial, jar, decanter, carboy; (n, v) can.

carriage: (n) attitude, conveyance, cab, air, walk, position, mien, shipping; (n, v) transport, behavior, port.

forgotten: (adj) lost, disregarded, elapsed, past, abandoned, gone, Gone With the Wind, irrecoverable, lapsed, disoriented, no more. ANTONYM: (adj) remembered.

frightened: (adj) fearful, timid,

startled, terrified, scared, alarmed, anxious, apprehensive, horrified, intimidated, restless. ANTONYMS: (adj) unimpressed, confident, brave, fearless, reassured.

muddle: (adj, n) mess; (n, v) clutter, disorder; (adj, v) confuse, fluster, bewilder, perplex; (adj, n, v) blunder; (v) addle, botch; (n) disarray. ANTONYMS: (v) enlighten, sharpen, soothe, organize, disentangle, tidy, clarify; (n) space, clarity, neatness.

nervously: (adv) edgily, anxiously, timidly, worriedly, uneasily, restlessly, timorously, skittishly, excitedly, neurotically, apprehensively. ANTONYMS: (adv) confidently, boldly, fearlessly, unconcernedly, nonchalantly, trustingly.

promised: (adj) pledged, affianced, betrothed, busy, devoted, employed, greatly interested, intended, involved; (v) benempt, named.

Uncle Vanya 68

ASTROFF. Couldn't you stay? Couldn't you? To-morrow--in the forest--

HELENA. No. It is all settled, and that is why I can look you so bravely in the face. Our departure is fixed. One thing I must ask of you: don't think too badly of me; I should like you to respect me.%

ASTROFF. Ah! [With an impatient gesture] Stay, I implore you! Confess that there is nothing for you to do in this world. You have no object in life; there is nothing to occupy your attention, and sooner or later your feelings must master you. It is inevitable. It would be better if it happened not in Kharkoff or in Kursk, but here, in nature's lap. It would then at least be poetical, even beautiful. Here you have the forests, the houses half in ruins that Turgenieff writes of.

HELENA. How comical you are! I am angry with you and yet I shall always remember you with pleasure. You are interesting and original. You and I will never meet again, and so I shall tell you--why should I conceal it?--that I am just a little in love with you. Come, one more last pressure of our hands, and then let us part good friends. Let us not bear each other any ill will.

ASTROFF. [Pressing her hand] Yes, go. [Thoughtfully] You seem to be sincere and good, and yet there is something strangely disquieting about all your personality. No sooner did you arrive here with your husband than every one whom you found busy and actively creating something was forced to drop his work and give himself up for the whole summer to your husband's gout and yourself. You and he have infected us with your idleness. I have been swept off my feet; I have not put my hand to a thing for weeks, during which sickness has been running its course unchecked among the people, and the peasants have been pasturing their cattle in my woods and young plantations. Go where you will, you and your husband will always carry destruction in your train. I

Thesaurus

bravely: (adv) courageously, fearlessly, valiantly, boldly, intrepidly, dauntlessly, gallantly, audaciously, undauntedly, heroically, doughtily. ANTONYMS: (adv) timidly, fearfully, execrably, nervously.

comical: (adj) funny, comic, laughable, absurd, humorous, ridiculous, zany, droll, jocose, grotesque, jocular. ANTONYMS: (adj) tragic, sad, grave, solemn, unfunny, dull, sensible.

disquieting: (adj) alarming, worrying,

distressing, troublesome, disturbing, shocking, uncomfortable, discompose, restless, unsettling, uneasy. ANTONYMS: (adj) reassuring, soothing, settling, pacifying, calming, comforting.

pasturing: (n) grazing. poetical: (adj) imaginative, rhetorical,

poematic, figurative, inventive. sincere: (adj, v) earnest, devout; (adj)

genuine, faithful, heartfelt, honest, serious, open, artless, candid; (adj, n)

cordial. ANTONYMS: (adj) insincere, dishonest, guarded, flippant, affected, disingenuous, hypocritical, cunning, unfaithful, unenthusiastic, unbelievable.

swept: (adj) clean. unchecked: (adj) unbridled,

uncontrolled, rampant, uncaught, unbuttoned, uninhibited, unconstrained, unprevented, untrammeled, wild, unrestricted.

Anton Chekhov 69

am joking of course, and yet I am strangely sure that had you stayed here we should have been overtaken by the most immense desolation. I would have gone to my ruin, and you--you would not have prospered. So go! E finita la comedia!

HELENA. [Snatching a pencil off ASTROFF'S table, and hiding it with a quick movement] I shall take this pencil for memory!

ASTROFF. How strange it is. We meet, and then suddenly it seems that we must part forever. That is the way in this world. As long as we are alone, before Uncle Vanya comes in with a bouquet--allow me--to kiss you good-bye--may I? [He kisses her on the cheek] So! Splendid!

HELENA. I wish you every happiness. [She glances about her] For once in my life, I shall! and scorn the consequences! [She kisses him impetuously, and they quickly part] I must go.%

ASTROFF. Yes, go. If the carriage is there, then start at once. [They stand listening.]

ASTROFF. E finita! [VOITSKI, SEREBRAKOFF, MME. VOITSKAYA with her book, TELEGIN, and SONIA come in.]

SEREBRAKOFF. [To VOITSKI] Shame on him who bears malice for the past. I have gone through so much in the last few hours that I feel capable of writing a whole treatise on the conduct of life for the instruction of posterity. I gladly accept your apology, and myself ask your forgiveness. [He kisses VOITSKI three times.] [HELENA embraces SONIA.]

Thesaurus

bears: (n) fissiped, badgers, Carnivora, order Carnivora.

desolation: (n) devastation, misery, destruction, depression, grief, wretchedness, bleakness, loneliness, waste, ruin; (adj, n) desertion. ANTONYMS: (n) ecstasy, joy, productiveness, fertileness, fecundity, cheer, fruitfulness, preservation, hopefulness, cheerfulness.

gladly: (adv, v) happily; (adv) gleefully,

contentedly, cheerfully, fain, joyfully, jovially, cheerily, delightedly, gladsomely, readily. ANTONYMS: (adv) reluctantly, unwillingly, sadly, resentfully, miserably.

impetuously: (adv) rashly, impulsively, vehemently, precipitately, fiercely, headily, passionately, intensely, fierily, spontaneously, thoughtlessly. ANTONYMS: (adv) deliberately, sensibly, patiently.

joking: (n) banter, fooling, fun; (adj) jocose, jocular, humorous, funny, kidding, playful, puckish, comical. ANTONYM: (n) seriousness.

malice: (n) spite, animosity, enmity, venom, ill will, hatred, malevolence, cruelty, envy, hate, spleen. ANTONYMS: (n) goodwill, benevolence, affection, goodness.

treatise: (n) tract, thesis, essay, discourse, paper, article, monograph, piece, pamphlet, review, book.

Uncle Vanya 70

SEREBRAKOFF. [Kissing MME. VOITSKAYA'S hand] Mother!

MME. VOITSKAYA. [Kissing him] Have your picture taken, Alexander, and send me one. You know how dear you are to me.%

TELEGIN. Good-bye, your Exce llency. Don't forget us.

SEREBRAKOFF. [Kissing his daughter] Good-bye, good-bye all. [Shaking hands with ASTROFF] Many thanks for your pleasant company. I have a deep regard for your opinions and your enthusiasm, but let me, as an old man, give one word of advice at parting: do something, my friend! Work! Do something! [They all bow] Good luck to you all. [He goes out followed by MME. VOITSKAYA and SONIA.]

VOITSKI [Kissing HELENA'S hand fervently] Good-bye--forgive me. I shall never see you again!

HELENA. [Touched] Good-bye, dear boy. [She lightly kisses his head as he bends over her hand, and goes out.]

ASTROFF. Tell them to bring my carriage around too, Waffles.

TELEGIN. All right, old man. [ASTROFF and VOITSKI are left behind alone. ASTROFF collects his paints and drawing materials on the table and packs them away in a box.]

ASTROFF. Why don't you go to see them off?

Thesaurus

bends: (n) caisson disease, aeroembolism, air embolism, bend, gas embolism, compressed air sickness.

fervently: (adv) fierily, fervidly, zealously, passionately, intensely, eagerly, enthusiastically, warmly, vehemently, seriously, fiercely. ANTONYMS: (adv) mildly, apathetically, unenthusiastically, impassively, halfheartedly, flippantly.

lightly: (adv) slightly, airily, thinly, easily, gently, light, fairly, weakly, flimsily, delicately, wantonly. ANTONYMS: (adv) seriously, heavily, thickly, sturdily, angrily, hard, harshly, densely, brightly, awkwardly.

parting: (n) adieu, division, leave, departure, disunion, goodbye, leaving, segregation, dying, rupture; (adj) valedictory. ANTONYMS: (n) joining, meeting, connection,

Reunion. pleasant: (adj) jolly, amiable,

agreeable, acceptable, nice, charming, kindly, facetious, joyful, pretty; (adj, v) pleasing. ANTONYMS: (adj) disgusting, horrible, repugnant, nasty, gruesome, unwelcome, harsh, shocking, disagreeable, foul, terrible.

shaking: (adj, n) quivering, tremor, jarring; (n) quiver, palpitation, quake; (adj) quaking, shaky, flutter, unsteady, shivering.

Anton Chekhov 71

VOITSKI. Let them go! I--I can't go out there. I feel too sad. I must go to work on something at once. To work! To work! [He rummages through his papers on the table. A pause. The tinkling of bells is heard as the horses trot away.]

ASTROFF. They have gone! The professor, I suppose, is glad to go. He couldn't be tempted back now by a fortune.%

MARINA comes in. MARINA.

They have gone. [She sits down in an arm-chair and knits her stocking.] [SONIA comes in wiping her eyes.]

SONIA. They have gone. God be with them. [To her uncle] And now, Uncle Vanya, let us do something!

VOITSKI. To work! To work!

SONIA. It is long, long, since you and I have sat together at this table. [She lights a lamp on the table] No ink! [She takes the inkstand to the cupboard and fills it from an ink-bottle] How sad it is to see them go! [MME. VOITSKAYA comes slowly in.]

MME. VOITSKAYA. They have gone. [She sits down and at once becomes absorbed in her book. SONIA sits down at the table and looks through an account book.]

SONIA. First, Uncle Vanya, let us write up the accounts. They are in a dreadful state. Come, begin. You take one and I will take the other.

Thesaurus

accounts: (n) financial statement. bells: (n) addition, approval,

matrimony, marriage, approbation, wedding.

cupboard: (n) cabinet, buffet, armoire, commode, wardrobe, locker, dresser, sideboard, chest of drawers, bookcase, storeroom.

dreadful: (adj) bad, awful, alarming, atrocious, fearful, terrible, abominable, appalling, direful, grisly; (adj, v) dread. ANTONYMS: (adj)

wonderful, great, lovely, fantastic, marvelous, admirable, successful, nice, joyous, honorable, fair.

glad: (adj) jubilant, cheerful, gay, blithe, delighted, festive, content, delightful, genial, bright, willing. ANTONYMS: (adj) unhappy, apologetic, dismayed, unwilling, disappointed, sorry.

inkstand: (n) inkhorn. lamp: (n) light, lantern, beacon,

headlight, flashbulb, flashgun, table

lamp, oil lamp, storm lantern; (n, v) look; (v) behold.

tinkling: (adj) clinking, tinkly, tintinnabulary, reverberant; (n) ting.

trot: (n, v) run; (n) crib, canter, pony, gait, ride, lope; (v) gallop, general, frequent, household.

uncle: (n) father's younger brother, elder uncle, father's older brother, father's sister's husband, husband of paternal aunt, maternal uncle, niece, benefactor, EME, helper, kinsman.

Uncle Vanya 72

VOITSKI. In account with [They sit silently writing.]

MARINA. [Yawning] The sand-man has come.%

ASTROFF. How still it is. Their pens scratch, the cricket sings; it is so warm and comfortable. I hate to go. [The tinkling of bells is heard.]

ASTROFF. My carriage has come. There now remains but to say good-bye to you, my friends, and to my table here, and then--away! [He puts the map into the portfolio.]

MARINA. Don't hurry away; sit a little longer with us.

ASTROFF. Impossible .

VOITSKI. [Writing] And carry forward from the old debt two seventy-five-- [WORKMAN comes in.]

WORKMAN. Your carriage is waiting, sir.

ASTROFF. All right. [He hands the WORKMAN his medicine-case, portfolio, and box] Look out, don't crush the portfolio!

WORKMAN. Very well, sir.

SONIA. When shall we see you again?

ASTROFF. Hardly before next summer. Probably not this winter, though, of course, if

Thesaurus

cricket: (n) orthopteran, orthopteron, tennis, lawn tennis, grasshopper; (adj) equitable.

crush: (n, v) squeeze, crunch, press; (v) beat, break, compress, conquer, stamp, overpower, squash, bruise. ANTONYMS: (v) lose, congratulate, stretch, praise, inspirit, encourage, compliment, expand, resist, submit, smooth.

debt: (n) score, debit, loan, liability, obligation, due, bill, commitment,

arrears, pocket, hole. ANTONYMS: (n) asset, cash, credit.

hate: (v) abhor, detest, loathe, abominate; (n) enmity, abhorrence, detestation, hatred, animosity, antipathy, aversion. ANTONYMS: (n, v) like; (v) adore, cherish, admire; (n) attraction, liking, delight, adoration.

hurry: (n) haste; (n, v) bustle, hasten, dispatch, flurry, rush; (v) scurry, dash, accelerate, expedite, run. ANTONYMS: (n) slowness, calmness,

patience, unimportance; (v) dawdle, delay, linger, crawl, amble; (intj) wait.

scratch: (n, v) mark, graze, notch, scrape, nick, scrabble, dent, scar; (v) rub, chafe, rake. ANTONYM: (v) soothe.

silently: (adv) mutely, stilly, quietly, noiselessly, soundlessly, taciturnly, wordlessly, secretly, speechlessly, placidly, tacitly. ANTONYMS: (adv) loudly, audibly, openly, brazenly.

Anton Chekhov 73

anything should happen you will let me know. [He shakes hands with them] Thank you for your kindness, for your hospitality, for everything! [He goes up to MARINA and kisses her head] Good-bye, old nurse!

MARINA. Are you going without your tea?

ASTROFF. I don't want any, nurse.%

MARINA. Won't you have a drop of vodka?

ASTROFF. [Hesitatingly] Yes, I might. [MARINA goes out.]

ASTROFF. [After a pause] My off-wheeler has gone lame for some reason. I noticed it yesterday when Peter was taking him to water.

VOITSKI. You should have him re-shod.

ASTROFF. I shall have to go around by the blacksmith's on my way home. It can't be avoided. [He stands looking up at the map of Africa hanging on the wall] I suppose it is roasting hot in Africa now.

VOITSKI. Yes, I suppose it is. [MARINA comes back carrying a tray on which are a glass of vodka and a piece of bread.]

MARINA. Help yourself. [ASTROFF drinks]

Thesaurus

avoided: (adj) unpopular. glass: (n) bottle, drink, goblet, cup,

drinking glass, spectacles, glasses, field glass, bowl; (v) glaze; (adj, n) ice.

hanging: (n) execution, curtain, arras, wall hanging; (adj) suspended, pendent, pendant, pendulous, hung, pending; (n, v) suspension.

hospitality: (n) entertainment, generosity, friendliness, cordiality, welcome, cordial reception, kindness, amiability, warmth, solicitously,

politely. ANTONYMS: (n) frostiness, inhospitality.

kindness: (n) generosity, clemency, compassion, grace, good will, graciousness, humanity, goodness, affection; (adj, n) courtesy, gentleness. ANTONYMS: (n) miserliness, spite, nastiness, callousness, cruelty, unfriendliness, maliciousness, thoughtlessness, sourness, severity, disservice.

lame: (adj) crippled, disabled, halting,

feeble, halt, weak, paralytic; (adj, n) game; (adj, v) paralyze, maim, becripple.

noticed: (adj) noted. roasting: (n) barbecuing, cookery,

cooking; (adj) broiling, baking, burning, boiling, airless, blazing, close; (adj, n) scorching. ANTONYMS: (adj) airy, fresh.

tray: (n) plate, salver, dish, cheeseboard, tray bar, server, waiter, Cran, inkstand, icetray, jardiniere.

Uncle Vanya 74

MARINA. To your good health! [She bows deeply] Eat your bread with it.%

ASTROFF. No, I like it so. And now, good-bye. [To MARINA] You needn't come out to see me off, nurse. [He goes out. SONIA follows him with a candle to light him to the carriage. MARINA sits down in her armchair.]

VOITSKI. [Writing] On the 2d of February, twenty pounds of butter; on the 16th, twenty pounds of butter again. Buckwheat flour--[A pause. Bells are heard tinkling.]

MARINA. He has gone. [A pause.] [SONIA comes in and sets the candle stick on the table.]

SONIA. He has gone.

VOITSKI. [Adding and writing] Total, fifteen--twenty-five-- [SONIA sits down and begins to write.] [Yawning] Oh, ho! The Lord have mercy. [TELEGIN comes in on tiptoe, sits down near the door, and begins to tune his guitar.]

VOITSKI. [To SONIA, stroking her hair] Oh, my child, I am miserable; if you only knew how miserable I am!

SONIA. What can we do? We must live our lives. [A pause] Yes, we shall live, Uncle Vanya. We shall live through the long procession of days before us, and through the long evenings; we shall patiently bear the trials that fate imposes

Thesaurus

buckwheat: (n) Fagopyrum esculentum, polygonum Fagopyrum, herb, food grain, Fagopyrum, branks, genus Fagopyrum, cereal, cereal grass, brank.

candle: (n) candela, light, taper, bougie, CD, candlepower, lamp, wax light, Standard candle; (v) examine, illuminate.

mercy: (n) kindness, compassion, pity, favor, leniency, pardon, forgiveness, grace, charity, humanity; (n, v)

quarter. ANTONYMS: (n) cruelty, harshness, unkindness, severity, mercilessness, ruthlessness, impatience, inhumanity.

patiently: (adv) perseveringly, invalidly, quietly, uncomplainingly, persistently, forbearingly, resignedly, steadily, doggedly, calmly, meekly. ANTONYM: (adv) eagerly.

procession: (n) march, convoy, cortege, cavalcade, file, string, pageant, series, sequence, progress,

column. stroking: (v) caress, strike, blow; (n)

cam stroke, feeling, effleurage, diagonal, CVA, commendation, glide, slash.

tiptoe: (v) tip, tippytoe, creep, patter, skirt, skip, tilt, sidle, lean; (adj) alert; (n) quieter. ANTONYM: (v) clump.

tune: (n) song, strain, air, harmony, note, concord; (v) adjust, regulate, string, tune up; (n, v) chant. ANTONYMS: (n) silence; (v) untune.

Anton Chekhov 75

on us; we shall work for others without rest, both now and when we are old; and when our last hour comes we shall meet it humbly, and there, beyond the grave, we shall say that we have suffered and wept, that our life was bitter, and God will have pity on us. Ah, then dear, dear Uncle, we shall see that bright and beautiful life; we shall rejoice and look back upon our sorrow here; a tender smile--and--we shall rest. I have faith, Uncle, fervent, passionate faith. [SONIA kneels down before her uncle and lays her head on his hands. She speaks in a weary voice] We shall rest. [TELEGIN plays softly on the guitar] We shall rest. We shall hear the angels. We shall see heaven shining like a jewel. We shall see all evil and all our pain sink away in the great compassion that shall enfold the world. Our life will be as peaceful and tender and sweet as a caress. I have faith; I have faith. [She wipes away her tears] My poor, poor Uncle Vanya, you are crying! [Weeping] You have never known what happiness was, but wait, Uncle Vanya, wait! We shall rest. [She embraces him] We shall rest. [The WATCHMAN'S rattle is heard in the garden; TELEGIN plays softly; MME. VOITSKAYA writes something on the margin of her pamphlet; MARINA knits her stocking] We shall rest.%

[The curtain slowly falls.]

Thesaurus

caress: (v) stroke, fondle, tickle, pat, pet, kiss, nuzzle, cuddle, coddle; (n, v) touch; (n) endearment. ANTONYM: (n) hit.

enfold: (v) embrace, enclose, encircle, cover, envelop, fold, wrap, cuddle, muffle, lap, hug.

fervent: (adj) ardent, eager, earnest, enthusiastic, intense, cordial, passionate, hot, emotional, torrid, strong. ANTONYMS: (adj) apathetic, unenthusiastic, cool, weak,

unexcited, dispirited, dispassionate, flippant, impassive, lukewarm, mild.

humbly: (adv) lowly, meanly, modestly, submissively, low, shyly, lowlily, naturally, regretfully, remorsefully, repentantly. ANTONYMS: (adv) conceitedly, haughtily, pompously, ostentatiously, unrepentantly, affluently, brashly, pretentiously.

jewel: (n) gemstone, darling, diamond, jewelry, trinket, treasure,

ornament, idol; (adj, n) bijou, precious stone; (adj) brilliant.

margin: (n, v) edge, border, brink, hem, verge, skirt; (n) boundary, brim, limit, bank, fringe. ANTONYMS: (n) inside, mainstream, middle.

rejoice: (v) cheer, gladden, triumph, revel, jubilate, gratify, gloat, please; (n, v) delight, glory, joy. ANTONYMS: (v) lament, mourn, complain.

suffered: (adj) permitted, permissive.

Anton Chekhov 77

GLOSSARY

abandoned: (adj) immoral, profligate,

deserted, stranded, empty, shameless, wicked, lonely, depraved, corrupt, licentious. ANTONYMS: (adj) inhabited, orderly, overcrowded, used, pure, virtuous, upright, seemly, reserved, principled, moral

able: (adj) dexterous, competent, clever, ingenious, accomplished, gifted, effective, fit, expert; (adj, n) talented, efficient. ANTONYMS: (adj) incapable, incompetent, weak, untrained, inept, delicate, feeble, infirm, clumsy, ineffective, ineffectual

above: (adv, prep) beyond, aloft, on, in excess of; (adv) up, supra, on top; (adj) preceding, former; (adj, prep) past; (prep) surpassing. ANTONYMS: (prep) beneath, under, deficient, underneath; (adj) inferior, following

absolutely: (adv) entirely, completely, fully, purely, utterly, perfectly, totally, categorically, definitely, thoroughly; (adv, int) certainly. ANTONYMS: (adv) partly, doubtfully, questionably, somewhat, moderately, indefinitely, incompletely, fairly, conditionally, probably, possibly

absorbed: (adj) rapt, intent, immersed, fixed, deep, engaged, preoccupied, pensive, fascinated, enthralled, held. ANTONYMS: (adj) bored, disinterested, distracted, restless, unfocused, uninterested, indifferent, shallow, superficial, detached

absurd: (adj) ridiculous, foolish, unreasonable, irrational, meaningless, inept, senseless, nonsensical, illogical, ludicrous; (adj, n) silly. ANTONYMS: (adj) rational, reasonable, logical, wise, weighty, sound, consistent, serious, plausible,

credible, acceptable abuse: (n, v) affront, insult, outrage,

reproach, harm, wrong; (v) mistreat, injure, violate; (adj, v) maltreat, profane. ANTONYMS: (n, v) respect; (v) compliment, protect, nurture, laud, honor, help, flatter; (n) compliments, kindness, flattery

accept: (v) acknowledge, take, admit, recognize, yield, abide, accede, acquiesce, adopt, believe, assume. ANTONYMS: (v) refuse, reject, deny, snub, renounce, oppose, resist, disbelieve, dispute, repudiate, quibble

according: (adj) pursuant, consonant, equal, agreeable, harmonious, conformable, consistent, corresponding, respondent; (adv) correspondingly, accordingly

account: (n) narrative, score, tale, reckoning, narration, description, tally, tab, reason; (n, v) regard, report

accounts: (n) financial statement accursed: (adj) execrable, abominable,

detestable, accurst, hateful, damned, damnable, maledict, blasted; (v) atrocious, stranded

aching: (adj) sore, achy, hurt, uncomfortable, tender, hurtful, agonizing; (n) ache, pain, hurting; (v) griped

acquaintance: (n) connection, friend, acquaintanceship, mate, awareness, associate, buddy, friendship, intercourse, companion; (n, v) knowledge. ANTONYMS: (n) ignorance, inexperience, unfamiliarity, animosity, enemy

across: (adv) crossways, crosswise, sideways, traverse, diagonally; (adj) crossed; (prep) cross, athwart, above, thwart; (adv, prep) overthwart. ANTONYMS: (adv) along, lengthways; (adj) uncrossed

actively: (adv) briskly, energetically,

animatedly, diligently, lively, quickly, vigorously, agilely, vivaciously, alertly, industriously

actually: (adv) genuinely, substantially, positively, authentically, certainly, truely, physically, presently, absolutely, exactly, in reality. ANTONYMS: (adv) seemingly, falsely, hypothetically, nominally, mentally

adding: (n) addition, calculation, reckoning

addled: (adj) muddled, bewildered, acarpous, unfruitful, arid, infecund, unfertile, unprolific, sterile, stale, tainted

admiration: (n) esteem, adoration, appreciation, reverence, estimation, amazement, liking, awe, compliment; (adj, n) regard; (v) laud. ANTONYMS: (n) disdain, criticism, disapproval, contempt, abhorrence, loathing, disgust, despising, dishonor, disparagement, detestation

admire: (v) revere, look up to, idolize, appreciate, adore, wonder, praise, worship, admiring, esteem, honor. ANTONYMS: (v) despise, loathe, scorn, hate, condemn, abhor, disrespect, detest, disregard, disapprove, deprecate

admit: (n, v) allow; (adj, v) acknowledge; (v) concede, accede, grant, affirm, confess, include, permit, take, welcome. ANTONYMS: (v) reject, exclude, bar, dispute, gainsay, withhold, refuse, oust, hide, eject, dismiss

advice: (n) warning, counsel, caution, report, exhortation, council, tidings, counselling, notice, intelligence, instruction. ANTONYMS: (n) misrepresentation, deceit, deception, lie, falsehood, betrayal, warning

affairs: (n) dealings, concern, circumstances, transaction,

Uncle Vanya 78

occupation, duty, matters, matter, personal business, gear, finances

affirmative: (adj) positive, affirmatory, assertive, ratifying, concurring; (adv) yes; (n) affirmation, avowal, assenting; (adj, v) predicatory, declaratory. ANTONYMS: (adj) dissenting; (n) no

afford: (v) offer, yield, provide, give, supply, get, furnish, impart, deliver, originate, sustain. ANTONYM: (v) withhold

afraid: (adj) fearful, timid, shy, apprehensive, anxious, worried, scared, frightened, nervous, terrified; (adj, adv) cowardly. ANTONYMS: (adj) brave, venturesome, calm, confident, cool, courageous, eager, unafraid, valiant, bold, carefree

africa: (n) Afric, Rana Goliath, genus Dovyalis, Goliath frog, Negro peach, Dovyalis

afternoon: (n) Pm, farewell, greeting, P, salutation, in the afternoon, daytime, noon, postmeridian, midday, daylight. ANTONYMS: (n) morning, nighttime

again: (adv) more, then, repeatedly, anew, encore, furthermore, yet, also, often, once again, once more

against: (adj, adv) counter; (prep) toward, versus, from; (pref) by; (v) oppose; (adv, prep) on; (n) opposition; (adj) unwilling, repugnant; (adv) athwart. ANTONYMS: (prep) for; (adj) eager

ages: (n) time out of mind, time immemorial, coon's age, blue moon, month of Sundays

agitation: (n) disturbance, excitement, tumult, stirring, convulsion, stir, commotion, emotion, unrest, shake, turmoil. ANTONYMS: (n) serenity, calm, equanimity, rest, peace, deterrent

agonised: (adj) painful agony: (n) torture, suffering, torment,

distress, misery, passion, pain, grief, pang, sorrow, throe. ANTONYMS: (n) pleasure, joy, euphoria, bliss, happiness, ecstasy, peace, content

agree: (v) admit, acknowledge, acquiesce, adjust, concord, bargain, suit, accede, harmonize, fit; (n, v) coincide. ANTONYMS: (v) oppose, differ, argue, refuse, object, refute, conflict, fight, dispute, decline, contend

ahead: (adv) in advance, formerly, beforehand, previously, along,

onward, beyond, in the van; (adj) front; (adj, adv) forward; (v) precede. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv) late; (adv) subsequently, following, back, before, after, ago, backward, losing, later; (adj) behindhand

ailing: (adj) sickly, poorly, ill, unwell, bad, indisposed, unhealthy, invalid, morbid, weak; (n) illness. ANTONYMS: (adj) well, healthy, fit, robust, vigorous

alexander: (n) Alexanders, horse parsley, black lovage

alike: (adj) corresponding, equal, equivalent, cognate, analogical, parallel, analogous, identical, similar, the same, duplicate. ANTONYMS: (adj) different, dissimilar, contrasting, unalike, disparate, unlike, opposite; (adv) differently, unequally, unevenly

allow: (adj, v) admit, accord; (v) agree, permit, grant, accede, acquiesce, afford, authorize, bear; (n, v) give. ANTONYMS: (v) prohibit, deny, reject, refuse, keep, prevent, disallow, disapprove, withstand, hold, outlaw

allowed: (adj) allowable, legal, admissible, sanctioned, authorized, legitimate, free, accepted, tolerable; (v) allow, warranted. ANTONYMS: (adj) unacceptable, unlawful, constrained

almost: (adj, adv, prep) about; (adj, adv) nearly, all but, near, nigh; (adv, prep) just about, approximately; (adv) just, mostly, virtually, most. ANTONYMS: (adv) surely, exactly, definitely, certainly

alone: (adj) forlorn, individual, lonely, lonesome; (adj, adv) only, apart; (adv) solely, entirely, exclusively, separately, individually. ANTONYMS: (adj) overshadowed, ordinary, mobbed, equaled, crowded, accompanied, common, grouped, surpassed; (adv) jointly; (n) foe

along: (adv) ahead, alongside, forwards, forth, throughout, lengthwise, onward, before; (prep) beside, from; (n) at. ANTONYMS: (adv) across, separate, apart, far

already: (adv) beforehand, previously, before, formerly, even now, just now, at present, once, heretofore, yet, in advance

although: (adv, prep) notwithstanding; (prep) in spite of, even though, however; (adv, conj) though; (conj) whereas; (adv) even,

tho, when, anyway, tho' altogether: (adv) absolutely, all,

wholly, perfectly, purely, all in all, completely, entirely, totally, simply, ensemble. ANTONYMS: (adv) incompletely, partially

always: (adv) continuously, whenever, permanently, ever, usually, eternally, unceasingly; (adj) perpetual, still, eternal; (adj, adv) without exception. ANTONYMS: (adv) erratically, intermittently, temporarily

amiability: (n) geniality, affableness, kindness, friendliness, courtesy, cordiality, amiableness, affability, kindliness, joviality, hospitality. ANTONYMS: (n) unfriendliness, hostility, unkindness

among: (prep) between, amidst, mid, in, amongst, in the middle of, inter, in the midst of, with, within, middle. ANTONYM: (prep) outside

anew: (adv) again, newly, lately, recently, over again, once more, once again, new; (adj) only yesterday, the other day, just now

angel: (n, v) sponsor, support; (n) backer, cherub, messenger, patron, benefactor, saint; (adj) Dulcinea, goddess; (adj, n) darling. ANTONYMS: (n) fiend, devil, jerk, demon

angelic: (adj) cherubic, heavenly, seraphic, virtuous, celestial, beautiful, angelical, divine, good, holy, saintly. ANTONYMS: (adj) devilish, demonic, dark, wicked

angina: (n) angina pectoris, cardiopathy, sore throat, heart disease, croup; (v) twinge, stomach ache, twitch, heartburn, gripe; (adj) croupy

angrily: (adv) irately, passionately, fiercely, indignantly, cholericly, resentfully, enragedly, infuriatedly, wrathfully, madly, crossly. ANTONYMS: (adv) warmly, lightly, calmly, cheerfully, gently, gladly

angry: (adj) anger, furious, provoked, incensed, vehement, fierce, irate, raging, maddened, shirty, indignation. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleased, gentle, joyful, content, euphoric, mild, happy, resigned, joyous, gleeful, quiet

animals: (n) beast, nature, natural world, flora and fauna, stock, animal kingdom

annoying: (adj) galling, vexatious, aggravating, vexing, worrying, awkward, trying, bothersome,

Anton Chekhov 79

disagreeable; (adj, v) irritating; (n) annoyance. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleasing, delightful, pleasant, charming, satisfying, welcome, convenient

another: (adj) second, more, alternative, additional, new, further, fresh, extra; (adj, v) other; (adj, pron) some other; (n) the other. ANTONYMS: (n, pron) same

answer: (n, v) respond, retort; (v) counter, serve, resolve, acknowledge, correspond; (n) solution, defence, return, reaction. ANTONYMS: (n, v) question; (v) ask, differ, fail, ignore; (n) request, problem, invitation, poison

anxiously: (adv) uneasily, restlessly, carefully, worriedly, fearfully, nervously, concernedly, solicitously, timidly, keenly, enthusiastically. ANTONYMS: (adv) calmly, confidently, merrily, indifferently, fearlessly, nonchalantly, patiently, unconcernedly

anybody: (adv) any, each; (n, pron) any person, a person; (n) everyone, somebody, nobody, everybody, someone; (pron) whoever

anything: (adv) any, somewhat; (n) thing, aught, everything, something, any part; (adj) whatsoever; (pron) suchlike

anyway: (adv) somehow, however, regardless, though, besides, at any rate, in any case, in any event, all the same, although, nonetheless

apologise: (v) excuse, defend, support, pardon, palliate, mitigating, colour, rationalize, rationalise, plead, pled

apology: (n, v) excuse; (n) amends, regret, defense, justification, reason, explanation, vindication, alibi, acknowledgment; (v) apologize. ANTONYMS: (n) blame, reprehension, accusation, shamelessness, epitome

appalling: (adj, v) shocking, grim, terrific; (adj) alarming, dire, ghastly, dreadful, frightful, terrible, atrocious, vile. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleasant, admirable, lovely, encouraging, laudable, comforting, pleasing, agreeable, honorable, appealing, humane

appears: (n) appearing approaching: (adj) future,

forthcoming, impending, imminent, oncoming, near; (adj, n) coming; (n, v) approach; (adv) nearly, almost; (prep) toward

armchair: (n) fauteuil, easy-chair, seat, easy chair, chair, lounger, recliner, elbowchair

arms: (n) armament, coat of arms, weaponry, ammunition, shield, ordnance, order, munition, hardware, blazon; (adj) armed

around: (adv) approximately, almost, roughly, just about, some; (adv, prep) round, encompassing; (adj) near; (n) vicinity; (prep) all round, encircling

arrested: (adj) apprehended, halted, backward, in remission, inactive, intermittent

arrive: (n, v) come, appear; (v) mature, reach, attain, succeed, turn up, land, fall, get in, show. ANTONYMS: (v) go, depart, fail, fall, lose, exit

artlessness: (n) simplicity, naivete, naturalness, ingenuousness, naiveness, naivety, unaffectedness, spontaneity, lack of pretension, rusticity, impulsiveness. ANTONYMS: (n) artfulness, sophistication, affectedness

ashamed: (adj) hangdog, guilty, embarrassed, sheepish, remorseful, regretful, bashful, disconcerted, contrite, chagrined; (v) dashed. ANTONYMS: (adj) proud, arrogant, unremorseful, unashamed, pleased, blatant, bold, happy, unabashed, unrepentant

asleep: (adj) sleeping, deceased, sleepy, dormant, numb, dead, sound asleep, snoozing, slumbering, napping, gone. ANTONYMS: (adj) up, attentive, alert, conscious

assemble: (v) accumulate, aggregate, meet, gather, convene, call, set up, collect, group, make, get together. ANTONYMS: (v) dismantle, disband, disassemble, scatter, part, separate, disintegrate, disconnect, dismiss, distribute, demobilize

assistance: (n) support, relief, boost, encouragement, remedy, help, service, hand, backing; (n, v) assist; (v) succor. ANTONYMS: (n) impediment, impeding, obstruction, detriment, disservice, meanness, opposition

astronomy: (n) astrology, astrometry, physics, astrodynamics, astrophysical, astrophysics

atmosphere: (n) ambience, ambiance, mood, aura, feel, environment, feeling, background, quality, medium, setting

attach: (v) append, adhere, add, affix,

bind, link, associate, assign, nail, apply, annex. ANTONYMS: (v) undo, separate, unfasten, disconnect, free, deflect, dissociate, loosen, quit, take, unscrew

attained: (adj) attains, attaint, reached, complete, earned, fulfilled

attempt: (n, v) endeavor, offer, struggle, assay, essay, attack; (n) effort, trial; (v) undertake, chance, aim. ANTONYMS: (n) success, fulfillment, achievement, accomplishment; (v) succeed, fulfill, achieve, accomplish, perform

attempted: (adj) unsuccessful attention: (n) mind, heed, notice,

alertness, care, advertency, aid, consideration, ear, attentiveness, precision. ANTONYMS: (n) neglect, negligence, thoughtlessness, abandonment, abstraction, discourtesy, disregard, oversight, indifference, insensibility, carelessness

attune: (v) fit, tune, accommodate, reconcile, modulate, key, coordinate, adapt, harmonize, conform, tune up

audacity: (n) nerve, audaciousness, effrontery, arrogance, temerity, cheek, impertinence, insolence, courage; (n, v) impudence; (adj, n) presumption. ANTONYMS: (n) cowardice, propriety, decorum, circumspection, courtesy, fear, respect, spinelessness, reticence

autobiography: (n) biography, memoirs, memoir, life story, life, diary, life history, journal, story, history

autumn: (n) fall, season, downfall, descent, declivity, harvest

avenue: (n) road, route, sort, path, passage, approach, way, means, boulevard, course, lane

average: (adj) median, fair, common, middling, middle, ordinary, normal, mid, moderate; (adj, n) standard, medium. ANTONYMS: (adj, n, v) maximum; (adj) extraordinary, exceptional, abnormal, unusual, impressive, extreme, atypical, intolerable, poor; (n) extremity

avoided: (adj) unpopular avoiding: (n) shunning; (adj) fugitive,

antisocial awake: (v) wake, awaken, realize,

waken; (adj) alive, alert, attentive, conscious, keen, intelligent; (adj, v) broad awake. ANTONYMS: (adj) unconscious, sleeping, comatose, sleepy, relaxed; (v) deaden, lull, sleep

