amenity

amenity 1 Amenity, luxury both denote something (as an object, a feature, a quality, or an experience) that gives refined or exquisite pleasure or is exceedingly pleasing to the mind or senses.

Amenity typically implies a delightful mildness, gentleness, or softness, especially in contrast to an uncomfortable or distressing harshness, roughness, or crudeness

{

many English go to the Riviera in the winter because of the amenity of its climate

}

It may imply no more than a vague conducing to physical or material comfort or convenience

{

every amenity . . . including . . . showers, central heating, and first-class cuisine— H. G. Smith

}

Luxury stresses keen, often voluptuous, enjoyment and unalloyed gratification of the mind or senses, usually without a special suggestion of opulence in the thing enjoyed or sensuality in the pleasure

{

and learn the luxury of doing good— Goldsmith

}

{

Mark decided to walk back by the road . . . instead of indulging himself in the luxury of once more rejoicing in the solitude of the green lanes— Mackenzie

}

{

a dressing room with a marble bath that made cleanliness a luxury instead of one of the sternest of the virtues— Shaw

}

Analogous words: *pleasure, delight, joy, enjoyment: ease, comfort, relaxation (see REST): mildness, softness, blandness, lenity or leniency, gentleness (see corresponding adjectives at SOFT)

Antonyms: rigor

Contrasted words: harshness, roughness, ruggedness (see corresponding adjectives at ROUGH): disagreeableness, unpleasantness (see affirmative adjectives at PLEASANT): hardship, *difficulty, vicissitude

2 *courtesy, attention, gallantry

Analogous words: civility, politeness, courteousness (see corresponding adjectives at CIVIL): graciousness, affability, cordiality, geniality, sociability (see corresponding adjectives at GRACIOUS): *form, convention, convenance: ceremony, formality (see FORM)

Antonyms: acerbity, asperity: rudeness

Contrasted words: glumness, moroseness, crabbedness, surliness (see corresponding adjectives at SULLEN): *acrimony: *affront, insult, indignity: discourtesy, incivility, impoliteness (see corresponding adjectives at RUDE)