dots-menu
×

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

Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary Powers
Division (I) Individual Volition
Section II. Prospective Volition
1. Conceptional Volition

625. Business.

   NOUN:BUSINESS, occupation, employment, undertaking; pursuit [See Pursuit]; what one is doing, what one is about; affair, concern, matter, case.
  TASK, matter in hand, irons in the fire; thing to do, agendum (pl. agenda), work, job, chore [U. S.], errand, commission, mission, charge, care; duty [See Duty].
  exercise; work (action) [See Action]; avocation, hobby; press of business (activity) [See Activity].
  FUNCTION, part, rôle, cue; province, lookout [colloq.], department, capacity, sphere, orb [now rare], field, line; walk, – of life; beat, round, routine; race, career.
  OFFICE, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living; situation, berth, billet, appointment, employ [rare], service (servitude) [See Subjection]; engagement; undertaking [See Undertaking].
  VOCATION, calling, profession, cloth, faculty; industry, art; industrial arts; craft, mystery [obs.], handicraft; trade (commerce) [See Barter].
   VERB:OCCUPY ONESELF WITH; pass -, employ -, spend- one’s time in; employ oneself -in, – upon; concern oneself with; make it one’s business &c. n.; undertake [See Undertaking]; enter a profession; betake oneself to, turn one’s hand to; have to do with (do) [See Action].
  be about, be doing, be engaged in, be employed in, be occupied with, be at work on; have one’s hands in, have in hand; have on one’s -hands, – shoulders; bear the burden; have one’s hands full (activity) [See Activity].
  PLY ONE’S TASK, ply one’s trade; drive a trade; carry on -, do -, transact- -business, – a trade &c. n.; keep a shop; labor in one’s vocation; pursue the even tenor of one’s way; attend to business, attend to one’s work.
  OFFICIATE, serve, act; act one’s part, play one’s part; do duty; serve -, discharge -, perform- the -office, – duties, – functions- of; hold -, fill- -an office, – a place, – a situation; hold a portfolio.
  BE IN THE HANDS OF, be on the stocks, be on the anvil; pass through one’s hands.
   ADJECTIVE:BUSINESSLIKE; workaday; professional, vocational; official, functional; humming, busy (actively employed) [See Activity].
  IN HAND, on hand; on or in one’s hands; afoot; on foot, on the anvil; going on; acting.
   ADVERB:IN THE COURSE OF BUSINESS, all in the day’s work; professionally &c. adj.
   QUOTATIONS:
  1. A business with an income at its heels.—Cowper
  2. Amoto quæramus seria ludo.—Horace
  3. Par negotiis neque supra.—Tacitus
  4. Why not have a bit of romance in business when it costs nothing?—Shaw