Confusing Words Clarified Group F

Confusing Words Clarified Group F

http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/4337/1/?spage=20&letter=C

All of the main entries in these "Confusing Words" groups are explained, or defined, followed by pronunciations, and sentences which are meant to enhance your understanding of their meanings.
The definitions provided are based on dictionary presentations and are meant to help you differentiate between the various meanings of each word group.
Many current dictionaries, popular writing books, specialized topical resources, and style guides were consulted for these groups so you can develop better word skills and communication tools.
In your daily writing, be aware of what the "right words are for the correct meanings" so you can improve your writing accuracy in a positive way.

fable, foible
fable (FAY buhl)
1. A short story that usually is about animals and which is intended to teach a lesson: "One of Aesop's fables is about a fox and some grapes."
2. A story or statement that is not true: "She combines fact and fable to make her novel more interesting."
foible (FOI buhl)
A minor fault in someone's character or behavior: "Each of us has some little foible which can be very amusing."
 
facade, veneer
facade (fuh SAHD)
1. The front of a building: "The saloon had a large facade covering the whole front."
2. A way of behaving or appearing that gives other people a false idea of your true feelings or situation: "We were always trying to keep up the facade of our happy marriage."
veneer (vuh NEAR)
A thin layer of wood or other material that is attached to the surface of something in order to make it look better: "All the shelves had veneer along the front."
 
facet, faucet
facet (FAS it)
1. A part or element of something: "Each facet of the issue requires a lot of thinking through."
2. A small, flat surface on a jewel: "The diamond had one large facet and many small ones."
faucet (FAW sit)
A device that is used to control the flow of water from a pipe: "The faucet wasn't turned off and the bathtub was overflowing with water!"
 
facetious, fictitious
facetious (fuh SEE shuhs)
Used to describe speech that is meant to be funny but that is usually regarded as annoying, silly, or not proper: "Her facetious remark certainly did not fit the situation."
fictitious (fik TISH uhs)
Not true or real: "The characters in the novel are all fictitious."
 
facilitate, felicitate
facilitate (fuh SIL i tayt")
To make easy or easier: "Winning millions in the lottery may facilitate entering the world of high-class society"
felicitate (fi LIS i tayt")
1. To wish joy or happiness to: "The parents of the bride wanted to felicitate the newly wedded couple before they left for their honeymoon."
2. To congratulate: "Mr. Jones did indeed felicitate the student, a neighbor, for his graduation from college with a check and a written note in a letter."
 
facility, felicity
facility (fuh SIL i tee)
1.Something; such as, a building or large piece of equipment, that is built for a specific purpose: "The resort offers a large facility for various sports."
2.A skill and ease in doing something: "She has a great facility with words."
felicity (fi LIS i tee)
Great happiness: "Their marital felicity lasted many years."
 
fail, failed, failing; flail, flailed, flailing
fail, failed, failing (FAYL, FAYL'd, FAYL ing)
1. To prove deficient or lacking; to perform ineffectively or inadequately: "The business is expected to fail to fulfill its promises."
2. To decline, as in strength or effectiveness: "The light was failing because the electrical power failed to go through the damaged wiring."
flail, flailed, flailing (FLAYL, FLAYL'd, FLAYL ing)
1. To beat or to strike with or as if with a flail; that is, a manual threshing device consisting of a long wooden handle and a shorter, free swinging stick attached to its end: "We could see some people on the farm flailing the grain to get the seeds out of the husks."
2. To move vigorously or erratically; to thrash about: "We could see him flailing his arms helplessly in the water."
 
fain, feign
fain (FAYN)
Archaic use, happily ready, willing; pleased, happy: "They were fain to go on their summer vacation."
"She fain would go to the party tomorrow."
"When my friend invited me to dinner, I would fain do it, for sure, for sure."
feign (FAYN)
To give a false appearance; to represent falsely: "Every Friday she feigns being sick so she doesn't have to attend her sports' activities in school."
 
faint, feint
faint (FAYNT)
Dizzy, light headed; having little strength or vigor: "After hearing about the death of her son, she was quite faint."
feint (FAYNT)
Trick, ruse, and stratagem; a misleading movement or attack directed toward one part to draw defensive action away from the actual target or objective: "The baseball pitcher usually made a feint just before he threw the ball to first base."
I thought I would faint when I saw my friend feint a heart attack and fall to the floor.
 
fair, fare
fair (FAIR)
1. Impartial, unbiased; honorable: "A fair settlement of the dispute was suggested by the labor arbitrator."
2. A reference to weather conditions: "The weather today is fair; that is, clear and sunny."
3. An exhibition to show off new equipment or materials for trade and purchase of new equipment or materials: "We plan to go to the famous book fair in Frankfurt, Germany, again this October.
fare (FAIR)
A price paid for transportation: "The fare for a subway ride has been multiplied many times since it was originally set."
 
fairy, ferry
fairy (FAIR ee)
An imaginary creature that looks like a very small human being, has magic powers, and sometimes has wings: "When I was a child I loved reading fairy-tale books which took me into the land of fairies."
ferry (FAIR ee)
1. To carry or move (someone or something) on a vehicle; such as, a boat or car, usually for a short distance between two places: "The boat will ferry people to the island."
2. Ferryboat: "You can only go there by ferry because there is no bridge."
My friend told me that the dentist put a bridge in his mouth; so, I asked him if the tooth fairy went under it in her ferry.
 
faker, fakir
faker (FAYK uhr)
Having a false or misleading appearance; a fraud: "You are not badly injured, you faker!"
fakir (fah KIR)
A Muslim religious mendicant who is a member of an order of clerics who are forbidden to own property and who work or beg for their living: "The fakir, looking very thin and weak in this Muslim group, certainly is very poor."
 
false, faults
false (FAWLS)
1. Not real or genuine and not really what it seems to be: "He presented his false documents to the police."
2. Based on mistaken ideas: "Your conclusion is based on false assumptions."
faults (FAWLTS)
1. Bad qualities or parts of someone's character: "She loved him despite his faults of over eating and not exercising."
2.Responsibility for problems, mistakes, bad situations, etc.: "Despite all of his faults, he was still my best friend."
A man who is working in a "Seismology Lab" said, "I can predict earthquakes."
Would that make him a faults prophet?
 