Uncle Vanya 80

away: (adj, adv) abroad, absent; (adj, adv, int) out; (adj) distant; (adv) aside, aloof, afar, way, by, forth; (adv, int) off. ANTONYMS: (adj) adjacent, neighboring, nearby, near, close; (adv) intermittently, haltingly, discontinuously, in

awful: (adj) fearful, dreadful, terrible, abominable, appalling, nasty, abhorrent, atrocious, bad, horrible, lousy. ANTONYMS: (adj) excellent, wonderful, marvelous, great, lovely, nice, pleasant, beautiful, pleasing, good, minor

awhile: (adj) in transitu, en passant; (adv) briefly

awoke: (adj) awakened baby: (n) babe, child, darling; (v)

pamper, indulge, coddle, mollycoddle, spoil; (adj, n) miniature, young; (adj) small. ANTONYMS: (v) ignore, neglect; (adj) large, mature, big; (n) parent, adolescent, adult, grownup

badly: (adv) poorly, severely, awfully, wrongly, seriously, naughtily, wickedly, hardly, corruptly, injuriously; (adj, adv) gravely. ANTONYMS: (adv) skillfully, obediently, perfectly, giftedly, flawlessly, satisfactorily, admirably, superbly, shamelessly, excellently, pleasingly

banish: (v) dispel, expel, displace, relegate, oust, expatriate, eject, dismiss, transport, cast out; (adj, v) exile. ANTONYMS: (v) keep, embrace, adopt, invite, include

barbarian: (n) Goth, vandal, brute; (adj) heathen, barbaric, barbarous, uncivilized, uncultured, wild, rude, foreign. ANTONYMS: (adj) cultured, refined; (n) native, citizen

bars: (n) grinding media, gymnastics, parallel bars

basely: (adv) vilely, bottomly, sordidly, shamefully, foully, menially, lowly, depravedly, villainously, badly, poorly

battle: (n, v) fight, struggle, combat, contest, war, conflict, clash, brawl; (v) wrestle; (n) fighting, warfare. ANTONYMS: (n) peace, agreement, truce, concord, armistice, accord, surrender

bear: (v) accept, take, stand, acquit, abide, allow, wear, comport, tolerate, convey, teem. ANTONYMS: (v) release, avoid, destroy, dodge, take, eradicate, evade, kill, refuse, erase; (n) bull

bears: (n) fissiped, badgers,

Carnivora, order Carnivora beats: (n) beat, beatniks, Beat

Generation beautiful: (adj) attractive, good-

looking, bright, neat, beauteous, pleasant, picturesque, fine, pretty, lovely; (n) beauty. ANTONYMS: (adj) unattractive, homely, grotesque, plain, repulsive, awkward, ordinary, dull

beauty: (n) attractiveness, beaut, charm, pulchritude, loveliness, exquisiteness, grace, grandeur, looker, good looks; (adj) beautiful. ANTONYMS: (n) hag, plainness, shortcoming, flaw, witch, dog, disadvantage, detraction, repulsiveness, eyesore, awkwardness

become: (v) grow, suit, be, match, come about, arise, get, sit, to become, fall; (adj) becoming. ANTONYMS: (v) halt, stay, lower, stop, reduce, clash

becomes: (v) become becoming: (adj, v) seemly, proper,

befitting; (adj) decorous, decent, adequate, apposite, due, agreeable, fit, relevant. ANTONYMS: (adj) inappropriate, unattractive, unflattering, improper, unbefitting, unsuitable, ugly, unseemly

bedroom: (n) bedchamber, dormitory, sleeping room, apartment, assembly, berth, boudoir, master bedroom; (adj) sexy

before: (adv) ahead, ago, in front, previously, already, forth; (adv, prep) fore, afore; (adj) preceding, prior; (adj, adv) earlier. ANTONYMS: (adv, prep) later, behind, afterward, after; (adv) subsequently, ahead; (adj) subsequent

beggar: (n) mendicant, mumper, pauper, tramp, sponger, joker, poor man, cadger, bloke; (v) beg, pauperize. ANTONYM: (n) giver

begin: (v) commence, arise, initiate, become, enter, rise, originate, undertake, create, dawn, set out. ANTONYMS: (v) end, stop, cease, terminate, die, delay, complete, conclude

begun: (adj) present behaviour: (n) behavior, action,

bearing, activity, act, dealing, deed, character, proceeding, moral conduct, conduct

behind: (adj, n) back, rear; (adj, adv) backward, late; (adv) backwards, later, aback, beyond; (n) backside,

can; (prep) abaft. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv) early; (adv) fore; (adj) prompt

believe: (n) belief, believing; (v) assume, conceive, consider, reckon, guess, accredit, to believe, understand; (n, v) trust. ANTONYMS: (v) distrust, doubt, question, suspect, reject, discredit, deny, despair

bell: (n, v) chime; (n) gong, Alexander Graham Bell, ring, doorbell, handbell, tocsin, alarum, Alexander Bell, buzz, angelus

bells: (n) addition, approval, matrimony, marriage, approbation, wedding

belonging: (adj) appertaining, appertinent, apropos, apposite; (n) household, family, appendage, appurtenance, intimacy, commodity, closeness. ANTONYM: (n) antipathy

bench: (n) banquette, chair, workbench, court, terrace, bank, bar, judicatory, Ottoman, board, form

benches: (n) bleachers bends: (n) caisson disease,

aeroembolism, air embolism, bend, gas embolism, compressed air sickness

benefactor: (n) sponsor, patron, backer, supporter, giver, Good Samaritan, contributor, benefactress, philanthropist, helper, humanitarian. ANTONYMS: (n) antagonist, opposer, detractor

benumbed: (adj) torpid, asleep, stiff, insensible, dull, dead, numbed, hardened, drugged, uninterested, cold

beside: (adv) on, abreast, aside, closely, nearly; (prep) about; (adv, prep) besides; (adj) adjacent; (n) while, at; (adj, prep) near

besides: (adv) as well, moreover, too, furthermore, again, as well as, anyway, additionally; (prep) apart from, beside; (adj, adv) more

best: (adj, n) supreme, most, elite; (adj) superior, great, leading, choice, superlative; (v) beat, outdo; (adj, n, v) top. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) worst; (v) lose, surrender; (adj) minimum, lowest, least, inferior, incorrect, fewest; (n) loser; (adv) insincerely

betray: (v) deceive, bewray, sell, grass, dupe, reveal, mislead, disclose, accuse, befool, bamboozle. ANTONYMS: (v) protect, undeceive, hide, defend, withhold

better: (adj, v) improve, mend; (adj, adv, v) best; (v) recover, ameliorate,

Anton Chekhov 81

emend, reform, advance, enhance, surpass; (n) bettor. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv) worse; (adj, n) inferior; (v) worsen, deteriorate; (adj) lesser, lower, tinier, ill, unhealthy, smaller, sicker

bewitch: (adj, n, v) fascinate; (adj, v) charm, attract; (v) enchant, entrance, enrapture, witch, spell, beguile, enamor; (n, v) allure. ANTONYM: (v) disgust

beyond: (adj, prep) across; (adv, prep) above, without, besides, over; (adj, adv) further; (adv) away, by, more, farther, abroad. ANTONYMS: (prep) below; (adv) close, inside

bind: (adj, v) attach, fix, fasten, affix; (n) band; (v) bandage, lace, fetter, bundle, truss, combine. ANTONYMS: (v) untie, unbind, free, unfasten, unravel, permit, loosen, loose, let; (n, v) release; (n) pleasure

birch: (v) lash, flog, scourge, wipe, warm, whop; (adj) birchen; (n) birch tree, stick, white birch, rod

bird: (n) wench, poultry, fowl, girl, birdie, hen, chick, Bronx cheer, shuttlecock, archaeornis, archeopteryx

birds: (n) aves, class Aves, Craniata, flora and fauna, natural world, nature, subphylum Craniata, Subphylum Vertebrata, Vertebrata, amphibians

bite: (n, v) nip, cut, taste, hurt, pain; (v) pinch, chew, erode, gnaw, eat; (n) morsel. ANTONYMS: (n) lot, whole, mildness

biting: (adj, v) acute, acrid, sarcastic, sharp, acrimonious, pungent, severe, cutting; (adj) acid, bitter, barbed. ANTONYMS: (adj) mild, blunt, kind, bland, nice, soothing, sweet, hot, complimentary, faint, sympathetic

bitter: (adj, v) acrimonious, acrid; (adj) sharp, acid, malicious, caustic, virulent, sour, resentful, keen, acerbic. ANTONYMS: (adj) mild, charitable, hot, sugary, kind, wonderful, warm, pleasant, nice, agreeable, gentle

bitterly: (adv) bitingly, sourly, fiercely, cruelly, caustically, harshly, poignantly, piercingly, cuttingly, rancorously, acrimoniously. ANTONYMS: (adv) harmoniously, sweetly, warmly, gladly, agreeably, kindly, friendly

blame: (v) arraign, chide; (n, v) reprimand, censure, attack, charge,

reproach, rap, rebuke, fault; (n) onus. ANTONYMS: (n, v) praise; (v) absolve, exonerate, commend, clear, acquit; (n) vindication, exoneration, honor, absolution, glory

blank: (adj) bare, empty, unfilled, pure, vacant, clean; (n) space, blankness, form, vacuity; (v) addle. ANTONYMS: (adj) full, expressive, used, understanding, thoughtful, incomplete, marked, filled, excited, lively, aware

blind: (n) curtain, shutter, veil, drape, awning, trick; (v) bedazzle, dazzle, daze; (adj) sightless; (adj, v) obscure. ANTONYMS: (adj) sighted, uncovered, understanding, sharp, seeing, revealed, quick, perceptive, open, controlled, cautious

blissfully: (adv) gladly, joyfully, blessedly, delightfully, joyously, cheerfully, ecstatically, merrily, delightedly, gleefully, contentedly. ANTONYM: (adv) sadly

blood: (n) birth, gore, nature, origin, kindred, lineage, descent, family, beau, pedigree; (adj) juice

blossom: (adj, n, v) flower, blow; (n, v) bud; (n) blooming, heyday, efflorescence; (v) prosper, flourish, thrive, progress, unfold. ANTONYMS: (v) wither, deteriorate, struggle, shrivel, shrink, fade, die; (n) withering

blowing: (n) processing, insufflation, bravado; (v) fanning, blow out; (adj) windy, breezy

blue: (adj) depressed, down, gloomy, low, spicy, livid, naughty, sapphire, sad, downhearted, downcast. ANTONYMS: (adj) clean, happy, joyous, refined, moral, decent, upbeat, joyful, gay, cheerful, cheery

blues: (n) depression, blue devils, doldrums, melancholy, gloom, sorrow, distress, dejection; (adj) melancholia, mumps, lachrymals. ANTONYMS: (n) euphoria, glee, joy

blushing: (adj) rosy, coy, blushful, flushed, red, shy, bashful, overmodest, ruddy; (adv) blushingly, ablush. ANTONYM: (adj) pale

boiling: (adj) hot, ebullient, heated, burning, scalding, torrid, humid; (adj, v) effervescent; (v) seethe, effervesce; (n) ebullience. ANTONYMS: (adj) cold, happy, frozen, cooled, cool, collected, calm, fresh, airy

bonds: (n) securities, stock, stocks, handcuffs, irons, chains, servitude,

common stock, confinement, preferred stock

book: (v) order, reserve, inscribe, apply, write; (n) account book, pamphlet, journal, volume; (n, v) list, record. ANTONYMS: (v) free, exonerate

books: (n) notebook, account, ledger, literature, accountancy

boots: (n) Bootes, bell boy, bootblack, counterjumper, boy, shoeblack, footwear

bored: (adj) weary, boring, blase, uninterested, bore, listless, jaded, sick, fed up, annoyed, indifferent. ANTONYMS: (adj) energetic, fresh

born: (adj) native, natural, congenital, inbred, inborn, innate, inherent, untutored; (v) be born, to be born, arise. ANTONYMS: (adj) learned, unborn, acquired, trained

bothered: (adj) troubled, disturbed, nervous, distraught, uneasy, concerned, upset, annoyed, harassed, vexed, fazed. ANTONYMS: (adj) peaceful, unconcerned, pleased, serene, untroubled, content

bottle: (n) container, jug, flask, cruet, vial, pot, phial, jar, decanter, carboy; (n, v) can

bottomless: (adj) limitless, infinite, deep, unlimited, profound, immeasurable, fathomless, boundless, unfounded, groundless, unplumbed. ANTONYMS: (adj) shallow, bottomed, limited, restricted

bought: (n) crook, hook bounds: (n) boundary, border, limit,

bound, margin, borderline, end, bourn, Bourne, brink, edge. ANTONYMS: (n) center, middle

bowed: (adj) arched, curved, inclined, crooked, arciform, arching, arced, bandy, arcuate, twisted, bended. ANTONYMS: (adj) straight, concave, plucked

bowing: (n) obeisance, playing, gesticulation, capitulation, genuflection, scraping, submission; (adj) bowed, bent, fawning, submissive

brain: (n) mastermind, genius, head, mind, reason, wit, psyche, noddle, intelligence, nous, brains. ANTONYMS: (n) emotion, moron, body, dummy, imbecile, idiot, physicality

brains: (n) cleverness, intellect, intelligence, sense, mind, wisdom, pate, wit, wits, reason; (adj, n) head.

Uncle Vanya 82

ANTONYM: (n) stupidity branch: (n, v) fork; (n) wing, jump,

affiliate, ramus, member, stem, limb, agency, stick, subdivision. ANTONYMS: (n) composite, trunk; (v) converge, merge

brandy: (n) applejack, spirits, brandies, liquor, Brandywine, Marc, fruit brandy; (v) brandy smash

brave: (adj, n) bold, hardy; (adj) audacious, fearless, courageous, virile, intrepid, valiant; (adj, v) endure; (v) defy, face. ANTONYMS: (adj) cowardly, frightened, pathetic, gutless, afraid, cautious, fainthearted, meek, mousy, nervous; (v) skip

bravely: (adv) courageously, fearlessly, valiantly, boldly, intrepidly, dauntlessly, gallantly, audaciously, undauntedly, heroically, doughtily. ANTONYMS: (adv) timidly, fearfully, execrably, nervously

bravo: (v) murderer, slayer, Cain, matador, sabreur; (n) thug, liquidator; (adj) bully, hotspur, enfant perdu, scapegrace

bread: (n) livelihood, bun, maintenance, cash, currency, loot, dough, pelf, food, sustenance, kale

break: (n, v) crack, fracture, breach, burst, rupture, stop, pause; (n) interruption, respite, suspension; (v) infringe. ANTONYMS: (v) obey, honor, lose, make, observe, resume, stay, strengthen; (n, v) mend; (n) continuation, misfortune

breakfast: (n) repast, banquet, dejeuner, mealtime, feast, meal; (v) sup, take tea, eat, have a meal, dine

breaking: (n) breakage, breach, violation, infringement, contravention, smash, rift, scutching, shift, intermission; (v) deaden

breast: (n) boob, udder, tit, titty, chest, knocker, mammilla, bust, pap, heart; (n, v) front

breath: (n) wind, air, inspiration, puff, soul, aspiration, respite, airflow; (v) breathe, respire; (adj, n) whisper

breathe: (n, v) respire, subsist, imply; (n) breath, bespeak; (adj, n, v) live; (v) exhale, exist, emit, rest, be. ANTONYMS: (v) suffocate, hide, choke, asphyxiate, drain, die, inhale

bright: (adj) alive, vivid, intelligent, apt, shining, brilliant, lustrous, luminous, light, beaming, shiny. ANTONYMS: (adj) cloudy, stupid,

gloomy, dim, unintelligent, dreary, dark, overcast, shadowy, thick, leaden

brilliant: (adj, v) splendid, glorious, illustrious, smart; (adj) sunny, intelligent, magnificent, luminous, spectacular, vivid, beautiful. ANTONYMS: (adj) dull, dim, awful, dark, unexceptional, typical, tarnished, grimy, unintelligent, normal, useless

bring: (v) convey, get, take, bear, carry, put, conduct, return, reduce, set, bring in. ANTONYMS: (v) drop, free, leave, lose, remove, avoid

bringing: (n) delivery, consignment, serving, service, passage, post

bronze: (adj, n, v) tan; (n) brown, brass, sculpture, statuette; (v) terra cotta, discolour, discolor, marble, plate; (adj) bronzed

brother: (n) fellow, blood brother, associate, counterpart, crony, comrade, buddy, peer, chum, sidekick, monk. ANTONYMS: (n) enemy, opposer, opponent

brush: (n, v) broom, touch, kiss; (v) sweep, polish, graze, clean; (n) brushwood, conflict, copse, encounter

buckram: (adj) stiff, starchy, besotted, formal, blotto, blind drunk; (v) formality, stiffness, stiffen; (n) fabric, cloth

buckwheat: (n) Fagopyrum esculentum, polygonum Fagopyrum, herb, food grain, Fagopyrum, branks, genus Fagopyrum, cereal, cereal grass, brank

budding: (adj) blossoming, emergent, green, juvenile, youthful, incipient, puisne, sappy, under age, flourishing; (n) shooting. ANTONYMS: (adj) shrinking, unlikely, withering

build: (n, v) make, shape; (v) erect, establish, raise, rise, found, base, fabricate, fashion; (n) frame. ANTONYMS: (v) destroy, dismantle, raze, overturn, obliterate, decrease, decelerate, ruin, disassemble

building: (n) architecture, establishment, construction, fabrication, house, fabric, dwelling, assembly, structure, erection; (n, v) pile

bullet: (n) shot, round, pellet, slug, projectile, missile, stone, carcass, delivery, grenade, sphere

bunch: (n, v) crowd, clump, pack,

bundle, group, huddle; (n) batch, lot, band, troop, gang. ANTONYMS: (v) spread, separate, scatter; (n) individual

burn: (adj, v) glow; (n, v) bite, fire, sunburn; (v) sting, scorch, incinerate, blaze, flare, ignite, cremate. ANTONYMS: (v) smother, give, subdue, help, quench, repay, stifle, extinguish, wet

burning: (adj) blazing, ablaze, boiling, afire, flaming, hot; (n) combustion, firing; (adj, n) passionate, zealous, glowing. ANTONYMS: (adj) cold, trivial, cool, out, painless, quenched, soothing, unimportant, apathetic, insignificant, unconcerned

burrow: (adj, v) delve, dig, gouge, mine; (n, v) tunnel, earth; (n) lair, den, hole, cavity; (v) nestle. ANTONYMS: (v) fill, plant

burst: (adj, n, v) crack; (adj, v) split, blow up, explode, splinter, detonate; (n, v) rupture, blast; (adj, n) flash; (v) break out, belch. ANTONYMS: (v) attach, join, connect, fasten, trickle

bursting: (adj) explosive, teeming, chock-full, full, complete, paroxysmal, exploding, disruptive, detonating, crowded; (n) outbreak. ANTONYM: (adj) hungry

business: (n) subject, matter, event, vocation, job, profession, affair, work, corporation, occupation; (adj, n) trade. ANTONYMS: (adj) charitable, private; (n) pleasure, avocation, fun, entertainment, hobby

busy: (adj) brisk, engaged, assiduous, occupied, agile, meddlesome, industrious, crowded, officious, live; (v) occupy. ANTONYMS: (adj) free, inactive, dodging, available, deserted, lazy, quiet, still, unengaged, avoiding, empty

butter: (v) gloze, slaver, flatter; (adj) butyraceous, dough, pudding; (n) fat, scrapper, fighter, oil, tallow

cackle: (n, v) giggle, snicker, chatter; (v) gaggle, crow, chortle; (adj) prattle, prate; (n) laugh, yack, laughter

cage: (n, v) jail; (n) basket, birdcage, hutch, gaol, frame, corral, cell; (v) confine, imprison, enclose. ANTONYMS: (v) release; (n) freedom, liberation

called: (adj) named, titled, chosen, known as; (v) nempt, ycleped

calling: (n) business, occupation, call, avocation, job, trade, career,

Anton Chekhov 83

employment, walk, pursuit; (n, v) profession. ANTONYMS: (n) entertainment, hobby

calmly: (adv) stilly, tranquilly, coolly, serenely, placidly, sedately, smoothly, peacefully, easily, undisturbedly, steadily. ANTONYMS: (adv) anxiously, hysterically, nervously, agitatedly, uncontrollably, histrionically, restlessly, frantically, irritably, emotionally, tensely

came: (v) arrive, come candle: (n) candela, light, taper,

bougie, CD, candlepower, lamp, wax light, Standard candle; (v) examine, illuminate

capable: (adj) competent, adequate, apt, adept, accomplished, fit, gifted, qualified, proficient, trained; (adj, n) efficient. ANTONYMS: (adj) incapable, inept, unable, helpless, lacking, bad, unimaginative, unqualified, untrained

capital: (adj, n) principal, primary, main; (n) city, stock, funds, money, wealth, means; (adj) great, magnificent. ANTONYMS: (adj) extra, worst, unimportant, poor, nonessential, minor, inferior; (n) minuscule, liabilities, poverty

captious: (adj, n, v) critical; (adj) peevish, cantankerous, irritable, hypercritical, faultfinding, fastidious, fretful, querulous, caviling; (adj, n) exacting. ANTONYMS: (adj) praising, commendatory, complimentary, encouraging, flattering

cards: (n) baccarat, boodle, card, rum, poker, cribbage, rummy, Newmarket, pinocle, pinochle, penuchle

care: (adj, n, v) anxiety; (n, v) attention, charge, worry; (n) caution, bother, concern, apprehension, aid, custody; (v) attend. ANTONYMS: (n) carelessness, recklessness, thoughtlessness, rashness, negligence, vagueness, unconcern; (n, v) disregard, dislike; (v) loathe, abhor

careful: (adj, v) attentive, anxious; (adj) thrifty, thoughtful, frugal, mindful, prudent, deliberate, alert, economical, guarded. ANTONYMS: (adj) reckless, slapdash, neglectful, wasteful, unconcerned, tactless, stupid, spendthrift, rash, negligent, inaccurate

caress: (v) stroke, fondle, tickle, pat, pet, kiss, nuzzle, cuddle, coddle; (n,

v) touch; (n) endearment. ANTONYM: (n) hit

carriage: (n) attitude, conveyance, cab, air, walk, position, mien, shipping; (n, v) transport, behavior, port

carried: (adj) conveyed, imported carry: (v) convey, bring, take,

conduct, acquit, behave, accept, transport, comport, hold, pack. ANTONYMS: (v) withhold, lose, censor, fail, hold, conceal

carrying: (n) transport, conveyance, carriage, transportation, haulage, hauling, shipping; (adj) bearing, gerent; (v) convey, bring

case: (n) example, box, bin, cover, jacket, shell, bag, affair, briefcase, business; (adj, n) eccentric

catching: (adj) communicable, infectious, epidemic, gripping, transferable, zymotic; (n) discovery, take, playing, uncovering, getting. ANTONYM: (adj) noncommunicable

cattle: (n) stock, cows, neat, bull, beef, bovine, livestock, ox, kine, cow, oxen

cellar: (n) basement, cellarage, wine cellar, godown, warehouse, winery, silo, pit, excavation, story, storey

cent: (adj) picayune, mill, pistareen; (n) subunit, rupee, red cent, centime

centre: (n) core, middle, navel, midpoint, heart, waist, hub, centering; (v) concentrate, focus, centralize

certain: (adj) definite, sure, assured, absolute, reliable, indisputable, dependable, unquestionable, undeniable, unavoidable, unequivocal. ANTONYMS: (adj) unsure, doubtful, questionable, hesitant, debatable, erratic, faulty, indistinct, vague, doubting, undecided

chair: (n, v) chairman; (n) bench, president, chairperson, throne, couch, armchair, electric chair, chairwoman; (v) moderate, lead

chairs: (n) seats chances: (n) probability, odds,

opportunities, possibility, state, circumstances

changed: (adj) transformed, varied, switched, change, transform, converted, distorted, affected, changeling, disguised, inverse. ANTONYM: (adj) unchanged

characters: (n) letters, typescript, typeset, symbols, script, lettering, inscription, handwriting, font, cast,

writing charming: (adj) beautiful, lovely,

captivating, winning, attractive, enchanting, delightful, pleasing, nice, magic, cute. ANTONYMS: (adj) repellent, unpleasant, unappealing, repulsive, charmless, disgusting, gross, irritating, offensive, uninteresting, annoying

chasm: (n) breach, gap, hiatus, gulf, ravine, hole, abysm, vacancy, canyon, aperture, emptiness. ANTONYMS: (n) junction, closure

chattering: (n) chatter, cackle, yak, grabbing, claver; (adj) talkative, loquacious, noisy, gabby, garrulous; (v) natter

cheek: (n) audacity, nerve, brass, boldness, impertinence, face, lip, mouth, gall, insolence, impudence. ANTONYMS: (n) respect, cowardice, timidity, humbleness, meekness, reticence, seriousness; (v) praise

cheese: (n) cheddar, cottage cheese, blue cheese, brick cheese, Brie, Camembert, Cheddar cheese, cheeseflower, bleu, Edam, exaggeration

chewing: (n) chew, mastication, chaw, change of state; (adj) masticatory

chick: (n) nestling, biddy, bird, chit, poult, girl, wench, doll, fledgling, fowl, pullet

chickens: (n) Galliformes, order Galliformes

chicks: (n) brood child: (n) baby, babe, bairn, infant,

kid, toddler, tot, girl, brat, juvenile, minor. ANTONYMS: (n) ancestor, parent

children: (n) child, offspring, descendant, family, seed, boy, babies, descendants, birth, relatives, people

chloroform: (adj) anaesthetic agent, opium, ether; (n) put under, chloral; (v) deaden, anesthetize, anaesthetize

church: (n) cathedral, abbey, chapel, meetinghouse, denomination, minster, place of worship, kirk, Fane, Christian church, Christianity

clear: (adj) clean, certain, distinct; (adj, v) acquit, absolute, free, net, absolve, empty; (adj, n) open; (v) exculpate. ANTONYMS: (adj) opaque, cloudy, incomprehensible, uncertain, dark, hazy, vague, fuzzy, obscure, confused, puzzling

cleared: (adj) absolved, clean, empty, exculpated, bleak, innocent, exempt,

Uncle Vanya 84

vindicated, exonerated, guiltless, let off. ANTONYMS: (adj) full, uncleared, guilty

clever: (adj) capable, acute, intelligent, able, apt, expert, skillful, cunning, sharp; (adj, v) brilliant, smart. ANTONYMS: (adj) clumsy, unintelligent, dim, dull, inept, thick, naive, idiotic, moronic, incompetent, open

climate: (n) atmosphere, clime, ambience, latitude, mood, milieu, weather, environment, zone, conditions, isobar

closed: (v) close, tight; (adj) blind, finished, blocked, shut, congested, enclosed, folded, fastened, not open. ANTONYMS: (adj) beginning, running, started, starting, welcoming, continuing

clothes: (n) apparel, clothing, dress, garb, wardrobe, vestment, garment, cloth, thing, gown, wear

cloud: (n, v) mist, blur; (v) becloud, obscure, eclipse, blacken, taint, befog, overshadow; (adj, n) swarm; (n) haze. ANTONYMS: (v) clear, refine, accentuate, illuminate, explain, clarify, unveil

cloudy: (adj) dull, gloomy, nebulous, murky, dark, turbid, foggy, muddy, misty, sunless, vaporous. ANTONYMS: (adj) clear, bright, sunny, cloudless

coat: (v) cloak, blanket; (n, v) sheath, plaster; (n) coating, fur, film, crust, jacket, layer, bark. ANTONYMS: (v) reveal, expose

cold: (n) chilliness, chill; (adj) chilly, frigid, distant, indifferent, aloof, callous, icy, apathetic, impassive. ANTONYMS: (adj) warm, friendly, hot, prepared, burning, affectionate, loving, soporific, fervid; (n) heat, warmth

coldly: (adv) frigidly, icily, coolly, indifferently, frostily, distantly, gelidly, reservedly, bleakly, wintrily, frozenly. ANTONYMS: (adv) warmly, affectionately, sympathetically, sensitively, kindly, cheerfully, emotionally

collar: (n, v) arrest, catch, capture, pinch; (n) choker, ruff, lapel; (v) apprehend, nail, grab, clutch. ANTONYMS: (v) free, release

colleagues: (n) classmates, generation, peer group

colourless: (adj) colorless, drab, pale, neutral, wan, pallid, ashen, clear, white, washy, bloodless. ANTONYM: (adj) colorful

comfortable: (adj, v) easy, snug; (adj) pleased, pleasing, prosperous, agreeable, pleasurable, congenial, rich, enjoyable, homely. ANTONYMS: (adj) poor, tense, formal, unpleasant, unhappy, unaccustomed, intimidating, difficult, anxious, broke, destitute

comical: (adj) funny, comic, laughable, absurd, humorous, ridiculous, zany, droll, jocose, grotesque, jocular. ANTONYMS: (adj) tragic, sad, grave, solemn, unfunny, dull, sensible

coming: (n) advent, approach, appearance, arrival, return; (adj, n) approaching; (adj) forthcoming, imminent, future, impending; (adj, v) instant. ANTONYMS: (n) departure, exit, leaving, departing; (adj) distant, retreating, past

command: (n, v) order, charge, call, control, decree; (n) instruction, bidding, direction, behest; (v) direct, commission. ANTONYMS: (v) obey, follow, contradict, countermand, revoke, recall, oppose; (n) beg, plead, plea

common: (adj) coarse, mutual, vulgar, mean, mediocre, ignoble, plebeian, base; (adj, n) cheap, habitual; (adj, n, v) usual. ANTONYMS: (adj) uncommon, rare, unusual, characteristic, specific, unique, extraordinary, exclusive, aristocratic, infrequent, refined

communication: (n) announcement, word, report, commerce, letter, tidings, communicating, notice, intercourse, news, liaison

company: (adj, n) society, business; (n) band, association, collection, cohort, brigade, troop, club, partnership; (v) accompany. ANTONYMS: (n) isolation, enmity, host, hostess, absence

compassion: (adj, n) clemency, kindness; (n) mercy, charity, sympathy, commiseration, remorse, tenderness, forgiveness, feeling, grace. ANTONYMS: (n) indifference, disregard, unconcern, severity, nastiness, harshness, incomprehension, malevolence, coldness, roughness, inhumanity

complete: (adj, v) perfect, consummate; (adj, n) absolute, stark; (v) achieve, finish, accomplish, execute; (adj, n, v) close; (adj) whole, full. ANTONYMS: (adj) unfinished, partial, abridged, sketchy, shortened, lacking, qualified,

narrow, missing; (v) neglect, start conceal: (v) hide, disguise, bury,

screen, cloak, smother, shield, suppress, mask, obscure; (n, v) veil. ANTONYMS: (v) reveal, show, expose, divulge, clarify, uncover, disclose, tell, admit, spotlight, flaunt

condemned: (adj) censured, convicted, doomed, destined, appropriated, taken, taken over, fated, seized, predestined; (adj, v) guilty

conduct: (v) bring, direct, carry, show; (n, v) act, administration, manage, administer, carriage, bearing; (adj, v) acquit. ANTONYMS: (v) mismanage, leave, follow

confess: (adj, v) own, allow, admit, avow; (v) concede, profess, recognize, divulge, disclose, reveal, receive. ANTONYMS: (v) suppress, hide, dispute, conceal, repress, harbor

confusion: (n) commotion, chaos, disarray, bedlam, pandemonium, disorder, disturbance, distraction, clutter, tumult, agitation. ANTONYMS: (n) clarity, understanding, tidiness, systematization, enlightenment, peace, organization, lucidity, neatness, space, calm

conscience: (n) moral sense, Conscience money, sense of right and wrong, scruple, intention, tender conscience, small voice, principles, morals, morality, inward monitor. ANTONYM: (n) indifference

consent: (adj, n, v) accord; (n, v) acquiescence, agreement; (v) concur, approve, agree, acquiesce, accept; (n) consensus, approval; (adj, v) allow. ANTONYMS: (v) refuse, reject, protest, object, differ, oppose; (n, v) veto; (n) refusal, opposition, dissent, disagreement

consequence: (n) effect, outcome, import, result, importance, product, account, concern, event, aftermath; (n, v) weight. ANTONYMS: (n) cause, inconsequence, insignificance, antecedent, unimportance, triviality, source, meaninglessness

consequences: (n) result, cost, impact, penalty

conservatory: (n) conservatoire, greenhouse, orangery, glasshouse, nursery, summerhouse, winter garden, seed plot, grotto, porch, schoolhouse

Anton Chekhov 85

consideration: (n, v) respect, regard, care, account, condition; (n) reflection, thought, attention, cogitation, conception, thoughtfulness. ANTONYMS: (n) impulsiveness, inconsideration, inattention, cruelty, rashness, unconcern, heedlessness, disregard, negligence, neglect, insensitivity

considered: (adj) reasoned, premeditated, intentional, willful, sensible, sound, advised, studied, planned, calculated, regarded. ANTONYMS: (adj) sudden, impetuous, ingenuous, thoughtless, swift, spontaneous, disregarded, unconsidered, unplanned, unstudied, casual

constantine: (n) Constantine the great, Constantine I

containing: (adj) including, comprehensive

contemptible: (adj) abject, mean, base, pitiful, little, worthless, unworthy, miserable, ignoble, abominable, shameful. ANTONYMS: (adj) estimable, admired, deserving, worthy, honorable, respectable, respectful, noble, generous, commendable, good

continue: (v) remain, keep, sustain, carry on, endure, persevere, bide, proceed, maintain; (adj, v) prolong; (n, v) hold. ANTONYMS: (v) end, cease, discontinue, halt, renounce, hesitate, complete, fail, desist, finish, neglect

continuous: (adj) continual, ceaseless, perpetual, endless, running, unrelenting, everlasting, incessant, uninterrupted, unending, continued. ANTONYMS: (adj) temporary, discontinuous, sporadic, broken, ending, interrupted, halting, fitful, finished, disjointed, ceasing

contradict: (v) deny, oppose, belie, conflict, confute, controvert, contravene, disprove, refute, invalidate, impugn. ANTONYMS: (v) agree, match, correspond, approve, corroborate, prove, support, reinforce

contrary: (adj, n) contradictory, reverse; (adj) adverse, conflicting, unfavorable, perverse, cross, disobedient, alien, different, obstinate. ANTONYMS: (adj) similar, harmonious, helpful, obliging, compatible, complaisant, concordant, parallel, agreeable, cooperative, favorable

control: (n, v) command, curb, check, bridle, handle, sway, hold, influence, conduct; (adj, n) authority; (n) care. ANTONYMS: (n) weakness, unrestraint, expression, excess; (v) share, intensify, rush, risk, resign, relinquish, forsake

controlling: (adj) ruling, chief, dominant, influential, capital, predominant, prevailing, domineering, guiding; (n) administration, steering. ANTONYMS: (adj) lenient, insignificant

conversation: (n) talk, conference, communication, colloquy, confabulation, discussion, language, discourse, speech, talking, palaver

conviction: (n) belief, confidence, certainty, condemnation, persuasion, faith, trust, certitude, firmness, doctrine, determination. ANTONYMS: (n) acquittal, doubt, release, absolution, disbelief, justification, insecurity, distrust

convinced: (adj, v) sure, positive, confident, firm; (v) cocksure, persuaded, satisfied, assured, bold; (adj) clear, definite. ANTONYMS: (adj) doubtful, unconvinced, uncertain, cynical

convulsively: (adv) spasmodically, paroxysmally, spasticly, with convulsions

copper: (n) brass, bull, cop, Cu, constable, gold, fuzz, pig, cent, bobby, coin

copy: (n, v) counterfeit, duplicate, pattern, trace; (v) imitate, ape, follow; (adj, n, v) model; (n) imitation, transcription, reproduction. ANTONYMS: (v) create, originate; (n) master

corner: (n) bend, angle, nook, dilemma, recess, hole, coign, predicament, niche; (n, v) turn; (adj) angular. ANTONYMS: (v) free; (n) solution

cottage: (n) cabin, bungalow, crib, hut, villa, lodge, shanty, chalet, country house, house, cot

councilor: (n) councilman, councillor, deputy

count: (v) compute, weigh, consider, estimate, matter; (n, v) calculate, tally, number, total; (n) calculation, computation. ANTONYMS: (v) guess, except, estimate, disregard, dismiss, abandon, ignore, subtract

countries: (n) country country: (n) nation, home, land,

place, area, territory,

commonwealth, soil, kingdom, realm; (adj) rustic. ANTONYMS: (adj) urban, metropolitan; (adj, n) city; (n) metropolis

county: (n) canton, state, area, country, shire, commune, arrondissement, district, mofussil, precinct, realm

course: (n, v) stream, flow; (n) bearing, route, career, track, path, road, channel; (adj, n) current; (v) chase. ANTONYM: (v) trickle

covered: (adj) veiled, concealed, covert, coated, secret, wrapped, thick, obscured, masked, shrouded; (adj, prep) cloaked. ANTONYMS: (adj) bare, uncovered, open, plain, exposed, outdoor, empty

covering: (n) cover, coating, blanket, coat, casing, wrapper, case, concealment, awning; (adj, n, v) clothing; (n, v) apparel. ANTONYMS: (prep) exactly, beneath

coward: (n) cur, pantywaist, sneak, dastard, milksop, weakling, milquetoast; (adj) gutless, chickenhearted, pusillanimous, chicken-hearted. ANTONYMS: (n) daredevil, stalwart; (adj) brave

crave: (v) covet, ask, want, beseech, implore, wish, long, entreat, desire, fancy, claim. ANTONYMS: (v) dislike, spurn, loathe, hate, detest, grant

crawl: (adv, v) grovel, lag; (n, v) clamber, climb; (v) sneak, fawn, cringe, teem, swarm, scramble, inch. ANTONYMS: (v) fly, rush, hurry, hasten, dart, dash, lead, soothe, speed

crazy: (adj) wild, mad, brainsick, absurd, eccentric, silly, wacky, cracked, crazed, demented; (adj, n) madcap. ANTONYMS: (adj) sensible, sane, rational, indifferent, stable, reasonable, realistic, balanced, levelheaded, cool, calm

create: (v) cause, make, bring about, produce, constitute, form, establish, generate, build, beget, institute. ANTONYMS: (v) terminate, ruin, demolish, end, disband

created: (adj) create, composed, shaped, produced, wrought, legendary, mythical, fictitious, bent, romantic, fashioned

creating: (v) create; (n) making cricket: (n) orthopteran, orthopteron,

tennis, lawn tennis, grasshopper; (adj) equitable

crime: (n, v) guilt, blame; (n)

Uncle Vanya 86

injustice, transgression, villainy, evil, vice, delinquency, misdemeanor, wickedness, sin. ANTONYMS: (n) goodness, kindness, virtue, uprightness

croak: (v) buy the farm, mutter, murmur, complain, conk, maunder, growl, perish, expire, decease; (n) croaking

crop: (adj, v) clip, reap, shave; (v) browse, top, graze, cultivate, cut; (n, v) fruit, harvest; (n) craw

crossing: (n) transit, ford, intersection, hybridization, crossbreeding, passage, voyage, mating, crossway, crosswalk, cruise

cruel: (adj, v) hard, harsh, sharp, severe; (adj) barbarous, unkind, brutal, bloody, bitter, savage, atrocious. ANTONYMS: (adj) merciful, gentle, sympathetic, humane, liberal, compassionate, charitable, friendly, caring, considerate, libertarian

crumb: (adj, n) morsel, seed; (n) fragment, speck, scrap, grain, atom, trace, spot, iota; (adj) scantling. ANTONYMS: (n) pile, mass, lot, heap, chunk

crush: (n, v) squeeze, crunch, press; (v) beat, break, compress, conquer, stamp, overpower, squash, bruise. ANTONYMS: (v) lose, congratulate, stretch, praise, inspirit, encourage, compliment, expand, resist, submit, smooth

crushed: (adj) beaten, subdued, low, conquered, flattened, dispirited, compressed, overwhelmed, shattered; (v) victimized; (n) crushing. ANTONYMS: (adj) victorious, euphoric

crying: (adj, v) exigent, instant, pressing, urgent; (adj) insistent, clamant, imperative, blatant; (n) weeping; (v) weep; (adj, n) sniveling

cultured: (adj) polite, educated, learned, genteel, erudite, elegant, cultivated, civilized, urbane, scholarly, sophisticated. ANTONYMS: (adj) ignorant, unsophisticated, primitive, uneducated, unlearned, uncultured, wild, uncouth, regressive, graceless, uninformed

cupboard: (n) cabinet, buffet, armoire, commode, wardrobe, locker, dresser, sideboard, chest of drawers, bookcase, storeroom

curds: (n) fleetings cure: (n, v) correct, medicine, help; (n)

antidote, salve, therapy, treatment;

