[Lexicog] Re: Synonymy

[John Roberts]

> So NODE and COBUILD are lacking on this point in their definitions and
> usage
> descriptions of 'big' and 'large'.

... on the other hand, COBUILD, does say "The word 'little' is slightly more
informal than 'small' ..."

But 'little' and 'small' are not propositional synonyms either, e.g.

a little/small table with a glass top
those little/small dark villages
a little/small piece of rock
He rose and crossed to the desk, towering over the little/?small Belgian.

Without context I get the following meanings:
two little girls = two young girls
two small girls = two girls small in size

her little brother = her younger brother
her small brother = her brother small in size

he walked a little/?small way
she lay awake a little/?small while longer

the dress is a little/*small big

etc.

smaller and smallest are OK
but littler and littlest are not OK

His words were small/little comfort.
My contribution to the discussion was small/?little.

a city of small/*little businesses
He is a small farmer. = a poor farmer barely making a living
He is a little farmer. = a farmer small in size

etc.

John Roberts







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