PAIRS AND SNARES XIV

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

1. PEAL - PEEL

2. LEACH - LEECH

3. BERET - BARRETTE

4. PEDAL - PETAL - PEDDLE

5. PROCEED - PRECEDE - SUPERSEDE

6. SWATH - SWATCH - SWATHE - SWASH

 

Answers:

 

1. PEAL - To ring out - as church bells

    PEEL - To remove the skin or rind 

 

2. LEACH - To drain or seep

    LEECH - A parasite. sponger

 

3. BERET - A cap

    BARRETTE - A hair clip 

 

4. PEDAL - Bicycle pedal

    PETAL - Flower petal 

    PEDDLE - Sell door-to-door

 

5. PROCEED - Begin or continue 

    PRECEDE - Come before something in time 

    SUPERSEDE - Take the place of 

 

6. SWATH - Something likened to a path made by mowing 

    SWATCH - A small, sample piece of fabric  

    SWATHE -  Swaddle, to wrap up (as a baby)   

    SWASH - Splash, movement of water

                     (Archaic) Flamboyantly swagger about and wield a sword