Both words refer to a state of peaceable agreement and coexistence between persons or groups. Harmony suggests an interrelationship in which all elements blend together without social, political, or interpersonal conflict: living together in harmony. Harmony has a metaphorical, evocative feel. Concord, the more formal and less current word, is very similar in meaning, but suggests a more concrete, explicitly political unanimity between parties that have been in competition or conflict. In another, related definition, a concord is a treaty or covenant mutually agreed to by all parties. The resulting concord, in the meaning we’re concerned with here, is grounded in actual agreement and a will to maintain amity.

Both words suggest the expression of ridicule and scorn towards situations or people, so as to invite laughter at the target’s expense. Mocking is primarily used of tone of voice, laughter, and facial expression, or the general manner in which something is said: a mocking smile. Sardonic is a more refined, but still contemptuous, way of making fun of people or things. Like mocking it’s often an attribute of demeanor—raised a sardonic eyebrow—and tone of voice, but sardonic also appears with words like humor, wit and sophistication, which suggests a degree of verbal skill and humor not central to mocking, which anyone can do.

Both words refer to the act of coming to or reaching a place. Arrival suggests reaching a place by someone or something that has been moving through space towards this place: airport arrivals; the arrival of refugees. Arrival can also be used to mark time: before the arrival of electricity. Advent is also frequently used to speak of the arrival or beginning of something or someone of significance, including day and night and seasons, but particularly historical developments or advances: the advent of computers, agriculture, or summer. Used in this way, advent is not the result of a journey in any recognizable sense, but more an appearance, beginning, or becoming present.