Fairy vs ferry

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Grammarist

The words fairy and ferry are pronounced the same way but are spelled differently and have two very different meanings. We will look at the definitions of the words fairy and ferry, where the words come from and some examples of their use in sentences.

A fairy is a supernatural being with magical powers in European folklore, especially Irish and Scottish folklore. A fairy is a miniature human being, usually female, who is often depicted with wings. Some think that the belief in fairies stems from a dim, ancient memory of an extinct race of humans. The word fairy is derived from the Old French word faerie, a spelling that is sometimes seen in English as an esoteric rendering of the word. This spelling is acknowledged by the Oxford English Dictionary as an archaic word, along with the word faery.

A ferry is a ship, boat or raft used to move people, animals or things for a short distance. Ferries are usually employed on rivers, small lakes and bays. The word ferry may also refer to the service of moving people, animals or things for a short distance. Finally, ferry may be used as a verb, related words are ferries, ferried, ferrying. The word ferry is derived from the Old Norse word ferju.

Examples

Marasmius oreades, which is commonly known as the fairy ring mushroom, forms very large but irregular rings that may attain a diameter of 1,200 feet. (The Terrace Standard)

A privately-run ferry service from Pattaya to Hua Hin is expected to start operations on Jan 1, the Marine Department says, but the ride will be initially limited to a daily round-trip and cater only to passengers, not vehicles. (The Bangkok Post)