GAMES Magazine

September, 1984

Toni Green

 

What do all of the following words have in common? 

1. TAXABLE

2. PIRATE

3. HEARSAY

4. TRAVESTY

5. BLOCKED

6. NARROWEST

7. VINTAGE

8. PATIENTS

9. COLOGNE

 

Answer:

 

All of the words are actually three words wrapped up in one package. Each word contains within itself a shorter word. This shorter word, plus the beginning and ending letters surrounding it, plus the original word make up the three words. Words like these are called "containers" in cryptic puzzles:

 

For example: RUDIMENT - The beginning and ending letters RU - NT make up the word RUNT. Between RU and NT is the word DIME (RU DIME NT).  RUNT, DIME, and RUDIMENT make up the three words.

Can you think of a good container cryptic clue that could be answered by RUDIMENT?

See possible answer below.

 

1. T AX ABLE

2. PI RAT E

3. H EARS AY

4. TRA VEST Y

5. B LOCK ED

6. N ARROW EST

7. VIN TAG E

8. PA TIE NTS

9. CO LOG NE

 

Possible cryptic clue that could be answered by RUDIMENT: 

Smallest one swallows ten cents on basic principle.