spay: (v.) to neuter a female animal by removing its ovaries (past tense: spayed)
spade: (n.) a tool for digging; (v.) to use such a tool
Collision: In the strictest sense of the word, an event in which two moving objects strike each other.
Allision: an instance of a moving ship striking a ship or object that is stationary.
The latter term came to light after the recent incident in which a container ship allided with the FS Key Bridge in Baltimore.
brail: a kind of small rope
Braille: blind French guy
“A bullet-riddled body was found in a crime-ridden neighborhood.”
Because of these two descriptions’ proximity, the poor victim has had eggcorn added to injury with “bullet-ridden.” The neighborhood has been carried away by crime. The victim has been permeated with multiple holes.
Or worse, “bullet-riven,” when the gunfire cut him into pieces.
python: snake
Pythoness: oracle
Formerly: In the past (but not anymore). “The artist formerly known as Prince.”
Formally: In accordance with established rules/procedures, and/or done through official channels. “You need to formally request a meeting.”
Python - a programming language
lumpen: like a lump
lumped: formed into a lump
Oatmeal: A delicious and healthy breakfast cereal made from oats
Oakmeal: Ground up acorns. Less delicious and toxic if not cooked properly.
I have to accept that that’s how it’s used in English now, but I suspect it was a back-formation from Marx and Engels Lumpenproletariat (the poorest of the poor) from German lumpen=rags. “Lumpish” would be more English.
The dictionary doesn’t even include @DPRK’s usage; the official definitions only relate to their use in Marxism:
Wiktionary lumpen is 1. Of or relating to social outcasts / Of or relating to the lumpenproletariat / Plebeian; 2. Lump-like; 3. [verb] To make or become like lumps; make or become lumpy
I chose sense 2 for my example because that is what I had encountered “in the wild”. It’s possible the originators of sense 2 were themselves confused given the existence of the German word Lumpen, but I do not know. It did strike me as unusual when I read it, and Webster/OED do not mention Sense 2.
My mistake in German - not 'rags" but “rogues” or “rascals” - the (semi-criminal) poor.
Yeah, I’ve only heard the word in the Marxist sense. Why use “lumpen” when “lumpy” is perfectly good and much more typical, in my experience. Is there a slightly different sense?
I thought Lumpen (in German) did mean rags and shreds? A “Lump” could be a rascal or cad.
Ref “lumpen” There are certainly many English words that use “en” to adjectify a noun. “Golden” being the obvious one. So “lumpen” as “lumpy” or “made of lumps” isn’t crazy talk violating all the “rules” (hah!) of English.
I’ve never encountered it before the discussion here, but were someone to use it, I’d have gotten the idea immediately. To me it feels sort of archaic, like it would fit right in a Grimm’s fairy tale or a modern story set in a similar mood and tone.
might: force, power - e.g. “they fought with all their might”
(also past tense and present subjunctive of “may”)
mite: a small quantity or entity, as in minuscule bed mites, or the biblical “widow’s mite”
Mite: Mate in Australian.
Discovered another one:
current: happening in the present; or a flow of fluid or electricity
currant: an edible berry, often used for jam
exodus: a departure by a large crowd
exitus: (rare) a death, a fatality
A local news source ran an article about traffic from the “mass exitus” after the eclipse.