Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Ravel vs. Unravel

Now this is just stupid. No wonder people complain that English is the most difficult language to learn. Definitions from Dictionary.com.

un·rav·el
–verb (used with object)


  1. to free from complication or difficulty; make plain or clear; solve: to unravel a situation; to unravel a mystery.
  2. Informal. to take apart; undo; destroy (a plan, agreement, or arrangement). –verb (used without object)
  3. to become unraveled.

rav·el
–verb (used with object)
  1. to disentangle or unravel the threads or fibers of (a woven or knitted fabric, rope, etc.).
  2. to tangle or entangle.
  3. to involve; confuse; perplex.
  4. to make clear; unravel (often fol. by out). –verb (used without object)
  5. to become disjoined thread by thread or fiber by fiber; fray.
  6. to become tangled.
  7. to become confused or perplexed.
  8. (of a road surface) to lose aggregate. –noun
  9. a tangle or complication.

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