ENGLISH -13

 ENGLISH -13

Quite some interest is being evinced by fiends for the blog item on Sundays-   addressing some aspects of ENGLISH. Our effort continues. Let us consider sets of words -likely to confuse,

MATERIAL and MATERIEL

 Material [n] refers to any object clothe, furniture or similar items in anyone’s possession.

Materiel [n] refers to items used or possessed by military like weaponry uniform, trucks and so on.

ORDNANCE and ORDINANCE

Ordnance [n] refers to items of warfare like grenade, explosives, shells that are used as ammunition.

Ordinance [n] refers to rule or law duly enacted by authorities of a state or a country.

MUG and MUCK

 Mug [n] = a cylindrical container. In British usage Mug = one who can be easily deceived.

Muck [n] = a waste matter from farm animals used for manure or partly decomposed matter in the soil.

LURE and LEWD

Lure [n] refers to ‘appeal’ by attraction .He was lured by money. Lure need not always be by monetary consideration. It could be anything that exploits a person’s inability to override such temptation

Lewd [adjective] refers to obscene content or sexually explicit indecent presentation; therefore punishable by law.

NUTS and NUT

Nuts [n] refers to persons –silly, stupid or strange [not mentally balanced]; it also crudely refers to human testicles.

Nut [n] refers to the edible dry seed in a shell as in Cashew nut

FIT

Fit [verb] refers to any item that suits the intended purpose as in Socks, Pants, Shirts, etc [of correct size]

Fit [verb] refers to a sudden state of illness when a person suffers uncontrollable movements of distorted physical pulls. [In India people refer to it as FITS, though the term Fit is the official term]

CALVARY and CAVALRY

Calvary [noun] is the traditional reference to the place where Jesus was crucified

Cavalry [noun] refers to some military help sent on horse

COMPLACENT and COMPLAISANT  

Complacent [adjective] refers to a state of mind when a person feels satisfied while [s]he is unaware of the prospect of dangers of failure  

The term [complacent] means “unconcerned” –as the person believes that ‘all is well’.

Complaisant [adjective] refers to a state of mind when a person is inclined to help or oblige; some people are ready to help –as a part of their character and thus are complaisant.

CLOTH and CLOTHE

Cloth [noun] refers to fabric or unstitched material.

Clothe [verb] refers to different items or acts; it may mean “covering” the body [dress] ;it may refer to fine language as in “clothed in”  fine expressions, the speaker drew wide appreciation from listeners . Clothe is a reference to ‘stitched’ fabric.

Prof. K. Raman