as, a nervous _affection_; a
_disorder_ of the digestive system. _Sickness_ was generally used in
English speech and literature, till the close of the eighteenth century
at least, for every form of physical _disorder_, as abundantly appears
in the English Bible: "Jesus went about ... healing all manner of
_sickness_ and all manner of _disease_ among the people," _Matt._ iv,
23; "Elisha was fallen _sick_ of his _sickness_ whereof he died," _2
Kings_ xiii, 14. There is now, in England, a tendency to restrict the
words _sick_ and _sickness_ to nausea, or "_sickness_ at the stomach,"
and to hold _ill_ and _illness_ as the only proper words to use in a
general sense. This distinction has received but a very limited
acceptance in the United States, where _sick_ and _sickness_ have the
earlier and wider usage. We speak of trifling _ailments_, a slight
_indisposition_, a serious or a deadly _disease_; a slight or severe
_illness_; a painful _sickness_. _Complaint_ is a popular term, which
may be applied to any degree of ill health, slight or severe.
_Infirmity_ denotes a chronic or lingering weakness or disability, as
blindness or lameness.

Antonyms:

health, robustness, soundness, strength, sturdiness, vigor.

* * * * *

DISPARAGE.

Synonyms:

belittle, depreciate, discredit, underestimate,
carp at, derogate from, dishonor, underrate,
decry, detract from, lower, undervalue.

To _decry_ is to cry down, in some noisy, public, or conspicuous manner.
A witness or a statement is _discredited_; the currency is
_depreciated_; a good name is _dishonored_ by unworthy conduct; we
_underestimate_ in our own minds; we may _underrate_ or _undervalue_ in
statement to others. These words are used, with few exceptions, of
things such as qualities, merits, attainments, etc. To _disparage_ is to
_belittle_ by damaging comparison or suggestion; it is used only of
things. A man's achievements are _disparaged_, his motives
_depreciated_, his professions _discredited_; he himself is calumniated,
slandered, etc. Compare SLANDER.

Antonyms:

See synonyms for PRAISE.

* * * * *

DISPLACE.

Synonyms:

confuse, derange, disturb, mislay, remove,
crowd out, disarrange, jumble, misplace, unsettle.

Objects are _displaced_ when moved out of the place they have occupied;
they are _misplaced_ when put into a place where