CSS English: 300 pairs of words with meanings and sentences

How pairs of words are examined

The English Precis and Composition paper of the CSS examination, and the English papers of the PMS and other provincial examinations, include a question on pairs of words. The examiner lists pairs that look alike, sound alike or are close in meaning (affect and effect, eminent and imminent, childish and childlike) and asks for sentences that bring out the difference. The question usually carries ten marks and normally offers a choice of pairs, so a candidate with a wide list can pick the pairs he or she knows best.

Marks are lost in three ways. The first is not knowing one of the two words, which a list such as this one cures. The second is writing a sentence that is correct but does not show the meaning: "Everyone talked about the effect" is good English but tells the examiner nothing. The third is ignoring the part of speech: advice is a noun and advise is a verb, and a sentence that swaps them scores nothing.

This document lists 300 pairs, arranged alphabetically by the first word of each pair, with a short meaning and one sentence for every word. Learn the meanings, cover the sentences and write your own; the practice section at the end checks thirty of the commonest pairs.

Exam tip: make every sentence prove the meaning. A good sentence contains a clue that would make no sense if the other word of the pair were put in its place. Compare "The ascent was difficult" (weak: a careless reader could take it for "assent") with "The ascent of the final ice wall took the climbers six hours" (strong: the context forces the meaning of climbing). Keep sentences short, adult and concrete; use the word in the form printed on the paper; and do not put both words of a pair in one sentence unless the question asks for a contrast.

A

Pair	First word	Second word
abjure adjure	to renounce solemnly. The witness abjured his earlier statement under oath.	to urge or command earnestly. The judge adjured the jury to weigh every fact.
accept except	to receive willingly. She accepted the post of deputy commissioner.	excluding, apart from. All candidates except two passed the screening test.
access excess	the means of entry. Villagers have no access to clean water.	an amount beyond what is needed. Excess rainfall flooded lower Sindh.
adapt adopt	to adjust to new conditions. Farmers must adapt their methods to a changing climate.	to take up as one's own. The committee adopted the amended resolution.
adverse averse	unfavourable, harmful. Adverse weather delayed the relief convoy by two days.	having a strong dislike. He is averse to taking loans at any rate.
advice advise	guidance offered (noun). Her advice on the bank loan proved sound.	to recommend or counsel (verb). The lawyer advised him to settle the dispute quietly.
affect effect	to influence (verb). The strike affected supplies across the province.	a result (noun); to bring about (verb). The policy had little effect on inflation.
allude elude	to refer indirectly. The minister alluded to earlier talks without naming them.	to escape, to avoid capture. The suspect eluded the police for three months.
allusion illusion	an indirect reference. His speech contained an allusion to Iqbal's poetry.	a false impression. The calm at the border proved an illusion.
allusive elusive	full of indirect references. His allusive style baffles casual readers.	hard to find or pin down. A lasting ceasefire remained elusive.
altar alter	a raised table for worship. Candles were placed on the altar before the service.	to change. The committee altered the exam timetable at short notice.
alternate alternative	every other; taking turns. Water is supplied on alternate days in summer.	another option. Solar power is a cheaper alternative for remote villages.
amiable amicable	friendly, good-natured (of people). The new registrar is an amiable man.	friendly, peaceable (of arrangements). The two brothers reached an amicable division of the land.
amoral immoral	without any sense of morality. The scheme was amoral, driven purely by profit.	violating accepted moral standards. Taking bribes is immoral as well as illegal.
apposite opposite	apt, well suited. The chairman's remark was apposite and brief.	facing; entirely different. Their views on taxation are exactly opposite.
appraise apprise	to assess the value or quality. The bank appraised the property before granting the loan.	to inform. He apprised the board of the audit findings.
artist artiste	a creator of art. The artist exhibited her landscapes in Lahore.	a professional performer. A visiting artiste sang ghazals at the gala.
ascent assent	the act of climbing. The ascent of Nanga Parbat took eleven days.	agreement, approval. The governor gave his assent to the bill.
ascetic aesthetic	practising severe self-denial. The ascetic lived on dates and water for years.	concerned with beauty. The building's aesthetic appeal drew many visitors.
assay essay	to test a metal for purity. The jeweller assayed the gold before buying.	a short piece of writing; to attempt. Her essay on federalism won the first prize.
assure ensure	to tell someone confidently, removing doubt. The doctor assured her that recovery was certain.	to make certain. Please ensure that the gate is locked.
aural oral	relating to hearing. Aural comprehension is tested in the listening paper.	spoken; relating to the mouth. The oral examination lasted twenty minutes.
avenge revenge	to punish a wrong done to another. The tribe vowed to avenge the murdered elder.	personal retaliation. He sought revenge for the insult at the wedding.

