PAIRS AND SNARES XI

The words in each group are commonly confused. Can you give a simple definition of each one that shows the difference between them?

1. LEAD - LED

2. IMPLY - INFER

3. ELICIT - ILLICIT

4. ACCEPT - EXCEPT

5. CAPITAL - CAPITOL

6. IMITATE - INTIMATE

7. FARTHER - FURTHER

8. IMMINENT - EMINENT

9. IMMIGRATE - EMIGRATE 

10. DEFER - DETER - DEMUR - DEMURE

Answers:

 

1. LEAD - When it rhymes with "bed" - An element and heavy metal

                - When it rhymes with "deed" - To go before, show the way

   LED - Past tense of LEAD (deed) - went before, showed the way

 

2. IMPLY -  To suggest

    INFER - Come to a conclusion through reasoning

3. ELICIT - To draw out of, evoke

    ILLICIT - Illegal, forbidden

4. ACCEPT - To receive

    EXCEPT - Not including 

5. CAPITAL - An upper case letter

                         Money, as for investing

                         The seat of government of a state or nation, capital city

    CAPITOL - With a small "c" - the building housing the legislatures of a state

                          With a capital "C" - The building housing the U.S. Senate and House of                                      Representatives in Washington, D.C.

6. IMITATE - Copy

    INTIMATE - With a long "A" - Imply, suggest

                         - With the "A" as a schwa - Very personal and private

7. FARTHER - Longer physical distance

    FURTHER - More, continued (further study is needed)

8. IMMINENT - About to happen

    EMINENT -  Well known and respected in his/her field

9. IMMIGRATE - Move to and settle in a new country

    EMIGRATE - Leave your native country

10. DEFER - Postpone, put off,

                       Yield to another (out of respect)

      DETER - Discourage, prevent

      DEMUR - Object, disagree

      DEMURE - Shy, reserved