PAIRS AND SNARES XLIII

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

1. ASCETIC - AESTHETIC

2. PREVIEW - PURVIEW

3. EQUATE  - CONFLATE

4. PRURIENT - PURULENT 

5. ROOT - ROUT - ROUTE

Answers:

1. ASCETIC - One who practices severe self-discipline, usually for religious or spiritual reasons

    AESTHETIC - Relating to beauty and the arts, appreciation for what we see and hear

 

2. PREVIEW - An advanced showing, presentation, inspection of something - before it is officially released  

   PURVIEW - The scope, range, limits of someone's or something's authority, responsibility, or concern

 

3. EQUATE - To treat two things as equal in value or meaning

    CONFLATE - The merging of two or more sets of information, ideas, etc. into one - sometimes confusing them  

 

4. PRURIENT - Lewd, lascivious, excessive and unwholesome obsession with sexual thoughts and desires

   PURULENT - Containing, consisting of, and producing pus - as in an infection

 

5. ROOT - Anchoring part of a plant, fundamental base of a word, underlying cause, to cheer for and support

   ROUT - Decisively defeat an opponent, as in sports or war 

   ROUTE - A path, course, highway, etc. traveled from one place to another