I'm thinking of a seven-letter word.1177 responses total.
(See item 93 for rules to the 6-letter version; the rules here are the same except we use 7 letters instead of 8.)
travels
species
travels 0 (orinoco) species 1 (kami) A summary of guesses so far is in ~aruba/letter.match7 .
carrots
preview
carrots 0 (kentn) preview 0 (anilkk)
stomach
stomach 2 (kami)
stomata
stomata 2 (anilkk)
sextant
sextant 1 (kentn)
stipple
Main Entry: 1stip7ple Pronunciation: 'sti-p&l Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): stip7pled; stip7pling /-p(&-)li[ng]/ Etymology: Dutch stippelen to spot, dot Date: circa 1762 1 : to engrave by means of dots and flicks 2 a : to make by small short touches (as of paint or ink) that together produce an even or softly graded shadow b : to apply (as paint) by repeated small touches 3 : SPECKLE, FLECK - stip7pler /-p(&-)l&r/ noun Neat word. stipple 0 (kami)
Poo! I thought it was the st. Oh well.
travels
avocado
travels 0 (albaugh) avocado 7 (kentn) And Kent wins the first 7-letter word game! You're up, Kent!
I've been maintaining the word list for the 6-letter game (in /a/r/c/rcurl/l.m.words). If anyone wants to maintain one for this 7-letter version, please do.
Hmmm...what would that file be called, l.m7.words? I'll try to have a new word in mind when I log in next.
or 7l.m.words? I could rename my 6l.m.words.
That works, too. Whatever it is, now that we have 5, 6, and 7 letter games, we should be consistent it differentiating between the files associated with each. Okay, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word, and it's not avocado 0 (lastword) A summary of guesses on the current word is in ~kentn/letter.match7
mormons
abalone
abalone 0 (aruba) orinoco, can you provide me with some evidence that "mormons" is not a proper noun? My dictionary shows "Mormon" as a proper noun.
This response has been erased.
blasted
elevate
I do appear to be losing my mind. article ...is _definitely_ not a proper noun. For real.
blasted 0 (albaugh) elevate 1 (aruba) article 0 (orinoco)
brevity
emerges
cutouts
brevity 1 (aruba) emerges 1 (orinoco) cutouts 0 (albaugh)
drowned
elegant
drowned 0 (orinoco) elegant 1 (albaugh)
screech
screech 1 (aruba)
Re resp:1 - Perhaps you mean that "we use 7 letters instead of 6"?? scratch
scratch 0 (lilmo) (This word really wasn't intended to be this difficult to guess...) Anyway, a summary of the guesses on the current word can be found in ~kentn/letter.match7
zephyrs
crested
Re #41: Oops - yes, that's what I meant.
zephyrs 1 (albaugh) crested 0 (aruba)
Where'd everyone go?
someone
pervert
someone 1 (albaugh) pervert 1 (aruba)
vertigo
elderly
vertigo 0 (albaugh) elderly 4 (aruba)
enderon n. ... The deep sensitive and vascular layer of the skin and mucous membranes. --Webster's New International Dictionary
enderon 3 (orinoco)
Any guesses? Looks close to solution if a 4 and a 3 are any indication.
orderly
enteric
orderly 3 (albaugh) enteric 3 (lilmo)
Main Entry: equerry Pronunciation: 'e-kw&-rE, i-'kwer-E Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ries Etymology: obsolete escuirie, equerry stable, from Middle French escuirie office of a squire, stable, from escuier squire -- more at ESQUIRE Date: 1591 1 : an officer of a prince or noble charged with the care of horses 2 : an officer of the British royal household in personal attendance on the sovereign or a member of the royal family
seventy
equerry 7 (aruba) seventy 2 (albaugh) Yay! aruba wins two letter match games at the same time! (BTW, this word was in my paperback pocket American Heritage dictionary, so I didn't think it would be that hard to guess. So much for good intentions). You're up, aruba!
We just had unhelpful guesses, that's all.
OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word, too. :) equerry 0 (lastword)
uneaten
uneaten 0 (kentn) A summary of guesses so far is in ~aruba/letter.match7 .
orchids
orchids 1 (orinoco)
quickly
enforce
amounts
quickly 0 (albaugh) enforce 0 (lilmo) amounts 0 (kentn)
bananas
hacksaw
bananas 0 (albaugh) hacksaw 0 (kentn)
Well, we're off to a roaring start... dormant
dormant 0 (orinoco)
trollop
selfish
trollop 0 (albaugh) selfish 0 (kentn)
Hey, we've discovered a lot of things that *aren't* in it! :-) ingrain
ingrain 1 (lilmo)
Yea! I got the first letter; I got the first letter!! Nyaah-nyaah!! :-)
"orchids" had 1 letter correct ;) oidioid (resembling a parasitic fungus; the base word is oidium)
oidioid 4 (kentn)
Re resp:84 - Hmph. embroil
xiphoid (xiphoid process: the segment of the human sternum...)
embroil 2 (lilmo) xiphoid 7 (kentn) Good job, Kent. I couldn't resist that one. You're up!
Wow. Okay, I'll see what I can cook up for next time (shouldn't be too difficult...our list of used words is pretty short ;)
Okay, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word and it's not xiphoid 0 (lastword) A summary of guesses can be found in ~kentn/letter.match7
beetles
beetles 0 (aruba)
musical
abalone
You people are too too good... musical 4 (albaugh) abalone 0 (aruba)
mutants
bestial
mutants 0 (orinoco) bestial 2 (aruba)
In need of a guess or two here...
comical
comical 5 (albaugh)
With my attitude, I don't see anyone solving this any time soon... ;-)
So near, yet so far... C'mon, someone, guess a 7-letter word.
Hmmm...no guesses in 10 days?
Still needing guesses here...
I'm very *pessimistic* that anyone will get this word, I am certainly very *skeptical* about that, yes I am... ;-) !!!
I figure if it were easy someone would have guessed it by now (does that help?) ;)
With all the hints & clues I've been giving, you'd have to be cyLInDRical not to guess it right! :-O
Everyone must be on vacation, or something...
d
Guesses have to be seven-letters (and by the rules), unfortunately, or I'd try to score that.
Ok, ok, since Kevin gave it away... cynical
cynical 4 (aruba) Hmmm...
conical
conical 5 (lilmo)
logical
And, aruba found the logical answer... logical 7 (aruba) Your, turn!
OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word. logical 0 (lastword)
quarter
quarter 1 (kentn)
blessed
accused
blessed 0 (lilmo) accused 0 (kentn)
interim
curtain
interim 2 (albaugh) curtain 1 (kentn)
polygon
genetic
polygon 0 (albaugh) genetic 4 (kentn)
triages
eidetic
triages 0 (albaugh) eidetic 7 (kentn) How do he do it?
H'okay, I'll try to think up a new word by next login. I imagine I probably do it like everyone else guessing here--look for patterns and eliminate as many words as possible along the way.
Okay, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word and it's not eidetic 0 (lastword) A summary of guesses on the current word can be found in ~kentn/letter.match7
tickles
tickles 0 (albaugh)
sneezes
sneezes 0 (aruba)
mashing
mashing 0 (albaugh)
believe
heathen
trekker
believe 1 (aruba) heathen 0 (albaugh) trekker 0 (lilmo)
uniform
beehive
uniform 0 (albaugh) beehive 0 (aruba)
locusts
heaters
locusts 0 (albaugh) heaters 0 (aruba)
problem
ablates
problem 0 (albaugh) ablates 0 (aruba)
curious
confuse
buffalo
curious 3 (albaugh) confuse 0 (lilmo) buffalo 1 (aruba)
butters
butters 2 (lilmo)
dutiful
dutiful 7 (aruba) All right! Aruba has it. Your turn!
OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word. dutiful 0 (lastword)
attends
attends 0 (albaugh)
uneaten
uneaten 1 (kentn)
fairest
fairest 0 (albaugh)
sojourn
journey
sojourn 1 (kentn) (*That* would have been a good word!) journey 0 (albaugh)
emotion
emotion 2 (kentn)
seconds
seconds 0 (albaugh)
explain
explain 2 (kentn)
abashed
abashed 0 (lilmo)
typhoon
bashing
typhoon 7 (kentn) bashing 1 (albaugh) Kent's up!
Okay, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word and it's not typhoon 0 (lastword) A summary of guesses on the current word can be found in the file ~kentn/letter.match7
peewees
peewees 1 (aruba)
persons
entente
persons 1 (gypsi) entente 0 (aruba)
assayed
ballast
assayed 0 (lilmo) ballast 0 (aruba)
Anyone have any guesses in mind? Now's the time...
We seem to have lost Kevin...
returns :-)
spartan
returns 2 (albaugh) Hmmm, "Spartan" is capitalized in all the dictionaries I checked (even when used as an adjective). Does that make it a bit too proper for this game?
