PARSE-O-NYMS I

In an LA Times crossword of August 6, 2023, Rafael Musa asked what was wrong with phrases like not pure, pound judgement, goes without paying. The clue to the answer was DON'T MOVE. The answer was STOP (don't move) but it had to be parsed as S TO P to show what was wrong with the other clues - that S should replace every P (not pure - not sure, pound judgement - sound judgement, etc.) But what should words like STOP be called when they are parsed to S TO P? Or LIST when parsed to L IS T?  The same thing can occur with phrases: SOURDOUGH NUT can be parsed to SOUR DOUGHNUT by changing the spacing between the words. They are sort of anagrams - the same letters - with the order changed by changing the spacing between letters or words. But to call these words and phrases anagrams diminishes their uniqeness. So I propose a name and category for them that I have never seen before: PARSE -O- NYMS. 

Below is a puzzle featuring Parse -O- Nyms, appropriately sub-titled Space Travel:

NY Times Crossword

January 29, 2023

Rich Katz

The Final Frontier

(Space Travel)

 

Match each clue with one of the definitions below, such that a Parse -O- Nym of the definition satisfies the clue. For example:

Given the clue, Embarrassing pants mishap,

it could be matched with SEA TRIP - as in SEAT RIP.

 

1. Iditarod, for one

2. Shortage of slime

3. Outstanding raptor

4. Rest stop for a tabby

5. Staging of a narc sting

6. Shipper of British toilets

7. Painting of bread and potatoes

8. Big fight over Disney heroine form Polynesia

Definitions:

a. Death eater

b. Park Avenue

c. Loom over

d. Moan about

e. Super Bowl

f. Star chart

g. Catch air

h. Good earth 

Answers:

 

1. Iditarod - b - Park Avenue - Parka venue

 

2. Shortage of slime - h  - Good earth - Goo dearth 

 

3. Outstanding raptor - e - Super Bowl - Superb owl

 

4. Rest stop for a tabby - g - Catch air - Cat chair

 

5. Staging of a narc sting - a - Death eater - DEA theater

 

6. Shipper of British toilets - c - Loom over - Loo mover

 

7. Painting of bread and potatoes - f - Star chart - Starch art

 

8. Big fight over Disney heroine from Polynesia - d - Moan about - Moana bout