(v) treat, pickle, preserve, restore. ANTONYMS: (n) poison; (v) injure, hurt, harm, wound, damage, exacerbate

curtain: (n, v) cover; (n) barrier, drapery, blind, screen, mantle, mask, shade, pall, shroud; (v) hide

cutting: (adj) biting, keen, caustic, bitter, acrimonious, incisive, raw; (adj, n) acute; (n) cut, slip; (adj, v) satirical. ANTONYMS: (adj) blunt, complimentary, flattering, kind, pleasant, hot, consoling; (n) extension, freedom, expansion, addition

daily: (adj, n) journal; (adj, adv) every day; (adj, v) diurnal; (adj) everyday, regular; (n) tabloid, gazette, paper, dailies; (adv) each day, day by day. ANTONYMS: (adj) nightly, intermittent, sporadic

damn: (adj, adv, v) bloody; (v) curse, imprecate, beshrew, blaspheme, cuss, slam, convict; (adj) blasted, cursed; (n) damnation. ANTONYMS: (v) bless, laud, glorify, exalt, commend, praise

damnation: (n) damn, condemnation, anathema, state, curse, execration, judgment, oath, imprecation, denunciation, denouncement

dare: (n, v) venture; (v) defy, brave, hazard, confront, risk, resist, make bold; (n) adventure, daring, defiance. ANTONYMS: (v) avoid, flee, pass, refrain, retreat, obey

dark: (adj) dismal, black, cheerless, obscure, dim, mysterious, murky, gloomy; (n) evening, night, shadow. ANTONYMS: (adj) bright, sunny, fair, sunlit, clear, pallid, pale, cheerful, white, versed; (n) day

darkness: (n) dark, shade, shadow, blindness, gloom, blackness, duskiness, murk, cloud, blackout, dimness. ANTONYMS: (n) brightness, lightness, glow, comprehension, knowledge, day, clearness

darling: (adj, n) beloved, pet, favorite, sweet; (adj) costly, cute, pretty; (adj, v) precious; (n) love, deary, angel. ANTONYMS: (n) foe, rival

daughter: (n) child, son, maiden, young woman, daughterly, lass, unmarried woman, damsel, miss, missy, virgin

dawn: (adj, n) break of day, daybreak; (n) beginning, commencement, cockcrow, onset, morning, prime, aurora; (v) break, begin. ANTONYMS: (n) twilight,

sunset, nightfall, close, departure, demise, conclusion, ending; (n, v) end, finish; (v) set

days: (n) period, life, time, age, existence, generation, years, being, era, living, lifetime

deacon: (n) clergyman, Protestant deacon, Catholic deacon, minister, deaconess, church officer; (v) offer sacrifice, deny oneself, fast, doctor, falsify

dead: (adj) lifeless, defunct, cold, inanimate, idle, gone, fallen, numb, deceased, vapid; (adv) right. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) living; (adj) alive, animate, live, spirited, responsive, working, partial, operative; (adv) partly, partially

deadened: (adj) dead, numb, numbed, without sensation, duller, unfeeling, under, frozen, insensible, insensitive, knocked out

deal: (v) administer, allot, conduct, truck, distribute, apportion; (n, v) buy, trade, contract; (n) agreement, arrangement. ANTONYMS: (n) purchase; (v) misdirect, receive, neglect, mishandle, mismanage, take, ignore, hold, gather, disregard

dear: (adj, adv) close, near; (adj, n) darling; (adj) costly, expensive, lovely, precious, affectionate, adorable, cherished; (n) love. ANTONYMS: (adj) worthless, inexpensive, valueless, despised, modest, loathed, hateful, distant; (n) rival, foe, enemy

dearest: (n) dear, darling, love, honey, lover, sweetheart, loved one, baby; (adj) precious, intimate, sweet

dearly: (adv) affectionately, preciously, darlingly, sweetly, petly, expensively, belovedly, intimately, highly, heartfeltly, lovely

death: (n) expiration, end, close, exit, fate, mortality, departure, cessation, decease, dissolution; (adj) quietus. ANTONYMS: (n) existence, delivery, living, nascency, being, survival, life, beginning

debt: (n) score, debit, loan, liability, obligation, due, bill, commitment, arrears, pocket, hole. ANTONYMS: (n) asset, cash, credit

debts: (n) amount overdue, amount outstanding. ANTONYM: (n) credit

deceive: (v) cheat, circumvent, bamboozle, pretend, hoax, fool, cozen, trick, beguile; (n, v) dupe; (n) fraud. ANTONYMS: (v) guide, inform, undeceive, protect

deceived: (adj) mistaken, misguided

Anton Chekhov 87

decent: (adj) adequate, appropriate, becoming, decorous, sufficient, honest, acceptable, modest, seemly, comely; (adj, adv) right. ANTONYMS: (adj) immoral, inappropriate, disreputable, indecent, unsuitable, inadequate, filthy, undressed, unkind, smutty, selfish

decided: (adj, v) decisive, absolute, unmistakable, distinct, clear, positive, unequivocal, emphatic; (adj) determined, resolute, conclusive. ANTONYMS: (adj) uncertain, hesitant, unsure, questionable, indefinite, postponing, doubtful, unresolved, vague, flippant, indecisive

decline: (n, v) wane, fall, dip, decrease, ebb; (v) reject, refuse, fail; (adj, n, v) drop; (adj, v) sink; (n) declension. ANTONYMS: (n, v) increase; (v) accept, flourish, improve; (n) improvement, recovery, development, growth, rebirth, ascent, upturn

decreed: (adj) appointed, lawful, prescribed, legal, inevitable, appointive

deep: (adj) thick, profound, strong, rich, broad, sound, absorbed, wide, abstruse, dark; (adj, v) intense. ANTONYMS: (adj) superficial, high, weak, soft, light, open, frivolous, lightweight, narrow, straightforward, simple

deeply: (adv) strongly, heavily, intensely, deep, thickly, highly, soundly, greatly, gravely, extremely, richly. ANTONYMS: (adv) slightly, mildly, unemotionally, fitfully, moderately, thinly, hardly, barely, lightly

defended: (adj) shielded, secured, watched over, secure, sacred

degradation: (n) fall, abasement, degeneracy, corruption, abjection, debasement, decadence, degeneration, humiliation, deposition, disgrace. ANTONYMS: (n) elevation, glorification, honor

delicious: (adj, v) delicate; (adj) tasteful, pleasing, delightful, appetizing, agreeable, sweet, toothsome, savory, enjoyable, dainty. ANTONYMS: (adj) tasteless, distasteful, yucky, unsavory, unpleasant, unappetizing, revolting, nauseating, inedible, gross, dry

delighted: (adj) glad, cheerful, blissful, jubilant, happy, overjoyed, joyful, captivated, pleasant; (adj, v)

pleased, elated. ANTONYMS: (adj) shocked, unhappy, sorrowful, depressed, melancholy, miserable, desolate, sorry, sad, down

demolished: (adj) destroyed, baneful, decayed, ruinous, razed, lost, dismantled

departure: (n, v) decease, demise; (n) exit, leave, deviation, divergence, depart, parting, aberration, passing, takeoff. ANTONYMS: (n) appearance, conformity, greeting, ingress, influx, homecoming, regularity, entrance, birth, coming, advance

dependents: (n) clientele depths: (n) bottom, abyss, depth,

lowest point, low point, depression, bowels, rock bottom, slump, midst, nadir. ANTONYM: (n) peak

derived: (adj) secondary, calculated, variant, resulting, resultant, plagiaristic, imitative, derivate, deliberate, copied, calculable

descendants: (n) children, progeny, descent, offspring, issue, seed, lineage, family, brood, race, young

description: (n) account, type, picture, depiction, explanation, brand, delineation, story, recital, report; (adj, n) kind

deserve: (v) rate, warrant, gain, earn, to deserve, demand, justify, bear; (n, v) reward; (n) richly deserve, worth

deserved: (v) merited, richly deserved; (adj) appropriate, due, fitting, just, earned, suitable, rightful, adequate, required

desire: (n) ambition, aspiration, craving, dream; (adv, n, v) will; (n, v) fancy, wish, aim; (v) want, aspire, seek. ANTONYMS: (n, v) dislike, hate; (n) aversion, reality, revulsion, apathy; (v) spurn, abhor, answer, command, insist

desk: (n) bench, box, coffer, table, secretary, bureau, writing desk, escritoire, caisson, caddy, case

desolated: (adj) devastated, ravaged, ruined, destroyed, blasted, forlorn, damned, damn, darned, cadaverous, bony

desolation: (n) devastation, misery, destruction, depression, grief, wretchedness, bleakness, loneliness, waste, ruin; (adj, n) desertion. ANTONYMS: (n) ecstasy, joy, productiveness, fertileness, fecundity, cheer, fruitfulness, preservation, hopefulness, cheerfulness

despair: (n) disappointment,

desolation, dejection, melancholy, gloom, desperation, depression, dismay, discouragement, pessimism, sorrow. ANTONYMS: (n) happiness, hopefulness, expectation, joy, cheer, cheerfulness, resilience, elation, joyfulness

despairingly: (adv) forlornly, desperately, despondently, dejectedly, sadly, desolately, disconsolately, resignedly, sorrowfully, frantically, franticly. ANTONYMS: (adv) energetically, expectantly, cheerfully

desperate: (adj) despairing, dire, critical, abject, dangerous, in despair, grave, awful, despondent, drastic; (adj, v) forlorn. ANTONYMS: (adj) hopeful, optimistic, rational, promising, minor, cautious, casual, careful, trivial, secure, satisfied

despise: (v) disdain, loathe, depreciate, abhor, dislike, detest, slight, hate; (n, v) contemn; (n) contempt, deride. ANTONYMS: (v) respect, love, adore, appreciate, cherish, like, praise, accept

destroy: (v) demolish, blight, despoil, subvert, dismantle, devour, wreck, devastate; (adj, v) desolate, abolish; (n, v) murder. ANTONYMS: (v) preserve, create, make, construct, protect, repair, restore, uphold, sustain, submit, revive

destroyed: (adj) ruined, lost, desolate, shattered, desolated, broken, depressed, dead, damaged, undone, fallen. ANTONYMS: (adj) preserved, living

destruction: (n, v) defeat; (n) death, ruin, collapse, demolition, devastation, downfall, abolition, damage, desolation, end. ANTONYMS: (n) preservation, protection, creation, reparation, formation, conservation, restoration, building, help, making, order

details: (adj, n) particulars; (n) facts, contents, info, crux of the matter, register, inside information, statement; (adj) minutiae, small fry, minor details

detain: (v) arrest, confine, catch, capture, apprehend, stay, keep, jail, imprison, incarcerate, retard. ANTONYMS: (v) free, liberate, rush

determined: (adj) constant, definite, decided, stubborn, certain, inflexible, decisive, determinate, ambitious, set; (adj, v) resolved. ANTONYMS: (adj) uncertain,

Uncle Vanya 88

irresolute, unmotivated, feeble, indecisive, waffling, undetermined, undecided, wavering, vacillating, fickle

devil: (n) fiend, demon, ghost, monster, Lucifer, Satan, Beelzebub, deuce, daemon; (v) torment, rag. ANTONYM: (n) angel

devoured: (adj) eaten up different: (adj) dissimilar, various,

assorted, unusual, alien, miscellaneous, new, fresh, discrete, diverse; (v) differ. ANTONYMS: (adj) identical, corresponding, equal, like, typical, same, conventional, familiar, unified, uniform, Standard

difficult: (adj) awkward, demanding, burdensome, complicated, uphill, knotty, fastidious, hard, delicate, finicky, intricate. ANTONYMS: (adj) simple, straightforward, rewarding, clear, accommodating, amenable, easygoing, manageable, uncomplicated, satisfying, undemanding

dine: (v) feed, lunch, breakfast, dining, meal, give, have supper, take tea, grub, consume, entertain. ANTONYM: (v) abstain

dining-room: (n) canteen, restaurant dinner: (n) banquet, lunch, dinner

party, meal, party, beanfeast, spread; (v) tiffin, dejeuner, bever; (adj) dinnerly

diphtheria: (n) contagion, contagious disease

diploma: (n) sheepskin, credential, brevet, warrant, charge, authority, credentials, licence, permit, exequatur, doquet

dirt: (n, v) soil, grime; (n) filth, dust, scandal, garbage, ground, earth, crap, mire, contamination. ANTONYMS: (n) cleanness, purity, luxury, cleanliness, newness

dirty: (adj, v) muddy, dirt; (v) corrupt, contaminate; (n, v) soil, defile; (adj) contemptible, bawdy, contaminated, dingy, impure. ANTONYMS: (adj) spotless, hygienic, pure, immaculate, sanitary, pleasant, sparkling, fair, wholesome, washed; (v) purify

disagreeable: (adj) nasty, offensive, uncomfortable, distasteful, cantankerous, cross, ungrateful, abhorrent, horrible, bad, painful. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleasant, friendly, amiable, inoffensive, acceptable, desirable, easygoing, happy, pleasing, sweet, nice

disappeared: (adj) lost, missing,

extinct, vanished, left. ANTONYM: (adj) remaining

disappearing: (adj) vanishing, fading, declining, weakening, diminishing; (adv) vanishingly, off; (v) disappear; (n) going, going away, leaving. ANTONYMS: (n) appearance, arrival; (adj) increasing

discontented: (adj, v) querulous, complaining; (adj) disaffected, disgruntled, malcontent, unsatisfied, dissatisfied, displeased, miserable, put out, ungratified. ANTONYMS: (adj) pleased, satisfied, happy, content

discuss: (v) argue, agitate, deliberate, consult, reason, mention, moot, dispute, discourse, negotiate, consider

disease: (n, v) ailment; (n) illness, sickness, condition, complaint, affection, ill, disorder, affliction, bug; (adj, n) infirmity. ANTONYM: (n) health

dishevelled: (adj) untidy, tousled, messy, blowzy, rough, frowsy, frowzy, unkempt, sloppy, slovenly; (v) bedraggled

disorder: (n, v) ailment, disarray, disease, jumble, muddle; (n) clutter, disturbance, disarrangement; (v) derange, confuse, perturb. ANTONYMS: (n, v) order; (n) orderliness, calm, peace, tranquility, health; (v) organize, align, arrange, systematize, neaten

dispense: (v) allot, deal, administer, assign, deal out, apportion, dole out, give, issue, diffuse, furnish. ANTONYMS: (v) prohibit, receive, withhold

dispose: (n, v) incline, order, influence; (v) adjust, predispose, position, place, lead, tend; (n) bias, array. ANTONYMS: (v) disturb, disqualify, displace, disorder, disincline, disarrange

disputing: (adj) opposed; (v) disputant

disquieting: (adj) alarming, worrying, distressing, troublesome, disturbing, shocking, uncomfortable, discompose, restless, unsettling, uneasy. ANTONYMS: (adj) reassuring, soothing, settling, pacifying, calming, comforting

distance: (n, v) remove; (n) space, way, gap, aloofness, interval, altitude, measure, mileage; (adj, n) length; (v) dissociate. ANTONYMS: (v) associate, attach, involve; (n) proximity, nearness, intimacy,

closeness, warmth, bias, lovingness doctor: (v) cure, mend, repair,

remedy, attend, adulterate, fix, heal; (n) doc, Dr; (adj) doctorly. ANTONYMS: (v) purify, clean, distill, harm, hurt, injure, wound

doing: (n) act, do, deed, making, performance, execution, perpetration, acting; (v) to make, to do; (adj) current. ANTONYM: (n) failure

done: (adj, adv) finished, ended; (adj) complete, completed, over, made, gone, accomplished, concluded, through, cooked. ANTONYMS: (adj) unsettled, disapproved, incomplete, rare, raw, rejected, uncooked, undone, unfulfilled, unsanctioned

don't: (adv) not; (n) taboo, prohibition

door: (n) threshold, mouth, entrance, doorway, entry, opening, access, entryway, way out, portal, hatch. ANTONYM: (n) entrance

doorway: (n) door, entrance, entry, passage, entryway, way in, access, driveway, gate, gateway, lobby

dotard: (n) driveler, doter, weakling, fuddy-duddy, dote, dotant, dodo; (adj) doddering

dotted: (adj) speckled, dappled, specked, spotted, dashed, stippled, scattered, spotty, dot, mottled, broken

dozing: (adj) drowsy, dozy, nodding, napping, asleep, sleepy, tired

drag: (v) attract, draw, lug, cart, heave, tow; (n, v) pull, puff; (adv, v) trail; (n) bother; (adj) dragging. ANTONYMS: (n) pleasure; (v) hasten, hurry, shove, speed, rush, propel, fly

dragged: (adj) depressed, dejected, upset, unhappy, spent, dispirited, somber, melancholy, gloomy, joyless, low

drawer: (n) draftsman, drawers, till, designer, box car, cartoonist, commode, engraver, chest, case, locker

drawing: (n) draft, delineation, picture, plan, cartoon, depiction, draught, draw, draftsmanship, painting, image

drawn: (adj) careworn, worn, drew, pinched, gaunt, taut, tired, cadaverous, thin, tense, withdraw. ANTONYMS: (adj) rested, robust, refreshed, hale, fresh, vigorous, carefree

dreadful: (adj) bad, awful, alarming, atrocious, fearful, terrible,

Anton Chekhov 89

abominable, appalling, direful, grisly; (adj, v) dread. ANTONYMS: (adj) wonderful, great, lovely, fantastic, marvelous, admirable, successful, nice, joyous, honorable, fair

dreadfully: (adj, adv) frightfully, shockingly; (adv) fearfully, appallingly, hideously, horrendously, horribly, atrociously, ghastly, tremendously, horridly. ANTONYMS: (adv) pleasantly, wonderfully, happily, hardly, superbly, well

dream: (n) aspiration, ambition, reverie, desire, fantasy, figment, nightmare; (n, v) vision, sleep; (v) muse, imagine. ANTONYMS: (n) alertness, nightmare

dreary: (adj) depressing, drab, dull, cheerless, drear, miserable, gloomy, dark, dismal, stuffy, disconsolate. ANTONYMS: (adj) interesting, cheerful, sunny, brilliant, lively, light, exciting, clear, cheery, pleasant, exotic

dressed: (adj) attired, clad, garbed, appareled, spruced up, spiffed up, covered, polished, garmented; (v) clothed, habited

drink: (n, v) beverage, draught, swallow; (n) alcohol, brew, potion, intoxicant; (v) booze, carouse, bib, swig. ANTONYMS: (v) regurgitate, sip, abstain

drinking: (n) consumption, ingestion, intake, potation, drunkenness, crapulence, boozing, drinkable, uptake, intemperateness, booze

drinks: (n) refreshments, food and drink

drive: (n, v) ride, push, force, crusade, urge, thrust, campaign, cause; (v) compel, chase, actuate. ANTONYMS: (n) apathy, inertia, lethargy, walk, indifference; (v) discourage, repress, stop, prevent, inhibit, dissuade

driving: (adj) energetic, impulsive, enterprising, pushing, vigorous; (n) drive, travel, drove, direction, motoring, push. ANTONYMS: (adj) lethargic, weak, light

droning: (adj) buzzing, humming, abuzz, booming, monotonous, noisy; (n) bourdon, dawdler, drone pipe, idleness, monotone. ANTONYM: (adj) varied

drop: (n, v) decline, dribble, deposit, decrease, jump, ebb; (adj, n, v) collapse; (v) droop, sink, cast, drip. ANTONYMS: (n, v) increase; (v) lift,

pour, sharpen, raise, recuperate; (n) growth, mass, lot, upswing, elevation

drops: (n) tear drunk: (adj) tipsy, wet, tight, blotto,

drunken, inebriated; (adj, n) inebriate; (n) boozer, dipsomaniac, drunkard, drinker. ANTONYMS: (adj) straight, clearheaded; (n) teetotaler

ducks: (n) geese, family Anatidae, birds, Anseriformes, Anatidae, game birds, order Anseriformes, wildfowl

dull: (adj) dreary, dense, sluggish, dismal, slack, torpid; (adj, v) blunt, stupid; (v) deaden, dampen; (adj, n) cold. ANTONYMS: (adj) lively, sharp, stimulating, exciting, lustrous, interesting, exhilarating, varied, glossy, glittery, luminous

dullness: (n) apathy, bluntness, boredom, dreariness, flatness, tedium, obtuseness, torpor, monotony, lethargy; (adj, n) phlegm. ANTONYMS: (n) brightness, intensity, brilliance, excitement, intelligence, shine, asperity, animation, gloss, clarity, variation

during: (prep) within, on, by, of, for, pending, inside; (adv) whilst, while; (adj) throughout; (n) at. ANTONYM: (prep) out

dusk: (n) nightfall, twilight, darkness, gloaming, sunset, gloom, night, shade, shadow, sundown; (adj) dusky. ANTONYMS: (n) dawn, light, daybreak, morning, afternoon

duty: (n) function, commitment, obligation, chore, assignment, office, dues, job, responsibility, must; (n, v) charge. ANTONYMS: (n) disobedience, option

dying: (n) death, demise, decease, mortality; (adj) vanishing, moribund, last, final, ultimate, failing, ebbing. ANTONYMS: (adj) thriving, well, opening, aborning, developing, flourishing, growing, reviving, rejuvenating; (n) birth

each: (adv) apiece, either, individually; (adj) every, various, singular; (adj, det) any; (n) anyone, an, anybody, everyone

eagerly: (adv) zealously, readily, keenly, fervently, avidly, greedily, enthusiastically, intently, earnestly, impatiently, actively. ANTONYMS: (adv) apathetically, nonchalantly, grudgingly, patiently, halfheartedly, reluctantly, unenthusiastically

early: (adv) betimes, soon; (adj) initial, primitive, young, prompt,

first, quick; (n) beginning, morning, prior. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv) late, later; (adj) delayed, slow, tardy, conclusive, latter, middle; (adv) belatedly, tardily, expectedly

earn: (v) acquire, deserve, get, attain, win, bring in, bring, achieve, bear, merit, yield. ANTONYMS: (v) spend, cost, scatter

ears: (n) antenna earth: (n) world, dust, ground, land,

lair, dry land, terra firma, clay, creation, ball, country

earthly: (adj, n) terrestrial; (adj) carnal, worldly, conceivable, human, geotic, secular, terrene, temporal, telluric, sublunary. ANTONYMS: (adj) spiritual, divine, ethereal, immortal, impossible, improbable, inconceivable, celestial

easy: (adj) convenient, gentle, familiar, graceful, at ease, light, lenient, clear, contented, cozy; (adj, adv) soft. ANTONYMS: (adj) arduous, laborious, demanding, hard, strenuous, particular, burdensome, tough, uneasy, awkward, testing

eaten: (v) eat eating: (n) ingestion, intake, feeding,

browsing, banqueting, food, lunching, supping, pica, repletion; (v) eat

eats: (n) grub, chuck, food, meat, meal, diet, nurture, eat, dinner, board, feed

edge: (n, v) bound, verge, hem, skirt, line; (n) boundary, margin, brink, blade, extremity, limit. ANTONYMS: (n) center, disadvantage, obstacle, handicap, mainstream, end; (v) interior, dull, blunt, speed

educate: (v) instruct, civilize, train, cultivate, coach, bring up, drill, discipline, breed, rear, nurture

educated: (adj, v) erudite, lettered; (adj) learned, enlightened, trained, refined, informed, taught, cultivated, intellectual; (v) instructed. ANTONYMS: (adj) uneducated, ignorant, naive, illiterate, uncouth, uninformed, unlearned, wild

efforts: (n) pains eight: (n) eighter, eleven, nine, ten,

team, queen, ogdoad, octonary, octet, ace, octad

either: (adj) whatever; (adv) too, also, neither, besides, likewise; (n) or; (det) any; (conj) other

eleven: (adj, n) xi; (n) eight, squad,

Uncle Vanya 90

football team, team else: (adv) besides, yet, to boot, in

addition, moreover; (pron) another; (n) or; (adj) different, other, further, additional

elsewhere: (adj, adv) away; (adj) worried, lost in thought, abroad, anxious; (adv) off, otherwhere, thence, somewhere. ANTONYMS: (adj) carefree; (adv) in

emancipation: (n) rescue, deliverance, discharge, freedom, liberation, salvation, relief, disengagement, acquittal, exemption, liberty. ANTONYMS: (n) suppression, downfall

embarrassed: (adj) awkward, abashed, uncomfortable, disconcerted, bashful, sheepish, shy, shamefaced, mortified, discomfited, chagrined. ANTONYMS: (adj) relaxed, unabashed, natural, talkative

embarrassment: (n) abashment, difficulty, quandary, discomfiture, humiliation, bewilderment, mortification, uneasiness, shame; (n, v) distress; (adj, n) dilemma. ANTONYMS: (n) confidence, honor, pride, shortage

embrace: (v) comprise, adopt, comprehend, contain, admit, espouse, include; (n, v) clasp, hug, grip, bosom. ANTONYMS: (v) reject, exclude, spurn, shun, renounce, release, loose, disbelieve

emotion: (n) love, feeling, passion, heart, commotion, mood, pathos, excitement, sensibility; (n, v) sensation; (v) impression. ANTONYMS: (n) detachment, coldness, unfeelingness, calmness

enchanting: (adj) captivating, delightful, fascinating, bewitching, lovely, alluring, magical, glamorous, adorable; (adj, v) charming, engaging. ANTONYMS: (adj) unhappy, revolting, repulsive, repellent, foul, everyday, dull, disenchanting, annoying, uninteresting, despicable

endless: (adj) constant, perpetual, interminable, continuous, ceaseless, eternal, uninterrupted, everlasting, incessant, vast, unrelenting. ANTONYMS: (adj) temporary, restricted, limited, intermittent, ending, finishing, sporadic, mortal, inconstant, few, slight

endowed: (adj) gifted, clever, cute, felicitous, competent, blessed, artistic, brilliant, ingenious, talented,

qualitied endurance: (adj, n) sufferance; (n)

stamina, tolerance, courage, permanence, continuance, energy, fortitude, tenacity, duration, toughness. ANTONYMS: (n) weakness, inconsistency, impatience, frailty, discontinuation, discontinuance, death

endure: (adj, n, v) continue, support; (n, v) bear, suffer, stand, be; (v) accept, undergo, allow, stay, tolerate. ANTONYMS: (v) perish, die, break, fall, discontinue, crumble, end, enjoy, resign, quit, collapse

enemy: (n) antagonist, opponent, foe, opposition, competitor, enmity, assailant, foeman, hostile, besieger; (adj, n) rival. ANTONYMS: (n) ally, friend, supporter, benefactor, defender, fan

enfold: (v) embrace, enclose, encircle, cover, envelop, fold, wrap, cuddle, muffle, lap, hug

enjoy: (v) hold, have, relish, bask, appreciate, own, rejoice, revel, love, experience; (adj, v) like. ANTONYMS: (v) need, suffer, loathe, lack, hate, detest, despise, want

enormous: (adj) huge, big, colossal, vast, prodigious, excessive, exorbitant, great, large, tremendous, stupendous. ANTONYMS: (adj) small, minute, insignificant, miniature, measly, diminutive, affordable, little, slim, ordinary, minor

enough: (adj) ample, adequate, competent, decent; (n) adequacy, sufficiency, fill; (adv) rather, amply, adequately; (adv, n) plenty. ANTONYMS: (adj) insufficient, deficient, wanting, scant; (adv) insufficiently, inadequately; (n) insufficiency, deficiency, inadequacy, shortage

enter: (v) enroll, embark, chronicle, book, record, input, arrive, come, pierce, register, penetrate. ANTONYMS: (v) depart, exit, delete, stop, refrain, erase, egress, abstain, cancel, exclude, disembark

enthusiasm: (adj, n) devotion; (n, v) ardor, zeal; (adj, n, v) passion; (n) ardour, animation, craze, ebullience, gusto, inspiration, interest. ANTONYMS: (n) indifference, lethargy, passivity, unwillingness, boredom, unconcern, detachment, gloom, gloominess, patience,

reluctance entirely: (adv) fully, absolutely,

utterly, wholly, altogether, all, thoroughly, perfectly, clean, solely; (adj, adv) completely. ANTONYMS: (adv) partially, incompletely, unenthusiastically, hardly, slightly, somewhat

entreat: (v) beg, beseech, ask, implore, pray, adjure, appeal, request, conjure, crave, bid. ANTONYMS: (v) demand, reject

envy: (v) begrudge, want; (n) enviousness, desire, heartburning, resentment, envies, heartburn, jealousy, hatred; (adj) jealous. ANTONYM: (n) generosity

epidemic: (adj) infectious, catching, rife, prevailing; (n) plague, pestilence, outbreak, disease, infection, eruption, pest. ANTONYMS: (adj) contained, confined, limited, local

eruptive: (adj) erupting, explosive, plutonic, eruptional, irruptive, active, intrusive, extrusive

estate: (n) land, order, demesne, rank, domain, property, acres, substance, state, asset, assets

esteem: (n) deference, admiration; (n, v) respect, value, consideration, account; (v) appreciate, deem, adore, admire, count. ANTONYMS: (v) scorn, hate, disdain, insult, despise, abominate, abhor, dislike, reject; (n) disesteem, disapproval

eternity: (n) aeon, afterlife, forever, perpetuity, timelessness, endlessness, everlasting, endless time, everlastingness, everness, existence. ANTONYMS: (n) finiteness, impermanence

evening: (n) even, dusk, dark, eve, twilight, sunset, eventide, nightfall, sundown, night, period. ANTONYMS: (n) daybreak, sunrise, sunup, morning

ever: (adj, adv) always, continually; (adj) constantly, still, forever; (adv) never, e'er, before, once, perpetually; (n) Evers. ANTONYM: (adv) erratically

everlastingly: (adv) perpetually, always, lastingly, continually, endlessly, unendingly, incessantly, permanently, constantly, undyingly; (adj, adv) forever

every: (adj) each, total, whole, any, thorough; (n) everybody, everyone, everything; (adv) apiece, either; (pron) every one

everybody: (adv) each, any; (n, pron)

Anton Chekhov 91

anyone, anybody; (n) every person, world, everything, horde, throng; (pron) any person, someone. ANTONYMS: (n, pron) nobody

everything: (pron) anything, something, whatever thing, no matter which; (n) whole, everyone, all things, everybody, entirety, universe, thing

everywhere: (adv) everyplace, all over, far and wide, overall, somewhere, far and near, about, where; (adv, pron) anywhere; (adv, n) anyplace; (adj) throughout. ANTONYM: (adv) nowhere

evidently: (adv) clearly, patently, plainly, obviously, manifestly, openly, certainly, overtly, markedly, conspicuously, palpably. ANTONYMS: (adv) doubtfully, imperceptibly, obscurely, questionably, actually, ambiguously, inconspicuously

evil: (adj) bad, criminal, corrupt, wicked, destructive, depraved; (adj, n) ill, detriment; (n) adversity, disaster, depravity. ANTONYMS: (n) goodness, righteousness, morality; (adj) kindhearted, righteous, benign, moral, pure, upright, virtuous, sinless

evolve: (v) derive, work out, educe, change, build, elaborate, grow, unfold, progress, originate, extricate. ANTONYMS: (v) stop, block, halt, recede, retreat

exactly: (adv) correctly, punctually, rightly, accurately, strictly, perfectly, definitely, directly, truly, right, absolutely. ANTONYMS: (adv) inaccurately, randomly, figuratively, wrongly, vaguely, roughly, inexactly, indirectly, imprecisely, around; (adv, prep) about

examination: (n, v) search, test; (n) audit, check, exam, investigation, study, exploration, survey, testing; (adj, n) examen. ANTONYM: (n) neglect

example: (n) exemplar, illustration, instance, sample, lead, paradigm, prototype, pattern, design, guide, precedent

excellency: (n) highness, merit, majesty, mightiness, virtue, splendor, superiority, worship, grace, chastity, glory

except: (adj, conj, prep) save; (v) exclude, demur, omit, elide; (adv, conj, prep) but; (adv, prep) besides; (prep) excepting, excluding, aside from; (conj, n) without.

ANTONYMS: (prep) including; (v) receive, admit

excited: (adj, v) animated, ardent; (adj) ablaze, enthusiastic, emotional, frantic, warm, heated, delirious, fervent, passionate. ANTONYMS: (adj) cool, unexcited, bored, tranquil, easygoing, disappointed, despairing, comatose, apathetic, sedate, composed

excitedly: (adv) passionately, feverishly, wildly, frantically, nervously, ardently, enthusiastically, eagerly, animatedly, fervently, cheerfully. ANTONYMS: (adv) lifelessly, patiently, peacefully, nonchalantly, indifferently, despondently, unenthusiastically

excitement: (n) commotion, emotion, animation, agitation, disturbance, elation, enthusiasm, eagerness, taking, excitation, tumult. ANTONYMS: (n) dullness, boredom, tediousness, desolation, apathy, bore, dormancy, indifference, somnolence, despondency, lifelessness

excuse: (n, v) pardon, palliate; (v) absolve, exculpate, condone, acquit, justify, forgive; (n) alibi, pretext, evasion. ANTONYMS: (v) blame, accuse, chide, discipline, include, reprimand, castigate; (n) accusation

excused: (adj) privileged, immune exhausted: (adj) fatigued, tired,

spent, dry, empty, depleted, jaded, enervated, faint; (adj, v) gone, weak. ANTONYMS: (adj) fresh, refreshed, strong, restored, vigorous, unexhausted, replenished, remaining, energized, invigorated, restocked

exile: (n, v) expatriate; (v) banish, deport, drive out, expel, proscribe; (n) expulsion, deportation, refugee, deportee, outcast. ANTONYMS: (v) restore, welcome, appoint

exist: (v) lie, be, endure, abide, consist, belong, continue, occur, come, breathe, live. ANTONYMS: (v) expire, fail, perish

existence: (n) being, entity, life, subsistence, living, essence, lifetime, aliveness, actuality, occurrence, availability. ANTONYMS: (n) nonbeing, nonexistence, absence, extinction

expedient: (adj) fit, advisable, becoming, desirable, adequate, apt, convenient, suitable; (n) contrivance, resource, artifice. ANTONYMS:

(adj) inappropriate, inexpedient, impractical, futile, detrimental, inconvenient, foolish

exquisite: (adj) beautiful, delicate, excellent, dainty, gorgeous, admirable, acute, heavenly, choice, wonderful; (adj, v) delightful. ANTONYMS: (adj) dull, inferior, ugly, subdued, rough, poor, coarse, mild, imperfect, horrible, flawed

exterior: (adj, n) outside, surface, outward; (n) appearance, skin, front; (adj) external, superficial, outlying, outer, outdoor. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) interior, inside; (adj) inner, internal, intrinsic, middle, deep

exterminated: (adj) broken, extinct, destroyed completely, lost, wiped out, annihilated

extraordinarily: (adv) singularly, rarely, unusually, exceptionally, extremely, peculiarly, remarkably, phenomenally, uncommonly, exceedingly, especially. ANTONYMS: (adv) slightly, unremarkably, ordinarily

extremely: (adv) enormously, excessively, greatly, extraordinarily, utterly, severely, hugely, intensely, desperately; (adj, adv) highly, very. ANTONYMS: (adv) quite, fairly, slightly, moderately, unremarkably, sensibly, hardly, somewhat, commonly, reasonably, insufficiently

eyes: (n) sight, eye, vision, view, baby blues, guard, propensity, eyen

face: (adj, n, v) front; (v) confront, audacity; (n, v) look, aspect, top; (n) side, expression, countenance, exterior, facade. ANTONYMS: (n, v) back; (n) timidity, nobody, underside, shyness, rear; (v) evade, elude, hide, withdraw, submit

facing: (n) revetment, face, coating, lining, veneer, cladding, front, covering; (prep) against, before; (adj) fronting

fact: (n) event, detail, truth, particular, reality, point, thing, occurrence, experience, actuality; (n, v) deed. ANTONYMS: (n) guesswork, fallacy, conjecture, report, falsehood, fiction, concept, fabrication, fantasy, illusion, lie

factory: (n) plant, mill, works, shop, business, cannery, establishment, studio, workshop, yard, manufacturing plant

faculty: (adj, n) capacity, cleverness; (n) aptitude, capability, bent, power, staff, facility; (adj, n, v) talent; (n, v)

Uncle Vanya 92

endowment, gift. ANTONYMS: (n) students, pupils, ineptness, incompetence, incapacity

faded: (adj) pale, bleached, dull, exhausted, faint, washy, withered, colorless, discoloured, attenuate; (adj, v) dilapidated. ANTONYMS: (adj) vivid, Colored, colorful, fresh, vigorous, strong, bright

failed: (adj) unsuccessful, failing, abortive, bankrupt, fruitless, futile, declining, deteriorating, ineffective, insolvent

failure: (n) bankruptcy, breakdown, loser, downfall, disappointment, disaster, defeat, debacle; (n, v) deficiency, decline, loss. ANTONYMS: (n) achievement, hit, winner, victory, capability, achiever, attainment, growth, triumph, Victor, champion

fainting: (n) swoon, syncope, deliquium, lipothymy, prostration, stupor; (adj) lipothymic

fairly: (adj, adv) justly; (adv) moderately, honestly, completely, purely, impartially, somewhat, righteously, lightly, rightly, squarely. ANTONYMS: (adv) unjustly, extremely, subjectively, very, dishonestly, unreasonably, completely, entirely, unlawfully, excessively, wholly

faith: (n) confidence, belief, conviction, trust, credence, credit, creed, assurance, cult, expectation, dependence. ANTONYMS: (n) disbelief, distrust, dubiosity, skepticism, despair, uncertainty, doubt, independence

faithful: (adj, n) accurate, correct, exact, true; (adj) close, unfailing, dependable, devoted, sound, devout; (adj, v) constant. ANTONYMS: (adj) unreliable, false, inaccurate, unfaithful, unrealistic, faithless, perfidious, backstabbing, cheating, inexact, loose

faithless: (adj) dishonest, false, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful, deceitful, untrustworthy, untrue, truthless, mendacious, perfidious. ANTONYMS: (adj) loyal, steadfast, true, honest

fall: (n, v) decline, dip, rain, decrease, plunge, dive; (n) downfall, descent, autumn; (v) descend, sink. ANTONYMS: (n, v) increase, win, climb, triumph; (n) ascent, improvement, rising; (v) ascend, advance, conquer, elevate

fallen: (adj) drop, decline, prostrate,

flat, destroyed, down, lapsed, alight, degenerate, lose, get. ANTONYMS: (adj) esteemed, honorable, honored, lauded, prestigious

falls: (n) cataract, waterfall, chute, angel, torrent, Victoria, twin, force, body of water, Guaira, Niagara

false: (adj, n) bastard; (adj, adv) counterfeit, deceitful; (adj) untrue, dishonest, erroneous, sham, assumed, artificial, fictitious, deceptive. ANTONYMS: (adj) real, genuine, faithful, factual, correct, natural, truthful, honest, valid, just, loyal

fame: (n, v) credit, celebrity, report, reputation, renown, cry; (n) distinction, bruit, honor, prestige, buzz. ANTONYMS: (n) infamy, obscurity, anonymity, ignominy, dishonor, commonness, oblivion, criticism

family: (adj, n) household, descent, home; (n) name, genus, house, people, breed, brood, kin, lineage

fancy: (n, v) desire, fantasy, caprice, dream, wish, daydream; (v) imagine, consider; (adj, v) conceive; (n) conception, conceit. ANTONYMS: (n) reality, certainty, actuality, conviction; (adj) unadorned, common; (v) hate, demonstrate, detest, disapprove, test

farce: (n) comedy, travesty, joke, mockery, sham, play, charade, caricature, dressing, forcemeat, buffoonery. ANTONYMS: (n) tragedy, drama

farm: (n) farming, grange, dairy, croft, farmstead, estate; (v) raise, cultivate, hire, plant, produce

farther: (adj, adv, prep) beyond; (adj) additional, more, distant; (adv) furthermore, besides, abroad, in addition, too; (adj, prep) outside; (pron) another. ANTONYMS: (prep) within; (adv) nearer, closer

fascinated: (adj) captivated, absorbed, gripped, engrossed, interested, attentive, preoccupied, entranced, attracted, enchanted, enthralled. ANTONYMS: (adj) indifferent, disinterested, disenchanted, detached

fate: (n, v) doom; (n) chance, luck, fatality, fortune, kismet, allotment, portion, lot; (v) destine, designate. ANTONYMS: (n) will, design, choice, accident, chance

father: (n) dad, begetter, creator, abba, patriarch, beginner, founder, padre; (n, v) sire; (v) engender,

generate. ANTONYMS: (n) disciple, follower

fatigue: (v) exhaust, tire, weary, harass, enervate, fag, jade, wear; (n) exhaustion, weariness, tiredness. ANTONYMS: (n) energy, liveliness, vitality, vigor, strength; (v) energize, renew, rejuvenate, restore, invigorate

fault: (adj, n, v) deficiency; (n) error, blot, delinquency, flaw, break, blunder; (adj, n) failing, blemish; (n, v) blame, crime. ANTONYMS: (n) strength, virtue, capability, innocence, perfection, credit, ease; (v) praise, absolve

favour: (n) relief, goodness, assistance, office, favoritism, benignity; (v) choose, prefer, privilege, facilitate, approve

favoured: (adj) preferred, preferential fear: (n) awe, dismay, alarm, fright,

consternation, care, anguish; (n, v) apprehension, doubt, concern, reverence. ANTONYMS: (n) fearlessness, reassurance, confidence, courage, valor, calm, boldness, security, equanimity, peace; (v) brave

fears: (n) worries, uncertainties, doubts, qualms, misgivings

feature: (n) article, aspect, detail, character, characteristic, peculiarity, lineament, facet, appearance, quality; (n, v) mark. ANTONYMS: (v) disregard, ignore

feel: (v) experience, finger, handle, consider, find; (n, v) sense, sound; (n) feeling, texture, atmosphere, air. ANTONYMS: (v) observe, doubt, question, mistrust, ignore, disregard, disbelieve, challenge

feeling: (n) affection, feel, emotion, sensitivity, mood, hunch, opinion, belief, impression, atmosphere; (adj, n) sentiment. ANTONYMS: (n) indifference, overtone, insensibility, certainty, insensitivity, hatred, trust; (adj) unfeeling

feelings: (n) emotions, opinion, bosom, emotion, thought, reputation, honor, feeling, sentiments, thoughts, manner

feet: (v) legs, pegs, pins, trotters; (n) foots, ft, fete, meter, rescue

fellows: (n) fellow, membership, faculty

felt: (v) mat, tangle, snarl, braid, entangle, lace, perceive; (adj) sensed, perceived, conscious, sensible

fervent: (adj) ardent, eager, earnest, enthusiastic, intense, cordial,

Anton Chekhov 93

passionate, hot, emotional, torrid, strong. ANTONYMS: (adj) apathetic, unenthusiastic, cool, weak, unexcited, dispirited, dispassionate, flippant, impassive, lukewarm, mild

fervently: (adv) fierily, fervidly, zealously, passionately, intensely, eagerly, enthusiastically, warmly, vehemently, seriously, fiercely. ANTONYMS: (adv) mildly, apathetically, unenthusiastically, impassively, halfheartedly, flippantly

fetch: (v) carry, bring, bring in, convey, draw, elicit, deliver, catch, get, attract; (adj, n) feint

fidelity: (n) constancy, devotion, faithfulness, adherence, allegiance, loyalty, faith, dedication, exactness; (adj, n) honesty, truth. ANTONYMS: (n) infidelity, unfaithfulness, disloyalty, inaccuracy, faithlessness, dishonesty, unreliability

fields: (n) field, domains, plain, notification fields, rotation, alternation of crops, grounds

fiend: (n) monster, devil, fanatic, brute, deuce, incubus, goblin, ogre, enthusiast, daemon, addict. ANTONYM: (n) angel

fierce: (adj) bitter, acute, cruel, ferocious, brutal, grim, nasty, intense, ardent; (adj, v) savage, furious. ANTONYMS: (adj) gentle, mild, calm, quiet, tame, docile, weak, peaceful, pleasant

fifty: (adj, n) l; (n) half a hundred, fifty dollar bill, cubic decimeter, cubic decimetre

fill: (v) block, clog, stuff, line, charge, execute, accomplish, complete, brim, fulfill; (n) crowd. ANTONYMS: (v) empty, free, deplete, unpack, unload, notch, deflate, desert

finally: (adv) lastly, ultimately, at last, at long last, definitely, terminally, decisively, latestly, at length; (adv, v) definitively; (adj) final. ANTONYMS: (adv) initially, partially, soon, unconvincingly

find: (v) catch, detect, encounter, come across, feel, attain, ascertain; (n) detection, disclosure, search, discovery. ANTONYMS: (v) misplace, search, fail; (n) loss

fine: (adj) delicate, dainty, agreeable, nice, thin, elegant, capital, excellent, brave; (n) penalty; (v) punish. ANTONYMS: (adj) poor, thick, wide, coarse, unsatisfactory,

substantial, wretched, unpleasant, unimpressive, dark, cloudy

finger: (v) feel, handle, touch, thumb, indicate, point; (n) digit, dactyl, forefinger, pointer; (n, v) hand. ANTONYM: (v) clear

finish: (n, v) close, complete, consummate; (v) achieve, execute, discontinue, cease, accomplish, determine; (n) conclusion, death. ANTONYMS: (n) beginning, opening, inception, middle, creation; (v) begin, continue, sustain, save, renew, conserve

finished: (adj, adv) ended, completed; (adj) complete, consummate, absolute, accomplished, ruined, spent, ripe, polished; (adj, v) done. ANTONYMS: (adj) incomplete, remaining, rough, leftover, uncultured

finland: (n) Finnish, Suomi fire: (v) eject, dismiss, kindle, ignite;

