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DISCRIMINATIONS – In Memory of Miss Helen Mullett of Carleton Place High School
1. Affect (always a verb): [of = ad (to); facio = to do.]
(c) to have a liking for.
Eating affects health.
He will affect the part of a clown.
He affects that old rocking chair.
Effect (noun and verb) (facio = to make)
(as a noun) -- the result
(as a verb) -- to bring about
The effect of the storm was serious.
He will effect a change in the ruling.
Implement -- to bring into effect.
Effectual -- having adequate power or force to produce the effect or result.
2. Principal:
(a) The chief (noun)
(b) Chief (adjective)
(c) A capital sum lent on interest.
He is principal of the university.
What are the principal parts of the verb?
How much interest did you get on your principal?
Principle: (a) A governing law of conduct.
(b) A fundamental law or primary source from which anything proceeds.
He is a person of good principle.
On what principle is the fact based?
3. Ingenious -- clever at contriving, skillful
The ingenious scientist proved the fact thoroughly.
Her excuses were ingenious.
Ingenuous -- frank, open, sincere, candid.
Her sincerity showed that she was ingenuous.
a. Note: ingenious has the same root as genius.
ingenuous has the same root as genuine.
b. Note: ingenious refers to the qualities or endowments of the mind
ingenuous refers to the qualities of the heart
4. Ability is the power of accomplishing something. Capacity is the power to receive training or instruction.
You have the ability to use most of the information that you have the capacity to receive. He is a person of unusual capacity for acquiring knowledge, but with very little ability to make use of his knowledge.
5. Character is what one really is; reputation is what one is thought to be.
I know nothing of his character, but his reputation is good.
6. Credible -- believable
The story was credible as it was based on facts.
creditable -- praiseworthy
Her high standing proved that she was doing creditable work.
credulous -- believing too readily, easily imposed upon
He is credulous as he believes everything he hears.
7. exceptional -- unusual
His good attitude was exceptional
exceptionable -- objectionable
His work was exceptionable as it was carelessly done.
8. less refers to quantity.
fewer refers to number.
There is less snow this year.
He has fewer books to-day.
9. continuous -- uninterrupted, ceaseless
The continuous flow of water is wearing away the rock.
continual -- fitful
The continual noise was disturbing.
The continual rain has done some damage.
10. learn -- to acquire knowledge
teach -- to impart knowledge
The instructor teaches; the student learns.
11. contemptuous -- showing scorn, scornful
They saw his contemptuous sneer.
contemptible -- deserving scorn
He is a contemptible sneak.
12. council -- a body of persons elected to assist in the administration of government or to legislate.
The town council meets regularly.
counsel: 1) one who gives advice
2) to advise
3) advice
The council for the defense counselled the plaintiff's
counsel to give different counsel to his client.
(counsellor -- one who gives advice
councillor -- one who is a member of the council)
13. Bound refers to outside compulsion.
Determine refers to a decision made by a person. We are not bound by law to pay the debt, but we are determined to do so.
14. Complement -- a full quantity or number or that which is needed to complete.
He has secured his full complement of men for his regiment.
What is the complement of the copula verb in the sentence?
Compliment is an expression of praise.
He received a glowing compliment.
15.
practical related to actual use, useful (opposite to theoretical or ideal)
practicable -- workable, capable of being put into use.
He is a practical mechanic.
After we finish the practical part of the experiment, we shall write the theory of it.
His plan was not practicable, as there was no money to carry it into effect.
16. healthy -- having or possessing well-being.
She is a healthy person.
healthful -- promoting health or well-being
He lives in a healthful climate.
(Use "wholesome" when referring to food.)
17. likely -- probable (adj.) It is a likely story.
probably (adv.) I shall likely go.
liable: legally bound
answerable for
subject or amenable to tax or penalty
under obligation to do
exposed or open to
likely to suffer something undesirable.
He is liable for the damages.
Difficulties are liable to occur.
You are liable to fall off that ladder.
You are liable to be fined for speeding.
You will be held liable if you do not pay your bill.
(He is apt at figures. Apt (usually applied to persons) implies habitual, quick to learn tendency or natural capability. He is apt to delay action.)
