tes
that degree of _refinement_ and development which results from continued
_cultivation_ through successive generations; a man's faculties may be
brought to a high degree of _cultivation_ in some specialty, while he
himself remains uncultured even to the extent of coarseness and
rudeness. Compare HUMANE; POLITE.

Antonyms:

barbarism, brutality, coarseness, rudeness, savagery,
boorishness, clownishness, grossness, rusticity, vulgarity.

* * * * *

REFUTE.

Synonyms:

confound, confute, disprove, overthrow, repel.

To _refute_ and to _confute_ are to answer so as to admit of no reply.
To _refute_ a statement is to demonstrate its falsity by argument or
countervailing proof; _confute_ is substantially the same in meaning,
tho differing in usage. _Refute_ applies either to arguments and
opinions or to accusations; _confute_ is not applied to accusations and
charges, but to arguments or opinions. _Refute_ is not now applied to
persons, but _confute_ is in good use in this application; a person is
_confuted_ when his arguments are _refuted_.

* * * * *

RELIABLE.

Synonyms:

trustworthy, trusty.

The word _reliable_ has been sharply challenged, but seems to have
established its place in the language. The objection to its use on the
ground that the suffix _-able_ can not properly be added to an
intransitive verb is answered by the citation of such words as
"available," "conversable," "laughable," and the like, while, in the
matter of usage, _reliable_ has the authority of Coleridge, Martineau,
Mill, Irving, Newman, Gladstone, and others of the foremost of recent
English writers. The objection to the application of _reliable_ to
persons is not sustained by the use of the verb "rely," which is applied
to persons in the authorized version of the Scriptures, in the writings
of Shakespeare and Bacon, and in the usage of good speakers and writers.
_Trusty_ and _trustworthy_ refer to inherent qualities of a high order,
_trustworthy_ being especially applied to persons, and denoting moral
integrity and truthfulness; we speak of a _trusty_ sword, a _trusty_
servant; we say the man is thoroughly _trustworthy_. _Reliable_ is
inferior in meaning, denoting merely the possession of such qualities as
are needed for safe reliance; as, a _reliable_ pledge; _reliable_
information. A man is said to be _reliable_ with reference not only