a. (sb.) [f. SYNONYM sb. + -IC, after F. synonymique.] Of, relating to, consisting of, or exhibiting synonyms.

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1816.  W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., LXXIX. 472. A synonymic table of the geography of Egypt under the Pharaohs.

2

1857.  J. W. Gibbs, Philol. Studies, 220. Synonymic distinctions, however, should not be carried too far in any language.

3

1871.  Kirby (title), A Synonymic Catalogue of Diurnal Lepidoptera.

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1881.  Sharpe, in Nature, XXIII. 481/2. It is only those who have to follow the intricate windings of synonymic literature who can appreciate the work here performed by Dr. Coues.

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1899.  A. Gudeman in Class. Rev., XIII. 214/2. Pulchritudinem ac speciem. The same synonymic collocation occurs in Firm. Maternus.

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  ¶  The meaning ‘synonymous’ given in mod. Dicts. appears to be unsupported; but cf. next, 1.

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  B.  sb. The study of synonyms, as a department of grammar. [Cf. F. synonymique, G. synonymik.] Also Synonymics (in recent Dicts.).

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1857.  J. W. Gibbs, Philol. Studies, 220. It is the business of synonymic merely to notice the distinctions actually existing, not to create them, or to anticipate their origin.

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