B

Pair	First word	Second word
bail bale	security for release from custody. The court granted bail on two sureties.	a bundle of goods. Cotton bales were stacked at the ginning factory.
ballot ballad	a system of voting; a vote. The ballot papers were counted twice.	a narrative poem or song. The folk singer sang a ballad about Sassi.
barbaric barbarous	savagely cruel; primitive. The prisoners endured barbaric treatment.	uncivilised; harsh in sound or style. His prose is barbarous and hard to read.
bare bear	uncovered, plain. The walls of the cell were bare.	to carry; to endure; the animal. She bore the loss with quiet dignity.
bated baited	held back (only in "bated breath"). We waited with bated breath for the result.	fitted with bait; taunted. The hook was baited with fresh dough.
bazaar bizarre	a market. Anarkali Bazaar is busiest on Sunday evenings.	strange, odd. The witness gave a bizarre account of the night.
beneficent beneficial	doing good, generous. A beneficent landlord built the village school.	producing a good result. Regular exercise is beneficial to the heart.
berth birth	a sleeping place on a train. He booked a lower berth on the night train.	the act of being born. The birth of a daughter was celebrated with sweets.
beside besides	at the side of. The clerk stood beside the magistrate's desk.	in addition to; moreover. Besides English, she speaks Pashto and Persian.
biannual biennial	occurring twice a year. The biannual audit is due in June and December.	occurring every two years. The biennial trade fair returns next spring.
bloc block	a group of parties or countries acting together. The opposition bloc walked out.	a solid piece; to obstruct. Fallen rocks blocked the Karakoram Highway.
boar bore	a wild pig. Wild boar damaged the sugar-cane crop at night.	to drill; to weary; a tedious person. The lecture bored the entire hall.
born borne	brought into life. Faiz was born in Sialkot.	carried; endured. The cost was borne by the provincial government.
bough bow	a large branch. A bough snapped in the storm and blocked the lane.	to bend forward; a ship's front. The students bowed to their teacher.
brake break	a device for slowing a vehicle. The brakes failed on the mountain road.	to shatter; a pause. The talks collapsed after a short break.
breach breech	a gap; a violation. The breach in the canal flooded twenty villages.	the rear of a gun barrel. The soldier opened the breech to load.
bridal bridle	relating to a bride or wedding. The bridal dress was embroidered with gold thread.	a horse's headgear; to restrain. He bridled his anger and answered calmly.
broach brooch	to raise a subject. She broached the question of salary at the interview.	an ornamental pin. A silver brooch was pinned to her dupatta.

C

Pair	First word	Second word
callous callus	unfeeling, insensitive. The callous landlord evicted the widow in winter.	an area of hardened skin. Years of hoeing left calluses on his palms.
cannon canon	a large gun. An old cannon stands outside Lahore Museum.	a general rule; an accepted body of works. Fairness is a basic canon of justice.
canvas canvass	strong coarse cloth. The tent was made of heavy canvas.	to seek votes or opinions. Volunteers canvassed the constituency door to door.
capital capitol	a chief city; money; a large letter. Islamabad became the capital in 1967.	a legislature's building. Protesters gathered outside the state capitol.
carat caret	a unit of weight for gems. The ring held a two-carat diamond.	a proof-reading mark for an insertion. Insert the missing word at the caret.
cast caste	to throw; the actors in a play. The whole cast took a final bow.	a hereditary social class. Marriage across caste lines is still resisted.
casual causal	relaxed; occasional. He wore casual clothes to the office party.	relating to cause and effect. The study found a causal link between smoking and cancer.
ceiling sealing	the upper surface of a room; an upper limit. The ceiling fan creaked all night.	closing securely. Sealing the envelope, he posted the application.
censor censure	to cut objectionable parts of a work. The board censored two scenes from the film.	to criticise severely. The Senate censured the minister for his remarks.
cereal serial	a grain used for food. Wheat is the staple cereal of Punjab.	occurring in a series. The serial numbers on the notes were recorded.
ceremonial ceremonious	relating to a ceremony. The guards wore ceremonial dress for the parade.	excessively formal. His ceremonious greetings delayed the meeting.
cession session	the giving up of territory or rights. The treaty required the cession of the valley.	a meeting; a sitting. The budget session opened on Monday.
check cheque	to examine; to stop. Check the figures before you sign.	a written order to a bank to pay. He paid the fee by cheque.
childish childlike	immature, silly (disapproving). Sulking over a lost game is childish.	innocent and trusting (approving). Her childlike wonder at the stars was charming.
chord cord	a group of musical notes. The guitarist struck the opening chord.	thin rope; a cable. The parcel was tied with nylon cord.
cite site	to quote as evidence. The counsel cited three Supreme Court judgments.	a place or location. The site for the new dam was surveyed.
classic classical	of lasting quality; typical. Ghalib's ghazals are a classic of Urdu literature.	traditional in form; of Greece and Rome. He trained in classical music under an ustad.
climatic climactic	relating to climate. Climatic changes have shortened the winter.	forming a climax. The climactic scene takes place in a courtroom.
coarse course	rough; crude. The coarse cloth scratched his skin.	a direction; a series of lessons. She enrolled on a course in public administration.
collision collusion	a violent crash. Two buses were in a collision near Sukkur.	secret cooperation for a dishonest purpose. The contractors acted in collusion to inflate prices.
complacent complaisant	smugly self-satisfied. Complacent after one victory, the team lost the final.	eager to please, obliging. The complaisant clerk agreed to every request.
complement compliment	something that completes; to complete. Rice is a good complement to lentils.	an expression of praise. He paid her a compliment on her speech.
comprehensible comprehensive	understandable. The notice was written in comprehensible Urdu.	including everything. The report gives a comprehensive picture of the floods.
confidant confident	a person trusted with secrets. The prince's confidant leaked the plan.	self-assured; certain. She is confident of passing the interview.
conscience conscious	the inner sense of right and wrong. His conscience would not let him sign the false report.	aware; awake. The injured driver remained conscious throughout.
contemptible contemptuous	deserving contempt. Cheating the orphans was a contemptible act.	showing contempt. She gave him a contemptuous glance.
continual continuous	recurring frequently, with breaks. Continual power cuts disrupted the exam.	unbroken, without pause. The rain was continuous for thirty hours.
corporal corporeal	relating to the body. Corporal punishment is banned in schools.	physical, not spiritual. The law deals with corporeal property such as land.
corps corpse	an organised body of people. She joined the diplomatic corps after CSS.	a dead body. The corpse was taken to the mortuary.
council counsel	an assembly for administration. The union council approved the drainage scheme.	advice; a lawyer. The counsel for the defence rose to object.
credible creditable	believable. The witness gave a credible account.	deserving praise. Fourth place was a creditable result for a new team.
credulous incredulous	too ready to believe. Credulous investors lost their savings in the scheme.	unwilling to believe. He gave an incredulous laugh at the price.
cue queue	a signal to act. The actor missed his cue and entered late.	a line of waiting people. A long queue formed outside the passport office.
currant current	a small dried grape. The cake was studded with currants.	present; a flow of water or electricity. Strong currents make the river dangerous.
cymbal symbol	a brass percussion instrument. The cymbals crashed at the end of the march.	a sign for something. The crescent is a symbol on the national flag.

