Farro – Ancient European grain.
Pharaoh – Ancient Egyptian ruler.
Showing posts with label king. Show all posts
Showing posts with label king. Show all posts
Monday, July 26, 2021
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Rain, Reign, Rein
ai – "not enough sense to come in out of the–"
eig – what Roger Daltrey wanted Love to do o'er him. This is indicative of ruling or being in control.
ei – this one refers to the little straps used to control a horse while riding it.
The fact that both of the second definitions refer to being in control of something has led to confusion about which spelling to use in the phrases "free rein," "full rein," and "rein in." These phrases describe the amount of control a person has over a situation. But they don't describe that control directly; they describe the application of that control. They speak to the person applying the control, not the person receiving it. It's not that you receive the ability to reign over a situation, it's that you are using figurative reins to oversee the amount of control a person has. "Rein" is the correct spelling for each of those phrases, even if I've done a terrible job explaining it.
eig – what Roger Daltrey wanted Love to do o'er him. This is indicative of ruling or being in control.
ei – this one refers to the little straps used to control a horse while riding it.
The fact that both of the second definitions refer to being in control of something has led to confusion about which spelling to use in the phrases "free rein," "full rein," and "rein in." These phrases describe the amount of control a person has over a situation. But they don't describe that control directly; they describe the application of that control. They speak to the person applying the control, not the person receiving it. It's not that you receive the ability to reign over a situation, it's that you are using figurative reins to oversee the amount of control a person has. "Rein" is the correct spelling for each of those phrases, even if I've done a terrible job explaining it.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Leader & Liter
Ah, the lazy American T. Responsible for so many homophones. Bid and Bit would never be pronounced the same here, but Bidder and Bitter often are. Wade and Wait – two distinct pronunciations. Waded and Waited – let's just say them the same, why not?
Here's an interesting little description of the tongue tap that we (and apparently Australians) are so fond of. UK English speakers apparently wouldn't hear these words as homophones at all. Which is just as well; when we say "take me to your leader," they'll know exactly what we mean.
Here's an interesting little description of the tongue tap that we (and apparently Australians) are so fond of. UK English speakers apparently wouldn't hear these words as homophones at all. Which is just as well; when we say "take me to your leader," they'll know exactly what we mean.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Eminent, etc.
Two sets of adjective homophones this week:
Emanant & Eminent
Immanent & Imminent
The two sets are almost homophones of each other, as well. They're easily confused, anyway, so I'm lumping them all together in the picture. I'll define them in the order they appear – not alphabetically today, I'm afraid:
"The eminent king was so cruel, his subjects were overcome with an immanent plan to kick his ass at noon – which was imminent. When noon came, they kicked his ass – the plan became emanant."
Now, I ought to mention that there is a noun, Immanant, that should be included here as well. It's some mathematical concept I don't understand and couldn't possibly explain...
...But I can try to incorporate it into the picture.
"The eminent mathematician was so smug when he explained the immanant, the lesser mathematicians were overcome with an immanent plan to kick his ass at noon – which was imminent. When noon came, they kicked his ass – the plan became emanant."
Enjoy!
Emanant & Eminent
Immanent & Imminent
The two sets are almost homophones of each other, as well. They're easily confused, anyway, so I'm lumping them all together in the picture. I'll define them in the order they appear – not alphabetically today, I'm afraid:
Eminent – High-ranking, important, noteworthy, prominent.
Immanent – Taking place solely in the mind. Also, intrinsically part of something/someone.
Imminent – Soon to occur.
Emanant – Issuing forth, becoming tangible.
"The eminent king was so cruel, his subjects were overcome with an immanent plan to kick his ass at noon – which was imminent. When noon came, they kicked his ass – the plan became emanant."
Now, I ought to mention that there is a noun, Immanant, that should be included here as well. It's some mathematical concept I don't understand and couldn't possibly explain...
...But I can try to incorporate it into the picture.
"The eminent mathematician was so smug when he explained the immanant, the lesser mathematicians were overcome with an immanent plan to kick his ass at noon – which was imminent. When noon came, they kicked his ass – the plan became emanant."
Enjoy!
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