PAIRS AND SNARES XXVIII

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. ABOMINABLE - ABDOMINAL

2. SANGUINE - SANGUINARY

3. MENAGE - MELANGE - COLLAGE

4. COW - BULL - STEER - HEIFER

5. PATEN - PATTEN - PATENT - PATINA 

 

Answers:

 

1. ABOMINABLE - Terrible

    ABDOMINAL - Area around the stomach

 

2. SANGUINE - Ruddy, healthy, cheerful

    SANGUINARY - Marked by bloodshed, as the Civil War

 

3. MENAGE - Household - often "menage a trois" - three people living together 

    MELANGE - A mixture, blend

    COLLAGE - An art form using overlapping material

 

4. COW - Female bovine giving milk, used for meat (beef)

    BULL - Male bovine, used for breeding

    STEER - Castrated bull, raised for beef

    HEIFER - Cow that has not yet given birth to a calf

 

5. PATEN - A ceremonial plate used at Mass

    PATTEN - A clog-like shoe 

    PATENT - Government-issued protection for an invention

    PATINA - Green film on metal caused by oxidation over time,

enhancing beauty and value