DROP A LETTER - GET A NEW WORD CXXXVI

GAMES/World of Puzzles

February, 2026

FAMILY REUNIONS

Bob Stigger

 

Drop one letter from each word and re-arrange the remaining letters to form nine relates words.

 

1. BLURB

2. BRIEF

3. MAPLE

4. CARPET

5. COHORT

6. LOAFER

7. ICELAND

8. INTERNAL

9. HIGHTAILED

 

HINTS:

First letters of the new words:

1. B

2. F

3. L

4. T

5. T

6. F

7. C

8. L

9. H

 

Answers:

 

1. BULB

2. FIRE

3. LAMP

4. TAPER

5. TORCH

6. FLARE

7. CANDLE

8. LANTERN

9. HEADLIGHT - - - Sources of light   

CRYPTO CLUES CCXIX

GAMES/World of Puzzles

October, 2021

Bob Stigger (1)

Rosalie Moscovitch (2-10) 

 

1. They mark positions of profanity-yellers in the audience

 

2. Opening in tree trunk is incomplete, I hear 

 

3. Head librarian has to improvise

 

4. Box found in maid's parlor3

 

5. Grown old, short French artist  heads west

 

6. Celeb tells all about .....

 

7. Boston guest carrying muscular organ

 

8. Venetian chorale enthralls TV news announcer

 

9. Rocky loves what you do to a mystery

 

10. Auditor's fine-looking carriage 

 

Answers: 

 

1. CURSORS (cursers)

2. KNOTHOLE (not whole)  

3. AD LIB (heAD LIBrarian)

4. SPAR (box)  [maidS PARlor]

5. AGED (west = left) [DEGAS] 

6. STAR (rats = tells all) [about = reversal]

7. TONGUE (bosTON GUEst)

8. ANCHOR (venetiAN CHORale)

9. SOLVE (anagram of loves)

10. HANSOM (handsome) 

UNUSUAL WORDS CXXVIII

Can you give a simple definition of these less-frequently-used words?

1. COVEN

2. MAUVE

3. MITOSIS 

4. SYZYGY

5. PLACKET

6. SPELUNK

7. FURLONG 

8. DETRITUS 

9. FOOLSCAP

10. IMPUISSANT  

 

Answers: 

 

1. COVEN - A group of witches

 

2. MAUVE - A pale purple color

 

3. MITOSIS - Normal cell division

 

4. SYZYGY - The straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and earth in an eclipse

 

5. PLACKET - A fold or slit in a garment that allows it to be put on easily or provides a place for buttons or snaps

 

6. SPELUNK - To explore caves

 

7. FURLONG - An eighth of a mile, 220 yards / term used in horse racing

 

8. DETRITUS - Trash, junk, waste, debris

 

9. FOOLSCAP - A size of paper slightly larger than the standard 8 1/2  x 11 - used for legal pads

 

10. IMPUISSANT - Lacking physical strength or vigor, powerless 

 

  

SYNONYM/ANAGRAM CCXXX

The two words on each line can be anagrammed into one - beginning with the given letter. The meanings of the anagrams are given below the clues. 

1. VIA + SOUR = V

2. TAD + FINE = D 

3. FIR + FACT = T

4. CAP + LIES = S

5. TIP + RAVE = P

6. SIP + MULE = I 

7. BIT + RAVE = V

8. FAIR + GIFT = G 

9. ROD + ARCH = O

10. ION + CLAMP = C

11. LINE + CERISE = R 

12. STIR + NATION = T 

 

Meanings of the anagrams:

1. Mixed, different

2. Boldly resistant 

3. Movement of vehicles

4. Better, greater, different from the usual

5. Personal

6. Sudden urge

7. Quiver, shake

8. Defacement of public property 

9. Land planted with fruit trees 

10. Protest, grumble

11. Ability to "bounce back"

12. Change from one state to another

 

Answers:

 

1. VARIOUS

2. DEFIANT

3. TRAFFIC

4. SPECIAL

5. PRIVATE

6. IMPULSE

7. VIBRATE

8. GRAFFITI

9. ORCHARD

10. COMPLAIN

11. RESILIENCE

12. TRANSITION  

The three animals in List I have something in common that is shared by one of the animals in  List II. Which animal from the second list belongs in the first list - and why?

List I 

Firefly

Dragonfly

Komodo Dragon

 

List II 

Fly

Ladybird 

Puffer fish

Chameleon 

 

Answer: 

 

Ladybird should go in the first list. Fireflies and dragonflies are not true flies (insects), and a Komodo Dragon is a lizard (reptile). A ladybird is not a bird - it's a beetle (ladybug).

 

Credit:
Braingle 

 

Fireball Crossword

April 9, 2026

Peter A. Collins  

 

What do the following names and phrases have in common?

 

1. SKI AREA 

2. SAUDI ARABIA

3. OUT OF ORDER

4. MARATHON DANCE 

 

HINT:
Hidden words

 

Answer:

 

Each name and phrase conceals the name of a make of car:

 

1. sKI Area

2. sAUDI arabia

3. out oF ORDer

4. maratHON DAnce                                                      

  

 USA Today Crossword

April 9, 2026

Brain Callahan

 

The first three clues below have something in common that is hinted at by the fourth clue. Can you determine what it is?

 

1. BEEF STROGANOFF

2. FEATS OF STRENGTH

3. GOES FOR THE GOLD

4. Classic New Orleans dessert

 

Answer to Clue 4:

BANANAS FOSTER

 

Answer to Clues 1-3:

 

The letters spelling FOSTER are scrambled (bananas) - but in consecutive order - in each of the clues:

 

1. beEF STROganoff

2. feats OF STREngth

3. goES FOR The gold