Branches of linguistics. Synchronic vs diachronic approaches to the language study. Lexicology – ‘the science of the word’

Classifications of Synonyms
(Acad. V. V. Vinogradov’s approach)
Lexical synonyms are similar in meaning in the language system.
Contextual synonyms are similar in meaning only under some specific contextual conditions, cf. the following sentences:
I’ll go to the shop to buy some bread.
I’ll go to the shop to get some bread.
I can’t bear him anymore.
I can’t stand him anymore.
Lexical Synonyms
Absolute synonyms coincide in all their shades of meaning and in all their stylistic characteristics, e.g. word-building – word-formation;
Ideographic synonyms convey the same concept but differ in shades of meaning, i.e. in their denotative component;
interesting – (exciting), (makes you want to know more sth);
fascinating – (exciting), (makes you want to know more sth), [extremely];
intriguing – (exciting), (makes you want to know more sth), [there is sth you find difficult to understand or explain];
absorbing – (exciting), (makes you want to know more sth), [holds your attention for a long time];
gripping – (exciting), (makes you want to know more sth), [holds your attention for a long time], [you want to know what is going to happen next];
Stylistic synonyms differ in their stylistic characteristics, i.e. in their connotative component, e.g. head (neutral) – attic (stylistic).
Ideographic-stylistic synonyms differ in shades of meaning and belong to different styles, e.g. to see ‘to have or use the powers of sight and understanding’ – to behold (elevated, archaic) ‘to look at that which is seen’.
Sources of Synonymy
development of the native elements, mostly denoting different shades of common meaning, e.g. fast – speedy – swift; handsome – pretty – lovely;
adaptation of words from dialects and varieties of English, e.g. dark – murk (Northern English); girl – lass (Scottish English); wireless – radio (American English);