fan, fan, fan
fan (FAN), noun
1. A device for creating a current of air or a breeze; especially; a machine using an electric motor to rotate thin, rigid vanes in order to move air, as for cooling: "The engine was cooled by an electric fan."
2. A flat object that is held in a person's hand and waved back and forth in front of his or her face: "It's a good thing that we each had a fan to use on our trip so we could cool ourselves a little bit during those hot summer days."
fan (FAN), verb
1. To move air on or toward someone or something with a waving object: "It was so hot today that she had to fan herself with a newspaper while she was waiting for the train."
2. In a figurative sense, to make an emotional situation more dangerous, so people become angrier and more likely to act in a violent way: "The speakers at the political meeting were trying to fan the group to march against the policies of the government."
fan (FAN), noun
Someone who likes and admires a famous person or something; such as, a sport or a sports team in a very enthusiastic way; an ardent devotee; an enthusiast: "She is a great golf fan and she is this player's most loyal fan."
"This term for fan is a shortened form of fanatic or someone who is overly enthusiastic about something or anyone who has extreme ideas about politics, religion, etc."
I am a fan of indoor sports and I often go to the local stadium. Sometimes it is hot in there because the electric fans are not working and because the hot music seems to fan the enthusiasm of the crowd and I have to use my program as a fan to fan my face.
 
farce, force
farce (FAHRS)
1. A funny play or movie about ridiculous situations and events: "The play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', by William Shakespeare, can be called a farce."
2. Something that is so bad that it is seen as ridiculous: "The election seemed to be a complete farce to the population."
force (FOHRS)
1.Physical strength, power, or effect: "The front of the car took the full force of the accident."
2. A natural power or effect that is able to change the speed or direction of something: "The force of the earthquake caused the dishes to fall off the shelves and break."
"Many people simply can not accept the use of force to solve such minor problems."
What could you possibly like about professional wrestling? Is it the brute force that they exhibit?
Well, what I like most about professional wrestling is the brute farce which they perform.

farm, pharm
farm (FAHRM)
A piece of land used for growing crops or raising animals: "My dad used to have a herb farm where he grew chives, parsley, and thyme, just to name a few."
pharm (FAHRM)
A place where genetically modified animals or plants are produced for the production of pharmaceuticals: "The term pharm is a shortened form of pharmacy and pharmaceutical which are branches of the health sciences dealing with the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of drugs."
 
faro; farrow; Pharaoh, pharaoh
faro (FAIR oh)
A card game in which the players lay wagers on the top card of the dealer's pack: "While traveling in France, our friends were trying to learn how to play a game of faro."
farrow (FAIR oh)
A litter of pigs or giving birth to a litter of pigs: "The farmer was happy to see such a good farrow of new piglets when he went to the barn."
Pharaoh (FAIR oh, FAY roh)
A king of ancient Egypt or a reference to a tyrant: "The Pharaoh is the title of the rulers of ancient Egypt, who usually combined the roles of king and god."
Pharaoh is used today as a synonym for the king of ancient Egypt. Much expense of labor, money, and treasure was involved in their funeral rites, as shown by the pyramids and the tombs; such as, that of Tutankhamen.
Each line of kings formed a dynasty, of which there were 31 in all, the peaks of power and development being known as the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. The term originally and literally meant the "great house" referring to the living quarters of the king which was the royal palace.
The institution of kingship in ancient Egypt was centered around the concept that the Pharaoh was himself divine, a god among the gods, and therefore on a plane above mankind.
From the time of the New Kingdom (starting in the 18th dynasty, 1539-1292 B.C.), the term came to be used for kings of Egypt; however, the term Pharaoh was never formally the king's title.

Compiled from information found in the

Encyclopaedia Britannica; William Benton, Publisher; Chicago;

1968; Volume 8, page 44.

 
farther, further
farther (FAR thur)
Usually a reference to space dimension or a greater distance, but it should be used only in connection with a physical or a linear distance: "That town is farther away than I thought."
further (FUR thur)
Not always differentiated from farther, but it should be used in referring to a degree, a quantity, or time in quality or degree: "The students had to do further research in their project."
The simple rule is to use farther or farthest only when someone is talking about a measurable distance or space, otherwise use further to indicate greater in quantity, time, and degree.
 
fast, fast
fast (FAST)
1. Moving or able to move quickly: "He is a fast runner."
2. Placed, tied, or attached in a way that is not easily moved: "Make the rope fast to the hook."
3. Very loyal or faithful: "They became fast friends."
fast (FAST)
1. To eat no food for a period of time: "I was told that I would have to fast for at least seven hours before the operation."
2. The first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning: "Every day people break the fast after a night of sleeping; in other words, we have breakfast when we get up in the morning."
 
fatal, fateful
fatal (FAYT'l)
1. Causing death: "Certain diseases can be fatal or deadly."
2. Causing ruin or failure: "The burglar made a fatal mistake in his undertaking and got caught."
fateful (FAYT fuhl)
Having important results: "Her life changed on that fateful October evening."
 
fate, fete
fate (FAYT)
The force, principle, or power that is thought to predetermine events: "It is the fate of teachers to always have to correct exams and make grades."
fete (FAYT, FET)
A feast or festival: "They had a big fete to celebrate the beginning of the New Year."
 
fated, feted
fated (FAY tid)
Certain to do or be something: "The two characters in the play seemed fated or destined for each other."
feted (FAYT'd, FET'd)
The simple past/past participle tense of "to fete" which is to honor (a person) or celebrate (something) with a large party or public celebration: "The team was feted by their fans after winning the last game of the season ."
 
