SUM OF ITS PARTS X
Credit: Joseph Appel

Fill in the blanks in the verse below so that the first two words combine to make the third word.

I love my country and honor the ________,
Under which the protestor is free to ________;
Freedom of speech sometime puts me in a bind,
When the disrespect is so ________ it crosses the line.

Answer:

FLAG / RANT - - - FLAGRANT 

SUM OF ITS PARTS IX

AN' ANOTHER THING ...............
Jay Sullivan (adapted)

Each clue below requires three answers. The first two answers, plus the contraction AN' in between them, can be combined - in order - to answer the third clue.

1. Burglary - for one + Boxer = Soldier on a Black Sea peninsula
2. Baby bear + Interviewer - at times = Havana newsman

Answers:

1. CRIME + AN' + FIGHTER = CRIMEAN FIGHTER
2. CUB + AN' + REPORTER = CUBAN REPORTER

SUM OF ITS PARTS VIII

Each clue below requires three answers. The first two answers, plus the letter A added in between them, can be combined - in order - to answer the third clue. For example, given the clue

Sudden blast of wind
British conservative
Having to do with taste,

the answers would be  

GUST
TORY
GUSTATORY (GUST + A + TORY).

1. Large, Fog, Man with two wives
2. Formal dance, Buck or doe, Kind of singer
3. Friend, Kitchen feature, Edible or tasty
4. Open to view, Monarch, Surpassing
5. Vehicle, Vehicle, Line of vehicles
6. Friend, Annoying person, Hungarian capital
7. Circular, Boxing match, Certain traffic configuration
8. Money reserved for a certain purpose, Mind reader, One given to a strict interpretation of the Bible

Answers:

1. BIGAMIST
2. BALLADEER
3. PALATABLE
4. OVERTAKING 
5. CARAVAN
6. BUDAPEST 
7. ROUNDABOUT
8. FUNDAMENTALIST 

Credit: NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
March 8, 2008
Will Shortz 

THE SUM OF ITS PARTS VII

Some English words are made up of two (or more) smaller words that have no relation to each other. TARGET, for example, is make up of TAR and GET - two words which are not at all related. The same could be said for LEGEND -  and many other words. The three-word answers to the two clues below, when "added" together (another example) will give a common six-letter word that is unrelated to the two component words. For example,

A golf score + nonsense to get a bird would be PAR + ROT = PARROT

1. A kind of dance + a carpenter's tool to get a puzzle
2. A number + a male name to get a body part
3. A place to sleep + a heavy weight to get a kind of fabric
4. A weekday abbreviation + a container to get a planet
5. A weekday abbreviation + a piano part to get an animal
6. A famous writer + attempt to get a form of writing
7. A rodent + an electrically charged atom to get a fixed amount
8. A circle part + an objective pronoun to get a Zodiac symbol
9. An abbreviation for a government agency + a male child to get a river
10. An engine part + a period of time to get something you would take on vacation

Answers:

1. JIGSAW
2. TENDON
3. COTTON
4. SATURN
5. MONKEY
6. POETRY
7. RATION
8. ARCHER
9. HUDSON
10. CAMERA

Credit: 
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle 
September 9, 2007
Will Shortz

WORD ALCHEMY II
Credit: GAMES Magazine
May/June 1980 and Sept/Oct 1980

Word Alchemy is the science of writing  a sentence in which adjacent words are combined to form a longer word used later in the sentence. For example, given the clue

When people _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _  39, they often become more aware of the _______ of time,

the answer would be

When people PASS  AGE 39, they often become more aware of the PASSAGE of time.

The number of blanks indicates the number of letters in the adjacent words.

1. If Elsie packs her half-and-half _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _   cartons, will Elmer be _______ with sour cream?

2. The last thing you expect to see at  _    _ _ _ _  is for the corpse to _______ .

3. A careful examination of the _ _ _ _    _ _ _  to the surprising discovery of two eaglets _______ among the twigs. 

4. In a burning _ _ _ _ _ _ ,   _ _ _ firefighters work tirelessly to _______ further damage.

5. Can you _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _  rather than written tests to become a member of the _______ college?

6. Each year at my former high school's _ _ _ _ ,   _    _ _ _ _  a medley of songs; but this year, by popular demand, I am _______ to remain silent.

7. " I will say ' _   __ '  _ _ _ _ _ ," said the procrastinating _______ to his bride at the altar.

8.  Speaking as a lawyer, have you ever found the small print _ _   _   _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ to rob one of his _______ rights?

9. "The chemistry teacher will give _ _    _    _ _ _ _    _  on the test after I _______ everything wrong," complained the student.

Answers:

1. IN UNDATED - INUNDATED
2. A WAKE - AWAKE
3. NEST LED - NESTLED
4. FOREST ALL - FORESTALL
5. ELECT ORAL - ELECTORAL
6. PROM I SING - PROMISING
7. 'I DO' LATER - IDOLATER
8. IN A LIEN ABLE - INALIENABLE
9. ME A SURE D - MEASURED

WORD ALCHEMY I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
May/June, 1980 and Sept/Oct 1980

The two elements copper and tin, when properly blended together, can form the alloy bronze. But you could also take COPPER and melt it down to COP and PER and discover "word alchemy" - as in

The chief of police decided to station one COP PER block to catch the COPPER wire thieves.

