The verbs enjoy and relish are close in meaning, but relish has far more flavor. To relish something is to enjoy it with marked appreciation or keen delight. Consider the noun relish, a condiment that one adds to a dish to impart flavor and—we hope—enhance enjoyment. The idea of savoring a special taste or flavor carries over to the verb, even when the tastes and flavors are figurative rather than literal. When someone relishes an experience, for instance, they are making a point to appreciate the distinctive aspects (flavors) of that particular encounter or activity.

When something is unique, it is one of a kind. When something is one of a kind because it is truly better than the rest, it is nonpareil. The adjective nonpareil means "having no equal; peerless," and it suggests exceptional quality or skill. A nonpareil singer, for instance, is one so proficient, they stand alone in their class. Nonpareil can also be used as a noun to refer to a person or thing having no equal, and, in the plural, to those colorful sprinkles that top various kinds of sweet treats, making them just a little better than the rest.

The noun influence refers to a type of unofficial power to direct the actions or thoughts of others; it typically implies deference to one's character, ability, or station. The noun leverage also refers to a type of power, but power of a less mysterious nature, usually derived from an advantage. A company that has the advantage of being the only commercial enterprise in a town might have considerable leverage, or power, in its union negotiations. Leverage comes from the word lever, a rigid bar used to move an object by applied force at a certain point. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the word leverage commonly appears in discussion of politics and business.

Something that is easy is by definition not hard or difficult. When an activity or goal can be carried out or achieved with little difficulty or effort, it may be called facile. A facile victory, for instance, is a victory won handily with minimal exertion. Similarly, someone who is facile with words expresses themself with ease. While these senses of facile connote skillfulness, facile sometimes sports an air of superficiality: facile answers are overly simplistic or trite responses to difficult questions; facile assumptions are things taken for granted that really shouldn't be; and facile arguments are shallow lines of reasoning—all things formed or arrived at a little too easily.

When we understand something, we perceive the meaning of it. When we fathom something, the perception goes a little deeper. To fathom something is to penetrate to the truth of it, or plumb its depths. The word gets its depth, so to speak, from the noun sense of fathom, a unit of measurement equivalent to six feet used for gauging depth in water. Consequently, one can fathom (measure the depth of) a body of water, or fathom (attempt to get to the bottom of) a difficult or complicated matter. Such depths may seem profound and hard to comprehend, which is perhaps why fathom is so frequently used when full comprehension feels just out of reach.

An idea is a thought or conception, a product of mental activity. A notion is an idea in the most general sense, but the term usually suggests thoughts of more fleeting, vague, or imperfect kind. Whereas an idea can be something fairly worked out or elaborate, perhaps even a plan of action (The student has an idea for how to become an engineer), a notion is more like a whim or impulse—a flurry of thought that hasn't been seriously worked out. Perhaps this half-baked quality explains why notions are so often rejected, challenged, or dismissed! When used in the plural, notions can take on a whole new meaning: small items used in sewing, such as buttons, hooks, and ribbon. 

Items or ideas that are similar have a likeness or resemblance, especially in a general way. The adjective akin suggests a closer affinity or shared nature. The primary meaning of akin is "related by blood," with the root word kin meaning "family relatives collectively" or "a relative." Akin doesn't always imply familial connection, but it does suggest a sameness of character or properties, as what might result from shared ancestry. Akin often shows up sentences that compare one experience, sensation, or feeling to another stronger or more intense feeling, as in "What he felt was akin to love."