faun, fawn
faun (FAWN)
In Roman Mythology, one of a group of rural deities depicted as having the body of a man and the horns, ears, tail, and legs of a goat: "Pan, the son of Hermes and depicted in Roman Mythology as a faun, is usually pictured playing on a simple instrument, the Pan pipe, and dancing happily."
fawn (FAWN)
1. A young deer; especially, one under a year old: "You usually have to look carefully in a forest if you want to find a fawn in the springtime."
2. To be overly affectionate: "When the celebrity arrives at the restaurant the waiters fawn all over him."
3. To seek favor by supporting slavishly every opinion and suggestion of a superior; to grovel, to be an apple polisher, etc.: "Some of the pupils decided to fawn on their teacher in order to get good grades in their class."
 
faze, phase
faze (FAYZ)
To disturb, disconcert, or to embarrass: "You will seldom succeed as a musician if you let criticism faze you."
phase (FAYZ)
Any of the stages or forms in any series of changes: "Good teaching usually needs to have more than one phase of learning in a lesson."
 
fazed, phased
fazed (FAYZ'd)
The simple past/past participle of "to faze" which is to disturb, disconcert, or to embarrass: "She was absolutely fazed at the amount of attention she was getting after her performance."
phased (FAYZ'd)
Done gradually in steps and according to a plan: "The present government has thought about a phased closure of various military bases."
 
feasible, plausible
feasible (FEE zuh buhl)
Possible to do: "Is it feasible to buy that house when our income isn't very much?"
plausible (PLAW zuh buhl)
Possibly true, believable or realistic: "The student had to think of a plausible explanation for being late for class."
 
feat, feet, fete
feat (FEET)
An act of bravery, skill, endurance, or ingenuity: "The feat of the first man to walk on the surface of the moon will not soon be forgotten."
feet (FEET)
The plural form of foot: "Was it Napoleon who said that an army marches on its stomach as well as its feet?"
fete (FAYT, FEET)
1. As a verb, To honor someone or to celebrate something with a big party or public event: "They decided to fete the winning football team with a parade."
2. As a noun, A festival or feast; an elaborate, often outdoor entertainment: "The community decided to have a fete to celebrate the charity work done over the years by a group of dedicated volunteers."
 
ferment, foment
ferment (FUR ment")
1. To undergo or to cause the gradual decomposition of an organic compound induced by enzymes, bacteria, yeast, etc.: "They want to ferment hops and barley so they can make some beer at home."
2. A situation in which there is much excitement and confusion caused by some kind of change: "After the opposing political party finally won the election, the town was in a state of ferment."
foment (foh MENT)
To cause or to try to cause the growth or development of something bad or harmful: "To foment or to incite people to plan a revolution without thinking can have very serious consequences!"
 
ferrule, ferule, feral
ferrule (FER uhl)
Usually a metal ring or cap that is placed around the end of a wooden stick or handle to strengthen it: "He repaired the handle of the broomstick by using a ferrule."
ferule (FER uhl)
A rod or ruler used in punishing children: "I remember my mother saying that the teacher at school used a ferule on their hands if they were not clean."
feral (FER uhl)
Wild, savage, escaped from domesticity and turned wild: "The feral cats gathered on the back fence to howl at the moon."
 
feted, fetid
feted (FAYT'd, FET'd)
The simple past/past participle of "to fete" which is to honor (a person or people) or celebrate (something) with a large party or celebration: "The couple was feted by their fans after they appeared in the musical production."
fetid (FET id, FEE tid)
Having a strong or unpleasant smell: "A fetid or putrid odor of decaying meat filled the air in the kitchen."
 
few, phew
few (FYOO)
Amounting to or consisting of a small number: "He read a few pages of the book before falling asleep."
phew (FYOO)
An expression of relief, fatigue, surprise, or disgust: "Phew! I thought we were going to miss the train!"
"Phew! It's hot in here."
"Phew! What's that odor?"
 
fewer, less
fewer (FYOO uhr)
A smaller number of people or things which can be counted: "There were fewer people in the audience than I expected."
"There are fewer fish in the stream."
less (LES)
1. A smaller number or amount: "She is trying to save more money, and spend less."
2. Applied to material in bulk: "There is less sugar in the coffee than yesterday."
3. A reference to abstract situations: "It is obvious that there is less honor in business dealings these days; especially, with some banks."
4. Applicable to matters involving degree and value: "There is much less purchasing power than in the past because there is less money available for people to use."
Although too many writers and speakers use these words incorrectly, everyone should realize that fewer should refer only to countable numbers or things or to units capable of being counted; as in "The less money there is available, the fewer hamburgers and potato chips we can buy."
Few means not many; little means not much. Fewer means smaller in number; less means smaller in amount, as in "I have fewer legs than a centipede, but a centipede has less intelligence."
Possibly "a doubtful proposition" according to Willard Espy.

The last two paragraphs were compiled from

Say It My Way by Willard R. Espy;

Doubleday & Company, Inc; Garden City, New York; 1980; page 192.

If you are still not convinced, then consider the following: Although colloquial English is often different, standard written English uses fewer with things that can be counted and less with things that cannot be counted; for example, fewer people, but less money. It is unacceptable to write less students or less players.
Also, don't write fewer than six weeks because the expression "six weeks" refers to a single period of time, and not a collection of six individual objects; therefore, the required wording is less than six weeks.

Compiled from information located in

Mind the Gaffe by R.L. Trask; Penguin Books;

New York; 2001; page 126.

 
fiancé fiancee, finance
fiancé (fee" ahn SAY, fee AHN say)
A man that a woman is engaged to be married to: "The young lady said, 'Let me introduce you to my fiancé' "
fiancee (fee" ahn SAY, fee AHN say)
A woman that a man is engaged to be married to: "He introduced his fiancee to his relatives."
finance (fuh NANS, FIGH nans")
1. The way in which money is used and handled: "He will be taking a university course on personal finance so he can become a specialist in personal investments."
2. To buy something by borrowing funds that will be paid back over a period of time: "She had to borrow enough money so she could finance the purchase of a new car."
 
fibber, fiber
fibber (FIB uhr)
Someone who tells insignificant or childish lies or who makes an untrue statement about something minor or unimportant: "He admitted that he was a fibber when he said he enjoyed the movie."
fiber (FIGH buhr)
1. Plant material that can not be digested but which helps people to digest other food: "It's important to get enough fiber in our diets."
2. A thin thread of natural or artificial material that can be used to make cloth, paper, etc.: "This natural fiber will allow the fabric to breathe and that paper is made from both cotton and wood fiber."
 
