Confusing Words Clarified Group M

Confusing Words Clarified Group M

http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/4342/?letter=C&spage=21

macrocosm, microcosm
macrocosm (MAK ruh kahz" uhm)
Great, universal, a complex that represents on a large scale one of its components: "The assignment for the astronomy class was to create a macrocosm of one star in the Milky Way."
microcosm (MIGH kruh kahz" uhm)
Small, little, representing the epitome of a larger entity: "The diversity of the residents in the tall residential building appeared to represent a microcosm of the population of the city."
 
madam, madame
madam (MAD uhm)
1. A respectful form of address to a woman when the actual name is not known: "In answer to her questions, the youth spoke respectfully, addressing her as Madam."
2. The female head of a house of prostitution: "The madam of the brothel also ran a bar to serve wine, beer, and liquor."
3. When capitalized, used to designate rank or position of a woman in a business or governmental context: "Madam Chairperson, will you please begin the meeting."
madame (muh DAM, MAD uhm)
Term of reference and address to a woman who is not from an English speaking country: "Please, Madame, would you like me to order a taxi for you?"
 
made, maid
made (MAYD)
1. Artificially manufactured: "My purse is made of imitation snake skin."
2. Used to say that someone has the right qualities to be or to do something: "He was made to be an actor."
maid (MAYD)
1. A woman servant: "We hired a maid to help out at the large gathering in the garden."
2. An unmarried young woman: "The young maid was imaginative and she often imagined what her future would be like."
 
magnate, magnet
magnate (MAG nayt")
An individual having power, rank, and influence; often in a specific area of expertise: "He was a magnate in the area of steel manufacture."
magnet (MAG nit)
1. A piece of iron or steel which produces an attracting power which draws smaller pieces of iron, steel, etc. to it: "We picked up the scattered nails on the floor by using a magnet."
2. That which attracts: "The seashore was a magnet for holiday planners."
 
mail, male
mail (MAYL)
1. Items that are sent by the post from one location to another: "I checked the post box to see if the mail had arrived this morning."
2. To send an article from one location to another through the post: "She walked down the street to mail her letter."
3. Armour or the hard covering of an animal: "When going to battle, knights often wore mail to protect themselves."
"The turtle has a hard shell, like mail, that helps to protect it from harm."
male (MAYL)
1. Masculine, men, opposite of female: "The male sprinter won the race by only a second or two."
2. Characteristic of men, or being masculine: "Many sports that were considered appropriate only for a male player are now being played by women."
The man's wife was complaining that there was nothing in the post box except more male mail.
A secretary was talking with a colleague, "I hate junk mail."
Her fellow worker responded with, "Me, too, and there's one now," as she nodded toward her boss as he was just entering the office [referring to him as, "junk male"].
A woman likes a male best who has a will of his own . . . made out in her name. Evan Esar
 
main, mane, Maine
main (MAYN)
1. Most important; principal, chief: "The main idea is to drive down the main highway to get to our destination."
"The audience was waiting for the main event of the evening."
2. Exerted to the utmost; sheer: "His main strength was never to give up."
3. The largest pipe in a system of connected pipes: "The water main was damaged during the earth quake and so people were deprived of water for several days."
mane (MAYN)
Long, heavy hair that is a characteristic observed around the necks of some mammals: "The brown horse had a long black mane."
Maine (MAYN)
One of the fifty states comprising the United States: "Our summer cottage is on the coast of Maine."
The man found a shaggy mare in the country side of Maine and with might and main, he tried to trim her mane.
"What is the principal part of a horse?"
"The principal part? The mane, of course.

A male lion is the only cat with a mane.

"Lion researchers have observed that many male lions with short manes had suffered from injury or sickness; while by contrast, dark-maned males tended to be older than the others, have higher testosterone levels, heal well after being wounded, and sire more surviving cubs; all of which made them more desirable mates and formidable foes."
"A mane, it seems, signals vital information about a male lion's fighting ability and health to mates and rivals."

This information came from
"The Truth about Lions" by Abigail Tucker;
Smithsonian magazine; January, 2010; page 30.

 
maize, maze
maize (MAYZ)
Corn, often referred to as Indian Corn: "The recipe called for ground maize which I bought in the health food store."
maze (MAYZ)
That which is complicated or elaborate: "On the first day of my new job, I tried to understand the maze of regulations."
"The ornamental garden was a complex maze of shrubbery and trees."
The farmer set up a labyrinth in his corn field and invited people to participate in what the newspaper referred to as the "maize maze".
 
majority, minority, plurality
majority (muh JOR i tee, muh JAHR i tee)
1. The age by which one receives and assumes civic responsibilities: "The first thing I did when I achieved the age of majority was to register to vote in the next election."
2. The greater number, by at least one, when counting the total of something: "The majority of the class decided to go to the football game instead of staying in the library."
minority (muh NOR i tee, muh NAHR i tee, mi NOR i tee)
1. A segment of population which does not share characteristics of the larger population: "The new immigrants were a minority in the large city."
2. A group which is comprised of a smaller number than another group the combination of which represents the total size of the something: "A minority attending the public meeting did not want the new bridge to be built."
plurality (ploo RAL i tee)
1. A large or greater number; "The plurality of the townspeople wanted to build a swimming pool in the park."
2. The number of votes needed to elect an official that is not 50% of the total votes cast but is more than the total votes cast for either of two or more other candidates: "She was elected by a narrow plurality of five."
 
malady, medley, melody
malady (MAL uh dee)
An illness of an animal: "The veterinarian finally was able to diagnose the malady of the farmer animal."
medley (MED lee)
A piece of music made up of a series of short tunes: "She hummed a medley of show tunes while she worked."
melody (MEL uh dee)
A pleasant and pleasing arrangement of sounds: "The melody played on the accordion was delightful."
 
mall, maul, moll
mall (MAWL, MAL)
1. An urban shopping center, often enclosed to protect shoppers from the weather: "Going to the mall is one of my favourite things to do on Saturday."
2. A grassy public park, typically for pedestrian use: "We strolled down the mall and enjoyed the beauty of the flowering trees."
maul (MAWL)
1. A tool used for splitting logs or wood: "The hired hand on the farm used a mall to split logs for firewood."
2. To injure or to handle roughly: "There were reports in the newspaper of attempts by bears to maul hikers."
moll (MAHL)
A woman companion of a gunman or gangster: "The crook's moll told the police where the gang was hiding."
 
man's laughter, manslaughter
man's laughter (manz LAF tuhr, manz LAHF tuhr)
The verbal or voiced expression by a male person of amusement or pleasure: "The man's laughter echoed across the room and amused others who heard him."
manslaughter (MAN slaw tuhr)
The illegal or unlawful killing of an individual: "The woman was convicted of manslaughter for purposely running the man down with her car and so she was sent to prison."
Is it really possible that some people feel that a man's laughter can be more disturbing than manslaughter?
 
