FAITH;
PRIDE.

Antonyms:

bashfulness, consternation, distrust, hesitancy, shyness,
confusion, dismay, doubt, misgiving, timidity.

* * * * *

ASTUTE.

Synonyms:

acute, discerning, penetrating, sharp,
clear-sighted, discriminating, penetrative, shrewd,
crafty, keen, perspicacious, subtile,
cunning, knowing, sagacious, subtle.

_Acute_, from the Latin, suggests the sharpness of the needle's point;
_keen_, from the Saxon, the sharpness of the cutting edge. _Astute_,
from the Latin, with the original sense of _cunning_ has come to have a
meaning that combines the sense of _acute_ or _keen_ with that of
_sagacious_. The _astute_ mind adds to _acuteness_ and _keenness_ an
element of cunning or finesse. The _astute_ debater leads his opponents
into a snare by getting them to make admissions, or urge arguments, of
which he sees a result that they do not perceive. The _acute_, _keen_
intellect may take no special advantage of these qualities; the _astute_
mind has always a point to make for itself, and seldom fails to make it.
A _knowing_ look, air, etc., in general indicates practical knowledge
with a touch of shrewdness, and perhaps of cunning; in regard to some
special matter, it indicates the possession of reserved knowledge which
the person could impart if he chose. _Knowing_ has often a slightly
invidious sense. We speak of a _knowing_ rascal, meaning _cunning_ or
_shrewd_ within a narrow range, but of a _knowing_ horse or dog, in the
sense of _sagacious_, implying that he knows more than could be expected
of such an animal. A _knowing_ child has more knowledge than would be
looked for at his years, perhaps more than is quite desirable, while to
speak of a child as _intelligent_ is altogether complimentary.

Antonyms:

blind, idiotic, shallow, stolid, undiscerning,
dull, imbecile, short-sighted, stupid, unintelligent.

* * * * *

ATTACHMENT.

Synonyms:

adherence, devotion, friendship, regard,
adhesion, esteem, inclination, tenderness,
affection, estimation, love, union.

An _attachment_ is a feeling that binds a person by ties of heart to
another person or thing; we speak of a man's _adherence_ to his purpose,
his _adhesion_ to his party, or to anything to which he clings
tenaciously, tho with no spe