Oops - yes it does. I could've sworn I'd seen that uncapitalized, but my dictionary agrees with yours. patrons
I was surprised it hadn't slipped into common enough usage to be uncapitalized. You learn something new every day, I guess. patrons 0 (aruba)
library
recluse
library 0 (albaugh) recluse 2 (aruba)
*I* would use 'spartan' w/o caps. *shrug* reclaim
requiem
reclaim 2 (lilmo) requiem 2 (aruba)
deadens
secular
reaches
deadens 1 (albaugh) secular 2 (aruba) reaches 2 (lilmo)
renewal
concept
renewal 4 (aruba) concept 0 (albaugh)
removal
respond
removal 5 (aruba) respond 2 (lilmo)
revival
I concede the field to aruba; I think he's got it.
revival 7 (aruba) You are correct, aruba does indeed have it! Your word, aruba.
Good word. OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word that's not revival 0 (lastword)
crashed
crashed 0 (albaugh)
yardage
yardage 2 (kentn)
referee
referee 1 (albaugh)
bananas
bananas 0 (lilmo)
operate
operate 3 (kentn)
control
engrave
control 0 (albaugh) engrave 2 (kentn)
invited
invited 0 (albaugh)
adulate
cronies
adulate 5 (kentn) cronies 0 (albaugh)
ululate (howl; wail)
howling
ululate 7 (kentn) howling 1 (albaugh) Kent always gets my words...
It helps to have a system ;) Okay, I have a seven-letter word in mind and it's not ululate 0 (lastword) See ~kentn/letter.match7 for a summary of guesses.
teepees
teepees 0 (aruba)
howling
entente
howling 1 (albaugh) entente 1 (aruba)
doubles
entreat
doubles 1 (albaugh) entreat 0 (aruba)
bananas
forests
bananas 2 (lilmo) forests 1 (aruba)
tropics
tropics 0 (albaugh)
womanly
womanly 2 (aruba)
females
females 0 (albaugh)
baubles
bubbles
baubles 0 (aruba) bubbles 0 (albaugh)
ammonia
nitrate
ammonia 2 (aruba) nitrate 0 (albaugh)
bulimia
bulimia 0 (aruba)
feather
caribou
fortune
feather 0 (albaugh) caribou 0 (aruba) fortune 1 (lilmo)
saguaro Main Entry: saguaro Pronunciation: s&-'wdr-&, -'gwdr-, -O Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ros Etymology: Mexican Spanish Date: 1856 : an arborescent cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) of desert regions of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that has a tall columnar simple or sparsely branched trunk of up to 60 feet (18 meters) and bears white flowers and edible fruit
gallows
saguaro 0 (aruba) gallows 0 (albaugh)
mindful
crazies (as in plural of crazy, slang for a crazy person)
mindful 2 (aruba) crazies 0 (albaugh)
magical
mystery
magical 1 (aruba) mystery 1 (albaugh)
acronym
acronym 4 (aruba)
company
company 1 (albaugh)
Ok, the word is "mononym", though I can't say I found it in any dictionary. I presume it means "one name", as in "Cher" or "Madonna". Is that right?
mononym 7 (aruba) Yes, correct! From the OED: mononym mo.nonim. [f. Gr. mono-j mono- + onuma name. ] A term consisting of one word only.
Good word. OK, I'll try to come up with something by next time I log in.
Presuming that ;you ahve chosen a word by the time you read this: bananas
(what lilmo said.) cascade
Sorry for the long delay... bananas 0 (lilmo) cascade 0 (carson)
trumpet
trumpet 0 (kentn)
sillier
sillier 2 (lilmo)
diction
diction 3 (kentn)
dictate
lactose
rioting
dictate 1 (lilmo) lactose 0 (orinoco) rioting 2 (kentn)
pirated
vitriol
hatreds
compute
Sorry for the long delay... pirated 1 (orinoco) vitriol 7 (kentn) hatreds 2 (albaugh) compute 0 (lilmo) Kent's up!
Okay, I'll try to have a word in mind next time.
Okay, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word and it's not: vitriol 0 (lastword) A summary of guesses is in ~kentn/letter.match7
streaky
unknown
streaky 0 (albaugh) unknown 0 (prp)
trouble
Two guesses in a row is verboten, I believe...
in that case, I'll guess.... trouble
Heh, well, that's one way to do it (else, we can kinda slide by that rule by scoring the next guess first...). trouble 0 (orinoco)
peewees
forgive
peewees 0 (aruba) forgive 0 (prp)
callous
bunions
nothing
callous 0 (aruba) bunions 1 (albaugh) nothing 0 (prp)
burgeon
bigshot
started
burgeon 1 (aruba) started 0 (carson) "big shot" is two words in every dictionary I looked in. Can you provide a source where it is one word?
pulling
shoving
pulling 1 (aruba) shoving 0 (albaugh)
affably
bananas
affably 0 (aruba) bananas 0 (lilmo)
eulogia (which means eulogy)
eulogia 1 (aruba)
deathly
deathly 0 (albaugh)
humbugs
surplus
humbugs 5 (aruba) surplus 1 (albaugh)
Hmmmm.... humdrum
humdrum 3 (aruba)
bedbugs
bedbugs 2 (albaugh)
sunburn
sunburn 3 (aruba)
It'd be all right with me if someone would guess this word before the new year begins ;)
Oh well, too late...
burning
burning 1 (albaugh)
unclamp
unclamp 0 (aruba)
crudely
crudely 0 (albaugh)
hardest
hardest 1 (aruba)
heading
buttock
heading 1 (albaugh) buttock 1 (aruba)
hamster
gerbils
hamster 2 (lilmo) gerbils 1 (albaugh)
mammoth
mammoth 1 (aruba)
largely
avocado
purpose
liberal
Well, if Kevin can go twice, then so can I... syllabi
largely 0 (albaugh) avocado 0 (aruba) purpose 1 (prp) liberal 0 (albaugh) syllabi 0 (aruba)
humbles
Oops, sorry! My offering: apology
humbles 4 (prp) apology 0 (albaugh)
kickoff
hundred
kickoff 0 (aruba) hundred 2 (prp)
shiatzu
shiatzu 1 (aruba)
mumbles
kibbitz
humbird
mumbles 3 (albaugh) kibbitz 2 (aruba) humbird 4 (prp) While I couldn't find an OED dictionary defn of 'humbird' it does seem to be used fairly frequently as a shortening of 'hummingbird' and appears in some URLs...so I guess that's good enough for our standards (I hope).
OK, the word is "humbuzz" - proof in the next response.
peewees 0 (aruba)
apology 0 (albaugh)
humbugs 5 (aruba)
mammoth 1 (aruba)
kibbitz 2 (aruba)
shiatzu 1 (aruba)
Let "-" represent a letter that is definitely wrong,
s(w) be the score of a word or partial word w, and
n(w) be the number of letters in w which are not -'s.
Then clearly
0 <= s(w) <= n(w).
0 = s(peewees) >= s(------s), so s(------s) = 0.
0 = s(apology) >= s(-----g-), so s(-----g-) = 0.
5 = s(humbugs) = s(humbu--) + s(-----g-) + s(------s)
= s(humbu--) + 0 + 0
= s(humbu--)
= s(h------) + s(-u-----) + s(--m----) + s(---b---) + s(----u--)
==> 1 = s(h------) = s(-u-----) = s(--m----) = s(---b---) = s(----u--),
since all five terms are between 0 and 1 and they add up to 5.
1 = s(mammoth) = s(ma-mo-h) + s(--m----) + s(-----t-)
= s(ma-mo-h) + 1 + s(-----t-)
==> s(ma-mo-h) + s(-----t-) = 0
==> s(-----t-) = 0.
2 = s(kibbitz) = s(kib-i--) + s(---b---) + s(-----t-) + s(------z)
= 0 + 1 + 0 + s(------z)
==> s(------z) = 1.
1 = s(shiatzu) = s(shiat--) + s(-----z-) + s(------u)
= 0 + s(-----z-) + 0
==> s(-----z-) = 1.
So therefore
s(humbuzz) = s(humbu--) + s(-----z-) + s(------z)
= 5 + 1 + 1 = 7.
Of course, I don't have any evidence that humbuzz is really a word.
a buzz you get from drinking a hummer? ;-)
HUMBIRD: n. Now U.S. M17. The hummingbird. from The New Shorter Oxford (1973,1993) It is not in the Worldbook Dictionary. HUMBUZZ is not in either.
Not to further complicate matters, but isn't it "shiatsu"?
Both spellings are in Merriam Webster (www.m-w.com).
