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When I have to wait for an appointment, I sometimes do wordplay to pass the time. I was recently working out some letter patterns to come up with future Brain Game puzzles, and found something odd. You’re invited to help me test it out.
Find a word that fits the pattern
X…XX
where X represents the same letter of the alphabet
but does NOT represent the letter “S.”
It’s the “S” rule that throws things off. Off your head, you might think of sass and stress and success… maybe even straightforwardness if you’ve had your coffee. Yes, there are several “S” words that work well with this pattern, but very few using other letters.
Since I’m in a holiday mood, I’ll even offer a prize today. Comment with ONE word that fits the pattern and rules as required; I’ll choose a favorite and will post it on Thursday. That entrant will receive a prize… How about a book from our reference library? We’ll set the deadline at 8am Eastern on December 17. Don’t put it off, ’cause there aren’t that many words to go around. And don’t get greedy by posting multiples or you’ll be disqualified and added to Santa’s “naughty” list. ‘Tis the season, folks. Good luck!
Comments (124)
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Entree.
posted by Michigan Mom on 12-16-2008 at 7:38 am
Fluff
posted by Devin Jackson on 12-16-2008 at 7:40 am
Laystall. I’ll leave it to someone else to pick the easy one.
posted by Rich on 12-16-2008 at 7:45 am
Laystall
posted by Rich on 12-16-2008 at 7:46 am
Fluff
posted by Allyson on 12-16-2008 at 7:46 am
Evacuee
posted by Tim on 12-16-2008 at 7:47 am
lull
posted by Scott K on 12-16-2008 at 7:47 am
Lustfull
posted by Allyson on 12-16-2008 at 7:48 am
evacuee
posted by Richard on 12-16-2008 at 7:48 am
Epigee
posted by Will on 12-16-2008 at 7:52 am
flagstaff
posted by Paul on 12-16-2008 at 7:53 am
Employee
posted by Brittany on 12-16-2008 at 7:55 am
ooh good one michigan mom. certainly better than mine.
Lull
posted by Andre on 12-16-2008 at 7:57 am
golliwogg
posted by bud on 12-16-2008 at 7:59 am
epee
posted by Andre on 12-16-2008 at 8:00 am
dodd
posted by Susan on 12-16-2008 at 8:00 am
Lowball
posted by Danno on 12-16-2008 at 8:07 am
In the word of Dr. Seuss:
“Z is for Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz.”
posted by Patrick on 12-16-2008 at 8:09 am
Examinee
posted by Chip on 12-16-2008 at 8:10 am
Terawatt
(dunno if my comment appeared the first time around… apologize if it’s double =D)
posted by Julio P. on 12-16-2008 at 8:10 am
terawatt
posted by Tricia on 12-16-2008 at 8:15 am
Maybe the book from the reference library will contain “epopee.”
posted by Steven on 12-16-2008 at 8:15 am
Golliwogg
posted by Reed on 12-16-2008 at 8:18 am
It would be fitting for someone to chose a book from the library that contains “epopee.”
posted by Steven on 12-16-2008 at 8:18 am
escapee
posted by Alex C-G on 12-16-2008 at 8:19 am
fisticuff
posted by larrence on 12-16-2008 at 8:21 am
foodstuff
posted by Allyson on 12-16-2008 at 8:21 am
foodstuff
posted by Shannon on 12-16-2008 at 8:21 am
ahhh “foodstuff” wasn’t there when i loaded the page originally!
posted by Shannon on 12-16-2008 at 8:23 am
Julio you beat me! Okay a word that hasn’t been said yet:
Emcee
posted by Tricia on 12-16-2008 at 8:28 am
Ahhh!! Keith! Okay one more time..
glugg
posted by Tricia on 12-16-2008 at 8:30 am
bibb (as in lettuce)
posted by Joe F. on 12-16-2008 at 8:31 am
epee
posted by Jeff on 12-16-2008 at 8:38 am
GLOGG
posted by Charlie on 12-16-2008 at 8:41 am
OK, all the ones I thought of have been taken so I’ll take the easy one.
