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(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.”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “parol” and “parole”)
Consider “apparel” when speaking word “parol”
To keep it apart from “parole”;
But some may disfavor this subtle distinction
Because of a sameness of soul.
They made their debut from the same source in Latin,
Which signified “parable” or “speech.”
Their foremost connection to law would come later,
Initially out of their reach.
With meanings today that show rigid divergence,
They stand in the legal domain:
“By word of mouth spoken” and “word of true honor,”
Thus each in its own separate lane.
Though “parol” sometimes is applied as an adjective,
Mostly it serves as a noun;
Thus, “something that’s stated/declared but not written.”
“By parol” is also much found.
The nominal “parole” may mean “pledge on one's honor”
Or “watchword selectively shared.”
“Conditional release of a prisoner still serving”
Is likewise intent to be dared.
“Resolved as he was to succeed with probation,
He took the quick contract by parol.
Though still on parole, he made parol avowals
Against the probationer's apparel.”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “seasonable” and “seasonal”)
For culinary minds, the word “seasonable” beckons
With visions of flavorings rife;
This adjective, though, gets its reason from “season,”
Not “seasonings” laden with life.
At root, the word “season” arose with a meaning
Of “period within the full year.”
“A suitable instance,” “an appropriate time”
Were regarded each one as a peer.
It likewise related to “ripening” of produce
And even to “sowing of seeds.”
We find a connection with “rightness of moment”
In all of its hopes and its deeds.
'Twas “seasonable,” then, that became its first adjective
As “suited to season/conditions.”
This “happenings-suitable” or “season-suited”
Means “timely as to the conditions.”
Yet, “happening in time that's considered appropriate”
Is one of its meanings as well.
Word “seasonable” then, is equivalent to “opportune,”
Rating all factors as swell.
Word “seasonal” entered as adjective later,
“Relating to season” its claim,
With “varying according to season” included;
Suitability not in the frame.
“The fair would proceed if the weather was seasonable,
Bright as the hopes that they held.
Historic attendance was favorably seasonal,
Heralding joys to be felt.”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “affront” and “effrontery”)
“Affront” and “effront” were the verbs that preceded
The nouns that our title has shown.
“To treat with affront” or “effrontery,” likewise,
Were meanings that came to be known.
“Affront” and “effrontery” boast more than friendship
Since “front” as a parent they share.
Its meanings as “forehead,” “expression,” and “countenance,”
Explain why these nouns are so near.
The “front” meant the “face” as expressive of character,
And “frontless” was “shameless” indeed.
“Effrontery” speaks of this lack in one's character,
The attitude therein perceived.
It means “shameless boldness” and “shameless audacity”;
“Impertinence,” “insolence” as well.
This attitude harbored enables an act
That defies what would socially compel.
“Affront” as a thing that was “openly offensive”
Evolved from “a slap in the face.”
While meaning today “a deliberate offense,”
It refers to the act, not its base.
“'The syllables, dearie!' the teacher then shouted,
'Effrontery clearly has four.'
Affront not intended, effrontery neither,
She smiled as if all to adore.”
“But charged with effrontery, guided by temper,
His actions seemed totally mad.
His enemy, though, would discern the affront
And then wonder if he had been had.”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “imply” and “infer”)
“Imply” and “infer” are designed to relate
To each other because of their miens;
Their roles are like speaker and listener respective
Except in a couple of scenes.
Most often the role of “imply” is “suggest,”
“Indirectly expressing” a thought.
We think of “infer” as receiving the hinted,
“Deducing” from what it has caught.
“To something deduce or quite clearly conclude
From the evidence and reasoning applied
In absence of statements considered explicit”
Is meaning “infer” has allied.
Along with “to guess” and as well “to surmise”
Are more senses “infer” can supply.
With meanings beyond these, “infer” in its usage
Has come to encroach on “imply.”
Its offering “to indicate” shadows “imply”
Since the latter has meaning alike:
“To indicate/hold by deduction/connection,
Not statements direct” that might spike.
There's also the sense of “to hint or suggest,”
Which “infer” has in less formal use.
In both of these constructs, no person is subject
Unlike with “imply” and its muse.
“He meant to imply that their efforts were futile
In spite of most earnest intent;
They seemed to infer that at root was some envy,
Implying they needed to vent.”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “amused” and “bemused”)
“Amused” and “bemused” are misused and confused;
They arise from “amuse” and “bemuse.”
Their ancestral linkage to “muse” in its verb form
Is source of most issues and rues.
This “muse” was related to “muzzle” or “snout”
Of a dog that was losing its scent;
Its sniffing the air was “to ponder and wonder,”
A sense of “to muse” that was meant.
“Amuse,” with the meaning of “cause to be musing,”
Implied a sly aim to distract,
Divert one's attention while planning deceit,
Entertain though deceiving in fact.
“To trick” or “confuse” was a part of the concept;
“Amuse” had it; likewise “bemuse.”