fiddling, piddling
fiddling (FID ling)
1. To move or to handle something with the hands or fingers in a nervous way: "She was nervously fiddling with her pen as she was waiting for the test to start."
2. Playing folk music, country music, etc., on a violin: "My friend recently won first place in a fiddling competition."
piddling (PID ling)
So trifling or trivial as to be beneath one's consideration: "He was unhappy about the piddling amount of money he was receiving for all the work he did last month."
 
fiend, friend
fiend (FEEND)
1. An evil spirit, a demon, a devil, or a very evil or cruel person: "From what I read in the newspaper he seemed to be a murderous fiend."
2. Someone who is very enthusiastic about something: "I think she is a real athletic fiend because she spends all of her time on the sports field."
friend (FREND)
A person whom you like and enjoy being with: "Susan has always been a good friend to me by supporting me whenever I need it."
"The small business people knew they had a friend in the senator who supported the tax relief that they needed if they were to survive in these economic times."
 
filing, filling
filing (FIGHL ing )
1. A small piece that is removed when something is smoothed or rubbed with a file: "When the iron chair was worked on, it was easy to see the results of the filing on the ground."
2. The act of giving an official form or document to someone in authority in order to begin a legal process: "The filing for the income tax return was taken care of by the tax consultant."
3.The job, activity, or storing of documents in a file: "The secretary at the school does all the computer work and filing for the principal."
filling (FIL ing)
1.Material that is used to fill something: "She wanted to have a gold filling when she went to the dentist."
2.A food mixture that is used to fill something: "The pie needs more apple filling or the crust will be more significant than the fruit."
 
fill, nil
fill (FIL)
1. All that anyone wants or needs: "If you have eaten and drunk your fill then you have all that you want."
2. To satiate, as with food and drink: "They had a tendency to fill up on sandwiches and soft drinks before going to football games."
3. To provide the things that are asked for in something; such as, an order: "We went to the drug store to fill our prescriptions."
nil (NIL)
Nothing; none at all, zero: "The chances of our getting an increase in our salaries is nil."
 
final, finale, finally, finely
final (FIGHN'l)
Coming to an end, last, a conclusion: "She was extremely glad when she passed the final exam."
finale (FIGHN'l ee)
The conclusion or last part; the end: "He sung a magnificent song for the finale."
finally (fuh NAH lee)
At the end: "After looking for an hour, I finally found my keys."
finely (FIGHN lee)
1. In a fine manner, not coarse, in very small particles: "The nuts for the cupcakes should be finely chopped."
2. Superior in quality: "We enjoyed the finely performed recital by the students at the music hall."
 
find, fined
find (FIGHND)
1. To discover something or someone without planning or trying to: "Susan was happy that she was able to find the money on the sidewalk."
2. To get or to discover something or someone that you are looking for: "To find anything that you have lost sometimes can take days."
fined (FIGHND)
Simple past tense or past participle tense form of "to fine", which is to require someone to pay a fine as a punishment: "He was fined $100 for speeding within the city limits."
 
fineness, finesse
fineness (FIGHN uhs)
1. Superior in quality: "I had never before felt such fineness as this piece of silk fabric."
2. The proportion of pure gold or silver in an alloy: "There is a high fineness of gold in this ring."
finesse (fi NES)
1. Skill, adroitness: "She handled the interview with the senator with finesse."
2. Subtlety or tact in maneuvering; craftiness: "He showed much finesse in dealing with the company executive."
 
finish, Finnish
finish (FIN ish)
1. The last part of something: "The competition had a very close or tight finish."
2. The final coating on a surface or the appearance produced by such a coating: "The final finish on the table made it look like new!"
Finnish (FIN ish)
Of or relating to Finland, its people, or the Finnish language: "The Finnish people are said to be very friendly."
Is it possible to have a Scandinavian ending or a Finnish finish at the winter sports this year?
 
fir, fur
fir (FUR)
An evergreen tree having flat needles and erect cones: "Fir trees are often used as Christmas trees."
fur (FUR)
The thick coat of soft hair covering the body of an animal; such as, a cat, a rabbit, a fox, a beaver, etc.: "Some women like to wear fur coats in the winter."
 
first lady, first lady
first lady (FURST LAY dee) or First Lady when it refers to the U.S. President's wife.
1. The wife or hostess of the chief executive of a country, state, or city: "The U.S. President and the First Lady went to the reception together."
2. The foremost woman of a specified profession or art: "She has the reputation of being the first lady of theater and dance in England."
first lady (FURST LAY dee)
The first wife: "When a head of state who had married a fourth time was asked if his wife were the first lady, he responded by saying, 'No, she's my fourth lady'."
 
fiscal, physical
fiscal (FIS kuhl)
Of or relating to money and especially to the money a government, business, or organization earns, spends, and owes: "What is the fiscal situation now of the business that you own?"
physical (FIZ i k'l)
Relating to the body of a person instead of the mind: "The doctor is interested in your physical health."
 
fish, fishes, phish
fish (FISH)
1. Noun, any of numerous cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates of the superclass Pisces, characteristically having fins, gills, and a streamlined body: "When people are talking about one fish or one species of fish, both the singular and plural forms are fish."
2. Verb, to catch or to try to catch fish: "We love to fish."
3. To search for something by feeling; such as, using the hand in an effort to find something: "She had to fish around in her purse for her keys."
fishes (FISH iz)
Any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills: "When more than one kind or species of fish are referred to, both fishes and fish are acceptable; such as, varieties of tropical fish or all the fishes of the sea; however, now when anyone is talking about more than one kind of fish, the plural fish is more commonly used rather than fishes."
phish (FISH)
An internet process used by a scammer to seduce a person into providing financial information and password data: "People need to be aware of an e-mail that claims to be a legitimate business trying to phish for important personal information which can be used to the detriment of the individual."
 
