Confusing Words Clarified Group H

Confusing Words Clarified Group H

http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/4339/?letter=C&spage=21

Homonyms
 
I don't misspell, as others mite,
But always right each item rite;
So I emit resounding hoops
At other righter's spelling bloops.
 
From The Game of Words by Willard R. Espy;
Bramhall House; New York; 1972; page 124.

hack, hack
hack (HAK), verb
1. To cut something or someone many times and usually in a rough and violent way: "You could hear him hack the tree down with an ax."
2. To make a path by cutting plants: "Each of us used a machete to hack a path through the thick growth of brush."
3. To secretly get access to the files on a computer or network in order to get information, to cause damage, etc.: "Those guys were trying to hack into the net work so they could hack into the bank's financial records."
hack (HAK), noun
1. The act of hitting something roughly with an ax, a knife, etc.: "He took a hack at the branch of the tree in his back yard."
2. A writer who hastily or routinely produces a lot of work without much quality just so he or she can make some money without regard for accuracy or consequences to others: "He was obviously a hack as a writer because he couldn't find anyone who wanted what he was producing."
"Almost every day, she would use her computer to produce a column of hack in her blog."
3. Someone who does work that is not important or original: "She was just an insignificant political hack."
Too often there is a radio hack who just wants to verbally hack at those whose positions he or she disagrees with.

This link about hack, hacking will provide more information.

hail, hale
hail (HAYL)
1. Precipitation in the form of spherical or irregular pellets of ice larger than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter: "There was a sudden hail storm which came without any warning."
2. Something that falls with the force and quantity of a shower of ice and hard snow: "There was a hail of pebbles as the mountains were shaken by the earthquake."
"He received a hail of criticism because of his political position."
hale (HAYL)
Free from infirmity or illness; of sound health: "Hale stresses freedom from infirmity, especially in elderly people who may be declared to be hale and hearty or very healthy and strong."
My uncle who is a farmer was feeling less than hale after being hit on the head by hail during a hail storm.
 
hair, hare
hair (HAIR)
A thin, threadlike growth of the epidermis characteristically on mammals that covers the skin and which may contain pigmentation or color: "The hair on her head was bright red as were her eyelashes."
hare (HAIR)
One of several fast running, shy mammals with long ears of the family Leporidae: "The hare lived in the garden and was always on the lookout for dogs."
Some people say that rabbit fur is really simply hare hair.
 
haircut, haricot
haircut (HAIR kuht")
1. The act or an instance of cutting the hair: "She went to the salon to get her stylish haircut."
2. A style in which hair is cut: "The haircut she got looked just like that of a famous rock singer."
haricot (HAIR i koh")
1. The edible pod or seed of any of several beans; especially, the kidney bean: "The chili (U.S.), chilli (British English), recipe said to add one can of red haricot to make it rich and tasty."
2. A highly seasoned mutton or lamb stew with vegetables: "After a long hike in the hills, the haricot at the inn tasted wonderful; especially, since we were very hungry."
After eating a hearty helping of spicy haricot, I noticed that my hair felt like it was standing on end as if I had had a new haircut. So, I went to the barber who gave me a haircut; then I went home and made a red haricot soup for dinner.
 
hall, haul
hall (HAWL)
1. A large, often imposing room, in a building, often used for meetings: "The workers assembled in the hall to vote for a new union president."
2. A designating term for a building or part of a university complex: "We all attended classes at Smith Hall when we were at the university."
haul (HAWL)
1. To pull an object from one place to another: "We used the tractor to haul the bricks for the new building."
2. To change the direction of a ship's course to take advantage of the wind: "The sailors decided to haul the ship's course by raising new sails."
It was moving day and we had to haul the furniture out of the hall to put into the moving van.
 
hallow, halo, hollow, holler
hallow (HAHL oh)
To set aside for sacred or holy use: "The priest thought to hallow the land next to the church as a burial ground."
halo (HAY loh)
1. A nimbus of light surrounding a celestial object; such as, the sun, caused by the reflection of light on ice particles in the atmosphere: "On some nights the moon seems to have a halo surrounding it."
2. A sense of idealized glory invested in a person: "The woman who worked among the poor seemed almost to have a halo surrounding her."
hollow (HAHL oh)
1. An empty space or cavity within an object: "The tree was old and hollow." 2. A sound made by hitting or beating a object that has an empty space in it: "Striking the hollow log created a hollow sound that seemed like an echo."
3. Empty, lacking in sincerity: "She gave a hollow promise to do all her homework."
4. A low or sunken space, often in a field: "At the base of the hollow was a spring of water for the cattle."
holler (HAHL uhr)
To shout, to cry, or to call out: "When he hit his thumb with the hammer, his first response was to holler in pain."
We stood at the edge of the hollow in the remote valley and tried to holler loudly so we could hear the echos of of our voices.
While we were standing there, we seemed to see a halo surrounding the moon which gave the place an eerie almost hallowed feeling.
 
