I. The connotation of degree or intensity can be traced in such groups of synonyms as to surprise – to astonish – to amaze – to astound; to like – to admire – to love – to adore – to worship.
II. In the group of synonyms to stare – to glare – to gaze – to glance – to peep – to peer, all the synonyms except to glance, to peep denote a lasting act of looking at somebody or something, whereas to glance, to peep describe a brief look. These synonyms may be said to have a connotation of duration in their semantic structure.
III. The synonyms to stare – to glare – to gaze are differentiated from other words of the group by emotive connotations, and from each other by the nature of the emotion they imply.
One should be warned against confusing words with emotive connotations and words with emotive denotative meanings, e.g. angry – furious – enraged; fear – terror – horror. In the latter, emotion is expressed by the leading semantic component whereas in the former it is an accompanying, subsidiary characteristic.
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