manila, manilla, Minila, Manilla; vanilla
manila, manilla (muh NIL uh)
1. A strong paper or thin cardboard with a smooth finish, usually buff or light brown in color, made from Manila hemp or wood fibers similar to it: "The manila envelope is an envelope designed for transporting documents and it is made of thick, durable paper and sized so that full sheets of paper can fit inside without being folded."
2. The capital and largest city of the Philippines; located on southern Luzon: "Manila is a city and it should not be confused with "Manila" or "Manilla" paper."
vanilla (vuh NIL uh)
A flavoring extract prepared from the cured seedpods of a plant or produced synthetically as a food flavoring: "We both preferred vanilla ice cream rather than chocolate."
How could anyone possibly confuse a manila, manilla envelope with a vanilla envelope, you may ask?
Well, it seems that a reporter on the radio mixed up the two by referring to a vanilla envelope and someone called in to report the obvious error to the program's moderators the next day and stated that there is a big difference between manila, manilla paper and a non-existent vanilla paper; unless someone had produced an envelope with vanilla flavor.
 
manner, manor
manner (MAN uhr)
1. A method of artistic presentation: "His presentation was in the manner of the country gentry, wearing tweeds and high boots."
2. Social conduct: "She tried to imitate the manner of a famous actress."
3. Good and appropriate behavior: "The manner of our new neighbour was very friendly."
manor (MAN uhr)
1. In North America, land which an individual rents from another for a fixed rate: "The manor that my father rents is large enough to raise several cattle."
2. The house on an estate: "The manor house was large and gracious."
The man wanted to be polite with his guests when they came to his luxurious house; so, he decided to establish an etiquette for his mansion which he called "a manor with a good manner" because he wanted people to know that his manor's manners were superior.
 
mantel, mantle
mantel (MAN t'l)
An ornamental facing around, or over, a fireplace: "The old clock stood on the mantel and kept perfect time."
mantle (MAN t'l)
1. A loose sleeveless coat worn over outer garments; a cloak: "When he went to the opera, he wore an elegant mantle instead of a coat."
2. Something that covers, envelops, or conceals: "Looking up into the sky was like looking at a dark blue mantle covering the earth."
 
manual, Manuel
manual (MAN yoo uhl)
1. Relating to or worked by hand, not using a machine: "Because of the rocks in the field, the farmer hired manual labor to cut the grass."
2. A book or precise description or explanation on how to use something: "The directions in the car's repair manual was explicit and easy to follow."
Manuel (MAN yoo uhl)
1. A given name for a male: "Mother called to remind her son, Manuel, to come home for dinner."
2. A surname: "I noticed there were many people in the telephone directory with the last name of Manuel."
 
map, nap
map (MAHP)
A picture or chart that shows the rivers, mountains, streets, etc. regarding a particular area: "Can you find where we are on the map?"
nap (NAHP)
1. A short period of sleep; especially, during the day: "He woke up from his nap rested and refreshed so he could focus on his project much better."
2. To be in a state of mind in which those involved are not prepared to deal with something because they aren't paying attention: "When the problem appeared again, the government was not prepared to deal with it; in other words, officials were taking a nap instead of being alert to the situation."
3. A soft layer of threads on the surface of a piece of cloth, a carpet, etc.: "The fine nap of the wet cloth felt wonderful when I wiped my face after taking my nap."
 
mare, mare, mayor
mare (MAIR)
A female horse which is old enough to breed: "I bought a new mare for my riding stable."
mare (MAIR)
A Latin element meaning sea: "Marine, mariner, and submarine are just a few of many words that come the Latin mare."
mayor (MAY uhr, MAIR uhr)
An elected or appointed official who serves as chief magistrate of a city: "My uncle was elected mayor of the city three times in a row."
 
marital; marshal, marshall; martial
marital (MAIR i t'l)
Referring to circumstances relating to being married: "After we were married, we bought our marital home."
marshal, marshall (MAHR shuhl)
1. An individual who manages or organizes the ceremonies of a gathering: "The marshal of the parade rode in the car leading the bands and walkers."
2. An officer of the law (appointed or elected) with duties similar to a sheriff in terms of enforcing the law: "The marshal accompanied the prisoner to court to stand before the judge."
3. The senior head of a civic department; such as, a fire department: "The fire marshal organized the fire fighters when the factory caught fire."
martial (MAHR shuhl)
Of or relating to the military, war, or military life: "He seemed suited to the martial life because he liked order and precision."
 
mark, marque
mark (MAHRK)
1. A victim or recipient of ridicule or bullying: "The angry students thought the new student would be an easy mark for teasing."
2. A distinguishing impression or trait of something: "When he completed his university education, he had the mark of a gentleman and a scholar."
3. A landmark or guidepost for travelers: "The tall building on the corner was the mark we were looking for because we wanted to turn left at that point."
4. A label or indication of quality or price: "The mark on this jacket indicated it was on sale."
5. To highlight or to make note of something: "I will mark the date in my calendar when we are going out for dinner."
6. To determine the value of something: "The teacher was determined to mark all the students' essays on the weekend."
7. A man's name: "My friend, Mark, is going to drive the car tonight when we go out."
marque (MAHRK)
A product brand: "The company made exceptionally good quality marque of saddles for the equestrian school."
 
marquee, marquis
marquee (mahr KEE)
A large canopy or tent for an outdoor event or exhibition: "We decided to have a marquee in the garden for our wedding reception."
marquis (MAHR kwis, mahr KEE)
A male of hereditary nobility: "The marquis lived in the large house by the river."
 
marry, Mary, merry
marry (MAIR ee)
To join in a close and typically permanent relationship, or wedlock, usually through a ceremony: "They decided to marry as soon as they could arrange it."
Mary (MAIR ee)
A woman’s name: "My Aunt Mary is coming to visit next week."
merry (MER ee)
High spirited, joyful; full of fun; lively laughter and cheerfulness: "We saw the merry group of children playing in the park."
Marriage is said to be a climate where the husband usually reigns and the wife often storms.
Also, in some cases, marriage can begin with "I do" and end with "adieu". Evan Esar
 
marten, martin
marten (MAHR t'n)
Any of a number of weasel like animals: "We watched the marten dive into the crack in the rock to hide."
martin (MAHR t'n)
1. A European Swallow with distinctive features; such as, a forked tail: "We loved to watch the martin dart across the sky in search of insects."
"We built a martin house for the flock that came each spring."
2. A person’s name; usually, the first name of a male or a family name: "My friend, Martin, is coming for a visit in two weeks."
 
