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Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class IV. Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties
Division (II) Communication of Ideas
Section III. Means of Communicating Ideas
3. Written Language

594. Description.

   NOUN:DESCRIPTION, account, statement, report; exposé [F.] (disclosure) [See Disclosure]; specification, particulars; summary of facts; brief (abstract) [See Compendium]; return (record) [See Record]; catalogue raisonné [F.] (list) [See List]; guidebook (information) [See Information].
  delineation (representation) [See Representation]; sketch, pastel, vignette, monograph; minute -, detailed -, particular -, circumstantial -, graphic- account; narration, recital, rehearsal, relation.
  NARRATIVE, history; memoir, memorials; annals (chronicle) [See Record]; saga; tradition, legend, story, tale, historiette; personal narrative, journal, letters, biography, autobiography, life; obituary, necrology; adventures, fortunes, experiences, confessions; anecdote, ana.
  historiography, chronography; historic Muse, Clio.
  WORK OF FICTION, novel, romance, short story; detective -story, – yarn; “grue” [Stevenson]; fairy -, nursery- tale; fable, parable, apologue, allegory; dime novel, penny dreadful, shilling shocker [slang].
  RELATOR &c. v.; raconteur [F.]; historiographer, chronographer, historian (recorder) [See Recorder]; biographer, fabulist, novelist, story-teller, romancer, spinner of yarns, teller of tales, anecdotist, word-painter; writer [See Book].
   VERB:DESCRIBE; set forth (state) [See Affirmation]; draw a picture, picture; portray (represent) [See Representation]; characterize, analyze, give words to, narrate, relate, recite, recount, sum up, run over, recapitulate, rehearse, fight one’s battles over again; harrow up the soul, hold one breathless, novelize, romance.
  unfold (disclose) [See Disclosure]- a tale; tell; give -, render- an account of; report, make a report, draw up a statement; throw into -essay form, – book form; stick to the facts, show life as it is; historicize.
  DETAIL, particularize, itemize; enter into -, descend to- -particulars, – details.
   ADJECTIVE:DESCRIPTIVE, graphic, narrative, epic, suggestive, well-drawn; historic or historical, historiographical, chronographic or chronographical, biographic or biographical, autobiographical; traditive [esp., from ancestors to descendants], traditional, traditionary; legendary, mythical, fabulous; anecdotic, storied; described &c. v.; romantic, idealistic; realistic, true to life; expository.
   QUOTATIONS:
  1. Furor scribendi.
  2. To hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature.—Hamlet