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Confusing "D" words

This lesson talks about four pairs of words, which are bound to confuse you... have a look at the words and their uses.

Distinct and Distinctive

Distinct - not identical; separate (sometimes followed by from): it basically means something that has been identified as different or dissimilar.
His private and public lives are distinct.
They have two very distinct personalities.

Distinctive - distinguishing: it basically means typical or chracteristic.
The distinctive stripes of the zebra.
The cathedral contains the distinctive arhcitecture of Rome.


Discreet and Discrete


Discreet -  It means careful or reserved in one's speech or actions, often to avoid offending someone. It also means unnoticeable or unobtrusive at times.
I will make some discreet enquiries for you. (meaning of discreet - careful)
He followed at a discreet distance. (meaning of discreet - unnoticeable)

Discrete - individual, distinct: it basically means some thing which is different and seperate
The book is a collection of three discrete stories.


Droop and Drupe

Droop  - to sag : it basically means to hang down as if from weakness
Due to the arduous running schedule my dog's ears began to droop.

Drupe - A fleshy fruit: it basically refers to fruits consisting of an outer skin, a usually pulpy and succulent middle layer, and a hard and woody inner shell usually enclosing a single seed. For example- cherry, peach, plum.
Blackberries are an aggregate fruit composed of a cluster of small drupes.

Deviser and Devisor 


Deviser -  A person who designs plots or intrigues.
He is known to be the priciple devisor of the terrorist bombing attack.

Devisor - Someone who devises real property in a will.
He is the devisor of my will.

Deliverance and Deliver


Deliverance - the action of being rescued or set free: it could mean being salvaged or liberated.

A surgeon's job is to save people's lives ;the work is the deliverance of mankind. 

Delivery - the action of delivering letter, packages or ordered goods.

If you order the food on time, then the delivery should not take more than 30 minutes.

oLahav
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oLahav said:

Great lesson! I always get discrete and discreet confused… which makes my discreet geometry class pretty weird.

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acrosstheuniverse
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acrosstheuniverse said:

Great lesson Astha! Now I have to catch up and finish my “C” letter lesson! :)

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lechuck
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lechuck said:

This is a great lesson, I just may have to feature it! Well done Astha!

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Astha
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Astha said in response to:
acrosstheuniverse
acrosstheuniverse’s post:
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Great lesson Astha! Now I have to catch up and finish my “C” letter lesson! :)

yeah…. n ill work on the e words! i wasn’t too sure about it though, because the standard of your lessons, Krista is very high and hard to achieve.

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JohnPhilipGreen
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JohnPhilipGreen said:

I’m still not sure I understand the difference between discreet and discrete. Can you give an example of where you must you one and not the other?

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meenakshi1982_verma
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meenakshi1982_verma said:

it was nice to see learning in colorful fonts with easy to understand language you are a nice teacher i must say. along with that i’m seeking a sort of help from you can you please post some lesson on pronunciation, how should a word be pronounced

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acrosstheuniverse
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acrosstheuniverse said:

Hi meenakshi,

Check out this Syllable Stress Lesson, you might find it helpful!

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Astha
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Astha said in response to:
JohnPhilipGreen
JohnPhilipGreen’s post:
Citation Body

I’m still not sure I understand the difference between discreet and discrete. Can you give an example of where you must you one and not the other?

Ok, first you should get the meaning clear: DISCREET means showing prudence, restraint or circumspection in speech or behavior, DISCRETE means distinct, separate.

Take for example a DISCREET man who suddenly gets a brutal attack of sever stomach pain, in the middle of a party, this DISCREET man will not create a scene in front of people, instead he will quietly go to the hotel reception and ask for a pain killer and be up and about as soon as possible.

Now, suppose if after his conversation with the receptionist, he is provided with several different types of medicines to choose from, each with a different side-effect, size and color: he will now have to choose from a set of DISCRETE medicines.

So, discrete and discreet actually have very different meanings and are used in different contexts. I hope this will help you! If you still have a query I will try to explain this better…

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JohnPhilipGreen
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JohnPhilipGreen said in response to:
Astha
Astha’s post:
Citation Body

Ok, first you should get the meaning clear: DISCREET means showing prudence, restraint or circumspection in speech or behavior, DISCRETE means distinct, separate.

Take for example a DISCREET man who suddenly gets a brutal attack of sever stomach pain, in the middle of a party, this DISCREET man will not create a scene in front of people, instead he will quietly go to the hotel reception and ask for a pain killer and be up and about as soon as possible.

Now, suppose if after his conversation with the receptionist, he is provided with several different types of medicines to choose from, each with a different side-effect, size and color: he will now have to choose from a set of DISCRETE medicines.

So, discrete and discreet actually have very different meanings and are used in different contexts. I hope this will help you! If you still have a query I will try to explain this better…

I totally understand now (for the first time in my life!). Thanks!

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Astha
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Astha said in response to:
meenakshi1982_verma
meenakshi1982_verma’s post:
Citation Body

it was nice to see learning in colorful fonts with easy to understand language you are a nice teacher i must say. along with that i’m seeking a sort of help from you can you please post some lesson on pronunciation, how should a word be pronounced

Please don’t call me a “teacher” i’m just 13!!!!

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