perjury, pejorative

Perjury or perjury means false swearing, or lying when testifying in court --
He claimed he didn't know the defendant, and he was later indicted for perjury.
Instead of swearing on the Bible, witnesses should be asked if they understand the meaning of perjury.

Pejorative or pejorative means disparaging or belittling --
When he says liberal, he means it in a pejorative sense.
"Limey" is a pejorative term, no longer in common use, for a British man.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He used several pejorative expressions to refer to the victim; he may also be guilty of perjury."

diagnosis, diagnoses

Diagnosis or diagnosis means the determination, usually by the symptoms, of the kind of illness or problem, and where possible its cause --
His diagnosis was correct; she'll need to start treatment for diabetes.
My diagnosis is boredom and fatigue; my prescription is a day trip to the shore.

Diagnoses or diagnoses ( nearly rhymes with diagnosis ) is the he, she, it form of "diagnose", meaning to determine the kind of illness or problem, and where possible its cause --
If the doctor diagnoses a heart condition, he will send you to a specialist.
Our mechanic has a machine that diagnoses engine trouble.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"If the doctor diagnoses psychiatric trouble, you'll be sent to a mental health professional for his  diagnosis."

realize, relies

Realize or realize means to comprehend or understand; to grasp, mentally --
She didn't realize what it meant until she read the fine print.
When you're older, you may realize that you've made a foolish decision.

Realize may also mean to take in as profit, as when selling something for cash --
The charity fund may realize a thousand dollars from the sale of this painting.

Relies or relies is the he, she, it form of "rely", meaning to depend or put one's trust in --
He relies on his social connections to advance his career.
He all too often relies on luck, instead of good planning.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"She'll soon realize that he relies on charm to get him out of every difficulty."

corvette, curvet

Corvette or corvette ( sometimes spelled corvet ) means a warship, an old wooden sailing ship, or a newer armed ship used as an escort --
They are restoring an old corvette, and need to have the sails made.
There is one corvette left to escort the convoy.

Curvet or curvet means a leap of a horse, started by rearing its front legs up, then kicking out its back legs as the front legs come down --
His horse did a fine curvet, but lost points on the jump.
The horse should do a curvet on command, not just rear like a bucking bronco.

Curvet may also mean, of a horse, to make a leap, or of a person, to make a horse leap, by rearing up and kicking out the back legs --
In fine weather the young horse will run, jump, and curvet for hours.
Curvet the horse as you pass the reviewing stand.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He wants an ensign for the corvette, of a white horse in the middle of a curvet."

Note -- "Corvette" ( always capitalized ) is also the famous sportscar --
They are restoring an old Corvette, and need to have the seats reupholstered.

quitter, quittor

Quitter or quitter means someone who gives up too easily; who doesn't finish what he or she starts --
He is still struggling with those math problems; at least he isn't a quitter.
Only a quitter would give up so soon; you've only been working an hour.

Quittor or quittor means a degenerative disease of an animal's hoof--
The vet is treating that horse for quittor; no one should ride him.
A bad case of quittor left him lame, so we put him out to pasture.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"This horse is no quitter; we thought the quittor would hobble him, but he finished the race."

Note -- "quit or" ( two words ) means to stop, resign, or give up ( quit ) offered as an alternative ( or ) --
Shall we quit or finish the job?

turret, terret

Turret or turret means a small tower, most commonly part of a building, or used for mounting guns --
That old house with the turret is for sale; should we go and look at it?
The guns were mounted in a turret, so they left them behind.

Terret or terret means one of the rings on a harness --
Put the reins through the terret, and then through the crupper.
The terret is missing, but we may be able to fix it.

Now that you know that you can say --
"He attached an old terret to the side of the turret, to hold up the banner."

coma, comma

Coma or coma means an unconscious state caused by injury, disease, or poison --
He is still in a coma; we have little hope that he will regain consciousness.
She spent three weeks in a coma, and she hasn't been the same since.

Comma or comma means a punctuation mark ( , ) used to indicate a pause, or a phrase or section of a written sentence --
Use a comma to separate items on a list: "We need to buy bread, milk, and eggs."
A comma should mark the end of one clause or phrase, and the beginning of another: "He couldn't play, but he cheered for the team."

