Tuesday Tricksters, Mews -- Might

It's (its) another Tuesday, and time (thyme) to (too, two) (re)learn five more (moore) pairs (pears) of tricky words that can make even the best writers look not so smart. They're (their, there) known as homophones, words that sound the same but (butt) don't mean (mien) the same thing and aren't spelled the same. Sadly, spellcheck accepts them all (awl) because they ARE spelled correctly! 

Mews (n.): an alley where there are stables; a narrow passage; a confined place; (v.): what a cat does

Muse (n.): a spirit or source that inspires an artist; (v.): to have deep thoughts or to meditate

Mot (n.): a witty remark; a witticism; a bon mot

Mow (v.) to cut down (to mow the grass): (n.): the place in a barn where hay, grain, or other feed is stored; a stack of hay or other feed stored in a barn

Mic (n.): short for microphone

Mike (n.): short for microphone; a man's name (short for Michael); (v.): to put a microphone on someone

Middy (n.): a loose blouse with a sailor collar, worn by women and children; (Informal) a midshipman

Midi (adj.): having a hemline at mid-calf length; (n.): a standard for representing musical information in a digital format; the south of France

Might (n.): power; ability; strength; (v.): may; expressing a shade of doubt or a lesser degree of possibility (it might rain); expressing a lesser degree of permission (Might I go?); expressing a lesser degree of obligation (you might try to help)

Mite (n.): a tiny arachnid, of the order Acarina, of which there are many species; anything very small; a minute object; a very little quantity or particle. Sometimes used adverbially (She was a mite worried.)

Were any of these new to you?

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For more on these or any English word, check out www.YourDictionary.com, a terrific resource that shows words and their definitions in several dictionaries.

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