circumspect

This handy adjective means discreet, prudent or cautious. It carries a positive implication within it and it is used in largely complimentary circumstances.

It can apply to a person, an action or a thought.

congenial

This adjective can be applied to people and the contexts where you may find yourself.

The word means pleasant, agreeable or friendly. It can thus serve as a useful substitute for the automatic use of simple words such as 'good', or 'nice'.

Company can be 'congenial', as can a workplace, a specific event and an individual.

recall and recall

Here is another example of differences in pronunciation inferring the meaning of the word and its role in a sentence.

In its pronunciation, the verb 'recall' demonstrates full stress on the second syllable of the word. The act of recalling is the act of remembering something.

As a noun, many English speakers will apply full stress to the first syllable of the word to demonstrate its position as a noun in the sentence. From observation, we are gradually moving away from this convention.

When unsure of what convention is in place where you speak and use English, apply the distinction.

explode

In contrast to 'implode' which I wrote about last week, the verb 'explode' carries a different action picture.

Here, the movement is outward. It is one of dispersion, scattering and spreading (e.g, of debris) after a sudden burst.

In many words, the prefix 'ex' will indicate this impression of movement outwards.

Very frequently, this word is as a metaphor, particularly in relation to someone exploding with anger, frustration and irritation. In this context, it is the spreading of emotion that is being experienced not only by the individual, but by those around them.

implode

This verb clearly describes an action; that of an object or a structure collapsing in upon itself. The collapse is most likely to be caused by a change in pressure in the object's environment.

Occasionally it is used to describe the dramatic response demonstrated by an individual who responds to an unexpected shock. In this example the word is opening itself to being used as a metaphor.

Look out for it in speeches and articles where the central theme is 'change'.

refined

It's interesting to note that, as an adjective, the word carries positive and complimentary overtones. As a verb, within diverse contexts, it can be either positive or negative in intention.

When a person is described as being 'refined' they are noticed for their elegance and gentility.

As a process, the art of refining something means that impurities and foreign matter have been removed.

Currently, when we use this word in relation to food components such as sugar, wheat and rice, the refinement of these substances can be looked upon negatively, as having their nutrients stripped from them.

Be sure of the context when applying this word to workplace situations.

prefect

You'll find centuries of history in this word. Arising from 14th Century Latin,  praefectus, refers to one who has been put in charge of an area, a district or people.

First used in ancient Rome, the word referred to magistrates or military commanders.

The word was secured in Italy and carried into France as the term for a chief administrative officer in a department. In France, specifically, it is used as the head of the police force.

By the time it reached Britain, its meaning had been watered down to a specific context; that of a schoolchild being appointed as a leader, with limited authority, over peers within the boundaries of the school.