Wow, great detective work... Sorry to disappoint, but 'humbuzz'
is a word even though it may not be in your dictionary. From the
OED:
'hum'buzz. dial. [f. hum v. + buzz v. ]
1. A local name of the cockchafer.
1756 Toldervy Two Orphans I. 124 What are there called humbuzes,
by the Londoners cock-chafers.
C. 1820 Mrs. Sherwood May-bee 13 William had caught another
may-bee, or cockchafer, or humbuzz (for so that insect is called
in different places).
2. A thin piece of wood with a notched edge which is swung round rapidly
by a string, and emits a loud humming sound, like the flight of a
cockchafer; a bull-roarer. 1847-78 in Halliwell.
.... Anyway...aruba, you're up!
OK, I'll try to be thinking of a seven-letter word when next I log in.
(I think 45 guesses is by far the longest 6- or seven-letter word game here on Grex. Dunno about the 5-letter games.)
Yeah, I was getting worried I'd be scoring forever, but I could see some people were eliminating letters, so figured it would fall eventually. Hadn't really expected it to be that difficult, though, especially after 'humbugs'... uncanny
remotes
parable
uncanny 1 (kentn) remotes 0 (orinoco) parable 0 (lilmo) humbuzz 0 (lastword)
trident
ugliest
trident 0 (kentn) ugliest 1 (orinoco) A list of guesses dso far is in ~aruba/letter.match7 .
upturns
downers
upturns 2 (prp) downers 0 (albaugh)
untruth
untruth 2 (orinoco)
urolith
urolith 1 (prp) Ouch!
heiress.
heiress 1 (orinoco)
upbraid
upbraid 7 (prp) You're up again, Paul!
upbraid 0 (aruba)lastword
removes
removes 0 (orinoco)
evening
evening 1 (aruba)
justify
squeeze Hey Paul, any chance you would consider creating links from your letter5match, letter6match, and letter7match files, so that I can look at them by using the more common names? I wrote a little script to view them under the usual names, is why I ask. No big deal if you don't want to - it would just help me out. The commands you'd have to enter are: ln letter5match letter.match5 ln letter6match letter.match ln letter7match letter.match7 (I'm certainly not making any judgements on the superiority of the old names - yours look prettier, frankly.) If you run those commands, you can edit the files under your names, but they'll be visible under the other names too. Oh - put a ! in front of those commands if you run them from within Picospan.
justify 1 (kentn) squeeze 0 (aruba)
I think I have the links mentioned in 412 setup right. Speaking of scripts, anybody got one to read answers, enter them in picospan and append them to the file? It's not hard, but seems cumbersome.
coaxial Well, I have a few scripts set up which use some code by others (that is, srw's awk script for scoring) to help enter answers, score them, append them to a file, and keep a file of the most current guesses & results for entry into a cf response. See ~kentn/do.lm7 for the 7-letter version, and ~kentn/do.lm or ~kentn/do.lmx for a 6-letter version (the latter is an experimental version with a few more features, such as prompting you to rename or delete an old answers file). They all assume the "usual names" Mark mentions in resp. 412 above. Other people may have other scripts, too.
Thanks Paul. There was already a file in your directory called letter.match, so the link for the six-letter file didn't work right. Do this to fix that: rm letter.match ln letter6match letter.match hanging
cabling
coaxial 1 (kentn) hanging 0 (aruba) cabling 0 (albaugh)
upended
upended 1 (aruba)
frankly
reeling
frankly 2 (kentn) reeling 0 (aruba)
Where'd everyone go?
quantum
Looks good to me. But just in case, phantom
quantum 1 (kentn) phantom 1 (aruba)
zoonomy (The science of the laws of animal or organic life; physiology)
zoonomy 7 (kentn) *** *** *** I just checked and found out that the letter.match games are in the Puzzle and Language conferences. This could partly explain "where has everyone gone".
It is played equally well from language or puzzle - that's what it means to be linked.
H'okay...I'll dream up a word by next time.
Okay, sorry for the wait. I'm thinking of a seven-letter word, and it's not zoonomy 0 (lastword) A list of results for guesses on the current word may be found in the file ~kentn/letter.match7
exegete Main Entry: ex7e7gete Pronunciation: 'ek-s&-"jEt Function: noun Etymology: Greek exEgEtEs, from exEgeisthai Date: circa 1736 : one who practices exegesis
quivers
exegete 0 (aruba) quivers 0 (prp)
deleted (BTW Kent, you forgot to clear your letter.match7 file before starting this new game.)
deleted 1 (aruba) Should be okay now. Thanks for the reminder.
daystar
anadama Main Entry: an7a7dama bread Pronunciation: "a-n&-'da-m&- Function: noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1954 : a leavened bread made with flour, cornmeal, and molasses
daystar 1 (prp) anadama 1 (aruba) (I may not be able to respond for a few days next week, so if you don't hear anything then, figure I'll be back on soon).
fiction
doubled
tripled
fiction 0 (prp) doubled 1 (aruba) tripled 1 (albaugh)
dragoon
slander
dragoon 3 (prp) slander 1 (aruba)
crannog - an artificial fortified island constructed in a lake or marsh,
orig. in prehistoric Ireland and Scotland
Date: 1608
Etymology: Scottish Gaelic crannag & Irish crannsg
draught
crannog 2 (prp) draught 7 (aruba) Yay! I'm off the hook for running the game! :) Your word, Mark.
OK, I'll try to have a word when next I log in.
OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word that's not draught 0 (lastword) A list of words guessed so far is in ~aruba/letter.match7 .
airless
airless 0 (albaugh)
uneaten
uneaten 2 (kentn)
rawhide
rawhide 0 (albaugh)
excited
excited 1 (kentn)
erected
erected 1 (albaugh)
lunatic
lunatic 3 (kentn)
fringes
fringes 0 (albaugh)
senator
senator 2 (kentn)
corrupt
/-----------------------\ | corrupt 1 (albaugh) | \-----------------------/
komatik (an Eskimo sledge with wooden runners and crossbars lashed with rawhide)
komatik 7 (kentn) It seems impossible for me to pick a word that Kent won't guess.
Hmmm...well I've been stumped before, and I think Rane lead me on a merry chase for the 6-letter word one time (nuplex, I believe it was), so it isn't impossible ;) Okay, I'll try to have a 7-letter word in mind next time.
OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word.
elevate
deflate
elevate 0 (aruba) deflate 1 (albaugh) A summary of guesses on the current word can be found in the ~kentn/letter.match7 file.
dullard
dullard 0 (aruba)
excites
excites 0 (albaugh)
taffeta
confess
taffeta 1 (aruba) confess 0 (albaugh)
teasing
teasing 1 (aruba)
diction
prosoma
Main Entry: pro7so7ma
Pronunciation: (")prO-'sO-m&
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek pro- + sOma body
Date: 1872
: the anterior region of the body of an invertebrate when not readily
analyzable into its primitive segmentation; especially : CEPHALOTHORAX
diction 0 (albaugh) prosoma 1 (aruba)
abdomen
abdomen 0 (albaugh)
perusal
perusal 0 (aruba)
dorsals
dorsals 1 (gelinas)
oftener
oftener 2 (aruba)
offside
cockpit
offside 4 (gelinas) cockpit 0 (aruba)
outlets
succubi
outlets 1 (gelinas) succubi 0 (aruba)
aiglets
sulphur
offends
nastier
aiglets 0 (gelinas) sulphur 1 (aruba) offends 3 (diznave) nastier 0 (albaugh)
modicum
drafter
modicum 3 (aruba) drafter 0 (gelinas)
offscum
Could you define 'offscum', please?
success
Well, offscum is undoubtable the right answer, but unfortunately Joe went twice in a row, which is against the rules. What to do, what to do...
Er, undoubtedly. Well, I guess if Kent scores Kevin's guess first, then Joe can be the winner.
success 0 (albaugh) offscum 7 (gelinas) Ding! I'm calling gelinas the winner, based on the past practice of switching the order of responses in such cases. I don't recall if the situation ever came up with a winning guess, though. Any road... Joe, it's your turn. offscum o.fskm, . Also 6 offscome, ofscombe, 7 off-scumme, of-scum(me. [f. off- 3 + scum. ] That which is skimmed off; scum, dross, refuse; fig. that which is rejected as vile or worthless (usually of persons, in collective sing. or pl.; formerly also of one person).