halve, have
halve (HAV, HAHV)
1. To divide something into two equal portions or parts: "We agreed to share the last slice of toast and my friend agreed to halve it with a knife."
2. To lessen or reduce by half: "She decided to halve the meal so the two of us could eat the same amount."
have (HAV)
1. To maintain ownership or possession: "I decided I had to have a new car."
2. To experience or to suffer from something: "I feel terrible because I have a bad cold."
3. To come to a conclusion about an idea or object: "I have an opinion about the new fashions."
My mother said I have to halve the last piece of chocolate with my sister.
 
hammer; hammer, hammering; yammer, yammering
hammer (HAM uhr), noun
1. A tool that has a heavy metal head attached to a handle and which is used for hitting nails or pounding and breaking things apart: "The carpenter used his hammer to nail up the wooden panels on the walls."
2. The part of a gun-lock that hits the primer or firing pin and causes the gun to shoot: "When he pulled the trigger of the gun, the hammer caused the bullet to fire and to leave through the barrel."
3. One of the padded wooden pieces of a piano that hits a string when the player presses a key: "When a musician depresses the keys of the piano, each hammer hits a tuned string that produces music."
hammer, hammering (HAM uhr, HAM uhr ing), verb
1. To force something into a particular place or shape by hitting it with a hand tool: "He will hammer the dent out of the fender of the car today."
2. To use a striker that is covered in felt and that causes the piano strings to vibrate: "As she played the piano, each finger would hammer a tune on a string."
3. To hit something or someone in a very forceful way: "We can be sure that the next hurricane will hammer many more towns."
4. To keep talking about something or trying to get something done: "She apparently will continue hammering her political opponent for his failure to cut taxes."
yammer, yammering (YAM uhr, YAM uhr ing)
To talk on and on in an annoying way; usually, for a long time: "Every time she gets on the phone, all she can do is yammer and yammer about how her husband disappoints her."
"No matter where I go, it's amazing how many people I see who are yammering on their cell phones."
 
handsome, hansom
handsome (HAN suhm)
1. Pleasing and dignified in form or appearance: "The young woman could not be described as pretty but in her fine new outfit, she looked very handsome."
2. Generous or copious: "They offered a handsome reward for the return of the lost dog."
hansom (HAN suhm)
A two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers: "The travelers took advantage of having a ride around the city in the old hansom."
The handsome young man reserved a hansom and driver for the afternoon for which he paid a handsome fee to take him and his friend for a ride through the park.
 
hangar, hanger
hangar (HANG uhr, HANG guhr)
A large structure for aircraft or airplanes: "There is no more room in the hangar for additional planes."
hanger (HANG uhr)
1. A device on which to hang clothes: "The common wire clothes hanger may be used for things besides simply hanging objects of clothing on."
2. Someone who hangs something: "We hired a house painter who also works as a paper hanger."
We rented an abandoned hangar to use as an art gallery; then, we hired a professional hanger to help us hang the works of art.
In the entry hall, we set up a cloak room equipped with hangers on which to hang the patron coats.
 
hanged, hung
hanged (HANG'd)
The past tense and past participle of hang; to kill someone by using a rope that goes around the neck and holds the person's body in the air without any support from below: "He was legally hanged for his crimes."
hung (HUNG)
The past tense and past participle of hang; to attach or to place something so it is held up without support from below: "We hung the painting on the wall."
In our history books, we read about the pirate who was hanged for his crimes. My father had a painting that hung in his study which portrayed that event.
 
hard, hardly
hard (HAHRD)
1. Resistant to pressure; not readily penetrated, bent, cut, etc.: "This bread is as hard as a rock."
2. Requiring great effort or endurance: "You have to work hard in order to succeed and I know how hard she tried."
"That test was hard because the teacher asked a lot of hard questions."
hardly (HAHRD lee)
Barely, or almost not doing anything: "The changes in service have hardly been noticed by anyone."
"Hardly anyone showed up for the meeting today."
Although you claim that your work is hard, you are hardly making any effort to get any work done.
 
hardy, hearty
hardy (HAHR dee)
Able to withstand negative conditions; such as, poor weather: "The hikers were both hardy and enjoyed hiking in the rain."
hearty (HAHR tee)
1. Unrestrained enthusiasm: "The visitors were given a hearty welcome when they arrived."
2. Excellent and vigorous good health: "The elderly man enjoyed a hearty life style and was rarely ill."
3. A brave sailor: "Each hearty on the ship was well trained in the use of sails."
The hearty enthusiasm of each hearty on the ship was supported by the hearty meals which the ship's cook prepared.
It made the hearties hardy and strong so they could climb the rigging and furl the sails.
 
