LINKING LETTERS
Credit: NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
February 8, 2009
Will Shortz

For each four-letter word below, think of another four-letter word starting with the last letter of the clue word - so that when the words are read successively, overlapping on the share letter, they will spell a familiar seven-letter word. For example, given the clue word PROP, you could add POSE - to get PROPOSE.

1. TERM
2. AVER
3. PORT
4. EARN
5. FORT
6. STEW
7. GRAD
8. PARS
9. MESS
10. GRIM
11. CORD
12. BILL
13. LAMP

Answers:

1. TERM + MITE = TERMITE
2. AVER + RAGE = AVERAGE
3. PORT + TRAY = PORTRAY
4. EARN + NEST = EARNEST
5. FORT + TUNE = FORTUNE
6. STEW + WARD = STEWARD
7. GRAD + DUAL = GRADUAL
8. PARS + SNIP = PARSNIP
9. MESS + SAGE = MESSAGE
10. GRIM + MACE = GRIMACE
11. CORD + DIAL = CORDIAL
12. BILL + LION = BILLION
13. LAMP + PREY = LAMPREY