What is the definition of a paronym?

A paronym refers to words that, despite sounding different, possess similar meanings or derive from a common root.

Fill in the blanks: 'Dependent' refers to relying on someone or something, while 'Negligent' signifies ___ about responsibilities.

Carelessness

True or False: The word 'willing' denotes an unwillingness to act.

False. 'Willing' denotes readiness to act.

What distinguishes homophones from homographs?

Homophones sound alike but have different spellings. Homographs have the same spelling but may have different pronunciations. Context helps differentiate meanings.

Fill in the blank: 'Temperance' embodies ___ in habits, promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Moderation

Provide an example of a paronym and explain its meanings.

'Ingenious' implies skillfulness or cleverness, while 'ingenuous' signifies frankness or innocence.

True or False: 'Hail' refers only to frozen rain.

False. 'Hail' can also mean belonging to or welcoming.

What is the significance of context clues in understanding homonyms?

Context clues help decipher the intended meaning of a homonym, as the same word can have different meanings based on its usage.

Fill in the blanks: 'Continuous' refers to something that is unbroken, whereas 'contiguous' means ___ or ___ to something else.

Touching; adjacent

What are the origins of the term 'homonym'?

The term 'homonym' comes from the Greek word 'homonymos,' meaning 'having the same name,' where 'homo' means 'same' and 'nym' means 'name.'

True or False: 'Deprecate' and 'depreciate' have the same meaning.

False. 'Deprecate' means to express disapproval, while 'depreciate' refers to a decrease in value.

Fill in the blank: 'The damage from the storm was ___, meaning it was unimportant or small.

Negligible