hart, heart
hart (HAHRT)
A male deer; especially, a male red deer over five years old: "We were amazed to see the hart just outside our tent in woods."
heart (HAHRT)
1. The chambered muscular organ in vertebrates that pumps blood received from the veins into the arteries, thereby maintaining the flow of blood through the entire circulatory system: "The doctor listened to the patient's heart with the stethoscope."
2. The vital center and source of one's being, emotions, and sensibilities: "My heart swelled with pride when my friend was determined the winner of the contest."
3. The firmness of will or the callousness required to carry out an unpleasant task or responsibility: "He didn't have the heart to send them away without something to eat."
4. The central or innermost physical part of a place or region: "They worked in the heart of the financial district of New York City."
The heart of the hart was pounding when he got confused and was roaming on the streets in the heart of the city before finding his way back into the large park.
 
haunch, hunch
haunch (HAWCH, HAHNCH )
The hip, buttock, and upper thigh in humans and animals: "The farmer slapped the haunch of the horse to send it to the barn."
hunch (HUHNCH)
1. To bend forward in a position of crooked posture: "Sitting on the tall stool, the clerk had to hunch forward to read the ledgers."
2. An intuitive sense regarding something that has happened or might happen: "I had a hunch my sister would come for a visit during the summer."
After my horse galloped away with me, I found myself hunched over the saddle which had slipped back onto the haunch of the horse. I had a hunch I was destined for a fall and sure enough, I fell off.

haunted, hunted
haunted (HAWNT'd)
1. Inhabited, visited, or appeared to have been in the form of a ghost or other supernatural being: "They say that the hotel is haunted by ghosts."
2. Troubled or upset: "He was a mysterious young man who had a haunted expression on his face."
hunted (HUHNT'd)
1. To have chased and killed: "The wolves hunted their prey until they were successful in getting their next meal."
2. Usually wild animals that have been chased and killed: "The hunted wolves sought refuge in the forest."
The prince who had hunted all day and got lost in the forest, suddenly saw the haunted castle in front of him and he realized that it was the home of the Sleeping Beauty.
 
have, got, have got
have (HAV)
1. To be in possession of something: "Don't you already have a car?"
2. To accept; to take: "I'll have the peas instead of the spinach, please."
3. To give birth to; to bear: "She told me that she is going to have a baby next month."
got (GAHT)
1. To come into possession or use of; to receive: "She got a cat for her birthday."
2. To go after something and to obtain it: "He got a book at the library right after he got his breakfast at the local restaurant."
3. To acquire as a result of some action or effort: "He got his information from the internet."
have got (HAV GAHT)
1. To have or to possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense. In American English, gotten, although occasionally criticized as substandard, is an alternative standard of the past participle in most senses; especially, in the senses to receive or to acquire: "I have got (or have gotten) all that I ever hoped for."
2. In the sense of "must" or "possess", have got is in wide informal use: "I have (or I've) got to leave."
"We have got (or We've got) plenty and intend to keep it."
I have inherited a large fortune which my father got with sound investments in mineral rights in Canada; and so, I have decided I have got to plan a long trip to see the world.
 
haven, heaven
haven (HAY vuhn)
1. A harbor or anchorage; a port: "The harbor at Halifax is a haven for many ships."
2. A place of refuge or rest; a sanctuary: "Churches have traditionally been considered a haven for the poor."
heaven (HEV uhn)
1. The sky or the universe as seen from the earth; the firmament: "Standing on the hilltop, we looked up into heaven to count the stars."
2. The abode of God, the angels, and the souls of those who are granted salvation: "The hymn that we sang at church described heaven as a place for angels."
3. An eternal state of communion with God; everlasting bliss: "I felt I was in heaven when I listened to the beautiful music."
4. Any of the places in or beyond the sky conceived of as domains of divine beings in various religions: "When my friends and I discussed our spiritual beliefs, I was surprised to discover we each believed in the existence of heaven."
After the storm at sea, we sailed into the nearby haven which felt like heaven to us after the terrible ordeal.
 
hay, hey
hay (HAY)
Grass or other plants, such as clover or alfalfa, cut and dried for fodder: "The farmer is cutting his clover so it can dry and become hay for his cattle."
hey (HAY)
Used to attract attention or to express surprise, appreciation, wonder, or pleasure: "Hey, come on and let's get going!"
The farmer shouted to the summer help, "Hey! It's time to bring the hay in before it starts raining."
 
hays, haze
hays (HAYZ)
A variety of feeds from dried grasses and other editable plant growth for live stock: "The farmer kept various hays available for his animals."
haze (HAYZ)
1. Atmospheric moisture, dust, smoke, and vapor that diminishes visibility: "When we got up this morning, there was a thick haze in the hills above us."
2. A vague or confused state of mind: "The woman was stumbling around as if she were in a drug-induced haze."
3. Dimness, as of perception or knowledge: "He was in a haze when it came to understanding the vocabulary terms on the quiz."
The new students at the Agricultural Farm seemed to be in a haze about the different kinds of hays they were trying to learn about.
 