mask, masque
mask (MASK)
1. A disguise or covering for the face: "For the party, I decided to wear a mask that looked like a harlequin."
2. The image or copy of a face made by a mold: "That's the mask of the famous composer; it was made after he died."
3. A covering for the face to protect it from harm: "When we went to see the factory, we were asked to wear a mask to prevent us from breathing the fumes."
4. To conceal or to hide: "He wore long sleeves to mask the fact he was carrying a stick."
5. To reconfigure or to modify the size or shape of something: "The photographer agreed to mask the photograph so it had a narrow border around it."
masque (MASK)
An entertainment typical of the 16th and 17th centuries in which the characters wore masks and a story was of an allegorical nature: "The jesters planned a masque for the entertainment of the king."
 
massage, message
massage (muh SAHZH, muh SAHJ)
1. The rubbing or kneading of one’s tissues or flesh for relaxation or health reasons: "I go for a massage every week and my stiff muscles are soothed."
2. To manipulate or to organize information: "I will need to massage my research data for my thesis."
3. To change numbers, data, etc. in a dishonest way in order to deceive people: "Some businesses are said to massage their sales results in order to make their profits appear to be greater than they really are."
message (MES ij)
1. The theme or idea of a communication: "The message in the book about conservation was that the rivers are in danger of pollution."
2. Information that is communicated by writing, signals, etc.: "Please give a message to my mother that I will be home late."
 
massed, mast
massed (MAS't)
Accumulated or gathered: "The bands massed in the park before the start of the parade."
mast (MAST)
A tall vertical spar, sometimes sectioned, that rises from the keel or deck of a sailing vessel to support the sails and the standing and running rigging: "The tree that the builder used for the mast was a special pine grown in North America."
 
masseur, masseuse
masseur (ma SUR, muh SYOOR)
A man who professionally gives massages: "The fitness studio has a masseur who is available to give anyone a massage by appointment, if he or she wants one."
masseuse (ma SYOOZ, ma SYOOS)
A woman whose job is to give massages: "In my opinion, our local masseuse has a better technique for giving a massage than the masseur."
 
massive, missive
massive (MAS iv)
1. Large when compared to what is typical: "The doctor gave the patient a massive injection of antibiotics."
2. Solid, ponderous, heavy: "The pyramids were built of massive stone blocks."
missive (MIS iv)
A written letter or communication: "When I went away to school, I wrote a missive home to my friends every week."
 
masterful, masterly
masterful (MAS tuhr fuhl)
Strong ability and personality; inclined to play the master; domineering, imperious: "Her masterful personality and ability earned her the promotion she wanted."
"His masterful strength of personality enables him to impose his will on others."
masterly (MAS tuhr lee)
Worthy of authority through knowledge or superior skill. "She played the complex piano composition with masterly precision."
"The carpenter did a masterly job of repair work in their house."
 
match, match
match (MAHCH)
1. Noun: Someone who is like another in one or more specified qualities: "He was a good match for her because they shared the same interests."
2. Verb: To be suited to someone or something: "The curtains match the carpet perfectly."
"My mother wanted to match me up with her friend's daughter and it turned out to be a good match because we are going to get married."
match (MAHCH)
A short, thin piece of wood or thick paper with a special tip that produces fire when it is scratched against something else: "He tried to light a match so he could start the fire."
 
material, materiel, matériel
material (muh TIR ee uhl)
1. Having real significance or consequence: "The material facts of the investigation were presented to the judge."
2. Tangible or physically present: "The material of my new dress is dark green."
"The food bank provided material support to the family."
3. That which can be refined into a more finished form: "Her research provided new material for the biography of the painter which she was writing."
4. Information which is the object of study: "The course outline for my class indicated the material that would be covered each week."
materiel (muh tir" ee EL)
Equipment used by a group or organization: "We will try out the camping materiel on the weekend."
matériel (muh tir" ee EL)
French version for equipment or hardware: "Matériel is an alternate spelling for materiel."
 
maybe, may be
maybe (MAY bee)
1. Questionable, possible, perhaps: "Maybe it will rain tonight."
2. An expression indicating uncertainty: "Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I really think we can get this project completed."
3. Used to give a response that is neither yes nor no: "So do you want to come with us or not?" "Well, maybe."
4. Used to introduce advice or suggestions: "Maybe you should ask her what she means before you jump to conclusions."
5. Indicates an approximate estimation; such as, of frequency or a number: "The forests in this region are no more than 60, maybe 70, years old."
may be (may" BEE)
A phrase used to express the possibility of something: "Your answer may be correct, after all."
"I may be wrong, but I think the store is closed by now."
 
meal, zeal
meal (MEEL)
1. Food eaten to satisfy one's hunger: "We had a nutritious and delicious meal."
2. The milled or ground seeds of certain grass plants: "We took the wheat to the mill to be ground into meal."
zeal (ZEEL)
Eager, enthusiastic pursuit of something: "He had a special zeal for studying butterflies."
 
mean, mien
mean (MEEN)
1. Humble, possibly shabby: "Her mean accommodations were small and clean."
2. Repellent, selfish, petty; bad-tempered, vicious, unmanageable: "His mean arrogance resulted in his brother leaving without saying a word."
3. To have a purpose or an intention: "I mean to go to New York City sometime."
4. Middle position, half way between extremes: "I noticed that I was in the mean position in the line up to buy tickets for the movie."
mien (MEEN)
Bearing, appearance, conducting oneself, or manner; especially, as it reveals an inner state of mind: "Her outward mien was calm and focused."
 
meat, meet, mete
meat (MEET)
The flesh of an animal used as food which often refers specifically to the flesh of mammals or birds instead of the flesh of fish: "The soup can be made with meat, chicken, or fish."
meet (MEET)
1. To see and to speak to someone for the first time: "We wanted to meet each other in the linguistics class at our university."
2. To come together in order to talk about or to discuss something: "We want to meet downtown tomorrow to talk about a better way to sell our products."
mete (MEET)
To give something to the people who are considered worthy of receiving it; to allot, distribute, or apportion: "They are trying to be fair as they decide to mete out punishments for crooked politicians."
They deserved to have the restaurant mete out a lunch where the meat would meet the taste buds of the eaters.
In Germany, a van used by a small business for preparing meals for parties, etc. was seen with the words: "Meating Point" painted on its sides.
 
medal, meddle
medal (MED'l)
A piece of metal similar to a coin which is issued to commemorate special events: "She won a gold medal in the swimming competition."
meddle (MED'l)
To interfere, to get involved in something that is not one's personal concern; to take part in other people's affairs without being asked or needed; to interfere with: "Please do not meddle in this discussion."
"She had a tendency to meddle in her sister's family affairs."
A meddler is someone whose business is what's none of his business.
A medal of honor is the best thing to induce chest expansion.

