More in Synonyms
'Ask' and 'inquire' change your tone
Anglo-Saxon words feel plain and warm, Latin-derived synonyms feel formal. English lets you switch registers instantly.
English has three words for almost everything
Invasions left English with Anglo-Saxon, French and Latin layers, so we get kingly, royal and regal for one idea.
'Thesaurus' means treasure house
Greek thesauros described a treasury. Roget chose it deliberately, framing words as riches to draw from.