he, he
he (HEE)
1. Used to indicate a male person or animal that is the subject of a verb: "He has been preparing for the trip to France since last year."
"I was told that as a stallion, he is a great riding horse."
2. Used in a general sense or when the sex of the person is unknown: "Tell whoever is calling on the phone that he or she will have to wait until I can call back."
he (HEE)
1. A boy, a man, or a male animal: "As a young teenager, he was the champion of the swimming competition."
2. When referring to a person whose gender is unspecified or unknown: "Before boarding, each passenger should make certain that he or she has a ticket."
Avoid using the generic he or him when the subject could be either male or female. Use the third-person plural or the phrase he or she (not he/she).
It is also acceptable to write in the third person plural: "Before boarding, passengers should make certain that they have their tickets." It is grammatically unacceptable to write: "Before boarding, each passenger should make certain that they have their tickets."
A singular subject must have an applicable singular verb and a plural subject should use a plural verb.

Based on information from
The Holt Handbook, Sixth Edition by Kirszner & Mandell;
Harcourt College Publishers; Philadelphia; 2002; page 476.

 
heal, heel, he'll
heal (HEEL)
To make well, to restore health: "This medicine will heal the blister on your foot."
heel (HEEL)
1. In humans, the back part of the foot below the ankle: "When he removed his left boot, he discovered a blister on his heel."
2. The part of the hand closest to the wrist: "She used the heel of her hand to knead the bread dough before setting it to rise."
3. An individual who treats others with contempt: "Because he told so many lies, everyone thought of him as a heel."
4. To follow closely behind another's step: "The dog had been taught to heel when they were out for a walk."
he'll (he will) (HEEL)
Grammatical contraction of he will or he shall: "He said he'll call us when he gets home."
The cut on his heel can't possibly heal in time for the basketball game; so he'll just have to wait until it gets better.
 
healthful, healthy
healthful (HELTH fuhl)
Good for the well being of one's body and mind: "The doctor prescribed a healthful diet and lots of outdoor exercise for a more healthy body."
healthy (HEL thee)
1. Prosperous, doing well in business: "He had a healthy reputation as a book seller."
2. Enjoying a physical and mental well being that is free from signs of illness: "For someone of his age, he is very healthy."
I feel very healthy and I think it must be because I follow a healthful routine of exercise and rest.
 
hear, here
hear (HIR)
1. To gain information through sound received by the ears: "When I listened carefully, I could hear the sound of the wind in the trees."
2. To receive information from a trial witness: "The judge will hear the witness today."
3. An expression that expresses support or agreement for something that another person has just said: "The crowd shouted, 'Hear!' 'Hear!' several times during the speech."
here (HIR)
At a specific point or place: "She was told to place the dictionary here on the table by the window."
If a person won't listen over there, then he will have to hear me here!
 
heard, herd
heard (HURD)
Having gained information by receiving sound in the ears: "I heard a great shout in the distance."
herd (HURD)
1. A large group of animals, tame or wild, congregating in the same place: "From the train window, we could see a herd of buffalo in the distance."
2. To move or to attempt to move a group of animals from one place to another: "The cowboys on horseback worked together to herd the cattle into the new pasture."
The cows were listening to the sounds coming from the direction of the forest and so the herd heard the wolves howling.
You have heard about my herd of cattle, haven't you?
 
hearsay, heresy
hearsay (HIR say")
Information or evidence that is obtained through a secondary or indirect source: "You cannot use hearsay evidence in court."
heresy (HER i see)
1. Dogma or doctrine held by an individual or a group of individuals which is perceived as unacceptable or different to that of another religious group: "The elderly priest considered as heresy the sermons preached in the church across the street."
2. An opinion or belief that is held contrary to generally accepted standards or practices: "In a household of people who love cats, it is almost heresy to admit to being fond of dogs."
Before communication technology improved, there was always the risk that hearsay information could be interpreted as heresy and get people into trouble.
 
hedge; hedge, hedged; hedge; hedgerow; hedgehog
hedge (HEJ)
A close-set row of bushes, usually with their branches intermingled, forming a barrier or boundary in a garden, lawn, yard, or field: "When the cat saw me walking in its direction, it jumped into the hedge."
hedge, hedged (HEJ, HEJ'd)
1. An intentionally noncommittal or ambiguous statement: "She tried to hedge when she was asked to support the campaign."
2. To avoid answering a question directly or definitely: "She could have given a straight answer, but instead she hedged around and wouldn't say why she couldn't come."
hedge (HEJ)
1. A noun: Any technique designed to reduce or to eliminate financial risk; for example, taking two positions that will offset each other if prices change: "My broker told me that he uses an investment company that uses high-risk techniques as a hedge; such as, borrowing money and selling short, in an effort to make big capital gains."
2. A verb: To minimize loss or risk: "She invests her money as a hedge against inflation and financial failure."
hedgerow (HEJ rohw")
A row of bushes, shrubs, or trees forming a hedge: "A traveler to Great Britain can see one hedgerow after another many of which have been up for hundreds of years in certain parts of the England."
More information about hedgerows is available here.
hedgehog (HEJ hawg:)
Any of several small insectivorous mammals of the family Erinaceidae of Europe, Africa, and Asia, having the back covered with dense erectile spines and characteristically rolling into a ball for protection: "I have seen an occasional hedgehog at night in our yard or even crossing the street."
 