Evan Esar

 
media, median, medium
media (MEE dee uh)
The plural form of medium, often with reference to advertisement or news dissemination: "The news media covered the politician's speech and legislative experiences."
median (MEE dee uhn)
1. Characterized by being in the middle position: "The median on the highway was planted with flowers."
2. Having a value that is in the middle of a series of values arranged from the smallest to the largest: "What is the median price of homes in this area?"
medium (MEE dee uhm)
1. Occupying the middle position relative to others: "He was of medium height compared to the other players on the team."
2. A substance by which something is conveyed: "The metal in electricity cables is a medium for conveying electricity."
3. An individual through whom messages are passed to and from the dead to those living and the other way, too: "My aunt was believed by many to be a medium through whom they could pass messages to their dead loved ones."
4. A liquid used by painters in which color pigmentation is mixed: "Some artists use egg yolk as the medium for their painting."
 
mediate, medicate, meditate
mediate (MEE dee ayt")
1. To intervene between two or more disputants in order to bring about an agreement, a settlement, or a compromise: "He has been appointed by the government to mediate in the dispute between the auto company and the striking workers."
2. To settle or to reconcile differences between people: "Negotiations are going on to mediate a cease-fire between the two belligerents."
medicate (MED i kayt")
1. To treat with medicine: "His doctor tried to medicate patient with the latest pharmaceutical drugs."
2. To tincture or to permeate with a medicinal substance: "The doctor wants to medicate her patient with a different medication because he apparently has developed a strange allergy to the other drug."
meditate (MED i tayt")
1. To think or to mentally reflect; especially, in a calm and deliberate manner; to contemplate: "My friend will make time every day to meditate for an hour during the morning."
2. To engage in devotional contemplation, especially prayer: "He wants to meditate about the importance of God in his life."
My doctor tried to mediate my concerns about whether I should medicate my illness with the new drugs by suggesting that I meditate some more and consider what the consequences would be if I don't take the medicine he has recommended.
 
mediation, medication, meditation,
mediation (mee" dee AY shuhn)
An attempt to bring about a peaceful settlement or compromise between disputants through the objective intervention of a neutral party: "The dispute between the landlord and the tenant was settled by mediation."
medication (med" i KAY shuhn)
The act or process of treating with medicine; the administration of medicine: "She's taking medication for high blood pressure."
meditation (med" i TAY shuhn)
The act or process of spending time in quiet thought: "Daily meditation helps clear his mind of negative thoughts."
Daily meditation, in some cases, may help certain people avoid the need for medication.
 
meliorative, pejorative
meliorative (MEEL yuhr uh tiv; MEE lee uh ray" tiv; MEEL yuh ray" tiv)
That which is made more tolerable; something that has been softened: "Instead of returning a pejorative from a colleague, she chose to be more meliorative and it resulted in a more desirable conclusion to their discussion."
pejorative (pi JOR uh tiv)
Tending to make worse; derisive, derisory, demeaning, disparaging, derogatory; uncomplimentary: "When she used the pejorative you're an idiot with the young man, and although he was tempted to send stronger pejoratives back to her, much to his credit, he resisted the temptation."
If people are incapable of being meliorative with their bosses and choose to tell their employers that their ideas are "stupid", such actions would no doubt be considered pejorative and the result would very likely be "unemployment" for them.
 
metal, mettle
metal (MET'l)
A substance; such as, gold, tin, or copper, that usually has a shiny appearance, is a good conductor of electricity and heat, can be melted, and is usually capable of being shaped: "Scraps and sheets of metal are being reprocessed from disposable piles of discarded metal products."
"Copper is said to be one of the most useful types of metal known to mankind."
mettle (MET'l)
Character, spirit, ardor, courage, stamina; the ability to continue something despite difficulties: "This sporting event will test her mettle as a competitor in this winter event."
"Under such stress, she revealed an unexpected mettle."
Is it metal or mettle that is needed in stressful situations?
Did the Norsemen have mettle, or metal, craftiness, and good ships?
The most common error is to use metal in the sense of showing or trying one's physical and mental hardiness; so, remember that to show your mettle, you should be in sound physical condition.
 
mewl, mule
mewl (MYOOL)
A weak cry or whimper: "I could hear the mewl of the kitten before I could find it."
mule (MYOOL)
1. A mammal which is the result of the cross breeding a horse and a donkey: "The mule was harnessed to the wagon so the farmer could take his crops to the market."
2. A slipper typically without a back piece around the heel: "The missing mule with the fluffy fur around it was found under the bed."
3. A person whose personality can be considered stubborn: "When his mind is made up, he is as stubborn as a mule."
4. A machine used in the manufacture of yarn that pulls and twists the fibre simultaneously: "My summer job was in the yarn factory, specifically monitoring the function of the mule."
A donkey whimper is also known as a mule mewl.
 
mews, muse
mews (MYOOZ)
1. A common gull of European origin: "The flock of mews circled over the fishing boats hoping for a handout."
2. The sound made by a gull or a cat: "I could hear the mews of the kittens before I could see them."
3. Primarily British: Stables for animals in an enclosed space which are frequently converted into attractive housing: "I was so lucky that I was able to find housing in the local mews which used to belong to the estate of the gentry."
4. A back alley or lane: "I walked down the mews to the mews where my horse was stabled."
muse (MYOOZ)
1. To day dream or to reflect upon something: "I will muse upon the suggestion while I have my morning coffee."
2. A source of inspiration: "My mother was the muse for my interest in music."
3. One of several goddesses in Greek mythology responsible for arts and sciences: "Did the Muse of Poetry play a lyre when she was singing?"
 
might, mite
might (MIGHT)
1. Power, authority, or bodily strength: "The mayor could use the might of his office to approve the budget for the parade."
"The might of the bull was such that he could pull the laden wagon with ease."
2. Used to express probability or permission: "The supervisor might report the malfunctioning machine to the head office."
3. Considered an alternative expression for should, could, and may: "You might consider making a different choice."
mite (MIGHT)
1. Any of a number of very small spider-like bugs which are often parasitic that can invade or infest foods, plants, or animals and may be disease carrying: "That mite bite on my foot itches a lot."
2. Something very small; such as, a coin: "I carry a mite coin in my pocket for good luck."
3. To a small degree, somewhat, or slightly: "The box could stand to be a mite bigger."
"This is a mite embarrassing, but I need to tell you somethiing."
The might of the mite should not be under estimated.
 
milch, zilch
milch (MILCH)
1. Giving milk: "The family had just one milch cow so they could get genuine fresh milk every day."
2. Giving milk or bred primarily for milk production: "Milch goats and milch camels are just a couple of additional milk producers besides cows."
zilch (ZILCH)
1. Zero; nothing: "I know zilch about the subject."
2. Amounting to nothing; nil: "She has done zilch to help me with this project."
 