(n, v) discharge, blaze, flame, explode; (n) ardor, conflagration, fervor. ANTONYMS: (v) hire, defuse, deflate, employ, dampen, detain; (n) laziness

firewood: (n) backlog, brand, firebrand, fuelwood, lumber, brushwood, wood, kindling, fuel, cordwood, bobbing

five: (n) fives, quintuplet, quint, Phoebe, basketball team, fin, squad, ace, digit; (adj, n) v; (adj) quinary

fixed: (adj, v) determined, durable; (adj, adv, v) stable; (adj) definite, intent, fast, determinate, certain, set; (adj, adv, n) steady; (adj, n, v) constant. ANTONYMS: (adj) flexible, separate, adaptable, adjustable, changeable, movable, variable, compliant, temporary, removable, portable

floor: (n, v) level; (n) layer, earth, base, bottom, soil, platform; (v) stun, dump, deck; (adj, v) prostrate. ANTONYMS: (v) clarify; (n) ceiling

flour: (adj) meal, bran, spore, sporule, paddy, rice; (n) farina, foodstuff, wheat flour, flower, semolina

flowers: (n) analecta, anthology folks: (n) people, folk, tribe, relations,

household, house, relatives, relative, kindred, lineage, kin

follow: (v) chase, adopt, adhere, succeed, accompany, abide by, comprehend, ensue, track; (adj, v) catch, grasp. ANTONYMS: (v) guide, lead, head, disobey, deny, ignore, misunderstand, predate,

exceed, defy, break fond: (adj) affectionate, caring,

devoted, tender, loving, amorous, delicate, adoring, doting, ardent, attached. ANTONYMS: (adj) aversion, cold, rough

fool: (n) blockhead, dunce, clown, idiot, ass, booby, buffoon; (v) deceive, bamboozle; (n, v) joke, gull. ANTONYM: (n) savant

foolish: (adj) childish, fool, crazy, dumb, daft, fatuous, stupid, unwise, preposterous, dopey; (adj, n) silly. ANTONYMS: (adj) wise, sensible, shrewd, prudent, visionary, diplomatic, levelheaded, sane, rational, mature, judicious

foolishly: (adv) idiotically, ridiculously, stupidly, indiscreetly, silly, insanely, injudiciously, preposterously, absurdly, senselessly; (adj, adv) madly. ANTONYMS: (adv) sensibly, solemnly, shrewdly, prudently, responsibly, judiciously, carefully, rationally

foolishness: (n) folly, fatuity, craziness, nonsense, stupidity, indiscretion, ineptitude, mistake, fatuousness, irrationality; (adj, n) silliness. ANTONYMS: (n) prudence, sense, sensibleness, understanding, forethought, responsibility

force: (n, v) drive, squeeze, pressure, thrust; (n) energy, strength, agency; (v) coerce, push, press, compel. ANTONYMS: (n) persuasion, ineffectiveness, inertia, apathy, moderation; (v) request, wheedle, pull, push, restrain, prevent

forced: (adj) compelled, bound, constrained, artificial, involuntary, unnatural, forcible, farfetched, strained, obligatory, labored. ANTONYMS: (adj) unprovoked, spontaneous, voluntary, natural, genuine, willing, optional

forest: (v) afforest, reforest; (n) woodland, jungle, wood, timberland, woods, grove, greenwood, bush, coppice

forester: (n) ranger, arboriculturist, granger, sodbuster, husbandman, foster, foot, timberman, tree farmer, lumberjack, Forster

forestry: (n) sylviculture, arboriculture, forest industry, the forest industry, forestry practice, biological science, biology, forest affairs

forests: (n) country

Uncle Vanya 94

forever: (adv) always, eternally, evermore, everlastingly, continually, permanently; (adj) eternal, permanent; (n) eternity; (adj, adv) interminably, ad infinitum. ANTONYMS: (adj) occasionally, never, sporadically; (adv) briefly, intermittently

forfeited: (adj) forfeit, lost, disfranchised, confiscated, appropriated, condemned

forget: (v) leave, miss, blank out, bury, to forget, overlook, neglect, ignore, fail, unlearn, abandon. ANTONYMS: (v) mind, attend

forgetful: (adj) oblivious, inattentive, negligent, lax, absent-minded, casual, unmindful, neglectful, heedless, unaware; (adj, v) remiss. ANTONYMS: (adj) mindful, watchful, alert, remembering, retentive

forgive: (v) absolve, excuse, acquit, remit, pardon, justify, to forgive, exonerate, overlook, clear, to excuse. ANTONYMS: (v) condemn, punish, castigate

forgiveness: (n) mercy, condonation, clemency, kindness, pity, remission, leniency, absolution, grace, compassion; (n, v) pardon. ANTONYMS: (n) condemnation, cruelty, harshness

forgotten: (adj) lost, disregarded, elapsed, past, abandoned, gone, Gone With the Wind, irrecoverable, lapsed, disoriented, no more. ANTONYM: (adj) remembered

former: (adj) previous, antecedent, anterior, bygone, earlier, prior, foregoing, original, deceased, past; (adv) formerly. ANTONYMS: (adj) future, last, next, current, following, present, subsequent, later; (n) latter

fortune: (n) estate, fate, fluke, destiny, luck, accident, means, assets, riches, abundance, doom. ANTONYM: (n) design

forty: (adj, n) XL; (n) two score, forties; (adj) twoscore

forward: (adj, prep) bold; (adj, adv) onward; (adj) audacious; (adj, n, v) promote; (v) expedite, dispatch; (adv) fore, along, ahead; (adv, n, v) further; (adj, adv, n) early. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv) backward; (adj) posterior, timid, reverse, abashed, late, formal; (adv) behind, rearward, back, aft

found: (v) erect, build, base, form, construct, constitute, appoint, institute, set up, create, ground.

ANTONYMS: (v) abolish, disband; (adj) lost

four: (n) quaternary, foursome, tetrad, quaternion, quadruplet, square, quarter, quad, air, age of man; (adj, n) IV

frankly: (adv) openly, sincerely, bluntly, honestly, truthfully, directly, unreservedly, straightforwardly, ingenuously, plainly; (adj, adv) freely. ANTONYMS: (adv) hesitantly, indirectly, guardedly, untruthfully, deceitfully, ambiguously, politely

free: (adj, v) exempt, liberate, discharge; (adj, adv, v) loose; (v) excuse, extricate, relieve, disentangle, ease; (adj, n) frank; (adj) liberal. ANTONYMS: (adj) restricted, imprisoned, repressive, secure, strict, stuck, confined, tangled, compelled, dependent; (v) confine

freedom: (adj, n) franchise, immunity; (n) deliverance, autonomy, release, discharge, emancipation, escape, liberty, right; (adj) frankness. ANTONYMS: (n) imprisonment, restriction, captivity, suppression, dependence, restraint, capture, chance, conformity, inclusion

freezing: (adj, v) icy, frosty, glacial; (adj) chilly, arctic, frigid, bitter, chill; (n) freeze, congelation, refrigeration. ANTONYMS: (adj) boiling, sweltering, warm, mild, tropical, torrid, balmy

friend: (adj, n) associate, comrade, companion, fellow, ally; (n) acquaintance, colleague, boyfriend, crony, brother, mate. ANTONYMS: (n) foe, stranger, rival, nemesis, adversary, antagonist

friends: (n) circle, associates, connections, links, support group, acquaintances

friendship: (n) association, familiarity, affection, companionship, friendliness, intimacy, company, attachment, relationship; (n, v) amity, concord. ANTONYMS: (n) hostility, animosity, antagonism, conflict, formality, rivalry, hatred, detachment, distance, isolation

frighten: (v) cow, alarm, daunt, terrify, appall, scare, affright, intimidate, terrorize, appal; (n, v) fright. ANTONYMS: (v) comfort, reassure, soothe, calm

frightened: (adj) fearful, timid,

startled, terrified, scared, alarmed, anxious, apprehensive, horrified, intimidated, restless. ANTONYMS: (adj) unimpressed, confident, brave, fearless, reassured

front: (v) confront, look; (n) countenance, forefront, appearance, facade, forehead, frontage; (adj, n) head; (n, v) disguise; (adj) fore. ANTONYMS: (adj, n, v) back; (adj, n) end; (adj) posterior; (v) follow

fuel: (n) firing, petrol, combustible, gasoline; (v) fire, arouse, encourage, excite, kindle, provoke, stimulate. ANTONYMS: (v) decrease, dampen

full: (adj, n) complete, absolute, entire; (adj) abundant, flush, broad, extensive, ample, total, enough; (adj, adv, n) crowded. ANTONYMS: (adj) lacking, starving, hungry, sketchy, incomplete, thin, deserted, partial, restricted, weak; (v) wane

funny: (adj) amusing, strange, peculiar, facetious, droll, eccentric, fishy, diverting, queer, suspicious, unusual. ANTONYMS: (adj) serious, grave, obvious, tragic, ordinary, normal, easy, dull

furiously: (adv) irately, angrily, fiercely, wildly, violently, ragingly, wrathfully, infuriatedly, rabidly, impetuously, frantically. ANTONYM: (adv) sluggishly

futile: (adj) useless, empty, ineffective, frivolous, idle, abortive, bootless, hopeless, meaningless, vain, hollow. ANTONYMS: (adj) successful, useful, fruitful, meaningful, worthwhile, promising, productive, effective

future: (adj) unborn, prospective, coming, intended, to come, potential, impending, approaching; (n) hereafter, fate, time to come. ANTONYMS: (adj) distant, earlier, near, nearby

game: (n) fun, amusement, entertainment, play, diversion, prey, quarry; (v) bet, wager, gamble; (adj) fearless. ANTONYMS: (adj) reticent, unwilling; (n) hunter

gander: (n) glance, look, glimpse, cock, idiot, numskull, booby, bonehead, blockhead, jackass, tomfool

garden: (v) farm, cultivate, tend; (n) field, bed, plantation, orchard, grove, grounds, park; (adj) gardenly

gave: (v) deliver, allow, allot, provide, furnish, impart, administer; (n) gives

geese: (n) ducks, goose, game birds,

Anton Chekhov 95

order Anseriformes, wildfowl, birds, Anatidae, Anseriformes, family Anatidae

genius: (adj, n) capacity, ability, endowment, faculty, gift, cleverness; (n) flair, brain, prodigy, bent, aptitude. ANTONYM: (n) amateur

gentle: (adj) easy, friendly, soft, kind, affable, balmy, mild, feeble, compassionate; (adj, adv) calm; (adj, v) tame. ANTONYMS: (adj) harsh, loud, fierce, caustic, violent, rough, hardhearted, abrupt, heavy, steep, sheer

gentlemen: (n) sirs, messieurs gently: (adv) tenderly, slowly,

mildly, soft, slow, kindly, delicately, softly, lightly, meekly, quietly. ANTONYMS: (adv) sharply, fiercely, forcefully, harshly, abruptly, violently, severely, roughly, intensely, meanly, heavily

gesture: (n, v) sign, signal, motion; (n) beck, gesticulation, indication, movement; (v) gesticulate, beckon, wave, bless

gets: (n) getting getting: (n) acquiring, reception,

acquisition, attainment, contracting, appropriation, taking, reaching; (prep) receiving; (v) acquire, receive. ANTONYM: (n) rejection

girl: (n) damsel, gal, lady, young woman, maid, lass, fille, wench, daughter, bride, virgin. ANTONYMS: (n) son, boy

give: (v) extend, commit, donate, endow, contribute, dispense, deliver, convey, grant; (adj, v) bestow, accord. ANTONYMS: (v) withdraw, take, withhold, retain, receive, keep, get, hide, conceal, starve, withstand

given: (adj) apt, disposed, prone, specified, liable, inclined, granted, fixed, conditional; (n) assumption, particular. ANTONYMS: (adj) taken, unwilling

gives: (n) give, offer, provide, grant, accord

glad: (adj) jubilant, cheerful, gay, blithe, delighted, festive, content, delightful, genial, bright, willing. ANTONYMS: (adj) unhappy, apologetic, dismayed, unwilling, disappointed, sorry

gladly: (adv, v) happily; (adv) gleefully, contentedly, cheerfully, fain, joyfully, jovially, cheerily, delightedly, gladsomely, readily. ANTONYMS: (adv) reluctantly, unwillingly, sadly, resentfully,

miserably glass: (n) bottle, drink, goblet, cup,

drinking glass, spectacles, glasses, field glass, bowl; (v) glaze; (adj, n) ice

glasses: (n) spectacles, eyeglasses, glass, specs, spectacle, eyeglass, barnacles, lens, pair of glasses, mirror, goggles

glorious: (adj) distinguished, beautiful, bright, celebrated, brilliant, eminent, magnificent, super, great, splendid; (adj, v) illustrious. ANTONYMS: (adj) sorrowful, despicable, horrible, shameful, lowly

glory: (n) celebrity, brightness, honor, distinction, glorification, eclat, dignity; (n, v) halo, pride; (v) exult, boast. ANTONYMS: (v) blasphemy, lament, profanity; (n) dishonor, disrepute, ugliness, blame, criticism

goats: (n) suborder Ruminantia, Ruminantia, giraffes, deer, frank Capra, genus Capra, bison, antelopes, family Bovidae, camels, Capra

godfather: (n) godchild, supporter, patron, godparent, godmother, gangster, executive; (v) christen

going: (n) exit, leaving, parting, expiration, disappearance, action; (v) go, course, to go; (adj) working, running. ANTONYMS: (n) arrival, Reunion

gone: (adj, prep) past; (adj) deceased, bygone, departed, desperate, lost, late; (adj, v) exhausted, extinct; (adj, adv) absent, away. ANTONYMS: (adj) present, remaining, found, alive

good-bye: (n) bye, farewell, goodbye, goodby, vale, adios, cheerio

gossip: (n, v) chatter, rumor, chitchat, gab, talk, babble, natter, tattle; (n) chatterbox, conversation, small talk. ANTONYM: (n) truth

gout: (n) taste, relish, arthritis, go-out; (v) cephalalgia, earache, otalgia, odontalgia, neuralgia, lumbago, sciatica

government: (n, v) administration, management, conduct; (adj, n) authority, control, empire, rule; (n) command, dominion, governance, cabinet

gown: (n) robe, clothing, cassock, vestment, wrapper, overclothes, outerwear, uniform, tunic, clothes; (v) clothe

graceful: (adj) beautiful, delicate, amiable, easy, fine, charming, fair,

airy, becoming, lovely, lithe. ANTONYMS: (adj) inelegant, stocky, awkward, vigorous, jerky, ugly, stilted, heavy, coarse, strenuous

grain: (adj, n) crumb; (n) bit, berry, fragment, cereal, scrap, kernel, speck, atom, grist, character. ANTONYM: (n) lot

grandmother: (n) grandma, granny, crone, grannie, grandam, mother, dam, grandmamma, father's mother, paternal grandmother, hag

granny: (n) grandma, gran, grannie, granny knot, old woman, grandam, fuddy-duddy, matriarch, grandparent, nan; (adj) finicky

grave: (adj) solemn, serious, critical, earnest, dangerous, sedate, sad, grand; (adj, v) severe, acute; (v) engrave. ANTONYMS: (adj) frivolous, funny, cheerful, carefree, slight, nonchalant, trivial, stable, minor, insignificant, favorable

graves: (n) Robert Graves, Robert Ranke Graves

great: (adj) eminent, gigantic, big, distinguished, large, extensive, extreme, grand, chief, ample, massive. ANTONYMS: (adj) awful, insignificant, tiny, mild, poor, minor, useless, ordinary, slight, weak, unknown

greater: (adj) larger, more, major, higher, superior, most, great, bigger, increased, considerable, not inconsiderable. ANTONYMS: (adj) inferior, smaller, small, lower

greatest: (adj) top, superlative, biggest, utmost, largest, extreme, first; (adj, n) maximum, most; (adj, v) paramount, supreme. ANTONYMS: (adj) inferior, secondary

great-hearted: (adj) noble, magnanimous, large-hearted, bighearted, proud, chivalrous

green: (adj) callow, immature, young, jealous, youthful, emerald, crude, juvenile, gullible, inexperienced; (adj, v) raw. ANTONYMS: (adj) ripe, urban, withering, sophisticated, seasoned, old, arid, mature, limp, artificial

grieving: (adj) sorrowful, bereft, bereaved, mournful, aggrieved, sad, teenful, despondent; (v) grief, affliction; (n) sorrow

ground: (n, v) base, land, floor; (v) found, establish; (adj, n, v) bottom; (n) earth, reason, field, soil, dirt. ANTONYMS: (n) sea, figure; (v)

Uncle Vanya 96

launch, top growing: (n) development, growth;

(adj, adv) increasing; (adj) flourishing, thriving, blossoming, expanding, swelling, progressive; (adj, n) developing; (v) grow. ANTONYMS: (adj) dwindling, decreasing, downward; (n) nondevelopment

growl: (adj, n, v) snarl; (n, v) roar, bark, howl, yap, moan, thunder; (v) gnarl, mutter, complain, croak

grown: (adj) mature, big, growed, grown-up, developed, ripe, grownup, fully grown, full-grown, growth, become. ANTONYM: (adj) unripe

guess: (n, v) surmise, estimate, forecast; (v) suppose, deem, reckon, divine, believe, foretell; (n) assumption, supposition

guesswork: (n) guess, conjecture, theory, supposition, shot, estimate, speculation, surmise, suspicion, approximation, assumption. ANTONYM: (n) fact

guilty: (adj) culpable, faulty, wicked, hangdog, criminal, chargeable, sinful, blameworthy; (n) guilt, culprit; (adj, v) condemned. ANTONYMS: (adj) blameless, aggressive, proud

guitar: (n) acoustic guitar, uke, electric guitar

hair: (n) coat, coma, haircloth, pile, locks, filament, fleece, fur, hairbreadth, down, forelock

half: (adj) moiety, part, short, defective; (n) semi, mediety, halve, division, piece, first half; (adv) partly. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) all; (adj) fully, complete

hall: (n) mansion, vestibule, lobby, foyer, auditorium, court, entrance hall, anteroom, concourse; (n, v) corridor, passage

hammock: (n) berth, hill, cot, cradle, bed, crib, to lash a hammock, stretcher, shakedown, litter, bedstead

hand: (v) give, pass, commit, bestow, afford, communicate, consign; (n) deal, worker, aid, applause. ANTONYMS: (n) boss, foot; (v) take

handkerchief: (n) hankie, kerchief, bandanna, cravat, hanky, wipe, bandana, collar, shawl; (n, v) napkin; (v) sudary

hands: (n) custody, keeping, personnel, safekeeping, hold, shift, workforce, men, manpower, guardianship, full complement

handsome: (adj) fair, beautiful, fine, generous, charming, comely, attractive, bountiful, considerable, bonny, prepossessing. ANTONYMS: (adj) ugly, unattractive, meager, ungenerous, measly, plain

hang: (adj, n, v) suspend; (v) dangle, depend, drape, float, fall, hover, append, string up; (n, v) delay; (adj) hung

hanging: (n) execution, curtain, arras, wall hanging; (adj) suspended, pendent, pendant, pendulous, hung, pending; (n, v) suspension

happen: (n, v) betide; (v) arise, befall, develop, go, come, fall, chance, come about, occur, get. ANTONYM: (v) disappear

happiness: (n) delight, merriment, ecstasy, welfare, gladness, luck, cheerfulness, blessedness, bliss, felicity, contentment. ANTONYMS: (n) sadness, despair, grief, misery, dissatisfaction, seriousness, dullness, discontent, dejection, gloominess, displeasure

happy: (adj) felicitous, contented, gay, buoyant, content, gleeful, gratified, pleasant, glad, carefree; (adj, n) auspicious. ANTONYMS: (adj) sad, depressed, dejected, sorrowful, miserable, unlucky, sorry, reluctant, irritable, unfortunately, gloomy

hard: (adj, n) austere, rough; (adj, v) grave, severe, acute; (adj) bad, difficult, strong, callous, cruel, tough. ANTONYMS: (adj) easy, kind, soggy, tender, merciful, yielding, simple; (adv) lightly, gently, lackadaisically; (adj, adv) flexible

hardly: (adj, adv) barely, scarcely; (adv) severely, harshly, roughly, badly, toughly, laboriously, arduously, cruelly, heavily. ANTONYMS: (adv) extremely, fully, well, easily

hardtack: (n) pilot biscuit, biscuit, mahogany, ship biscuit, pilot bread, sea biscuit; (v) hominy, hoecake

hate: (v) abhor, detest, loathe, abominate; (n) enmity, abhorrence, detestation, hatred, animosity, antipathy, aversion. ANTONYMS: (n, v) like; (v) adore, cherish, admire; (n) attraction, liking, delight, adoration

hateful: (adj) disgusting, execrable, nasty, abominable, hideous, despicable, repulsive, distasteful, foul; (adj, v) odious, obnoxious.

ANTONYMS: (adj) delightful, kind, nice, benign, desirable

haunt: (n, v) resort, ghost; (n) den, hangout, home; (v) pursue, follow, stalk, afflict, persecute; (adj) harass

having: (n) estate, possession, acceptance, enjoyment

head: (n) captain, boss, froth, foam, crown, chieftain; (n, v) point, lead; (adj, n, v) front; (v) capital, direct. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) subordinate; (n) end, beginning, foot, mouth, rear, tail, body, underling, base; (adj) minor

headaches: (n) cephalalgia heal: (v) mend, recover, doctor,

recuperate, cicatrize, get well, fix, restore, convalesce; (n, v) remedy; (n) correct. ANTONYMS: (v) worsen, disfigure, exacerbate

health: (n) condition, fitness, welfare, pledge, strength, form, hygiene, sanitation, salubrity, shape; (adj) sanitary

healthier: (adj) fitter. ANTONYM: (adj) worse

healthy: (adj) healthful, wholesome, salubrious, hale, good, fit, beneficial, whole, well, sound, hearty. ANTONYMS: (adj) unwell, harmful, unfit, soporific, dependent, fattening, infected, unwholesome, weak, ill, underfed

hear: (int, v) attend; (v) find out, discover, understand, apprehend, hark, learn, try, examine, listen; (adj) heard

heard: (n) hearing heart: (adj, n) core, gist, marrow; (n)

spirit, center, essence, basis, kernel, crux, breast, hub. ANTONYMS: (n) body, surface

heartsick: (adj) despondent, dejected, brokenhearted, downcast, sad, woeful, hopeless, broken; (v) blase, sick of, used up

heaven: (n) Eden, firmament, bliss, Elysium, sky, nirvana, glory, Elysian Fields, Garden of Eden, utopia; (adj) celestial. ANTONYM: (n) misery

heavens: (n) firmament, heaven, sky, welkin, sphere, atmosphere, celestial sphere, space, skies, area, vault of heaven

heavily: (adv) seriously, weightily, severely, ponderously, hard, firmly, thickly, grievously, sadly, strongly, compactly. ANTONYMS: (adv) gently, nimbly, briskly, sparsely, thinly, slightly

heavy: (adj, n) dull; (adj) deep, fat, dense, grave, dark, full, gross, thick,

Anton Chekhov 97

bulky; (adj, adv) hard. ANTONYMS: (adj) slim, easy, thin, slight, skinny, puny, gentle, insubstantial, animated, nimble, entertaining

held: (adj) absorbed, confined, kept, apprehended, seized, supposed, reputed, tenable, thought, trapped; (v) detain

hell: (n) blaze, Hades, underworld, perdition, inferno, pandemonium, netherworld, Abaddon, Gehenna, purgatory, trial. ANTONYM: (n) paradise

help: (n, v) assist, assistance, support, benefit, favor, avail, cure, assistant; (v) facilitate, ease, alleviate. ANTONYMS: (n) hindrance, detriment, interference, damage, disadvantage, disservice, manager; (v) worsen, aggravate, halt, hurt

helped: (adj) aided, assisted; (v) HALP

helping: (n) portion, share, plateful, serving, part, quota, drumstick; (adj) auxiliary, assistant, aiding, assisting

helpless: (adj, v) forlorn, destitute, abandoned; (adj) powerless, weak, defenseless, disabled, impotent, feeble, hopeless, unable. ANTONYMS: (adj) strong, independent, capable, invulnerable, armed, powerful, impervious

hers: (pron) she, his; (adj) own herself: (adj) oneself, self, himself,

myself, yourself, yourselves, themselves, ourselves, itself

hide: (n, v) cover, disguise, shelter, veil; (adj, v) obscure; (n) fur, fell, coat; (v) bury, mask; (adj, n, v) darken. ANTONYMS: (v) show, expose, express, divulge, unearth, amplify, advertise, clarify

hiding: (n) covering, concealment, concealing, beating, screening, thrashing, flogging, rout, burial, drubbing, ambush

himself: (pron) herself, themselves, yourself, itself; (adj) myself; (n) yourselves

hint: (v) suggest; (adj, n) trace; (n) suggestion, intimation, inkling, cue, allusion; (n, v) tip, touch, dash; (adj, v) intimate. ANTONYM: (n) overtone

hoax: (adj, n) fake; (v) dupe, defraud, gull, kid, bamboozle; (n) fraud, deceit; (n, v) humbug, swindle, trick. ANTONYM: (adj) real

hold: (n, v) keep, grip, grasp, entertain; (v) endure, detain, adhere, bear, have, contain, comprise.

ANTONYMS: (v) fail, disagree, lose, free, deny, remove, lack; (n) separation, repulsion

home: (n) domicile, abode, house, residence, base, place, dwelling, family, habitation; (adj) domestic; (adj, n) household. ANTONYMS: (adj) external, national, public, away, foreign; (adv) out

honest: (adj) fair, genuine, sincere, good, equitable, artless, heartfelt, guileless, frank, forthright, faithful. ANTONYMS: (adj) lying, misleading, guarded, corrupt, disloyal, unwholesome, discourteous, disreputable, fictional, crafty, crooked

honestly: (adj, adv) justly, sincerely, candidly, fairly, genuinely, really; (adv) openly, directly, faithfully, plainly, truthfully. ANTONYMS: (adv) misleadingly, deceitfully, unfairly, insincerely, hesitantly, untruthfully, guardedly, ambiguously, politely

honour: (n) fame, award, dignity, homage, celebrity, accolade, reputation; (n, v) honor; (v) respect, celebrate, dignify. ANTONYMS: (n, v) dishonor; (v) disrespect

hope: (n, v) trust, desire; (n) aspiration, faith, belief, expectation, confidence, expectancy, anticipation; (v) confide, anticipate. ANTONYMS: (n) reality, past, pessimism, distrust, independence

horrible: (adj) awful, fearful, frightful, abominable, grisly, formidable, dire, ghastly, dreadful, fearsome; (adj, v) horrid. ANTONYMS: (adj) wonderful, lovely, nice, lovable, fair, delightful, slight, appealing, minor, attractive, great

horses: (n) stock, equidae, domestic animals, cattle, extinct animals, asses, pigs, sheep, family equidae, farm animals, force

hospitality: (n) entertainment, generosity, friendliness, cordiality, welcome, cordial reception, kindness, amiability, warmth, solicitously, politely. ANTONYMS: (n) frostiness, inhospitality

hour: (n) clock, o'clock, hours, time, hr, term, nonce, moment, occasion, dawn, dusk

hours: (n) period, duty period; (adv) o'clock

house: (adj, n, v) family; (adj, n) home; (v) accommodate; (n) dwelling, firm, abode, domicile,

edifice, habitation, housing; (n, v) lodge. ANTONYM: (adj) public

however: (adv, conj, prep) but; (adj, adv, conj) although; (adv) nevertheless, anyway, nonetheless, how, notwithstanding; (adv, conj) though, yet; (conj) albeit; (n) while

human: (n) person, man, human being, homo, gay, party; (adj, adv) fleshly; (adj) humane, earthly, corporeal, worldly. ANTONYMS: (adj) nonhuman, otherworldly, heavenly, immortal

humanity: (n) benevolence, mankind, flesh, human race, human, humankind; (adj, n) compassion, charity, kindness, benignity, gentleness. ANTONYMS: (n) severity, inhumanity, nastiness, selfishness

humbly: (adv) lowly, meanly, modestly, submissively, low, shyly, lowlily, naturally, regretfully, remorsefully, repentantly. ANTONYMS: (adv) conceitedly, haughtily, pompously, ostentatiously, unrepentantly, affluently, brashly, pretentiously

hundred: (adj) a hundred, one hundred, many; (adj, n) c; (n) cent, centred, riding, lathe, soke, tithing, carbon

hunger: (n, v) thirst, want, wish, itch; (n) craving, appetite, eagerness, famine; (v) crave, ache; (adj) hungry. ANTONYMS: (n) moderation, aversion, dislike, apathy

hurry: (n) haste; (n, v) bustle, hasten, dispatch, flurry, rush; (v) scurry, dash, accelerate, expedite, run. ANTONYMS: (n) slowness, calmness, patience, unimportance; (v) dawdle, delay, linger, crawl, amble; (intj) wait

hurt: (adj, n, v) damage, detriment; (adj, n) evil; (n, v) wound, pain, ache, distress; (n) disadvantage, lesion; (v) afflict; (adj, v) injure. ANTONYMS: (adj) unhurt, unaffected, healed; (v) encourage, please, protect, repair, defend; (n, v) help; (n) reparation, pleasure

husband: (v) conserve, economize, preserve, save; (n) consort, hubby, man, fellow, lover, master, mate. ANTONYMS: (n) wife, bachelor

hypochondria: (n) hypo, melancholia, melancholy, anxiety, anxiousness

hysterical: (adj, n) feverish; (adj) wild, violent, eccentric, frenzied, emotional, fitful, febrile, erratic; (n)

Uncle Vanya 98

fanatical, hysterics. ANTONYMS: (adj) relaxed, composed, restrained

idea: (n) meaning, belief, opinion, concept, estimation, fancy, plan, impression, apprehension, notion, conception. ANTONYM: (n) certainty

ideal: (adj) perfect, fanciful, consummate, abstract, classic, unreal; (n) standard, paragon, example, archetype, perfection. ANTONYMS: (adj) wrong, real, imperfect; (n) nightmare

idiot: (n) dolt, blockhead, dunce, dimwit, moron, cretin, ass, imbecile, oaf, changeling, idiocy. ANTONYM: (n) intellectual

idle: (adj) lazy, indolent, inactive, free, unfounded, fruitless, baseless, groundless, frivolous, empty, disengaged. ANTONYMS: (adj) active, employed, industrious, energetic, meaningful, productive, worthwhile, diligent; (v) change, run, work

idleness: (n) lethargy, laziness, torpor, inactivity, idling, unemployment, sloth, inaction, inertia, faineance, idlesse. ANTONYMS: (n) energy, activity, bustle, liveliness, responsibility

ignorance: (n) illiteracy, nescience, folly, unwisdom, innocence, denseness, ignorancy, stupidity, obtuseness, tabula rasa, unawareness. ANTONYMS: (n) intelligence, acquaintance, education

illness: (n, v) ailment, disorder, distemper; (n) sickness, complaint, malady, attack, affliction, pain, bug, trouble. ANTONYMS: (n) wellness, health

illuminated: (adj) lit, lighted, luminous, enlightened, clear, light, shining, irradiated, lighter, Lighty, irradiate

illuminating: (adj) illuminate, informative, edifying, illuminatingly, instructive, descriptive, brilliant, light, elucidate, illustrative, lighten. ANTONYMS: (adj) hidden, unilluminating, secretive

illusion: (n, v) delusion; (n) fantasy, apparition, deception, magic, fancy, deceit, dissimulation, phantom, trick, vision. ANTONYMS: (n) reality, fact

illusions: (n) fantasy imaginary: (adj) fictitious, unreal,

false, mythical, illusory, ideal, hypothetical, visionary, fictional,

notional, chimerical. ANTONYMS: (adj) real, palpable, actual, concrete, prosaic, normal, true

imagine: (v) believe, conjecture, fancy, conceive, daydream, assume, guess, consider, fantasize; (conj, v) suppose; (n, v) dream

imagined: (adj) fanciful, notional, unreal, fancied, fictitious, nonexistent, unseen, hypothetical, feigned, dubious, doubtful

immense: (adj) vast, enormous, great, gigantic, immeasurable, colossal, boundless, big, large, giant, infinite. ANTONYMS: (adj) tiny, small, insignificant, miniature, slight, negligible, compact, narrow, short, minor

immoral: (adj) evil, bad, depraved, indecent, dissolute, corrupt, criminal, unprincipled, dirty, unfair, lewd. ANTONYMS: (adj) moral, decent, honest, ethical, principled, good, restrained, amoral, right, righteous, pure

impatient: (adj) eager, anxious, petulant, fidgety, vexed, keen, edgy, quick, avid, irritable, fretful. ANTONYMS: (adj) patient, enduring, unenthusiastic, calm, happy, relaxed, slow

impetuously: (adv) rashly, impulsively, vehemently, precipitately, fiercely, headily, passionately, intensely, fierily, spontaneously, thoughtlessly. ANTONYMS: (adv) deliberately, sensibly, patiently

implore: (v) beg, beseech, supplicate, ask, conjure, crave, pray, importune, appeal, plead, solicit. ANTONYMS: (v) demand, grant, reject

important: (adj, v) grave; (adj) fundamental, significant, crucial, key, serious, remarkable, chief, earnest, central, heavy. ANTONYMS: (adj) insignificant, trivial, minor, irrelevant, low, worthless, frivolous, secondary, little, superfluous, inconsequential

impossible: (adj) unimaginable, insufferable, unbelievable, hopeless, impracticable, impractical, inconceivable, unlikely, unthinkable, unable, ridiculous. ANTONYMS: (adj) feasible, achievable, manageable, bearable, attainable, on, tolerable, probable, hopeful, easy, consistent

impoverished: (adj) indigent, broke, needy, poor, penniless, miserable, impecunious, bankrupt, barren,

broken, strapped. ANTONYMS: (adj) rich, enriched, solvent

improving: (adv) recuperating, getting better; (adj) edifying, progressive, civilizing, cosmetic, evincing progress, helpful, moralistic, advancing; (v) improve

impulse: (n) pulse, urge, impulsion, force, motive, whim, drive, goad, motivation, momentum, incentive. ANTONYMS: (n) aversion, disincentive, disinclination

income: (n) earnings, revenue, profit, proceeds, pay, means, gain, yield, return, salary, receipts. ANTONYMS: (n) loss, expenditure, outgo, spending, cost

incomprehensible: (adj) inapprehensible, inscrutable, inarticulate, abstruse, cryptic, unfathomable, puzzling, obscure, inexplicable, inconceivable, unaccountable. ANTONYMS: (adj) comprehensible, explicable, understandable, intelligible, legible, obvious, straightforward

increase: (n, v) extend, gain, accrue, augmentation, extension; (adj, n, v) augment; (v) grow, expand, aggrandize, enhance; (n) addition. ANTONYMS: (n, v) decrease; (n) reduction, contraction, decline; (v) reduce, diminish, drop, deteriorate, damage, abate, contract

indeed: (adv) certainly, exactly, in reality, surely, of course, assuredly, as a matter of fact, admittedly; (adj, adv) really, much; (n) yes. ANTONYMS: (adv) possibly, doubtfully

indolence: (n) laziness, inaction, lethargy, inertia, inactivity, listlessness, slowness, torpor, sluggishness, apathy; (adj, n) sloth. ANTONYMS: (n) energy, nimbleness, activity, bustle, liveliness, vigor

indulgence: (adj, n) gratification, delight; (n) allowance, extravagance, debauchery, hobby, tolerance, luxury, enjoyment, leniency, pardon. ANTONYMS: (n) denial, virtue, intolerance, uprightness, necessity, indifference, dismay, severity

inevitable: (adj) ineluctable, unavoidable, inescapable, destined, fatal, fated, necessary, obvious, irrevocable, irresistible; (n) ineluctability. ANTONYMS: (adj) evitable, avoidable, optional, preventable, unpredictable,