height, heist, hoist
height (HIGHT)
1. A reference to a vertical measure representing the distance from the bottom to the top: "The height of the mountains was deceptive and the hiker was exhausted before reaching the summit."
2. To be at the top of something, tangible or otherwise: "The actor was at the height of her career when she made her first film."
heist (HIGHST)
The act of taking something unlawfully and often accompanied by violence: "The bank heist made spectacular headlines in the local newspaper."
hoist (HOIST)
The act of lifting something by using a tackle: "They will hoist the flag at daybreak."
The heavy machine operators decided to hoist their tools to a great height on the crane to prevent a heist of the equipment over the weekend.
 
hence, thence
hence (HENS)
1. Proceeding from a specific time or place; later than the present time: "What will life be like a century hence?"
2. For this reason: "He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here."
"He couldn't raise enough money, hence, he decided to withdraw from the next election."
thence (THENS)
Proceeding from a specific place: "The village chief ordered that they all go thence from their homes to reside in the mountains."
We had moved thence from the valley to the city, and hence we needed to find new local services.
 
her, her
her (HUHR,UHR)
1. Used before a noun, possessive form of she; relating to or belonging to a certain woman, girl, or female animal: "I understand that she bought her own car."
2. Made or done by a certain woman, girl, or female animal: "It's her turn to do the dishes."
3. Used to refer to a woman, girl, or female animal who has been previously mentioned or whose identity is known: "The postman left her package with us so she can pick it up when she comes home."
"We left the report with her so she can re-check it."
4. Used figuratively to refer to something thought of as female; such as, a ship, a car, a machine, or a country: "Great Britain and her allies will stand up to the terrorist threats."
her (HUHR, UHR)
A pronoun, objective form of she; used to refer to a certain woman, girl, or female animal as the object of a verb or a preposition: "Tell her that I appreciate her efforts to help."
"We gave her the books so she can complete her research for the university course."
It was her intention to complete her degree by studying the history of Italy and her allies during the Renaissance; so, her professor sent her a book to use with her research.
 
heroin, heroine
heroin (HER oh in)
A drug derived from opium: "The abuse of heroin presents one of the major social problems of yesterday and today."
heroine (HER oh in)
1. A woman who has the qualities of a hero: "Joan of Arc is considered by some to be the greatest heroine in French history."
2. A woman noted for her courageous acts: "During the earthquake, she was called a heroine because she did so much to help many victims of the disaster."
 
hertz, hurts
hertz (HURTS)
In telecommunications, a unit used to describe the frequency of occurrence of an electromagnetic wave equal to one cycle per second: "Hertz (Hz) is a term used by and understood by radio technicians to describe electromagnetic activity."
hurts (HURTS)
Causing pain, discomfort, or suffering: "It hurts my feet when I wear shoes that are too small."
 
hew, hue
hew (HYOO)
To chop or to cut by using a cutting instrument: such as, an axe: "The forester used an axe to hew the dead trees because they were dangerous."
hue (HYOO)
A gradient of color that helps to classify individual colors: "The hue of green in her dress matched the green in her eyes."
 
hi, hie, high
hi (HIGH)
A form of greeting similar to using the word hello: "When they saw each other across the street, both friends shouted, Hi and waved."
hie (HIGH)
To go or to move quickly: "The lord shouted, 'Hie you from my presence immediately'."
high (HIGH)
1. Taller than typical or expected: "The ceilings in the room were very high."
2. Characterized by complexity: "He studied high math in school."
3. Characterized by unexpected costs for one's living standards: "The high cost of living is getting more challenging."
4. Characterized by excessive, often exuberant or inappropriate behavior: "He appeared to be high on drugs as indicated by his inappropriate laughter."
 
hiatus, quieatus
hiatus (high AY tuhs)
1. A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break: "I took a brief hiatus from my studying for my final examinations and made a pot of tea."
2. A period of time when something; such as, an activity or program is stopped: "The musical group is making a new album after a ten-year hiatus."
"The comedian put her show on hiatus for a several weeks until she gave birth to a baby girl."
quieatus (kwigh AY tuhs)
A noticeable reduction of activity without getting to the point of a cessation of activity: "I heard yesterday that after Labor Day, Balboa Park itself goes into a quieatus until the end of September."