18. Human -- belonging to man. To err is human.
The human race is an interesting study.
humane -- kind, compassionate.
He has a humane attitude.
The Humane Society is very active.
19. invaluable -- priceless, inestimable.
This heirloom is invaluable.
valueless -- of no worth, worthless.
The book is valueless as it is badly torn.
20. notorious -- of bad repute
He is a notorious scoundrel.
notable -- worthy of repute, remarkable, of good repute.
His fame as a mountain climber is notable.
21. Prominent-- conspicuous, standing out so as to be easily seen.
The house on the hill is prominent.
Eminent -- distinguished in character or rank.
Winston Churchill is an eminent person.
Imminent -- (of events, especially dangerous) impending, soon to happen.
They thought that war was imminent.
22. latest -- (contains a distinct reference to time). That is latest which comes after all others in time.
Have you heard the latest news?
last denotes that which comes after all others in space or in a series.
They live in the last house on the street.
What is the last number in that question?
23. Hardly expresses degree.
He is hardly well enough to go.
Scarcely expresses quantity.
We have scarcely enough coal.
24. prologue -- a preface or introduction.
epilogue -- a speech or poem after the conclusion of a drama, etc.
25. amicable, friendly --
amicable is a weaker word than friendly; friendly is active and positive.
Amicable simply implies a degree of friendship such as makes us unwilling to disagree with those with whom we are on harmonious terms.
26. descent is the art of passing from a higher to a lower place.
Our descent of the hill was tiresome.
dissent -- disagreement, difference in opinion.
They showed their dissent by their expressions.
27. Custom denotes the frequent repetition of the same act, and may be used of a number of persons taken together.
Habit is the effect of custom in a person, or it means the unconscious tendency to repeat an action.
He did not follow the customs of the country because his habits and beliefs were already formed.
28. emigrant is a person who leaves a country to go to another country to live permanently.
immigrant is a person who comes into a country to live permanently.
29. Balance is a commercial term, meaning the difference between the two sides of an account.
There is a small balance still due us.
Rest signifies that which remains behind. (It is used of any part large or small, and is applicable to both persons and things.)
The rest of the boys will go soon.
Remainder is used only of things, and denotes a comparatively small part.
They will ship the remainder of the goods at your convenience.
30. Avocation is something aside from one's regular calling; a hobby.
His avocation interfered with his regular business.
Vocation is a person's regular business or calling.
His vocation is accountancy.
31. Advance is used in speaking of something as moving forward.
The advance that the army made in two days was almost incredible.
Advancement -- the being moved forward.
A person's advancement depends upon his efficiency.
32. Conscience is the sense of right and wrong.
Consciousness is the immediate knowledge given in sensation or perception; awareness.
He has an active conscience.
His consciousness of his responsibilities was always keen.
He regained consciousness soon after his fall.
33. Allusion -- an indirect suggestion, a reference to something, a hint.
He made an allusion to the game.
Illusion -- something misleading to the vision, a deceptive appearance.
He spoke of an optical illusion.
Most feats of magic are illusions.
34. Majority -- more than half the whole number.
Plurality is the excess of votes received by one candidate over those received by the next highest.
Thus, in an election, if A receives 140 votes, B 96, and C 72, A receives a plurality, though not a majority. (308 / 2 = 154)
35. Centre is applied to circular or spherical bodies. (It means a point.)
Middle is a line or space and is less definite than centre.
The centre of the apple is decayed.
The pavement in the middle of the street needs repairing.
36. censored -- having been examined or revised; banned from public use.
censured -- having been blame, reproved or condemned; scolded.
An objectionable play was censored.
She was censured severely for her indiscretions.
37. as ---- as so ---- as
"So" is used with "as" in comparing un equals.
He is not so tall as his brother.
"As" is used with "as" in comparing equals.
He is as tall as I.
38. decided -- definite, unquestionable, or clear opinions or vigorous initiative. (A decided opinion is a strong opinion which perhaps decides nothing.)
He has decided views on the case.
decisive -- conclusive (A decisive opinion settles the question at issue)
The judgment of the court is decisive.
Note – All spelling conforms to the English Oxford Dictionary!
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