fisher, fissure, phisher
fisher (FISH ur)
Someone who catches fish: "Her father used to be a fisher and caught lots of trout in the rivers."
fissure (FISH ur)
1. A narrow crack or cleft; as in, a rock face: "The fissures in the tile walkway outside the house provided growing space for the weeds."
2. A separation or division; a schism or split: "The fissure of the castes resulted in countless subcastes."
phisher (FISH ur)
Someone who uses illegal ways of gaining secured credit card numbers, bank account information, brokerage information, and generally anything that could yield a financial gain in line with fraudulent operations: "A phisher is anyone who tries to steal from others on the internet."
 
fishing, phishing
fishing (FISH ing)
The process of catching or trying to catch numerous cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates that characteristically having fins, gills, and streamlined bodies: "There are some people who love fishing whenever they have the opportunity to do so."
phishing (FISH ing)
Creating a replica of an existing web page to fool a user into submitting personal, financial, or password data: "Phishing is the term coined by hackers who imitate legitimate companies in e-mails in order to entice people to share their passwords or credit-card numbers."
 
flagrant, fragrant
flagrant (FLAY gruhnt)
Very bad, too bad to be ignored: "She made a flagrant error in her exam and failed completely."
fragrant (FRAY gruhnt)
A pleasant and usually sweet smell: "The roses he gave me were exceptionally fragrant."
 
flammable, inflammable, nonflammable
flammable (FLAM uh buhl)
Capable of being set on fire and of burning quickly: "Gasoline is a very flammable liquid."
inflammable (in FLAM uh buhl)
Easily excited, aroused, or angered: "The man had an inflammable temper when he felt he was being wronged" is a proper usage, but it should no longer be used with reference to something that will not burn.
The word inflammable actually means "able to burn"; while nonflammable means "unable (or unlikely) to burn".
The prefix in-, used with inflammable is an intensifier not a "negative" as with such words as inhospitable, inhuman, insensible, indecent, inadequate, etc. It has been a mistake believed by many people that inflammable meant "not flammable" and some serious injuries resulted over the years because of this misunderstanding.
As a consequence, many English-speaking countries passed laws that have required manufacturers of materials and substances that burn easily to use the word flammable in place of inflammable, which is considered less ambiguous or confusing.
So remember that inflammable comes from inflame, which in this case means "to set on fire" and not from in-, "not" + flammable, "combustible".
nonflammable (nahn FLAM uh buhl)
Not flammable, especially not readily ignited and not rapidly burned: "It is much more realistic that people use nonflammable or non-flammable instead of inflammable when they mean that something cannot burn or is very difficult to burn."
 
flare, flair, flayer
flare (FLAIR)
1. To blaze up with a sudden, bright light: "The sparklers flare up in the dark night."
2. To burst out suddenly in anger, violence, etc.: "They always flare up when the topic of child abuse is mentioned."
flair (FLAIR)
A natural talent or ability, an aptitude, a knack: "His daughter had a flair for math."
flayer (FLAY uhr)
1. A person who strips off the skin or surface of: "The skin of the deer was stripped off by the flayer."
2. The noun for to strip of a person's possessions: "The new government taxes seemed to be like a flayer of the peoples' earnings."
3. The noun for to reprove harshly or criticize severely: "The husband received a flayer from his wife when she found out where he had been that night."
 
flaunt, flout
flaunt (FLONT)
To display in a showy manner; to show off proudly, defiantly, or impudently: "The early uses of flaunt had to do with coquettish strutting about, showing off gaudy silks, and the word still means to parade one's possession in a way to invite envy."
flout (FLOUT)
1. To treat with scorn or contempt; to mock or to insult: "For some reason, all he could do was to flout the conventions of his new community of residence."
2. To break or to ignore a law, rule, etc. without hiding what one is doing or showing any fear or shame: "Despite repeated warnings, they have continued to flout the traffic laws."
 
flea, flee
flea (FLEE)
Any of various small, wingless, bloodsucking insects that have legs adapted for jumping and are parasitic on warm-blooded animals: "A dog, and other animals, certainly can have fleas."
flee (FLEE)
To escape or to run away from danger, pursuit, or unpleasantness: "Many people were able to flee Nazi Germany in 1936."
A dog could be thinking as it scratches the itching caused by an insect, flee off me flea or sometimes the canine simply flees from the fleas whenever it is possible.
A fly and a flea in a flue
Were imprisoned, so what could they do?
Said the fly, "Let us flee!"
"Let us fly!" said the flea.
So, they flew through a flaw in the flue.

Little Book of Word Tricks;

Peter Pauper Press; Mount Vernon,

New York; 1958; page 24.

 
flecks, flex
flecks (FLEKS)
1. Tiny spots or marks: "There were flecks of mica in the stones."
2. Small bits or flakes: "You could see flecks of dandruff on the collar of this jacket."
flex (FLEKS)
1. To bend (a joint) repeatedly: "The patient had to flex his fingers many times for the doctor."
2. To bend (something pliant or elastic): "This material has the ability to flex which is good for doing my exercises."
 
fleece, fleece
fleece (FLEES), noun
1. The woolly coat of a sheep or other similar animals: "The fleece of sheep need to be trimmed, shorn, or clipped off with shears or clippers so it can be used for useful products."
2. A soft cloth that is used to make warm clothes: "We went to the clothing store to see if we could buy some warm fleece jackets or coats."
fleece (FLEES), verb
1. To deceive, to defraud, or to take money or property from someone; to cheat or to swindle: "Don't let that guy fleece us by overcharging us for that used car."
2. To shear or to clip the wool from sheep: "They had to spend a lot of time trying to fleece all of their sheep before the truck came to pick up the clipped fleece."
 
flesh, flush
flesh (FLESH)
1. To provide more information about something or to make more complete by adding details: "Mary had to flesh out her story with more descriptions of the characters."
2. The physical nature of a person rather than the mind or spirit: "Some people pay much more attention to the pleasures of the flesh than they do to mental and spiritual considerations."
flush (FLUSH)
1. To cause a strong flow of water or some other liquid to clean something: "You should flush the toilet every time you use it."
"The doctor wanted to flush the boy's eyes with a special solution."
2. The redness of a person's face because of heat, emotion, anger, etc.: "She always used to flush when her new boyfriend's name was mentioned."
3. Being even or level with another surface: "We wanted the book shelves and the wall to be flush with each other."
 