A word created by Godfrey Harris of the
The Americas Group; 654 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 1;
Los Angeles, CA 90049-2070, USA;

 
higher, hire
higher (HIGHR)
Qualifier comparing objects one of which is taller than another one: "The new bank building is higher than its counterpart across the street."
hire (HIGHR)
1. To pay for the use of something on a temporary basis: "We will hire a taxi to take us to the train station."
2. To take a job or employment: "I decided to hire myself out as a cook for the summer."
 
him, hymn
him (HIM)
The objective form of the pronoun he: "I gave him the new book."
hymn (HIM)
A song for the purpose of praising, typically involved in a religious service: "The choir sang a new hymn in the church on Sunday."
 
his, his
his (HIZ)
1. A possessive form of he and it is always used before a noun; relating to or belonging to a certain man, boy, or male animal: "His home is out in the country where he has his horses."
"Do you know his name?"
2. Used to refer to a person of either sex in general statements or when the gender of the person is unknown: "Each student should do his or her own work and not copy from others."
Correct alternative: "All students should do their own work." Incorrect: "Every student should do their own work."
his (HIZ)
That which belongs to or is connected with a male: "That book is his because I saw him put it there."
"Are you his friend? I hope his efforts have the results that you and he are expecting them to be."
 
historic, historical
historic (hi STOR ik)
1. Famous, having great importance: "When the treaty was signed, it was an historic moment for everyone."
2. Relating to history or the past: "The historic importance of the river is appreciated by all of us who live near it."
historical (hi STOR i kuhl)
Relating to, of great importance, or having the characteristics of history: "The students created a play depicting the historical moments in the town’s past."
"The book listed the kings of England in historical sequence."
 
ho, hoe
ho (HOH)
Used to express surprise or joy, to attract attention to something sighted, or to urge onward: "Westward ho!"
hoe (HOH)
A long handled instrument, often with a sharp blade, for tilling and cultivating the soil: "The little girl used a special, short handled hoe, to help her mother in the garden."
 
hoar, hoer, whore
hoar (HOHR)
Icy particles often described as frost: "There was a rim of hoar on the edge of the bucket."
hoer (HOHR)
An individual who uses a specific garden instrument; such as, a long handled tool with a sharp blade that can be used for gardening: "The girl worked as a hoer in the city parks for a summer job."
whore (HOHR)
A prostitute or an individual who sells sexual intercourse to a customer: "The whore stood on the street corner trying to look attractive for customers who might drive by in their cars."
 
hoard, horde, whored
hoard (HORD)
1. A cache of supplies often hidden or secretive: "We saw the hoard of dry beans in the cupboard."
2. To save, to put by, to acquire, to accumulate, or to keep a secret supply of something: "The miser planned to hoard his money."
horde (HORD)
A restless throng or crowd: "The horde of peasants stood before the palace and begged for bread."
whored (HORD)
Having illicit sexual intercourse; especially, with a prostitute: "He whored with a woman he met at the hotel where he was staying."
 
hoarse, horse
hoarse (HORS)
A harsh or grating sound or voice: "By the end of the hockey game, her voice was hoarse from cheering so loudly."
horse (HORS)
A large, strong quadruped domesticated to pull things (carts) or to transport an individual: "The strong brown horse pulled the carriage while the young man rode on a slender black horse."
The cowboy had to use another horse today because his regular equine was sick with a hoarse throat which the vet diagnosed as a hoarse horse.
Two police officers were discussing a drug-store break in. One officer said to the other one, "Someone broke in, but all he took was cough drops."
The other policeman responded with, "He must have been a hoarse thief."
 
hoes, hose
hoes (HOHZ)
1. Garden instruments, often with a long handles, and equipped with a sharp blades: "I noticed there were several hoes in the shed for us to use in the garden."
2. To use the garden instrument which typically has a long handle and a sharp blade: "The farmer noticed that the young man hoes the garden quickly and efficiently."
hose (HOHZ)
1. A close fitting garment or stocking covering the leg and foot: "Many years ago, men wore hose that were beautifully embroidered."
2. A tube, typically flexible, used for conveying liquid from a source to another location: "They bought the garden hose at the local store."
3. To wash with water using a long tube, typically rubber, which is attached to a faucet or water source: "The children used the red garden hose to hose the dust off the car."
After working in the garden, the man decided to hose the hoes.
 
hole, holistic, whole
hole (HOHL)
1. An opening into or through something: "He fixed the hole in the roof while his wife fixed the hole in his sock."
2. A reference to a situation in which someone, or something, is gone or missing: "When our daughter went to college, it left a big hole in our lives; in other words, we missed our daughter very much."
holistic (hoh LIS tik)
Relating to or concerned with complete, or whole, systems rather than with individual parts: "We need to take a more holistic approach to improving our schools."
"Holistic medicine attempts to treat both the whole mind and body."
whole (HOHL)
1. Something which is full or complete: "The whole day was spent trying to find a job."
2. Complete or full; not lacking or leaving out any part: "The community center offers a whole range of programs."
The whole hole must be considered when using holistic analysis.

