Faithful

Definition Essay

Have you ever perused an essay or scanned a paragraph and then realized that you hadn't comprehended what you just read? Many words, although familiar and common to us, never make their way into our conscious thoughts to be explored in depth. Religious words in particular are often talked about but never explained because church-raised people take them for granted and never search them out. A person's character can be described in a multitude of ways that are either positive or negative. Let's examine the meaning of the word faithful by learning similar words, by looking at some definitions and synonyms, and by painting a few illustrations.

The term faithful has many synonyms which, by discernment of the differences, can shed some light on what it means. The word loyal carries the connotation of continuing in your allegiances despite temptations to stray. Constant is also similar to faithful, but it indicates an enduring strength of emotional attachment to someone or something although promises and vows may not be of consequence. Also, staunch “suggests fortitude and resolution in adherence and imperviousness to influences that would weaken it” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Steadfast, too, implies a firm and unswerving constance in love, allegiance, or conviction. Lastly, resolute hints at a decided course of adherence to a decision or goal.

To be sure, these are all things which desribe words similar to faithful, but what exactly does that word mean? Faithful means to hold steadfastly to those with whom you have allegiances; it's a lot like the word loyal. It can also mean to fulfill your duties and complete your promises in a conscientious manner. In addition, faithful can also refer to the great level of assurance which comes from people who believe in the value of their word. Finally, faithfulness is the admirable character trait of holding tightly to the truth, maintaining a method of action, or staying with a particular person.

And now, let's look at some of the history, antonyms, and examples or illustrations of the word faithful. Our English word faithful finds one of its roots in the archaic Latin word fidēlis which means faith, truth, or belief. A short list of antonyms for the word faithful would probably include: fickle, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, and untrue. The sentence “he was able to sculpt a very faithful replica of Caesar's bust” is an illustration of how you might use faithful in everyday language. In addition, many people describe the 50^th anniversary of a couple as a manifestation of their faithful union to one another over such a long period of time. Lastly, faithful is often used to describe God's commitment to His promises and the relationship which believers are privileged to share with Him.

In closing, we've looked at similar words, some definitions, and a few examples of the uses which have helped us to understand better what the word faithful truly means. We were able to clarify the differences between faithfulness and several of its synonyms in order to gain a fuller understanding of its various facets. Also, we broke out the dictionaries and examined the detailed definitions of the term and the settings in which it would be an appropriate vocable. Thirdly, we looked at the etymology, antonyms, and ideal usage situations for the word faithful. The thought of having to remain faithful to something can be an uncomfortable thought to some; how do your react to the word?