Hail vs. hale

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Grammarist

Hail is a noun referring to precipitation in the form of spherical pellets of ice, and it’s a verb meaning (1) to salute or greet, (2) to call out in order to catch the attention of, and (3) to come or originate from. The precipitation-related sense can also be used as a verb. Hale usually means free from infirmity or illness, but it also has a rarer verb sense—to compel to go (usually to court).

Examples

Hail

Winds gusted up to 65 miles per hour Saturday night as hail pounded much of the Wabash Valley, including downtown Terre Haute. [Terre Haute Tribune Star]

The merger of an internet telephony company with an online auction house is hailed by some analysts as a breakthrough moment. [Guardian]

Hale

Businesses benefit by having hale and hearty workers who show up for the job more. [Madison County Herald]

Why haven’t they been haled to court, which is probably the least likely punishment. ? [Inquirer.net]