Last week, we looked at homophones — words that sound the same but have different meanings. This time we’ll continue our look at homophones but with the addition of a few non-homophones (nonophones?) — pairs of words that are actually pronounced a little differently but may sound the same to the listener depending on the speaker.

My favorite nonophone (a word I just made up that should not be confused with the Nono Phone available at AliExpress) is the pairing of “guerrilla” (a person who engages in irregular warfare) and “gorilla” (the large African ape). “Guerrilla” was coined during the Peninsular War, which was fought on the Iberian Peninsula in the early 1800s and comes from Spanish, the diminutive of “guerra” (war).

A second pairing of two such words that quickly comes to mind is the duo of “bazaar” (from the Persian “bāzār” or market) and “bizarre” (from the Italian “bizzarro” or angry).

Another set of words consists of “idyll” (a poem or scene of tranquil nature) and “idol” (an effigy or beloved celebrity). As for the last word of the set, I keep thinking of a T-shirt I saw with a picture of Homer Simpson in a hammock above the caption “American Idle” (a in “not active”).

Speaking of Homer, he and his co-workers quickly “dispersed” (spread over a wide area) once Mr. Burns “disbursed” (paid out) their back pay, and before the “marshal” had to declare “martial” law in Springfield (Chief Wiggum was on vacation at the time of the riot).

Next we find our way to “errant” (straying from the proper course or in search of adventure) and its sound-alike, “arrant” (complete or utter). When the “errant” knight said he wasn’t lost, he was an “arrant” liar.

In spite of his poor sense of direction and his propensity for telling tall tales, the knight’s “imminent” (about to happen) arrival caused quite a stir among the townspeople. This was because he was actually quite “eminent” (of high standing) due to his many “immanent” (inherent) talents.

Another group of words that has the potential to sound alike depending upon how they’re spoken or received are “medal,” “metal,” “mettle” and “meddle.” You might win a medal made of gold metal if you have the mettle to overcome your opponent’s desire to meddle in your award ceremony.

A couple of interesting words that happen to be not only homophones but also antonyms are “raise” (build or move to a higher level) and “raze” (completely destroy). I’d much rather go to a barn raising than to a barn razing.

Forging ahead, there are “forward” (onward, to make progress) and “foreword” (a short introduction to a book by a person other than the author). In a 2009 New York Times article about the 50th anniversary of the publication of grammar guide “The Elements of Style,” the reporter wrote that the “forward” of the little book’s latest edition was written by E. B. White’s stepson, Roger Angell (1920-2022).

Pardon my schadenfreude, but I find it a bit comforting that even the writers and editors at The New York Times mess up once in a while.

Jim Witherell of Lewiston is a writer and lover of words whose work includes “L.L. Bean: The Man and His Company” and “Ed Muskie: Made in Maine.” He can be reached at [email protected].