John O’Sullivan coined the term MANIFEST Destiny in 1845. The phrase successfully captured the linkage between western expansion and America’s MANIFEST or obvious and therefore evident mission to spread the blessings of liberty and progress across the continent.
What if O’Sullivan had decided to substitute EVINCE for MANIFEST? Would EVINCE Destiny be any different from MANIFEST Destiny? Although MANIFEST sounds MUCH better than EVINCE, the two words are actually synonyms that are often used interchangeably to indicate the evident presence of a quality, trait, or emotion.
MANIFEST and EVINCE are currently making frequent appearances as correct answers on SAT vocabulary in context questions. For example, a recent question asked what MANIFEST most nearly means in a passage in which certain obvious “drawbacks made themselves very MANIFEST.” EVIDENT is the correct answer to this relatively easy question.
Unfortunately, not all vocabulary in context passages are as straightforward as the MANIFEST = EVIDENT question. A second passage contained a detailed discussion of a famous painting by the Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. The work of art’s precise and richly detailed portrait EVINCED or demonstrated signature features found in Vermeer’s renowned masterpieces.
The Vermeer question included ESCHEW as a possible answer. Don’t confuse EVINCE with ESCHEW. Although ESCHEW is a very frequent correct answer, it can sometimes be incorrect. ESCHEW and EVINCE are actually antonyms. ESCHEW means to avoid. In contrast, EVINCE means to reveal. Vermeer’s work of art EVINCED his characteristic artistic traits - it did not ESCHEW them!
MANIFEST – to reveal and make clearly evident
EVINCE – to reveal and make clearly evident