a) auger / augur
‘Auger’ and ‘augur’ have nothing to do with each other, though they are
pronounced alike. One is a tool. The other is a person.
‘Auger’ is a carpenter’s tool. It is used for making
holes, usually in wood. The word is old Germanic in
origin. It was adopted into English by craftsmen in the
early Middle Ages.
‘Augur’ is a soothsayer, or a person who predicts the future from the observation of birds. (What he thus foretells, is called ‘ augury’. Augury is also the sign of the future. ‘Augur’ can be used as a verb.) The word is rooted in Latin.
b) aural / oral ‘Aural’ and ‘oral’ are pronounced alike. Both are adjectives. Hence the confusion. ‘Aural’ is related to the ‘ear’ and hearing. It is derived from Latin
‘ auris’= ear.
‘Oral’ is also of Latin origin. But it refers to ‘oris’= mouth. Therefore it has to do with speaking. Note, please. The confusion can be further confounding because ‘oral’ examinations are ‘aural’ as well
‘Augur’ is a soothsayer, or a person who predicts the future from the observation of birds. (What he thus foretells, is called ‘ augury’. Augury is also the sign of the future. ‘Augur’ can be used as a verb.) The word is rooted in Latin.
b) aural / oral ‘Aural’ and ‘oral’ are pronounced alike. Both are adjectives. Hence the confusion. ‘Aural’ is related to the ‘ear’ and hearing. It is derived from Latin
‘ auris’= ear.
‘Oral’ is also of Latin origin. But it refers to ‘oris’= mouth. Therefore it has to do with speaking. Note, please. The confusion can be further confounding because ‘oral’ examinations are ‘aural’ as well
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