accept :: except

accept
Accept: verb, meaning to receive willingly, to be happy to receive.

Example:

We are happy to accept your invitation to dinner.

except

Except: preposition, meaning 'with the exception of' or 'but'.


Example:

The shop is open every day except Sunday.



adoptive :: adopted

adoptive

Parents are 'adoptive'


Example:

Mary and Sue are the adoptive parents of Michael.


adopted

Children are 'adopted'


Example:

Michael was adopted at birth by Mary and Sue.


adverse :: averse

adverse

Bad or unfavorable


Example:

The ship sailed despite the adverse weather conditions.



averse

To strongly dislike or be opposed to something


Example:

I am averse to all forms of violence.


affect :: effect

affect

As a verb: 1. to make a display of liking or using; to put on a pretense of. 2. to cause a change or variation.

Example:

1. She affects the air of a rock star by dressing in leather. 2. Although she is a bit wild it doesn't affect her ability to study.


effect

As a verb: to cause to come into being. As a noun: an outcome or result.


Example:

1. Stopping smoking has positively effected by health. 2. The effect of stopping smoking is that I am healthier and happier.


all ready :: already

all ready

Totally prepared


Example:

I have packed my suitcases and am all ready to go.




already

Before or previously


Example:

I have already visited Spain.




all together :: altogether


all together

All of the objects, or people are in a single group


Example:

1. We put the English speakers all together in the class. 2. All together there are thirty of them.


altogether

Completely, usually, 'on the whole'


Example:

I am not altogether sure that I understand. They seem to be learning a different meaning altogether.


allot :: a lot

allot

A given period of time or quantity of something


Example:

We were allotted one hour to visit the Louvre during our tour of Paris.


a lot

A large quantity of something (see countable / uncountable nouns in the OEG)


Example:

There are a lot of paintings in the Louvre.


allusion :: illusion

allusion

An indirect reference to something

Example:

The tour guide alluded to the terrible hardship suffered by the pioneers.


illusion

A fantasy that may be or can be confused with reality


Example:

Although sawing the woman in half seemed real, it was only a clever illusion.


See also: delusion / illusion


altar :: alter

altar

An area, usually in the form of a table, where religious worship and sacrifices take place.


Example:

The ancient Aztecs used to offer human sacrifices on their altars.

alter

To change

Example:

They altered the roads in the city center to make them pedestrian only.



ambiguous :: ambivalent

ambiguous

Having more than one meaning, open to different interpretations


Example:

Saying that there are fewer unemployed but that number of people without jobs has increased is very ambiguous.


ambivalent

Having mixed feelings


Example:

He was neither for nor against the new immigration laws - he maintained a very ambivalent attitude.



among :: between

among

Preposition used with three or more persons or things

Example:

Among the thirty candidates for the job there were only three that were properly qualified.

between

Preposition used with two persons or things


Example:

Between Jill and her sister there is a two-year age difference.


amoral :: immoral

amoral

Not concerned with morality


Example:

The Law is considered to be amoral - but this is highly questionable.


immoral

Not conforming to accepted standards of morality


Example:

Profiting from other people's ignorance is considered to be immoral.


appraise :: apprise

appraise

To assess


Example:

The insurance inspector appraised the damage after the fire destroyed the house.


apprise

To inform


Example:

There was no indication that he was apprised of the consequences before he lit the fire.

augur :: auger

augur

A sign of (a likely outcome) - often used in relation to interpreting the future


Example:

Finding a four-leafed clover is a good augur for the future.

auger

A tool for making holes


Example:

The carpenter used an auger to drill the holes for the chair legs.


award :: reward

award

To bestow, a public recognition of honor


Example:

He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his services to the music industry.


reward

To compensate

Example:

There is a $250,000 reward for the capture of the murderer being offered by the police