Anton Chekhov 99

unlikely; (adv) surprisingly infected: (adj) diseased, dirty,

impure, tainted, festering, corrupt, unclean, morbid, stained, spoiled, soiled. ANTONYM: (adj) healthy

infinitely: (adv) greatly, vastly, immensely, immeasurably, boundlessly, enormously, unboundedly, hugely, ceaselessly, unendingly; (adj, adv) incalculably. ANTONYM: (adv) finitely

inhabitants: (n) population, citizens, populace, folk, country, community, abode, group, inhabitation, nation, natives

inhabited: (v) populous, full of people, arrayed, clothed, dressed, accustomed, habited; (adj, v) peopled; (adj) occupied, settled, housing. ANTONYMS: (adj) unoccupied, uninhabited, business

inheritance: (adj, n) heritage; (n) heredity, heirloom, birthright, bequest, legacy, dowry, estate, appanage, heirship; (v) descent

inkstand: (n) inkhorn inner: (adj) interior, mental, inward,

intrinsic, inside, central, middle, within, in, privy, clandestine. ANTONYMS: (adj) outer, superficial, exterior

innocent: (adj) chaste, artless, clear, ingenuous, innocuous, guileless, guiltless, ignorant, unsophisticated, spotless, naive. ANTONYMS: (adj) culpable, responsible, wicked, wary, experienced, corrupt, worldly, unfair, meaningful, offensive, jaded

inquiringly: (adv) enquiringly, inquisitively, nosily, curiously, pryingly, interestedly, searchingly, inquiring, quizzically, intrusively

insects: (n) Arthropoda, phylum Arthropoda, Insecta, Hexapoda, crustaceans, class Insecta, class Hexapoda, centipedes

insight: (n) vision, acumen, understanding, perception, penetration, brainwave, apprehension, acquaintance, knowledge, idea, foresight. ANTONYMS: (n) hindsight, foolishness, ignorance, clumsiness

insist: (v) affirm, assert, contend, demand, claim, asseverate, declare, maintain, urge, importune, press. ANTONYMS: (v) request, deny

inspired: (adj) ingenious, adopted, elysian, creative, imaginative, elected, inventive, unearthly, brilliant, stimulated, enthusiastic. ANTONYMS: (adj) bland,

unimaginative, abysmal, mediocre instance: (n) exemplar, case, time,

illustration, sample, affair, pattern, chance, cause; (v) exemplify, illustrate

instant: (adj, n) present; (adj) immediate, prompt; (n) flash, minute, jiffy, point, second; (adj, v) exigent; (adj, n, v) pressing, urgent. ANTONYMS: (n) age, eternity; (adj) considered, delayed, slow

instead: (adv) instead of, alternatively, as an alternative, in place of, more willingly, to compensate for, sooner, preferably, otherwise, on the other hand; (n) lieu

instinctively: (adv) involuntarily, mechanically, spontaneously, automatically, intuitively, inherently, automaticly, unconsciously, impulsively, unthinkingly, instinctually. ANTONYMS: (adv) consciously, objectively

instruction: (n) charge, direction, education, guidance, prescription, guideline, teaching, information, injunction; (n, v) advice, counsel. ANTONYM: (n) plea

intelligent: (adj) intellectual, astute, sensible, alert, rational, quick-witted, bright, cunning, gifted, knowledgeable, brilliant. ANTONYMS: (adj) dim, thick, slow, stupid, dull, foolish

intently: (adv) fixedly, attentively, seriously, raptly, intensely, closely, steadily, eagerly, absorbedly, hard, steadfastly. ANTONYM: (adv) absently

interest: (n, v) advantage, care, benefit; (adj, v) engage; (n) affair, account, gain, hobby, eagerness, enthusiasm, sake. ANTONYMS: (n) indifference, apathy, boredom, distraction, hostility, detachment, inattention, repulsion; (v) repel, appall

interested: (adj) concerned, involved, inquiring, inquisitive, keen, interesting, attentive, fascinated, responsive, partial, eager. ANTONYMS: (adj) uninterested, bored, indifferent, unconcerned, hostile

interesting: (adj) entertaining, amusing, attractive, absorbing, delightful, fascinating, exciting, readable, diverting; (adj, v) charming, engaging. ANTONYMS: (adj) boring, dull, unremarkable,

unappealing, repulsive, repellent, normal, ordinary

interests: (n) wellbeing, security, safety, power structure, investment, health, happiness, capital, welfare, comfort

interfere: (n, v) interpose; (v) intercede, obstruct, disturb, conflict, impede, hinder, meddle, intervene; (n) interference; (adj, v) intermeddle

intolerable: (adj) unbearable, insupportable, painful, obnoxious, detestable, inexcusable, deplorable, undesirable, hard, excruciating, difficult. ANTONYMS: (adj) bearable, tolerable, acceptable, reasonable, nice, understandable, lovable, excusable, inoffensive, manageable

invalid: (adj) false, illogical, unreasonable, null, weak, void, unhealthy, sick, flawed; (n) infirm; (v) disable. ANTONYMS: (adj) valid, legitimate, current, healthy, true, watertight, correct

invest: (n, v) empower, endow, vest, dress; (v) clothe, commit, enthrone, endue, crown, indue, adorn

irony: (n) sarcasm, ridicule, raillery, banter, derision, quiz, mockery, figure of speech; (adj, n) satire, humor, burlesque. ANTONYM: (n) sincerity

irresponsible: (adj) rash, reckless, untrustworthy, flighty, feckless, unreliable, unwise, imprudent, wild, loose; (v) not answerable. ANTONYMS: (adj) cautious, sensible, dependable, dutiful, careful, prudent, mature

itself: (adj) herself, self, oneself, personally, myself, themselves, yourself

jealousy: (n) suspicion, jealous, jealousness, envy, envious, alertness, distrust, contention, competition, scruple, qualm

jean: (n) denim, blue Jean, Jane, Levis, trousers

jesting: (adj) jocular, jocose, facetious, humorous, playful; (n) banter, humor, comedy, pleasantry, fun, joke. ANTONYM: (n) tragedy

jewel: (n) gemstone, darling, diamond, jewelry, trinket, treasure, ornament, idol; (adj, n) bijou, precious stone; (adj) brilliant

joking: (n) banter, fooling, fun; (adj) jocose, jocular, humorous, funny, kidding, playful, puckish, comical. ANTONYM: (n) seriousness

joyous: (adj) happy, gleeful, elated,

Uncle Vanya 100

jolly, glad, gay, jovial, merry, festive, cheerful, jocund. ANTONYMS: (adj) despairing, joyless, miserable

judging: (n) judge, judgment, judged, decision making, assessment, thought, deciding, prejudgment, discernment

justice: (adj, n) equity, right, integrity, honesty; (n) judge, impartiality, judicature, jurist, morality, justness; (adj) just. ANTONYMS: (n) unfairness, wickedness

keep: (n, v) hold; (v) preserve, retain, defend, guard, maintain, continue, have, save, confine, observe. ANTONYMS: (v) lose, neglect, entrust, return, let, discontinue, reimburse, allow, stop, destroy, break

kept: (adj) reserved, preserve, retained, remain, store, reserve, hold, lodge, keep, retain, detained. ANTONYM: (adj) broken

killed: (n) casualty; (adj) fallen kind: (n) sort, form, class, variety,

breed; (adj, n) helpful, good, humane, friendly, gentle; (adj) generous. ANTONYMS: (adj) unkind, cruel, hardhearted, mean, merciless, nasty, spiteful, uncaring, upsetting, callous, disagreeable

kindness: (n) generosity, clemency, compassion, grace, good will, graciousness, humanity, goodness, affection; (adj, n) courtesy, gentleness. ANTONYMS: (n) miserliness, spite, nastiness, callousness, cruelty, unfriendliness, maliciousness, thoughtlessness, sourness, severity, disservice

kiss: (n, v) caress, brush, embrace, touch; (n) osculation, salute, lip, Kiss of peace, kiss hands; (v) osculate, love

kissing: (n) hugging, cuddling, fondling, arousal, foreplay, necking; (adj) embracing, adhering closely, billing, clinging, interosculant

knees: (n) knee knew: (adj) known; (v) recognize,

wist knit: (adj, v) tie, lace; (v) plait,

intertwine, bind, join, pucker, fasten, interlace; (adj) stitch, knitted

knitting: (n) knitwork, needlework, needlecraft, knitted fabric, web, braid, weave, creating from raw materials, knit stitch

knowing: (adj, v) canny, crafty, wise; (adj, n) clever; (adj) conscious, aware, ingenious, intelligent, bright,

conversant, smart. ANTONYMS: (adj) naive, uncomprehending, unconscious

known: (adj) familiar, knew, conscious, certain, famous, know, eminent, plain, accepted, published, acknowledged. ANTONYMS: (adj) unknown, secret, unidentified, unfamiliar

kopeck: (n) kopek label: (n, v) name, title, tag, brand,

earmark, group; (v) call, classify, check; (n) designation, ticket

labyrinth: (n) inner ear, tangle, confusion, complication, internal ear, web, unit, system; (adj, n) network; (v) eel, labyrinthian

lack: (n, v) deficiency, need, destitution; (n) default, defect, dearth, absence, insufficiency, deficit, poverty; (v) fail. ANTONYMS: (n) abundance, excess, provision, adequacy, affluence, sufficiency, plethora, supply; (v) have, own, possess

laid: (adj) layed, lay, place, placed, put, situated, arranged, determined, dictated, hardened, ordered

lake: (n) pond, pool, lagoon, puddle, lough, reservoir, loke, bayou, crimson, lagune, carmine

lame: (adj) crippled, disabled, halting, feeble, halt, weak, paralytic; (adj, n) game; (adj, v) paralyze, maim, becripple

lamp: (n) light, lantern, beacon, headlight, flashbulb, flashgun, table lamp, oil lamp, storm lantern; (n, v) look; (v) behold

landed: (adj) land, territorial, allodial, predial

landowner: (n) landlord, laird, landholder, proprietor, squire, owner, Franklin, freeholder, abutter, possessor, landed proprietor. ANTONYM: (n) tenant

language: (n) speech, expression, lingo, diction, tongue, idiom, jargon, conversation, word, words, terminology

languish: (adj, v) flag, drop, fail; (adj, n, v) droop; (v) decline, die, decay, ache; (n, v) pine, yearn, wither. ANTONYMS: (v) thrive, change

large: (adj) ample, generous, considerable, broad, handsome, high, bulky, heavy, capacious, roomy; (adj, n) extensive. ANTONYMS: (adj) small, cramped, insignificant, narrow, microscopic, compact, tiny, thin, short, slim, paltry

late: (adj, adv) dilatory, fresh, behindhand, backward; (adj) former, deceased, dead, slow, delayed, modern; (adv) belatedly. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv) early, punctual; (adv) punctually, promptly; (adj) ahead, existing, alive, initial, middle, old, premature

later: (adv) afterward, subsequently, afterwards, then; (adj) following, last, future, ensuing, subsequent, latter; (adj, adv) next. ANTONYMS: (adv) immediately, before, now; (adj, adv) prior; (adj) early, previous, preceding, former

laugh: (n, v) joke, giggle, chortle, titter, snicker; (v) smile; (n) jest, gag, jape, laughter, cackle. ANTONYM: (v) weep

laughing: (adj) merry, smiling, laughable, jolly, gay, lighthearted, frolicsome, playful, pleased, dizzy; (adv) laughingly. ANTONYM: (adj) serious

laughs: (n) diversion, comedy, amusement, sport, recreation, merriment, entertainment, levity

laws: (n) Pentateuch, Torah lazy: (adj) indolent, inert, idle,

inactive, shiftless, slothful, faineant, slow, sluggish; (adj, n) drowsy, dull. ANTONYMS: (adj) diligent, active, prompt, vigorous, industrious, keen, productive

lead: (n, v) guide; (v) conduct, direct, contribute, go, control, conduce, govern, chair, bring; (n) clue. ANTONYMS: (v) follow, trail, descend; (n) disadvantage, inferiority

leads: (n) slating, pieced leads, slates, pile driving leads, tiling

learned: (adj) educated, knowledgeable, scholarly, academic, cultured, literary, bookish, lettered; (adj, v) enlightened, wise, knowing. ANTONYMS: (adj) innate, unconditioned, foolish, unlearned

learning: (n, v) erudition, enlightenment; (n) acquisition, education, culture, scholarship, wisdom, acquirement, letter, literature; (v) learn

least: (n) minimum; (adj) smallest, minimal, littlest, lowest, insignificant, minutest, negligible; (adj, n) smallest amount; (adv) at least, fully. ANTONYMS: (adj) maximum, greatest; (adj, adv) most

leave: (v) depart, go, abandon, desert, lead; (adj, v) forsake, quit; (n) furlough, permission, holiday; (n, v)

Anton Chekhov 101

escape. ANTONYMS: (v) enter, arrive, stay, remain, come, approach, change, reposition, disinherit, occupy, participate

leaves: (n) departure, leaving, plants, trees, vegetation

leaving: (n) leave, exit, desertion, going, going away, farewell, departing, abandonment, withdrawal, boarding; (v) depart. ANTONYMS: (n) arrival, greeting, Reunion; (adj) incoming

lecture: (n, v) discourse, harangue, reprimand, sermon, rebuke, talk, censure; (n) speech, oration; (v) chide, preach. ANTONYMS: (v) praise; (n) compliment

left: (adj) gone, absent, port, odd, remaining, larboard, gauche, sinister; (n) left hand, left wing, mitt. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv, n) right; (adj) remaining, center, starboard, present

legs: (v) pegs, trotters, pins; (n) patience, pedestal, stamina

lent: (n) Quadragesima, Lententide less: (adj) inferior, wanting, minor,

secondary, subordinate, deficient, minus, few; (adj, adv) lesser, lower; (adv) below. ANTONYMS: (adj) additional; (prep) plus

letter: (n) epistle, mail, character, communication, alphabetic character, dispatch, note, message, memorandum, type, memo

library: (n) program library, collection, depository library, atheneum, athenaeum, room, repository, series, public library, study, subroutine library

lies: (n) fabrication, falsehood, lie, lying, deceit, defamation, denigration, dishonesty, slander, libel, treachery. ANTONYM: (n) truth

life: (adj, n) animation; (n) energy, spirit, activity, dash, enthusiasm, being, biography, existence, exuberance, live. ANTONYMS: (n) death, apathy, extinction, nonexistence, lifelessness

light: (adj) fair, facile, faint; (adj, v) clear; (n, v) fire, glow, flame; (v) kindle, inflame, ignite; (n) illumination. ANTONYMS: (adj) heavy, fattening, nauseating, testing, stale; (n) darkness, shade, gloom, night; (v) extinguish, darken

lighter: (n) light, flatboat, igniter, cigarette lighter, wherry, primer, scow, kindling, fuze, fuzee, houseboat

lightly: (adv) slightly, airily, thinly, easily, gently, light, fairly, weakly, flimsily, delicately, wantonly. ANTONYMS: (adv) seriously, heavily, thickly, sturdily, angrily, hard, harshly, densely, brightly, awkwardly

lightning: (n) levin, electricity, thunderbolt, Leven, ignis fatuus, heat lightning, forked lightning, fetter, dart, chain lightning; (adj) wind

lights: (n) illumination, burn, lung, spacing material

likes: (n) kind, sort, type limping: (n) lameness, gimp,

claudication, gimpiness, gameness; (adj) hobbling, crippled, halting, inefficient, imperfect, claudicant

lips: (n) lip, inlet, logical inference per second, chops, porch, portal, portico, propylon, snout, door, orifice

listen: (v) hear, heed, hearken, attend, harken, list, listening, eavesdrop, mind, concentrate, pay attention

listening: (v) listen, hear, obey; (n) auscultation, perception, sensing, audition, audience, earshot, auditory modality; (adj) attentive

little: (adj, adv) small; (adj) diminutive, insignificant, short, tiny, some, brief, petty, minute, exiguous; (adv) rather. ANTONYMS: (adj) enormous, large, important, huge, high, giant, older, old, tall; (adv) frequently, well

live: (adj) alive, living; (adj, v) reside, active, dwell, stay; (n, v) subsist; (v) exist, be, abide, endure. ANTONYMS: (adj) inanimate, inactive, silent, dummy, blank, recorded; (v) die, perish, expire

lively: (adj, adv) jolly, sprightly; (adj, v) active, cheerful; (adj) energetic, agile, keen, busy, gay, fresh, jovial. ANTONYMS: (adj) lethargic, listless, inactive, unexciting, lifeless, awkward, sad, gentle, tired, insipid, subdued

liver: (n) dweller, livers, resident, inhabitant, person, human, someone, soul, individual, hepatic

lives: (n) life, living, estate, existence, earnest living

living: (adj) alive, live, extant, animated, active, fresh, animate, quick; (n) livelihood, life, being. ANTONYMS: (adj) inanimate; (n) death, leisure

locked: (adj) bolted, closed, fast, barred, blocked, fixed, guaranteed,

barricaded, safe, protected, fastened lofty: (adj, v) high, elevated; (adj)

exalted, eminent, arrogant, grand, tall, haughty, great, distinguished, majestic. ANTONYMS: (adj) short, lowly, base, modest, deferential, humble

logic: (n) argument, logical, sense, reasoning, reason, good sense, art of reasoning, order, logics, principle, coherence. ANTONYMS: (n) inconsistency, disorder

loneliness: (n) desolation, aloneness, isolation, solitariness, lonesomeness, bleakness, forlornness, desolateness, temperament, unhappiness; (adj, n) solitude. ANTONYMS: (n) inclusion, cheerfulness, hopefulness

lonely: (adj) deserted, lone, dreary, solitary, forsaken, desert; (adj, n) isolated, alone; (adv) lonesomely, solely, solitarily. ANTONYMS: (adj) sheltered, populous, cheerful, nearby; (n) foe

long: (v) yearn, desire, hanker, languish, ache, wish; (adj, n) extensive; (n, v) hunger; (adj) extended, lengthy; (n) length. ANTONYMS: (adj) short, brief, concise

longer: (adj) longest, better, lengest; (adv) farther; (n) yearner, thirster

longing: (n, v) desire, aspiration; (adj) eager, wistful, nostalgic; (n) nostalgia, wish, hankering, urge, appetite; (adj, n) yearning. ANTONYMS: (n) apathy, disinclination; (adj) satisfied, unconcerned

look: (n, v) gaze, aspect, figure; (adj, v) seem; (v) appear, expect; (n) appearance, expression, view, glance, guise. ANTONYMS: (v) back, study; (n) perusal

looking: (n) face, sensing, aspect, approximation, appearance, watching, outlook; (v) look at, examine; (adv) about; (adj) superficial

looks: (n) aspect, countenance, expression, manner, complexion, fashion, costume, garb

lord: (n) chief, king, noble, sir, duke, master, God, seignior, nobility, Mister, potentate. ANTONYM: (n) lady

lose: (v) drop, forfeit, mislay, miss, sacrifice, fall behind, fail, to lose, forget, clear, hurt. ANTONYMS: (v) find, secure, recover, earn, obtain, acquire, get, win, beat, keep, succeed

Uncle Vanya 102

losing: (v) lose; (n) loss; (adv) losingly, behind; (adj) unbeneficial. ANTONYM: (adj) lucrative

lost: (adj, v) forlorn, extinct, gone, missing, helpless; (adj) hopeless, bewildered, forgotten, disoriented, broken; (n) loss. ANTONYMS: (adj) present, found, existing, won, saved, aware

loudly: (adv) vociferously, noisily, loud, clamorously, showily, strongly, flamboyantly, obstreperously, luridly, boisterously; (adj, adv) forte. ANTONYMS: (adv) softly, thinly, silently, piano, pleasantly

love: (n) desire, fondness, affection, dear, liking, benevolence, charity, honey, devotion; (v) enjoy; (n, v) worship. ANTONYMS: (n, v) dislike; (n) abhorrence, hatred, aversion, detestation, detachment, indifference; (v) abhor; (adv) roughly

loved: (adj) beloved, pet, cherished, precious, liked, adored, respected, treasured, esteemed, valued; (n) darling. ANTONYM: (adj) hated

lovely: (adj) beautiful, charming, lovable, enchanting, delightful, handsome, alluring, elegant, endearing, gorgeous; (adv) comely. ANTONYMS: (adj) unpleasant, hideous, ugly, unattractive, horrifying, horrid, unappealing, repellent, detestable, dreadful, awkward

lover: (n) dear, darling, fan, devotee, beau, buff, love, admirer, beloved, amorist, man

lower: (adj, v) debase, frown, abase, scowl; (adj, n, v) degrade, diminish, humble; (v) dip, drop, cut; (adj, n) inferior. ANTONYMS: (v) raise, improve, glorify, augment, straighten, upgrade, uplift; (adj) higher, senior, over, superior

luck: (n) fortune, fate, accident, destiny, hazard, lot, advantage, providence, portion, happiness; (n, v) chance. ANTONYM: (n) design

lucky: (adj, n) auspicious, happy, favored; (adj) favorable, prosperous, propitious, successful, favourable, flourishing, fortuitous; (n) fortune. ANTONYMS: (adj) unlucky, hapless, unfortunate, unsuccessful, disadvantaged, inauspicious, underprivileged, unenviable, unsatisfactory

lunatic: (n) madman, maniac, bedlamite; (adj) insane, foolish,

moonstruck, mad, mental, deranged, idiotic; (adj, n) madcap. ANTONYM: (adj) sensible

luncheon: (n) meal, tiffin, dejeuner, dinner, repast, party; (v) nunchion

luxury: (n) comfort, luxuriousness, extravagance, opulence, wealth; (adj, n) delicacy, gratification, elegance; (adj) luxurious, deluxe, indulgence. ANTONYMS: (n) paucity, necessity, poverty, filth, discomfort, bareness, shabbiness; (adj) basic, inferior, cheap, Spartan

lying: (adj) false, deceptive, mendacious, untrue, misleading, fraudulent; (n) lie, falsehood, fabrication, deceit, dishonesty. ANTONYMS: (n) honesty, truthfulness; (adj) truthful

ma'am: (n) lady, madam, gentlewoman, milady, woman, madame, Grande dame, doll, chick, brothel keeper, bird

madame: (n) ma'am, dame, lady, Mrs, woman, mistress, adult female, Grande dame, gentlewoman, brothel keeper, bawd

madman: (n) bedlamite, maniac, crazy, loony, nut, madcap, looney, loco, sufferer, raver, nutcase

magnificently: (adv) beautifully, grandly, superbly, gloriously, majestically, gorgeously, sumptuously, marvelously, wonderfully, fantastically, showily. ANTONYMS: (adv) poorly, modestly, badly, abysmally, simply, meagerly, incompetently

magpie: (n) pie, chatterbox, gossip, mag, babbler, chatterer, prater, cotinga, accumulator; (v) parrot, poll

making: (n) creation, construction, production, fabrication, manufacture, cartography, devising, fashioning, manufacturing, formation; (v) to make. ANTONYMS: (n) undoing, destruction

malice: (n) spite, animosity, enmity, venom, ill will, hatred, malevolence, cruelty, envy, hate, spleen. ANTONYMS: (n) goodwill, benevolence, affection, goodness

mamma: (n) breast, mother, ma, knocker, boob, mum, mammy, mom, momma, mommy, mummy

mania: (n) passion, craze, delirium, fad, fury, enthusiasm, rage, obsession; (adj, n) insanity, lunacy, madness

mankind: (n) world, humanity, humankind, human race, humans,

person, flesh, mortality, people, human beings, humanness

march: (n, v) hike, parade, trek, ramble, journey, tramp, course; (n) demonstration; (v) process, pace, stride

margin: (n, v) edge, border, brink, hem, verge, skirt; (n) boundary, brim, limit, bank, fringe. ANTONYMS: (n) inside, mainstream, middle

marina: (n) dock, harbor, port, anchorage, haven, wharf, waterfront, docking facility, quay, dockage

market: (n) fair, emporium, marketplace, bazaar, grocery store; (n, v) shop, trade; (v) demand, sell, commercialize, exchange

marriage: (adj, n) bridal, nuptial; (n) matrimony, espousal, union, wedlock, intermarriage, alliance, coupling; (n, v) match; (v) marry. ANTONYM: (n) separation

married: (adj) wedded, conjugal, matrimonial, connubial, nuptial, united, mixed, connected, marrying, attached, unite. ANTONYMS: (adj) unmarried, unattached, divorced, public

marry: (n, v) wed, espouse; (v) get married, link, conjoin, wive, splice, tie, unite, couple; (n) marriage. ANTONYMS: (v) divorce, separate, split

mask: (n, v) cover, veil, hide, conceal, disguise, screen, camouflage; (v) dissemble; (n) guise, blind, curtain. ANTONYMS: (v) unmask, enhance, reinforce, reveal, expose, amplify

masquerading: (adj) masked master: (n) captain, instructor, lord;

(v) control, conquer, command, dominate, defeat; (adj, n) original, head, ace. ANTONYMS: (n) underling, servant, novice, amateur

materials: (n) goods, resources, equipment, riches, treasures, reserves, provisions, order

matter: (n) business, substance, issue, material, affair, concern, incident, article, subject; (n, v) case; (adj, n) import

meagre: (adj) exiguous, paltry, necessitous, miserable, marginal, meagerly, gaunt, emaciated, inadequate, deficient, beggarly. ANTONYM: (adj) ample

mean: (adj, n) middle, low, contemptible, average, medium, common; (v) design; (n, v) imply, denote; (adj) ignoble, hateful.

Anton Chekhov 103

ANTONYMS: (adj) generous, kind, extravagant, charitable, luxurious, rich, expansive, extreme, great; (n) maximum, minimum

means: (n) instrument, agency, income, assets, manner, funds, capital, channel, property, resource, resources. ANTONYM: (n) poverty

meat: (n) food, gist, essence, core, kernel, heart, substance, marrow, crux, matter, beef

medal: (n) decoration, award, prize, honour, medallion, title, honor, laurel wreath, laurels, palm, insignia

medical: (adj) aesculapian, medicinal, medic, therapeutic, remedial; (n) checkup, health check, examination, scrutiny, healing; (adv) medically. ANTONYMS: (adj) surgical, theoretical

medicine: (n) drug, medication, medicament, therapy, physic, treatment, remedy, cathartic, medical science, preparation; (v) medicate

meet: (v) find, converge, assemble, gather, fulfill, congregate, answer, cross, confront, intersect; (adv, v) encounter. ANTONYMS: (v) diverge, disperse, separate, part, leave, differ, disband

memory: (n) memento, reminiscence, remembrance, recollection, recall, commemoration, anamnesis, storage, retrospect; (adj, n) posthumous fame; (v) mind

merciful: (adj) humane, gracious, lenient, compassionate, kind, clement, benign, kindly, gentle, beneficent, forgiving. ANTONYMS: (adj) pitiless, merciless, unforgiving, spiteful, harsh, impatient, severe, hardhearted

mercy: (n) kindness, compassion, pity, favor, leniency, pardon, forgiveness, grace, charity, humanity; (n, v) quarter. ANTONYMS: (n) cruelty, harshness, unkindness, severity, mercilessness, ruthlessness, impatience, inhumanity

microbes: (n) microorganisms, bacteria

might: (n) power, energy, ability, influence, strength, puissance, vehemence, intensity; (v) may, can, could. ANTONYMS: (n) weakness, feebleness, meekness

miles: (adj) far millions: (n) billions, jillions, trillions,

large indefinite amount, zillions, myriad, large indefinite quantity

mind: (n, v) intellect, notice, regard; (v) care, look, attend, beware, keep, listen, look after; (n) disposition. ANTONYMS: (v) forget, neglect, disregard, disobey, Miss, ignore; (n) emotion, inattention; (adj) physical

mine: (adj, v) excavate, sap; (n) excavation, pit, fund, land mine, vein; (v) exploit, burrow; (adj) my, delve

minute: (n, v) note; (adj) little, delicate, microscopic, small, atomic; (n) jiffy, flash, moment, second, memorandum. ANTONYMS: (adj) huge, big, gigantic, significant, cursory, immeasurable, tremendous, important, colossal, giant, large

miserable: (adj, v) forlorn, wretched, unhappy; (adj) mean, low, abject, deplorable, downcast, bad, desolate; (adj, adv) meager. ANTONYMS: (adj) happy, generous, cheerful, cheery, bright, fortunate, hopeful, jubilant, luxurious, overjoyed, heavenly

misfortune: (n) accident, hardship, misadventure, disaster, calamity, mischance, catastrophe, mishap, bad luck, misery, affliction. ANTONYMS: (n) joy, bonus, opportunity, privilege, success, happiness

miss: (v) lose, fail, jump, omit, overlook, long, forget; (n) maid, girl; (adj, v) fault; (n, v) want. ANTONYMS: (v) perceive, attend, achieve, have, succeed, hit, make, see, find, take; (n) success

missed: (adj) lost, irretrievable, incomprehensible, bemused, confounded, befuddled, baffled, disoriented, helpless, at sea, bewildered

mistake: (n, v) miss, blunder, err, slip; (n) failure, error, misconception, misapprehension, defect, demerit; (v) misapprehend. ANTONYMS: (v) appreciate, distinguish, interpret

mistress: (n) dame, concubine, madame, inamorata, lady, lover, fancy woman, doxy, girl, kept woman, missis

mobile: (adj) fluid, unsettled, mercurial, expressive, lively, agile, migrant, motile, erratic, versatile; (adj, v) movable. ANTONYMS: (adj) motionless, impassive, immobile, fixed, unmoving; (n) stabile

mole: (n) jetty, freckle, spy, bulwark, nevus, mol, groyne, blemish, birthmark; (adj, v) mound; (v)

embankment moment: (n, v) consequence, weight;

(adj, n) instant; (n) flash, jiffy, minute, import, second, time, bit, hour. ANTONYMS: (n) inconsequence, age, triviality

money: (n) currency, capital, kale, funds, means, lucre, assets, legal tender, pelf, cash, dough

monotonous: (adj) dull, flat, boring, dreary, tedious, insipid, monotone, monotonic; (adj, v) dry, uninteresting, stupid. ANTONYMS: (adj) exciting, varied, stimulating, lively, exotic, enthralling, brilliant, flexible

month: (n) calendar month, months, lunation, minute, hour, day, period, quarter, quinquennium, year, moonshine

moon: (adj) lunar; (n) month, moonshine, satellite, moonlight, luck, lunar month, GHURRY, epoch, orb of night; (v) daydream

mooning: (adj) unaware, preoccupied, forgetful, absent-minded, mindless

moral: (n) lesson, meaning; (adj) good, decent, right, honest, virtuous, proper, chaste, upright, righteous. ANTONYMS: (adj) bad, unwholesome, unethical, amoral, decadent, wrong, unjust, sinful, irreverent, dishonorable, degenerate

morality: (n) ethics, goodness, virtue, honesty, decency, integrity, righteousness, chastity, behavior, moral philosophy, rectitude. ANTONYMS: (n) immorality, decadence, wickedness, indecency

morning: (n) dawn, sunrise, morn, forenoon, daylight, first light, am, dayspring, aurora, cockcrow, dawning. ANTONYMS: (n) sunset, nighttime, nightfall

morphine: (n) apomorphine; (adj) cocaine, opium

morrow: (n) morning, future, mean solar day, day

morsel: (n, v) bite, mouthful; (n) crumb, chew, particle, fragment, taste, piece, nibble; (adj, v) gobbet, mite

moscow: (n) capital of the Russian federation

mosquitoes: (n) crane flies, Nematocera, gnats, fungus gnats, Culicidae, suborder Nematocera, family Culicidae

mother: (n) mamma, mommy, origin, mama, ma, mammy, mummy; (n, v) father; (v) engender, generate, beget

Uncle Vanya 104

mother-in-law: (n) grandmother mountains: (n) plenty, mountain

range, mountain chain moustache: (adj, n) hair; (n)

mustache, mustachio, mastax, whiskers; (adj) whisker, mane, brush, tress, ringlet, shag

moved: (adj) affected, excited, touched, disordered, enthused, gone, tense, inspired, stimulated, overcome, interested. ANTONYM: (adj) uninspired

movement: (n) move, action, campaign, crusade, activity, advancement, cause, passage, drive, drift, flow. ANTONYMS: (n) stillness, inertia, motionlessness, inactivity, retreat

muddle: (adj, n) mess; (n, v) clutter, disorder; (adj, v) confuse, fluster, bewilder, perplex; (adj, n, v) blunder; (v) addle, botch; (n) disarray. ANTONYMS: (v) enlighten, sharpen, soothe, organize, disentangle, tidy, clarify; (n) space, clarity, neatness

muddy: (adj) turbid, filthy, boggy, cloudy, dark, unclean, dingy, grimy, miry; (adj, v) foul, sloppy. ANTONYMS: (adj) clean, dry; (v) clarify, cleanse

murder: (n, v) massacre, carnage, slaughter, homicide, butcher; (v) kill, slay, destroy, execute, dispatch, assassinate

music: (n) melody, chorus, musical, sound, composition, monody, folk music, medicine, euphony, drumming, ballet

myself: (pron) me, itself, herself, oneself, themselves, yourself; (n) I, yourselves; (adv) in person, for myself, in my opinion. ANTONYMS: (adv) universally, generally

name: (v) appoint, describe, baptize, list, enumerate, identify, cite, mention; (n, v) title, entitle; (n) epithet. ANTONYMS: (n) nobody, indecency

natural: (adj) inherent, innate, unaffected, instinctive, artless, congenital, inborn, normal, intrinsic, essential, native. ANTONYMS: (adj) affected, refined, false, cultivated, unnatural, paranormal, supernatural, abnormal, forced, exceptional, strained

naturalism: (n) fidelity, naive realism, art movement, artistic movement

nature: (n) disposition, essence, quality, creation, breed,

temperament, type, attribute; (adj, n) character, class, manner

near: (adj, adv, v) close, at hand; (adv, prep) by, around, towards; (adj, v) familiar, adjoining, approximate; (adj, adv, prep) about; (adj, adv) almost; (adj) imminent. ANTONYMS: (adj) distant, far, further, actual, exact; (v) leave

nearer: (adj) adjacent, narre, hither; (adv) more rapidly, sooner, quicker, nigher, NER, faster, earlier, Neer

nearly: (adv) closely, intimately, nighly, virtually; (adj, adv, prep) about, just about; (adj, adv) near, all but, close, most; (adv, prep) approximately

necessary: (adj, n, v) requisite; (adj, v) important; (adj) inevitable, compulsory, mandatory, fundamental, main, indispensable; (n) necessity, demand; (adj, n) basic. ANTONYMS: (adj) optional, surplus, needless, unjustified, dispensable, possible, unimportant, voluntary, nonessential, inappropriate; (n) inessential

necessity: (n) demand, need, lack, exigency, essential, compulsion, emergency, distress, must, constraint, necessary. ANTONYMS: (n) inessential, treat, unimportance, luxury

neck: (n) cervix, nape, neckband, neckline, isthmus; (v) make out, pet, love, cut; (adj) stricture, middle constriction

need: (adj, n, v) lack, want; (n, v) demand, desire, deficiency, must, destitution; (n) necessity, requirement; (v) require, claim. ANTONYMS: (v) obviate, dislike, have; (n) option, luxury, glut, unimportance, affluence, prosperity

needed: (adj) essential, required, requisite, needful, indispensable, wanted, needing, needs, wanting, desired, want. ANTONYM: (adj) optional

nervously: (adv) edgily, anxiously, timidly, worriedly, uneasily, restlessly, timorously, skittishly, excitedly, neurotically, apprehensively. ANTONYMS: (adv) confidently, boldly, fearlessly, unconcernedly, nonchalantly, trustingly

never: (adv) ne'er, Nevers, always, not ever, by no means, at all times, not at all, not, NE. ANTONYMS: (adv) always, forever

news: (n) advice, message,

information, intelligence, tidings, story, report, notice, communication, gossip; (adj) new

next: (adj) nearest, adjacent, contiguous, following, future, coming, ensuing, after; (adv, conj) then, afterward; (adj, v) subsequent. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv) previous, previously, preceding; (adj) outgoing, distant; (adv) before

nice: (adj) fastidious, dainty, fine, good, lovely, kind, likable, delicious, difficult, precise; (adj, n) neat. ANTONYMS: (adj) horrible, nasty, unlikable, rough, mean, loathsome, approximate, unsavory, unfriendly, inelegant, bad

night: (n) dark, dusk, darkness, gloaming, twilight, nighttime, Nox, eventide, period; (adj) nocturnal, gloomy. ANTONYMS: (n) day, light, sunrise

nights: (adj) nightly; (n) night noble: (adj, n) grand, glorious,

patrician; (adj) imposing, impressive, elevated, majestic, generous, high; (adj, v) dignified, great. ANTONYMS: (adj) shameful, humble, dishonorable, lowly, lowborn, disgraceful, unimpressive, ignoble, modest, petty; (n) lady

nobody: (n) cipher, naught, zero, nil, nothing, nonentity, cypher, zip, whippersnapper, none; (n, pron) no one. ANTONYMS: (n) celebrity, notable, somebody; (pron) everyone, anyone, everybody

noise: (n, v) clatter, echo; (n) clamor, hubbub, racket, sound, disturbance, uproar, din, buzz, clang. ANTONYMS: (n) silence, quiet, quietness, sense

none: (n) nought, naught, nobody, zilch, anything; (adv) not, neither, any; (adj) whatsoever, no, whatever

nonsense: (n) bosh, absurdity, humbug, balderdash, foolishness, drivel, folderol, baloney, falderal, jargon, claptrap. ANTONYMS: (n) sense, wisdom, substance, fact

noodles: (n) pasta normal: (adj) regular, general,

customary, conventional, habitual, natural, typical, mean, everyday; (adj, v) ordinary, common. ANTONYMS: (adj) unusual, irregular, weird, unconventional, creepy, supernatural, strange, odd, extraordinary, eccentric, irrational

nose: (n) hooter, neb, nozzle, proboscis, honker, bow, odour; (v) wind, pry, scent; (n, v) sniff

