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    SEASONABLE/SEASONAL

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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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    AFFRONT/EFFRONTERY

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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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    IMPLY/INFER

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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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    AMUSED/BEMUSED

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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.”