ARGUE, AUGUR.—­To argue is “to bring forward reasons;” to augur is “to foretell,” “to forebode.”

COMPARE WITH, COMPARE TO, CONTRAST.—­“Two things are compared in order to note the points of resemblance and difference between them; they are contrasted in order to note the points of difference only.  When one thing is compared to another, it is to show that the first is like the second; when one thing is compared with another, it is to show either difference or similarity, especially difference."[102]

CONSTRUE, CONSTRUCT.—­“To construe means ‘to interpret,’ ’to show the meaning;’ to construct means ‘to build;’ we may construe a sentence as in translation, or construct it as in composition."[103]

CONVINCE, CONVICT.—­“To convince is ‘to satisfy the understanding;’ to convict, ‘to pronounce guilty.’  ’The jury having been convinced of the prisoner’s guilt, he was convicted.’”

DETECT, DISCRIMINATE.—­To detect is “to find out;” to discriminate is “to distinguish between.”

DISCLOSE, DISCOVER.—­To disclose is “to uncover,” “to reveal;” to discover is, in modern usage, “to find.”

DOMINATE, DOMINEER.—­To dominate is “to rule;” to domineer is “to rule in an overbearing manner.”

DRIVE, RIDE.—­We go driving in carriages, riding in saddles.  We drive behind horses, we ride on them.

ELIMINATE, ELICIT.—­To eliminate is “to remove,” “to get rid of;” to elicit is “to draw out.”

ESTIMATE, ESTEEM.—­To estimate is “to judge the value of;” to esteem is “to set a high value on,” especially of persons.

EXPOSE, EXPOUND.—­To expose is “to lay bare to view;” to expound is “to explain the meaning of.”

FRIGHTEN.—­Frighten is a transitive verb, and is used correctly in “The locomotive frightened the horse;” “The horse was frightened by the locomotive;” “The horse became frightened.”  It should not be used intransitively, as in the sentence “The horse frightened at the locomotive.”

INQUIRE, INVESTIGATE.—­To inquire is “to ask for information;” to investigate is “to make a thorough examination.”

INSURE, SECURE.—­Secure, in the sense of “to guard from danger,” “to make safe,” is preferable to insure, since insure also means “to guarantee indemnity for future loss or damage.”

LET, LEAVE.—­Let means “to permit;” leave, “to let remain,” or “to go away from.”

LOCATE, FIND.—­Locate properly means “to place in a particular position,” or “to designate the site of,” as of a new building or purchased lands; it does not mean to find.

PERSUADE, ADVISE.—­To persuade is “to induce,” “to convince;” to advise is “to give counsel or information.”