Loll
posted by Deuce on 12-16-2008 at 8:41 am
etouffee
posted by Scott on 12-16-2008 at 8:42 am
Omoo!
posted by Corrine on 12-16-2008 at 8:44 am
llamabell
posted by JUST COOL DESIGN on 12-16-2008 at 8:49 am
landfill
posted by Diana on 12-16-2008 at 8:56 am
FAROFF – As in “once upon a time, in a faroff land…”
posted by Kyle on 12-16-2008 at 8:56 am
landfall
posted by Pam on 12-16-2008 at 9:00 am
Gaggle
posted by Chris on 12-16-2008 at 9:22 am
Epopee – epic greek poem
posted by Jeff on 12-16-2008 at 9:22 am
Enfree – to set free
posted by Jeff on 12-16-2008 at 9:24 am
B … Bubble
posted by Chris on 12-16-2008 at 9:24 am
epee
posted by Brett C on 12-16-2008 at 9:25 am
epee
posted by Tyler on 12-16-2008 at 9:37 am
espree?
All natural animal shampoos? My dog loves espree!!
posted by Caitlin on 12-16-2008 at 9:39 am
Educatee
posted by Matt on 12-16-2008 at 9:41 am
Puppy
posted by Byron on 12-16-2008 at 9:44 am
former MLB Umpire, Eric Gregg. RIP
posted by michael on 12-16-2008 at 9:45 am
loll
posted by Jodi on 12-16-2008 at 9:59 am
Grogg – an alcoholic drink
posted by Ed on 12-16-2008 at 10:02 am
Owlpoo
posted by Scott-O on 12-16-2008 at 10:14 am
bibb
posted by Chuck on 12-16-2008 at 10:20 am
lardball
posted by Matt on 12-16-2008 at 10:21 am
Evictee – definitely not a word you hear everyday! :)
posted by LindsRay01 on 12-16-2008 at 10:24 am
electee
posted by Molly on 12-16-2008 at 10:30 am
ilii
posted by Sissi on 12-16-2008 at 10:32 am
Mumm
posted by Shawn on 12-16-2008 at 10:40 am
Eggnog makes me GROGGY
posted by Cathy on 12-16-2008 at 10:40 am
intertransversarii (hooray for vertebral muscles!)
posted by Josh on 12-16-2008 at 10:41 am
Lowell
posted by Massachusetts on 12-16-2008 at 10:48 am
how about bb?
starts with b and ends with double-b…
and eerie gives you the reverse xx…x.
posted by C on 12-16-2008 at 10:49 am
Faff
posted by Joe Ayscue on 12-16-2008 at 11:09 am
Mine were already said, but I wanted to put in my two centst that I think owlpoo should win
posted by CB on 12-16-2008 at 11:25 am
terawatt- a unit of power
posted by Laraine on 12-16-2008 at 11:34 am
How about the store chain Fortunoff?
posted by erak on 12-16-2008 at 11:37 am
zizz
posted by Teresa on 12-16-2008 at 11:39 am
Mhmm!!
posted by Sam on 12-16-2008 at 11:42 am
How about tattoo
posted by Craig on 12-16-2008 at 11:46 am
Farff – family name in England, funny to say.
posted by bhp on 12-16-2008 at 11:51 am
landfill
posted by Danita on 12-16-2008 at 11:52 am
Feoff- a piece of land held under the feudal system; to invest with a fief or fee
posted by Pamela on 12-16-2008 at 11:54 am
tattle
posted by Jeffrey on 12-16-2008 at 12:04 pm
interradii
posted by Patrick on 12-16-2008 at 12:09 pm
Logroll
posted by Bryan on 12-16-2008 at 12:12 pm
goggles
posted by patrick on 12-16-2008 at 12:34 pm
wiggle or blubber
posted by patrick on 12-16-2008 at 12:41 pm
I meant giggle or blubber hahah.
posted by patrick on 12-16-2008 at 12:44 pm
epicuree
posted by Eric on 12-16-2008 at 12:44 pm
Lull.
posted by Cindi on 12-16-2008 at 12:51 pm
How about the great literary precursor to Shaggy and Scooby-Doo…
Falstaff
posted by J. Michael on 12-16-2008 at 12:53 pm
Ennuyee–a woman suffering from lack of interest or boredom (ennui)
posted by Heather Dawn on 12-16-2008 at 1:00 pm
Bibb
posted by Jason E. on 12-16-2008 at 1:11 pm
faceoff
posted by ari on 12-16-2008 at 1:15 pm
Falloff
Enlistee
Endorsee
posted by Dinosaur on 12-16-2008 at 1:28 pm
turatt – a hare kangaroo.
posted by Jeffrey on 12-16-2008 at 1:30 pm
Lumbermill
posted by Dinosaur on 12-16-2008 at 1:30 pm
Elysee
noun
1. a palace in Paris: the official residence of the president of France.