By the rules, Joe's offering was illegal, so you just wait for a legitimate offering of the word. This, of course, leads to a scramble at that point, but that's part of the game. Reording the guesses to give the point to someone that didn't follow the rules weakens the rules. This has happened before, by the way, and if I recall correctly, someone new that was lurking got the point.
offscum
<sheepish grin>
Hmmm... <flips coin> Heads it's gelinas, tails it's diznave. Heads it is...
argh. I *thought* someone else had gone between my offerings, so I spoke up. I'm (half) sorry I missed that I had given the last answer. Note that this situation arose in another of the contests in just the past week or so, so I was sensitised. And still blew it. But it's just as well: I'm out of town and had told my hostess that I _probably_ would not be bringing my laptop. She was obviously disappointed when it reared its head this evening, so I'm not likely to be online with any regularity before Sunday. So I will lose my opportunity and learn my lesson.
I think that makes it Dave's turn. Go for it, Dave.
ok, cool...just wanted to make sure it was actually my turn ;-> brb
Ok, I have a word. offscum 0 (lastword)
affable
affable 0 (aruba)
bonuses
battery
bonuses 0 (kentn) battery 0 (aruba)
BTW Dave, it helps if the person whose "it" in the 7-letter game keeps a file called /---------------\ | letter.match7 | \---------------/ in his or her home directory. The file generally includes all the words guessed so far, and their scores. For instance, the one in my directory (from the last time I was it) says: draught 0 (lastword) airless 0 (albaugh) uneaten 2 (kentn) rawhide 0 (albaugh) excited 1 (kentn) erected 1 (albaugh) lunatic 3 (kentn) fringes 0 (albaugh) senator 2 (kentn) corrupt 1 (albaugh) komatik 7 (kentn)
unsound
gearbox
unsound 1 (kentn) gearbox 0 (aruba) And the letter.match7 file should be in my home directory.
Correct. The file you have there now isn't a text file.
What kind of file is it?
I couldn't say. Type /--------------------------------\ | !see < ~diznave/letter.match7 | \--------------------------------/ to see the contents. It looks like it's mostly nul bytes.
silence
Hmmm...I'll try something else. silence 2 (albaugh)
sisters
sighing
moaning
offscum 0 (lastword) affable 0 (aruba) bonuses 0 (kentn) battery 0 (aruba) unsound 1 (kentn) gearbox 0 (aruba) silence 2 (albaugh) sisters 0 (aruba) sighing 1 (kentn) moaning 0 (albaugh)
ingenit
That looks pretty good to me, whatever it means.
ingenit 4 (kentn) [whatever it means] ;->
(inborn, innate, native, natural according to one defn in the OED)
engines
offscum 0 (lastword) affable 0 (aruba) bonuses 0 (kentn) battery 0 (aruba) unsound 1 (kentn) gearbox 0 (aruba) silence 2 (albaugh) sisters 0 (aruba) sighing 1 (kentn) moaning 0 (albaugh) ingenit 4 (kentn) engines 2 (albaugh)
ignored
offscum 0 (lastword) affable 0 (aruba) bonuses 0 (kentn) battery 0 (aruba) unsound 1 (kentn) gearbox 0 (aruba) silence 2 (albaugh) sisters 0 (aruba) sighing 1 (kentn) moaning 0 (albaugh) ingenit 4 (kentn) engines 2 (albaugh) ignored 1 (aruba)
curving
offscum 0 (lastword) affable 0 (aruba) bonuses 0 (kentn) battery 0 (aruba) unsound 1 (kentn) gearbox 0 (aruba) silence 2 (albaugh) sisters 0 (aruba) sighing 1 (kentn) moaning 0 (albaugh) ingenit 4 (kentn) engines 2 (albaugh) ignored 1 (aruba) curving 0 (kentn)
balance
content
balance 1 (gelinas) content 0 (aruba)
finance
cozened
quester
finance 1 (gelinas) cozened 3 (aruba) quester 0 (albaugh)
hydrant
lozenge
throaty
offscum 0 (lastword)
affable 0 (aruba)
bonuses 0 (kentn)
battery 0 (aruba)
unsound 1 (kentn)
gearbox 0 (aruba)
silence 2 (albaugh)
sisters 0 (aruba)
sighing 1 (kentn)
moaning 0 (albaugh)
ingenit 4 (kentn)
engines 2 (albaugh)
ignored 1 (aruba)
curving 0 (kentn)
balance 1 (gelinas)
content 0 (aruba)
finance 1 (gelinas)
cozened 3 (aruba)
quester 0 (albaugh)
hydrant 1 (aruba)
lozenge 2 (kentn)
throaty 0 (albaugh)
doodler
eumenid
doodler 0 (aruba) eumenid 4 (kentn)
numeral
xanthin
zygenid
Which means what, exactly?
Dunno. Just tell me if it's right.
Dave, the rule we've followed in a situation like this is that if the guesser can't substantiate that a guess is a real word, then you don't need to score it. Unless, that is, it's correct, in which case *you* have to substantiate that it's a real word.
Okay, here's the defn (I didn't have time to look it up before): Zygenid (Zyg"e*nid) n. [Cf. Gr. probably the hammer-headed shark.] (Zovl.) Any one of numerous species of moths of the family Zygaenidae, most of which are bright colored. The wood nymph and the vine forester are examples. Also used adjectively. (ref http://www.bibliomania.com/Reference/Webster/data/1767.html)
Thanks for that reference.
Sure. Looks like a pretty decent dictionary (1913 Webster's Unabridged). Something like a 40+ meg download, though, so I haven't tried to see what it looks like outside of a web page.
numeral 1 (albaugh) xanthin 1 (aruba) zygenid 7 (kentn) Good job, Kent. Another reference for zygenid is: http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/WEBSTER.page.sh?PAGE=1681
Neat. Same dictionary, but looks like a better search interface. I'll try to come up with a slightly less rare word by next time.
Okay, I'm thinking of a seven-letter word...
eeriest
ghostly
eeriest 0 (aruba) ghostly 0 (albaugh) The summary of guesses on the current word can be found in the file ~kentn/letter.match7
steeper
brought
stubble
steeper 1 (aruba) brought 0 (gelinas) stubble 2 (diznave)
shuttle
shuttle 2 (aruba)
scrotum
salvage
scrotum 2 (diznave) salvage 4 (aruba)
shipped
shipped 1 (albaugh)
scutage Main Entry: scu7tage Pronunciation: 'sk|-tij, 'sky|- Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin scutagium, from Latin scutum shield -- more at ESQUIRE Date: 15th century : a tax levied on a vassal or a knight in lieu of military service
tariffs
scutage 3 (aruba) tariffs 0 (albaugh)
splurge
splurge 5 (aruba)
sutures
airport
sutures 1 (gelinas) airport 0 (aruba)
station
futures
station 1 (albaugh) futures 0 (gelinas)
bonding
scourge
bonding 0 (albaugh) scourge 3 (gelinas)
whipped
scoured
trained
whipped 0 (albaugh) scoured 1 (gelinas) trained 0 (aruba)
railway
blindly
railway 0 (albaugh) blindly 1 (aruba)
febrile
The word is "splodge". Here's a proof:
futures 0
splurge 5
ghostly 0
scrotum 2
blindly 1
score(futures) = 0 ==> score(---ur--) = 0.
5 = score(splurge) = score(spl--ge) + score(---ur--) = score(spl--ge).
So the word matches spl--ge.
score(ghostly) = 0 ==> score(----t--) = 0.
2 = score(scrotum) = score(s------) + score(-cr--um) + score(---o---) +
score(----t--)
= 1 + 0 + score(---o---) + 0
So the word matches splo-ge.
1 = score(blindly) = score(blin-ly) + score(----d--) = score(----d--).
So the word must be splodge.
As usual, I have no idea what it means.
febrile 1 (gelinas)
splodge 7 (aruba)
Mark is absolutely correct! Good job!
Here's the defn from the OED:
splodge splodj, sb. [Cf. next and splotch sb. ] A thick, heavy,
or clumsy splotch.
* 1854 Househ. Words IX. 74/1 She was a dollop of dripping, a
splodge of grease.
* 1862 Sala Accepted Addr. 275 The monstrous splodges of colour the
marvellous man sent of late years to the..exhibitions.
* 1880 Mrs. Parr Adam & Eve xxviii. 388 To..display the two
splodges of red sealing-wax.
splodge splodj, v. [Imitative of the sound. ]
1. intr. To trudge or plod splashily through mud or water.
* 1859 A. Whitehead Leg. (1896) 56 (E.D.D.), Away he splodg'd in
pensive mood, Towards the temple in the wood.
* 1899 F. V. Kirby Sport E.C. Africa ix. 106 As I had braved the
first [muddy channel] and got wet through, I `splodged' through
them all in succession.
2. Used adverbially: With a heavy splash.
* 1898 H. Kirke 25 Yrs. Brit. Guiana 180, I had hardly spoken when
splodge! splodge! came the rain in my face.
Hence 'splodger. (See quot.)
* 1860 Slang Dict. 224 Splodger, a lout, an awkward countryman.
