There would have to 24 words to satisfy the condition. In general the number of combinations possible for n letters is n!, such as in this case, 4 x 3 x 2 x 1.

1234 , 2134 , 3124 , 4123
1243 , 2143 , 3142 , 4132
1324 , 2314 , 3214 , 4213
1342 , 2341 , 3241 , 4231
1423 , 2413 , 3412 , 4312
1432 , 2431 , 3421 , 4321

The best I can come up with is east, teas, eats, seat, and sate, and I suppose we could also add tase, as in Don't tase me, bro! although that would be stretching it.

Last edited by Alex Williams; 02/21/08 01:16 PM.