What is the difference between ‘callous’ and ‘callus’?

Although spelt differently, the two words are pronounced the same way. The ‘a’ in the first syllable is pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘act’, ‘pact’, and ‘fact’. The ‘ou’ and ‘u’ in the second syllable sound like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. Both words are pronounced ‘KA-les’. If someone accuses you of being ‘callous’, what he means is that you are rather cruel; you have no sympathy for other people.

*It may sound callous. But I don’t’ think you should lend her the money.

If you play a lot of cricket, tennis or shuttle, you will notice that your hands become rather rough. The skin around the area where your fingers meet the palm becomes extremely hard. These areas of thickened skin are called ‘calluses’.

*Ramu’s hands and feet were covered with calluses.

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“It is better for civilization to be going down the drain than to be coming up it.” — Henry Allen