prescribe, proscribe

Prescribe or prescribe means to write down a set of rules or behavior. As a medical term, prescribe means a doctor has ordered a medicine or treatment--
The doctor might prescribe an antibiotic for his infection.
Only a doctor can prescribe something like that.
My grandmother used to prescribe chicken soup for a cold.
Most people with poor vision have a doctor prescribe their glasses.
Prescribe is also a legal term having to do with the use of property--
The court agreed to prescribe a passage to the river across his neighbor's land.

Proscribe or proscribe means to ban or prohibit, as in to make illegal--
The intent of the law is to proscribe illegal gambling.
We would probably need a constitutional amendment to proscribe guns.
Proscribe also means to denounce something--
The minister could be counted on to proscribe lewd behavior.
The historical meaning of proscribe is to declare a person an outlaw or condemned--
In Ancient Rome, to proscribe someone meant to take all of his property.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The speaker did not hesitate to proscribe the tendency of doctors to prescribe too many narcotics."

Note--"prescription" is the noun ( thing or idea ) from of "prescribe"--
The doctor wrote a prescription.
He waited at the drugstore while they filled his prescription.
Note # 2--"proscription" is the noun ( thing or idea ) form of "proscribe"--
The congregation paid little attention to the preacher's proscription of  alcohol.

hair, hare

Hair or hair means the stuff that grows on your head--
Mom said to comb your hair before you leave for school.
Long hair still reminds most people of the 1970's.

Hare or hare ( rhymes with hair ) means a rabbit-type creature--
Remember the old story of the tortoise and the hare?
The dog ran off, chasing a hare.

 Now that you know that, you can say--
"Her hair was a beige color, like the fur of a hare."

Note--not to be confused with "heir" ( rhymes with "air" ), meaning the one who will inherit a legacy or a kingdom--
They all wondered if he would be the heir to the throne.

sale, sail

Sale or sale is the noun ( thing or idea ) form of  "sell"--
The sale of his childhood home brought tears to his eyes.
The school has asked for contributions to its bake sale.
The car dealer was pleased that he made the sale.
Sale often means a "special sale" or a temporary reduction in price--
Let's go shopping. They're having a sale.
The sale ends tomorrow.

Sail or sail ( rhymes with sale ) means to use a boat powered by canvas sheets. Sail may refer to the sheets of canvas themselves, or to the action of  gliding over the water, powered by the wind in the canvas sheets, or "sails"--
He wanted to learn to sail a boat.
The sailor used his spare time to mend the torn sail.
We'll need some wind before we can sail.
Sail is often used to mean any act of gliding through something in a way that seems effortless--
He was sure to sail right through the final exam, after all that studying.
He still remembered the way she would sail through a room.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"They bought a new sail when the boating  store had a sale."

Note--a "sailer" means a boat powered by sails--
This boat is a good sailer.
A "sailor" is a person who goes about on boats, including someone in the navy or the merchant marine--
He wanted to become a sailor, so that he could travel to distant places.
A "sailor" is a "sailor" even if the boat doesn't have "sails"--
The sailor worked all day on the ship's engines.

stake, steak

Stake or stake means a post used to secure something, or to mark a border or boundary, usually by driving the post into the ground--
Last time they went camping, they lost a tent stake.
He sawed up the old broom handle to make a stake for the tomato plant.
Stake may be used as a verb ( action word ), meaning to secure something with a stake--
I can use this to stake up the tomato plants.
Stake may also mean one's interest in a matter, or what one has risked --
His job might be at stake in this investigation.
I wouldn't stake a cent on what that man said.

Steak or steak ( rhymes with stake )  means a cut of meat, usually beef--
He went to a restaurant for a steak dinner.
Steak is too expensive--buy some ground beef.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He tripped over the tent stake, and the tent fell down on our steak dinner."

Note--a "stake truck" has wooden or metal "stakes" around the back to form an enclosure--
He needed to keep the old stake truck running, or he wouldn't be able to drive to town.
Note # 2--to "burn someone at the stake" meant to tie him or her to a post and set a fire underneath. This is how some of the medieval saints died You can read about it in the story of Joan of Arc, if you're interested. People were also burned at the stake when accused of witchcraft. You can read about this in the history of the Salem witch trials--
He was burned at the stake, and became a martyr and a saint.
Note # 3--to "burn the steak" is culinary. Someone has left the steak on the grill too long, or cooked it too much in some other way--
Watch the grill. I don't want you to burn the steak.
"Steaks" is the plural ( more than one ) of "steak"--
Don't let the steaks burn.
Note # 4--"stakes" is the plural ( more than one ) of "stake"--
Don't forget the tent stakes this time.
They are playing for high stakes.

grate, great

Grate or grate means the frame of crossed metal bars that may make the bottom of a fireplace or the cover of a vent or window--
When the fire went out, she swept the ashes out of the grate.
The grate that covers the basement windows can't be removed.
To "grate" something means to shred it on the teeth or openings of a metal kitchen gadget--
Will you grate the cheese while I make the dough?
She likes to grate carrots for the salad.
Something may "grate" on one's nerves--
Her endless chatter may grate on your nerves.

