When you treasure someone or something, you regard that person or thing as precious, the way you might regard literal treasure (you know, all those gold bars and jewels you have tucked in a giant chest somewhere). When you cherish someone, the affection and fondness is even greater. To cherish is to hold or treat as dear, or to feel love for. On this Mother's Day, many of us are taking time to express just how much we cherish our moms (though it's a tall order!). Cherish is also used to talk about clinging fondly to something, such as a special memory or a gift from a loved one: She cherished the summer she spent traveling with her kids and grandkids.

We admit: the English language is no picnic. In part because its words have so many meanings! For example, in the example we just gave, the verb admit means something close to “acknowledge” or even “confess.” But admit can also refer to allowing entry, as in the case of a college that admits a student, or to giving right of entrance, as in the case of a ticket that admits two people. The synonym concede is used more narrowly to talk about acknowledging claims or statements as true, just, or proper: He finally conceded that she was right. During an election, concede is used to talk about acknowledging an opponent’s victory before it is officially established or admitting defeat.

What’s real? Well, this widely used adjective has many meanings, including “true” (the real reason for an act), “actual rather than imaginary” (a story taken from real life), and “sincere” (a real friend). Where it overlaps with the synonym authentic is in discussion of things that are genuine, as in not counterfeit, artificial, or imitation (a real diamond). The difference is that authentic carries the connotation of authoritative confirmation that things or people are what they are claimed or appear to be, as in the case of an authentic Rembrandt sketch or an authentic antique. It is also used, a little less formally, to talk about words or actions that represent one’s true nature, or that seem earnest and unaffected, as in the case of a speech that sounds authentic.