TWO PAIR II
Credit: GAMES/World of Puzzles
May, 2015
Erich Friedman

Add four letters to each word below to form a new word. The added letters must be two pairs of identical letters, in any order. For example, given the clue CO _ D _ _ S _ , the letter pairs NN and EE could be added to form CONDENSE.

1. M _ I _ L _ _ D
2. M _ _ _ I _ ST
3. NA _ _ V _ _ Y
4. OPT _ _ _ S _
5. _ PE _ AT _ _
6. PE _ _ _ _ ON
7. _ _ P _ _ ITY
8. S _ AG_ A _ _
9. S _ ASH _ _ _
10. _ _ SE _ _ LL

HINTS:
One of the missing letters:
1. N
2. E
3. I
4. M
5. R
6. I
7. A
8. N
9. O
10. A

Answers:

1. MAINLAND
2. MERRIEST
3. NATIVITY
4. OPTIMISM
5. OPERATOR
6. PETITION
7. CAPACITY
8. STAGNANT
9. SEASHELL
10. BASEBALL