Elicit vs Illicit
elicit
to draw out (verb)
illicit
illegal/forbidden (adj)
How to tell them apart
Elicit = E for Extract/draw out (a verb: elicit a response). ILLicit = ILL, like ILLegal, forbidden. E = Extract; ILL = ILLegal.
Test yourself
Fill in the blank: “Only one of these words means to draw out. That word is ______.”
Choose: elicit or illicit
Show answer
Answer: elicit
Elicit means to draw out (verb), which matches to draw out. Illicit means illegal/forbidden (adj), so it is the wrong choice here.
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