Anton Chekhov 105

nothing: (adv, n) naught; (adj, n) nil, null; (n) nobody, cipher, nihil, nonentity, trifle, nix, aught, cypher. ANTONYMS: (pron) anything, everything, some; (n) all

notice: (n, v) note, mind, regard; (n) advertisement, information, declaration, attention; (adj, v) look, attend; (v) find, detect. ANTONYMS: (v) ignore, overlook, Miss; (n) ignorance, inattention, appointment, unconsciousness

noticed: (adj) noted nourish: (v) foster, keep, bring up,

nurture, sustain, aliment, cherish, feed, maintain, cultivate; (n, v) cradle. ANTONYMS: (v) starve, sap

numb: (adj) benumbed, dead, asleep, torpid, insensible, deadened, callous, impassive; (adj, v) dull; (v) benumb, deaden. ANTONYMS: (adj) responsive, conscious; (v) sensitize

nurse: (n, v) nourish, nurture; (v) look after, entertain, attend, cherish, lactate, harbor, foster, cultivate, cradle

nursery: (n) greenhouse, cradle, nursery school, hothouse, seminary, seedbed, nest, day nursery, creche, hotbed, glasshouse

object: (n) cause, intent, meaning, mark, subject, objective, substance; (n, v) aim, end, intention; (v) except. ANTONYMS: (v) agree, approve, praise; (n) notion

obviously: (adv) clearly, patently, plainly, openly, apparently, manifestly, markedly, transparently, naturally, distinctly, prominently. ANTONYMS: (adv) imperceptibly, inconspicuously, secretly, ambiguously, covertly, furtively, unclearly, invisibly, questionably, surprisingly

occupy: (v) have, engross, get, invade, employ, possess, inhabit, absorb; (n, v) engage, entertain; (adj, v) fill. ANTONYMS: (v) abandon, bore, quit, surrender, vacate, desert, remove

o'clock: (n) period, hours offering: (n, v) gift, grant; (n)

oblation, contribution, donation, presentation, offer, present, endowment, gratuity, bestowal

office: (n) function, position, agency, commission, appointment, division, place, bureau, post, job; (n, v) duty

often: (adj, adv) oft; (adv) much, again and again, repeatedly, ofttimes, oftentimes, many times,

always, commonly, again; (adj) frequent. ANTONYMS: (adv) seldom, infrequently, never

once: (adv, n) formerly; (adv) before, ever, previously, one time, at one time, already, erst; (adj, adv) erstwhile; (adj) former; (n) whilom. ANTONYM: (adv) future

oneself: (n) herself, himself, themselves, personal, private, selfness, self, yourself, me, person, own

open: (adj, n) frank, candid; (adj, n, v) clear; (adj) obvious, exposed, artless, free, honest, guileless, forthright, naked. ANTONYMS: (adj, v) shut; (v) close, end; (adj) devious, secretive, concealed, furtive, restricted, limited, reserved, secret

operating: (adj) running, working, functioning, acting, operative, effective, functional, operational, in commission; (n) exploitation, going

operations: (n) transaction, activity, activities, trading operations, duties, dealing, dealings; (v) campaign, crusade, expedition, battle array

order: (n, v) command, direct, decree, dictate, sort, rank, array, commission, charge; (n) instruction, edict. ANTONYMS: (n, v) request; (n) mayhem, confusion, chaos, mess, anarchy, disorderliness, disarray; (v) disturb, deregulate, supply

ordered: (adj) regular, arranged, methodical, trim, orderly, lawful, logical, consistent, coherent, commanded, organized. ANTONYMS: (adj) disordered, disarranged, inconsistent

original: (adj) primitive, native, authentic, primary, new, indigenous, aboriginal, primeval, primordial, early; (n) archetype. ANTONYMS: (adj) hackneyed, derivative, copied, banal, corny, resulting; (n) counterfeit, imitation, replica, fake, copy

ornaments: (n) stuff, trim, ornamentation, equipments, dress, disposition, custom, curios, condition, clothing, gaudery

orphan: (n) waif, caterpillar, nymph, nympha, cocoon, Aurelia, tyke, staddle, youngster, shaver; (adj) orphaned

others: (n) rest, cessation, lie, lave, LAN, ease, acquiesce, intermission

otherwise: (adv) besides, differently, or else, yet, alias, nevertheless, on the other hand, in addition; (adj, adv) other; (n) or; (adj) different

ought: (n, v) need; (v) had better, should, have, possessed, owned, owed, behoove; (n) aught, zero, duty

ourselves: (pron) myself, herself, itself, oneself, themselves, yourself; (n) me, yourselves, usself

outline: (adj, n, v) draft; (n, v) line, form, design, edge, abstract; (n) synopsis, contour, digest, figure; (v) draw. ANTONYMS: (n) exposition, light

overcast: (adj) dark, cloudy, dim, dull, gloomy, heavy, muddy, dismal; (n, v) cloud; (adj, v) obscure; (v) darken. ANTONYMS: (adj) sunny, clear

overcoat: (n) greatcoat, coat, cloak, robe, topcoat, surcoat, coating, overcoating, capote, chesterfield, gown

overhear: (v) catch, eavesdrop, listen, overheard, understand, fold up, befool, fascinate, entrance, enchant, enamour

overtaxed: (adj) tired overworked: (adj) hackneyed, tired,

weary, banal, clichd, elaborate, old, worn, unoriginal, trite, timeworn

paid: (adj, v) compensated; (adj) salaried, paying, nonrecreational, profitable, remunerated, remunerative, mercenary, settled, prepaid, apaid. ANTONYMS: (adj) owing, due, unprofitable; (adv) voluntary

pain: (n, v) hurt, afflict, ache, bother, torment, trouble, grieve, anguish; (n) ill, agony, nuisance. ANTONYMS: (v) encourage, cheer; (n) joy, peace, content, balm, ecstasy

pains: (n) nisus, labor, trouble, effort, exertion, labour, pain, care, struggle, attempt, strain

paint: (n, v) color, tint; (v) daub, coat, decorate, varnish, depict, enamel, lacquer, apply; (n) painting

paints: (n) colors pamphlet: (n) book, leaflet, booklet,

flyer, magazine, treatise, tract, writing, literature, folder, lampoon

pangs: (n) anguish, compunction, contrition, distress

papa: (n) father, pa, daddy, Dada, sire, pappa, pop, old man, paterfamilias, cardinal, high priest

paper: (n) article, newspaper, discourse, newsprint, publication, journal, essay, periodical, report, magazine, certificate

papers: (n) paper, documents, document, credentials,

Uncle Vanya 106

identification, newspaper, credential, inclosure, copyright, confession, charter

pardon: (v) excuse, condone, forgive, acquit, spare; (n) amnesty, forgiveness, grace; (adj, v) justify, exonerate, exculpate. ANTONYMS: (n, v) blame; (v) punish, castigate, condemn, convict; (n) intolerance

part: (adj, n) constituent; (n) piece, article, section; (v) break, disjoin, divide, divorce; (n, v) branch, division, character. ANTONYMS: (n) whole, entirety; (v) join, unite, meet, arrive, connect; (adv) wholly

parting: (n) adieu, division, leave, departure, disunion, goodbye, leaving, segregation, dying, rupture; (adj) valedictory. ANTONYMS: (n) joining, meeting, connection, Reunion

pass: (adj, n, v) run; (v) flow, give, deliver, lead, happen, overtake, proceed; (adj, v) move; (n, v) offer, live. ANTONYMS: (v) reject, make, take, veto; (n) failing, rejection, exclusion

passed: (adj) accepted, approved, legal, gone

passionate: (adj, v) ardent, impetuous; (adj) hot, excited, burning, angry, fervent, fierce, animated, earnest; (adj, adv) fiery. ANTONYMS: (adj) indifferent, mild, passionless, unenthusiastic, cold, calm, halfhearted, cool, lukewarm, weak, uninterested

past: (n) history, yesterday; (adj, adv, prep) beyond; (adj) former, bygone, old, prior, over, gone by; (adv) before; (adv, pref) along. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) future, present; (prep) within; (adj) current, contemporary, modern, upcoming, following, subsequent, later; (n) prospect

pasturing: (n) grazing patience: (n) endurance, fortitude,

longanimity, equanimity, tolerance, resignation, restraint, composure, sufferance; (n, v) moderation, calmness. ANTONYMS: (n) impatience, eagerness, intolerance, annoyance

patiently: (adv) perseveringly, invalidly, quietly, uncomplainingly, persistently, forbearingly, resignedly, steadily, doggedly, calmly, meekly. ANTONYM: (adv) eagerly

paul: (n) Alice Paul, apostle of the gentiles, apostle Paul, capital of

Minnesota, Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul, Saul

pause: (n, v) halt, interruption, adjournment, delay, respite, stop; (adj, n, v) rest; (n) intermission, gap; (adj, v) discontinue; (v) hesitate. ANTONYMS: (n) decisiveness, continuation, start; (v) proceed

peace: (adj, n) calm, quiet; (n) harmony, hush, repose, ease, amity, agreement, rest, pacification, order. ANTONYMS: (n) noise, chaos, conflict, uproar, commotion, agitation, war, distress, suffering, disruption, turbulence

peaceful: (adj) peaceable, quiet, gentle, even, silent, meek, peace, staid, placid, tranquil, imperturbable. ANTONYMS: (adj) aggressive, tense, noisy, turbulent, disturbed, hostile, disruptive, bothered, warlike, unpeaceful, compulsory

peas: (n) beans, bean, bills peat: (n) bobbing, combustible,

combustible material, faggot, firewood, fuel, log, moorland, bog

pedantry: (v) precisianism, purism; (n) quibbling, being pedantic, splitting hairs, conceit, pedantism, ostentation, inkhornism, fanfare, euphuism. ANTONYM: (n) creativity

pencil: (n) beam, Pleiades, gleam, light, group, cluster; (v) brush, draw, design, paint, limn draw

pennies: (n) change penny: (n) change, coin, centime,

copper, groat, subunit, money, mite, doit, small change, denomination

perfect: (adj, n, v) consummate, complete; (adj, n) absolute, full, entire; (adj) exact, utter, thorough, faultless, integral, exquisite. ANTONYMS: (adj) flawed, faulty, wrong, inferior, misshapen, incorrect, defective, used, everyday, unhappy, partial

perfectly: (adj, adv) entirely; (adv) fully, thoroughly, consummately, utterly, flawlessly, absolutely, purely, totally, faultlessly, wholly. ANTONYMS: (adv) badly, imperfectly, incorrectly, wrong, inaccurately, partially, partly, poorly, unpleasantly, wrongly

perform: (v) execute, fulfill, accomplish, do, achieve, complete, carry out, behave, make, play, appear. ANTONYMS: (v) omit, rehearse, malfunction, stop

perhaps: (adv) mayhap, perchance,

peradventure, possibly, probably, conceivably, by chance, haply, if, presumably; (n) might. ANTONYM: (adv) certainly

perished: (adj) decayed, emperished, rotting, annihilated, fallen, lost, moldy, nonexistent, putrefied, dead, decomposed

permit: (adj, n, v) give, allow, consent; (adj, v) grant; (n, v) license, leave; (v) admit, let, bear; (n) licence, permission. ANTONYMS: (n, v) ban; (v) prevent, prohibit, stop, refuse, veto, outlaw, disagree, debar, bar; (n) prohibition

personal: (adj) own, particular, human, intimate, peculiar, private, direct, proper, subjective, physical; (n) person. ANTONYMS: (adj) public, general, detached, collective, common, orthodox, formal, impersonal, outermost, external, typical

personality: (n) person, nature, identity, celebrity, character, temperament, disposition, characteristic, essence, individualism, public figure. ANTONYM: (n) nobody

persons: (n) folk, public, society, world

persuade: (v) convince, coax, assure, allure, entice, influence, induce, cajole, argue, exhort, lure. ANTONYMS: (v) discourage, dissuade, deter, restrain, force

pestering: (n) harassment, annoyance; (adj) pesky, carking, vexatious, vexing, cranky, disagreeable; (adj, v) teasing; (v) worrying, tormenting

peter: (n) Dick, prick, pecker, calamus, bill, beam of light, beam, beak, barb, asshole, bastard

petty: (adj) insignificant, trivial, little, frivolous, paltry, puny, negligible, light, mean, minute, exiguous. ANTONYMS: (adj) important, serious, generous, profound, significant, expansive, crucial, considerable, broadminded, enormous

philosophy: (n) ethics, logic, theory, ideology, literalism, monism, metaphysics, etiology, esthetics, axiology; (adj, n) stoicism

pick: (n) alternative, best, option, selection, choice; (adj, n) cream, elite; (adj, v) select; (v) opt, harvest, gather. ANTONYMS: (v) reject, refuse

picked: (adj) select, chosen, best,

Anton Chekhov 107

recherche, rare, priceless, preferred, pointed, elected, named; (v) choose

picture: (v) describe, draw, imagine, depict; (n, v) photograph, paint, fancy; (n) effigy, drawing, likeness, depiction

piece: (n) fragment, division, part, article, lump, hunk, composition, component, opus; (n, v) patch, portion. ANTONYMS: (n) whole, chunk; (v) disassemble

piercing: (adj, n) sharp, cutting; (adj, v) keen, penetrating, biting, bitter, harsh, shrill; (adj) high, raw, loud. ANTONYMS: (adj) quiet, dull, soft, hot

pigs: (n) stock, hogs, Suidae, livestock, litter, family Suidae, domestic animals, cattle, boars, sheep, farm animals

pistol: (n) firearm, gun, gat, revolver, rod, Captain Bobadil, derringer, spray gun, shooter, drawcansir, Thraso

pittance: (n) mite, meed, alimony, chicken feed, a few, donation, a smidgen, a little bit, driblet, trifle, payment

pity: (n, v) compassion, ruth; (n) mercy, commiseration, condolence, sympathy, clemency, remorse; (v) sympathize, compassionate, feel sorry for. ANTONYMS: (n) blame, cruelty, indifference, harshness, joy

place: (n, v) post, order; (v) fix, lay, arrange, locate, install; (adj, n, v) rank, station; (n) domicile, office. ANTONYMS: (v) remove, divest, lift, dismantle

plain: (adj) ordinary, comprehensible, intelligible, apparent, manifest, obvious, clear, simple; (adj, n) flat, homely, humble. ANTONYMS: (adj) elaborate, unclear, multicolored, mottled, ornate, concealed, attractive, confused, fussy, obscure, patterned

plan: (n, v) aim, map, figure, scheme, outline, plot; (n) intent, pattern, chart; (v) intend, devise. ANTONYM: (v) improvise

planet: (n) globe, satellite, world, asteroid, sphere, planets, follower, celestial body, minor planet, morning star, orbiter

plant: (v) fix, set, embed, graft, establish, constitute; (n, v) place; (n) manufactory, factory, equipment, herb. ANTONYMS: (v) dismantle, remove

plants: (n) flora, vegetation, trees, industrial equipment, afforestation,

animals, birds, flora and fauna, foliage, natural world, plantation

play: (n, v) act, frolic, pastime, game, sport, exercise, joke, bet, wager; (v) enact; (adj, v) perform. ANTONYMS: (n) tightness; (v) avoid, leave, real

pleasant: (adj) jolly, amiable, agreeable, acceptable, nice, charming, kindly, facetious, joyful, pretty; (adj, v) pleasing. ANTONYMS: (adj) disgusting, horrible, repugnant, nasty, gruesome, unwelcome, harsh, shocking, disagreeable, foul, terrible

please: (v) delight, charm, amuse, entertain, oblige, enchant, enrapture; (adj, v) gratify, enjoy, like; (adj) glad. ANTONYMS: (v) displease, annoy, irritate, anger, distress, sicken, disappoint, dissatisfy, sadden, repel, appall

pleasure: (n) fun, enjoyment, delectation, joy, comfort, happiness, mirth, inclination; (n, v) contentment, content; (adj, n, v) gratification. ANTONYMS: (n) irritation, nuisance, boredom, ache, displeasure, dissatisfaction, misery, pain, sadness, worry, anguish

plenty: (adj, n) affluence, opulence; (n) many, much, plenteousness, copiousness, plenitude, exuberance, galore; (adj, adv) enough; (adj) adequate. ANTONYMS: (adj) insufficient, inadequate; (n) scarcity, insufficiency; (adv) insufficiently

plunge: (n, v) drop, dive, fall, jump; (v) douse, duck, submerge, crash, dunk, plummet; (adj, v) immerse. ANTONYMS: (n, v) rise; (v) hesitate; (n) improvement

poetical: (adj) imaginative, rhetorical, poematic, figurative, inventive

pointing: (n) punctuation, indication, scoring

points: (n) turnout, handicap, interest, percentage, brownie points, commendation, credit, eight points, share, terms

polka: (n) folk dancing, folk music, folk dance, ethnic music, folk, waltz

pool: (n) plash, pond, lake, mere, cartel, swimming pool, syndicate, trust, kitty, basin; (v) merge

poor: (adj) bad, miserable, piteous, destitute, pitiful, insufficient, penniless, pathetic; (adj, v) meager; (adj, n) paltry, mean. ANTONYMS: (adj) wealthy, excellent, privileged, admirable, good, adequate, satisfactory, outstanding, favorable,

dignified, comfortable poorer: (adj) lesser, substandard,

subordinate, of inferior quality, not as good as, lower, junior, minor. ANTONYMS: (adj) superior, higher

poplar: (n) poplar tree, abele, cottonwood, hackmatack, wood, white poplar, angiospermous tree, gray poplar, flowering tree, black poplar, balsam poplar

portfolio: (n) brief-case, album, folder, case, investment portfolio, file, budget, bandolier, chair, brief case, function

positively: (adv) absolutely, definitely, decidedly, unequivocally, expressly, emphatically, categorically, clearly, confidently; (adv, int) surely; (adj, adv) really. ANTONYMS: (adv) disapprovingly, pessimistically, uncertainly, doubtfully, inauspiciously, ill

possessed: (adj) mad, obsessed, frantic, hysterical, furious, fanatical, infatuated, insane; (v) ought, owed, behoove. ANTONYM: (adj) uninterested

possibly: (adv) probably, perhaps, peradventure, likely, perchance, may, might, or, mayhap, conceivably, potentially. ANTONYMS: (adv) impossibly, definitely, certainly, indeed, implausibly

posterity: (n) race, descendants, issue, offspring, descendant, future, generation, progeny, breed, descendent, spat

pour: (v) gush, shed, decant, scatter, stream, flow, pelt, discharge, teem, infuse; (n, v) overflow. ANTONYMS: (v) drizzle, trickle

poverty: (n, v) lack, destitution, penury, need, indigence, want; (adj, n) distress; (n) pauperism, impoverishment, squalor, deprivation. ANTONYMS: (n) wealth, riches, affluence, smartness, luxury, prosperity, fertility, surplus

power: (n, v) might, ability, influence, dominion, faculty; (n) potency, energy, control, authority, domination, strength. ANTONYMS: (n) powerlessness, helplessness, weakness, inability, subjugation, moderation, calmness, meekness, inferiority, feebleness, ease

powers: (n) authority, capacity, strength, administration

practical: (adj) practicable, realistic, pragmatic, functional, feasible, efficient, helpful, active, expedient,

Uncle Vanya 108

useful, handy. ANTONYMS: (adj) impractical, theoretical, unrealistic, useless, impossible, passive, idealistic, impracticable, unimaginative, unprofessional, destructive

practice: (n, v) exercise, drill, discipline, use; (n) fashion, convention, habitude, habit, experience, form, observance. ANTONYMS: (n) theory, innovation; (v) perform

praise: (v) approve, extol, flatter, celebrate, glorify; (n, v) commend, compliment, honor, glory, acclaim; (n) applause. ANTONYMS: (n) criticism, disparagement; (v) reprimand, disparage, reproach, scold, belittle, rebuke, chastise, denigrate, sully

pray: (v) beg, implore, entreat, crave, invite, plead, beseech, appeal, importune, adjure, invoke. ANTONYM: (v) reject

presence: (n) front, manner, mien, bearing, carriage, figure, air, comportment, demeanor, company; (n, v) attendance. ANTONYMS: (n) absence, nonattendance

present: (adj, n, v) gift, grant; (n, v) donation, display; (adj, v) confer, bestow; (v) introduce, give, prefer, offer, perform. ANTONYMS: (v) withdraw, withhold, consume, take; (adj) missing, lost, dated, historical; (adj, n) past, future; (n) history

presenting: (adj) featuring preserve: (v) maintain, keep, save,

guard, hold, defend, uphold, keep up; (n) jam, jelly, conserves. ANTONYMS: (v) neglect, discontinue, damage, lose, attack, endanger, use, end

preserved: (adj) kept, conserved, whole, pickled, condite, safe. ANTONYM: (adj) fresh

pressure: (n, v) force, drive, press, urge, weight; (n) load, insistence, duress, exigency, constraint, compulsion. ANTONYMS: (v) protect; (n) relief, unimportance

presumption: (n) effrontery, confidence, assurance, premise, arrogance, guess, conjecture, surmise, insolence, impertinence, belief. ANTONYM: (n) respect

pretend: (adv, v) assume; (adj, v) sham, counterfeit, fake, play; (v) dissimulate, dissemble, make believe, imagine, affect, act. ANTONYMS: (adj, v) real; (adj) genuine, natural, sincere

pretty: (adj) fair, graceful, lovely, handsome, attractive, charming, good-looking, picturesque, dainty; (n) nice; (adv) very. ANTONYMS: (adj) plain, unattractive, modern, inelegant; (adv) extremely

price: (v) appraise, assess; (adj, n) worth, merit; (n) cost, charge, expense, figure, fee; (n, v) estimate, amount

pride: (n) arrogance, conceit, egotism, vanity, lordliness, assumption, insolence, disdain, hauteur; (n, v) boast; (v) plume. ANTONYMS: (n) modesty, sorrow, dregs, disgrace, shame, baseness

privy: (adj) confidential, covert, personal, clandestine, ulterior, occult, latent, secret; (n) outhouse, lavatory, loo

probably: (adv) presumably, perhaps, maybe, in all probability, in all likelihood, belike, believably, credibly; (adj, adv) doubtless; (adj) like; (n) may. ANTONYM: (adv) implausibly

procession: (n) march, convoy, cortege, cavalcade, file, string, pageant, series, sequence, progress, column

professor: (n) teacher, scholar, instructor, master, trainer, tutor, don, coach, full professor, connoisseur, academic

profound: (adj) abstruse, intense, heavy, important, sound, bottomless, grave, obscure, utter, abysmal; (adj, v) solid. ANTONYMS: (adj) shallow, trivial, lightweight, stupid, simple, mild, facile, slight, insignificant, prosaic

progress: (v) proceed, continue, go on; (n) headway, improvement, furtherance, betterment, course, growth, development; (n, v) gain. ANTONYMS: (n) decline, deterioration, regression, impasse, decrease, decay; (n, v) retreat; (v) recede, return, deteriorate, stay

promised: (adj) pledged, affianced, betrothed, busy, devoted, employed, greatly interested, intended, involved; (v) benempt, named

property: (n) characteristic, capital, peculiarity, feature, character, belongings, goods, wealth; (adj, n) attribute, quality; (n, v) possession

propose: (v) bid, nominate, design, plan, proffer, move, intend, mean, aim, suggest; (n, v) advance. ANTONYMS: (v) reject, improvise, oppose

protest: (n) demonstration, objection, complaint, challenge, question; (v) assert, object, complain, remonstrate, demur; (n, v) moan. ANTONYMS: (n, v) support, praise; (n) approval, acceptance; (v) approve, agree

proud: (adj) lofty, disdainful, haughty, exalted, egotistical, gallant, pompous, lordly, majestic, overbearing; (adj, v) dignified. ANTONYMS: (adj) humble, modest, ashamed, embarrassed, sorrowful, disappointed, miserable

punishing: (adj) gruelling, arduous, labourious, laborious, hard, heavy, punitive, backbreaking, clayey, accented, severe. ANTONYM: (adj) undemanding

pure: (adj) absolute, natural, faultless, innocent, immaculate, perfect, good, clean; (adj, n) chaste, genuine; (adj, v) mere. ANTONYMS: (adj) contaminated, dishonored, diluted, tainted, wicked, practical, polluted, flawed, marred, unsaturated, unchaste

purity: (n) holiness, cleanness, cleanliness, virtue, honor, perfection, pureness, sanctity, chastity, elegance; (adj, n) clearness. ANTONYMS: (n) coarseness, impurity, contamination, clutter, dirtiness, corruption, mustiness

purpose: (n, v) plan, intention, design, project, resolve, purport, end, object; (n) mind, effect, motive. ANTONYM: (n) weakness

puts: (n) stocks, securities, preferred stock, common stock, bonds

putting: (n) placing, putt, botong, swing, puts, miniature golf, golf stroke, golf shot, placing into standby

quantity: (n) amount, quantum, extent, measure, sum, multitude, total, portion, heap, degree, deal

quantum: (n) measure, magnitude, quantity, volume, number, mass, measurement, sum, total, size, amplitude

quarter: (n) part, district, neighbourhood, division, mercy, neighborhood, region, direction, portion; (n, v) place; (v) lodge. ANTONYM: (v) evict

question: (n, v) query, distrust, interrogate, matter, challenge, demand; (n) inquiry; (v) investigate, inquire, contest, examine. ANTONYMS: (n) certainty, resolution; (n, v) trust; (v) praise,

Anton Chekhov 109

reply, believe, accept quick: (adj) bright, hasty, agile,

nimble, intelligent, clever, speedy, active, immediate, instant; (adj, v) prompt. ANTONYMS: (adj) leisurely, dull, dim, thick, unintelligent, thorough, inept, unobservant, lengthy, long, permanent

quickly: (adv) promptly, rapidly, expeditiously, readily, speedily, swiftly, suddenly, hastily; (adj, adv) immediately, shortly; (adv, n) instantly. ANTONYMS: (adv) slowly, gradually, permanently, later, eventually, thoroughly

quiet: (adj, adv, v) still; (adj, n, v) lull, hush, pacify, compose, appease, assuage; (adj, v) moderate, cool; (adj, adv) gentle, motionless. ANTONYMS: (adj) noisy, talkative, vociferous, active, oratorical, fierce, vocal, unquiet, busy, disordered; (n) noise

quite: (adj, adv) altogether, fully, sheer, just; (adv) all, absolutely, completely, entirely, exactly, enough, well. ANTONYMS: (adv) hardly, slightly, insufficiently, partially

race: (adj, n) kind; (adj, n, v) dash, rush; (n, v) course, run, career; (n) family, people; (v) hurry, hasten, fly. ANTONYMS: (v) linger, amble

railroad: (n) railway, railway system, tram road, tramway, rails, doctrine; (v) dragoon, push, coerce, bully, dispatch

rain: (n, v) stream, hail; (n) precipitation, wet, pelting, flow, downpour, rainwater; (v) precipitate, shower, rain down. ANTONYM: (v) drizzle

raining: (adj) rainy, showery, drizzly; (n) woe. ANTONYM: (adj) dry

rains: (n) wet raised: (adj) embossed, erect, convex,

inflated, brocaded, high, uplifted, lifted, exultant; (v) in relief, repousse

rare: (adj) uncommon, thin, unusual, seldom, scarce, precious, exceptional, infrequent, few, choice, fine. ANTONYMS: (adj) common, frequent, usual, plentiful, commonplace, recurrent

rate: (n) worth, pace; (v) assess, estimate, evaluate, appreciate, compute, appraise, count, calculate; (n, v) value

rather: (adv) a little, enough, fairly, pretty, moderately, considerably, very, relatively, kind of, instead,

kinda. ANTONYMS: (adv) extremely, absolutely; (adj) complete

rattle: (n, v) jingle, jangle, clatter; (n) click, clang, clack; (v) bang, confuse, shake, patter, disconcert

rattling: (adj) lively, brisk, racy, marvelous, fantastic, zippy, snappy, spanking, merry; (adv) very, real

raven: (v) guttle, feed, devour, gulp, harry, eat; (n) crow, plunder; (adj) black, jet; (n, v) gorge

read: (v) say, decipher, understand, learn, construe, perceive, gather, indicate, demonstrate, translate, comprehend. ANTONYM: (v) write

reading: (n, v) read; (n) recital, learning, interpretation, lection, construction, version, study, perusal, erudition, exegesis

ready: (v) prepare, fix; (adj, v) fit, disposed, willing; (adj) quick, prompt, nimble, apt; (adj, n) available, dexterous. ANTONYMS: (adj) unwilling, reluctant, unavailable, unready, unripe, difficult, unenthusiastic, young

real: (adj, n, v) actual; (adj, n) true, pure, authentic; (adj) physical, material, natural, concrete, positive, literal, native. ANTONYMS: (adj, v) pretend; (adj) imaginary, artificial, fake, apparent, mock, insubstantial, imitation, fantasy, false, bogus

realise: (v) appreciate, perceive, actualize, understand, attain, comprehend, get, bring, see, make, earn

realism: (n) reality, fact, actuality, naive realism, Platonism, verisimilitude, philosophical theory, realness, slice of life, philosophical doctrine, pragmatism. ANTONYMS: (n) inaccuracy, romanticism, unreality

really: (adj, adv) honestly, genuinely, sincerely; (adv) absolutely, authentically, certainly, substantially, in reality, positively, truely, essentially. ANTONYMS: (adv) hardly, falsely, doubtfully, somewhat, unremarkably, nominally

reason: (n) account, intellect, occasion, object, understanding, argument, purpose; (n, v) cause; (v) argue, debate; (adj, n) rationality. ANTONYMS: (n) inconsistency, disincentive

received: (adj) acknowledged, conventional, standard, accredited, acceptable, orthodox, canonical, normative; (v) receiving, current,

ascertained. ANTONYMS: (adj) unconventional, nonstandard

reconciled: (adj) consistent, resigned, serene, meet; (v) made friends, affriended. ANTONYM: (adj) unreconciled

reeling: (adj) giddy, intoxicated, tipsy, queer, lightheaded, groggy, fuddled, bewildered; (n) titubation, rotary straightening

refreshed: (adj) invigorated, rejuvenated, reinvigorated, new, novel, revived, impudent, energizing, overbold, energising, clean. ANTONYM: (adj) tired

refuse: (v) deny, reject, decline, disallow, rebuff, turn down; (adj, n) waste, trash; (n) offal, litter; (n, v) dross. ANTONYMS: (v) allow, receive, permit, offer, dedicate, approve, agree, admit, choose, pass, affirm

refused: (adj) forbidden, refuse, prohibited, hence

regard: (n, v) respect, esteem, attention, heed, concern, note; (adj, n, v) notice; (v) estimate, believe; (adj, v) attend; (n) deference. ANTONYMS: (n) neglect, disesteem, inattentiveness, disdain, detachment, infamy; (v) ignore, scorn, disregard

regret: (n, v) grieve, sorrow; (v) bewail, lament, mourn, bemoan, deplore; (n) remorse, penitence, compunction, contrition. ANTONYMS: (v) welcome, praise; (n) idealism, shamelessness, joy, satisfaction

regular: (adj) normal, general, formal; (adj, n) steady, common, customary, ordinary; (adj, v) orderly, conventional, methodical; (adj, n, v) constant. ANTONYMS: (adj) irregular, erratic, variable, unusual, inconsistent, straight, extraordinary, asymmetrical, rare, distant, strong

rein: (n) bridle, curb, restraint, check, strap; (v) leash, harness, contain, rule, rein in, confine

reins: (n) bridle, Reins of a vault, reins of government, wheel, gearshift, joystick, pedals, potency, power, powerfulness

rejoice: (v) cheer, gladden, triumph, revel, jubilate, gratify, gloat, please; (n, v) delight, glory, joy. ANTONYMS: (v) lament, mourn, complain

relations: (n) family, dealings, kin, relation, connections, people, kindred, kinsfolk, contact,

Uncle Vanya 110

relationship, folks remains: (n) debris, corpse, relic,

carcass, body, rest, clay, vestige; (adj, n) remainder, remnant; (n, v) trace

remember: (v) commemorate, recognize, recollect, recall, consider, memorize, think, mind, call to mind, retain, bear in mind. ANTONYMS: (v) ignore, neglect, overlook

repeat: (v) copy, recapitulate, reduplicate, reiterate, rehearse, return, say, double, renew, iterate, duplicate

repose: (n, v) recline, peace, lie, calm; (n) composure, ease, quiet, leisure, recreation, relaxation; (v) lay. ANTONYMS: (n, v) work; (n) activity, panic, agitation

represent: (adj, v) express; (v) depict, play, exemplify, act, be, illustrate, describe, embody, enact, make. ANTONYMS: (v) prosecute, oppose

represented: (adj) delineate, depicted, representing, drawn, painted, pictured, diagrammatic

resemble: (v) seem, imitate, compare, correspond, to resemble, agree, look, simulate; (adj) look like; (n) resemblance; (adv) alike

resort: (n, v) repair, haunt; (n) expedient, refuge, holiday resort, playground, covert, retreat; (v) recur, rendezvous, frequent. ANTONYM: (v) rise

respect: (adj, n, v) regard, worship; (n, v) esteem, heed, notice, reverence; (v) observe, keep, appreciate; (n) homage, deference. ANTONYMS: (n, v) scorn, dishonor, disregard; (n) cheek, insolence, impudence, disdain; (v) despise, humiliate, break, taint

respectable: (adj) considerable, decorous, fair, estimable, decent, honorable, good, proper, creditable, passable, honest. ANTONYMS: (adj) bad, small, sordid, scruffy, inadequate, unrespectable, paltry, discourteous, inappropriate, sinful, unacceptable

respected: (adj) illustrious, respectable, honored, appreciated, dear, revered, valued, redoubtable, celebrated, glorious, famous. ANTONYMS: (adj) ordinary, unreliable, weak

respite: (n, v) pause, rest, lull; (n) repose, intermission, recess, break, remission, relief, cessation, interruption

responsibilities: (n) responsibility,

accountability, duty, errands, position, post, odd Jobs, household tasks, farm duties, everyday Jobs, tasks

responsible: (adj, v) liable, answerable, amenable; (adj) reliable, dependable, trustworthy, culpable, trusty, faithful, responsive; (v) bound. ANTONYMS: (adj) innocent, untrustworthy, reckless, guiltless, thoughtless, unreliable, corrupt

rest: (adj, n) remnant, remainder, residue; (n, v) pause, balance, nap, relaxation, sleep; (n) recess, leisure; (v) remain. ANTONYMS: (n) activity, agitation, intensification; (v) change, stand, deteriorate

resting: (adj) idle, quiescent, inactive, dormant, quiet, sleeping, reclining, obligatory, unemployed, asleep; (n) repose

restless: (adj) fidgety, uneasy, impatient, restive, agitated, fretful, turbulent, feverish; (adj, n) nervous, apprehensive; (adj, v) unquiet. ANTONYMS: (adj) relaxed, peaceful, lethargic, unbroken, still, contented

restlessness: (n) anxiety, disquiet, impatience, fidget, uneasiness, disquietude, unrest, fidgetiness, agitation, insomnia; (adj, n) nervousness. ANTONYMS: (n) calm, contentment, restfulness, peace

retired: (adj) obscure, secluded, sequestered, solitary, emeritus, secret, lonely, withdrawn, superannuated, close; (adj, v) covert

return: (v) recur, reimburse, restore; (n, v) pay, restitution, recompense, refund, restoration, render, retort; (n) proceeds. ANTONYMS: (n) departure, confiscation, abolition, recovery, loss, disappearance, penalty; (v) keep, depart, take, remove

returning: (adj) regressive, return, reversive, recurrent, coming back, ebbing, flowing back, new, newly appointed, newly elected, next. ANTONYMS: (adj) outgoing, unique, occasional

returns: (n, v) proceeds, income, profits; (n) earnings, return, census, take, revenue, wage, takings, result

revolting: (adj) offensive, loathsome, nasty, foul, detestable, nauseating, nauseous, horrible, hideous, repellent; (adj, v) sickening. ANTONYMS: (adj) attractive, pleasant, tasty, delicious, edible,

lovable, delightful, appealing, lovely revolver: (n) gun, pistol, colt,

handgun, firearm, shooter, rod, Saturday night special, revolving door, repeater

rhetoric: (n) oratory, eloquence, grandiosity, rant, empty talk, elocution, flourish, declamation, grandiloquence, bombast, palaver

rheumatism: (n) arthritis, atrophic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; (v) lumbago, podagra, otalgia, neuralgia, earache, cephalalgia, odontalgia, sciatica

rich: (adj, n) copious, luxurious; (adj) productive, fruitful, full, deep, prolific, opulent, fat, affluent; (adj, v) fertile. ANTONYMS: (adj) poor, impoverished, destitute, broke, light, plain, lean, delicate, infertile, weak, barren

ridiculous: (adj) foolish, preposterous, funny, laughable, ludicrous, inane, nonsensical, comical, farcical, amusing, comic. ANTONYMS: (adj) reasonable, inspiring, ordinary, sensitive, acceptable, generous, normal, possible, impressive, sane, worthwhile

riding: (n) ride, horseback riding, travel, hundred, tithing, soke, travelling, manege, athletics; (v) horsemanship; (adj) awheel

right-hand: (adj) righthand, right, dextral, essential

rightly: (adv) correctly, rightfully, properly, accurately, appropriately, exactly, fitly, straightly, fairly, really; (adv, v) adequately. ANTONYMS: (adv) wrongly, inappropriately, incorrectly, immorally, unjustly, partially, sinfully, unfairly, falsely

rights: (n) human rights, citizenship, possession, copyright, due, exclusive rights, nationality, official document, patent, government grant

rings: (n) ornaments, necklaces, jewels, costume jewelry, charms, bracelets

rise: (n, v) mount, lift, increase, heave, swell, jump; (v) ascend, arise; (n) elevation, ascent, progress. ANTONYMS: (n, v) decrease, drop; (v) sink, descend, plummet, retire, set; (n) reduction, descent, depreciation, ruin

rising: (n) revolt, rebellion, mutiny, ascent, ascension, climb, rise, outbreak, insurrection; (adj) climbing, uphill. ANTONYMS: (adj)

Anton Chekhov 111

plummeting, plunging, decreasing, falling, setting, downward, content; (n) fall

road: (n) way, track, course, route, avenue, highway, approach, thoroughfare, direction; (n, v) passage, line

roads: (n) anchorage, anchorage ground, communications, infrastructure, port, road and rail network, transportation

roasting: (n) barbecuing, cookery, cooking; (adj) broiling, baking, burning, boiling, airless, blazing, close; (adj, n) scorching. ANTONYMS: (adj) airy, fresh

roof: (n, v) top, cover, shelter; (n) crown, housing, ceiling, dome, house, household, back, covering

room: (n) chamber, occasion, house, apartment, opportunity, hall, opening, compartment, expanse, extent; (v) board. ANTONYM: (n) walkway

rooms: (n) flat, apartment, chamber, quarters, lodging, chambers, accommodation, cortege, suite, temporary housing, accommodations

root: (n) foundation, base, origin, basis, radix, cause, derivation, reason, fountainhead; (adj, n) radical; (v) establish. ANTONYMS: (n) descendant, effect

rotting: (adj) rotten, decaying, decayed, moldering, mouldering, decomposing, putrid; (n) rot, putrefaction, decomposition, deep etching

rough: (adj, n) hard, grating, jagged; (adj, n, v) harsh; (adj) raw, gross, cruel, crude, gruff; (adj, v) hoarse; (n, v) draft. ANTONYMS: (adj) gentle, silky, soft, sophisticated, refined, polished, precise, exact, pleasant, glossy, even

roughly: (adv) coarsely, harshly, violently, rudely, unevenly, hardly, severely, crudely; (adj, adv) nearly; (adv, prep) about; (adj, adv, prep) just about. ANTONYMS: (adv) softly, gently, smoothly, exactly, finely, lovingly, precisely, well, evenly

ruin: (n) devastation, desolation; (adj, n) downfall; (v) break, consume, demolish, destroy; (n, v) doom, ravage, destruction, damage. ANTONYMS: (v) conserve, enhance, save, restore, improve; (n, v) respect; (n) making, success, triumph, rise, preservation

ruination: (n) ruin, desolation, downfall, destruction, ruining, undoing, decay, demolition, collapse, laying waste, fall. ANTONYM: (n) making

ruined: (adj, v) lost; (adj) dilapidated, desolate, broke, broken, bankrupt, finished, devastated, desolated, insolvent, spoiled. ANTONYMS: (adj) solvent, pure, rich, whole

ruins: (n) debris, wreck, remains, remainder, carcass, wreckage, relics, rubbish, shell, remnants, hulk

running: (adj) operative, working, continual, moving; (adj, v) active; (n) course, motion, run, operation, administration; (adj, n) functioning

runs: (n) Aztec two-step, sickness, Montezuma's revenge

rush: (n, v) charge, flood, dash, flow, gush, race, run, speed, attack; (adj, n, v) burst; (n) onrush. ANTONYMS: (v) delay, dawdle, linger, wander, amble, hesitate, crawl, trickle; (n) shortage, slowness, unimportance

rushes: (n) rush, grasses russia: (n) russias, Russian, union of

Soviet socialist republics, Russian Federation, Russian Soviet federated socialist republic, Soviet Russia, USSR

rustling: (n) rustle, whispering, whisper, larceny; (adj) murmurous, susurrous, active, soughing

sadly: (adv) pitifully, dolefully, unfortunately, mournfully, sorrowfully, woefully, dejectedly, pathetically, wretchedly, forlornly; (adj, adv) seriously. ANTONYMS: (adv) cheerfully, contentedly, gladly, joyfully, fortunately, luckily, enthusiastically

saint: (v) canonize; (n) holy man, evangelist, apostle, jimdandy, jimhickey, crackerjack, holy person, ideal, apotheosis; (adj) sacred

sake: (n, v) interest, reason, motive, ground; (v) advantage, cause; (n) object, account, design, purpose, saki

salary: (n) pay, earnings, allowance, remuneration, fee, income, payment, emolument, gain, compensation, profit

same: (adj) identical, equal, like, corresponding, equivalent, similar, uniform, even, consistent, matching; (adv) equally. ANTONYMS: (adj) different, varying, another, unlike, other, varied

samovar: (n) urn

sane: (adj, n) reasonable, lucid; (adj) rational, judicious, right, sensible, normal, wise, wholesome, sound, prudent. ANTONYMS: (adj) unbalanced, insane, crazed, delirious, unreasonable, irrational, foolish

satisfied: (adj) happy, content, full, pleased, confident, complacent, persuaded, fulfilled; (adj, v) certain, sure; (v) convinced. ANTONYMS: (adj) frustrated, anxious, disgruntled, hungry, insistent, pensive, unsure, dissatisfied, ashamed

save: (v) rescue, hoard, conserve, keep, maintain, preserve, free, protect, liberate; (adv, conj, n, prep) except; (adj, v) economize. ANTONYMS: (v) waste, squander, use, abandon, endanger, capture, asphyxiate, aggravate, destroy

saying: (adj, n, v) maxim; (n) axiom, adage, phrase, dictum, idiom, byword, aphorism, expression; (n, v) saw, proverb

scales: (adj) balance, weighbridge; (n) steelyard, mill Scales

scattered: (adj) dissipated, thin, disordered, disconnected, confused, sparse, sporadic, distributed, rare, diffuse; (v) disperse

scene: (n, v) aspect, view, outlook, lookout; (n) background, display, spectacle, picture, environment, panorama, perspective

scheme: (n, v) plot, design, intrigue, project; (n) contrivance, dodge, device, diagram, method; (v) devise, conspire

scholar: (n) learner, academic, student, pundit, apprentice, intellectual, brain, exhibitioner, academician, professor, disciple. ANTONYM: (n) teacher

science: (n) learning, lore, proficiency, dexterity, virtuosity, skill, literature, knowledge, agrology, mathematics; (adj) art

scorn: (v) despise, contemn, reject; (n, v) ridicule, neglect, disregard, deride, slight; (n) contempt, derision, mockery. ANTONYMS: (n, v) respect, praise; (v) appreciate, revere, value, approve, admire, accept; (n) admiration, commendation, humility

scrape: (n, v) scratch, graze, score, mark; (v) rub, pare, rake, grate, chafe, abrade; (n) abrasion

scratch: (n, v) mark, graze, notch, scrape, nick, scrabble, dent, scar; (v)