D

Pair	First word	Second word
dairy diary	a place where milk products are made. The dairy supplies yoghurt to the whole town.	a daily record. She wrote in her diary every night.
decent descent	respectable, adequate. He earns a decent salary at the bank.	a downward movement; ancestry. The descent from the pass was steep and icy.
deduce deduct	to conclude by reasoning. From the mud on his shoes we deduced he had walked.	to subtract. Tax is deducted from the salary at source.
defer differ	to postpone; to yield. The hearing was deferred until March.	to be unlike; to disagree. The two reports differ on the casualty figures.
deference difference	respectful submission. Out of deference to his age, they let him speak first.	the state of being unlike. There is little difference between the two drafts.
definite definitive	clear, certain. We need a definite date for the hearing.	final and authoritative. This is the definitive biography of Jinnah.
dependant dependent	one who relies on another (noun). He has five dependants on one salary.	relying on (adjective). The crop is dependent on the monsoon.
deprecate depreciate	to express disapproval of. The judge deprecated the delay in filing.	to fall in value. The rupee depreciated sharply last year.
desert dessert	a barren region; to abandon. The soldier deserted his post at night.	the sweet course of a meal. Kheer was served as dessert.
device devise	a tool or mechanism (noun). A simple device measures the soil moisture.	to plan or invent (verb). The engineers devised a cheaper filter.
die dye	to stop living; a cube used in games. Many cattle died in the drought.	a colouring substance; to colour. The cloth was dyed indigo in Multan.
disburse disperse	to pay out money. Funds were disbursed to flood victims within a week.	to scatter. Police dispersed the crowd with water cannon.
discreet discrete	careful and tactful. A discreet inquiry was made into his background.	separate, distinct. The syllabus is divided into discrete units.
diseased deceased	affected by disease. Diseased trees were cut down to save the orchard.	dead. The property passed to the deceased's widow.
disinterested uninterested	impartial, having no stake. A disinterested arbiter settled the dispute.	not interested, bored. The students looked uninterested in the lecture.
distinct distinctive	clearly different; clearly perceptible. Sindhi and Balochi are distinct languages.	characteristic, setting apart. Pakistani truck art has a distinctive style.
dominate domineer	to control or be most prominent. One party dominated the assembly for a decade.	to behave overbearingly. He domineers over his younger colleagues.
draft draught	a preliminary version; to draw up. The first draft of the bill was circulated.	a current of air. A cold draught blew under the door.
dual duel	double, twofold. He holds dual nationality.	a fight between two people. The two poets fought a duel of verses.

E

Pair	First word	Second word
economic economical	relating to the economy. The economic survey shows slower growth.	thrifty, not wasteful. A motorcycle is more economical than a car.
elder older	older (of people in a family). My elder sister is a doctor.	more aged (general use). This mosque is older than the fort.
elicit illicit	to draw out a response. The question elicited a frank reply.	unlawful. Illicit timber cutting has stripped the hills.
eligible illegible	qualified to be chosen. Graduates under thirty are eligible to apply.	impossible to read. The doctor's handwriting was illegible.
emigrate immigrate	to leave one's country to settle elsewhere. Thousands emigrated to the Gulf in the 1970s.	to enter a country to settle. Her grandparents immigrated from Bihar.
eminent imminent	distinguished. An eminent jurist chaired the commission.	about to happen. With the storm imminent, the fishermen stayed ashore.
empathy sympathy	the ability to share another's feelings. A good doctor shows empathy towards patients.	pity for another's misfortune. The nation expressed sympathy with the bereaved.
enquiry inquiry	a request for information. We received an enquiry about the fee.	a formal investigation. A judicial inquiry into the crash was ordered.
envelop envelope	to wrap or surround (verb). Fog enveloped the motorway by dawn.	a paper cover for a letter (noun). He sealed the cheque in an envelope.
envious enviable	feeling envy. He was envious of his cousin's success.	arousing envy, desirable. She has an enviable record in the civil service.
epic epoch	a long heroic poem; grand in scale. The Shahnameh is a Persian epic.	a period of history. The Mughal epoch produced great architecture.
errant arrant	straying, misbehaving. The errant official was transferred.	utter, complete (of something bad). That is arrant nonsense.
especially specially	particularly, above all. He likes fruit, especially mangoes.	for a special purpose. The dress was specially made for the wedding.
evoke invoke	to call to mind. The smell of rain evokes memories of childhood.	to call upon; to cite as authority. The governor invoked emergency powers.
exalt exult	to praise highly; to raise in rank. The poet exalted the valour of the martyrs.	to rejoice greatly. The fans exulted over the series win.
exceptional exceptionable	unusually good. She showed exceptional courage during the fire.	open to objection. The censor found nothing exceptionable in the play.
exercise exorcise	physical activity; to use. Exercise your right to vote.	to drive out an evil spirit. The village cleric claimed to exorcise jinn.
exhausting exhaustive	very tiring. The night shift is exhausting.	thorough, complete. An exhaustive search found no trace of the file.
expand expend	to increase in size. The factory expanded its output.	to spend or use up. Do not expend all your energy on the first paper.
extant extinct	still in existence. Only three extant copies of the manuscript survive.	no longer existing. The Indus dolphin is in danger of becoming extinct.

