_standard_. An
_ideal_ may be primal, or may be slowly developed even from failures and
by negations; an _ideal_ is meant to be perfect, not merely the thing
that has been attained or is to be attained, but the best conceivable
thing that could by possibility be attained. The artist's _ideal_ is his
own mental image, of which his finished work is but an imperfect
expression. The _original_ is the first specimen, good or bad; the
_original_ of a master is superior to all copies. The _standard_ may be
below the _ideal_. The _ideal_ is imaginary, and ordinarily
unattainable; the _standard_ is concrete, and ordinarily attainable,
being a measure to which all else of its kind must conform; as, the
_standard_ of weights and measures, of corn, or of cotton. The _idea_ of
virtue is the mental concept or image of virtue in general; the _ideal_
of virtue is the mental concept or image of virtue in its highest
conceivable perfection. Compare EXAMPLE; IDEA.

Antonyms:

accomplishment, action, doing, fact, practise,
achievement, attainment, embodiment, incarnation, reality,
act, development, execution, performance, realization.

* * * * *

IDIOCY.

Synonyms:

fatuity, foolishness, incapacity, stupidity.
folly, imbecility, senselessness,

_Idiocy_ is a state of mental unsoundness amounting almost or quite to
total absence of understanding. _Imbecility_ is a condition of mental
weakness, which may or may not be as complete as that of _idiocy_, but
is at least such as to incapacitate for the serious duties of life.
_Incapacity_, or lack of legal qualification for certain acts,
necessarily results from _imbecility_, but may also result from other
causes, as from insanity or from age, sex, etc.; as, the _incapacity_ of
a minor to make a contract. _Idiocy_ or _imbecility_ is weakness of
mind, while insanity is disorder or abnormal action of mind. _Folly_ and
_foolishness_ denote a want of mental and often of moral balance.
_Fatuity_ is sometimes used as equivalent to _idiocy_, but more
frequently signifies conceited and excessive _foolishness_ or _folly_.
_Stupidity_ is dulness and slowness of mental action which may range all
the way from lack of normal readiness to absolute _imbecility_. Compare
INSANITY.

Antonyms:

acuteness, brilliancy, common sense, sagacity, soundness,
astuteness, capacity, intelligence, sense