holey, holy, holly, wholly
holey (HOH lee)
Characterized by having an opening, or openings, in something: "My socks were old and were very holey."
holy (HOH lee)
1. Characterized as worthy of reverence: "She was a holy woman who inspired worship and reverence from others."
2. Characterized by the intensity of a situation: "The children's playroom looked like a holy mess!"
holly (HAHL ee)
Any of a variety of shrubs or trees characterized by leaves that are deep green and spiny: "They cut the holly in the forest to use as decorations for the holidays."
wholly (HOH lee, HOHL lee)
Entirely, completely: "The report is wholly inaccurate."
If a devil is completely sinful then is it possible that an angel is wholly holy?
Say, holy man, in your holey cot, are you wholly pleased with your lowly lot?
 
holiday, holy day
holiday (HAHL i day")
1. Vacation, a time during which an individual does not work for pay: "For our summer holiday, we are going to go to the mountains."
2. A day that is identified as a celebration for a significant event: "The holiday this weekend is to celebrate the establishment of the new university."
holy day (HOH lee day")
A special day designated for the celebration of religious events or observances: "The pastor suggested they designate the first day of summer as a holy day and have special church services."
 
home, home, hone
home (HOHM)
As a noun, a dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it; a household: "She made a good home for her husband and children."
home (HOHM)
As a verb, to find and to move directly toward someone or something: "The medical researcher is trying to home in on the cause of the disease."
"Website designers and innovators often mock up multiple designs and test them quickly; then they repeat the process until they home in on the design that seems to be most popular."
hone (HOHn)
1. A stone, frequently of fine grain, for sharpening tools used for cutting: "The red hone was perfect for sharpening the kitchen knives."
2. To sharpen or to make intense and effective: "He tried to hone his speaking skills by practicing every day."
 
homeless, homeliness
homeless (HOHM lis)
Having no home or haven; no place to live: "They volunteer at the shelter where homeless people can sleep and get food."
homeliness (HOHM lee nuhs)
Not attractive or good-looking: "Her homeliness was a problem for her in her early years, but she was able to present a more attractive appearance in high school."
 
homonym, homophone, homograph, heteronym
homonym (HAHM uh nim", HOH muh nim")
A word which is identical with another one in pronunciation, but differing from it in spelling and meaning: "The word pairs fair, fare and read, reed are each an example of a homonym."
homophone (HAHM uh fohn", HOH muh fohn")
A word with the "same sound" as another one, is etymologically more precise and is less ambiguous in meaning than the reference homonym: "The words him and hymn are examples of homophones."
homograph (HAHM uh grahf, HOH muh graf")
A word that is identical with another one in spelling, but is different from it in origin and meaning, and sometimes in pronunciation: "The words bass referring to a fish, and bass referring to the quality of the male voice, are examples of homographs."
heteronym (HET uhr uh nim")
A word with an identical spelling as another one but with different pronunciations and meanings: "The word row is an example of a heteronym; such as, row meaning objects in a line and row meaning a quarrel or fight."
 
homophobia, homosexualphobia
homophobia (hoh" muh FOH bee uh)
An excessive hatred of or fear of monotony [doing the same thing over and over]; also said to be a fear of or an intense apprehension or hatred of homosexuality or homosexuals in general; however such references should be spoken of or written as homosexualphobia: "He had homophobia regarding his job because he considered it to be so terribly boring."
homosexualphobia (hoh" moh SEK shoo uhl FOH bee uh)
A fear of, dread of, or strong contempt for lesbians and gay men: "It was difficult for him to conceal his homosexualphobia when he saw two guys hugging and kissing each other on the bus going into town."
 
honorarium, stipend
honorarium (ahn" uh RAIR ee uhm)
The gift of payment for a service in lieu of a specific price for the service: "For her speech at the university, the visiting professor was given an honorarium."
stipend (STIGH pend", STIGH puhnd)
A specified sum of money paid on a periodic basis for services or expenses: "He received a stipend three times a year to pay for his housing costs."
 
hoop, whoop
hoop (HOOP)
1. A ring or band of stiff material; such as, wood, used to hold pieces of an object together: "The cooper used willow withes to create the hoop to hold the staves of the barrel in place."
2. A ring of metal, wood or plastic used as a toy: "The children rolled the hoop down the street." "The girl next door won the hula hoop competition this week."
whoop (HWOOP, WOOP, HOOP)
1. A loud expression of enthusiasm: "The crowd issued a whoop of delight when their favorite runner crossed the finish line."
2. To shout loudly in an enthusiastic or excited way: "You could hear the children whoop with excitement when they saw the presents."
 