Great or great ( rhymes with grate ) means extremely large or important--
They study great men of letters at school.
There are statues of  great generals in the park.
"Humpty Dumpty had a great fall..."
There is a great crowd of people at the mall.
Great is also used to mean very good--
That was a great movie!
They make great burgers there!
What a great idea!

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Will you help me grate the carrots to make that great carrot cake we had last Thanksgiving?"

Note--"greater" means larger than, in size, number, or importance--
Six is greater than four.
The taxes will be a greater problem.
"Grater" means the device used for grating cheese or other food--
Don't let the grater get rusty.
Where's the grater? I want to make a pizza.

idle, idol, idyll

Idle or idle means not in use--
His tools sat idle while he was ill.
The car sat idle in the garage while they were away.
When idle is used to refer to a person, it means not working, or doing nothing--
His wife always complained if he was idle for a moment.
She rarely spent an idle minute.
"Idle hands are the devil's workshop".
When idle is used to refer to a machine, it means that the machine is not being used, as in the expression "to let the car idle", meaning with the motor on, but sitting still--
Don't let the car idle too long; it wastes gas.
Her typewriter sat idle for weeks while she was on vacation.
Idle is also used to mean useless or ineffective--
That's just idle gossip.
They are just idle rumors.
Don't make idle threats.
"tears, idle tears..."

Idol or idol ( rhymes with idle ) means a religious statue that is worshiped or prayed to--
The plain people believe that any image might be used as an idol.
Many people think that all religious images are idols, if the images belong to a religion not their own.
Movie stars were once called "matinee idols".

Idyll or idyll ( rhymes with idle ) means something like a day in the country, or in an unspoiled natural place--it may mean the type of poem that is written about such a day, or it may refer to the day itself, and how it felt to be out of doors in a lovely setting--
The day was so lovely it  lacked only a poet to write an idyll.
The visit to the park seemed like an idyll.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"In his idle moments, he dreamed of an idyll in which his favorite movie idol played a part."

Note--"idler" is an old-fashioned word for a loafer or ne'er-do-well--someone who lounges about and does nothing, usually a man--
The townspeople called him an idler, but his farm was prosperous.
"Idly" describes an idle state, or a state of inaction--
He stood by idly while the barn burned.
Note # 2--An "idolater" is someone who worships an idol or image--
The country parson was sure the big city was full of idolaters.
"Idolatry" means the worship of idols, or "magic" statues or images--
Idolatry was once a criminal charge.
Note # 3--"idyllic" describes a lovely scene of nature at peace--
The picnic was lively, and the setting was idyllic.

steal, steel

Steal or steal means to take what doesn't belong to you--to commit robbery, larceny, or burglary--
The team hatched a plot to steal the rival school's mascot.
Don't steal my seat while I'm gone.
He planned a romantic date to steal her heart.
The runner tried to steal third base, but got caught.

Steel or steel ( rhymes with steal ) means the metal made of iron and coke ( the mineral )--
Most cars are made of steel.
Steel can rust, unless it is stainless steel.
Steel may mean to harden, in an emotional sense--
He took a deep breath and tried to steel his nerves.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"She tried to steel her heart against his efforts to steal her heart."
"He tried to steal the workman's steel tools."

Note--the past tense( yesterday, or some time ago )  of "steal" is "stole"--
He stole my sandwich!
The modifier ( describing ) form of "steal" is "stolen"--
He was arrested for receiving stolen goods.
"Stole" is also a noun ( thing or idea ), meaning a wrap that goes around a woman's shoulders--
She wanted a mink stole in the worst way.
A "stollen" is a kind of cake--
She offered coffee and stollen to the visitors.
Note # 2--a "stele" ( rhymes with steal ) is an upright slab of stone with words or images carved on it--
The museum staff spent years trying to decipher the writing on the ancient stele.