l a man a _brute_ is to imply that
he is unfeeling and cruel; to call him a _beast_ is to indicate that he
is vilely sensual. We speak of the cruel father as a _brute_ to his
children; of the drunkard as making a _beast_ of himself. So firmly are
these figurative senses established that we now incline to avoid
applying _brute_ or _beast_ to any creature, as a horse or dog, for
which we have any affection; we prefer in such cases the word _animal_.
_Creature_ is a word of wide signification, including all the things
that God has created, whether inanimate objects, plants, animals,
angels, or men. The _animals_ of a region are collectively called its
_fauna_.

Antonyms:

angel, man, mind, soul, substance (material),
inanimate object, matter, mineral, spirit, vegetable.

* * * * *

ANNOUNCE.

Synonyms:

advertise, give notice (of), proclaim, reveal,
circulate, give out, promulgate, say,
communicate, herald, propound, spread abroad,
declare, make known, publish, state,
enunciate, notify, report, tell.

To _announce_ is to give intelligence of in some formal or public way.
We may _announce_ that which has occurred or that which is to occur, tho
the word is chiefly used in the anticipative sense; we _announce_ a book
when it is in press, a guest when he arrives. We _advertise_ our
business, _communicate_ our intentions, _enunciate_ our views; we
_notify_ an individual, _give notice_ to the public. _Declare_ has often
an authoritative force; to _declare_ war is to cause war to be, where
before there may have been only hostilities; we say _declare_ war,
_proclaim_ peace. We _propound_ a question or an argument, _promulgate_
the views of a sect or party, or the decision of a court, etc. We
_report_ an interview, _reveal_ a secret, _herald_ the coming of some
distinguished person or great event. _Publish_, in popular usage, is
becoming closely restricted to the sense of issuing through the press;
we _announce_ a book that is to be _published_.

Antonyms:

bury, cover (up), hush, keep secret, suppress,
conceal, hide, keep back, secrete, withhold.

Prepositions:

The event was announced _to_ the family _by_ telegraph.

* * * * *

ANSWER.

Synonyms:

rejoinder, repartee, reply, response, retort.

A verba