Uncle Vanya 112

rub, chafe, rake. ANTONYM: (v) soothe

seal: (n, v) stamp; (v) plug, bar, caulk, stop, shut; (n) cachet, hallmark, imprint, signet; (adj) conclude. ANTONYMS: (n, v) open; (v) unseal

search: (v) grope, rummage, ransack, pry; (n) pursuit, exploration, examination, inquiry, inspection; (n, v) inquire, research

seated: (adj) sat, sedentary second: (n) instant, jiffy, flash,

minute, sec; (v) back, endorse, help; (n, v) support; (adj) latter, further. ANTONYMS: (adj) top, former; (n) age

seconds: (n) merchandise, retrees, goods; (adj) unacceptable, defective

secret: (adj, v) mysterious, hidden, covert, secluded, confidential; (adj) concealed, furtive, occult, obscure; (adj, n) privacy, secrecy. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) known, public; (adj) open, overt, apparent, unrestricted, external, visible, outermost, transparent, blatant

seeing: (prep) because; (adj) Seely, considering; (n) sight, vision, beholding, fusion, visual sense; (v) conceive, comprehend, perceive

seek: (n, v) ask, inquire; (v) hunt, endeavor, attempt, look, aspire, pursue, beg, quest, explore. ANTONYMS: (v) answer, grant

seem: (v) appear, feel, seeming, loom, expect, show, beseem, sound, glitter, glisten, gleam

seen: (adj) visible, clad, beseen, accomplished, discovered, appearing; (v) observe, perceive, conceive, comprehend, understand

seldom: (adj) scarce, rare, few, infrequent; (adv) occasionally, infrequently, uncommonly, hardly, scarcely, not often, once in a blue moon. ANTONYMS: (adv) often, seldom

self: (n) ego, person, me, individual, being; (pron) myself, herself, itself; (adj) same; (v) own; (adv) personally

self-conceit: (n) conceit selfish: (adj) mean, greedy,

mercenary, egotistical, egotistic, egoistic, self-interested, stingy, egocentric, self-centered, covetous. ANTONYMS: (adj) selfless, altruistic, generous, altruism, considerate, philanthropic, thoughtful, constructive, concerned, abstemious, kind

self-sacrifice: (n) martyrdom, renunciation

sell: (v) deal, handle, dispose, betray, give, promote, realize, merchandise, dispose of; (n, v) cheat; (adj) sold. ANTONYMS: (v) buy, wholesale

senator: (n) Magnus Apollo, monitor, mentor, consul, counselor, representative, delegate, legislator

send: (v) pass, deliver, forward, convey, dispatch, mail, post, give, carry, divert, project. ANTONYM: (v) keep

sense: (n) perception, meaning, common sense, sensation, logic, understanding, impression, feeling; (n, v) feel, intellect, mind. ANTONYMS: (n) stupidity, garbage, ludicrousness, nonsense, foolishness, gibberish, illogicality, irrationality, numbness, certainty; (v) observe

senseless: (adj) foolish, mindless, preposterous, pointless, irrational, absurd, stupid, insensible, idiotic, fatuous, purposeless. ANTONYMS: (adj) meaningful, wise, conscious, provoked, prudent, useful, worthwhile

senses: (adj) sober senses, sound mind; (n) reason, mind, conception, consciousness, judgment, faculties, mother wit, right mind, sanity

sensible: (adj) aware, sagacious, prudent, rational, judicious, perceptible, sane, wise, intelligent, appreciable, sage. ANTONYMS: (adj) ludicrous, crazy, unreasonable, stupid, silly, ridiculous, reckless, idiotic, outrageous, imprudent, mad

sensitive: (adj) excitable, sore, tender, sensible, painful, impressionable, emotional, irritable, receptive, gentle, susceptible. ANTONYMS: (adj) numb, hardhearted, tactless, impervious, dense, improper, insensible, prosaic, straightforward, unconcerned, indiscriminate

sent: (adj) dispatched, imported, ecstatic, blissful, fascinated, intoxicated; (v) transmit. ANTONYM: (adj) unsent

sentiments: (n) breast seriously: (adv) earnestly, soberly,

severely, solemnly, badly, deeply, staidly, sincerely, thoughtfully, greatly, weightily. ANTONYMS: (adv) frivolously, playfully, cheerfully, slightly, teasingly, jovially, nonchalantly, lightheartedly, briskly, mildly, lightly

servants: (n) staff, suite settled: (adj) definite, set, firm,

permanent, certain, calm, established, decided, formed, defined, finished. ANTONYMS: (adj) unsettled, exciting, temporary

seven: (adj, n) VII; (n) September, septet, week, nine, knave, king, jack, queen, digit, Sevener

seventeen: (n) large integer seventy: (n) large integer several: (adj, v) diverse, divers,

sundry; (adj, n) a few, some; (adj) various, individual, different, particular, special, numerous. ANTONYMS: (adj) joint, all, none

severely: (adv) seriously, gravely, badly, sternly, harshly, hardly, strictly, rigidly, violently, sharply, strongly. ANTONYMS: (adv) leniently, gently, elaborately, lightheartedly, slightly, mildly, compassionately, tenderly, warmly, superficially, modestly

shadow: (n) ghost, darkness, apparition, follower, gloom, reflection; (n, v) eclipse, trace, tail, hint; (v) follow. ANTONYMS: (v) brighten, lead; (n) brightness, pallor

shadows: (n) dark, darkness, night, dimness, dusk, fogginess, mistiness, gloom, cloudiness. ANTONYM: (n) brightness

shady: (adj) questionable, dark, fishy, doubtful, queer, suspicious, dim, uncertain, obscure, disreputable, dishonest. ANTONYMS: (adj) sunny, trustworthy, bright, reputable, aboveboard

shakes: (n) hangover, jitters, nervousness, tension, anxiety

shaking: (adj, n) quivering, tremor, jarring; (n) quiver, palpitation, quake; (adj) quaking, shaky, flutter, unsteady, shivering

shall: (n) must, necessity; (v) require, bequeath, leave

shallow: (adj) superficial, low, cursory, petty, little, sketchy, flimsy, frivolous, simple, surface, perfunctory. ANTONYMS: (adj) bottomless, profound, intense, pensive, serious, inner, weighty

shame: (n, v) disgrace, dishonor, discredit, humiliate, degrade, chagrin; (n) humiliation, modesty, scandal, insult; (v) abash. ANTONYMS: (n) pride, glorification, making, worthiness; (v) acknowledge, glorify, respect, dignify

shameful: (adj) scandalous, dishonorable, opprobrious, shocking, ignominious,

Anton Chekhov 113

disreputable, despicable; (adj, v) foul, base, gross, black. ANTONYMS: (adj) honorable, noble, dignified, admirable, faultless, reputable, glorious, compassionate, praiseworthy, commendable, excellent

shape: (n, v) cast, mold, fashion, mould, model, make, design; (n) pattern, figure; (v) determine, influence

share: (n, v) portion, allot, part, distribute, apportion, deal, divide; (v) participate, partake, dispense; (n) dole. ANTONYM: (v) refrain

sharp: (adj, n, v) keen, acute, bitter; (adj) intelligent, intense, incisive; (adj, v) biting, acid, acrid, severe, harsh. ANTONYMS: (adj) dull, mild, gentle, sweet, rounded, bland, round, smooth, blurred, naive, kind

sharpness: (n, v) keenness, edge; (n) severity, bitterness, asperity, acumen, poignancy, pungency, quickness, perspicacity; (adj, n) roughness. ANTONYMS: (n) dullness, haziness, softness, slowness, indistinctness, gentleness, evenness, courtesy, blandness, stupidity, kindness

shawl: (n) wrap, mantle, cape, muffler, scarf, pall, mantlet Mantua, wrapper, kerchief, headscarf, stole

sheer: (adj) pure, filmy, bold, transparent, gauzy, simple, diaphanous, gossamer; (adj, n) complete, mere, perfect. ANTONYMS: (adj) thick, gentle, opaque, heavy, gradual, robust, partial

shining: (adj, v) brilliant; (adj) lustrous, radiant, glossy, luminous, glorious, glowing; (adj, n) lucid, resplendent, clear; (v) shine. ANTONYMS: (adj) dull, pale, blemished

shivering: (adj) quivering, shaking, trembling, shaky, quaking, tremulous, shuddering, chilled; (n) chill, cold, shiver. ANTONYM: (adj) composed

shockingly: (adv) scandalously, dreadfully, shamefully, disgracefully, horridly, awfully, surprisingly, offensively, terrifically, startlingly, revoltingly. ANTONYMS: (adv) pleasantly, commendably, predictably, properly

shoot: (v) discharge, flash, drive, dart, dash, send, photograph; (n) scion, branch; (n, v) sprout, hunt. ANTONYM: (v) trickle

short: (adj, v) concise, close; (adj) scarce, curt, brusque, sharp, compendious, laconic, deficient, scanty, diminutive. ANTONYMS: (adj) long, high, lengthy, unabridged, sufficient, slender, rangy, rambling, overlong, extended, plentiful

shot: (n) injection, gunshot, go, fling, shoot, crack, ball, picture, bang, jab, discharge

shoulder: (v) carry, push, hold, jostle, sustain, support, assume, accept; (n, v) elbow; (n) back, flange

show: (adj, n, v) present, appearance; (n, v) exhibit, produce, broadcast, indicate, parade; (v) point out; (n) presentation, ostentation; (adj, v) guide. ANTONYMS: (v) disprove, hide, withhold, suppress, disappear, cover, absorb; (n) concealment

shower: (n, v) wash, rain, hail, drizzle, bath; (v) sprinkle, bathe, shed, scatter; (n) rain shower, rainfall. ANTONYM: (n) trickle

shrinking: (n) contraction, recoil, reduction, decrease, condensation; (n, v) lessening; (adj) timid, fearful, shy, bashful; (adj, adv) cowardly. ANTONYM: (adj) confident

shut: (v) seal, bar, fasten, obstruct, lock, exclude; (adj) closed, cut; (n) shutting, end, finish. ANTONYMS: (v) admit, undo

shuts: (adj) closed sick: (adj) ill, queasy, poorly, ailing,

weary, diseased, sickly, morbid; (adj, v) indisposed, unwell; (adj, n) invalid. ANTONYMS: (adj) healthy, fond, wholesome

sickness: (n, v) disease, indisposition, malady, disorder, distemper, ailment; (n) complaint, qualm, nausea, disgust, queasiness

side: (n) rim, faction, brink, direction, hand, aspect, margin; (adj, n) part; (n, v) party, border, face. ANTONYMS: (adj) distant, central, major, primary; (n) back, front, center, middle; (v) straddle

sideboard: (n) cupboard, closet, cellaret, credenza, cabinet, counter, locker, credence, press, snack bar, bin

sideways: (adj) side, crabwise, crosswise, indirect; (adv) obliquely, laterally, sidelong, sideway, sidewise, sidewards; (adj, adv) aslant. ANTONYMS: (adj) level, direct; (adv) across

sigh: (n, v) groan, suspire, murmur; (v) breathe, languish, pine; (n)

breath, wail, whimper, whine, suspiration

sight: (n, v) vision, glimpse, show, aspect, appearance; (v) aim, spot, see; (n) view, prospect, scene

silence: (adj, n, v) calm, still; (int, n, v) hush; (n, v) lull; (n) mum; (adj, v) appease; (v) mute, allay, pacify, muzzle; (int, v) shut up. ANTONYMS: (n) sound, openness, uproar, movement; (v) amplify, Louden, encourage, rouse

silent: (adj, adv) motionless; (adj) dumb, tacit, mute, noiseless, reserved, placid, reticent, mum, taciturn, hush. ANTONYMS: (adj) spoken, talkative, loud, explicit, open, live, forthcoming, verbal, audible, talking, moving

silently: (adv) mutely, stilly, quietly, noiselessly, soundlessly, taciturnly, wordlessly, secretly, speechlessly, placidly, tacitly. ANTONYMS: (adv) loudly, audibly, openly, brazenly

silly: (adj) ridiculous, absurd, childish, fatuous, irrational, frivolous, idiotic, preposterous, unreasonable; (adj, n) fool; (n) imbecile. ANTONYMS: (adj) mature, wise, rational, clever, advisable, profound, reasonable, responsible, significant

simple: (adj, n) plain, humble, innocent, rustic; (adj) homely, elementary, natural; (adj, v) pure, clear, mere, downright. ANTONYMS: (adj) complex, complicated, compound, elaborate, difficult, multiple, obscure, ornate, problematical, sophisticated, confusing

simply: (adj, adv) only, exclusively, barely; (adv) just, alone, directly, purely, absolutely, easily, plainly; (adj) straightforward. ANTONYMS: (adv) elaborately, ornately, majestically, covertly, dishonestly, incoherently, obscurely, pretentiously

since: (adv, conj, prep) because, seeing that; (adv, prep) afterwards, before; (adv, conj) for, as; (adj, adv) ago; (conj) whereas; (prep) from, of; (adv) after

sincere: (adj, v) earnest, devout; (adj) genuine, faithful, heartfelt, honest, serious, open, artless, candid; (adj, n) cordial. ANTONYMS: (adj) insincere, dishonest, guarded, flippant, affected, disingenuous, hypocritical, cunning, unfaithful, unenthusiastic, unbelievable

Uncle Vanya 114

singing: (v) sing; (n) chanting, caroling, crooning, hymnody, humming, intonation, scat, psalmody, harmonization; (adj) cantabile. ANTONYM: (adj) silent

single: (adj) celibate, odd, particular, separate, solitary, isolated, sole, lone, lonely, simple; (adj, n) one. ANTONYMS: (adj) double, multiple, divorced, attached, dual, involved, widowed, general, common; (n) record

sink: (n, v) sag, dip; (v) decline, fall, set, descend, drop, fell, subside, settle; (adj, n, v) droop. ANTONYMS: (v) rise, float, improve, increase, recover, drift, ascend, raise

sister: (n) nurse, nun, brother, sisters, older sister, mate, twin, pair, fellow companion, double, match. ANTONYM: (n) brother

sits: (n) sat sitting: (n) session, seat, seance,

meeting, seating, conference, posing; (adj) seated, inactive; (v) incubation, batching. ANTONYMS: (adj) standing, active

sixty: (adj) threescore; (n) three score, large integer, lux

sketch: (n, v) plan, outline, draft, scheme, picture, project; (n) drawing, cartoon, plot; (v) paint, draw

sleek: (adj) glossy, silky, shiny, slippery, silken, satiny, satin, even; (adj, v) slick, smooth; (v) polish. ANTONYMS: (adj) rough, shaggy, coarse

sleep: (n, v) nap, repose, doze, kip, slumber, catnap; (adj, n, v) lie; (v) hibernate, nod; (n) dream; (adj, v) lodge. ANTONYMS: (v) awaken; (n) alertness, agitation

sleepy: (adj) drowsy, dozy, slow, lazy, hypnotic, inactive, comatose, dull, heavy, dreamy; (adv) asleep. ANTONYMS: (adj) awake, energetic, vigorous, clear, lively, refreshed

slightly: (adv) slenderly, slimly, lightly, somewhat, little, thinly, moderately, weakly, faintly, trivially, unimportantly. ANTONYMS: (adv) significantly, infinitely, excessively, terribly, tremendously, solidly, particularly, much, considerably, seriously, intensely

slow: (adj, v) slack; (adj) dull, sluggish, heavy, stupid, lazy, indolent, inactive; (adj, adv) easy,

behind; (adj, n) gradual. ANTONYMS: (adj) intelligent, rapid, bright, speedy, alert, brisk, quick, prompt, hasty, rushed; (v) accelerate

slowly: (adj, adv, v) slow; (adv) deliberately, sluggishly, tediously, dully, gradually, unhurriedly, slackly, lethargically, belatedly; (adj, adv) lento. ANTONYMS: (adv) fast, hurriedly, promptly, rapidly, immediately, briefly, intelligently, vigorously, brightly, nimbly, punctually

small: (adj) little, narrow, slight, minor, inadequate, petty, fine, insignificant, light, remote; (adj, v) low. ANTONYMS: (adj, adv) big; (adj) sizeable, colossal, considerable, enormous, great, huge, bulky, major, giant, important

smaller: (adj) littler, inferior, lesser, less, little, shorter, lower, littlest, subordinate

smile: (n) grin, grinning, smiling, luck, facial expression; (v) laugh, beam, chuckle, simper; (n, v) grimace; (adv) smilingly. ANTONYMS: (n, v) scowl; (v) glower

smoke: (n) fumes, cigarette, cigar, smog, fog; (n, v) reek, fumigate, puff; (v) exhale, cure; (adj) tobacco

snatches: (n) grasp, gain, catch sneak: (adj, n, v) slink; (v) lurk, creep,

crawl, fawn; (adj, n) coward; (adj, v) grovel; (n) informer; (n, v) skulk, snitch; (adj) dastard

sober: (adj, v) grave, sedate; (adj) sane, earnest, quiet, solemn, moderate, modest, serene, dull, somber. ANTONYMS: (adj) intoxicated, unrestrained, drunk, playful, sensational, emotional, cheerful, frivolous, funny, muddled, delirious

sofa: (n) couch, lounge, divan, bench, davenport, seat, squab, chair, form, convertible, daybed

softly: (adv) quietly, mildly, lightly, tenderly, delicately, gently, soft, quiet, silently, kindly, slowly. ANTONYMS: (adv) hoarsely, roughly, loudly, clearly, harshly, forte, severely, strongly, heavily, convincingly, brightly

somehow: (adv) anyhow, anyway, for some reason, somewhat, someway, someways, a little, in some manner, in some way, very, somehow or other

something: (n) what, object, thing,

article, entity, substance, somebody; (adv, n) somewhat; (adv) rather, a little, kinda. ANTONYM: (pron) nothing

sometimes: (adv) from time to time, occasionally, every now and then, now and again, every so often, once, sometime, once in a while, formerly; (n) at times; (adj, adv) on and off. ANTONYM: (adv) regularly

soon: (adv) shortly, presently, anon, immediately, directly, at once, before long, betimes, quickly, promptly; (adj, adv) early. ANTONYMS: (adv) now, eventually, later, slowly

sooner: (adj, adv) rather, earlier, before, preferably, instead; (adv) first, before now, faster, previously, beforehand; (adj) prior

sorrow: (n, v) regret, lament, grieve; (v) mourn; (n) mourning, heartache, repentance, remorse; (adj, n) sadness, misery; (adj, n, v) distress. ANTONYMS: (n) joy, delight, happiness, peace, hopefulness, cheerfulness, shamelessness, calm, content; (v) rejoice

sorrowful: (adj) melancholy, doleful, sad, rueful, lugubrious, gloomy, dreary, grievous, piteous, unhappy, mournful. ANTONYMS: (adj) cheerful, content, joyful, successful

sorry: (adj) pathetic, sorrowful, remorseful, contrite, pitiful, pitiable, piteous, penitent, paltry, base, sad. ANTONYMS: (adj) glad, happy, admirable, unremorseful, fine

sort: (adj, n, v) class; (n, v) type, group, rank; (n) variety, breed, assortment, form, pattern; (adj, n) manner, description

sorts: (n) varieties, sorting, running pi, batter

soul: (n) creature, human, person, personification, ghost, individual, mind, essence, life, self; (adj, n) heart. ANTONYMS: (n) surface, body

sound: (n, v) chime, echo, peal; (adj) reasonable, complete, healthy, sensible, sane, rational; (adj, v) fit, fast. ANTONYMS: (adj) illogical, unsound, confused, unreliable, flawed, flimsy, silent, weak, unreasonable; (n) silence; (v) devoice

spare: (adj, v) free, reserve, save, thin; (adj) slender, slight, additional, lean; (adj, n) extra, excess; (v) exempt. ANTONYMS: (n) shortfall, original; (adj) principal, fat, basic, abundant,

Anton Chekhov 115

stout; (v) need, include speak: (adj, v) pronounce, utter; (v)

converse, say, deliver, articulate, recite, talk, discourse, lecture; (n) language

speaking: (n) talk, discourse, speech, public speaking, reading, oral presentation, recital, recitation, disputation; (v) speak; (adj) expressive. ANTONYMS: (adj) nonspeaking, silent

speaks: (n) talks speckled: (adj) dotted, mottled,

piebald, specked, spotty, freckled, spotted, multicolored, flecked, brindled, blotchy. ANTONYM: (adj) limited

speculating: (n) conception speech: (n) lecture, expression,

language, conversation, sermon, diction, communication; (n, v) delivery, discourse, say, saying

speed: (n, v) hurry, hasten, rush, race, dispatch; (v) quicken, run, dash, expedite; (n) velocity, rapidity. ANTONYMS: (n) amble, tardiness; (v) decelerate, hinder, linger, delay, crawl

spend: (v) expend, exhaust, squander, pay out, blow, deplete, pass, wear, lead; (adj, v) waste; (n) outlay. ANTONYMS: (v) conserve, earn, hoard, keep

spending: (n) expense, outlay, disbursement, outgo, expenses, disbursal, outgoings, expenditures, use, expending, pay. ANTONYMS: (n) income, conservation

spent: (adj, v) prostrate; (adj) fatigued, expended, finished, gone, dead, played out, effete, jaded, tired; (v) spend. ANTONYM: (adj) energetic

spiteful: (adj) malicious, malevolent, sinister, nasty, malignant, venomous, despiteful, ill-natured, vindictive, cruel, hateful. ANTONYMS: (adj) benevolent, harmless, merciful, kindhearted, friendly, pleasant, loving, benign, generous, gentle, flattering

splendid: (adj, n, v) illustrious, glorious; (adj) gorgeous, beautiful, royal, gallant, proud; (adj, n) magnificent, noble, grand; (adj, v) brilliant. ANTONYMS: (adj) unimpressive, modest, humble, ordinary, undistinguished, meager, awful, dire, lowly, inglorious, shabby

spoil: (n, v) ruin; (v) rot, corrupt, mar, deface, sack; (adj, v) impair,

damage, injure, harm, indulge. ANTONYMS: (v) improve, conserve, enliven, help, abuse, beautify, deny, neglect, correct, respect, clean

spoiled: (adj) bad, rotten, stale, spoil, coddled, pampered, corrupt, damaged, spoilt, putrid, rancid. ANTONYM: (adj) unspoiled

spoilt: (adj) spoiled, blighted, be stunted, destroyed, unsound, corrupt, disordered, reproduced fraudulently, defective, defiled, big

spoke: (n) bar, rung, radius, rule, shoe, skid, rundle, line, clog, round; (v) said

spoken: (adj) verbal, expressed, speaking, speak, unwritten, vocal, voiced, talk, said, informal, conversational. ANTONYMS: (adj) written, unspoken, tacit, formal, silent

spots: (n) damp, drifter, floater, floating policy, muscae volitantes, Musca volitans

sprite: (n) fairy, imp, pixie, gnome, faerie, leprechaun, brownie, hob, ghost, nymph, dwarf. ANTONYM: (n) unfairness

squeezed: (adj) cramped stale: (adj, n) musty, moldy; (adj) old,

commonplace, hackneyed, insipid, trite, corny, flat, stagnant; (adj, v) dry. ANTONYMS: (adj) fresh, original, innovative, airy, new, exceptional, imaginative

stalking: (n) deerstalking, hunting, chaff, harassment, still hunt, shuck, pestering, pursuit, husk, nuisance, angry walk

stand: (v) endure, undergo; (n) rack, booth, attitude, base, pedestal; (n, v) live, position; (adj, v) suffer, tolerate. ANTONYMS: (v) sit, lie, yield, forbid; (n) top

standing: (n) fame, position, importance, prestige, place, reputation, footing; (adj) erect, motionless, continuance; (n, v) stand. ANTONYMS: (adj) seated, moving, horizontal, falling, temporary

stands: (n) bleachers, stood, grandstand, standing, stop, covered stand, standpoint, stall, sales booth, reviewing stand, rack

starling: (n) mina, myna, sterling, common starling, minah, myna bird, mynah bird, oscine bird; (adj) earthquake, loud

start: (n) onset, origin; (v) begin, originate, drive, commence, embark,

spring, enter; (n, v) launch, shock. ANTONYMS: (n, v) finish, stop; (v) conclude, halt, terminate, arrive; (n) conclusion, demise, departure, middle, culmination

started: (adv) happening, in progress, ongoing; (v) stert, leaped

starting: (adj) opening, initial; (n) start, commencement, first, outset, kickoff, origin, departure, origination, onset

starving: (adj) famished, hungry, malnourished, voracious, skinny, undernourished, thin, empty, peckish; (adj, v) starved; (n) starvation. ANTONYMS: (adj) satiated, healthy

state: (n) nation, position, kingdom, status, country; (n, v) say, show, place; (adj) national; (v) express, expound. ANTONYMS: (adj) private; (n) monarchy; (v) conceal, refute

stay: (adj, n, v) remain; (n, v) rest, prop, stop, delay, abide, continue, pause, endure, halt, support. ANTONYMS: (v) change, abscond, depart, move, disappear, become, go

stayed: (v) staid, serious, philosophic, sedate, platonic, stoical; (n) stays; (adj) late

steal: (v) purloin, abstract, sneak, filch, pinch, creep, misappropriate, rob, pilfer; (n) bargain; (n, v) snatch

stealing: (n) pilferage, larceny, theft, steal, burglary, misappropriation, embezzlement, stolen, thievery, pilfering, thieving

step: (n) stage, degree, rank, level, gait, gradation, footprint; (n, v) walk, measure, stride; (v) tread

stern: (adj) rigid, rigorous, austere, hard, strict, grim, solemn, rough; (adj, v) harsh; (n) back; (adj, n) rear. ANTONYMS: (adj) friendly, approving, lenient, funny, genial, gentle, kindly, lax, liberal, cheerful, flexible

stick: (adj, v) adhere, cohere; (n, v) stab, paste, staff; (v) cling, attach, fix, bind, affix; (n) bar. ANTONYMS: (v) detach, open, undo

stifle: (v) smother, suffocate, repress, dampen, muffle, extinguish, strangle, quell, hush up, asphyxiate, check. ANTONYMS: (v) express, arouse, stimulate, light, exacerbate, show

stifling: (adj) close, oppressive, sweltering, stuffy, heavy, hot, torrid, sticky; (n) crushing, quelling, suppression. ANTONYMS: (adj)

Uncle Vanya 116

fresh, airy, cool, temperate stir: (adj, n, v) move, bustle; (v) rouse,

arouse, affect, agitate, inspire; (adj, n) movement; (n) commotion, excitement, disturbance. ANTONYMS: (v) dampen, retire, stultify, bore, steady, stifle, suppress; (n) quiet, peace; (n, v) calm

stocking: (n) hosiery, boothose, trunk hose, supplying, stocking level, tights, silk stocking, nylons, nylon stocking, rayon stocking; (adj) stockinged

stolen: (adj) stealed, stole, stealing, steal, steals, furtive, stealthy, secret, taken, misbegotten, sly

stone: (n) jewel, rock, pebble, gem, calculus, gemstone, kernel, concretion; (n, v) pit; (v) lapidate, pelt

stoop: (v) crouch, bend, deign, condescend, descend, squat, couch, cringe, lean, lower oneself; (n) porch. ANTONYM: (v) straighten

stop: (int, n, v) hold, stand; (adj, n, v) stay, cease; (n, v) check, end, close, block, bar, arrest; (v) obstruct. ANTONYMS: (n, v) continue; (v) begin, encourage, permit, prolong, persevere, expedite, accelerate; (n) continuation, proceed, go

stops: (n) Chicago, Michigan, Newmarket, boodle, halts, stop, stoppages, stopped, stopping, card game, moolah

storm: (n, v) rush, tempest, hail, attack, assault, charge; (v) fume; (n) shower, blizzard, hurricane, gust. ANTONYM: (n) trickle

stove: (n) cooker, hearth, heater, furnace, fireplace, kiln, oven, cooking stove, cookstove, kitchen stove, kitchen range

strange: (adj) foreign, peculiar, unusual, abnormal, outlandish, irregular, odd, new, mysterious, extraordinary, curious. ANTONYMS: (adj) ordinary, normal, familiar, typical, usual, conventional, explicable, sensible, mainstream, known, human

strangely: (adv) curiously, queerly, unusually, funnily, peculiarly, weirdly, marvelously, uncommonly, extraordinarily, singularly, bizarrely. ANTONYMS: (adv) typically, ordinarily, harmoniously

strangle: (v) smother, stifle, asphyxiate, scrag, tighten, repress, constrict, pinch, strangulate; (adj, v) throttle; (n) strangling

strength: (n, v) power; (n) energy, firmness, endurance, stability, potency, health, soundness; (adj, n, v) might; (adj, n) vigor, intensity. ANTONYMS: (n) frailty, shortcoming, flaw, faintness, powerlessness, moderation, limitation, instability, impotence, feebleness, disadvantage

strings: (n) string, string section, sway, control, dealings, domination, jurisdiction, terms, condition, command, provision

striped: (adj) stripy, brindled, variegated, lined, banded, virgated, zoned, paled, with stripes

stroking: (v) caress, strike, blow; (n) cam stroke, feeling, effleurage, diagonal, CVA, commendation, glide, slash

strong: (adj) intense, able, firm, stable, steady, solid, hard, lusty; (adj, v) deep, sound; (adj, n, v) steadfast. ANTONYMS: (adj) weak, pale, unconvincing, slight, feeble, frail, bland, faint, delicate, mild, lightweight

stronger: (adj) reprobate, insensible, reproof, iniquity, hardening, shameless, graceless, immoralities, ministry; (v) Milman, misery

struggle: (n, v) contest, battle, conflict, combat, strain, endeavor, attempt, dispute, quarrel; (n) effort, exertion. ANTONYMS: (v) flourish; (n) ease, surrender, friendship

struggling: (v) strive; (adj) harassed, hostile, under pressure, stressed, aggressive, agonizing, rebellious, belligerent, careworn; (n) colluctation

stupefied: (adj) stunned, amazed, astonished, bewildered, astounded, dumbfounded, stupid, confused, flabbergasted, dumfounded, groggy. ANTONYMS: (adj) precise, unimpressed

stupid: (adj, n) foolish, silly, simple, absurd; (adj, adv, n) dull; (adj) idiotic, ridiculous, senseless, fatuous, crass, insane. ANTONYMS: (adj) wise, clever, bright, intelligent, shrewd, prudent, responsible, smart, great, sensitive, useful

stupidly: (adv) dully, thickly, obtusely, senselessly, fatuously, slowly, insanely, unwisely, doltishly, crassly, densely. ANTONYMS: (adv) shrewdly, brightly, sensibly, wisely, sensitively, prudently, carefully

subject: (n) matter, citizen, motif,

question, issue, affair, point, national; (adj, v) exposed; (adj, n) dependent, inferior. ANTONYMS: (n) foreigner, resolution; (adj) impervious

submit: (v) comply, obey, acquiesce, give in, present, hand in, put forward, hand over, propose, give; (n, v) resign. ANTONYMS: (v) resist, persevere, defy, overpower, face, disobey, conquer

success: (n) conquest, prosperity, achievement, hit, passing, victory, effectiveness, accomplishment, triumph, coup, achiever. ANTONYMS: (n) flop, disappointment, prevention, debacle, defeat, fruitlessness, poverty, dissatisfaction, inefficiency, criticism

suddenly: (adj, adv) quickly, rapidly, immediately, presto; (adv) hastily, short, all at once, sudden, sharply, unexpectedly, instantly. ANTONYMS: (adv) increasingly, predictably, slowly, gently, progressively, sensibly, eventually

suffer: (v) encounter, stand, accept, undergo, brook, experience, have, endure, abide, sustain; (adj, v) allow. ANTONYMS: (v) enjoy, rejoice, flourish

suffered: (adj) permitted, permissive suffering: (n) distress, agony,

affliction, anguish, torture, grief, torment, misery, hardship; (adj, n) hurt; (adj) miserable. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) content; (n) peace, ecstasy, joy, pleasure

suffocating: (adj) choking, oppressive, smothering, close, stifling, suffocative, suffocatingly, suffocate, sultry, stifle, overpowering

sulk: (v) mope, pout, brood, glower, stew, grizzle, frown, gripe; (n) mood, temper, sulkiness. ANTONYMS: (v) grin, smile

sultry: (adj) hot, humid, muggy, oppressive, stifling, sticky, ardent, sensual, stuffy, sweltering, torrid. ANTONYMS: (adj) fresh, cool, cold, temperate, dry

summer: (n) summertime, joist, rafter, beam, scaffold, season, skeleton, corner stone, lintel, transom, girder. ANTONYM: (n) winter

sunday: (n) sun, sabbath, week, day of rest; (adj) not forged, resulting favorably, full, good, right, just, morally admirable

Anton Chekhov 117

sunlight: (n) sunshine, daylight, the sun, positive, solar, sunbeam, brightness, sunbeams, rays, shaft, beam

superb: (adj) beautiful, brilliant, magnificent, exquisite, gorgeous, super, rich, marvelous, grand, excellent, glorious. ANTONYMS: (adj) poor, inferior, terrible, meager, abysmal, dire, humble, inglorious, ugly, unattractive, unimpressive

superhuman: (adj) supernatural, heavenly, preterhuman, superman, epic, daring, godlike, gallant, brave, celestial, incredible. ANTONYM: (adj) normal

superintend: (v) oversee, manage, direct, administer, control, run, supervise, govern, handle, overlook, inspect

supper: (n) meal, tea, lunch, repast, reception, mealtime, siesta, social affair; (v) dejeuner, bever, whet

suppose: (v) infer, guess, speculate, divine, presume, conjecture, reckon, imagine, estimate, consider, assume. ANTONYMS: (v) disbelieve, know, measure, despair, doubt, speculate

sure: (adj) secure, reliable, safe, indisputable, dependable, assured, positive; (adj, v) steady, firm; (adv) certainly; (adj, adv) for certain. ANTONYMS: (adj) doubtful, uncertain, unsure, hesitant, humbled, dubious, indefinite, wavering, wobbly, unconvinced; (adv) doubtfully

surely: (adv) positively, definitely, confidently, securely, undoubtedly, clearly, firmly, assuredly, absolutely; (adj, adv) really; (adv, int) of course. ANTONYMS: (adv) questionably, uncertain, weakly

surplus: (n) remainder, balance, overabundance, surfeit, remnant, glut, overflow, plethora; (adj, adv, n) extra; (adj) superfluous; (adj, adv) over. ANTONYMS: (adj, n) lack; (n) shortage, scarcity, shortfall, lacking, essential, deficit; (adj) need, basic, want, necessity

surprise: (n) fright, amazement, wonder, astonishment; (n, v) alarm, shock, jolt; (v) amaze, startle, astonish, stun. ANTONYMS: (n) expectation; (v) encourage, comfort

surrender: (v) concede, abandon, give up, capitulate, submit, deliver; (adj, n) resignation; (n, v) resign, render, release; (n) capitulation. ANTONYMS: (v) conquer, appropriate, persevere, subdue,

enforce; (n, v) fight, win; (n) capture, confrontation, conquest, victory

surrendered: (adj) given surrounded: (adj) enclosed, ingirt,

not independent, ringed, inside, rooted, conditioned, circumstanced, bounded; (v) beset, furnished

suspect: (v) mistrust, suppose, distrust, conjecture, guess, surmise, divine, disbelieve; (adj) fishy, questionable, shady. ANTONYMS: (adj) trustworthy, trusted, innocent, reliable, credible, aboveboard; (n) plaintiff; (v) know, believe

suspicious: (adj) questionable, distrustful, shady, queer, doubtful, dubious, incredulous, fishy, funny, jealous, mistrustful. ANTONYMS: (adj) gullible, trustworthy, aggressive, aboveboard, certain, unsuspecting, unquestionable, believable, straight, palpable, innocent

swans: (n) geese, Anseriformes, order Anseriformes, ducks, screamers

swaying: (adj) swinging, convincing, oscillating, influential, persuasive, moving, lilting, groggy; (n) floating, manipulation

swear: (v) declare, assure, assert, affirm, curse, pledge; (n, v) promise, avow, depone, depose, aver. ANTONYMS: (v) distrust, refute, deny, compliment

sweet: (adj) fresh, mellow, lovable, dear, pleasant, musical, melodious, pleasing, sugary; (adj, v) lovely; (adj, n) beloved. ANTONYMS: (adj) discordant, bitter, acid, sharp, acidic, pungent, salty, harsh, detestable, cacophonous, dry

sweetheart: (n) dear, girl, darling, mistress, flame, beloved, boyfriend, love, steady; (adj, n) beau, admirer. ANTONYMS: (n) foe, enemy

swept: (adj) clean switchman: (n) hostler, manipulator,

signalman, operator system: (adj, n) method,

arrangement; (n) network, plan, organization, order, structure, means, process, form, frame. ANTONYMS: (n) part, disorganization, cog, disarray

table: (n) board, schedule, chart, stand, list, desk, plateau, platen; (v) defer, shelve, postpone. ANTONYMS: (v) decide, vote, withdraw

taken: (adj) occupied, full, interpreted, appropriated, seized, overcome, affected, besotted; (v)

take, get, receive. ANTONYMS: (adj) given, free

taking: (adj) fetching, attractive, contagious, winning, catching, fascinating, captivating; (n) capture, receipt, angry mood, acharnement. ANTONYM: (n) rejection

talk: (n, v) discourse, gossip, converse, lecture, chatter, chat, address; (v) articulate, speak, prattle; (n) language. ANTONYMS: (v) refuse; (n) silence

talking: (n) talk, conversation, nothingness, speech, speaking, verbal communication, words, yak, language; (adj) sound, levelheaded. ANTONYM: (adj) silent

tapping: (n) draining of the furnace, paracentesis, to tap, tick, tapotement, sound, patter, drainage, clapping, casting, restriking

taste: (n, v) relish, sample, smack, touch; (n) flavor, liking, penchant, morsel, bit, drop, fondness. ANTONYMS: (n) dislike, tastelessness, disinclination, hate, lot, coarseness, uncouthness; (v) abstain, refrain

tattling: (n) betrayal, babble, state's evidence; (adj) blabbermouthed, not close; (v) talkative, futile, loquacious

teach: (v) enlighten, educate, instruct, coach, indoctrinate, drill, learn, lecture, school; (adj, v) guide, show

tearful: (adj) dolorous, maudlin, watery, weeping, teary, sad, dolourous, wet, whimpering, sorrowful; (v) mournful. ANTONYMS: (adj) cheerful, tearless

tears: (n) cry, crying, snivel, brine, weeping, activity, bawling, bodily function, bodily process, body process, lacerations

teasing: (n) tease, play, joke, fun, banter; (adj) quizzical, vexatious, pestering, annoying, playful; (v) worrying. ANTONYM: (n) seriousness

tedious: (adj) tiresome, boring, dreary, slow, heavy, humdrum, irksome, lifeless; (adj, v) monotonous, arid, dry. ANTONYMS: (adj) exciting, varied, easy, readable, lively, entertaining, enthralling, brisk, concise, exotic, pleasant

tedium: (n) ennui, monotony, tediousness, dullness, sameness, dreariness, lifelessness, difficulty, drabness; (adj) dull work, humdrum. ANTONYMS: (n) excitement, diversion, variation,