Heh. Neat word. OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word. splodge 0 (lastword)
My online dictionary didn't have splodge, so I kept looking. :( febrile
females
unearth
remakes
febrile 0 (gelinas) (What's it mean?) females 0 (albaugh) unearth 0 (kentn) remakes 0 (prp)
("feverish")
brained
brained 1 (gelinas)
murders
crystal
murders 0 (albaugh) crystal 1 (kentn)
barbell
drought
barbell 0 (prp) drought 1 (kentn)
tastier
origami
tastier 0 (gelinas) origami 0 (kentn)
zeatins
zeatins 1 (prp)
amalgam
chained
amalgam 7 (kentn) chained 1 (gelinas) Kent's up!
unknowns -- Is jumping the gun allowed?
Well, first of all, that's an 8-letter word. And second, you can jump the gun, but you have to keep in mind that Kent's choice of word may be influenced by your guess.
Okay, I'll try to have a word ready next time. And yes, if you jump the gun, it quite often influences my choice word, at least a little.
Okay, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word.
extreme
skating
extreme 0 (aruba) skating 0 (albaugh) The summary of guesses on the current word is in the file ~kentn/letter.match7
creeper
creeper 0 (aruba)
peepers
amalgam
peepers 0 (albaugh) amalgam 0 (aruba)
juicier
juicier 0 (gelinas)
punches
punches 0 (albaugh)
manitou Main Entry: man7i7tou Variant(s): or man7i7tu /'ma-n&-"t|/; also man7i7to /-"tO/ Function: noun Etymology: Ojibwa manito. Date: 1671 : a supernatural force that according to an Algonquian conception pervades the natural world
manitou 1 (aruba) Simultaneous responses...neat.
meeting
meeting 0 (gelinas)
caliper
caliper 1 (aruba)
braking
braking 0 (albaugh)
panting
sailors
unknown
panting 0 (aruba) sailors 0 (gelinas) unknown 0 (prp)
mystery
mystery 1 (albaugh)
fluidly
wetness
fluidly 0 (aruba) wetness 0 (albaugh)
infauna Main Entry: in7fau7na Pronunciation: 'in-"fo-n&, -"fd- Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, from 2in- + fauna Date: 1914 : benthic fauna living in the substrate and especially in a soft sea bottom -- compare EPIFAUNA
infauna 0 (aruba)
submenu
windows
submenu 0 (prp) windows 0 (albaugh)
diluter
flattop
diluter 2 (aruba) flattop 1 (prp)
plateau
plateau 0 (albaugh)
deluges
deluges 1 (aruba)
filters
filters 1 (gelinas)
menthol
menthol 0 (albaugh)
faintly
faintly 1 (gelinas)
risotto
risotto 2 (aruba)
rotator
burrito
donkeys
rotator 1 (gelinas) burrito 0 (aruba) donkeys 0 (albaugh)
gigabit
compute
gigabit 1 (aruba) compute 0 (albaugh)
gallant
gallant 1 (aruba)
seventh
seventh 0 (albaugh)
heaven
replant
"heaven" is 6 letters, Joe, so I can't score it. replant 0 (prp)
heretic
heretic 3 (aruba)
Ican't count. :( xylotic I can't find a definition for it, but xylo- is a combining form meaning "wood".
I guess I should start guessing what I think the word is, even if I have no references. Otherwise I just have no chance.
burning
Mark, I've narrowed it down to three words, one of which has since been eliminated (and which I considered the least likely, since I couldn't even hypothesize an etymology for it), and none of which appear in my three dictionaries: a small paperback, Webster's New Universal Unabridged, and 'webster', the UN*X program. It has become clear to me that y'all are using several other dictionaries, more extensive than the ones I have available. "Xylotic" follows certain rules of English, specifically those of creating an adjective from a noun: "Of or like wood."
aileron
Re 712: I was just grumbling because Kent nearly always picks words which are in dictionaries that I don't have. It puts me in a bind when I can guess at what the word is (I had the same guess as you), but can't prove that it's a word. On the one hand, if it's not a word, it's an illegal guess. But if it's right, then it's the responsibility of the person who's "it" to show that it's a word. So I think you probably made the right choice to go ahead and guess "xylotic". My strategy in these situations is usually to try to figure out the letters one by one. But that often doesn't get me the win. :)
burning 0 (albaugh) aileron 1 (prp) I can't find a definition for "xylotic" so I can't score it.
Hmmm... I'm surprised. traffic
xylotic: http://holysmoke.org/letter09.htm
jamming
traffic 3 (aruba) jamming 0 (albaugh) Re 717: is any web page that uses a word good for this game? Well...if this is so, expect me to make up a lot of words, put them in some quickly written essay on my web site, and point y'all to my web page (I expect there'd be alot of hollering about that, though). That URL gives me no clue as to what the word means or if the author was just making up words. Re 716: I wasn't under the impression I had to make an exhaustive search (I looked in several dictionaries, including for related words). Suffice it to say, xylotic is not the word I'm thinking of.
I think it was made up (as several other associated words were) for the message at the URL in #717. I would say that that does not make it a legitimate word for this game.
Re #719: I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I meant I was surprised that xylotic wasn't the word you were thinking of, not that I was surprised it isn't a word. The word, however, is /---------\ | tylotic | \---------/ I can't prove it's a word, so I'll put a proof in the next response.
Er, that is, I'll prove it's the only thing that matches these scores: creeper 0 (aruba) panting 0 (aruba) fluidly 0 (aruba) meeting 0 (gelinas) peepers 0 (albaugh) replant 0 (prp) burrito 0 (aruba) caliper 1 (aruba) mystery 1 (albaugh) risotto 2 (aruba) traffic 3 (aruba) score(creeper) = 0 ==> score(c---per) = 0 score(panting) = 0 ==> score(-a-----) = 0 score(fluidly) = 0 ==> score(---i---) = 0 So score(ca-iper) = 0. Since score(caliper) = 1, score(--l----) must be 1. score(meeting) = 0 ==> score(m--t---) = 0 score(peepers) = 0 ==> score(----er-) = 0 score(fluidly) = 0 ==> score(------y) = 0 score(--l----) = 0 ==> score(--s----) = 0 So score(m-stery) = 0. Since score(mystery) = 1, score(-y-----) must be 1. score(replant) = 0 ==> score(r------) = 0 score(burrito) = 0 ==> score(-----to) = 0 score(-yl----) = 2 ==> score(-is----) = 0 So score(ris--to) = 0. Since score(risotto) = 2, score(---ot--) must be 2. score(-ylot--) = 4 ==> score(-raff--) = 0 Since score(traffic) = 3, score(t----ic) must be 3. So score(tylotic) = 7. What's it mean?
A state of stupor entered into by taking too many tylenols?
Heh.
My Webster's unabridged defines it, but that's Kent's job. :) Kent, the best news I've gotten all day is your refusal to score my guess. Thank you. :)
Think, tylotic exzema.
tylotic 7 (aruba) ---> Winner!
Good job, Mark! Now you all can score xylotic if you want :) Here is
the definition (although I kinda like the Tylenols one better ;):
tylotic tilo.tik, a. Path. [f. tylosis: see -otic. ] Of, pertaining to,
or affected with tylosis.
1883 Quain's Dict. Med. 1645 The tylotic coating [of the tongue]
presents a silvery or snow-white appearance.
1899 Syd. Soc. Lex., Tylotic, pertaining to, or affected with, a
callosity.
where tylosis is:
tylosis tilou.sis. [mod.L., in sense 1 ad. Gr. tulwsij formation of a
callus (Galen), f. tuloj or tulh: see tylo- and -osis. ]
1. Path.
a. An inflammatory disease of the eyelids, characterized by
thickening and hardening of their edges.
b. An affection of the mucous membrane of the lips and mouth,
characterized by whitish spots; leucoplacia.
c. Callosity.
2. Bot. = tylose.
Perh. an erron. use arising from the pl. tyloses being taken as Latin.
OK, I'll have a word next time I log on.
OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word. tylotic 0 (lastword)
uneaten
uneaten 0 (kentn)
adverse
windows
tongues
adverse 1 (prp) windows 1 (kentn) tongues 0 (albaugh)
griddle
griddle 0 (kentn)
waviest
waviest 0 (prp)
apology
apology 2 (kentn)
follows
abscond
follows 0 (prp) abscond 0 (kentn)
pickets
pickets 1 (prp)
litotes
wonders
litotes 3 (kentn) (Good word!) wonders 0 (prp)
regular
regular 1 (gelinas) That should just about do it...
liturgy
liturgy 7 (kentn) Unofficial result.
liturgy 7 (kentn) (Official) Kent's up!
Okay, I'll try to have a new word in mind next time.
