Rows and rose are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. Homophones exist because of our ever-changing English language. The way the spelling and definitions differ can be confusing. Pronunciation may change, even though the spelling doesn’t, producing two words that are pronounced in the same manner but have different meanings such as night and knight. English words are also spelled according to their etymologies rather than their sound. For instance, the word threw is derived from the Old English word thrawan, and the word through came from the Old English word thurh. We will examine the definitions of the words rows and rose, their etymology and some examples of their use in sentences.
Rows is the plural and third person present tense form of the word row. Row has many disparate meanings. Row may mean a line of people or things in a fairly straight line. Row may also refer to a round of knitting, or a horizontal line on a table of figures. Row is also used as a verb to mean to propel a boat by means of an oar. Row, when pronounced as rhyming with now, also mean a noisy fight, or an uproar. In this case, the word row is used as a noun or a verb and this rows is not considered a homophone with rose as it is not pronounced in the same manner. The word row to mean a line of people or things is derived from the Old English word ræw, which means a line. The word row to mean to propel a boat by means of an oar is derived from the Old English word rowan which means to go by water.
A rose is a certain type of flowering bush or the flower from that bush in the genus Rosa. Most rose bushes have thorns, though some cultivars have been bred to be thornless. Most rose flowers have a scent, some fainter than others and some more pleasing than others. The rose is a powerful symbol in folklore and heraldry, particularly in the time of the War of the Roses, a battle involving the Red Rose of the House of Lancaster and the White Rose of the House of York. A dozen red roses is a symbol of love from a man to a woman. This meaning of the word rose is derived from the Latin word rosa. The word rose may also be used as the past tense of rise, which means to go from a lower place to a higher place, to get out of bed, to come up, to succeed, to advance in rank or power, to increase in number. This meaning of the word rose is derived from the Old English word risan, meaning to go up or get up.
Examples
Halsey walked the carpet in a nude dress adorned with rows of draped beads in light colors. (USA Today)
You won’t find manicured lawns, rows of headstones, mausoleums or ornate statues here. (The Tribune-Review)
At 4pm, he rows the boat out again to fish with the dolphins. (The Myanmar Times)
As he rows the boat towards the river bank, the heroine makes swift rhythmic steps on the bank and hums in between. (The Hindu)
Looking at mostly bloomless rose bushes, Wagner explained that a midge infestation had caused major damage to the garden this autumn. (The Daily Orange)
Retail spending by American households rose in October, a sign outlays started on a strong footing headed into the holiday shopping season. (The Wall Street Journal)