‘Magnate’ and ‘Magnet’: Poles Apart

Language: how does it work? And how do you remember the difference between words that look alike like magnet And rich man?

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The ancient Greeks used the term ‘magnēs lithos’ for exotic minerals with intriguing properties.

ONE rich man is defined as “a person with rank, power, influence, or distinction usually in a particular area.”

New York Real Estate rich man Charles Kushner confessed to pressuring his son, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, to buy the Manhattan skyscraper at 666 Fifth Avenue, which tarnished his line’s business reputation and made him millions of dollars in debt. — Quint Forgey, politicsApril 24, 2018

Origin of rich man very simple: it comes through the English plural boss from Latin Boss, which means “big” or “great.” A steel tycoon is a large or great presence in that industry; Elon Musk is often referred to as a tech mogul.

Magnus is a root word found in many English words, including heroic (“show or suggest a noble and courageous spirit” or “show or suggest a noble feeling and generous spirit”), size (“scale or magnitude”), and magnificent (“marked with stately grandeur and luxury” or “particularly good”).

boss like magnetand while a tycoon may have a magnetic personality (or think he has), the two are not related.

ONE magnet, of course, is a body with iron-attracting properties. The ancient Greeks used the term big rock for foreign minerals with attractive properties. Magns . stone means “rock of Magnesia”—magnesium is a city in Asia Minor named after the Greek tribe that settled in this area.

In its figurative sense, magnet describe a thing or place that a lot of people are attracted to:

This sentiment is understandable, as this is a good time in Washington and the seven counties surrounding it. Even as the nation struggled, the capital prospered, making it a magnet intended for the discerning youth but leaves its inhabitants with only a rough understanding of life in the rest of the country. — Andrew Ferguson, Times, May 28, 2012

Some tycoons may think of themselves as symbolic magnets (for example, to cause controversy), but the meanings of the two words are distinct. That doesn’t prevent one word from being confused with another one at a time:

Jackson and her husband, Qatari real estate magnet Wissam Al Mana, 42, has kept her mouth shut since they quietly married in 2012 and has been adamant on staying out since Eissa was born. — People.comJanuary 27, 2017

Once some habits are attached, it can be difficult to separate them.

See more:  Should that word have a hyphen?

Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn

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