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Taper vs Raper - What's the difference?

taper | raper |

As nouns the difference between taper and raper

is that taper is a slender wax candle; a small lighted wax candle; hence, a small light or taper can be (weaving) one who operates a tape machine while raper is one who rapes; a rapist.

As a verb taper

is to make thinner or narrower at one end.

taper

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) taper, from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A slender wax candle; a small lighted wax candle; hence, a small light.
  • * ~1603 , William Shakespeare, ''Othello, Act I, scene I, line 157:
    • strike on the tinder, ho!/ Give me a taper .
  • * 1913 ,
    • Love used to carry a bow, you know,
    But now he carries a taper ;
    It is either a length of wax aglow,
    Or a twist of lighted paper.
  • A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object
    • the taper of a spire.
    The legs of the table had a slight taper to them.
  • A thin stick used for lighting candles, either a wax-coated wick or a slow-burning wooden rod.
    • Derived terms
    * taperwise

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make thinner or narrower at one end.
  • * 1851 ,
    • Though true cylinders without — within, the villanous green goggling glasses deceitfully tapered downwards to a cheating bottom.
  • To diminish gradually.
    • Derived terms
    * taper off
    Synonyms
    * narrow

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (weaving) One who operates a tape machine.
  • Someone who works with tape or tapes.

    • Anagrams

    * ----

    raper

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who rapes; a rapist.
  • * 1963 , Edwin M. Moseley, Pseudonyms of Christ in the Modern Novel: Motifs and Methods (page 149)
    • "Jesus Christ!" Grimm says, profanely pushing Hightower aside as he goes on to shoot Christmas and to emasculate him, according to the custom of lynchers punishing the dark rapers of white women.

    Anagrams

    * ----