(A proofreader's note regarding “forego” and “forgo”)

We often forget that “forego” and “forgo”

Are verbs that have meanings distinct;

Their English ancestors “foregan” and “forgan”

Had targets that never were linked.

“To go on before” was the meaning of one,

The other “from something abstain.”

Today, in our speech, these words echo themselves,

Yet play disparate parts in the main.

A thing that precedes may be said to “forego”

As long as the one “e” is kept;

Renouncing the “e” would be “doing without,”

Which only “forgo” could accept.

The clue is the prefix with meaning “before,”

As “fore” tells the tale of its time.

The clearly “foregone” has already occurred,

No matter the vibe or the clime.

“Forgo,” as its focus, has “doing without”

To offer for most fitting use.

“To do without, lose, and to forfeit, give up”

Are senses with similar views.

But sometimes “forgo” is misspelled as “forego,”

A laxity sad and deplorable.

This written misuse is so common today,

The words may appear interchangeable.

“Though others forewent them, they said they'd forgo

The hike to the dusty hilltop.

By foregone conclusion, the trail would be parched;

They'd better forgo or they'd drop.”

(A proofreader's note regarding “compel” and “impel”)

“Compel” and “impel” are two similar performers

That share a connection to “urge.”

While both verbs relate to a pushing to action,

“Compel” has more senses to splurge.

The most common sense of “compel” that we find

Is “to forcefully urge to an act.”

Included as well, “irresistibly” factors;

It hints at coercion, in fact.

“To cause to occur or to happen/accomplish

With force or great pressure applied” 

Is one other sense that is frequently lent;

A restriction of choice is implied.

“Impel,” quite in contrast, is more motivational

In one sense that's like to “compel”:

“To drive or to urge/motivate into action

By strong moral pressure upheld.”

The force urging action is often internal

With this the more common of meanings;

A deeply embedded emotion or preference 

Is usually driving its leanings.

“Impel” in its usage may also be physical,

A second sense clearly defined.

It means to “propel,” but is unlike “compel” 

Where the physical sense is unkind.

“Compelled to respond in his box near the judge,

He was fighting an impulse to flee.

Alas, though, his conscience was much more impelling;

It left him impelled to agree.”

(A proofreader's note regarding “disinterested” and “uninterested”)

“Uninterest,” the noun, is both shy and unhappy,

“Disinterest” more likely the star.

Though different in name, they mean naught but the same,

With the latter the favorite by far.

It's no wonder, then, that their adjectives jostle,

Confusing and causing misuse.

“Disinterested” matches “uninterested,” surely,

But carries more meanings to choose.

“Uninterested” only means “simply not interested,

Feelings or mind not engaged.”

“Disinterested” brings up “no longer enticed,”

Which is added to sense much alleged.

Most commonly, though, when “disinterested” features,

It tells of “impartial” and “fair.”

This usage as “free from an interest that's selfish” 

Will find in the other no peer.

“Disinterested folk were selectively chosen--

Impartial, they suited the job.

The sponsors did wish them uninterested also,

Incurious and blind as a knob.”

“The tired and clearly disinterested tenor 

Let every high note go adrift.

The listeners, all children, were so uninterested

Not even the sharpest were miffed.”

(A proofreader's note regarding “envious” and “jealous”)

The Latin origin of “envious” had meanings 

Of “envy” and “jealousy” both.

Now, “envious” and “jealous,” unenviable fellows,

Are often mistaken by rote.

Since “envious” must picture one's “feeling of envy,”

Consider what “envy” implies:

Advantages held by another are coveted

Midst some displeasure and sighs.

This “wanting of something possessed by another”

Is found within “jealousy,” too.

A covetousness may reflect in them both,

But one's jealousy brings more to rue.

Except when it has this same meaning as “envious,”

Our “jealous” seems prompted by fear.

Hostility, rivalry usually are promised,

Dislike, then, an element near.

Unlike its friend “envious,” it has other senses:

“Not bearing with unfaithfulness

Or rivalry, likewise”; “suspecting such quickly”;

“Alert to guard thing owned and blest.”

“Since jealous is broader in meaning than envious,

The latter may envy its clone.

Most people who're envious of traits in another

Are jealous with love of their own.”

(A proofreader's note regarding “blatant” and “flagrant”)

Words “blatant” and “flagrant,” though different in origin,

Have come to mean almost the same;

Their present distinctions are only by nuance

Yet central to modern day fame.

They both give descriptions of things, less so people,

That obviously carry offense.

Here, open display of some noted wrongdoing 

Is painted in literary sense.

The adjective “blatant” arises from Latin:

“To bleat” or “to blabber” as verb.

Its meaning as “noisy” with hint of annoying

Has mostly been left at the curb.

In present day jargon, “offensively obvious”

Is one way to simply define.

The focus is “obvious” or, likewise, “conspicuous”

As well as “obtrusive” by kind.

With “flagrant,” instead, we have “obviously offensive,”

The emphasis placed on “offense.”

“Conspicuously,” yes, may with “obviously” swap,

And there must be some breach that's intense.

Since “flagrant” connects with “to burn” in the Latin,

Misconduct is strongly implied.

Then thinking of “flames” when deciding on “flagrant”

May help to put “blatant” aside.

“His trivial remarks filled with blatant misstatements

Excused every flagrant abuse.

We stood there evincing a blatant resentment;

Let flagrant misdeeds cook his goose.”