milestone, milestones; millstone, millstones
milestone, milestones (MIGHL stohn", MIGHL stohnz")
1. A stone or other marker that shows distances in miles to specified places: "The ancient Roman roads used to have milestones to indicate "miles", but they have disappeared because later generations used them as part of the construction in buildings."
2. Figuratively, a decisive moment or situation in the lives of people, in careers, or in various periods in history, etc.: "In our modern times, milestones may still be highway markers for distances, but more often they are used to mean important events in the lives of people; such as, turning points in their careers."
millstone, millstones (MIL stohn", MIL stohnz")
1. Two large stones used for grinding grain: "In the past, much of the world's grain was ground into fine meal by millstones."
2. Figuratively, a heavy burden, problem, or responsibility that does not go away and which makes it difficult or impossible to do or to achieve an objective or target: "For some students, college loans quickly become millstones making it very difficult or impossible to achieve their goals."
"The scandal became a political millstone for the candidate who was running for office."
For some people, millstones make it impossible for them take advantage of the milestones that might have become available to them.

militate, mitigate
militate (MIL uh tayt")
1. To have an influence; especially, a negative one, on something; such as, to make something unlikely to happen or to prevent something from happening: "His inexperience will militate against his getting an early promotion."
2. To have weight or an effect, to serve as a strong influence: "His youthful appearance can only militate against his getting into a high position in the company; at least for now."
mitigate (MIT uh gayt")
1. To make an offense or crime less serious or more excusable: "The lawyer tried to mitigate the circumstances so the punishment or penalty would be reduced, because evidence was produced that encouraged and enabled the judge to be less severe."
2. To make something less harsh, severe, or violent; to moderate in force or intensity: "There's no way to mitigate the effect of that unfavorable report."
These two often-confused words have different, mutually exclusive meanings and they function in different ways.
Militate does not take a noun object, but is followed by a preposition, often "against", plus a noun. It means "to have an influence, especially a negative one, on something": "Trade sanctions militate [not mitigate] against international cooperation."
Mitigate needs a noun object and means "to lessen the impact or degree of seriousness of something undesirable"; for example, "A six-month suspended sentence unfairly mitigates the seriousness of a vehicular homicide. There were mitigating circumstances beyond his control."
 
millenary, millinery
millenary (MIL uh ner" ee, muh LEN uh ree)
1. Of or relating to a thousand, especially to a thousand years; millenarian: "There were celebrations planned for the new millenary."
2. Of or relating to the doctrine of the millennium; millenarian or millenarians: "He was considered an expert on the millenary."
millinery (MIL uh ner" ee)
Articles, especially women's hats, sold by someone who deals with such produts: "In this millinery shop, we can buy fabulousats that are one of a kind designs."
 
mince, mints
mince (MINS)
1. Finely chopped bits of food or to chop one's food finely: "Because my throat is sore and it is difficult to swallow, I must mince all my food for the next few days."
"The mixed fruit mince makes a lovely pie."
2. To speak or to walk in a prim and fastidious manner: "When the children were playing make-believe, they liked to mince their words to sound like grownups."
"Because of the ice, I had to mince my way across the street to avoid falling."
mints (MINS)
1. Plants of the Labiatae plant family which have flavorful leaves used for flavoring and cooking: "We have several different mints growing in our garden."
2. Candies or confections flavored with mint: "We have chocolate mints for an after dinner treat."
3. Locations where money or medals are coined: "There are two mints located in our city; unfortunately they do not give away free samples."
4. The manufacture of money or medals: "The mint in the city mints about 200 different coins each day."
 
mind, mined
mind (MIGHND)
1. To pay attention to; to follow orders: "Mind your step as the sidewalk is slippery."
"When your teacher tells you to do something, you are expected to mind."
2. The human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested in thought, memory, perception, felling, will, and imagination: "It's important to keep the mind active; especially, as we grow older."
"My friend told me that he can't concentrate because his mind is always wandering and he can't keep it focused on anything."
3. A collective or group which reflects public attitudes, etc.: "The public mind is not supportive of building the new bridge."
mined (MIGHND)
1. To have placed explosives in a position so as to destroy or disrupt something: "The engineers mined the mountain for iron ore using dynamite."
"The road was mined with explosives making it dangerous to use."
2. To dig for valuable metals or ore: "The men mined for gold in the abandoned mine in the mountain."
The difference between a railway conductor and a school teacher is that the conductor minds the train and the teacher trains the mind.
 
miner, minor
miner (MIGH nuhr)
An individual who digs for precious metals or other underground resources: "My neighbor is the fourth generation in his family to be a coal miner."
minor (MIGH nuhr)
1. Relatively unimportant: "He was a minor poet who has published two books."
2. Someone who has not achieved the age of majority and therefore not yet able to assume civic responsibilities: "She will be a minor until her next birthday which is in three months."
3. Not involving serious risk to one’s life: "Her illness is minor and only requires her to stay in bed for a few days."
4. In music it refers to an interval between the keys on a piano which gives the finished composition a sad or depressed tone, in comparison to major intervals which make the music very happy and joyful: "Listening to the song, which was written in a minor key, she became very thoughtful and sad."
The company employed a young coal digger who was the first minor miner to be hired in several years.
 
minuet; minute, minutes; minute
minuet (min" yoo ET)
A slow dance characterized by bowing, forward balancing and toe pointing or the music to accompany such a dance: "The composer wrote a new minuet for the dancers to perform for the royal court."
"We listened to the delightful minuet played by the string quartet."
minute, minutes (MIN it, MIN its)
1. A unit of time equal to 60 seconds or one 60th of an hour: "It is now one minute after midnight."
2. The written record kept about the proceedings of meetings: "The secretary printed the minutes from this morning's meeting."
"At the beginning of the meeting, the secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting."
3. Quickly, a short space or passage of time: "I will be with you in a minute."
minute (migh NOOT, migh NYOOT)
1. Of little importance, trifling: "There appeared to be a minute flaw in the new paint job on my car."
2. Very complete and precise: "She told him what happened in minute detail."
 
missal, missile
missal (MIS uhl)
A book containing all the prayers and responses for celebration of the Mass; a prayer book; or a printed volume which contains the details of each religious service throughout the year: "My new missal contained many prayers."
missile (MIS uhl, mis IGHL)
1. An object which is thrown with the intention of striking something: "They used a water filled balloon as a missile when they were playing in the park."
2. A rocket which can be projected or fired towards a target; an unmanned weapon propelled by its own power; such as, a rocket: "The missile was launched from the research station."
 
