Dear Jess,

I am eternally grateful to you for reappearing! This is the kind of puzzle that keeps me returning to it forever--just wanting to know the answer. Not that there's really one correct answer--just the one your test maker has decided should be the answer. I really like tsuwm's myrmidon the best (thought a letter short), but toadeater is terrific, even if archaic.

I don't like jobsworth just because I think it's an ugly-sounding word--and not in an interesting way. Toadeater is an ugly word to consider--but, oh, what fun! So that's the 9-letter one I wish we were still using to describe such myrmidons and myrmidonnas!

Thanks a lot for returning in a little while to let us know which result was hoped for on your test.

Best regards,
WordWarteater ribbet-riveted