Okay, I'm thinking of a seven-letter word. liturgy 0 (The Last Word(tm)) Summary of guesses should be available in ~kentn/letter.match7
formats
eastern
formats 1 (prp) eastern 1 (aruba)
farmers
farmers 2 (prp)
fosters
famulus
fosters 2 (aruba) famulus 2 (prp [An attendant; esp. on a scholar or a magician.])
lectern
feebler
lectern 1 (gelinas) feebler 2 (aruba)
forbear
fermata Main Entry: fer7ma7ta Pronunciation: fer-'md-t& Function: noun Etymology: Italian, literally, stop, from fermare to stop, from Latin firmare to make firm Date: circa 1859 : a prolongation at the discretion of the performer of a musical note, chord, or rest beyond its given time value; also : the sign <fermata> denoting such a prolongation -- called also hold
forbear 3 (prp) fermata 1 (aruba)
humerus
fipper
members
forgets
humerus 1 (gelinas) members 1 (aruba) forgets 2 (albaugh) 'fipper' only has 6 letters.
flaneur Main Entry: fla7neur Pronunciation: fld-'n&r Function: noun Etymology: French flbneur Date: 1854 : an idle man-about-town
Make that flipper, and hope I get my L-key fixed soon.
flaneur 4 (aruba) flipper 3 (prp)
friseur Main Entry: fri7seur Pronunciation: frE-'z&r Function: noun Etymology: French, from friser Date: 1750 : HAIRDRESSER
friseur 7 (aruba) ---> Winner! Okay, Mark's up!
I wonder if that's where the word "frizzy" comes from. (M-W doesn't say.) OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word. friseur 0 (lastword)
unveils
nowhere
unveils 0 (kentn) nowhere 0 (prp)
panties
ashamed
panties 0 (albaugh) ashamed 1 (kentn)
uneaten
uneaten 0 (prp)
optimal
optimal 0 (kentn)
ethmoid
ethmoid 1 (prp)
Main Entry: eth7moid
Pronunciation: 'eth-"moid
Function: noun
Etymology: French ethmoode, from Greek EthmoeidEs, literally, like a
strainer, from Ethmos strainer
Date: 1842
: a light spongy cubical bone forming much of the walls of the nasal
cavity and part of those of the orbits
- ethmoid /same/ or eth7moi7dal /(")eth-'moi-d&l/ adjective
rebound
rebound 0 (kentn)
suppose
acrylic
esparto
suppose 0 (prp)
acrylic 2 (kentn)
esparto 0 (prp)
Main Entry: es7par7to
Pronunciation: is-'pdr-(")tO
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -tos
Etymology: Spanish, from Latin spartum, from Greek sparton -- more at SPIRE
Date: 1845
1 : either of two Spanish and Algerian grasses (Stipa tenacissima and Lygeum
spartum) used especially to make cordage, shoes, and paper -- called also
esparto grass
2 : the fiber of esparto
alluvia
alluvia 7 (kentn) Kent's up!
Okay, I'll try to have a word in mind next time.
All right, I'm thinking of a seven-letter word. It's not alluvia 0 (The Last Word) A summary of guesses will be kept in ~kentn/letter.match7
reports
elevate
floater
reports 0 (prp) elevate 1 (aruba) floater 0 (albaugh)
strange
trapped
chewing
alarmed
strange 0 (aruba) trapped 0 (prp) chewing 1 (albaugh) alarmed 0 (lelande)
protest
rioting
changes
ragweed
protest 2 (aruba) rioting 2 (albaugh) changes 0 (kingjon) ragweed 0 (prp)
bonkers
picture
bonkers 0 (albaugh) picture 1 (prp)
This response has been erased.
fauvism
fauvism 0 (aruba)
inspect
rectums
inspect 2 (prp) rectums 1 (albaugh)
sisters
unknown
mystery
sisters 2 (aruba) unknown 0 (prp) mystery 2 (albaugh)
eugenic
pennant
leagues
eugenic 0 (aruba) pennant 3 (prp) leagues 0 (albaugh)
ospreys
ostrich
ospreys 1 (aruba) ostrich 1 (prp)
watcher
absence
watcher 0 (albaugh) absence 2 (aruba)
neoteny
neoteny 2 (prp)
OK, the word is "obstant", though I have no idea what it means. Proof to follow.
I concur.
obstant 7 (aruba) ---> Ding! Ding! Ding! Winner!
Here's the def'n (from the OED), though the proof should, as usual,
prove interesting:
obstant
'obstant, a. Obs. [ad. L. obstant-em, pr. pple. of obstare to stand
against, f. ob- (ob- 1 b) + stare to stand. ] Standing against;
resisting, opposing.
1513 Douglas Fneis xii. ix. 99 That nother scheild nor obstant
plait of steyll This cativis breist hes helpit neuir a deill.
A. 1592 Greene Selimus Prol., Like a sea or high resurging floud,
All obstant lets, downe with his fury fling.
1623 Cockeram, Obstant, resisting.
Hence 'obstantly adv., resistingly.
1562 in Strype Ann. Ref. (1709) I. xxx. 302 If any person..be
thereof lawfully convicted..and will obstantly stand in the same.
Congrats, Mark, you're up!
Here's my proof, which took me longer than I thought it would:
strange 0 (aruba)
bonkers 0 (albaugh)
sisters 2 (aruba)
picture 1 (prp)
reports 0 (prp)
unknown 0 (prp)
pennant 3 (prp)
alluvia 0 (lastword)
eugenic 0 (aruba)
absence 2 (aruba)
ospreys 1 (aruba)
score(strange) = 0 ==> score(s------) = 0
score(bonkers) = 0 ==> score(----ers) = 0
Now 2 = score(sisters) = score(s------) + score(-ist---) + score(----ers)
= 0 + score(-ist---) + 0 + 0
==> score(-ist---) = 2
==> score(-i-t---) >= 1.
Since score(picture) = 1, that means score(p-c-ure) = 0, and in
particular, score(p------) = 0.
score(reports) = 0 ==> score(-e-----) = 0
score(bonkers) = 0 ==> score(--n----) = 0
score(unknown) = 0 ==> score(---n---) = 0
so score(pennant) = 3 ==> score(----ant) = 3.
score(alluvia) = 0 ==> score(a------) = 0
score(eugenic) = 0 ==> score(---e---) = 0
score(----ant) = 3 ==> score(----nce) = 0
so score(absence) = 2 ==> score(-bs----) = 2.
Now since we know that score(-i-t---) = 0, and score(-b-----) = 1,
we must have score(---t---) = 1.
So score(-bstant) = 6, which means that score(-spreys) = 0. Since
score(ospreys) = 1, that means score(o------) = 1. So score(obstant) = 7.
I'm going out of town in a few days, so it might be better if someone else was it next. I yield to whomever steps up first.
So, what did Fneis say in 1513 (in American...)?
Rane, you'd better ask that in another item, I think. Try looking for Fneis on the web...I consistently came up with no hits.
Well, if you've ever wanted to run the 7-letter Letter Match Game, now's your chance...
Guess we wait until Mark gets back...
I won't be back until after Labor Day (though my house is occupied - so please don't rob it!), so it would be better if someone else stepped up.
Labor Day here we come!
Well I am back to a place where I have regular access to the net, so I'll give it a shot. obstant 0 last word.
unearth
unearth 0 (kentn)
digging
unearth 0 (kentn) digging 1 (abaugh)
zippers
undress
unearth 0 (kentn) digging 1 (albaugh) zippers 1 (kentn) undress 1 (albaugh)
finesse
unearth 0 (kentn) digging 1 (albaugh) zippers 1 (kentn) undress 1 (albaugh) finesse 0 (kentn)
imprint
footsie
tragedy
unearth 0 (kentn) digging 1 (albaugh) zippers 1 (kentn) undress 1 (albaugh) finesse 0 (kentn) imprint 1 (aruba) footsie 2 (abaugh) tragedy 0 (kentn)
invests
cookies
unearth 0 (kentn) digging 1 (albaugh) zippers 1 (kentn) undress 1 (albaugh) finesse 0 (kentn) imprint 1 (aruba) footsie 2 (abaugh) tragedy 0 (kentn) invests 1 (gelinas) cookies 2 (kentn)
photons
torpedo
zygotes
photons 7 (aruba) *** Double winner today *** torpedo 0 (albaugh) zygotes 1 (gelinas)
photons 0 (lastword)
(Whoops, I meant to say, "I'm thinking of a 7-letter word.")
