OLD-WORDS-L Archives

From: Sue <>
Subject: Sounds like, looks like...
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 07:52:03 -0500

Here is a list of words for your enjoyment, that look like other
words that are more common...and thus are frequently misspelled
(I am a sucker for the calender/calendar confusion, myself!)

compellation (kom-puh-LAY-shuhn) noun
1. The act of addressing or designating someone by name.
2. A name; an appellation.
[Latin compellatio, compellation-, from compellatus, past
participle of
compellare, to address.]
------------------------

calender (KAL-uhn-duhr) noun
A machine in which paper or cloth is made smooth and glossy by
being
pressed through rollers.
verb tr.
To press (paper or cloth) in the rollers of such a machine.
[French calandre, from Vulgar Latin *colendra, alteration
(possibly
influenced by Latin columna, column), of Latin cylindrus,
roller.]
--------------------------

redound (ri-DOUND) verb intr.
1. To have an effect or consequence.
2. To return; recoil.
3. To contribute; accrue.
[Middle English redounden, to abound, from Old French redonder,
from Latin
redundare, to overflow.]
---------------------------

quean (kween) noun
1. A woman regarded as being disreputable, especially a
prostitute.
2. Scots. A young woman.
[Middle English quene, from Old English cwene, woman.]
- --------------------------

dragoon (druh-GOON) noun
A heavily armed trooper in some European armies of the 17th
and 18th
centuries.
verb tr.
1. To subjugate or persecute by the imposition of troops.
2. To compel by violent measures or threats; coerce.
[French dragon, carbine, dragoon, from Old French dragon,
dragon.]
- ---------------------------

peremptory (puh-REMP-tuh-ree) adjective
1. Putting an end to all debate or action: a peremptory
decree.
2. Not allowing contradiction or refusal; imperative: The
officer issued
peremptory commands.
3. Having the nature of or expressing a command; urgent: The
teacher
spoke in a peremptory tone.
4. Offensively self-assured; dictatorial: a swaggering,
peremptory
manner.
[Latin peremptorius, from peremptus, past participle of perimere,
to take
away : per- + emere, to obtain.]
- -----------------------------

navvy (NAV-ee) noun
Chiefly British. A laborer, especially one employed in
construction or
excavation projects.
[Short for navigator, canal laborer (obsolete).]
- -----------------------------

impassible (im-PAS-uh-buhl) adjective
1. Not subject to suffering or pain.
2. Unfeeling; impassive.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin impassibilis :
in-, not
+ passibilis, passible.]

This thread:

• Sounds like, looks like... by Sue <>