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He was in a coma for several days, and now he pauses when he speaks, as if a comma followed each word."

billboard, bulletin board

Billboard or billboard means a large outdoor advertising sign, one that can be seen from a car, or from a distance --
"I think that I shall never see a billboard lovely as a tree."
He nearly had an accident, gawking at a billboard.

Bulletin board or bulletin board means a board used for posting announcements or notices --
There's an ad for a job opening, on the top of the bulletin board.
She wants a bulletin board to pin her favorite photos on.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"There's a notice on the bulletin board about a meeting to discuss removing the billboard."

anonymous, unanimous

Anonymous or anonymous describes someone whose name or identity is unknown --
The information was provided by an anonymous caller.
The scandalous book by an anonymous author caused a sensation in Washington.

Unanimous or unanimous describes a group in complete agreement, everyone having the same opinion --
The verdict was unanimous; everyone voted to convict.
We would like to discuss this until we reach a unanimous conclusion, but there isn't time.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"The decision of the board was unanimous; the new investor remained anonymous."

adverse, averse

Adverse or adverse means unfavorable or opposing --
They labored under adverse conditions, but finished the job on time and under budget.
An adverse wind kept them out longer than expected.

Averse or averse means a feeling of repugnance or dislike --
He has always been averse to incivility of any kind.
Do you think he'd be averse to a friendly game?

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He is averse to cutting corners or taking shortcuts, even in adverse circumstances."

Note --"averse" and "adverse" are also botanical ( plants ) terms.
In botany, adverse describes leaves that are turned to the axis, and averse describes leaves that are turned away from the axis. 
Label each plant "averse" or "adverse", depending on whether the leaves turn in or out.

indict, indite

Indict or indict means to formally charge with a crime, or to accuse of wrongdoing  --
The grand jury has decided to indict him for murder.
The district attorney doesn't want to indict him unless he thinks he can win a conviction.

Indite or indite ( rhymes with indict ) means to write or compose, most commonly used to mean a speech or address of some kind --
That's where he goes to indite his weekly sermon.
Can you help him indite his farewell speech?

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He went to the office to indite an article on his decision to indict the famous entertainer."

uniformed, uninformed

Uniformed or uniformed describes someone wearing clothing as part of a job or as a  member of an organization --
There is usually a uniformed guard at the door.
A uniformed delivery person left this package.

Uninformed or uninformed means lacking knowledge of some event or circumstance --
When asked what he thought about the election, he seemed uninformed and uninterested.
He follows the most obscure news stories, and considers everyone else uninformed.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"We saw two uniformed officers escort him out, but his aide was uninformed and uncommunicative."

Note -- "unformed" means lacking a definite shape; undeveloped, literally or figuratively--
He spent hours musing on the as yet unformed plans for his next vacation.

previous, pervious

Previous or previous describes something that happened or existed before the current state of affairs, or someone who occupied a place or position before the person who has it now --
The previous tenant left this behind.
What was your previous address?

Pervious or pervious means allowing passage or entrance, literally or figuratively --
Cover the roots with pervious soil, so that water and fertilizer can reach them.
He has ignored our arguments, but he may yet be pervious to an emotional appeal.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"Unlike the previous candidate, he is pervious to reason."

coolie, coulee

Coolie or coolie means an unskilled laborer or a gang laborer, most commonly used  in the United States to mean an immigrant from China --
His grandfather was a coolie who worked on the railroad; his story is very interesting.
She showed us an old photograph of an ancestor who came here as a coolie.

Coulee or coulee ( rhymes with coolie ) means a ravine or gulch --
At the bottom of the hill there's a coulee that's usually dry; you can walk across it.
The cattle wandered as far as the coulee, looking for water.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He came here in 1890 as a coolie, and eventually owned land from here to the coulee."

inept, inapt

Inept or inept means without skill; incompetent --
He is not only inept, but also unreliable.
She is inept at managing money; she can never remember what she spent.

