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(A proofreader's note regarding “abstruse” and “obtuse”)
“Abstruse” and “obtuse,” with costumes that confuse,
Follow disparate purviews and missions;
Though each in the other may see an excuse,
As descriptors they serve different passions.
Apart from its use in some specialty areas,
Like geometry, botany, and such,
“Obtuse” as an adjective speaks most of people,
But sometimes on things it will touch.
A Latin ancestor had “blunt” as its meaning,
So “dull” and “not pointed” we find.
But “lacking a quickness or sharpness of intellect”
Likewise is often in mind.
“Obtuse” in its usage extends to describing
A thing that is not clearly stated;
By virtue of this, it comes close to “abstruse,”
But the two words should not be conflated.
The word “comprehensible” conjures the key
To the meanings “abstruse” may adopt;
“Hellacious to understand due to complexity
While clear in expression and apt”;
Thus, “difficult” for persons of normal intelligence
Or “clear to enlightened ones only.”
Instead, with “obtuse,” a deliberate dull-wittedness
Sometimes is meant although phony.
“Remember 'abstract' before choosing 'abstruse'
To misuse of 'obtuse’ make unlikely.”
“If person 'obtuse' should claim things as 'abstruse,'
It's a ruse to refuse—and quite rightly.”
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(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.”
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(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.”
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(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.”
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(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.”
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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.”