hospitable, hospital
hospitable (HAHS pi tuh buhl, hah SPIT uh buhl)
Descriptive of a welcoming atmosphere or environment: "The ambiance of the Bed and Breakfast for our first stop was warm and hospitable."
"The sunny window was a hospitable location for the exotic plant."
hospital (HAHS pi tl, HAHS pit'l)
An institution or building devoted to the care of ill and injured individuals: "The ambulance took the injured passengers to the closest hospital."
"When my cat is ill, I take her to the local pet hospital."
 
hostel, hostile
hostel (HAHS tuhl)
A supervised, inexpensive lodging place for travelers; especially, young travelers: "His parents were looking for a hostel in the places where the boy would stay during his trip to Europe."
hostile (HAHS tuhl, HAHS tighl")
Unfriendly, antagonistic: "The atmosphere around the union bargaining table was hostile."
 
hour, our
hour (OUR)
A measure of time consisting of one unit of a 24 unit cycle: "The noon hour is typically when people eat lunch."
"A typical day consists of two 12 unit cycles designated as 12 a.m. to 11:59 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 11:59 p.m."
our (OUR)
Indicating possession or ownership: "That is our red car in the driveway."
 
hues, whose
hues (HOOZ)
Description of colors on an individual color spectrum: "There are many hues of green on the color chart."
whose (HOOZ)
A pronoun that indicates ownership: "Whose hat is sitting on the table?"

The zebra's stripes are lacking hues,
So they don't compare to you-know whose.From "Calvin and Hobbes" cartoon strip
with reference to Hobbes, the tiger; as seen in the
International Herald Tribune, January 13, 2009.

 
human, humane
human (HYOO muhn)
Characteristic of any living or extinct member of human beings, male and female: "The human form is very difficult to draw and requires many lessons in an art class."
humane (hyoo MAYN)
Characterized by sympathetic compassion and caring for another individual or animal: "Taking the injured dog to the animal clinic was a humane way to treat it."
 
humble, humble
humble (HUHM buhl)
Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful: "He had a humble attitude despite his great achievements in science and technology."
humble (HUHM buhl)
Low in rank, quality, or station; unpretentious or lowly: "They lived in a humble cottage."
 
humerus, humorous
humerus (HYOO muhr uhs)
A bone extending from the elbow to the shoulder in humanoids or of a forelimb in other animals: "A fractured humerus can be a very painful injury."
humorous (HYOO muhr uhs)
Funny, comical, amusing: "Sometimes a humorous saying can contain a great deal of wisdom."
 
hurdle, hurtle
hurdle (HUR d'l)
1. As a noun, a barrier, an obstacle; (in steeplechase racing) a fence, a hedge, a wall: "The racer cleared the last hurdle and dashed toward the finish line."
2. Another noun form, an obstacle or difficulty, a hindrance, an obstruction: "The final exam is the student's last hurdle before graduation."
3. As a verb it means to jump, to spring over, to clear: "The horse was able to hurdle the fence and run into the pasture."
hurtle (HUR t'l)
1. To speed, to rush; to run quickly, to gallop; to go like the wind: "The motorcycle was able to hurtle along the road at 90 miles an hour."
"You could see the car hurtle down the highway."
2. To throw forcibly, to fling with great force; to whirl: "The quarter back was able to hurtle the football toward the receiver who caught it and ran for a touchdown."
"The bicycle hurtled into the pedestrian."
The cross country runner was faced with many hurdles over which she had to hurdle herself as she attempted to hurtle towards the finish line.
 
hyperbola, hyperbole
hyperbola (high PUR buh luh)
A mathematical term indicating a part a curve: "Every draftsman must learn the formula for the hyperbola."
hyperbole (high PUR buh lee)
1. An extravagant overstatement or exaggerated language that distorts facts by making them much bigger than they are if looked at objectively: "Too much use of hyperbole can cast doubt on anything a person says."
2. A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect as illustrated by these statements of hyperbole:
"I'm so tired; I could sleep for a year."
"This book weighs a ton."
"I could eat a million of these cookies."
"It is taking an eternity to finish the research!"
 
hypercritical, hypocritical
hypercritical (high" puhr KRIT i kuhl)
Overcritical: "A hypercritical parent or teacher can discourage a child from trying to improve."
hypocritical (hip" uh KRIT i kuhl)
Pretending to have good qualities which one does not have or pretending to have opinions one does not really have: "A hypocritical person is soon someone without friends."
 
hyperthermia, hypothermia
hyperthermia (high" puhr THUR mee uh)
Unusually high body temperature: "The doctors were worried because the patient seemed very hot as if suffering from hyperthermia."
hypothermia (high" puh THUR mee uh)
Abnormally low body temperature: "People who enjoy hiking in the winter need to be very careful that they don't develop hypothermia and frost bite."