• • • • •
precede—to go before proceed—to continue prescribe—to rincipal—chief; head person; capital sum • principle—rule • prophecy—prediction (noun) • prophesy—to predict (verb)
• loose—not tight or bound; to make loose • lose—to experience loss • luxuriant—abundant, lush • luxurious—sumptuous • mean—immediate value of number sequence • median—middle number in number sequence
• desert—acid region; to leave or abandon • dessert—final course of a meal • discomfit—to confuse, frustrate • discomfort—to make uncomfortable
• discreet—circumspect, prudent • discrete—separate • dual—of two, double • duel--fight
• emigrate—to leave a country • immigrate—to enter and settle in a country • eminent—renowned • imminent—about to happen • equable—uniform • equitable—fair, just • flair—aptitude, style • flare– to burn, burst out
• weather—state of atmosphere • whether—if • who’s– who is • whose—belonging to whom • your—belonging to you • you’re– you are
• born—given birth • borne—carried, supported, produced, etc. • bough—tree branch • bow—to bend or yield • brake—to slow and stop • break—to fracture, damage, etc; to stop work temporarily
• prostate—gland • prostrate—lying flat • quiet—still • quite—very • role– a part • roll– to turn; a small bread
• seasonable—appropriate to the season, timely • seasonal—depending on the season • shear—to clip • sheer—transparent; utter • stationary—fixed • stationery—paper supplies
常常容易混淆的单词
Words Commonly Confused
Source: Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
• accept—to take • except—to exclude • adapt—to make fit • adopt—to take as one’s own • adverse—unfavorable • averse—disinclined • affect—to influence • effect—to accomplish; result
• complement—something that completes or balances • compliment—praise • compose—to make up • comprise—to include or consist of • consul—diplomat • council—assembly • counsel—advice; a lawyer
• • • • • • • •
breach—a break breech—the buttocks callous—unfeeling callus—hardened skin Calvary—site of Jesus’ crucifixion cavalry—mounted soldiers cannon—gun canon—law
• • • • • •
than—as in “greater than” then—at that time to—toward too—also; excessive trooper—soldier or police officer trouper—actor, dependable person • venal—corrupt • venial—pardonable
• censer—container for incense • censor—one who checks objectionable material
• cession—act of ceding • session—meeting • chafe—to rub • chaff—worthless matter • chord—musical tones • cord—thin rope • climactic—referring to a climax • climatic—referring to a climate
• aid—help • aide—assistant • alley—narrow back street • ally—confederate • all ready—completely ready • already—previously; so soon • altar—platform in a church • alter—to change
• idle—inactive • idol—image of a god • incredible—extraordinary, unbelievable • incredulous—skeptical • inter- —between, among • intra- —within
• its—belonging to it • it’s—it is • lay—to pace or put; past tense of lie • lie—to recline • lead—a metal; to guide • led—past tense of lead • loath—reluctant • loathe—to hate
• • • • • • • •
miner—one who mines minor—underage person naval—of the navy navel—umbilicus ordinance—law ordnance—military supply palate—roof of mouth; taste pallet—crude bed; platform
• bridal—pertaining to a bride • bridle—part of the tack or harness of a horse
• canvas—cloth • canvass—to solicit opinions, votes, etc. • capital—economic resources; government seat • capitol—legislature building
• corporal—of the body • corporeal—material, tangible • corps—group of people • corpse—dead body • credible—believable • creditable—praiseworthy • cue—hint; rod used in billiards • queue—line
• • • • • • •
flaunt—to make boastful display flout—to treat with contempt flounder—to struggle awkwardly founder—to sink, fail forceful—powerful forcible—done by force foreword—introduction to written work • forward—onward, ahead
• perspective—vision, view • prospective—future • plain—simple • plane—airplane; to smooth • practicable—feasible • practical—suited to actual conditions; sensible
• • • • • •
fortuitous—happening by chance fortunate—lucky gamble—to bet gambol—to frolic hangar—shed for airplanes hanger—frame for hanging clothes • hyper- —excessive, above • hypo- —insufficient, under
• peace—calmness; lack of hostility • piece—a part • pedal—foot lever • peddle—to sell • persecute—to bound • prosecute—to institute legal proceedings gainst