o help or
relieve. _Sympathy_ (feeling or suffering with) implies some degree of
equality, kindred, or union; _pity_ is for what is weak or unfortunate,
and so far, at least, inferior to ourselves; hence, _pity_ is often
resented where _sympathy_ would be welcome. We have _sympathy_ with one
in joy or grief, in pleasure or pain, _pity_ only for those in suffering
or need; we may have _sympathy_ with the struggles of a giant or the
triumphs of a conqueror; we are moved with _pity_ for the captive or the
slave. _Pity_ may be only in the mind, but _mercy_ does something for
those who are its objects. _Compassion_, like _pity_, is exercised only
with respect to the suffering or unfortunate, but combines with the
tenderness of _pity_ the dignity of _sympathy_ and the active quality of
_mercy_. _Commiseration_ is as tender as _compassion_, but more remote
and hopeless; we have _commiseration_ for sufferers whom we can not
reach or can not relieve. _Condolence_ is the expression of _sympathy_.
Compare MERCY.

Antonyms:

barbarity, ferocity, harshness, pitilessness, severity,
brutality, hard-heartedness, inhumanity, rigor, sternness,
cruelty, hardness, mercilessness, ruthlessness, truculence.

Prepositions:

Pity _on_ or _upon_ that which we help or spare; pity _for_ that which
we merely contemplate; "have pity _upon_ me, O ye my friends," _Job_
xix, 21; "pity _for_ a horse o'erdriven," TENNYSON _In Memoriam_ lxii,
st. 1.

* * * * *

PLANT.

Synonyms:

seed, seed down, set, set out, sow.

We _set_ or _set out_ slips, cuttings, young trees, etc., tho we may
also be said to _plant_ them; we _plant_ corn, potatoes, etc., which we
put in definite places, as in hills, with some care; we _sow_ wheat or
other small grains and seeds which are scattered in the process. Tho by
modern agricultural machinery the smaller grains are almost as precisely
_planted_ as corn, the old word for broadcast scattering is retained.
Land is _seeded_ or _seeded down_ to grass.

Antonyms:

eradicate, extirpate, root up, uproot, weed out.

* * * * *

PLEAD.

Synonyms:

advocate, ask, beseech, implore, solicit,
argue, beg, entreat, press, urge.

To _plead_ for one is to employ argument or persuasion, or both in his
behalf, usually with earnestness or importunity; similarly one may be
said to