missed, mist
missed (MIST)
1. To fail to make contact with someone or to fail to hit something aimed at: "When I telephoned, I was told I just missed the person with whom I wanted to talk."
"She missed hitting the fly with the swatter."
2. To avoid something: "He just missed being hit by the bicycle in the intersection."
3. To notice or to feel the absence of someone or something: "When she re-read her essay, she realized she had missed several key points."
4. Failure to participate in or to attend something: "He missed several lectures this year due to illness."
mist (MIST)
1. A large mass of vapor at or just above the earth's surface like fog but less dense: "There was a fine mist in the valley that obscured our view from the hillside."
2. That which dims or obscures: "Time tends to mist our memories."
The cloud of very fine drops of water didn't get us wet because the mist missed our area.
 
moan, mown
moan (MOHN)
1. Prolonged lamentation; sound of grief; a low, drawn out, mournful sound, usually indicating sorrow or pain: "At the news of the king's death, a loud moan rose from the crowd."
2. To make a sound of lamentation or an expression of grief or a similar sound made by something: "The child was heard to moan in sorrow when her favorite pet was injured."
"The wind was heard to moan in the trees on the windy night."
mown (MOHN)
1. The process of cutting down plants; for example, grass with a specifically designed machine: "The lawn was neatly mown using the new lawn mower."
2. With a violent connotation; such as, to have cut down or to have eliminated people by using a gun or similar equipment; to destroy a great number of people, as in battle: "The victims were mown down by the gangsters who used a machine gun."
 
moat, molt, mote
moat (MOHT)
A wide, deep ditch, usually filled with water, around a medieval town, fortress, or castle for protection against attacks; part of the defense system of any fortified place: "The hero swam the moat in order to reach the castle and rescue the captive princess."
molt (MOHLT)
To shed or to cast off a covering of hair, feathers, skin, etc. which is then replaced with new growth in the same place: "The new chicks will molt their fluffy yellow feathers which will then grow into darker adult feathers."
"Snakes molt as they grow, shedding the old skin and growing a larger new skin."
mote (MOHT)
A tiny speck or particle of dust, dirt, etc. : "I like to watch the mote dance in the sunbeam coming through my window."
 
mob, mob
mob (MAHB), noun
1. A large crowd or group of people who are upset about something or who are out of control: "The violent mob smashed store windows, car windows, and were generally destructive."
2. A large number of people: "The winning team was greeted and surrounded by a mob of excited fans."
mob (MAHB), verb
1. To move close to someone, or a group, in an excited way: "The actor's fans would mob him whenever he and his wife appeared in public."
2. To come together in a place when there are crowds of other people: "The shoppers were expected to mob the stores when they started to reduce the prices; indeed, the stores were mobbed with people who were trying to get things at much lower costs.
 
mobile, movable
mobile (MOH buhl, MOH beel", MOH bighl")
1. An artistic creation assembled to balance and move in the wind: "The mobile of paper birds moved gently in the breeze outside on the veranda."
2. Characteristic of the mixture of social groups or people: "They were an upwardly mobile couple and soon moved to a new neighbourhood."
3. Changeable, versatile: "His mobile facial features were an asset for his acting career."
4. Capable of being moved or of moving: "She had a mobile telephone in her purse."
movable (MOOH vuh buhl)
That which can be moved or displaced from one location to another: "During our summer vacations, we lived in a movable home which was located on the shores of a nearby lake."
 
mode, mowed
mode (MOHD)
1. Common fashion or style: "She liked to dress in the current mode."
"He always used the latest mode of hip vocabulary when talking with his students."
2. The most frequently occurring value in a set of data: "The mode number in the list the teacher put on the blackboard was three."
mowed (MOHD)
To have cut down something; for example, grass: "I mowed the lawn yesterday morning while it was still cool."
 
mogul, mongrel
mogul (MOH guhl)
1. An important, powerful, or prominent person: "He was the most important mogul in the manufacturing industry."
2. An individual who is a descendant from several groups of Mongol, Persians, or Turkish people who invaded India: "He traced his mogul ancestry when he was visiting in South Asia."
mongrel (MUHNG gruhl, MAHNG gruhl)
A dog with parents of different or mixed breeds: "This yellow mongrel wandered into our back yard today."
 
mold, mold, mold, mold
mold (MOHLD)
Soft, loose earth that is especially suitable or plants because it is rich in decaying organic matter: "I bought a bag of mold at the plant nursery for my garden."
mold (MOHLD)
1. A distinctive shape or characteristic: "His personality was of the mold of a university academic."
2. An object used to create a certain shape: "I have a baking mold the shape of a tree which I use at Christmas."
mold (MOHLD)
To shape or to create a form often by using one's hands: "I will mold the bread dough into a wreath before I bake it."
"The potter used his hands to mold the clay into a beautiful vase."
mold (MOHLD)
Any of a variety of fungus growths commonly found on the surfaces of decaying food or in warm, moist places, and usually having a woolly or furry texture: "I saw three different types of mold on the decaying log in our backyard."
"The bread was covered with mold; so, we had to throw it away and get some fresh bread for our dinner."
 
mole, mole, mole, mole
mole (MOHL)
A small permanently colored spot or raised spot on one's body: "She has a small brown mole on her left cheek."
mole (MOHL)
A spy or an individual who works inside an organization and gives secret information to another organization or country: "This exciting novel is about a mole who worked for the government."
mole (MOHL)
1. An insect eating animal which burrows in the soil: "The mole in my garden makes the lawn lumpy and difficult to mow."
2. A massive, usually stone wall constructed in the sea, used as a breakwater and built to enclose or to protect an anchorage or a harbor: "The local harbor was enclosed by a mole."
3. A machine designed for boring through hard materials such as rock: "The huge mole was brought to the work site when it was time to dig the new tunnel."
mole (MOH lay)
A spicy sauce made with chilli and chocolate: "The Mexican restaurant served a delicious mole with the meat dishes."
 
momentary, momentous
momentary (MOH muhn ter" ee)
Very brief, lasting for only a moment, or done in an instant: "I had a momentary lapse of memory this morning and forgot to put on my shoes."
momentous (moh MEN tuhs)
Of significant or very great importance: "It was a momentous occasion when the former football hero came to visit our school."
 
mommy, mummy
mommy (MAHM ee)
An informal expression meaning Mother, often used by young children: "The little child seemed to be lost and was calling for her mommy."
mummy (MUHM ee)
1. A dead body of a person, or animal, prepared for burial in the manner of the ancient Egyptians by treating it with oils and wrapping it in strips of cloth: "This mummy was found in the ancient caves near the river."
2. An informal British term for Mother, used especially by children: "Where's my mummy?"
The first principle of Egyptian archaeology is for mommy to find the mummy.
 
monologue, dialogue
monologue (MAHN uh lawg", MAHN uh lahg")
A dramatic speech or sketch performed by one actor: "She memorized the monologue for her role in the theater production."
dialogue (DIGH uh lawg", DIGH uh lahg")
A conversation or verbal exchange between two or more people: "The dialogue between the two lead characters in the play was fast paced and witty."
 
