#95110
02/09/2003 6:26 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1 |
There is a common English word that is nine letters long. Each time you remove a letter from it, it still remains an English work-from nine letters right down to a single letter. What is the original work, and what are the words that it becomes after removing one letter at a time?
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#95111
02/09/2003 6:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
I have no idea myself, but I would like to welcome Sherry to our little wing of the asylum.
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#95112
02/09/2003 7:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
Obviously, the solution would only possible by reversing the process. For instance, " I" could
be the starting letter, Not many other single letters are words. Can letters be added at
either end?
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#95113
02/09/2003 9:51 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Does Will Shortz know the answer? I'm stumped.
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#95114
02/09/2003 10:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 10,542 |
the answer to this one is truly startling..
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#95115
02/09/2003 10:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
"a" is also a word. I tried looking at seven letter scrabble word, but it didn't help.
I'll bet a good average computer programmer could write a program that would solve it.
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#95116
02/09/2003 10:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,803 |
looking at seven letter scrabble word, but it didn't help
Sometimes the subtlety of obviousness is even more obscure than the brightest light.
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#95117
02/09/2003 10:28 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 6,296 |
Thanks, tsuwm. 
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#95118
02/09/2003 10:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
Dear WW: Don't tell me you buy "startlling" as the solution.
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#95119
02/09/2003 10:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
From my dictionary:
Starets
n.,
pl. startsy Eastern Orthodox Ch. a spiritual advisor
My dictionary gives "ar" for "arrival" as a word, which I have trouble accespting. But if you do, then
ar.tar.star.start.starts.startsy As Dorothy Parker said, "tonstant weader fwowed up."
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#95120
02/09/2003 11:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,803 |
Iffiest part of the path I took was ting.
Wait a minute.
Startling
Starling
Staring
String
Sting
Sing
Sin
In
I
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#95121
02/10/2003 4:00 AM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 10,542 |
or,
startling
starting
staring
etc.
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#95122
02/10/2003 4:17 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 4,189 |
Okay, tsuwm...but, but, how'd'ja know? 
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#95123
02/10/2003 4:19 AM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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it was just one of those 'tlings.
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#95124
02/10/2003 11:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,803 |
how'd'ja know?
Oh, c'mon, Juan. You're asking tsuwm how he knew!? That's like asking Babe Ruth how he knew where and when to swing the bat!
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#95125
02/10/2003 1:52 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
Oh, c'mon, Juan. You're asking tsuwm how he knew!? That's like asking Babe Ruth how he knew where and when to swing the bat!Or Mickey Mantle when they asked him how he hit his fabled 565 foot "tape measure" home run: "Well, I'll tell ya," he said, "I had a real bad hangover and I was standin' at the plate and looked up and saw two balls comin' at me, and I swung at one of 'em."
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