Each of the words below can be changed into a new one according to a similar pattern. Can you determine the pattern and the new words?

ACE
AIDE
APE
ARE
LOP
ODE
RIM
ROD

HINT:
ABLE could be added to the list.

Answers:

Each word can be preceded and followed by the same letter to form a new word:

RACER
RAIDER
LAPEL
DARED
ELOPE
MODEM
PRIMP
ERODE
(TABLET)

Credit:
Joseph Appel 

Note from JA: This puzzle was published in the May, 2016 issue of GAMES/World of Puzzles under the title MIDDLE GROUND.