OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

Credit: NY Times Crossword - Aug. 3, 2008

Peter A. Collins and Joe Krozel

The following words share an unusual quality. Can you determine what it is?

1. LABORED

2. FINALIST

3. MANDATE

4. PITSTOP

5. SPOTLESS

6. REVEREND

HINTS:

1. The title is a clue.

2. Consider these sentences:

1. While one member of the crew LABORED, _ / _ _ _ _ _ worker did nothing.

2. The judges put the name of each FINALIST

_ _ / _ / _ _ _ _ for the emcee to read.

3. The congregation ignored the MANDATE _ _ _ / _ _ _ meat on Friday.

4. The racing crew made the first PITSTOP _ _ _ / _ _ _ priority.

5. I notice you use the SPOTLESS _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ than the tarnished one.

6. Will the REVEREND _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ his sermon?

Answer:

If you remove the first letter of each word, the remaining letters form two or three new words.

LABORED - A BORED

FINALIST - IN A LIST

MANDATE - AND ATE

PITSTOP - ITS TOP

SPOTLESS - POT LESS

REVEREND - EVER END