Though dropped from the former through years of due usage,
It still plays a role in “bemuse.”
“Bemused,” then, has meanings of “marked by confusion,”
And “lost in one's reverie” and “dazed”;
“Displaying a tolerant amusement” as well
In a nod to descent not erased.
This adjective's setting will often hold muddle,
Not pleasure as is with “amused.”
The latter has meaning “to pleasantly entertain”;
Joy is its primary roost.
“His speech was replete with scientific expressions;
Bemused were the smiles that appeared.
It scuppered all hope of a few being amused there
And left him bemused that he cared.”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “climatic” and “climactic”)
Both “climax” and “climate” can take on a suffix;
Most often they partner with “ic.”
By adding its meaning, “pertaining to something,”
We then have two words that may trick.
On one hand “climactic,” the other “climatic,”
Their shticks have a similar click;
And yet what they speak of is so very different,
It gives us a laugh and a kick.
When thinking “climactic,” remember the “-c-t”
Is standing in place of an “x.”
It might have been truly “climaxic” if proper;
Perhaps “x” was seen as a hex!
Considering “max” is a handy mnemonic
When one puts “climactic” to use
As “forming a climax” or “climax-related,”
Its meaning for all who would muse.
“Climatic” will likewise as adjective function,
With “climate” instead as the key.
“Relating to climate” and “influenced by climate”
Are senses we commonly see.
“Climatic conditions conspired against them
When starting the climactic race;
But managing yet a climactic performance,
They finished at pace in first place”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “peaceful” and “peaceable”)
Words “peaceful” and “peaceable” (“peace” as a parent)
So clearly are set “to agree”
Since “peace” is “a state of tranquility or quiet,”
Of conflict or violence most free.
So “free of disorder or strife or contention”
Are meanings that one would expect,
But suffixes “able” and “ful” in their senses
Add subtleties we must respect.
With “ful” as the suffix comes “full of”/“resembling”
In special relation to peace;
Thus, equally “empty of strife or contention”
Is “peaceful” when standing at ease.
Occasionally, though, it will posture as “peaceable”
And offer a broader allure.
Its meaning “relating to peace as condition”
Is also extension for sure.
The “capable” given by “able” as suffix
Hands “peaceable” a meaning distinct:
“Disposed toward peace and there unto inclining.”
So mainly to people it’s linked.
This sense of being active, important distinction,
Distinguishes “peaceable” in use,
For “peaceful” has focus on things that are static,
No agency there to set loose.
“It pictures a scene that is 'calm' and quite 'tranquil,'
So this one is peaceful, indeed.
Our peaceable artists have lauded it perfect;
It echoes their peaceable creed.”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “enervate” and “innervate”)
Innervate and enervate, rooted in Latin,
Share nervus as venerated one.
With “nerve” as a meaning, like “sinew” and “tendon,”
It spoke of the “strong” and not wan.
Its offspring though similar in general appearance
Do differ in meaning and sound;
The “en” as with “end” and the “in” like “instill”
Put a contrast in emphases found.
Here, prefixes Latin distinguish the meanings
Of these verbs of energy and force;
The “en” seen in “enervate” offers us “out of”
To tell of a purpose, of course.
Thus “enervate” came from a verb that enacted
“Removal of sinew to weaken”:
“To lessen the strength or vitality of” something,
Including the mental as stricken.
With emphasis given to syllable second,
“Innervate” doth mean “to supply
With nerves” or “to fire up by impulses various,”
“To energize” truly or nigh.
“She said the descriptor 'enervate' was different:
'It enervates “en”—and with grace.'
If only this insight would serve to innervate,
The team its first win might embrace.”
“'Innervate' may sound like word 'inner' in starting
For those who don't enervate 'in.'
Enjoying this option innervates some people,
Though others may think it a sin.”
“The cross-country race was their way to test stamina
And enervate all but the fit.
The band would be there to innervate the winner,
Reducing the chance of a sit.”
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(A proofreader's note regarding “amiable” and “amicable”)
When Amy and Abel join hands at their table,
Then “amiable” may be perceived.
The soft-landing sounds of the “ami” and “able”
With feelings of love are received;
For “amiable” stands on its Latin origin
Of “lover” or “personal friend.”
Its meanings as “friendly” and “generally agreeable”
Do mainly to persons attend.
Exceptions, though rare, are both fair and accepted
Since traits of personality and more
Described yet as “having a quality that pleases”
Are “amiable” things to the core.
Though similar in origin, our “amicable” is different
With “friendly goodwill” at its heart.
The “c” in the center reminds one of “contracts,”
Where “amicable” long had its start.
Describing agreements, relations, and attitudes,
It caters to things but not people;
Expressing “characterized by a friendly goodwill,”
With an emphasis clearly on “peaceable.”
“They worked laying cable, both Hammy and Abel,
And amicable were their disputes.
They ended their toiling with amiable smiling,
Still glad to be not wearing suits.”