vessel, vestal

Vessel or vessel means a container, such as a cup or bowl, used to hold liquid or some other substance--
This ancient vessel was used for serving wine.
The empty shell can be used as a vessel for water.

Vessel also means one of the tubes or ducts that carry fluids through a body--
He's in the hospital; he ruptured a blood vessel.
Who can name a type of blood vessel?

Vessel also means a boat or a ship--
A small motor vessel ferries people to the island and back.
This vessel can carry up to a hundred people.

Vessel may also be used figuratively, to mean a person who holds or passes on something spiritual--
The old preacher considers himself a vessel of divine inspiration.
To her students, the old school teacher seemed a vessel of learning.

Vestal or vestal means chaste or pure, as were the devotees of the Roman goddess Vesta--
He painted her as a vestal virgin, tending the sacred fire in the temple.
The long white dress seemed like a vestal robe.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"A vestal virgin entered, carrying a vessel of oil for the lamps."

judicial, judicious

Judicial or judicial means decreed by a court, as an official writ or opinion--
He disagrees with the judicial opinion, so he's writing a letter to the editor.
There will be a judicial proceeding, with attorneys and a judge, but no jury.

Judicial also describes something related to a judge or a court--
He looks very severe in his judicial robes.

Our government has three branches--legislative, executive, and judicial.

Judicious or judicious describes actions or speech that are mature and prudent--
He's judicious; he never speaks without thinking.
Choose your words carefully; be judicious, and don't say more than you need to.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The old judge was judicious when writing a judicial opinion; he never went to extremes or displayed anger."

material, materiel

Material or material means the substance out of which something is made, physically or intellectually--
The new factory will be used to process the raw material into fiber for clothing.
He is looking for material for a new book.

Material also means pertaining to the physical or financial, instead of the spiritual or intellectual--
She thinks only of material gain, while he thinks about religion.

Material may also mean likely to make a difference in the outcome of a case; essential--
He has been summoned as a material witness.

Materiel or materiel ( from the French, also spelled matériel ), when used in English, means war supplies; arms, ammunition, and equipment--
The troops can walk; we need a plan to move the materiel.
Our army will confiscate all war materiel.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We need oil to use as raw material for plastic, which we need for war materiel."

atoll, a toll

Atoll or atoll ( one word ) means a ring-shaped coral reef, or a group of coral islands, with a lagoon in the center--
It's a beautiful atoll; we can go snorkeling in the lagoon.
They are going to spend their vacation on an atoll in the South Pacific.

A toll or a toll ( two words ) means a fee paid for the right to cross a bridge or use a highway--
The highway is quicker, but you have to pay a toll.
Is there a toll to cross the bridge? How much is it?

A toll may also mean one ring of a large bell--
He summoned them to the castle with a toll of the bell.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"There is a toll to cross the bridge to the atoll, but the only other way to get there is by boat."

Note-- "a tole" ( rhymes with a toll ) means a painting on tinware, or a piece of painted tinware--
She is working on a tole pitcher.

flecks, flex

Flecks or flecks is the plural ( more than one ) of "fleck", meaning a small mark, spot, or patch of color--
His coat is dark gray with flecks of white all through it.
It's made to look like granite, but with flecks of gold in it.

Flex or flex ( rhymes with flecks ) means to bend, said of a part of the body--
When anyone is looking, he likes to roll up his sleeve and flex his muscles.
Now flex your arm while the nurse puts the cuff on.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He can't flex his ankle, and it's dotted with flecks of purple; it may be sprained."

awake, a wake

Awake or awake ( one word ) means not asleep, or alert and ready for action--
If he's not awake, don't disturb him.
Is the baby still awake?
You'll have to stay awake until late to get the job done.

Awake is also an old-fashioned word for "wake", meaning to wake up--
When they awake, they are usually grumpy.

A wake or a wake ( two words ) means a service held for the dead, particularly the viewing of the corpse, or sitting up with the corpse before burial--
He wants to borrow a black tie; he has to go to a wake.
There will be a wake on Monday night, and a service and burial on Tuesday.

A wake may also mean the trail of waves left behind by a ship or boat, often used figuratively--
Slow down; we're leaving a wake, and it's prohibited here.
The storm left a wake of destruction.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"She plans to stay awake all night; she wants a wake like the ones she remembers from long ago."

inner city, inter-city

Inner city or inner city most commonly means blighted or impoverished parts of a city--
Abandoned properties are a serious problem for inner city neighborhoods.
The mayor should ask the council to vote for increased funding for the inner city.

Inter-city or inter-city describes something that takes place between two or more cities--
There is an inter-city bus line that will get you there in about an hour.
The annual football game is part of a long history of inter-city rivalry.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Young people from the inner city will participate in an inter-city competition."