ToBE #37: Similar words, different meanings - Part 4

Heeding to public demand and owing to public abuse of words, “Similar words, different meanings” is back.

Moment/movement
Moment: Point in time or a very short duration of time. At this moment, I can not confirm whether I can join you tomorrow.
Movement: The process of moving. The 2000’s witnessed a large-scale movement of the companies to the IT corridor.

Confident/Confidant
Confident: Sure. I am confident that there is life beyond the solar system.
Confidant (sometimes ‘confidante’): A trusted person. Mahadev Desai was MK Gandhi’s confidant.

Say this twice: I am confident that he will be my confidant.

Intended/Indented
Intended: Meant. The gift was not intended for you.
Indented: Set back from the margin (think of indented – pushing inward, like a dent in a car). Ensure that the sub-section is indented appropriately.

Try saying this twice: That paragraph was not intended to be indented that way.

Sore/Sour/Soar
Sore: Painful or causing irritation. After a day’s play, his arm became sore.
Sour: Having an acidic taste / distasteful. Milk sours quickly in summer.
Soar: Ascend to a great height. The eagle took off the cliff and soared over the ocean.

Hence, note that when a relationship soars (flies high), it is a good thing, and when it sores (hurts) or sours (becomes rotten), it is a bad thing.

Stake/Steak
Stake: A stick, usually of wood. Your hateful words have driven a stake through my heart.
Stake: Bet, wager, issue, concern, interest.

• I have stake in the success of the event.
• It is not just money, my honour is at stake.

Surprise: Both words are pronounced the same – “stake”.