F

Pair	First word	Second word
facility felicity	ease; a building for a purpose. The new facility has fifty beds.	great happiness; aptness of expression. He writes with rare felicity.
faint feint	weak, dim; to lose consciousness. A faint light showed in the window.	a pretended attack or movement. The boxer's feint drew his opponent forward.
fair fare	just; light in colour; a trade gathering. The umpire was fair to both sides.	the price of a journey. Bus fares rose again this month.
farther further	at a greater physical distance. Quetta is farther from Lahore than Multan is.	additional; to a greater degree. Further inquiries will be made.
fatal fateful	causing death. The road accident proved fatal.	decisive, with important consequences. On that fateful evening the partition plan was announced.
feat feet	an achievement. Crossing the glacier was a remarkable feat.	plural of foot. He stood on his feet for the whole journey.
fiscal physical	relating to public revenue. The fiscal deficit widened last year.	relating to the body or to matter. Physical training begins at six.
flair flare	natural talent. She has a flair for languages.	a sudden blaze; to burst out. Tempers flared during the debate.
flaunt flout	to display showily. He flaunted his new car in the neighbourhood.	to defy openly. Drivers flout traffic rules with impunity.
floe flow	a sheet of floating ice. Seals rested on an ice floe.	to move steadily. Spring water flows through the valley.
flounder founder	to struggle clumsily. The speaker floundered when asked for figures.	to sink; to fail. The talks foundered on the question of water.
forbear forebear	to refrain. He forbore from commenting on the verdict.	an ancestor. Her forebears came from Kashmir.
foreword forward	an introduction to a book. The professor wrote the foreword to the anthology.	towards the front; to send on. Forward the complaint to the department.
formally formerly	in a formal manner. The treaty was formally signed in Tashkent.	previously. He was formerly ambassador to China.
fortuitous fortunate	happening by chance. Their meeting at the airport was fortuitous.	lucky. She was fortunate to escape unhurt.

G

Pair	First word	Second word
gait gate	manner of walking. His limping gait betrayed the injury.	a movable barrier in a wall or fence. The school gate closes at eight.
gamble gambol	to play games for money; a risky venture. Starting the business was a gamble.	to leap about playfully. Lambs gambolled in the meadow.
gaol goal	a prison (also spelt jail). He spent two years in gaol.	an aim; a score in football. Her goal is to join the foreign service.
genteel gentle	affectedly refined. The genteel manners of the old family were famous.	mild, kind. A gentle breeze cooled the courtyard.
gilt guilt	covered with gold. The book had gilt edges.	the fact of having done wrong. His guilt was proved by the receipts.
gorilla guerrilla	a large ape. The zoo received a gorilla from Africa.	a member of an irregular fighting force. Guerrilla attacks continued in the hills.
graceful gracious	elegant in movement or form. The dancer's graceful steps delighted the audience.	courteous and kind. The host was gracious to the uninvited guests.
grate great	to shred; to irritate; a fireplace frame. His constant boasting grates on everyone.	large; excellent. Jinnah was a great constitutionalist.
grisly grizzly	horrifying, gruesome. The grisly details were kept from the press.	a large brown bear; grey-haired. Grizzly bears are not found in Asia.
guild gild	an association of craftsmen. The weavers' guild fixed prices.	to cover with gold. The dome was gilded for the anniversary.

H

Pair	First word	Second word
hail hale	frozen rain; to greet or call. Hail flattened the wheat in April.	healthy and strong. At eighty he is still hale and hearty.
hangar hanger	a shelter for aircraft. The plane was towed into the hangar.	a frame for hanging clothes. Put the coat on a hanger.
heal heel	to make healthy. The wound healed within a fortnight.	the back of the foot. A blister formed on his heel.
heroin heroine	an illegal drug. Heroin was seized at the port.	the chief female character. The heroine of the novel defies her family.
hew hue	to chop or cut. Timber was hewn from the forest.	a colour or shade. The sky took on a golden hue at dusk.
historic historical	famous or important in history. The 1940 resolution was a historic moment.	relating to history. The novel is based on historical records.
hoard horde	a hidden store; to store up. Traders hoarded sugar before Ramadan.	a large crowd. A horde of fans surrounded the bus.
hole whole	an opening or gap. A hole in the roof let the rain in.	entire. The whole village turned out for the funeral.
honorary honourable	given as an honour, without duties. She received an honorary doctorate.	worthy of honour; upright. He took the honourable course and resigned.
hostel hostile	a lodging for students or travellers. He lives in the university hostel.	unfriendly, antagonistic. The crowd grew hostile towards the speaker.
human humane	relating to people. Human error caused the derailment.	kind, compassionate. Prisoners deserve humane treatment.
hypercritical hypocritical	excessively critical. A hypercritical teacher discourages weak students.	pretending to have virtues one lacks. It is hypocritical to preach honesty and take bribes.

