Click on the word for detailed explanations.

adiposity: another word for obesity
antebellum : literally, “before the war.” The war referred to is the United States Civil War (1861-1865).
autodidact : self-taught

B
booze : alcoholic drink
bowdlerize : remove or change the original words written by an author.

C

D

E

eggcorn

F

faucet/facet : two words some people tend to confuse. A faucet is a device for letting water flow through a pipe. A facet is a side. Diamonds and arguments have facets. Facet comes from a word meaning “little face.”
fawn : a baby deer

G

H

hone/home : The expression, “to home in on” means, “to be guided to a target.” Some speakers mistakenly use the word hone in this expression.
hydrophobia : literally, “fear of water.” Usually refers to a dangerous disease in dogs and other animals.

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jibe/jive

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L
lintel

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N

O

P
pariah
peal/peel

Q

R
rabies

S

seams/seams

shutter/shudder

T
tenant/tenet
threshold
tread

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V

W

X

Y

Z

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