How can photons be the word when resp 854 says obstant is a 0 guess? Oh well... unearth
That's a good point - I hadn't written that one down, because prp hadn't been repeating it. unearth 1 (kentn)
torpedo
breeder
torpedo 0 (gelinas) breeder 1 (kentn)
blowfly
blowfly 1 (gelinas) Main Entry: blow7fly Pronunciation: -"flI Function: noun Date: 1821 : any of a family (Calliphoridae) of dipteran flies (as the bluebottle or screwworm) that deposit their eggs especially on meat or in wounds ... and isn't that a lovely word to know. :)
gravity
gravity 1 (kentn) Guesses so far are in ~aruba/letter.match7
chiefly
blemish Boy is my face red. Not only did I forget the word I had picked, I fogot I had scored obstant. I hope I get around to fixing the sooring program before I win again.
balance
chiefly 2 (gelinas) blemish 0 (prp) balance 0 (kentn)
gratify
gratify 1 (gelinas)
cheaply
snickey (full of knots or irregularities: OED)
cheaply 1 (albaugh) snickey 2 (kentn)
regular
synergy
regular 0 (albaugh) synergy 7 (kentn) Kent's up!
Okay, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word and it's not synergy 0 (The Last Word) The summary of guesses on the current word can be found in the file ~kentn/letter.match7
weasels
reverse
engines
weasels 0 (aruba) reverse 0 (prp) engines 0 (albaugh)
breadth
breadth 1 (aruba)
breathy
breathy 1 (gelinas)
brained
framers
tuition
brained 1 (aruba) framers 1 (gelinas) tuition 1 (albaugh)
grifter
trainer
animals
grifter 0 (gelinas) trainer 0 (aruba) animals 2 (albaugh)
primate
primate 2 (gelinas)
frisked
nakedly
frisked 0 (aruba) nakedly 0 (albaugh)
neutron
neutron 0 (aruba)
staring (as opposed to starring :-)
respite
current
staring 0 (albaugh) respite 0 (gelinas) current 1 (aruba)
ravioli
rollick Main Entry: rol7lick Pronunciation: 'rd-lik Function: intransitive verb Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1826 : to move or behave in a carefree joyous manner : FROLIC - rollick noun
ravioli 0 (gelinas) rollick 2 (aruba)
pattern
ailment
illness
pattern 0 (prp) ailment 1 (aruba) illness 0 (albaugh)
aimless
bulwark
working
aimless 1 (aruba) bulwark 4 (gelinas) working 0 (albaugh)
OK, the word is "bummack", though I don't know what it means. I'll write a proof in the morning.
bummack 7 (aruba) ---> Ding! Ding! Ding! Winner!
This is another from the OED:
bummock
'bummock,
bummack
'bummack. Sc. [Etymology unknown: presumably ONor. ]
1. A large brewing of ale for a merry meeting; the ale itself. (In
Caithness.) (Jam.)
1693 Wallace Orkney 30 The Tennant will not fail to
have..strong Ale (which they call Bummocks) in readiness.
1822 Scott Pirate III. 200 (Jam.) The mickle bicker of
Scapa..was always offered to the Bishop of Orkney brimful
of the best bummock.
2. A Christmas entertainment in Orkney given by tenants to their
landlords.
1795 Statist. Acc. Orkney XV. 393 note (Jam.) These
entertainments, called Bummacks, strengthened..the bonds
of mutual confidence..The Christmas Bummacks are almost
universally discontinued.
Congratulations on figuring it out, Mark. Your word.
Ah, the old Orkney bummacks. What a good time those were... I haven't had time to write a proof, but I did think of a 7-letter word. bummack 0 (lastword)
synergy
cymbals
synergy 1 (gelinas) cymbals 0 (albaugh)
unearth
unearth 0 (kentn)
digging
digging 1 (albaugh)
deleted
deleted 0 (kentn)
expunge
expunge 0 (albaugh)
fishery
fishery 0 (kentn)
hatches
hatches 1 (albaugh)
spacial (variant of spatial)
spacial 1 (kentn)
anomaly
anomaly 0 (albaugh)
sorghum
sorghum 7 (kentn) Kent's up!
Good word...okay, I'll try to have a word in mind next time...
Okay, I'm thinking of a seven-letter word and it's not... sorghum 0 ((Last Word)) A summary of guesses is in ~kentn/letter.match7
elegies
elegies 0 (aruba)
theater
theater 0 (gelinas)
beseech
praying
beseech 0 (aruba) praying 0 (albaugh)
cabbage
stuffed
cabbage 1 (aruba) stuffed 0 (albaugh)
baggage
baggage 1 (aruba)
luggage
luggage 1 (albaugh)
besiege
besiege 0 (aruba)
tonnage
acreage
tonnage 1 (prp) acreage 1 (albaugh)
citrusy
oranges
citrusy 1 (aruba) oranges 1 (albaugh)
offcast
offcast 7 (aruba) ---> Ding! Ding! Ding! Winner! Yup, just like it sounds...cast off, rejected... Mark, you're up!
Ooh, that was a surprise. I'll come up with a word soon.
OK, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word. offcast 0 (lastword)
unearth
unearth 2 (kentn)
fossils
treason
fossils 0 (albaugh) treason 0 (kentn)
hanging
hanging 0 (albaugh)
endured
endured 2 (kentn)
torture
torture 0 (albaugh)
interim
interim 3 (kentn)
upended
upended 0 (gelinas)
anthill
anthill 4 (kentn)
applied
applied 1 (gelinas)
toolbox
toolbox 1 (kentn)
drilled
drilled 0 (albaugh)
antitax
antitax 5 (kentn)
revenue
revenue 0 (albaugh) Now you're just toying with me...
balcony
dishrag
balcony 0 (kentn) dishrag 3 (gelinas)
sinking
dusting
sinking 0 (albaugh) dusting 0 (gelinas)
feather
feather 0 (albaugh) Geusses so far are in ~aruba/letter.match7 .
sprites
sprites 0 (gelinas)
It's more fun guessing than winning. :)
Apparently so. :)
thirsty
thirsty 0 (albaugh)
anthers
anthers 4 (gelinas) Main Entry: an7ther Pronunciation: 'an(t)-th&r Function: noun Etymology: New Latin anthera, from Latin, medicine made from flowers, from Greek anthEra, from feminine of anthEros flowery, from anthos Date: circa 1706 : the part of a stamen that produces and contains pollen and is usually borne on a stalk -- see FLOWER illustration - an7ther7al /-th&-r&l/ adjective
lisping
lisping 0 (albaugh)
After the . . . fun . . . the last/first time I was "it", I've been reluctant
to guess right. I've now modified a script Kent offered me, so I guess I'll
give it a go.
antitax 5 (kentn)
dishrag 3 (gelinas)
sprites 0 (gelinas)
score(sprites) = 0 ==> score(---it--) = 0
score(antitax) = score(ant--ax) + score(---it--) = score(ant--ax) + 0 = 5,
so score(ant--ax) = 5, score(-----a-) = 1, and score(ant---x) = 4
score(dishrag) = score(dis---g) + score(---hr--) + score(-----a-) = 3
score(ant---x) = 4, so score(dis---g) = 0 giving
score(dishrag) = 0 + score(---hr--) + 1 = 3,
so score(---hr--) = 2
which means that 7 = score(ant--ax) + score(---hr--) = score(anthrax)
So that's my guess:
anthrax
Sounds good to me...
anthrax 7 (gelinas) Nicely proven! You're up, Joe. (Sorry for the delay - I have been travelling.)
As I will be, starting in the morning. But I am thinking of a seven letter word and it's not anthrax 0 ((Last Word))
elegies
deathly
elegies 0 (aruba) deathly 0 (albaugh)
unearth
squeeze
unearth 0 (kentn) squeeze 2 (aruba)
courage
squelch
courage 3 (kentn) squelch 0 (aruba)
courier
fixedly
courier 2 (kentn) fixedly 0 (albaugh)
cognize Main Entry: cog7nize Pronunciation: kdg-'nIz, 'kdg-" Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): cog7nized; cog7niz7ing Etymology: back-formation from cognizance Date: circa 1837 : KNOW, UNDERSTAND - cog7niz7er noun
cognize 3 (aruba)
reckons
concede
reckons 0 (albaugh) concede 7 (kentn) I almost didn't bother scoring Kevin's, since Kent's was right. You're up, Kent.
Yikes, I didn't think that would be it...although it did fit ;) Okay, I'll try to dream a new 7-letter word by next time.
