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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Homonymy
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1992-09-02
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Aspect of language in which two or more words
may sound and look alike (homonymy proper;
for example, a farmer's bull and a papal
bull), may sound the same but look different
(homophony; for example, air and heir; gilt
and guilt), and may look the same but sound
different (homography; for example the wind
in the trees and roads that wind). Homonyms,
homophones, and homographs seldom pose
problems of comprehension, because they
usually belong in different contexts. Even
when brought into the same context for effect
(`The heir to the throne had an air of self-
satisfaction'), they are entirely clear. They
may, however, be used to make puns (for
example, `a papal bull in a china shop').