monopoly; polypoly, polyopoly
monopoly (muh NAHP uh lee)
Exclusive possession or ownership of something: "The sugar mogul had a monopoly on the sugar import-export business in our city."
polypoly, polyopoly (PAHL ee PAHL ee, pahl ee AH pahl ee)
A market situation where there are large numbers of small buyers and small sellers, none of which can influence prices or a market situation in which there are no large sellers but many small ones: "He was just one member of the polypoly, or polyopoly, among many other business men who had no affect on the costs of his products beyond his sales outlet."
 
mood, mooed
mood (MYOOD)
A temporary or predominant feeling or state of mind; an expression of that feeling: "She seemed to be in a very good mood after the delicious meal."
mooed (MYOOD)
The vocal sound made by cows: "The cows mooed when they were let into the fresh green pasture."
 
moose, mousse, mouse
moose (MYOOS)
A large cud chewing member of the deer family, common in Canada and the northern United States: "We watched the large moose standing in the shallow water chewing grass and other greens from the lake shore."
mousse (MYOOS)
A light dessert incorporating gelatin and/or whipped cream or beaten egg whites: "My aunt made a fabulous chocolate mousse for dessert."
mouse (MOUS)
1. A small rodent with a slender tail, a pointed nose, and small ears: "My cat perked up when she saw the mouse dash across the kitchen floor."
2. The small moveable device that is used to control and to move the cursor on a computer screen: "The mouse for my computer is very sensitive to movement."
Is it possible that a moose and a mouse both would like to have mousse for dessert?
A man told about driving down a winding road with his wife when he had to swerve suddenly to avoid hitting an animal with antlers.
As he and his wife recovered from the startling situation, she turned to her husband and said, "Now, that was really a near moose collision!"
 
moot, mute
moot (MYOOT)
1. Argued about but not possible for anyone to prove: "He said that they should have foreseen the accident, but that point is moot."
2. Not worth talking about; no longer important or worth discussing: "That is a moot point and not relevant to the topic we are trying to resolve."
mute (MYOOT)
1. An individual who is unable or unwilling to speak: "He knew the answer, but for some reason he decided to remain mute."
"The police have been mute about the results of the investigation."
2. Something felt or expressed without the use of words: "They hugged each other in mute sympathy over the death of their father."
3. A device attached to a musical instrument to soften or to muffle the sound: "She used the mute on the strings of her violin to create a new and pleasing sound."
4. Contributing nothing to the overall sound or pronunciation of a word: "The e at the end of the word is silent or mute."
5. To make a sound softer, quieter, or less harsh: "They covered their ears to mute the sound of the guns being fired at the military funeral."
"She was asked to use the remote control to mute the excessive loudness of the TV."
 
moral, morale, morel
moral (MAWR uhl, MAHR uhl)
1. Concerning or relating to what is right and wrong in human behavior: "Each story in the book teaches an important moral lesson."
2. Based on what a person thinks is right and good: "She felt that she had a moral obligation to help the poor people in her community."
"He's a man with strong moral convictions who believes strongly that somethings are right and others are not appropriate!"
3. A lesson that is learned from a story or an experience: "The moral of the story is to be satisfied with what you have and not to keep looking for more and more material things."
morale (muh RAHL, moh RAHL)
The feelings of enthusiasm and loyalty that a person or group has about a task or job: "Despite the fact that the team is not playing all that well, their morale is still high."
"The company has been improving with its profits which has resulted in greater morale for its employees."
morel (muh REL, moh REL)
Any of various edible mushrooms of the genus Morchella having a brownish spongelike cap: "In France, people go morel hunting by the thousands every year because of the taste of the morels and for the joy of the hunt."
In a produce market, the manager instructed one of his employees: "Just tell customers that we have unpackaged mushrooms and stop saying, We have loose morels!"

Based on the cartoon presentation,
"Frank and Ernest" by Bob Thaves; August 30, 2009.

"In a Tiny Montana Town, the Hunt for Mushrooms Can Be a Morel Imperative"

An article headline by Lauren Etter and Janet Adamy as seen in
The Wall Street Journal, Europe; page 1; 2004(?)

 
morality, mortality
morality (muh RAL i tee, maw RAL i tee)
1. The degree to which something is right and good: "The woman's husband suggested that she consider the morality of telling lies in order to protect her friend."
2. Conformity to the ideals of interpersonal relationships: "Her standards of morality were very high and she was not able to compromise her ideals."
mortality (mor TAHL it tee)
The quality or state of being a person or something that is alive and therefore certain to die: "When people do not have good health care, the mortality rate among young children can be very high."
"The death of his brother reminded him of his own mortality."
 
morbid, sordid
morbid (MOR bid)
1. Characterized by unwholesome or very sad feelings: "After reading the morbid novel, I was anxious to go for a walk to raise my spirits."
2. Characteristic of or induced by disease: "The conditions in the slum were morbid and caused many people to be ill."
sordid (SOR did)
Very dirty, gross, and/or vile: "The novel was the sordid story of greed and avarice."
"She had to be moved to a supervised home because the 100-year old woman was living in a sordid situation."
 
more, mower, moor
more (MOHR)
1. Greater, additional, more than expected: "We were surprised that more visitors came to the gallery than we had expected."
2. A greater number or quantity: "Which is more, driving for three hours or driving for 120 minutes?"
mower (MOHR)
A machine designed to cut grass and other tall standing plants: "The boy's summer job was to run the mower in the park every week to cut the grass."
moor (MOOR)
1. One of the Arabic or Berber tribes which conquered and occupied Spain in the Eighth Century: "The Moor architecture developed in Spain by the Arabs is beautiful."
2. To tie one's boat up at a dock: "We will moor our boat at our neighbor's dock."
3. Boggy, infertile land typically covered with grasses: "We walked across the moor when we were on a walking holiday in England."
 
morn, mourn
morn (MORN)
1. The time of day taking place at sunrise until noon: "It was a beautiful morn when the sun came up today."
mourn (MORN, MOHRN)
To feel or to express grief at a time of death or other significant loss: "We will all mourn the loss of our special friend who died just after her birthday."
 
morning, mourning
morning (MOR ning)
The time of day between the rising of the sun and noon: "I have the most energy in the morning after I have had a good sleep and breakfast."
"We discussed the situation this morning and we will get together tomorrow morning to see if we can solve the problem."
mourning (MOR ning)
1. Visible signs or apparel worn to recognize and acknowledge feelings of death or loss of life: "We decided to wear dark mourning clothing to the funeral."
2. The act of showing sorrow for someone who has died: "She is still mourning for her dead husband."
3. Great sadness felt because someone has died: "There was a period of deep mourning in memory of the death of the scientist."
"A day of mourning was declared by the Russian government for March 30, 2010, for the people who died as a result of the two suicide bombings in the subways of Moscow on Monday morning (March 29, 2010)."
Little did they know that they would be mourning in the morning until they found out that their dog died during the night.
 
