Confusing Words Clarified: Group A; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, etc. +(lists of "A" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)English can be very confusing; for example, a house burns up as it burns down, a form is being filled in as it is being filled out, and an alarm goes off by going on. How about when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible? As you examine the groups of words in this unit, you will find many examples of confusions; sometimes, just one or two letters in a word can change its meaning completely. There are also times when two different words get confused because their meanings apply to things that are very similar. Efforts have been made to help you grasp the meanings of various words that may be confusing so you can utilize them with greater accuracy in your communication. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome by writing to: E-mail Contact (just click it for an e-mail form) or by typing, words@wordinfo.info, as the address in your e-mail heading. If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this Pronunciation Chart for clarifications.a, eh
a (AY)
One; any; some; each; expressing singleness, unity: "He brought a book to class."
eh (AY)
1. What?; a slang term used as an interrogative or to express uncertainty or surprise: "Eh, what did you say?"
2. Used to ask someone to repeat something: "He's only three feet tall!" "Eh? How's that again?" 3. Urging someone to agree: "Let's have another drink, eh?"This use of eh occurs especially in British and Canadian English. abdication, addiction
abdication (ab" duh KAY shuhn)
To formally give up a high office, a throne, or an authority; resignation: "The council denied that their decision represented any abdication of responsibility."
addiction (uh DIK shuhn)
To devote or give oneself habitually or compulsively to something; such as, caffeine or alcohol; but especially to narcotics: "Her previous novel dealt with her recovery from drug addiction."
Abel, able, -able
Abel (AY buhl)
In the Bible, the second son of Adam and Eve, murdered by his older brother Cain: "Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." Genesis 4:8.
able (AY buhl)
1. Having enough power, skill, or means to do something [followed by to plus an infinitive); capable: "A cat is able to see in the dark."
2. Having more power or skill than usual; skillful: "She was an able teacher for more than 40 years." -able (uh buhl; depending on the word to which it is attached).
A suffix that forms adjectives from verbs and nouns; for example, "They were very comfortable sitting around the fireplace."
ability, capacity
ability (uh BIL i tee)
The power, gift, or competence to do or to act physically, mentally, legally, financially, etc.: "She was a young woman with a remarkable musical ability."
capacity (kuh PAS uh tee)
1. Amount of room or space inside; largest amount that can be held by a container: "A gallon can has a capacity of four quarts (3.78 liters)."
2. Capable of learning or doing; power or fitness: "They have a great capacity for learning." abjure, adjure
abjure (ab JOOR), abjuring
1. To renounce, reject, or give up rights or allegiance on oath: "The man said he would abjure his citizenship if his country continued with its policies of war instead of negotiating peaceful solutions to international problems."
2. To repudiate, renounce or recant publicly; to disclaim: "He abjured his life of bad eating and drinking habits." adjure (uh JOOR)
1. To appeal to earnestly: "The judge adjured the spectators to be silent."
2. To charge, to bind, or to command earnestly and solemnly, often under oath or the threat of a penalty: "The judge adjured him to answer truthfully." ablution, absolution
ablution (ab LYOO shuhn)
1. A washing of one’s body; washing, bathing, cleaning, bath, lavation: "Because of the heat, he felt the need for a daily ablution."
2. A washing or cleansing as a religious ceremony of purification; ceremonial washing, ritualistic washing: "After his ablution in the river, the holy man continued on his journey." absolution (ab" suh LOO shuhn)
A freeing from sin, guilt, or blame; or a declaration that frees a person from guilt or punishment for sin: "The priest gave absolution to church members which always makes the parishioners feel a great deal better."
abridged, unabridged
abridged (uh BRIJD)
1. Shortened; to decrease, condense, digest: "The book was abridged to a more readable length."
2. Restrict, limit, curtail, diminish, deprive one of, take away: "No one should be allowed to have abridged citizens of their legal rights." unabridged (un" uh BRIJD)
Entire, in full, not shortened, complete: "There is an unabridged dictionary on the library table; as well as, an unabridged book about etymologies."
abs; adds; ads; adz, adze
abs (ABZ)
An abbreviation for abdominal muscles: "They are doing sit-up exercises and other related activities so they can develop their abs."
adds (ADZ)
1. An increase; mathematical summation; totals: "He usually adds the figures in his head."
2. Including; joining: "She adds special greetings whenever she meets her friends." ads (ADZ)
A shorter term for advertisements: "I am constantly getting ads, also known as spam, in my e-mail."