Okay, I'm thinking of a seven-letter word and it's not... concede 0 (The Last Word(tm)) A summary of guesses is in ~kentn/letter.match7
anthrax
geneses (plural of genesis)
anthrax 0 (gelinas) geneses 1 (aruba)
gilding
jealous
bitches
gilding 0 (gelinas) jealous 0 (aruba) bitches 0 (albaugh)
fluster
powered
passage
sorcery
fluster 0 (gelinas) powered 0 (albaugh) passage 0 (aruba) sorcery 0 (kingjon)
warlock
warlock 1 (albaugh)
watered
watered 1 (aruba)
whistle
working
whoopla
whistle 3 (gelinas) working 1 (albaugh) whoopla 2 (aruba) whoopla=hoopla if you were wondering
whither
rhombic Main Entry: rhom7bic Pronunciation: 'rdm-bik Function: adjective Date: 1701 1 : having the form of a rhombus 2 : ORTHORHOMBIC
whither 3 (gelinas) rhombic 4 (aruba)
rhumbas
rhumbas 2 (albaugh)
I'm going to take a guess that I cannot substantiate as a word:
whimsic
I suspect that my dictionaries just are not comprehensive enough to
include this particular variant of "whimsical".
No need to guess - one can prove that whimsic is correct. (It's in /usr/dict/words, but not in m-w.)
It's only a "guess" because I couldn't confirm it as a word. It would probably take close to ten lines to prove it, since it's already taken five with gaps. I will do it, if anyone is interested.
Well, it took me more than 10 lines, but here's a proof.
gilding 0 (gelinas)
jealous 0 (aruba)
concede 0 (The Last Word(tm))
powered 0 (albaugh)
geneses 1 (aruba)
anthrax 0 (gelinas)
passage 0 (aruba)
watered 1 (aruba)
whoopla 2 (aruba)
fluster 0 (gelinas)
whistle 3 (gelinas)
rhombic 4 (aruba)
score(gilding) = 0 ==> score(g------) = 0
score(jealous) = 0 ==> score(-e----s) = 0
score(concede) = 0 ==> score(--n----) = 0
score(powered) = 0 ==> score(---e-e-) = 0
Therefore
1 = score(geneses) = score(g------) + score(-e----s) + score(--n----)
+ score(---e-e-) + score(----s--)
= 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + score(----s--)
==> score(----s--) = 1.
score(passage) = 0 ==> score(-a-----) = 0
score(anthrax) = 0 ==> score(--t----) = 0
score(powered) = 0 ==> score(---ered) = 0
Therefore
1 = score(watered) = score(w------) + score(-a-----) + score(---t----)
+ score(---ered)
= score(w------) + 0 + 0 + 0
==> score(w------) = 1.
2 = score(whoopla) = score(wh---l-) + score(--oop-a)
==> score(wh---l-) <= 2.
score(fluster) = 0 ==> score(---st--) = 0
score(passage) = 0 ==> score(------e) = 0
3 = score(whistle) = score(wh---l-) + score(--i----) + score(---st--)
+ score(------e)
= score(wh---l-) + score(--i----) + 0 + 0
==> score(wh---l-) + score(--i----) = 3
==> 3 - score(--i----) = score(wh---l-)
==> 3 - score(--i----) <= 2
==> score(--i----) >= 1
==> score(--i----) = 1.
So score(w-i-s--) = score(w------) + score(--i----) + score(----s--)
= 1 + 1 + 1 = 3.
Therefore score(r-o-b--) = 0, and
4 = score(rhombic) = score(r-o-b--) + score(-h-m-ic) = 0 + score(-h-m-ic)
==> score(-h-m-ic) = 4.
So, finally, score(whimsic) = score(w-i-s--) + score(-h-m-ic) = 3 + 4 = 7.
whimsic 7 (gelinas) ---> Ding! Ding! Ding! Winner!
Very good! Your word, Joe. You don't have to prove it, according to
the conventions/rules we've developed in this game (I have to tell you
if it's right, if it is, but I don't have to score it if it isn't if you
can't provide a definition). But proving the solution seems to be fun
for some people here <ahem>. Yup, related to whimsy/whimsical. OED just
says it's obsolete and rare, then:
whimsic chair = whimsy sb. 5.
1684 Ballads illustr. Gt. Frost (Percy Soc.) 29 Dutch whirling,
whimsic chair, Turning more swift than unrestrained air.
So I'm thinking of a seven-letter word.
I think I forgot something: whimsic 0 (lastword) Current status is in ~gelinas/letter.match7
illness
illness 0 (albaugh)
exegete Main Entry: ex7e7gete Pronunciation: 'ek-s&-"jEt Function: noun Etymology: Greek exEgEtEs, from exEgeisthai Date: circa 1736 : one who practices exegesis
For a Bible scholar you define "exegete"? Thanks. ;) exegete 0 (aruba)
I didn't know you were a Bible scholar, Joe. And I don't know what exegesis is. What is it?
Critical interpretation of a text. That is, look closely at all related texts to determine what this one means.
critics
critics 2 (albaugh)
trivial
boating
trivial 1 (aruba) boating 0 (kentn)
referee
referee 1 (aruba)
umpires
fluvial Main Entry: flu7vi7al Pronunciation: 'fl|-vE-&l Function: adjective Etymology: Latin fluvialis, from fluvius river, from fluere Date: 14th century 1 : of, relating to, or living in a stream or river 2 : produced by the action of a stream
umpires 1 (albaugh) fluvial 0 (aruba)
urgency
urgency 1 (kentn)
egoists
conceit
egoists 1 (aruba) conceit 1 (albaugh)
This response has been erased.
plywood
plywood 1 (aruba)
woodier
seafood
woodier 2 (albaugh) seafood 1 (aruba)
dieting
dieting 0 (albaugh)
outdoor
crooked
politic
Kent got it: outdoor 0 (aruba) crooked 7 (kentn) politic 0 (albaugh) You're up, Kent.
That was nice, straightforward word...and not one you'd normally think of when guessing... Okay, I'll try to have a word in mind next time.
That was my goal. Thanks for the kind words, Kent. :)
Okay, I'm thinking of a 7-letter word. It is not... crooked 0 (Previous Word) A summary of the guesses on this word can be found in ~kentn/letter.match7
referee
referee 0 (aruba)
quietus
quietus 1 (gelinas)
element
complex
element 0 (aruba) complex 0 (albaugh)
caraway
towings
caraway 0 (aruba) towings 0 (albaugh) Hmmm...towings didn't sound right to me since towing is usually a verb, but there are plenty of examples on the WWW of people using "towings" so I've scored it.
adamant
adamant 0 (aruba)
bustier
buffoon
foolish Yeah, towings was a reach. But if "a towing" is a single act of "towing away a car", then it can be pluralized, if one dares. :-)
"tow" is both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it has a present participle "towing", which does not have a plural. As a noun, it has a gerund, also "towing", which is a verbal noun, which can be made plural. "Towings" is the plural of the gerund towing, based on the noun tow.
What he said! :-)
bustier 1 (gelinas) buffoon 1 (aruba) foolish 0 (albaugh)
idiotic
idiotic 0 (aruba)
stupids
Hmmm - I think Kevin is testing the limits. :) outdoor
stupids 0 (albaugh) outdoor 1 (aruba) Hmmm...well stupid can be noun (a stupid person), so I guess it can be plural.
bumpkin
In "a stupid person", stupid is an adjective, not a noun. The plural of "stupid person" is "stupid persons". Adjectives cannot be pluralized. Some words are either a noun or an adjective (e.g., red), and could be made plural if used as a noun, but not as an adjective.
wishful
Yabut Deep Purple had the following lyrics from the "Smoke on the Water" cut on its "Machine Head" album: "...some stupid with a flare gun, burned the place to the ground..." And if you can't trust Deep Purple, who *can* you trust?! ;-)
Mia culpa: I just looked it up and find that "stupid" is also a noun (= blockhead, etc), and this in a rather old dictionary. It's not just a proper noun (Hey! Stupid!).
m-w lists it only as an adjective, unless I missed something.
It's also a noun in the F&W College Standard Dict.
bumpkin 1 (albaugh) wishful 0 (aruba) Re 1149: "a stupid person" is the definition of "stupid" the noun, not an example of its usage. Relax. Re 1153: the noun definition of "stupid" is on the www.m-w.com site as the second defn. I looked it up before I scored it.
(...using the word to define the word can be a cause of miscomprehension)
Ah, yes, I see it on m-w now. My mistake.
(...which most dictionaries do)
thinker
petunia
thinker 0 (albaugh) petunia 0 (aruba)
squills
uncouth
squills 0 (albaugh) uncouth 1 (aruba)
cousins
upcasts Main Entry: up7cast Pronunciation: '&p-"kast Function: noun Date: 1890 : something cast up
cousins 0 (albaugh) upcasts 0 (aruba)
vomited
vomited 0 (albaugh)
nonzero
unempty
nonzero 0 (aruba) unempty 0 (albaugh)
mugwump
whopper
mugwump 7 (aruba) ---> Ding! Ding! Ding! Winner! whopper 0 (albaugh) Okay, Mark's up!
Good word! I think this item is getting a bit long, so I'm going to start a new one.
OK, i started item 108 to continue the 7-letter word game. I'll freeze this item now.
You have several choices: