Confusing Words Clarified: Group B; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, etc. +(lists of "B" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)A classic story tells how Plato had defined man as a featherless two-tooted animal, and his students agreed. The next day, Diogenes pulled the feathers off a cock and took it to Plato. "Here's Plato's man," he said. It was an embarrassing moment for Plato. Thereafter he corrected the definition to "a featherless two-footed animal with flat nails". Ever since Plato's description, man has never ceased to define man, and has constantly sought a more meaningful self-definition. Voltaire altered the Platonic version, in Candide, to "man is a featherless biped with a soul".
Another unknown author created, "Man is the only animal that eats when he is not hungry, and drinks when he is not thirsty." 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.bellow, bellows, billow
bellow (BEL oh)
1. To make a loud, bawling noise: "The cow began to bellow when the farmer was late to milk her."
2. To shout in a deep voice: "He was heard to bellow orders to one of his employees." bellows (BEL ohz)
A device that produces a strong current of air when its sides are pressed together: "He used a bellows to help start the fire."
billow (BIL oh)
1. A surge or swell of water, a rolling mass of something; such as, smoke which resembles the movement of water: "The billow of smoke on the horizon worried the fire watch."
2. To swell out or to balloon through the action of the wind: "The sails on the ship will billow when the wind comes up." 3. To move as a large cloud or mass: "Clouds of smoke were seen to billow up from the chimney." benediction, malediction
benediction (ben" i DIK shuhn)
1. An invocation of divine blessing, usually at the end of a church service: "The minister concluded the church meeting with a prayer of benediction."
2. An expression of good wishes; something that encourages goodness or well being: "At the conclusion of the meeting of the members of the committee, the chairperson spoke a brief benediction, wishing everyone a safe summer holiday." malediction (mal" i DIK shuhn)
The calling down of a curse or an expression of slander: "The old patriarch uttered a malediction against the rival clan."
beneficent, beneficial
beneficent (buh NEF i suhnt)
Characterized by or performing acts of kindness or charity: "Many organizations that assist the poor grew out of beneficent activities of the wives of wealthy manufactures."
beneficial (ben" uh FISH uhl)
1. Producing or promoting a favorable result; advantageous: "A good health care plan is beneficial to everyone."
"Exercise is beneficial to good health." 2. Receiving or having the right to receive proceeds or other advantages: "A good trade agreement can be beneficial to all of the countries involved."benevolence, malevolence
benevolence (buh NEV uh luhns)
An inclination to perform kind, charitable acts: "The queen's benevolence, or kindness and generosity, was known throughout the kingdom."
malevolence (muh LEV uh luhns)
Having or exhibiting ill will; wishing harm to others; malicious: "His reputation has been damaged by the malevolence of those who wanted to destroy his political career."
berg, burg
berg (BURG)
A great mass of ice; short for iceberg: "The news is shocking, but we may find out that the stories we've heard so far are just the tip of the berg."
burg (BURG)
Slang for a small town: "There are no more opportunities for me in this burg."
berry, bury
berry (BER ee)
A small succulent fruit containing few, or many, seeds: such as tomato, grape, gooseberry, strawberry, raspberry, etc.: "Berry jam may be made of a single fruit; for example, blue berry jam, or a mixture of fruits."
bury (BER ee)
1. To cover over and to conceal: "When playing on the beach, the children tried to bury their father in the sand."
2. To place in a tomb, grave, etc.: "The funeral procession walked slowly to the cemetery to bury the popular mayor of the city." 3. To hide something in the ground: "I could see the dog in the backyard trying to bury a bone." 4. To hide something so it cannot be seen or is difficult to see: "She has learned to bury her feelings." "The newspaper covered the story, but they tried to bury it in the back of section C." berth, birth
berth (BURTH)
1. A bunk or bed in a vessel, sleeping car, camper etc.: "He found his berth on the train and fell asleep almost immediately."
2. Any place in which a vessel may lie at anchor or at a dock: "The ship tied up at the appointed berth." birth (BURTH)
1. The fact or act of being born: "His wife was about to give birth to their first child."
2. The bringing forth of an offspring: "The new father announced the birth of a son." Once a woman wrote to a travel agent about a cruise she was planning to go on asking that he make sure that she would have a comfortable birth because she was susceptible to seasickness. The travel agent responded with a note saying, "We can get you a comfortable berth, but as for the birth part, I'm afraid that is beyond our capabilities." beseech, besiege
beseech (bi SEECH)
To beg or request in an urgent and anxious manner: "Falling to her knees, the princess cried, 'Please, kind knight, I beseech you to let me go.' "
"I could hear her beseech the vet not to put her poor dog to 'sleep'." besiege (bi SEEJ)
1. To worry, harass, distress, or to present a request: "The city counselors sought to besiege the mayor to repair the roads before winter."