I

Pair	First word	Second word
idle idol	not working; lazy. The mills lay idle during the strike.	an image worshipped; a hero. The cricketer is the idol of millions.
imaginary imaginative	existing only in the imagination. The child has an imaginary friend.	showing creativity. The engineer found an imaginative solution.
immunity impunity	protection from disease or prosecution. Diplomats enjoy immunity from arrest.	exemption from punishment. Smugglers operate with impunity on the border.
imperial imperious	relating to an empire. The imperial court moved to Lahore in 1584.	arrogantly commanding. She dismissed the clerk with an imperious wave.
imply infer	to suggest without stating (the speaker). His silence implied consent.	to conclude from evidence (the listener). From the data we infer that yields fell.
impracticable impractical	impossible to carry out. A tunnel through the glacier is impracticable.	not sensible or realistic. Silk shoes are impractical for the monsoon.
incite insight	to stir up. The speech incited the crowd to violence.	deep understanding. The report offers insight into rural poverty.
indict indite	to charge formally with a crime. The grand jury indicted the banker.	to compose or write. He indited a letter of thanks to his teacher.
industrial industrious	relating to industry. Faisalabad is an industrial city.	hard-working. An industrious clerk rose to become director.
inflammable inflammatory	easily set on fire. Petrol is highly inflammable.	arousing anger or strong feeling. The inflammatory pamphlet was banned.
ingenious ingenuous	clever, inventive. An ingenious pump lifts water without electricity.	innocent, frank. Her ingenuous answer disarmed the panel.
intelligent intelligible	clever, having good understanding. An intelligent student questions everything.	able to be understood. The announcement was barely intelligible over the noise.
intense intensive	extreme in degree. The heat in Jacobabad is intense in June.	concentrated, thorough. The patient was moved to intensive care.
invaluable valueless	extremely useful, priceless. Her help was invaluable during the audit.	worthless. The forged notes were valueless.
irrelevant irreverent	not connected with the matter. The judge ruled the question irrelevant.	lacking respect. His irreverent jokes offended the elders.
its it's	belonging to it. The committee published its report.	it is, it has. It's too late to file an appeal.

J

Pair	First word	Second word
jealous zealous	resentful of another's advantages. He was jealous of his brother's promotion.	full of zeal, fervent. The zealous inspector fined every shop on the street.
judicial judicious	relating to courts and judges. The judicial commission reported in May.	showing good judgement. A judicious use of funds kept the project solvent.
junction juncture	a place where things join. Turn left at the railway junction.	a critical point in time. At this juncture, any delay would be costly.

K

Pair	First word	Second word
kernel colonel	the inner part of a seed; the core. The kernel of his argument was simple.	an army officer. The colonel addressed the recruits.
knave nave	a dishonest man. The knave sold the same plot to three buyers.	the central part of a church. Sunlight filled the nave of the cathedral.

L

Pair	First word	Second word
later latter	after some time. We shall discuss the matter later.	the second of two mentioned. Of tea and coffee, I prefer the latter.
lay lie	to place something down (takes an object). Lay the file on the table.	to recline; to tell an untruth. Lie down until the fever drops.
lead led	to guide; a heavy metal. Old pipes may contain lead.	past tense of lead. The guide led us to the glacier.
lessen lesson	to make or become less. New wells lessened the water shortage.	something learned; a period of teaching. The first lesson is at eight.
liable libel	legally responsible; likely to. The owner is liable for the damage.	a published false statement damaging reputation. The newspaper was sued for libel.
licence license	a permit (noun). He renewed his driving licence.	to grant a permit (verb). The authority licensed six new pharmacies.
lightening lightning	making lighter. Lightening the load helped the mule climb.	an electrical flash in the sky. Lightning struck the transmission tower.
lineament liniment	a distinctive feature of the face. The portrait captures every lineament of the king.	a soothing ointment for muscles. Rub liniment on the sprained ankle.
literal literary	taking words in their basic sense. A literal translation misses the idiom.	relating to literature. She edits a literary magazine.
loan lone	money lent. The farmer repaid the loan in two years.	solitary. A lone shepherd watched the flock.
loath loathe	reluctant (adjective). He was loath to lend his car.	to hate (verb). She loathes flattery.
loose lose	not tight; to set free. A loose wire caused the short circuit.	to misplace; to be defeated. Do not lose your roll number slip.
lumbar lumber	relating to the lower back. He suffers from lumbar pain.	timber; to move clumsily. The bear lumbered across the road.
luxuriant luxurious	growing thickly. Luxuriant forests cover the Neelum valley.	very comfortable and costly. The hotel suite was luxurious.