Inapt or inapt means not suitable; inappropriate --
His inapt comment made everyone uncomfortable.
The project name is inapt, and possibly offensive. Change it.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He is socially inept; his inapt remark may cost us the account."

Note -- "unapt" means not suitable--
The post was unapt, but certainly not offensive.

Unapt may also mean not likely; unlikely --
He is unapt to waste time on such a trivial matter.

Unapt may also mean lacking skill or capacity for a given task --
He is a remarkably unapt pupil; he should study something else.

griffin, griffon

Griffin or griffin means a mythological creature, with the head and wings of an eagle, and the body of a lion --
There is a griffin made of stones, just off the highway up ahead.
That old statue of a griffin may be an antique.

Griffon or griffon means a vulture that lives in parts of Europe--
See the griffon circling over there?
We saw a griffon or some other vulture; I got a picture of it.

Griffon may also means a breed of dog from Belgium or the Netherlands --
He has a griffon that goes hunting with him.
This old griffon can still retrieve a bird when we take him out.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"A griffon swooped down and stood on the stone griffin by the gate, like something out of an old story."

in human, inhuman

In human or in human ( two words ) means included as part of ( in ) something pertaining to people ( human ) --
More people are literate now than at any other time in human history.
In human beings the brain is comparatively larger than in most other species.

Inhuman or inhuman ( one word ) means without normal qualities usually associated with people; cruel, monstrous, or brutal --
The abuse of these creatures was inhuman; I hope the offenders will be caught.
It was worse than criminal; it was inhuman.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"In human society we have a tendency to dismiss crime as inhuman, an abberation of the individual, making no part of our culture and belief system."

Note -- "inhumane" means lacking any kindness or sympathy --
The treatment of the prisoners was inhumane,  perhaps even criminal.

endanger, in danger

Endanger or endanger ( one word ) means to put in harm's way; to expose to hazard or peril --
This foolish behavior could endanger his life, but he thinks nothing of it.
One youthful mistake can endanger your chance of success later in life.

In danger or in danger ( two words ) means a place or position ( in ) that involves a risk of harm or injury ( danger ) --
We were not in danger, only frightened.
He was in danger of losing his temper, so he said nothing.
His foolish behavior could put his life in danger.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He is in danger of fainting; these chemicals may endanger his health."

pasture, past your, passed your

Pasture or pasture ( one word ) means a field of grass for livestock to eat --
He's busy putting a new fence around the pasture.
Take the cow down to the pasture.

Pasture may also mean to put the livestock in a place where they can eat grass or plants --
There are better places to pasture the cattle, not far from here.
Don't pasture the goats in the neighbor's field.

Past your or past your ( two words ) describes something gone by or elapsed ( past ), belonging to the person addressed ( your ) --
It's past your bedtime.
We drove past your old house yesterday.

Passed your or passed your ( two words ) is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "pass", meaning to go by or beyond, or to finish successfully, something belonging to the person addressed ( your ) --
I think we passed your street; we should turn around.
The teacher said that you passed your final exam.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"We walked past your house, down towards the pasture, and passed your brother on his way home."

here after, hereafter

Here after or here after ( two words ) means in this location ( here ) when a span of time has elapsed, or some event has transpired ( after ) --
Mom said to wait here after the movie.
They will be here after the mall closes.

Hereafter or hereafter ( one word ) means subsequently; later than --
Hereafter, would you take your laundry out of the machine when it's done?
The rent has been raised; the lessor expects an extra sum hereafter.

Hereafter ( one word ) may also mean existence after death --
He believes we'll all be together in the hereafter.
Some people believe that there is a hereafter, with rewards for the good and punishments for the wicked.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"I know you often play here after school, but hereafter you are to go straight home."

annual, annular

Annual or annual means yearly, or once a year --
The annual music festival is this weekend.
This flower is an annual; it won't grow back next year.

Annular or annular means ring-shaped --
They hope to get a good view of the annular eclipse of the Sun.
The doctor says it's an annular tear; he may need surgery.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He spent his annual bonus on a new annular cutter; he says he'll be able to work much faster now."