Editor's Corner

I’m sure you’ve been waiting eagerly for this next set of homonyms! You’ve seen the triplets, now I have larger groups of words that sound the same, but each of them is spelled differently and means something different. You can (but don’t have to) give me grace for those that are from other languages.

As before, definitions are from me and from Merriam-Webster (M-W) where marked.

Quadruplets:

· adds = perform addition; increase

· ads = advertisements; notices or announcements to attract customers

· adz = (M-W) a cutting tool that has a thin arched blade set at right angles to the handle and is used chiefly for shaping wood (less common variant than adze)

· adze = See previous. More common spelling of the tool (adz). [KC – I’d bet that adz is more common for Scrabble players!]

· cinque = Five [KC – If you pronounce this French word like the French would, it’s a homonym for “sank” rather than “sink.”]
(M-W) 1: Five, especially the number five in dice or cards
2: cinques plural: change ringing on 11 bells that are treated as 5 pairs, the tenor bell added after each change

· sink = Submerge

· sync = Synchronize; make happen at the same time

· synch = See previous. Less common spelling of sync

· cite = To refer to another source; to name in a citation

· cyte = A mature germ cell [KC – I’ve only ever
seen this as a suffix, like erythrocyte or leukocyte.]

· sight = Vision. (M-W) Something that is seen; a spectacle

· site = A location, a place

· medal = (M-W) A small usually metal object bearing a religious emblem or picture

· meddle = To interfere (generally with something that is none of your business)

· metal = (M-W) Any of various opaque, fusible, ductile, and typically lustrous substances that are good conductors of electricity and heat, form cations by loss of electrons, and yield basic oxides and hydroxides

· mettle = Stamina; strength; courage

· peak = The top of a mountain; the form of a well-made meringue; the shape is generally wider at the bottom and pointier at the top [KC – And thus you see why I don’t write definitions for
Merriam-Webster.]

· peek = To take a quick look at; (M-W) To peer from a place of concealment

· peke = Nickname or abbreviation for Pekinese (M-W) Any of a Chinese breed of small, short-legged dogs with a broad flat face and a profuse long soft coat

· pique = To arouse interest [KC – I almost always
hear it used with curiosity, for example, “The cryptic message from an old boyfriend piqued his curiosity.”

Quintuplet:

<![if !supportLists]>· seau = (M-W) A pottery pail that forms a part of the typical 18th century dinner service

· sew = To fasten something (usually fabric) together with stitches

· so = (M-W)

· soe = A large wooden tub or pail

· sow = To plant seeds

Sextuplet:

· air = The gases we breathe

· are = (M-W) a unit of area equal to 100 square meters.

· e’er = Contraction of “ever”. Means always.

· ere = Before

· err = To make a mistake

· heir = A person who inherits something (usually from a parent or predecessor)

Septuplet:

· raise = To lift up; to stir up (a commotion)

· rays = (M-W) any of the lines of light that appear to radiate from a bright object; a type of marine animal

· rase = erase (archaic)

· raze = To completely demolish; knock a building down to the dirt

· rehs = (Reh, singular) Abbreviation for “rehearing”

· réis = (Plural of real) The unit of currency in Brazil (and formerly Portugal before the Euro)

· res = a particular thing; matter. A mixture of sodium salts found as an efflorescence in India

That’s it for now, my friends. For the full list, see multinyms here.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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