M

Pair	First word	Second word
main mane	chief; a principal pipe. The main water pipe burst at night.	long hair on a horse's or lion's neck. The lion shook its mane.
manner manor	a way of doing; behaviour. His manner was curt but polite.	a large country house with land. The old manor fell into ruin.
marital martial	relating to marriage. A marital dispute reached the family court.	relating to war. Martial law was imposed in 1977.
masterful masterly	domineering, commanding. His masterful manner silenced the room.	highly skilled. She gave a masterly summary of the case.
mean mien	to intend; unkind; the average. The mean score was sixty.	a person's bearing or appearance. The judge's grave mien unsettled the witness.
meddle medal	to interfere. Do not meddle in your neighbour's affairs.	a metal disc awarded for merit. He won a gold medal at the Asian Games.
mendacity mendicity	untruthfulness. The witness's mendacity was exposed in cross-examination.	the practice of begging. Mendicity flourishes near shrines.
metal mettle	a substance such as iron or copper. The gate is made of metal.	courage, spirit. The crisis tested the mettle of the young officer.
militate mitigate	to work against (used with "against"). Poor roads militate against tourism.	to make less severe. Early warnings mitigated the flood losses.
miner minor	a worker who digs minerals. Coal miners were trapped in Balochistan.	lesser; a person under eighteen. A minor cannot sign the contract.
momentary momentous	lasting a moment. There was a momentary silence.	of great importance. The verdict was a momentous one for the press.
monetary monitory	relating to money. The State Bank sets monetary policy.	giving a warning. The editorial struck a monitory note.
moral morale	relating to right and wrong; a lesson. The fable ends with a moral.	the spirits of a group. Morale in the unit was high.
muscle mussel	body tissue that moves the limbs. He tore a muscle during the match.	a shellfish. Mussels cling to the rocks at low tide.

N

Pair	First word	Second word
naval navel	relating to a navy. A naval exercise was held off Karachi.	the small hollow on the abdomen. The infant's navel was cleaned daily.
negligent negligible	careless, neglecting a duty. The negligent guard left the gate open.	too small to matter. The cost difference is negligible.
noisome noisy	foul-smelling, harmful. A noisome drain ran behind the houses.	making much noise. The noisy generator kept everyone awake.
notable notorious	worthy of notice; a prominent person. A notable feature is the twin minarets.	famous for something bad. The notorious smuggler was finally caught.

O

Pair	First word	Second word
observance observation	the keeping of a law or custom. Strict observance of the fast is expected.	watching; a remark. The nurse kept the patient under observation.
obsolete obsolescent	no longer in use. Typewriters are obsolete in most offices.	going out of use. The old telephone exchange is obsolescent.
official officious	relating to an office; authorised. The official figures were released today.	interfering, bossy. An officious clerk demanded to see every document.
ordinance ordnance	a law or decree. The governor promulgated an ordinance on rents.	military weapons and supplies. The ordnance depot was guarded day and night.

P

Pair	First word	Second word
pail pale	a bucket. She carried a pail of milk from the shed.	lacking colour. He turned pale at the news.
pain pane	physical or mental suffering. The pain in his knee returned.	a sheet of glass in a window. A cricket ball shattered the pane.
pair pare	two matching things. He bought a new pair of shoes.	to trim or cut away. The ministry pared its budget by a tenth.
palate palette	the roof of the mouth; the sense of taste. Spicy food suits the Lahori palate.	a board for mixing paints. The painter cleaned her palette.
passed past	went by; succeeded (verb). She passed the written test.	gone by in time; beyond (adjective, noun, preposition). The bus went past the stop without halting.
peace piece	freedom from war or disturbance. Peace returned to the valley after the accord.	a portion. He ate a piece of cake.
peaceable peaceful	disposed to peace (of people). A peaceable crowd dispersed by itself.	calm, free from disturbance. The village is peaceful at dawn.
peal peel	a ringing of bells; a burst of laughter. A peal of laughter came from the courtyard.	fruit skin; to strip it off. Peel the oranges before serving.
pedal peddle	a foot lever. The brake pedal was stiff.	to sell small goods from place to place. Hawkers peddle toys outside the school.
peer pier	an equal; a noble; to look closely. Respect from one's peers is hard won.	a platform built out over water. Boats were tied to the pier.
persecute prosecute	to oppress cruelly. The minority was persecuted for its beliefs.	to bring a criminal charge. The state prosecuted the contractor for fraud.
personal personnel	private, individual. This is a personal matter.	staff, employees. All personnel must wear badges.
perspective prospective	a point of view; depth in drawing. From a farmer's perspective, the subsidy is vital.	likely to become. Prospective buyers viewed the flat.
physic physique	medicine (archaic). The hakim prescribed a bitter physic.	the form of a person's body. The wrestler's physique impressed the crowd.
plain plane	simple; clear; a flat area. The Indus plain is fertile.	a flat surface; an aircraft. The plane landed at Skardu in fog.
pole poll	a long rod; the end of an axis. The flag flew from a bamboo pole.	voting; a survey. The poll closed at five o'clock.
populace populous	the common people. The populace welcomed the tax cut.	thickly populated. Punjab is the most populous province.
pore pour	a tiny opening; to study closely. He pored over the map for hours.	to flow or cause to flow. Pour the tea slowly.
practicable practical	able to be done. Is the scheme practicable with so little water?	sensible, useful in practice. She gave practical advice on exam timing.
pray prey	to address God. They prayed for rain.	an animal hunted by another; a victim. The leopard stalked its prey.
precede proceed	to come before. A short speech preceded the award.	to go on. Proceed with the next witness.
precedent president	an earlier case used as a guide. The ruling set a precedent.	the head of a state or body. The president addressed the joint session.
premier premiere	first in importance; a prime minister. Lahore is the premier cultural city of Punjab.	a first performance. The film's premiere was held in Karachi.
prescribe proscribe	to recommend a medicine or course. The doctor prescribed rest.	to forbid, to outlaw. The organisation was proscribed in 2002.
principal principle	chief; the head of a college; a capital sum. The principal addressed the new students.	a fundamental truth or rule. He refused on principle.
prophecy prophesy	a prediction (noun). The prophecy of drought came true.	to predict (verb). Astrologers prophesied a hard winter.
propose purpose	to put forward a plan. The member proposed an amendment.	an aim or intention. The purpose of the visit was trade.
prostate prostrate	a gland in men. The surgeon removed the prostate.	lying flat; overcome. He fell prostrate before the shrine.

