PAIRS AND SNARES XVI

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

1. MOOT - MUTE

2. SPECIOUS - SPURIOUS

3. INSIDIOUS - INVIDIOUS 

4. PRESCRIBE - PROSCRIBE

5. MELEE - MALAY - MILIEU

6. EXACERBATE - EXCORIATE - EXCULPATE

7. TENET - TENACIOUS - TENUOUS - TENEBROUS - TENDENTIOUS

Answers:

 

1. MOOT - Uncertain, debatable, having little relevance 

    MUTE - Silent, not speaking 

 

2. SPECIOUS - Misleading in appearance, 

                           superficially plausible - but wrong

   SPURIOUS - Not being what it purports to be, fake

3. INSIDIOUS - Damaging and harmful in a secretive way

    INVIDIOUS - Damaging and harmful, but done more openly

4. PRESCRIBE - Recommend and authorize - as medicine

    PROSCRIBE - Forbid, prohibit

5. MELEE - A confused fight or brawl

    MALAY - Of the people of Malaysia and Indonesia

    [MELEE and MALAY are pronounced the same.]

    MILIEU -  A person's social environment, surroundings

6. EXACERBATE - Make something (bad) worse

    EXCORIATE - Criticize severely

    EXCULPATE - Clear from charges of wrongdoing

7. TENET - A principle, as of belief

    TENACIOUS - Holding on, not giving up, persevering

    TENUOUS - Weak, stretched thin, barely holding on

    TENEBROUS - Dark, shadowy, obscure

    TENDENTIOUS - Given to promoting a particular cause