PAIRS AND SNARES XV

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

1. ENTOMOLOGY - ETYMOLOGY

2. PALETTE - PALLET - PALATE

3. SHEAR - SHEER

4. APOGEE - PERIGEE - ZENITH - NADIR

 

Answers:

 

1. ENTOMOLOGY - The study of insects

    ETYMOLOGY - The study of the origins and histories of words

 

2. PALETTE - Hand-held painting tray

    PALLET -  A flat wooden platform or make-shift bed

    PALATE - The roof of the mouth - taste (metaphorically) 

3. SHEAR - Cut the wool off a sheep (or other animal)

    SHEER - Utter and complete (sheer joy)

                     Precipitous, very steep (sheer cliff)

                     (of clothing) See-through, transparent (sheer blouse) 

4. APOGEE - The point in the orbit of a satellite that is farthest from earth

    PERIGEE - The point in the orbit of a satellite that is closest to earth

    ZENITH - The highest point in the orbit of a satellite (directly overhead)

    NADIR - The lowest point in the orbit of a satellite (directly underfoot)