VocabAhead

Elicit vs Illicit

Elicitverb

call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

Full entry for Elicit

Illicitadjective

contrary to accepted morality (especially sexual morality) or convention

Full entry for Illicit

The difference

Elicit is a verb — to draw out a response. Illicit is an adjective — illegal. The lawyer elicited a confession about illicit dealings.

How to keep them apart

Only elicit can be done to someone. If you can put "to" in front of it, it takes the e.

Other pairs worth knowing

All confused pairs · SAT list · GRE list · Full word list