PAIRS AND SNARES I

The Word's The Thing 

Dr. Louis D. Appel

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

1. DISCREET- DISCRETE

2. CALVARY - CAVALRY

3. FEASIBLE - PLAUSIBLE

4. CANVAS - CANVASS

5. APPRAISE - APPRISE

6. EMINENT - IMMINENT

7. INGENIOUS - INGENUOUS

8. MANTEL - MANTLE

9. FLAIR - FLARE

10. DUAL - DUEL

Answers:

 

1. DISCREET - Tactful, circumspect

    DISCRETE - Separate, individual 

 

2. CALVARY - Biblical site of the Crucifixtion

    CAVALRY - Soldiers on horseback

 

3. FEASIBLE - Possible to do

    PLAUSIBLE -  Possibly true, reasonable

 

4. CANVAS - Cloth surface for oil painting

    CANVASS - Solicit votes or opinions

 

5. APPRAISE - Asses the value of something

    APPRISE - Inform or tell someone, especially as to the latest information

 

6. EMINENT - Well known and respected 

    IMMINENT - About to happen

 

7. INGENIOUS - Clever, original, inventive

    INGENUOUS - Naive, innocent

 

8. MANTEL - A shelf above a fireplace

    MANTLE - A cloak or covering

 

9. FLAIR - Talent, aptitude for doing something well

    FLARE - Burst of bright light

 

10. DUAL - Consisting of two

      DUEL - A contest with lethal weapons between two

                    people to settle a point of honor