PAIRS AND SNARES XLI

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

1. STRAIT - STRAIGHT

2. WOW - WOE - WHOA

3. VALANCE - VALENCE

4. ECLIPSE - ELLIPSE - ELLIPSIS

5. BREATH - BREATHE - BREADTH 

6. MANDRAKE - MANDRILL - MANGROVE 

Answers:

1. STRAIT - A narrow waterway, narrow or tight

    STRAIGHT - A line without curves, direct or honest

   (In the Biblical quote,"Strait is the gate" "strait" is the correct spelling, but because "straight" is similar in meaning, it is also acceptable.)  

 

2. WOW - an expression of surprise or wonder

    WOE - Sorrow, distress, misery

    WHOA - Slow down or stop - as a command given to a horse

 

3. VALANCE - Decorative drapery over a window

    VALENCE - In chemistry - the combining power of an element

 

4. ECLIPSE - A celestial event that occurs when a planet or moon blocks the sun's light. Solar eclipse - moon blocks sun / Lunar eclipse - the earth shadows the moon

    ELLIPSE - A geometric figure in the shape of an oval or stretched circle

    ELLIPSIS - The omission from speech or writing of words that can be obviously understood from the context, also to indicate a trailing thought, hesitation, or a pause for dramatic effect - indicated by three dots (. . .)

 

5. BREATH - Air inhaled into and exhaled from the lungs

    BREATHE - Inhale and exhale

    BREADTH - Width - how wide something is - its extent, scope, range

 

6. MANDRAKE - A Mediterranean plant used in medicine and magic

    MANDRILL - A large West African baboon 

    MANGROVE - A tropical tree or shrub of coastal swamps with tangled roots above ground that form dense thickets