fleshly, fleshy
fleshly (FLESH lee)
Of or relating to the flesh or body or of relating to the bodily appetites: "The doctor noticed a fleshly spot on the arm of the man."
fleshy (FLESH ee)
1. Having a large amount of flesh: "The big man had a very fleshy face."
2.Soft and thick: "A succulent plant has very fleshy leaves."
 
flew, flu, flue
flew (FLOO)
The past tense verb of to fly: "The aircraft flew low over our town."
flu (FLOO)
A shortened term for influenza: "The subject of swine flu has become a big concern throughout the world."
flue (FLOO)
1. A pipe, tube, or channel for conveying hot air, gas, steam, or smoke, as from a furnace or fireplace to a chimney: "The flue in our fireplace was out of order so a lot of smoke filled the room."
2. An organ pipe sounded by means of a current of air striking a lip in the side of the pipe and causing the air within to vibrate: "The flue of the organ had to be repaired first before the organist could play."
Flu is both affirmative and negative; sometimes the eyes have it and sometimes the nose.
A chimney cleaner was telling a customer that he and his partner clean chimneys with a big blast of air called a flue shot.
 
flight, plight
flight (FLIGHT)
1. A journey on an airplane: "The flight from Canada to Germany was quite smooth."
2. A series of stairs going from one level or floor to another: "He broke his arm when he fell down a flight of stairs."
plight (PLIGHT)
A difficult or dangerous situation; especially, a sad or desperate predicament: "The plight of unemployed might cause major economic problems for the future."
 
flip, flip-flop, flippant
flip (FLIP)
1. To throw or to toss with a light brisk motion; to flick, to spin: "She tried to flip me the ball while she flipped her hair out of her eyes."
2. To toss in the air, imparting a spin; to turn over: "You could see him flip through the pages of the phone book looking for the number."
flip-flop (FLIP flahp")
1. A backless foam-rubber sandal with a V-shaped strap secured between the toes and at the sides of the foot: "She wore a flip-flop on each foot as she went into the shower."
2. A change of opinion, especially by a politician: "She was accused of trying to flip-flop about her political position regarding the educational system."
3. A backward flip of the body: "Everyone saw him do a flip-flop in the air after he made the winning goal."
4. An electronic circuit or mechanical device that has two stable states and can be switched between the two: "An early computer used a flip-flop as its memory storage unit."
flippant (FLIP puhnt)
Showing a lack of seriousness that is thought to be inappropriate; impudent, brash, impertinent, insolent: "The young man shocked everyone by making flippant remarks while his father's will was being read."
 
floe, flow, flux
floe (FLOH)
A flat mass of floating ice: "A floe was making progress with the ship quite difficult."
flow (FLOW)
To move smoothly, as in a stream: "She turned on the bathtub faucet and the water began to flow."
flux (FLUKS)
1. Constant change and instability: "His political views are in a state of flux."
2. A state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event) preceding the establishment of a new direction of action: "The flux following the death of the king caused much concern among the politicians."
 
flotsam, jetsam
flotsam (FLAHT suhm)
Floating pieces, parts, etc., from a ship that has been wrecked: "After the storm, there was a lot of flotsam from wrecked ships that had washed ashore."
jetsam (JET suhm)
1.Floating objects that are thrown into the water from a ship: "Some of the jetsam we found on the beach were still usable."
2. It is usually used in the phrase flotsam and jetsam, also figuratively: "He found a lot of flotsam and jetsam which had collected on his desk."
 
flounder, floundered; founder, foundered
flounder, floundered (FLOUN duhr, FLOUN duhr'd)
1. To struggle, to move, or to obtain a footing: "Because of the deep snow, we saw the man flounder again as he came down the hill."
2. To proceed clumsily and in confusion: "A plan so rash and ill-conceived was certain to flounder."
"The horses floundered in the deep snow as they crossed the field."
founder, foundered (FOUN duhr, FOUN duhr'd)
1. A person who creates or establishes something that is meant to last for a long time: "As the son of the company's founder, he is expected to become the CEO one of these days."
2. To become submerged; to sink: "We saw the boat as it foundered in the lake."
3. To stumble and to fall, to fail completely, to collapse: "The fact that he was moving from job to job over the last several years indicates that he was experiencing one career founder after another; in other words, he has foundered many times in his vocational careers."
Founder also has an established pleonastic (redundant) sense as part of the idiomatic "founder and sink" which is an unnecessary repetition; since, "to founder" means "to sink"
 
flour, flower
flour (FLOUR)
Ground wheat or other cereal seeds: "Whole wheat flour is recommended as more wholesome for one's health."
flower (FLOU ur)
A blossom: "A flower, or flowers, can impress people in many ways."
Flowers have more scents than people.
Can you believe that there is such a thing as flower flour or what is also known as "ground-grain blossoms"?
 
fluster, frustrate
fluster (FLUS tuhr)
To make someone nervous and confused: "Sudden, loud noises can fluster a speaker."
frustrate (FRUS trayt")
To cause someone to feel angry, discouraged, or upset because of not being able to do something: "So many incomprehensible bureaucratic letters can only frustrate people who want to improve our economic situation."
 
foal, foal
foal (FOHL), noun
A young horse; especially, a horse that is less than one year old: "We went to my cousin's farm to see the foal that he has had for about nine months."
foal (FOHL), verb
To give birth to a new horse: "When we arrived at my cousin's place to see the nine-month old foal, he told us that his other mare was about to foal her first foal."
Can a mare be foaling a foal while she still has a foal with her and so have two, or more, foals or does she have to wait until the previously foaled foal has reached a certain age before she foals another foal?
 
fogy, foggy
fogy, fogey (FOH gee)
A person who has old-fashioned habits and attitudes: "I think she is an old fogy because she doesn't like pop music."
foggy (FAW gee, FAHG ee)
1. Having or filled with fog: "It took us a whole hour to get there because it was so terribly foggy."
2. Not clear, vague or confused: "My memory is a bit foggy because I don't remember where I put my keys!"
 
