28-08-2010 Confusing Words Clarified: Group A; Ho…

Confusing Words Clarified: Group A; Homonyms,

Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes,
etc. +
(lists of "A" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)

English can be very confusing; for example, a house burns up as it burns down, a form is being filled in
as it is being filled out, and an alarm goes off by going on. How about when the stars are out, they are
visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible?
As you examine the groups of words in this unit, you will find many examples of confusions;
sometimes, just one or two letters in a word can change its meaning completely. There are also times when
two different words get confused because their meanings apply to things that are very similar.
Efforts have been made to help you grasp the meanings of various words that may be confusing so you
can utilize them with greater accuracy in your communication.
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome by writing to: E-mail Contact (just click it for
an e-mail form) or by typing, words@wordinfo.info, as the address in your e-mail heading.

If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this

Pronunciation Chart for clarifications.

Understanding the Word

Break through traditional teachings to truth and the word of life.
www.hallvworthington.com

away, aweigh
away (uh WAY)
1. From a particular thing or place: "We ran away from the lion."
"They sent the children away to boarding school."
2. At or to a distance in space or time: "They lived a block away from the park."
3. At or by a considerable interval: "The scientist lived away back in the 17th century."
aweigh (uh WAY)
A reference to an anchor; just clear of the bottom of a body of water: "The ship raised its anchor
aweigh."
"The position of an anchor as it is raised clear of the bottom is referred to as being aweigh."

awful, offal
awful (AW fuhl)
1. Dreadful, bad, terrible: "What awful weather!"
"He was guilty of the awful crime of murder."
2. Awe-inspiring, awesome, wondrous: "The astronauts know the awful expanse of the solar
system."
offal (AWF’l)
The waste parts of butchered animals, carrion, carcass; such as, entrails: "The hunters took the
meat and left the offal for the buzzards."
The word offal is actually the waste parts that “fall off” a butchered animal. The word comes
from "off" + "fall".
English borrowed the word from Middle Dutch afval, a compound formed from af, "off" and
vallen, "fall" which referred to both the "extremities of animals cut off by the butcher; such as, feet,
tail, etc." and "shavings, peelings", or "general refuse". By the 15th century, offal had the meaning
of "animals' entrails".
—Compiled from information presented in
Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto; Arcade Publishing;
New Y ork; 1990; pages 371-372.

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28-08-2010 Confusing Words Clarified: Group A; Ho…
Garbage is an offal waste.
—Evan Esar

awhile, a while
awhile (uh HWIGHL, uh WIGHL)
For a short time; an adverb which is never preceded by a preposition such as for: "Let us wait
awhile; not for awhile."
"I'm going to sit and rest awhile."
"This cold weather has been around awhile."
a while (uh HWIGHL, uh WIGHL)
A noun meaning "a period of time". This form may be preceded by a preposition: "Stay for a while
or stay a while."
"I'm going to be away for a while."
"We had to wait quite a while."
"We had to wait for a while before our meals were served."
His mother asked him to stay awhile, just a little while longer.
axes, axis
axes (AHK sis)
1. Tools that have heavy metal blades and long handles that are used for chopping wood, etc.: "The
men used the axes to clear the trees blocking the highway after the storm."
2. Cutting or removing something: "The program director thought the only solution was a series of
axes of television programs from the new seasonal schedule."
axis (AHK sis)
1. The imaginary straight line that something; such as, the earth, turns around: "The earth rotates
on its axis."
2. A straight line that divides a shape evenly into two parts: "An axis is a central line around which
the parts of an object are symmetrically or evenly arranged."
3. An affiliation of two or more nations to promote and ensure mutual interest, cooperation, and
solidarity in their relations with foreign powers: "The axis, or alliance, of Germany and Italy in
1936, later including Japan and other nations, opposed the Allies in World War II."

aye, eye, I
aye (IGH as in hIGH)
1. Yes, used especially in Scotland and in the language of sailors: "The sailor said, 'Aye, aye, sir!'
when the captain gave him an order."
2. Applied to indicate an affirmative or yes vote: "All in favor, say 'aye'."
"We have six nays and twelve ayes, so the ayes have it."
eye (IGH)
1. As a noun, that part of the body used for seeing or the organ of vision in animals: "He is wearing
a patch over one eye and I have something in my eye."
2. As a verb, to watch or to look at someone or something in a very close or careful way: "The
guards were instructed to eye everyone who entered the bank; especially, because of the recent
robbery that took place there."
i, I (IGH as in hIGH)
1. The ninth letter of the English alphabet: "The word 'ice' begins with an i."
2. A person who is speaking or writing; used as the subject of a verb: "I feel fine, but I think that I
should leave now."
"Aye, Aye,, Sir", said I when asked to eye the horizon.

Confusing Words: Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs; explained and demonstrated.

Confusing Words: Units, Groups A to Z.
Confusing Words: Vocabulary Quizzes Listed.

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