Q

Pair	First word	Second word
quay key	a landing place for ships. Fishing boats unloaded at the quay.	a device for a lock; crucial. Water is the key issue in the talks.
quiet quite	silent, calm. The library is quiet in the mornings.	fairly; completely. The answer is quite correct.

R

Pair	First word	Second word
rain reign	water falling from clouds. Rain is expected in the north.	a monarch's rule. Akbar's reign lasted nearly fifty years.
raise raze	to lift; to increase. The bank raised interest rates.	to demolish completely. The old barracks were razed to the ground.
rational rationale	based on reason. A rational voter weighs policies.	the underlying reason. The rationale for the merger was cost saving.
recipe receipt	instructions for cooking. Her biryani recipe is a family secret.	written proof of payment. Keep the receipt for the fee.
recourse resource	a source of help. The tenant had no recourse but the courts.	a stock of assets. Gas is a scarce resource.
regretful regrettable	feeling regret (of a person). He was regretful about the harsh words.	deserving regret (of an event). The delay was regrettable.
respectable respectful	decent, worthy of respect. The family is respectable but poor.	showing respect. Be respectful to the examiners.
respectfully respectively	with respect. He respectfully declined the offer.	in the order given. Ali and Sara scored eighty and ninety respectively.
reverend reverent	a title for clergy. The Reverend Mr Smith led the prayer.	showing deep respect. The pilgrims stood in reverent silence.
review revue	an assessment; to examine again. The policy is under review.	a light theatrical show. The college revue poked fun at the staff.
right rite	correct; a just claim. Every citizen has the right to vote.	a ceremonial act. The funeral rites were performed at dusk.
role roll	a part played. She played the role of mediator.	to turn over; a list. The clerk called the roll.
root route	the base of a plant; the origin. Poverty is the root of the problem.	a way taken. The route over the pass is closed in winter.
rout rote	a disorderly retreat; to defeat utterly. The election ended in a rout for the ruling party.	mechanical memorising. Learning by rote does not build understanding.

S

Pair	First word	Second word
sceptic septic	one who doubts. A sceptic demanded proof of the cure.	infected with bacteria. The wound turned septic.
seasonable seasonal	suitable for the season; timely. A seasonable shower saved the wheat.	occurring at a particular season. Mango picking is seasonal work.
sensible sensitive	having good sense. A sensible student revises early.	easily affected; delicate. The border is a sensitive issue.
sensual sensuous	relating to bodily pleasures. The poem celebrates sensual delights.	appealing to the senses, in art. Her sensuous descriptions of the garden are famous.
serf surf	a feudal labourer bound to the land. Serfs could not leave the estate.	breaking waves. The surf at Hawkes Bay is strong.
sew sow	to stitch. She sewed the torn hem.	to plant seed. Farmers sow wheat in November.
simulate stimulate	to imitate or pretend. The drill simulated an earthquake.	to encourage, to excite. Low rates stimulate borrowing.
soar sore	to fly high; to rise rapidly. Prices soared after the budget.	painful. His throat was sore from shouting.
social sociable	relating to society. Social welfare spending fell.	fond of company. A sociable neighbour is a blessing.
sole soul	only; the underside of a foot or shoe. She is the sole breadwinner.	the spirit. He put his soul into the painting.
spacious specious	roomy. The new hall is spacious.	plausible but false. A specious argument fooled the committee.
stationary stationery	not moving. The train was stationary for an hour.	writing materials. Buy stationery before the exam.
statue statute	a sculpted figure. A statue of the poet stands in the park.	a written law. The statute fixes the retirement age.
steal steel	to take without permission. Thieves stole the transformer.	a hard alloy of iron. The bridge is built of steel.
storey story	a floor of a building. The office is on the third storey.	a tale. Grandmother told a story every night.
straight strait	without a bend; direct. Go straight to the registrar's office.	a narrow sea passage; difficulty. The Strait of Hormuz is vital to the oil trade.
suit suite	a set of clothes; a lawsuit. He filed a suit for recovery.	a set of rooms or furniture. The guests stayed in the royal suite.
superficial superfluous	on the surface, shallow. His knowledge of law is superficial.	more than needed. Cut the superfluous words from the précis.

T

Pair	First word	Second word
tail tale	the rear part of an animal. The dog wagged its tail.	a story. He told a tale of the sea.
taught taut	past tense of teach. She taught English for ten years.	tightly stretched. The rope was taut.
team teem	a group working together. The team won the final.	to be full of. The river teems with fish.
temporal temporary	relating to time or worldly affairs. The caliph held both temporal and spiritual authority.	lasting a short time. He has a temporary post.
tenet tenant	a principle or belief. Equality is a tenet of the constitution.	one who rents property. The tenant paid the rent late.
than then	used in comparisons. Karachi is larger than Lahore.	at that time; next. We then moved to Quetta.
their there	belonging to them. Their results were announced.	in that place. The file is there on the desk.
throne thrown	a royal seat. The prince came to the throne at twenty.	past participle of throw. The ball was thrown over the wall.
topical typical	of current interest. Load-shedding is a topical issue.	characteristic. A typical day begins at dawn.
tortuous torturous	full of twists. The tortuous road climbs to Murree.	causing torture, painful. The wait for the result was torturous.
track tract	a path; to follow. A dirt track leads to the shrine.	an area of land; a pamphlet. A vast tract of desert lies to the east.
troop troupe	a group of soldiers. Troops were sent to the border.	a company of performers. A theatre troupe toured the villages.
turbid turgid	muddy, cloudy. The river runs turbid after rain.	swollen; pompous in style. His turgid prose wearied the examiners.