"Reporters would besiege the winner of the contest for interviews until he could stand it no longer and so he finally gave in." 2. In warfare, to surround with hostile armed forces: "The king’s army sought to besiege the castle before nightfall."beside, besides
beside (bi SIGHD)
A preposition meaning at the side of, next to, near: "He was seen sitting beside the road."
besides (bi SIGHDZ)
A conjunction meaning furthermore, moreover or in addition to: "What would you like to do besides going to the park after lunch?"
better, bettor
better (BET uhr)
The comparative for of good; good, better, best: "She played the piano better today than she did last week."
bettor (BET uhr)
Someone who places a wager on the outcome of some action: "The bettor made a bet that his political choice of candidates would win the election."
As a more skillful wager, or gambler, my friend was known as a better bettor among his friends. bewilder, perplex, puzzle
bewilder (bi WIL duhr)
To confuse, perplex, or to lose one's bearings: "The many choices of activities in the city served only to bewilder the traveler."
perplex (puhr PLEKS)
To be unable to think logically or clearly about something; to make intricate or involved: "The situation served only to perplex and to confuse the two sisters."
puzzle (PUZ uhl)
1. A question or problem that requires thought, skill, or cleverness to be answered or solved: "Researchers are close to finding a solution, but they haven't found the final pieces of the puzzle."
2. To confuse someone or to be difficult for anyone to understand: "The cause of the accident was a puzzle for the investigators to determine." 3. A problem or situation that is difficult to solve: "On Saturday afternoon, the family worked on the cross-word puzzle that was in the newspaper." bi-, buy, by, bye, bye-bye
bi- (BIGH)
A prefix meaning two: "Humans are considered to be bi-peds; that is, having two feet."
"The festival was scheduled to be a bi-annual affair." buy (BIGH)
To acquire the ownership of something, for money or other equivalent; to purchase: "They went to the bank for a loan so they could buy the house."
by (BIGH)
Next to; near; beside: "Please, put the chair by the table."
bye (BIGH)
1. An informal way of saying goodbye or an expression of farewell: "Bye. I'll see you tomorrow."
“Standing next to the car, the children waved bye to the visitors.” 2. A secondary matter, a side issue: "The day was so lovely they drove on all the bye roads to get to the village."3. The position of someone who draws no opponent for a round in a tournament and so advances to the next round: "She got a bye into the second round of the tennis tournament." bye-bye (BIGH-BIGH)
1. A farewell often used by children or when speaking to children: "Let's go darling. Say bye-bye to grandma and grandpa."
2. In the United States, a very informal meaning, to go away, which is used in imitation of children's speech: "When the company went bankrupt, investors watched their money go bye-bye." bi-, semi-
bi- (BIGH)
1. Two, occurring every two [times]: "They came to visit us bimonthly."
2. Coming or happening two times: "It occurred on a biannual basis; that is happening twice a year." semi- (SEM igh, SEM ee)
1. Half of: "The teacher was clever and could draw a perfect semicircle free hand."
2. Occurring halfway through a designated period of time: "My semiannual visit to my cousin took place twice a year." "The festival was held on a semiannual basis." 3. Partial or incomplete: "We wanted to visit the semitropical area on our next vacation.""After the accident, the patient was only semiconscious." biannual, biennial, perennial
biannual (bigh AN yoo uhl)
Occurring twice a year; semiannual: "The family got together on a biannual basis to celebrate birthdays."
biennial (bigh EN ee uhl)
Occurring every two years: "Electing senators occurs on a biennial basis."
perennial (puh REN ee uhl)
Persistent over a period of several years; continuing without interruption: "The flowers in the border around the garden were of a perennial nature, ensuring bright colors year after year."
biased, bigoted, intolerant, prejudiced
biased (BIGH uhs't)
1. A prejudiced outlook or perception of something or someone: "His opinion was biased by the books he had read on the subject."
2. In statistics, a tendency to yield one outcome more frequently in a statistical exercise: "The outcome of the research appeared to be biased, based on the teacher’s review of the statistics." bigoted (BIG uh tid)
Stubborn or intolerant adherence to one’s opinions or perceptions or prejudices: "The old farmer maintained a bigoted position about hiring certain neighbors to work on his farm."
intolerant (in TOL uhr uhnt)
An unwillingness to ensure that others have the equal freedom of basic rights; such as, religion, social, political, or profession: "The laws of the county appeared to be intolerant of new ideas and activities."
prejudiced (PREJ uh dis)
An irrational attitude or judgment or action that is based on incomplete information or without just grounds or a biased strong personal opinion: "Much of the violence that was observed in the county was the result of prejudiced behavior of the residents."
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