PAIRS AND SNARES XVII

The words in each group below can be easily confused. Can you give a simple definition of each one that shows the difference between them?

1. AVER - AVOW

2. SCEPTER - SPECTER

3. PHYSICS - PSYCHICS

4. PEDANT - PEDAGOGUE

5. PROTEAN - PROCRUSTEAN

6. PERQUISITE - PREREQUISITE

7. MONOLITH - OBELISK - ODALISQUE 

Answers:

 

1. AVER - Affirm as true

    AVOW - Openly declare

 

2. SCEPTER - A rod or staff symbolizing authority

    SPECTER - An apparition, the threat of something feared

 

3. PHYSICS - Branch of science dealing with matter and energy

    PSYCHICS - People who claim they can predict the future

 

4. PEDANT - One who shows off his academic learning, stickler for details

    PEDAGOGUE - A stiff, formal teacher - concerned with the theory of teaching

 

5. PROTEAN - Tending or able to change frequently and easily, versatile

    PROCRUSTEAN - Extremely inflexible and rigid

 

6. PERQUISITE - Special right or privilege associated with a position

    PREREQUISITE - A requirement that must be met prior to something else happening 

 

7. MONOLITH - A massive, upright block of stone; a huge, impersonal, impenetrable political, corporate, or social structure 

    OBELISK - A tall, four-sided, tapering stone pillar built as a monument

    ODALISQUE - A woman slave or concubine, as in a harem