Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Like two peas in a pod, but different: paronyms (II)


Hello again !
How did you spend your Halloween holidays ? Did you dress up and eat a lot of candy ? Did you travel or did you just have a rest ? Anyway, as I promised in my post about paronyms, today I'll bring you another bunch of paronyms because, as you know it, the English language can be difficult sometimes. Are you ready ?

1. Content vs. contempt : a) Content = As an adjective, happy or pleased. As a noun, the things contained in something.
                                            b) Contempt = Scorn or rejection.
She wasn't content about the contents of the course. She showed a reaction of contempt.

2. Mayor vs. major: a) Mayor = A person who runs a town or city in a city council or town hall.
                                   b) Major = As an adjective, really important or big in size. As a noun, a military rank between lieutenant colonel and captain. 
The mayor of the city received the major and all the other officers in the during the major festivals of the city. 

3. Plane vs. plain vs. plan : a) Plane = A means of transport to fly from one country to another.
                                              b) Plan = Arrangement, something to do. 
                                              c) Plain = Clear, easily understood.
My plan for the weekend is plain: just to catch a plane and go overseas.

4. Course vs. coarse: a) Course = Direction or route, race, studies. 
                                    b) Coarse = Vulgar, impolite, lacking delicacy.
The teacher of the course was a bit coarse; he insulted all the students who were late. 

5. Economic vs. economical : a) Economic = Belonging to the economy.
                                                  b) Economical = Cheap.
Due to the economic crisis, goods are no longer economical.

6. Beside vs. besides : a) Beside = Next to.
                                     b) Besides = In addition, moreover, furthermore.
John fancies Paula. Besides, he is sitting beside her in class. 

7. Colonel vs. coroner : a) Colonel = An officer in the army.
                                       b) Coroner = An officer whose work is to analyze dead bodies to discover the reasons of death, especially when they have died in strange circumstances.
It was believed that the colonel died of a heart attack, but the coroner discovered he had died of poisoning

8. Reminder vs. remainder : a) Reminder = Something to make people remember something.
                                               b) Remainder = A remaining part, something left. 
Just a reminder for all of you. You can pick up the remainder of your money at the office. 

9. Stoop vs. stop : a) Stoop = To bow, or to do something beneath your level of dignity.
                                b) Stop = Cease doing something. 

The police officer stopped to bow before the lieutenant. He said he had stooped to his level.

10. Compliment vs. complement : a) Compliment = Nice words of admiration or praisal.
                                 b) Complement = Something extra that fits with something.
He gave her very nice compliments when he saw all the complements she was wearing, such as its fabulous earrings, impressive rings and great necklaces. 

11. Sensible vs. sensitive : a) Sensible = Thoughtful, practical
                                     b) Sensitive = sympathetic, affected by the feeling of others.
Peter is usually very sensible because he always know what to do. However, he is not very sensitive towards the emotions of others. 

12. Régime vs. regimen vs. Regiment : a) Régime = A system of government.
                                                                   b) Regimen = A diet or exercise routine.
                                                                   c) Regiment = A military unit.
During the régime of dictatorships, you can see regiments at the street, and people don't usually have time to follow any regimens.

13. Deadly vs. deathly : a) Deadly = mortal, something that causes death.
                                         b) Deathly = Something that looks like death
Before dying of a deadly disease, he was deathly pale. 

Did you like my final paronyms ? I hope you will have learnt something and you don't mistake these words anymore. Your comments are more than welcome ! 

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