PAIRS AND SNARES XXI

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

1. TRANSPARENT 

    TRANSLUCENT

    OPAQUE 

2. STANCH

    STAUNCH

3. PROTEIN

    PROTEAN

    PROCRUSTEAN

4. GUYANA

    GUIANA

 

5. WANGLE

    WRANGLE 

6. ETHEREAL

    EPHEMERAL

Answers:

 

1. TRANSPARENT - Allowing all light to pass through, like a clear glass window pane

    TRANSLUCENT - Allowing some light to pass through, like a frosted glass shower door

    OPAQUE - Allowing no light to pass through, like a wooden door

 

2. STANCH - Stop or limit, as the flow of blood from a wound

    STAUNCH - Loyal and committed, as a staunch supporter

 

3. PROTEIN - Essential nutritional substance, as found in meat and beans

    PROTEAN - Changeable, variable - after Proteus in Greek mythology

    PROCRUSTEAN -  Extremely rigid, not allowing for any variation - after Procrustes in Greek mythology 

4. GUYANA - A country in South America directly east of Venezuela

    GUIANA - A territory of France at the northeast tip of South America

5. WANGLE - Succeed by using persuasion or cleverness

    WRANGLE - Have a long, complicated dispute or argument with someone

6. ETHEREAL - Extremely delicate, other-worldly

    EPHEMERAL - Lasting only for a very short time