PAIRS AND SNARES XLIII
The words in each group can be confused. Can you give a simple definition of each one that shows the difference between them?
1. ASCETIC - AESTHETIC
2. PREVIEW - PURVIEW
3. EQUATE - CONFLATE
4. PRURIENT - PURULENT
5. ROOT - ROUT - ROUTE
Answers:
1. ASCETIC - One who practices severe self-discipline, usually for religious or spiritual reasons
AESTHETIC - Relating to beauty and the arts, appreciation for what we see and hear
2. PREVIEW - An advanced showing, presentation, inspection of something - before it is officially released
PURVIEW - The scope, range, limits of someone's or something's authority, responsibility, or concern
3. EQUATE - To treat two things as equal in value or meaning
CONFLATE - The merging of two or more sets of information, ideas, etc. into one - sometimes confusing them
4. PRURIENT - Lewd, lascivious, excessive and unwholesome obsession with sexual thoughts and desires
PURULENT - Containing, consisting of, and producing pus - as in an infection
5. ROOT - Anchoring part of a plant, fundamental base of a word, underlying cause, to cheer for and support
ROUT - Decisively defeat an opponent, as in sports or war
ROUTE - A path, course, highway, etc. traveled from one place to another