2. the French government (usually prec. by the).
posted by Billy on 12-16-2008 at 1:43 pm
LAMBKILL
posted by Kaitlyn on 12-16-2008 at 1:48 pm
here’s a mouthful:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
posted by Dinosaur on 12-16-2008 at 1:56 pm
Zyzzyx – Thats like a billion in scrabble
and
Lull
posted by Mike Z on 12-16-2008 at 2:04 pm
goose-egg
posted by Jef on 12-16-2008 at 2:15 pm
fluff
posted by Lor on 12-16-2008 at 2:19 pm
Tatt
Tatt\, v. t. & i. To make (anything) by tatting; to work at tatting; as, tatted edging.
My Gramma always made us tatted pillowcases for Christmas!
posted by RhondaB on 12-16-2008 at 3:14 pm
epogee
posted by Judy on 12-16-2008 at 3:19 pm
Can hyphens be used? If so:
ex-fiancee
posted by Mortal Light on 12-16-2008 at 3:39 pm
bubble
posted by Hyacinth on 12-16-2008 at 3:44 pm
DODD – To cut off, as wool from sheep’s tails; to lop or clip off.
posted by Radtechalex on 12-16-2008 at 3:44 pm
Fluff
posted by Selena on 12-16-2008 at 3:53 pm
entrustee
posted by Mortal Light on 12-16-2008 at 3:57 pm
Entrustee
posted by Cody on 12-16-2008 at 3:59 pm
turdbutt
posted by turdbutt on 12-16-2008 at 3:59 pm
for us coders, this is a simple grep:
^(.).*\1\1$
in some dictionary file. Of course this is just an aid, and unless you have an exotic ditionary, this won’t help much.
posted by rich on 12-16-2008 at 4:00 pm
The first thing I thought of was Bobbin (like a sewing bobbin)
This leads obviously to bobbing as well
posted by Jaime on 12-16-2008 at 4:01 pm
Treat
posted by ditzen on 12-16-2008 at 4:02 pm
Bobbin (like a sewing bobbin)
posted by Jaime on 12-16-2008 at 4:03 pm
Golliwogg – ugly doll
posted by Aabha on 12-16-2008 at 4:11 pm
Ohoo!!
posted by Forest on 12-16-2008 at 5:05 pm
etwee – an ornamental case for small articles, such as needles.
posted by Michele of Minnesota on 12-16-2008 at 5:33 pm
Zizz. A buzzing sound or a nap.
posted by antanas on 12-16-2008 at 5:34 pm
Um, it said “Don’t loll” in the title…so how about “LOLL” then? Hey, it works…
posted by Elizabeth on 12-16-2008 at 5:42 pm
twitt!
posted by Nicole on 12-16-2008 at 6:55 pm
well, i’ll admit i cheated, the logician in me figured if i copied every word from a text based dictionary (just words, not meanings) and ran some excel rules i could filter them all out..
turns out there are 689 words that follow the x…xx pattern in my dictionary, 627 of which are S…SS words. 25 of the rest are E…EE words.
my favourite is probably FOOTMUFF.
posted by johnson on 12-16-2008 at 6:56 pm
its eerie when you reverse the pattern… ooooaaaah.
posted by John on 12-16-2008 at 7:22 pm
Etwee- a small, often decorative case, esp. one for toilet articles or the like.
Tada!
posted by Chris on 12-16-2008 at 7:55 pm
glogg
– a hot wine punch containing brandy or aquavit and traditionally flavored with almonds, raisins, cloves, and cinnamon.
posted by Aimee on 12-16-2008 at 8:29 pm
dyslexics love aardvark.
posted by Damien on 12-16-2008 at 10:10 pm
Turett
As in Turett’s syndrome!
posted by Bethany on 12-17-2008 at 12:50 am
epopee
posted by Elizabeth on 12-17-2008 at 12:54 am
In honor of New York’s latest tax assault…
Fart-tariff
posted by Scott-O on 12-17-2008 at 11:36 am
Turett
As in Turett’s syndrome!
posted by Bethany on 12-17-2008 at 12:50 am
In which one invariably puts too many Ts and not enough Rs when spelling the word “turret” ??
captcha: Readers Crescent. Sounds like a lovely place.
posted by grover on 12-18-2008 at 1:54 am
Judge Dredd
posted by D on 12-18-2008 at 3:23 pm