fondling, foundling
fondling (FAWN dling)
Gently caressing, stroking, handling, or touching in an affectionate or loving way: "She was always seen idly fondling the cat's ears."
foundling (FOUND ling)
A baby that is found after being left, or deserted, by its parents or a parent: "The children discovered a foundling deer in the forest apparently deserted by its mother."
 
for, fore, four
for (FOR, FOHR)
1. Used to indicate the place someone or something is going to or toward: "They were heading for home when the accident happened."
2. Used to indicate the thing that something is meant to be used with: "The food here is for her birthday party."
3. In order to help or serve someone or something: "Let me carry that heavy box for you."
fore (FOR, FOHR)
Something that is located at or toward the front; the front part: "The emergency exits which are located at the fore part of a plane are very important."
four (FOR, FOHR)
1. The number 4: "We have four people in our family."
2. Used to indicate the time of day, 4 o'clock: "I come back every day from work at four in the afternoon."
When the two couples go out to eat, they often request a table for four in the fore part of the restaurant.
 
forego, forgo
forego (fohr GOH)
To go before, to precede: "The news of the Pope's visit to Germany will forego his arrival in the country."
forgo (fohr GOH)
To give up the use or enjoyment of something: "I decided to forgo the trip to France and stay at home with my children."
 
foreword, forward
foreword (FOR wurd)
An introduction in a book: "The foreword of a book is usually not written by the author."
forward (FOR wurd)
Movement to the front or onward: "The boy walked forward from the back of the bus."
 
form, form
form (FORM)
A document with blank spaces for filling in information: "Some people hate to fill out a form or have an abnormal fear of doing so, on and off the internet."
form (FORM)
1. The shape of something: "The building's massive form was more than most people expected."
2. A bodily shape: "Some people strive to develop a form of the body which has appeal for another person or other people; such as, a shapely form has a special appeal for modeling, acting in movies, on TV, etc."
3. To get, to create, or to develop something over a period of time: "They wanted to form a friendship that would last for a lifetime."
 
formally, formerly
formally (FOR muhl ee)
1. Ceremonially or ceremoniously: "The new president of our college was formally installed last week."
2. Following or being in accord with accepted forms, conventions, or regulations: "She dressed quite formally which was required for the international convention."
formerly (FOR mur lee)
Previously; in earlier times; before: "Formerly it was considered dangerous to breathe the air at night."
 
fort, forte
fort (FORT)
A fortified place for military defense: "The fort was captured after a long battle."
forte (FOR tay")
1. A note or passage of music played or sung in a loud, forceful manner: "She played forte when she was supposed to have played mezzopiano."
2. Something that a person is particularly good at: "She said that cooking was not really her forte."
 
forth, fourth
forth (FORTH)
1. Forward, onward in time or place: "From that day forth or from that time onward."
2. Out into notice or view: "There was a flow of lava bursting forth from the earth."
"The snow is gone and the flowers are ready to spring forth."
fourth (FORTH)
1. A 4th or one of four equal parts of something: "She cut the small cake into one fourth piece for each person."
2. The number four in a series: "I will be flying in on the fourth of next month."
"The ball player got a base hit in the fourth inning."
 
fortuitous, fortunate
fortuitous (fohr TOO i tuhs, fohr TYOO i tuhs)
Happening by chance: "His fortuitous arrival at the scene saved our lives."
fortunate (FOHR chuh nit)
Enjoying and receiving some unexpected good, having good luck: "We were fortunate that we got home before the storm hit our area."
 
fortune, fortune
fortune (FOR chuhn)
A large amount of money: "Their house is worth a fortune."
"She made her fortune in real estate before the economic decline."
fortune (FOR chuhn)
1. Something that happens by chance or luck: "They had the good fortune to escape injury when their car swerved into the ditch."
2. The future that someone or something will have: "She said that she could tell my fortune or how successful I will be in the future."
At the local carnival, I went to see the fortune teller who by good fortune happened to be my aunt.
She told me my fortune which suggested I would write an important book that would earn me a fortune.
 
foul, fowl
foul (FOUL)
1. Rotten, contaminated, or dirty: "Have you ever noticed how foul eggs can smell when they have been around too long?"
2. Unfavorable; contrary to the rules of a game or sport: "He has a reputation for being a foul player."
"The player committed a foul when he tripped the other soccer player."
"After he was suspended from the football game, the player was asked why he had to foul so often because he fouled during just about every new play."
fowl (FOUL)
Birds collectively; a large edible bird; such as, a chicken, a turkey, a duck, etc.: "We had roasted fowl for our Thanksgiving meal."
No matter what you say, a stinking chicken is still a foul fowl.
 
fraise, frays, phrase
fraise (FRAYZ)
A barrier or defense of pointed, inclined stakes or of barbed wire: "He was not able to escape because of the fraise surrounding the prison."
frays (FRAYZ)
1. A scuffle or brawl: "Many crime movies show frays between the police and the culprits."
2. To alarm or to frighten: "The old man frays the little girl without meaning to."
3. To wear away by rubbing; for example, the edges of fabric: "She frays the old pair of jeans at the bottom by wearing them much too long."
phrase (FRAYZ)
1. A sequence of words regarded as a meaningful unit: "You may answer with a phrase, not necessarily with a complete sentence."
2. A characteristic way or mode of expression; a brief expression that is commonly used: "A phrase my mother used to use was to be completely fagged out after working so hard in the garden."
"To borrow a phrase from my sister, she told her children that they are spending too much time watching the boob tube and not doing enough physical activities outside."
3. A group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence: "Please answer the following question with a complete sentence, not just a phrase or phrases."
 
fraught, wrought
fraught (FRAWT)
Causing or having a lot of emotional stress or worry, anxious: "She was fraught with fear not knowing where to find her lost daughter."
wrought (RAWT)
Carefully formed or worked into shape: "The wrought wood forming the legs of the table were absolutely beautiful."
 
