PAIRS AND SNARES XLVI 

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

1. ORIEL - ORIOLE 

2. CORAL - CORRAL 

3. PUMICE - POMACE 

4. CASABA - CASSAVA 

5. CORNET - CORONET

6. PEDANTIC - DIDACTIC

7. METONYMY - SYNECDOCHE 

Answers:

1. ORIEL - A projecting bay window

    ORIOLE - A brightly colored bird

 

2. CORAL - A marine invertebrate animal that forms skeletal reefs

    CORRAL - A fenced outdoor pen to hold or capture livestock

 

3. PUMICE - A light, porous volcanic rock, used as an exfoliant

    POMACE - Solid, pulpy residue of crushed or pressed fruit that remains after the extraction of juice or oil.

 

4. CASABA - A sweet, juicy melon

    CASSAVA - A plant grown for its large, starchy, edible root

 

5. CORNET - A musical instrument similar to the trumpet

    CORONET - A small crown or jeweled headband 

 

6. PEDANTIC - DIDACTIC - Both words refer to teaching. DIDACTIC simply means designed to teach a lesson, while PEDANTIC implies an annoying attention to minor details and showing off one's knowledge

 

7. METONYMY - SYNECDOCHE - Both are literary devices and they are similar. In METONYMY, you refer to an object or idea using the name of something closely associated with it, rather than its actual name. For example, The White House refers to the President or his administration, The Crown to the king or queen, Hollywood to mean the movie industry, Suits to mean business executives. In SYNECDOCHE, part of something stands for the whole. Wheels to mean cars, Boots (on the ground) to mean soldiers, Hands to mean workers (hired hand). Synechdoche is a type of metonymy.