Uncle Vanya 118

entertainment, ease tell: (n, v) disclose, impart, count; (v)

relate, reveal, recount, divulge, explain, communicate; (adj, v) declare, express. ANTONYMS: (v) request, misunderstand, estimate, listen, figure, guess, withhold, conceal, suppress, confuse

temerity: (n) nerve, effrontery, hardihood, boldness, rashness, imprudence, audaciousness, carelessness, assurance, indiscretion, venturesomeness. ANTONYMS: (n) caution, care, reticence

temper: (adj, v) moderate, soften, mitigate, harden; (n) character, disposition, humor, nature; (v) modify, season, qualify. ANTONYMS: (n, v) upset; (v) soften, agitate, excite, flex, bend, increase; (n) composure, happiness, wrath, equanimity

tender: (n, v) offer, proffer, bid; (adj, v) affectionate; (adj) painful, sensitive, soft, loving, sore; (v) propose, present. ANTONYMS: (adj) hardhearted, rubbery, hard, rough, uncaring, healthy, mature, unfeeling, cold, experienced; (v) withdraw

tenderly: (adv) softly, kindly, delicately, affectionately, fondly, warmly, painfully, sensitively, caringly, sympathetically, gently. ANTONYMS: (adv) roughly, severely, disapprovingly, harshly

tenderness: (n) fondness, soreness, love, affection, sympathy; (adj, n) clemency, mildness, compassion, gentleness, softness, delicacy. ANTONYMS: (n) pleasure, dryness, hatred, strength, detachment

terrace: (n) veranda, bench, porch, balcony, yard, ledge, platform, portico, backyard, area, accommodation

terrible: (adj) horrible, dreadful, horrid, monstrous, abominable, ghastly, dire, appalling, fearful, awful, hideous. ANTONYMS: (adj) lovely, pleasant, great, laudable, excellent, superb, mild, slight, minor, brilliant, insignificant

terribly: (adv) horribly, awfully, terrifically, very, badly, awful, appallingly, atrociously, terrificly; (adj, adv) frightfully, shockingly. ANTONYMS: (adv) wonderfully, slightly, superbly, fortunately, happily, laudably, little, marvelously, pleasantly, hardly, honorably

terror: (n, v) alarm, scare; (adj, n) dread, awe; (n) fear, dismay, consternation, horror, panic, apprehension, scourge. ANTONYMS: (n) peace, security, delight, calm, confidence

thank: (v) give thanks, recognize, bless, thanks, give thanks to, convey, acknowledged, remercy, impart

thanks: (n) acknowledgment, gratitude, blessing, grace, praise, gratefulness, recognition, credit, benediction, thankfulness; (int) thank you. ANTONYMS: (n) criticism, blame

themselves: (pron) myself, itself, yourself; (n) yourselves

therefore: (adv) thence, so, hence, accordingly, as a result, thus, for that reason; (conj) since, because, then, ergo

thickly: (adv) deeply, heavily, thick, viscously, thicksetly, solidly, dully, dumbly, compactly, closely, turbidly. ANTONYMS: (adv) thinly, finely, slightly, sparsely, loosely, distinctly

thing: (n) affair, occurrence, object, event, concern, something, article, happening, substance, occasion, being

things: (n) gear, belongings, equipment, garb, garment, clothes, paraphernalia, goods, life, property, palliament

thinking: (n) consideration, idea, opinion, reasoning, intellection, cogitation, conception, contemplation; (adj) intelligent, thoughtful, meditative

third: (n) second, tierce, three, third part, terzetto, hot corner, third base; (adv) thirdly; (adj) triple, thrid, tertial

thirteen: (n) long dozen, large integer though: (adj, conj) however; (conj)

still, notwithstanding, nevertheless, albeit, whereas, while; (adv) even, after all, tho'; (adv, conj) tho

thought: (n) idea, impression, conception, belief, concept; (adj, n) opinion, feeling, sentiment; (n, v) consideration, reflection, observation. ANTONYMS: (n) thing, vacuity, vacancy, concrete, thoughtlessness, inattention, impulsiveness, certainty, neglect, trust

thoughtfully: (adv) considerately, carefully, kindly, reflectively, meditatively, attentively, solemnly,

contemplatively, seriously, prudently, cautiously. ANTONYMS: (adv) unsympathetically, unthinkingly, carelessly, contentedly, rashly, inconsiderately, selfishly, meanly, insensitively, tactlessly, cruelly

thoughtlessly: (adv) carelessly, inconsiderately, heedlessly, rashly, imprudently, inattentively, hastily, negligently, indiscreetly, unheedingly; (adj, adv) foolishly. ANTONYMS: (adv) considerately, carefully, cautiously, prudently, sensibly, wisely

thoughts: (n) mind, opinion, depth of thought, feelings, reflection, ideas, workings of the mind, view, stance, position, considered opinion

thousand: (adj, n) one thousand, k, m; (n) grand, g, thou, cat Valium, constant of gravitation, grounds, curtilage; (adj) a thousand

thrilling: (adj, n) electric; (adj) exciting, sensational, exhilarating, electrifying, emotional, rousing, gripping, stimulating; (adj, v) impressive; (n, v) swelling. ANTONYMS: (adj) boring, depressing, discouraging, upsetting, uninspiring

throat: (n) orifice, pharynx, gorge, mouth, muzzle, nozzle, sucker, shaft, quarl, throat depth, nostril

throw: (n, v) cast, pitch, push; (v) shed, hurl, heave, chuck, flip, pass, hurtle; (n) shot. ANTONYMS: (v) explain, help, receive, clarify, encourage

thrown: (adj) puzzled, confused, thrown and twisted, upset, disconcerted, unnerved, terrified, scared out of your wits, mystified, frightened; (n) reminder. ANTONYM: (adj) calm

thumb: (v) feel, flip, handle, leaf, touch, flick, hitch, riff; (n) pollex, bull nose, forefinger

thunderstorm: (n) storm, electrical storm, electric storm, tempest, hurricane, gale, downpour, rainstorm, shower, snowstorm; (adj) earthquake

tigress: (n) tiger, shrew till: (conj, prep) until, unto; (v) plow,

hoe, farm, dig; (adj) up to; (n) tiller, drawer; (adv) so far; (prep) to

times: (n) present time, modern times, contemporary world, multiplication, time, period, era, many years duration, epoch, present, arithmetic operation

Anton Chekhov 119

tinkling: (adj) clinking, tinkly, tintinnabulary, reverberant; (n) ting

tiptoe: (v) tip, tippytoe, creep, patter, skirt, skip, tilt, sidle, lean; (adj) alert; (n) quieter. ANTONYM: (v) clump

tired: (adj, v) fatigued, weary, exhausted, stale; (adj) threadbare, commonplace, trite, banal, haggard, stock, jaded. ANTONYMS: (adj) invigorated, alert, refreshed, energetic, original, strong, awake, energized, lively, rested, relaxed

together: (adv) in concert, conjointly, at the same time, at once, simultaneously, mutually, in unison, all together, at the same moment; (adj) united, stable. ANTONYMS: (adv) separately, individually, independently, apart, alone; (adj) separate, upset, unstable, separated, imbalanced, scatterbrained

told: (v) related, narrated; (adj) numbered, oral, spoken, legendary, verbal, manifest

tomorrow: (adv) kal, never; (n) solar day, mean solar day, time to come, day

took: (adj) taken; (v) receive torture: (n, v) pain, distress, agonize,

afflict; (n) agony, anguish, suffering, excruciation, grief; (v) rack, excruciate. ANTONYMS: (n) relief, alleviation, content, ecstasy, joy, pleasure; (v) relieve, alleviate

tortured: (adj) anguished, suffering, agonized, excruciate, excruciated, gnarled, hagridden, miserable, woeful, hurt

torturing: (n) torture, excruciation, crucifixion, torment, agony, anguish, dismemberment; (adj) harrowing, agonizing, torturesome, agonising

total: (adj) complete, entire, absolute, general; (n, v) count, amount, tally, sum; (adj, n, v) aggregate; (adj, n) all, gross. ANTONYMS: (adj) incomplete, qualified, local, unfinished, narrow, rather, unenthusiastic; (n) part; (v) subtract, estimate

touch: (v) hit, affect, border, adjoin, strike, reach; (n, v) contact, stroke, tinge, regard, tap. ANTONYMS: (v) shrink, secrete, separate, diverge, abstain, leave; (n) lot

toward: (prep) to, towards, approaching, headed for, just before, of, in the direction of; (adv, prep) on; (adv) about, around, by. ANTONYMS: (prep) from, away

town: (adj) municipal, urban; (n)

borough, township, village, burgh, burg, municipality, townspeople, metropolis; (adj, n) community. ANTONYMS: (adj) country, private

track: (n, v) trail, course, path, hunt; (v) tail, chase, pursue, follow; (n) line, route, racetrack. ANTONYMS: (v) lead, precede

tractable: (adj, prep) docile; (adj) obedient, ductile, tame, gentle, yielding, manageable; (adj, v) pliable, flexible, pliant, plastic. ANTONYMS: (adj) intractable, unmanageable, unruly, rebellious

train: (v) aim, exercise, direct, educate, tame, prepare, school; (n, v) coach, trail, tail; (n) chain. ANTONYMS: (v) neglect, forget; (n) head

translate: (v) construe, transform, decipher, explain, render, read, convert, define, turn, understand, alter. ANTONYM: (v) stagnate

travelling: (n) travel, peregrination, riding, commuting, aviation, driving, commutation, seafaring, junketing, circumnavigation, journey

travels: (n) actions, expedition tray: (n) plate, salver, dish,

cheeseboard, tray bar, server, waiter, Cran, inkstand, icetray, jardiniere

treat: (n, v) feast, manage, administer, regale; (v) process, deal, heal, nurse; (n) luxury, delicacy, tidbit. ANTONYMS: (v) harm, hurt, injure, neglect, exacerbate, deprive, deny, contaminate, cloud; (n) necessity

treatise: (n) tract, thesis, essay, discourse, paper, article, monograph, piece, pamphlet, review, book

treatment: (n) manipulation, handling, therapy, medication, remedy, dealing, reception, method; (n, v) conduct, management, behavior. ANTONYMS: (n) hurt, harm

tree: (n) gallows, gibbet, stem, pedigree, kurchee, quandong, poon, platan, lemonwood, lancewood, lacebark

trees: (n) foliage tremble: (adj, n, v) shiver; (n, v)

quiver, shudder, thrill, palpitate; (adj, v) totter, quake; (n) throb; (v) flutter, quail, falter. ANTONYMS: (v) steady, calm

trembling: (adj, n) shaking; (adj, n, v) tremor; (adj) shaky, quaking, shivering, flutter; (n) palpitation, quiver, vibration, shiver, quake.

ANTONYMS: (adj) stable, steady trial: (n) test, examination,

experiment, hardship, essay, hearing, audition, attempt; (n, v) affliction, adversity; (adj, n) distress. ANTONYMS: (n) peace, performance, happiness, ease, opportunity; (adj) known, definite, proven

trifles: (n) jests, nonsense, nugae, trivia

triumphant: (adj) victorious, successful, triumphal, exulting, winning, joyful, rejoicing, elated, conquering, prideful; (adj, v) exultant. ANTONYMS: (adj) disappointed, failing, losing, defeated, miserable, sorrowful

trivial: (adj) trifling, frivolous, little, small, commonplace, superficial, petty, paltry, inconsiderable, piddling, slight. ANTONYMS: (adj) important, vital, major, urgent, profound, crucial, consequential, considerable, enormous, mature, serious

trot: (n, v) run; (n) crib, canter, pony, gait, ride, lope; (v) gallop, general, frequent, household

trouble: (n, v) inconvenience, pain, bother, disquiet, disorder, worry, annoy, fuss, afflict, torment; (adj, n) difficulty. ANTONYMS: (v) please, help, assist, aid, placate, soothe, comfort; (n) fitness, pleasure, advantage, ease

true: (adj, n) genuine, authentic; (adj) right, faithful, even, correct, accurate, honest, straight, truthful; (adj, v) actual. ANTONYMS: (adj) inaccurate, untrue, bogus, untrustworthy, unrealistic, mythical, fraudulent, faithless, disloyal; (adv) wrongly, dishonestly

truly: (adj, adv) really; (adv) sincerely, in truth, exactly, in fact, indeed, in reality, genuinely, right, certainly, honestly. ANTONYMS: (adv) insincerely, dubiously, doubtfully, apparently, inaccurately, indefinite, dishonestly, mildly, wrongly

trust: (n, v) credit, rely, hope; (n) confidence, faith, reliance, belief, cartel, assurance; (v) believe, confide. ANTONYMS: (n, v) distrust, doubt, mistrust; (v) disbelieve, keep, hold, despair; (n) disbelief, suspicion, independence

truth: (n) exactness, actuality, sincerity, verity, fidelity, fact, correctness, genuineness,

Uncle Vanya 120

faithfulness, certainty, honesty. ANTONYMS: (n) dishonesty, fabrication, falsehood, fiction, lie, inaccuracy, idealism, falsity, disloyalty, fallacy, invention

trying: (adj) hard, taxing, arduous, thorny, severe, bothersome, tough, demanding, annoying, tiresome, rugged. ANTONYMS: (adj) rewarding, facile, relaxing, satisfying, simple, pleasant, pleasing, refreshing, soothing

tune: (n) song, strain, air, harmony, note, concord; (v) adjust, regulate, string, tune up; (n, v) chant. ANTONYMS: (n) silence; (v) untune

turn: (n, v) curve, roll, twist, go, coil, round, change, bent, spin; (n) bout; (v) revolve. ANTONYMS: (n) failure, Miss, stagnation; (v) unbend

turning: (n) turn, revolution, bend, rotation, deviation, gyration, conversion, veering; (adj) rotating, revolving, rotary

twaddle: (n, v) chatter, drivel, babble, gabble; (n) nonsense, baloney, humbug, hogwash, bosh, rubbish, tosh. ANTONYMS: (n) sense, fact

twelve: (adj, n) dozen, XII; (n) boxcars, large integer

twenty: (adj) vigesimal; (n) large integer, twenty dollar bill

twice: (adv) doubly, bis, two times, in two ways, once more; (adj) twenty

twigs: (n) sprays twisting: (adj) tortuous, winding,

sinuous, crooked, zigzag, meandering; (n) distortion, turn, spin, torsion, overrefinement

typhoid: (n) typhomania, enteric fever, typhoid fever, infectious disease

tyrant: (n) dictator, oppressor, autocrat, disciplinarian, bully, authoritarian, sovereign, czar, monarch, suzerain, stickler

ugly: (adj, adv) surly; (adj) nasty, repulsive, frightful, forbidding, disagreeable, hideous, gruesome, evil, offensive, shocking. ANTONYMS: (adj) attractive, flowing, ornamental, nice, lovely, pleasant, safe, kind, gentle, appealing, agreeable

umbrella: (n) parasol, sunshade, shelter, canopy, cover, gamp, protection, tent, shield, screen, umbra

unbearable: (adj) insufferable, excruciating, insupportable, unendurable, hateful, unacceptable, repugnant, impossible, grievous,

enormous, dreadful. ANTONYMS: (adj) bearable, manageable, imperceptible, tolerable, wonderful, lovable, nice, pleasant

unbounded: (adj) immeasurable, limitless, endless, infinite, immense, measureless, unlimited, vast, illimitable, unmeasured, absolute

uncertainty: (n) doubtfulness, suspicion, distrust, indecision, suspense, irresolution, hesitation, incertitude, dubiety, question, dubiousness. ANTONYMS: (n) certainty, decisiveness, confidence, clarity, sureness, definiteness, resolution, predictability, security, certitude, understanding

unchecked: (adj) unbridled, uncontrolled, rampant, uncaught, unbuttoned, uninhibited, unconstrained, unprevented, untrammeled, wild, unrestricted

uncle: (n) father's younger brother, elder uncle, father's older brother, father's sister's husband, husband of paternal aunt, maternal uncle, niece, benefactor, EME, helper, kinsman

unconsciousness: (n) blackout, insensibility, grogginess, loss of consciousness, coma, trance, stupefaction, faint, unawareness, ignorance, torpor. ANTONYM: (n) awareness

unconvincing: (adj) weak, unbelievable, improbable, implausible, feeble, unlikely, inconclusive, lame, unpersuasive, flimsy, farfetched. ANTONYMS: (adj) forceful, influential, persuasive, strong, decisive, conclusive, effective, good, ordinary

under: (adj) lower, down, nether, bottom, inferior, low, subject; (adv, prep) beneath, underneath; (adv) downstairs, infra. ANTONYMS: (adv, prep) over, above; (adv) primary, higher, major

understand: (v) interpret, hear, see, catch, learn, translate, grasp, construe, gather; (adj, v) realize, take. ANTONYMS: (v) misinterpret, misconstrue, misunderstand, disbelieve, mistake, reject, deny, Miss

unendurably: (adv) intolerably, excruciatingly, dreadfully, unspeakably

unfailing: (adj) infallible, reliable, constant, unerring, dependable, certain, foolproof, inexhaustible, perpetual, steady, trustworthy. ANTONYMS: (adj) uncertain,

unsure, impermanent, inconsistent, erratic, undependable

unfamiliar: (adj) strange, new, unaccustomed, unacquainted, uncommon, novel, mysterious, foreign, unidentified, inexperienced, unusual. ANTONYMS: (adj) familiar, recognizable, known, usual, experienced, versed, accustomed

unfortunate: (adj) inauspicious, sad, hapless, bad, inopportune, disastrous, adverse, deplorable, infelicitous, untoward, lamentable. ANTONYMS: (adj) lucky, auspicious, good, opportune, joyous, timely, appropriate, successful, easy, privileged

unfortunately: (adv) wretchedly, unhappily, regrettably, sadly, alas, badly, unsuccessfully, poorly, disastrously, inauspiciously, inopportunely. ANTONYMS: (adv) luckily, thankfully, happily

unhappy: (adj) gloomy, dismal, depressed, melancholy, sad, miserable, sorrowful, distressed, disconsolate, infelicitous, low. ANTONYMS: (adj) happy, cheerful, satisfied, pleased, glad, euphoric, fortunate, contented, joyful, timely, lucky

unhealthy: (adj) harmful, sickly, insanitary, ailing, ill, noxious, injurious, insalubrious, sick, diseased; (adj, v) unsound. ANTONYMS: (adj) healthy, fit, hygienic, light, well, good, strong, luxuriant

unknown: (adj, n) secret, alien; (adj) hidden, unfamiliar, unidentified, obscure, nameless, foreign, anonymous; (n) stranger, foreigner. ANTONYMS: (adj) familiar, recognized, famous, documented, identified, transparent; (n) native

unless: (adv) but, if, yet, besides, except with, further; (adv, conj) save; (conj) without, if not; (n) provisionally; (adj) not necessary

unnatural: (adj) affected, artificial, grotesque, supernatural, forced, abnormal, eccentric, uncanny, stilted, mannered, anomalous. ANTONYMS: (adj) natural, normal, real, unaffected, commonplace, genuine, sincere

unpleasant: (adj, n) harsh; (adj) disagreeable, obnoxious, ugly, nasty, sour, awkward, repulsive, forbidding, bad, hard. ANTONYMS: (adj) delightful, agreeable,

Anton Chekhov 121

wonderful, nice, enjoyable, attractive, comfortable, charming, inoffensive, amicable, cordial

unprepossessing: (adj) ugly, uninviting, hideous, unpleasant, unpresentable, unsightly

unspeakable: (adj) ineffable, dreadful, awful, terrible, inexpressible, nasty, horrible, atrocious, indefinable, shocking; (adj, v) unutterable. ANTONYMS: (adj) nice, wonderful, pleasant, good, lovely, bearable

unspotted: (adj) unblemished, unstained, unsoiled, stainless, pure, blameless, immaculate, undefaced, undeformed, spotless, untarnished

until: (prep, v) to; (conj, prep) unto; (adj) up to; (adv) so far, yet, before, meanwhile; (prep) pending, while, during, awaiting

unwillingly: (adv) grudgingly, loathly, aversely, unenthusiastically, indisposedly, resentfully, involuntarily, recalcitrantly, refractorily, lothly, hesitatingly. ANTONYM: (adv) wholeheartedly

unwise: (adj, n) silly, stupid, absurd, indiscreet; (adj) imprudent, injudicious, ridiculous, senseless, inadvisable, impolitic, unreasonable. ANTONYMS: (adj) sensible, prudent, thoughtful, sagacious, judicious, advisable

unworthy: (adj) undeserving, base, disgraceful, ignoble, low, contemptible, despicable, ugly, unmerited, unseemly, shameful. ANTONYMS: (adj) deserving, valuable, honorable, estimable, reputable

uphill: (adj) rising, hard, difficult, climbing, acclivitous, tough, arduous; (n) ascending, ascent, acclivity; (adv) up. ANTONYMS: (adj) downhill, facile

upon: (adv, prep) above; (prep) up, onto, against, towards; (adv) on, on that occasion, then, before, by; (n) at

upset: (n, v) overturn, trouble, disquiet, overthrow; (v) agitate, subvert, perturb, confuse, reverse; (adj) unsettled; (n) disturbance. ANTONYMS: (v) please, soothe, encourage, delight, fail; (adj) pleased, confident, happy, content; (n) peace, happiness

used: (adj) exploited, old, accustomed, worn, spent, victimized, wont, tried, decrepit, second hand, exhausted. ANTONYMS: (adj) new, unused,

spanking, misused usual: (adj, n, v) ordinary, common,

customary; (adj, n) habitual, accustomed, familiar, average, regular; (adj) everyday; (adj, v) frequent, general. ANTONYMS: (adj) unconventional, extraordinary, abnormal, irregular, atypical, exceptional, unprecedented, uncommon, rare, changing, unacceptable

usually: (adv) generally, ordinarily, normally, frequently, habitually, customarily, mostly, regularly, typically, as a rule, in general. ANTONYMS: (adv) rarely, exceptionally, occasionally

vanished: (adj, v) extinct, lost; (adj) disappeared, departed, missing, died out, absent, dead, wiped out, bygone; (v) exhausted. ANTONYMS: (adj) found, living

variety: (adj, n) kind, sort, species, style, class; (n) form, variation, type, diversity, breed; (n, v) change. ANTONYMS: (n) monotony, dearth, likeness

various: (adj, v) several, sundry, divers, diversified, separate; (adj) varied, many, different, manifold, miscellaneous, numerous. ANTONYMS: (adj) homogeneous, same, individual, uniform, limited, none

veneration: (n) respect, awe, honor, devotion, esteem, adoration, deference, estimation, worship, admiration, thaumatolatry. ANTONYMS: (n) contempt, disapproval

vexed: (adj) troubled, irritated, angry, pestered, peeved, harassed, sore, harried, uneasy, cross, offended. ANTONYMS: (adj) calm, uncomplicated

vibrating: (adj) tremulous, vibratory, vibrant, swinging, hollow, moving, oscillating, that oscillates, resonant; (n) shaking system

victims: (n) dead, wounded, losses, fatalities

view: (n, v) sight, scene, regard, opinion, judgment, prospect, outlook, thought; (adj, v) observe, see; (n) idea. ANTONYMS: (v) disbelieve, mistrust

village: (n) neighborhood, settlement, city, community, kraal, thorp, dorp, campong, pueblo, small town; (adv) town

violent: (adj, n) rough, furious, tempestuous, severe, turbulent,

boisterous, powerful; (adj, v) vehement; (adj) raging, intense, sharp. ANTONYMS: (adj) gentle, calm, nonviolent, mild, passive, moderate, pleasant, slight, refined, relaxed, friendly

visit: (v) frequent, attend, call, view, gossip, jaw, inspect, haunt; (n, v) tour, chat; (n) sojourn

vital: (adj) indispensable, critical, animated, crucial, fundamental, main, necessary, lively, alive, important, chief. ANTONYMS: (adj) trivial, unimportant, insignificant, optional, minor, sluggish, peripheral, listless, dull, dead, marginal

vodka: (n) spirits, hard drink, liquor, hard liquor, strong drink

voice: (n) speech, vox; (v) enunciate, pronounce, speak, say, vocalize, express, utter, articulate; (n, v) sound. ANTONYMS: (v) devoice, block

voices: (n) chorus vulgar: (adj) rude, coarse, plebeian,

nasty, common, foul, indecent, gross, unrefined; (adj, n) low, vile. ANTONYMS: (adj) refined, sophisticated, tasteful, polite, aesthetic, muted, fashionable, decent, artistic, pleasant, clean

waist: (n) waistline, shank, middle, belly, isthmus, hourglass, undersurface; (adj) stricture, middle constriction, neck, wasp

waistcoat: (n) CHUDDER, barbe, garment, jerkin, jubbah, oilskins, pilot jacket, pajamas, cardigan, singlet, talma jacket

wait: (n, v) pause, hold, stop; (v) expect, anticipate, stay, await, lurk, ambush, remain; (adj, v) tarry. ANTONYMS: (n) act, continuation, doing; (v) interrupt, leave, begin, depart, continue; (intj) hurry

waiting: (n) abeyance, suspense, expectancy, hold, time lag, postponement; (adj) ready and waiting, ready, expectant; (adv) to come, in the making

wake: (v) awaken, awake, rouse, stir, vigil, provoke, arouse, waken, excite; (n) train, trail. ANTONYMS: (v) nap, dissuade, discourage, snooze, stifle

walk: (adj, n, v) step; (n, v) gait, ramble, march, pace, hike, course, saunter, stroll, roam; (n) path. ANTONYMS: (v) run, ride, stride

walking: (n) gait, ambulation, wading, shuffling, shambling,

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marching, noctambulism, traveling; (adv) afoot; (adj) moving, active

wall: (n, v) fence, bar; (n) barrier, rampart, bulwark, cliff, earthwork, fortification, screen, rail, fencing

wandering: (adj) itinerant, nomadic, erratic, rambling, errant, migratory; (adj, v) stray, vagrant, vagabond, unsettled; (n) peregrination. ANTONYM: (adj) resident

want: (n, v) lack, desire, miss, wish; (n) poverty, deficiency, deprivation, famine, necessity, destitution, shortage. ANTONYMS: (n, v) hate; (n) glut, despise, luxury, option, prosperity, supply; (v) disinterest, answer

wanted: (adj) welcome, cherished, precious, treasured, marketable, invited, necessary, needed, desirable, desired, loved. ANTONYMS: (adj) unwanted, unwelcome

wanting: (adj, v) missing; (adj) deficient, lacking, absent, defective, short, failing, insufficient, devoid, poor, incomplete. ANTONYMS: (adj) sufficient, satisfactory, adequate, full, present

wants: (n) need, necessities warm: (adj) hot, affectionate, tender,

ardent, cordial, fervent, lively, fond, loving, earnest, tepid. ANTONYMS: (adj) cold, unfriendly, aloof, reserved, hostile, uncaring, unenthusiastic, unwelcoming, stale, offhand; (v) chill

waste: (adj, n, v) spoil, damage; (adj, v) desolate; (n, v) squander, ruin, consume, ravage; (adj, n) refuse, trash; (v) exhaust, spend. ANTONYMS: (v) conserve, save, use, preserve, create, build; (n) saving, possessions, hoarding, development; (adj) cultivated

wasted: (adj, v) squandered, rotten, decayed, effete; (adj) thin, cadaverous, emaciated, gaunt, devastated, pointless, haggard. ANTONYMS: (adj) bloated, hypertrophied, strong, plump, obese, fruitful, useful

watch: (n, v) view, sentinel, clock, wake, regard, care; (v) observe, look, see; (n) sentry; (adj, n) surveillance. ANTONYMS: (v) neglect, overlook, harm, hurt, glance

watching: (n) observation, stargazing, sighting, observance, watch, remark, notice, ambush, reflection, ceremonial occasion, ceremony

watchman: (n) lookout, sentinel, sentry, warden, guard, watcher, security guard, keeper, caretaker, custodian, watchdog

water: (n) urine, sea, lake, ocean, moisture, juice, river; (n, v) wet; (v) moisten, soak, dampen. ANTONYMS: (v) dehydrate, dry

ways: (n) behavior, process, shipway, slipway, means, childbearing, conduct, construction, demeanor, direction, traveling

wear: (n) clothing, clothes, apparel, attire, garb; (v) endure, fatigue, waste, bear, tire, fray. ANTONYMS: (v) refresh, reject, rebuild, please, freshen, disrobe, delight, cheer, refuse; (n) improvement

weary: (adj, n, v) fatigue; (v) exhaust, tire out; (adj) tired, exhausted, fatigued, aweary, beat, languid; (n, v) jade, bore. ANTONYMS: (adj) energetic, fresh, lively, untiring, hopeful, refreshed; (v) refresh, enliven, energize, activate, rally

weather: (v) survive, withstand, resist, brave, stand, brave out, wear; (n) climate, atmospheric condition, downfall, inclemency. ANTONYMS: (v) succumb, reject

wedding: (adj) bridal, marital, matrimonial; (n) matrimony, nuptials, marriage ceremony, wedding ceremony, wedlock, remarriage, espousal; (adj, n) nuptial

week: (n) period, minute, second, hour, rag, day, calendar week, year, sevennight, Wyke, workweek

weep: (v) wail, bawl, lament, sob, blubber, moan, howl, drip, greet, whimper; (n) tear

weeping: (adj) tearful, lachrymose, dolourous, dolorous; (n, v) lament, lamentation; (v) wailing; (n) sobbing, tears, cry; (adj, n) howling. ANTONYM: (n) celebration

well-bred: (adj) courteous, mannerly, urbane, civil, genteel, gentlemanly, refined, nice, sophisticated, thoughtful, debonair

well-informed: (adj) educated, conversant, knowing, wise, intelligent, studious, versed

went: (v) walked, proceeded wheat: (n) corn, spelt, bulgur, emmer,

hard wheat, maize, bulghur, wheat berry, soft wheat, food grain, Indian corn

when: (adv, conj) once, as soon as; (adv) then, because, than, since, after; (conj) although, while, if; (prep) during

where: (adv) there, here, wherever, whither, in which, wherein, in what; (adv, pron) anywhere; (pron) everywhere; (n) point, spot

whether: (pron) where whine: (n, v) groan, cry, whimper,

grumble, sigh, wail, squeal, screech; (v) complain, howl; (n) complaint. ANTONYMS: (n) happiness; (v) praise, compliment

whining: (adj) whimpering, whiny, sniveling pitiful, Snively, tearful, whiney, singing, peevish; (v) fretful, lamenting; (n) sniveling

whip: (n, v) lash, strap, goad; (v) flog, flagellate, beat, punish, thrash, trounce, stir, wallop. ANTONYMS: (v) lose, return

whispered: (adj) low, voiceless, unvoiced, nonvocal, weak, unheard, surd, supposed, sharp, thought, quiet

whole: (adj, v) entire; (adj, n) total, integral, sum, aggregate, well; (adj, adv, n) all; (adj) complete, healthy, intact, full. ANTONYMS: (adj) incomplete, broken, partial, imperfect, unhealthy, deficient, destroyed, fractional, impaired, half, sick

wholesome: (adj) healthy, beneficial, salubrious, healthful, salutary, sound, good, nutritious, nourishing, pure, hale. ANTONYMS: (adj) unwholesome, unhealthy, impure, indecent, sordid, warped, tainted, decadent, deadly, unsavory

widow: (n) woman, relict, widower, adult female, widow woman, war widow, nobbled line; (adj) widowed, additional; (v) leave behind

wife: (n) matron, missis, partner, married woman, spouse, consort, helpmate, housewife, lady, woman, viscountess

wild: (adj, n, v) waste, desert; (adj, v) fierce, violent, reckless, raging; (adj) boisterous, untamed, stormy, rude, desolate. ANTONYMS: (adj) calm, orderly, manageable, sane, domestic, cultivated, tame, restrained, mild, sensible, passive

wilderness: (adj, n, v) desert; (adj, n) wild; (n) wasteland, solitude, badlands, wildness, frontier, boondocks, backwoods; (adj) Sahara; (v) squandering. ANTONYM: (n) metropolis

wily: (adj) cunning, crafty, foxy, artful, tricky, deceitful, designing, astute, guileful; (adj, v) shrewd,

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subtle. ANTONYMS: (adj) straightforward, open, guileless, honest, ingenuous, straight

wind: (n, v) twist, turn; (v) meander, curl, bend, twine, curve, weave, crook; (n) air, gust. ANTONYMS: (v) unwind; (n) breeze

winding: (n) twist, wind, turn; (adj) indirect, crooked, circuitous, meandering, twisty, wandering; (adj, n) twisting, twisted. ANTONYMS: (adj) direct, unbent

window: (n) casement, pane, skylight, gap, Ventian window, clearstory, transom, windowpane, rosette, clerestory, embrasure

wine: (n) vino, spirits, beer, saki, sake, Macon, maconnais, alcohol, liquor, dessert wine; (adj) mauve

wing: (n) pinion, limb, arm, fender, flank, pennon, Ala, extension, feather; (v) fly, soar. ANTONYM: (n) headquarters

winning: (adj) victorious, triumphant, charming, engaging, pleasing, lovely, enchanting, captivating, taking, fetching, successful. ANTONYMS: (adj) failing, forfeiting, ugly, unappealing, unattractive, unconvincing, sorrowful, unpleasant, unsuccessful

winter: (n) wintertime, season, time of year, hiems, frost, chill; (adj) wintery, wintry; (v) spend. ANTONYM: (n) heat

wish: (adv, n, v) will; (n, v) want, hope, need, inclination, longing, aspiration, aim; (v) like, choose; (n) pleasure. ANTONYMS: (n, v) dislike, hate; (n) hatred, coercion, disinclination, aversion

witch: (n) hag, pythoness, sorceress, enchantress, magician, lamia; (v) charm, bewitch, glamour, hex, jinx

within: (adv, n, prep) inside; (adv, prep) in; (adv) indoors, internally, inwardly, inly; (adj, n) interior; (prep) into, on, between; (adj) inwards. ANTONYMS: (prep) beyond, out

without: (adv, n, prep) outside; (adj, adv) except; (adj) lacking, save barring; (prep) out of, sans; (n) minus, provisionally; (adv) save, beyond; (adv, prep) besides. ANTONYMS: (prep) with, having; (adv) inside

wits: (n) intellect, mind, wit, brains, common sense, presence, percipience, observation, mother wit, right mind, judgment

woke: (v) arouse woman: (n) girl, female, lady, dame,

madam, mistress, matron, maid, gentlewoman, Donna, petticoat. ANTONYMS: (n) man, gentleman

women: (n) sex, gentle sex wonder: (adj, n) prodigy; (n)

astonishment, admiration, amazement, surprise, miracle, phenomenon, muse; (v) admire, reflect, question. ANTONYMS: (n) expectation, belief, disapproval; (v) know, believe, anticipate, decide

wonderful: (adj, n) marvelous, astonishing, incredible; (adj) excellent, remarkable, phenomenal, amazing, fantastic, great, grand, super. ANTONYMS: (adj) terrible, unpleasant, dreadful, poor, rotten, abysmal, mundane, devastating, lousy, dire, ordinary

wood: (n) timber, tree, grove, lumber, jungle, coppice, walnut, linden, larch, guaiac; (adj, n) woods

woods: (n) forest, woodland, grove, timber, jungle, sir Henry wood, vegetation, timberland, Natalie wood, virgin forest; (adj) wooden

wool: (n) fur, coat, pile, down, woolen, woollen, yarn, hair, cashmere, alpaca, shoddy

word: (n) news, tidings, password, expression, report, vocable, statement, term; (v) formulate, phrase; (n, v) advice

words: (n) speech, expression, row, text, fracas, argument; (n, v) altercation, squabble, tiff, dispute, quarrel

worked: (adj) elaborated, beaten working: (adj) practical, active, busy,

in action, in force; (n) operation, play, agency, movement; (adj, n) running, functioning. ANTONYMS: (adj) passive, unemployed, inoperative, inactive, idle, ineffective

workman: (n) laborer, working man, worker, employee, hand, operative, artisan, working person, lather, mechanic, artificer

works: (n) plant, workings, mill, manufactory, deeds, whole caboodle, kit and caboodle, kit and boodle, industrial plant, full treatment, distillery

world: (n) cosmos, nature, creation, earth, public, sphere, society, realm, globe, macrocosm; (adj) global

worn: (adj) haggard, tired, tattered, threadbare, ragged, drawn, jaded, fatigued, exhausted, faded, wasted.

ANTONYMS: (adj) new, smart, unused, unworn, pristine, original

worry: (n, v) concern, torment, trouble, distress, tease, bother, burden, care, harass, fear; (v) disturb. ANTONYMS: (n) calmness, reassurance, pleasure, relief, unconcern, calm, confidence, hopefulness, peace; (v) reassure, delight

worse: (adj) worser, subordinate, waur, worsened, warre, unrelieved, minor, lesser, junior, poorer; (n) badness. ANTONYMS: (adj) improved, healthier, higher

worshipful: (adj, v) great; (v) honorable, noble, proud, dignified; (adj) reverential, godly, adoring, venerable, divine, doting

worshipped: (adj) adored, idolized, venerable

worth: (adj, n) value, dignity; (n) cost, virtue, price, importance, excellence, quality, import, goodness, benefit. ANTONYMS: (n) insignificance, disadvantage, hopelessness, detriment, disgrace, inferiority, triviality, uselessness, inefficiency

worthless: (adj, v) futile, vain; (adj) vile, idle, empty, trifling, void, trivial, cheap, miserable, null. ANTONYMS: (adj) precious, useful, worthwhile, priceless, meaningful, helpful, invaluable, deserving, valid, worthy, substantial

worthlessness: (n) emptiness, uselessness, paltriness, trashiness, insignificance, nothingness, negativity, purposelessness, pride, pointlessness; (adj) inanity. ANTONYMS: (n) importance, worth, helpfulness, appropriateness

worthy: (adj) noble, good, meritorious, valuable, estimable, respectable, deserving, worthwhile, virtuous, honorable; (adj, n) celebrity. ANTONYMS: (adj) bad, unrespected, disreputable, mediocre, petty, poor, unimpressive, insignificant, dishonorable, despicable; (n) nobody

wraps: (n) concealment, veil of secrecy, cover

wrecked: (adv, v) aground; (adj) destroyed, shipwrecked, ruined, disabled, doomed, falling apart, falling down; (v) grounded, swamped, cast away. ANTONYMS: (adj) whole, pristine

wrest: (adj, v) distort, twist; (v) extort, contort, extract, wring, wrench, deform, warp, squeeze, turn

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wringing: (adj) saturated, soaked, soaked to the skin, soaking wet, sodden, sopping, sopping wet, wet, wet through, wringing wet, soaking. ANTONYM: (adj) dry

write: (v) pen, indite, draw up, correspond, spell, record, publish, compile, draw, outline, type

writer: (n) journalist, poet, penman, novelist, dramatist, commentator, playwright, authoress, amanuensis, scribe, clerk. ANTONYM: (n) reader

writing: (n) script, print, composition, lettering, document, autograph, paper, record, inscription, authorship, handwriting

writings: (n) papers, Hagiographa, Ketubim

wrong: (adj, n) evil, ill, injury, injustice; (adj, n, v) damage, injure; (adj) improper, false, incorrect, bad, inappropriate. ANTONYMS: (adj) correct, good, proper, honest, appropriate, just, true; (adv) correctly; (n) justice, virtue; (v) sympathize

yearly: (adv) annually, each year, every year, per annum, per year, by year; (adj) perennial, anniversary, periodic, annual tickets; (n) a year

yesterday: (n) past, yesteryear, yore, mean solar day, past times, solar day, day, history, water under the bridge; (adj) pass, stale. ANTONYMS: (adv) nowadays; (n) today

young: (n, v) offspring; (adj, n) juvenile; (adj) immature, fresh, adolescent, new, raw, baby, childish, early; (n) progeny. ANTONYMS: (adj) old, mature, adult, ripe, older, late; (adj, n) aged

younger: (adj) Jr, little, petty, young, juvenile, Mickey Mouse, minor, minuscule, niggling, picayune, unskilled

yours: (adj) own yourself: (adv) herself, themselves,

itself, myself, ourselves, yourselves, physically

youth: (n) youngster, young person, lad, juvenile, boy, adolescence, kid, younker, stripling, juvenility; (adj, n) young. ANTONYMS: (n) adulthood, adult, ripeness, maturity, aged

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