Which word is a synonym for advent in this sentence: Of all mankinds manifold creations, language must take pride of place. Other inventions -the wheel, agriculture, sliced bread - may have transformed our material existence, but the advent of language is what made us human.

Which word is a synonym for achieve in this sentence: Compared to language, all other inventions pale in significance, since everything we have ever achieved depends on language and originates from it.

Which word is a synonym for originate in this sentence: Compared to language, all other inventions pale in significance, since everything we have ever achieved depends on language and originates from it.

Which word is a synonym for extraordinary in this sentence: In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: 'this marvellous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul'.

Which word is a synonym for sophistication in this sentence: In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: 'this marvellous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul'.

Which word is a synonym for simplicity in this sentence: In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: 'this marvellous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul'.

Which word is a synonym for marvellous in this sentence: In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: 'this marvellous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul'.

Which word is a synonym for disclose in this sentence: In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: 'this marvellous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul'.

Which word is a synonym for penetrate in this sentence: In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: 'this marvellous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul'.

Which word is a synonym for renowned in this sentence: This was how, in 1660, the renowned French grammarians of the Port-Royal abbey near Versailles distilled the essence of language, and no one since has celebrated more eloquently the magnitude of its achievement.

Which word is a synonym for flaw in this sentence: Even so, there is just one flaw in all these hymns of praise, for the homage to languages unique accomplishment conceals a simple yet critical incongruity.

Which word is a synonym for homage in this sentence: Even so, there is just one flaw in all these hymns of praise, for the homage to languages unique accomplishment conceals a simple yet critical incongruity.

Which word is a synonym for accomplishment in this sentence: Even so, there is just one flaw in all these hymns of praise, for the homage to languages unique accomplishment conceals a simple yet critical incongruity.

Which word is a synonym for conceal in this sentence: Even so, there is just one flaw in all these hymns of praise, for the homage to languages unique accomplishment conceals a simple yet critical incongruity.

Which word is a synonym for incongruity in this sentence: Even so, there is just one flaw in all these hymns of praise, for the homage to languages unique accomplishment conceals a simple yet critical incongruity.

Which word is a synonym for paradox in this sentence: This apparent paradox is at the core of our fascination with language, and it holds many of its secrets.

Which word is a synonym for instrument in this sentence: How else could this instrument make so much out of barely three dozen measly morsels of sound?

Which word is a synonym for haphazard in this sentence: In themselves, these configurations of mouth p,f,b,v,t,d,k,g,sh,a,e and so on - amount to nothing more than a few haphazard spits and splutters, random noises with no meaning, no ability to express, no power to explain.

Which word is a synonym for meaningless in this sentence: But run them through the cogs and wheels of the language machine, let it arrange them in some very special orders, and there is nothing that these meaningless streams of air cannot do: from sighing the interminable boredom of existence to unravelling the fundamental order of the universe.

Which word is a synonym for interminable in this sentence: But run them through the cogs and wheels of the language machine, let it arrange them in some very special orders, and there is nothing that these meaningless streams of air cannot do: from sighing the interminable boredom of existence to unravelling the fundamental order of the universe.

Which word is a synonym for foragers in this sentence: The language machine allows just about everybody from pre-modern foragers in the subtropical savannah, to post-modern philosophers in the suburban sprawl - to tie these meaningless sounds together into an infinite variety of subtle senses, and all apparently without the slightest exertion.

Which word is a synonym for infinite in this sentence: The language machine allows just about everybody from pre-modern foragers in the subtropical savannah, to post-modern philosophers in the suburban sprawl - to tie these meaningless sounds together into an infinite variety of subtle senses, and all apparently without the slightest exertion.

Which word is a synonym for deceptive in this sentence: Yet it is precisely this deceptive ease which makes language a victim of its own success, since in everyday life its triumphs are usually taken for granted.

Which word is a synonym for ease in this sentence: Yet it is precisely this deceptive ease which makes language a victim of its own success, since in everyday life its triumphs are usually taken for granted.

Which word is a synonym for triumph in this sentence: Yet it is precisely this deceptive ease which makes language a victim of its own success, since in everyday life its triumphs are usually taken for granted.

Which word is a synonym for exotic in this sentence: Often, it is only the estrangement of foreign tongues, with their many exotic and outlandish features, that brings home the wonder of languages design.

Which word is a synonym for outlandish in this sentence: Often, it is only the estrangement of foreign tongues, with their many exotic and outlandish features, that brings home the wonder of languages design.

Which word is a synonym for pull off in this sentence: One of the showiest stunts that some languages can pull off is an ability to build up words of breath-breaking length, and thus express in one word what English takes a whole sentence to say.

Which word is a synonym for squash in this sentence: (In case you were wondering, this monstrosity really is one word, not merely many different words squashed together - most of its components cannot even stand up on their own.)

Which word is a synonym for enable in this sentence: And if that sounds like some one-off freak, then consider Sumerian, the language spoken on the banks of the Euphrates some 5,000 years ago by the people who invented writing and thus enabled the documentation of history.

Which word is a synonym for documentation in this sentence: And if that sounds like some one-off freak, then consider Sumerian, the language spoken on the banks of the Euphrates some 5,000 years ago by the people who invented writing and thus enabled the documentation of history.

Which word is a synonym for trim in this sentence: A Sumerian word like munintuma'a (‘when he had made it suitable for her’) might seem rather trim compared to the Turkish colossus above.

Which word is a synonym for impressive in this sentence: What is so impressive about it, however, is not its lengthiness but rather the reverse - the thrifty compactness of its construction. The word is made up of different slots, each corresponding to a particular portion of meaning.

Which word is a synonym for reverse in this sentence: What is so impressive about it, however, is not its lengthiness but rather the reverse - the thrifty compactness of its construction.

Which word is a synonym for compactness in this sentence: What is so impressive about it, however, is not its lengthiness but rather the reverse - the thrifty compactness of its construction.

Which word is a synonym for sleek in this sentence: This sleek design allows single sounds to convey useful information, and in fact even the absence of a sound has been enlisted to express something specific.

Which word is a synonym for convey in this sentence: This sleek design allows single sounds to convey useful information, and in fact even the absence of a sound has been enlisted to express something specific.

Which word is a synonym for absence in this sentence: This sleek design allows single sounds to convey useful information, and in fact even the absence of a sound has been enlisted to express something specific.

Which word is a synonym for absence in this sentence: Who could possibly have come up with such a nifty contraption?