List of English homonyms whose meaning is derived from the way they’re stressed
Wednesday 27 February 2008
In English, we have many words which are used both as nouns and/or adjectives, and as verbs. When the words are used as nouns or adjectives, the first syllable is stressed, whereas when they're verbs, it's a later syllable which is stressed. The nouns are therefore known as 'Initial-stress-derived nouns’—what else?
Here are some fun examples:
- absent
- abstract
- accent
- addict
- address
- affect
- affix
- alloy
- ally
- annex
- assay
- attribute
- augment
- belay
- combat
- combine
- commune
- compact
- complex
- compost
- compound
- compress
- concert
- conduct
- confect
- confine(s)
- conflict
- conscript
- conserve
- consist
- console
- consort
- construct
- consult
- content
- contest
- contract
- contrast
- converse
- convert
- convict
- costume
- decrease
- default
- defect
- desert
- detail
- dictate
- digest
- discard
- discharge
- discount
- discourse
- dismount
- document
- escort
- essay
- excise
- exploit
- export
- extract
- finance
- foretaste
- foretoken
- frequent
- gallant
- impact
- implant
- implement
- impound
- import
- impress
- imprint
- incense
- incline
- increase
- indent
- inlay
- insert
- insult
- intercept
- interchange
- intercross
- interdict
- interlink
- interlock
- intern
- interplay
- interspace
- interweave
- intrigue
- invert
- invite
- involute
- mandate
- misconduct
- misprint
- object
- offset
- ornament
- overcount
- overlap
- overlay
- overlook
- override
- overrun
- overturn
- perfect
- perfume
- permit
- pervert
- prefix
- present
- proceed(s)
- produce
- progress
- project
- protest
- purport
- rampage
- rebel
- recall
- recap
- recess
- recoil
- record
- re-count
- redirect
- redo
- redress
- refill
- refund
- refuse
- regress
- rehash
- reject
- relapse
- relay
- remake
- repeat
- reprint
- research
- reset
- retake
- retard
- retract
- retread
- rewrite
- segment
- subject
- survey
- suspect
- torment
- transfer
- transform
- transplant
- transect
- transport
- transpose
- undercount
- underlay
- underline
- underscore
- update
- upgrade
- uplift
- upset
(From Wikipedia, fount of so much knowledge.)
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