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Labels
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| All words requiring labels have been clearly tagged in synonym lists and in main and subentries. The kinds of labels used in this book are temporal labels (Archaic, Obsolete), usage labels (Informal and Slang), dialect labels (such as Regional and Chiefly Regional), and field labels (such as Law). |
| The label Archaic is used with words that were once common but are now rare. For example, fright, meaning “to fill with fear,” is an archaic synonym of frighten and is labeled as such. Obsolete indicates that a term is no longer in active use, except, for example, in literary quotation. Roget's II contains very few archaic and obsolete terms. |
| Usage labels such as Informal and Slang indicate various levels of usage and styles of expression that may or may not be appropriate in all contexts or situations. Informal generally applies to those words that are commonly used in the spoken language and in ordinary writing but that might not be considered appropriate in very formal or official contexts or circumstances. The word thick, for example, carries an Informal label in the synonym list at friendly. Slang, on the other hand, is a style of language characteristic of very casual speech. Slang comprises words and special senses of words denoting things in an exceptionally vivid, humorous, irreverent, or sarcastic manner. For example, in the synonym list at friendly the word tight is labeled Slang. |
| Dialect labels such as Regional and Chiefly Regional indicate that a term is indigenous to a particular geographic area. For example, the word afeard, a synonym of afraid, is used by speakers only in a limited part of the United States. Hence it carries the label Regional. the word mighty, meaning “very,” is labeled Chiefly Regional because it is used chiefly but not exclusively in the southern part of this country. |
| Language labels such as British distinguish between British English and American English. Examples of words that carry British labels include: bobby (British), a synonym at policeman; and bonny (Scots), a synonym at beautiful. |
| Some synonyms are labeled according to the fields of knowledge with which they are primarily associated. An example is the sense of competence meaning “conferred power”—a sense carrying the label Law. |
| Part-of-speech labels appear in italics at all boldface entries and subentries. |
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