adz or adze (ADZ)
A cutting tool for shaping heavy timbers, similar to an ax but with a blade set across the end of the handle and curving inward: "He used an adze to take the bark off the tree he just cut down."
abstain, abstemious
abstain (ab STAYN, uhb STAYN)
1. To refrain from something by one's own choice: "He promised to abstain from traditional political rhetoric."
2. To refrain from voting: "Forty-five senators voted in favor of the new health bill, forty-five voted against it, and twenty-five decided to abstain." abstemious (ab STEE mee uhs, uhb STEE mee uhs)
Marked by restraint especially in the consumption of food or alcohol: "Her mother was known as an abstemious eater and drinker who always had healthy meals for her family."
"Her sister's midlife heart attack made her realize the importance of taking care of her body and turned her to a more abstemious and healthful lifestyle." The terms abstain and abstemious seem to have similar formats and both have meanings involving "self-restraint" or "self-denial". Although they may appear to come from the same root and both of them start with the Latin prefix abs-, meaning "from" or "away"; abstain is traced back to abs- plus the Latin verb tenēre, "to hold"; while abstemious gets its -temious from a suffix related to the Latin noun temetum, "intoxicating drink". abundant, redundant
abundant (uh BUN duhnt)
Plentiful, present in great quantities: "Some parts of the world are abundant in natural resources."
redundant (ri DUN duhnt)
1. Exceeding what is necessary or natural; superfluous: "She edited the report and removed any redundant information or statements."
2. Needlessly wordy or repetitive in expression: "Too often student papers are filled with redundant phrases." 3. In Britain, dismissed, laid off, or fired from a job because someone is no longer needed: "More than 500 of the company's employees have already been made redundant and it is likely that more will also be declared as being redundant." abuse, misuse
abuse (uh BYOOZ)
A corrupt practice or activity; unfair use, improper use: "Too many politicians tend to abuse their positions with dishonest practices."
misuse (mis YOOZ)
1. Improper or incorrect use; misapplication, waste: "Writing ad copy was a misuse of her creative talent, although I noticed a misuse of the word who in her writing." 2. To mistreat or to treat unfairly; to harm or to take advantage of: "An arrogant man will generally misuse his friends. accede, exceed
accede (ahk SEED)
To comply with; consent to, approve; yield to; to agree with, surrender to, comply with: "The mayor will accede to the citizens’ demands."
exceed (iks SEED)
1. To surpass, to go beyond normal requirements or beyond the limit of: "The police will give you a ticket if you exceed the speed limit."
2. To excel, predominate, surpass, be superior: "She actually did exceed all of the other contestants in the singing contest." accelerate, exhilarate
accelerate (AK SEL uh rayt")
1. To cause anything in motion or process to go or move faster; to speed up: "To avoid being hit by the truck, he had to accelerate his car."
2. To cause to happen sooner; to hasten: "Resting will often accelerate a person’s recovery from an illness." exhilarate (ig ZIL uh rayt")
To cause someone to feel very happy and excited: "Knowing that our daughter will have passed her exam will certainly exhilarate us."
accelerator, exhilarator
accelerator (ak SEL ur ay" tur)
A pedal or other device to make something go faster, to speed up, quicken the pace: "The driver of the car suddenly stepped too hard on the accelerator and ran into a tree."
exhilarator (eg ZIL uh ray" tur)
That which cheers up, enlivens, stimulates, and delights: "We were told that it would be a real exhilarator if we were to go for a walk in the beautiful woods and fresh air."
accent, ascent, assent
accent (AK sent")
1. A stress on a syllable to aid in the pronunciation of words; a stress, an emphasis: "The word 'woman' has its accent on the first syllable."
2. Pronunciation, enunciation, or modulation of speech: "He speaks with a French accent." 3. A hint, touch, detail: "The room was painted white with just a slightly blue accent." ascent (uh SENT)
1. A rising or climbing; an upward movement: "The construction worker made a careful ascent up to the roof of the building."
"The ascent to the top of the mountain was difficult." 2. Incline, slope: "The road made a sharp ascent to the top of the hill."3. Advancement, progress: "We were amazed about her ascent from secretary to president of the company in just five years." assent (uh SENT)
To comply or to agree to something; to consent: "The majority would certainly assent to my views on the matter."
"He was willing to assent to her request."
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