U

Pair	First word	Second word
undo undue	to reverse; to unfasten. One mistake can undo years of work.	excessive. Undue delay defeats justice.
urban urbane	relating to a city. Urban sprawl has eaten the farmland.	polished, courteous. The urbane diplomat charmed the delegates.

V

Pair	First word	Second word
vain vein	conceited; useless. He is vain about his looks.	a blood vessel; a streak. The nurse found a vein for the drip.
vale veil	a valley. The vale of Kashmir is famed for its beauty.	a covering for the face. She lifted her veil to speak.
venal venial	open to bribery. Venal officials sold permits.	minor, forgivable. Arriving late was a venial fault.
veracious voracious	truthful. A veracious witness is a rare blessing.	greedy, with a huge appetite. He is a voracious reader of history.
verses versus	lines of poetry. He recited verses from Iqbal.	against. The case is Khan versus the State.
vicious viscous	cruel, violent. A vicious dog guarded the yard.	thick and sticky. The oil became viscous in the cold.
vocation vacation	a calling, a profession. Teaching is a vocation, not just a job.	a holiday. The courts close for the summer vacation.

W

Pair	First word	Second word
waist waste	the part of the body above the hips. The belt fitted his waist.	to use carelessly; refuse. Do not waste water.
waive wave	to give up a right or claim. The college waived the fee for orphans.	a ridge of water; to signal by hand. He waved from the train.
wander wonder	to roam. Camels wandered across the dunes.	to feel curiosity; amazement. I wonder whether the result is out.
weather whether	atmospheric conditions. The weather turned cold.	expressing a choice or doubt. I do not know whether he will come.
wet whet	covered with liquid. The ink was still wet.	to sharpen; to stimulate. The preview whetted our appetite.
whose who's	belonging to whom. Whose file is this?	who is, who has. Who's on duty tonight?

Y

Pair	First word	Second word
yoke yolk	a wooden crosspiece for oxen; a burden. The oxen were put under the yoke.	the yellow part of an egg. The yolk was still runny.

Practice

Fill each blank with the correct word from the pair in brackets, changing its form (tense, number) where the sentence requires.

1. The new tax will ______ small traders most. (affect/effect)
2. The ______ of the college addressed the parents on the first day. (principal/principle)
3. The ______ danger of flooding kept the villagers awake all night. (eminent/imminent)
4. Children must ______ to a new timetable quickly. (adapt/adopt)
5. Her ______ innocence won over the whole audience. (childish/childlike)
6. The judge was ______ in the dispute and so could hear the case. (disinterested/uninterested)
7. We bought pens and envelopes from the ______ shop. (stationary/stationery)
8. From his tone I ______ that the deal was off. (imply/infer)
9. Dense fog began to ______ the airport before dawn. (envelop/envelope)
10. The signing of the Objectives Resolution was a ______ occasion. (historic/historical)
11. The minister was ______ by the house for misleading it. (censor/censure)
12. His ______ would not let him keep the money he had found. (conscience/conscious)
13. Poor roads ______ against tourism in the northern valleys. (militate/mitigate)
14. The lawyer ______ a ruling of the Federal Shariat Court. (cite/site)
15. Please keep this matter ______ until the inquiry is over. (discreet/discrete)
16. Fresh ______ were paraded before the governor. (troop/troupe)
17. The witness gave a ______ account of the robbery. (credible/creditable)
18. The road to the glacier is long and ______. (tortuous/torturous)
19. Officials who sell permits for cash are ______. (venal/venial)
20. Of the two proposals, the ______ is cheaper. (later/latter)
21. The ______ deficit grew after the floods. (fiscal/physical)
22. The doctor ______ two weeks of complete rest. (prescribe/proscribe)
23. The crowd ______ over the victory long into the night. (exalt/exult)
24. She is ______ to lend money to relatives. (loath/loathe)
25. Her ______ for drawing was noticed at school. (flair/flare)
26. A ______ of thieves fled when the alarm rang. (hoard/horde)
27. An ______ on rent control was promulgated last week. (ordinance/ordnance)
28. The ______ chairman kept interrupting the witnesses. (official/officious)
29. He made an ______ check of the accounts and missed nothing. (exhausting/exhaustive)
30. A ______ driver caused the pile-up on the motorway. (negligent/negligible)

Answers

1. affect (to influence)
2. principal (head of the college)
3. imminent (about to happen)
4. adapt (adjust)
5. childlike (innocent)
6. disinterested (impartial)
7. stationery (writing materials)
8. inferred (concluded)
9. envelop (the verb)
10. historic (important in history)
11. censured (criticised)
12. conscience (moral sense)
13. militate (work against)
14. cited (quoted)
15. discreet (tactful)
16. troops (soldiers)
17. credible (believable)
18. tortuous (full of twists)
19. venal (bribable)
20. latter (the second of two)
21. fiscal (public revenue)
22. prescribed (recommended)
23. exulted (rejoiced)
24. loath (reluctant, adjective)
25. flair (natural talent)
26. horde (a large crowd)
27. ordinance (a decree)
28. officious (interfering)
29. exhaustive (thorough)
30. negligent (careless)