The nouns trickery and chicanery both denote deception, but chicanery is usually used of questionable legal, financial, or political maneuvering that involves deliberately misleading language or subterfuge. Trickery is not always attached to mal intent—sometimes this word is used of crafty moves that misdirect or mislead in some ingenious way. Chicanery, however, almost always implies taking advantage of a situation for petty purposes.

To imitate someone or something is to follow that person or thing as a model or example. In some cases, imitate means simply “to mimic,” as mischievous schoolchildren might a teacher behind their back. The verb emulate suggests more purposeful action and striving: this verb means “to try to equal or excel” or sometimes “to rival with some degree of success.” If a child emulates their father as a concert violinist, it means they are imitating him with effort to equal or surpass his accomplishments or skill. The competitive spirit of emulate gives this verb a clear edge over imitate when ambition is at play.

A hiatus is a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, or action. It’s not uncommon for a TV show to go on hiatus, as executives sort out programming priorities and tinker with casting; you might hear of a band taking a hiatus or pressing pause on their recording or touring in order to deal with other matters. This noun entered English referring to a material break or chasm in something (beware the gaping hiatus!). It is sometimes used to refer to a gap in written material or in a line of reasoning, like a missing link. Nowadays, though, you’re most likely to hear hiatus used to refer to a temporary cessation of activity for a specific purpose.