THREE'S A CROWD
Credit: Will Shortz
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
Jan. 13, 2013

Each trio of words below can be followed by a fourth word which will change the first three into new words. The fourth word is different for each trio. For example, given the clue words MAN, DAM, SEW, the fourth word would be AGE - as in MANAGE, DAMAGE, SEWAGE.

1. PAR, POI, SEA
2. BUD, FOR, TAR
3. ARC, FAT, WAS
4. DEB, DON, ROT
5. PAL, PAN, WIN
6. FIN, IMP, TAM
7. EAR, FRO, TOO
8. POT, LOT, NOT

Answers:

1. SON - PARSON, POISON, SEASON
2. GET - BUDGET, FORGET, TARGET
3. HER - ARCHER, FATHER, WASHER
4. ATE - DEBATE, DONATE, ROTATE
5. TRY - PALTRY, PANTRY, WINTRY
6. ALE - FINALE, IMPALE, TAMALE
7. THY - EARTHY, FROTHY, TOOTHY
8. ION - POTION, LOTION, NOTION