frees, freeze, frieze
frees (FREEZ)
To set free: "As he frees his leg from the hole in the ice of the lake, someone was throwing him a rope so he could crawl back to safety."
freeze (FREEZ)
1. To change into a solid by the loss of heat, or to cause a liquid to do this; especially, to change into ice: "This pond can freeze in the winter if the temperature gets too low."
2. To preserve something, especially food, by subjecting it to and storing it at a temperature at an extremely low cold point: "You can freeze food in a freezer and keep it frozen at a temperature of -18蚓."
3. To prohibit the conversion or use of assets: "They had to freeze the bank accounts in order to deprive the criminal of his ill gotten gains."
frieze (FREEZ)
A decorative horizontal band; for example, along the upper part of a wall in a room: "The frieze my mother chose for the living-room is really quite beautiful."
 
frenetic, phrenetic
frenetic (fruh NET ik)
Filled with excitement, activity, or confusion; wild or frantic: "The celebration after the wedding was very loud and frenetic."
phrenetic (fruh NET ik)
A mental disorder, someone who is phrenetic or a madman: "He was admitted into the institution because of indications of being phrenetic."
 
frequent, recurring
frequent (FREE kwuhnt)
Happening often: "The bus makes frequent stops on the way to the train station."
recurring (ri KUR ing)
Happening, appearing, or occurring over and over again: "The woman suffers from the same recurring nightmare; night after night."
 
friar, fryer
friar (FRIGH uhr)
A member of a men's Roman Catholic group who is poor and studies or teachers about Christianity: "She met the friar on his way to the church."
fryer (FRIGH uhr)
1. A deep pan for frying foods: "Please give me the fryer so I can get the bacon ready for breakfast."
2. A young chicken that is suitable for frying: "We got this fryer at the local butcher's shop."
An egg in a monastery was quoted as saying, "My destiny is to go out of the fryer and into the friar."
 
frog, frogs; toad, toads
frog, frogs (FRAWG, FRAHG; FRAWGZ)
Any of various small, tailess amphibians, having a smooth, moist, scaleless skin and powerful web-footed hind legs for leaping and swimming; and they are more aquatic and more agile than a toad: "Frogs and toads both hatch from eggs as tadpoles and live in the water until they grow their legs."
"A frog species (Psyllophrne didactyla), discovered in Cuba in 1996, is so tiny that it can sit comfortably on a human fingernail."

This paragraph is based on information from

Scientific American Science Desk Reference; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. publisher;

1999; page 392.

toad, toads (TOHD, TOHDZ)
Members of numerous small, tailless amphibians similar to frogs, that have a broader body and rough or warty, glandular skin, hatch in water, but later live mostly on land; usually in moist habitats: "Our biology teacher taught us that toads and frogs have similar characteristics but that they are also quite different."
"Toads feed on small invertebrates or animals that don't have a backbone; such as, worms and insects."
"Toads have relatively short hind legs used for hopping, and they often have swellings containing glands that secrete an irritating fluid for defense purposes and they are terrestrial or semiterrestrial in habit."
Both frogs and toads have inconsistent common meanings.
Anura is the order of amphibians that contains the frogs and the toads. Their eggs (spawn) are covered with jelly, are laid in water, and hatch into aquatic larvae (tadpoles), which undergo a rapid and extensive metamorphosis in which the tail is absorbed and the gill slits are replaced by lungs. Most frogs (for example, Rana) live in damp places or are aquatic; some are arboreal. Toads (for example, Bufo) are better adapted to drier habitats.

The content in this section is based on information from

The Facts on File Dictionary of Biology by Robert Hine;

Facts On File, Inc.; 2005; page 24.

 
fuddle, muddle
fuddle (FUD'l)
1. A prolonged drinking spell; especially, in the phrase on the fuddle: "It seems as if he has been on the fuddle for about two days now."
2. A confused mixture, a jumble: "She certainly has a fuddle of spools of different colored thread in that box."
muddle (MUD'l)
1. To cause confusion in someone's mind: "He complained that getting too much advice can easily muddle his mind."
2. To mix something in a confused way: "So much information can easily muddle my efforts to properly organize the materials I am trying to set up for the book."
 
funeral, funereal
funeral (FYOO nuhr uhl)
A ceremony or group of ceremonies held in connection with the burial or cremation of a dead person: "There were several people who attended the funeral of our neighbor."
funereal (fyoo NIR ee uhl)
Appropriate for or suggestive of a funeral; mournful: "When people attended the funeral, it was obvious that there was a funereal gloom and sadness about the person being buried."
 
funk, punk
funk (FUHNK)
1. A condition of cowardly fright or a panic or a state of severe depression: "He is closer to coming out of his funk."
"Her husband went into a deep funk after he lost his job."
2. A type of popular music combining elements of jazz, blues, and soul and characterized by syncopated rhythm and a heavy, repetitive bass line: "There was a special TV program which presented an hour of musical funk."
punk (PUHNGK)
1. A young person; especially, a member of a rebellious counterculture group: "The old lady had her purse stolen by a punk as she was getting off the bus."
2. Of poor quality, worthless; weak in spirits or health: "She had a punk feeling because of her bad cold."
 
funky, punky
funky (FUHNG kee)
1. Having a moldy or musty smell; having a strong, offensive, unwashed odor: "She bought some funky cheese for her lunch."
"When she went down into the cellar, she noticed a funky odor."
2. Stylish or appealing in an unusual way: "They had dinner at a funky little Spanish restaurant last night."
punky, punkie, punkey (PUHNG kee)
Being weak in spirits or health; run down, tired, worn out, dragging, or maybe on the verge of getting sick; for example, with the flu or a cold: "Dad said he was feeling punky because he wasn't feeling very well even though he wasn't very sick; as least, not yet."
"Hey, how are you doing today?"
"Not very well. I'm feeling punky today."
 
furry, fury
furry (FUR ee)
Having or bearing fine hair: "Mary loves her furry little kitten."
fury (FYOOR ee)
Violent anger; rage: "There was a great deal of fury regarding the death of the baseball player by a drunken driver."