motif, motive
motif (moh TEEF)
A recurring detail or idea in a work of art: "The flower motif in the panel over the fireplace was beautifully painted."
motive (MOH tiv)
1. An idea or feeling which inspires an individual to act or to take action: "The police wondered what the motive was for the break in at the bank because nothing was missing."
2. A reason for doing something: "The motive for the kids in running away was to avoid being punished for breaking the window with the football."
 
mottle, motto
mottle (MAHT 'l)
Spots or blotches on the surface: "The sunshine created a mottle effect on the sidewalk as it shined through the leaves of the trees."
motto (MAHT oh)
A sentence, phrase, or short expression of the guiding principles for something: "The motto for our school is carved into the stone over the main entrance."
"The Boy Scout motto is Be prepared."
 
mucous, mucus
mucous (MYOO kuhs)
1. Slimy or covered with thick slippery substance: "There was a mucous like substance on the steps leading down to the river."
2. Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling mucus: "The mucous membrane is a thin, wet layer of skin that is inside some part of the body; such as, the nose and throat, which produces mucus."
mucus (MYOO kuhs)
A thick, slippery substance produced by certain membranes in the body, the purpose of which is to moisten and to protect: "When he sneezed, mucus was visible and he needed a handkerchief to wipe his nose."
 
mulched, mulcted
mulched (MULCH 'd)
To have covered something with sawdust, compost, etc. to keep weeds down, protect from temperatures, etc.: "In the spring, I mulched the garden to keep the weeds from growing."
mulcted (MULKT id)
1. Punished or fined for some offense, tort, or misdemeanor; penalized: "The court mulcted the man for having lied about his car being stolen."
2. To have swindled someone or to have taken something by fraud, trickery, or deception: "Bernard L. Madoff mulcted his victims of considerable amounts of money."
"Ponzi schemes, named after Charles Ponzi, refers to situations where potential investors were mulcted by being wooed with promises of unusually large monetary returns that were usually attributed to the investment manager's superior skills or some secret knowledge."
"Charles Ponzi was a fast-talking immigrant and college dropout, and his scheme; according to Mitchell Zuckoff, Ponzi’s biographer, rested on the eagerness of ordinary working people to benefit from the wealth they saw being generated around them as the economy recovered from World War I which made it easier for them to be mulcted."
Mulct comes from French mulcter, "to fine, to punish" from Latin mulctare, altered from multare "to punish, to fine" from multa, "penalty, fine". The sense of "to defraud" is first recorded 1748.
 
murmur, murmur
murmur (MUR muhr), noun
1. A low sound made when many people are talking, as in an auditorium: "It was easy to hear the murmur of voices of the audience during the intermission in the theater."
2. A relatively quiet expression of an opinion or feeling: "The conclusion of the speech by the senator brought a murmur of agreement."
3. A low, quiet, and continuous sound: "While on the coast at night when we went to bed, we could hear the murmur of the waves along the shore."
4. In medicine, an unusual heart sound that may indicate a problem with the heart's function or structure: "The man's doctor detected a heart murmur during a routine physical examination."
murmur (MUR muhr), verb
1. To say something in a quiet and soft voice: "He could hear his friend murmur something about having to get home."
2. Something that makes a low, continuous sound: "The breeze will murmur again tonight just as it has been murmuring for the last several nights."
An elderly man, with a slight hearing problem, went to get a medical examination and a few days afterward, his doctor saw him walking along the sidewalk with his arm around the waist of a beautiful young woman.
Five days later, the man had another appointment to see the doctor, at which time the doctor commented that his patient seemed to be doing very well.
The man replied by saying, "Yes, I feel great doctor. I did what you told me to do, get a hot mama and be cheerful."
The doctor corrected the man, "I didn't tell you that! I told you that you have a heart murmur and to be careful!"
 
muscle, mussel, muzzle
muscle (MUHS uhl)
Tissue in the body that contracts when stimulated thus causing movement: "The muscle in my leg is killing me because I was running too fast."
mussel (MUHS uhl)
A marine bivalve mollusk common to both the sea and fresh water: "The interior of the mussel shell is pearly and smooth."
muzzle (MUZ uhl)
1. The forward, projecting part of the head of certain animals; such as, dogs, including the mouth, nose, and jaws; the snout: "I pet the muzzle of the cute little puppy."
2. A leather or wire restraining appliance that, when fitted over an animal's snout, prevents biting and eating: "The by-law in the city required that every dog wear a muzzle to prevent the dog from hurting people and other dogs."
3. The forward, discharging end of the barrel of a firearm: "He pointed the muzzle of the gun at the target and pulled the trigger."
Obviously we can not muzzle a mussel in order to see its muscle.
 
musical, musicale
musical (MYOO zi kuhl)
1. Relating to music, interest, or talent in music; harmonious: "She showed a keen musical interest as a child and grew up to play the piano very well."
2. A theatrical production characterized by both song and spoken word: "Gilbert and Sullivan wrote my favourite musical, The Pirates of Penzance."
musicale (myoo zi KAL)
A social get together in which music is the primary entertainment: "We all attended the musicale at my aunt's home so we could listen to the string quartet."
 
mustard, mustered
mustard (MUHS tuhrd)
1. A thick and spicy yellow or brownish-yellow sauce that is usually eaten with meat: "I like yellow mustard on my grilled meat."
2. A plant with yellow flowers, leaves that can be used for food, and seeds that are used in making the sauce to flavor certain kinds of edibles: "When the field of mustard plants is in bloom it is a beautiful sea of yellow."
mustered (MUHS tuhrd)
1. Called forth, enrolled, come together: "The police mustered the village people to help look for the missing child."
2. Having worked hard to find or to get courage, support, etc.: "They mustered all the strength they could gather together to push the car out of the mud."
The restaurant employees gathered their yellow condiment together to make sure there was an adequate supply; or, in other words, they mustered all of their mustard to make sure they had enough for the next busy days.
 
mysterious, mythical, mystical
mysterious (mi STIR e uhs)
Eliciting wonder and curiosity but baffling attempts to understand: "The scientists were trying to understand the mysterious green light in the sky."
mythical (MITH i kuhl)
Legendary or occurring only in the imagination: "Ancient stories are filled with mythical characters and creatures."
mystical (MIS ti kuhl)
Characterized as having spiritual meaning that is not obvious to the senses nor to the intellect: "We all felt there was a mystical presence in the cathedral."