Word alchemy requires that the constituent words appear in uninterrupted succession  and that they precede their "alloy" in the sentence. In addition, the alloy must be the precise fusion of its parts - no letters added or dropped and no change in the word order.

Test your mettle by filling in the blanks of the following sentences by inserting the two or more constituent words and their alloy. For example, given the clue

Puzzle solvers often have _____   _____ for the hard clues in __________ ,

the answer would be

Puzzle solvers often have CROSS WORDS for the hard clues in CROSSWORDS.

1. When people _____   _____ 39, they often become more aware of the __________ of time.

2. Why is a  "child-proof" medicine bottle _____   _____ to confound even the most __________ adult?

3.For Mother's birthday we plan _____   _____   _____ thirty loose pearls and then string them __________ in a necklace.

4. If you turn the Beatles' _____   _____ , you'll __________ one of their lesser-known songs on the  flip side.

5. I gave the _____   _____ to the __________ because football players play for free in my pinball arcade.

6.The sandwich makers at the _____   _____ customers who __________ too long on what to order.

7. I saw the little _____   _____ up at the doctor's office, but his misbehavior had no __________ on his indulgent mother.

8. I entered the restaurant, I _____ , _____   _____ , but the meal did not __________ me.

9. Is a member of the _____   _____ a lenient sentence for his client through plea __________ ?

10. If you want to know its history, you'll have to _____   _____ to learn about the __________ patch.

Answers:  

1. PASS AGE - PASSAGE
2. CAP ABLE - CAPABLE
3. TO GET HER - TOGETHER
4. DISC OVER - DISCOVER
5. QUARTER BACK - QUARTERBACK
6. DELI BERATE - DELIBERATE
7. IMP ACT - IMPACT
8. SAT I ATE - SATIATE
9. BAR GAINING - BARGAINING
10. PUMP KIN - PUMPKIN 

THE SUM OF ITS PARTS VI
SPLIT WORDS
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Oct. 2013
Steve Miller

While splitting infinitives is a no-no, splitting words is a necessity for completing this puzzle.
Fill in the blanks in the sentences below so that the first two words, when combined, make up the third word. For example, given the clue

The prime minister _ _ _ the meeting even though the _ _ _ _ was the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ official.
The prime minister RAN the meeting even though the KING was the RANKING official.

1. If you can't find a _ _ _ in the cupboard, _ _ _ looking in the _ _ _ _ _ _ .

2. I checked the _ _ for the store where I bought this prom
 _ _ _ _ _  to find out the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

3. If there is not enough light to _ _ _ _ ,  _ _ _ _
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the lamp.

4. _ _ _ _ of the ornithologists' group went up to the
 mountain _ _ _ _ _ to observe the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

5. The best card counters are often young _ _ _
who can _ _ _ _ _ large numbers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

6. Make sure the coffee maker is _ _ _ and the _ _ _ machine is empty before leaving the _ _ _ _ _ _ for the long weekend.

Answers: 

1. pan / try - pantry
2. ad / dress - address
3. read / just - readjust
4. Part / ridge - partridge
5. men / tally - mentally
6. off / ice - office


  

THE SUM OF ITS PARTS V

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below so that the first two words combine to make the third word.

Example:
The prime minister _ _ _ the meeting even though the _ _ _ _ was the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ official.
The prime minister RAN the meeting, even though the KING was the RANKING official.

1. I _ _ so _ _ _ _  to his antics that I am no longer _ _ _ _ _ _ by them.

2. The _ _ _ saw the poker _ _ _ as a _ _ _ _ _ _ to their game.

3. Take the _ _ _ _ and hide it; don't _ _ _ _ it
 or _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ where you've hidden it.

4. The players were able to _ _ _ _ during the _ _ _ _ delay, but the security officers had
to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the fans from coming onto the field.

5. It's illegal to _ _ _ _ _ _ that species of _ _ _ ;
 and it's _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  for us to obey the law, or we'll be out of business.

6. He paid back _ _ _ the money he _ _ _ _  his parents, but he is still not _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to have his own credit card.

7. We tried to _ _ _ _ _ him from working in the _ _ _ _ , but in the end only he can  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  what is best.

Answers:

1. am / used - amused
2. men / ace - menace
3. disc / lose - disclose
4. rest / rain - restrain
5. import / ant - important
6. all / owed - allowed 
7. deter / mine - determine 

THE SUM OF ITS PARTS IV

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below so that the first two words combine to make the third word.

Example:
The prime minister _ _ _  the meeting even though the _ _ _ _ was the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ official.
The prime minister RAN the meeting, even though the KING was the RANKING official.

1. The horses _ _ _ _ where the _ _ _ _ _ is on this trail. That _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ could save our lives.

2. _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ this question to encourage a broad discussion. I'm not _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ any conditions or restrictions on your comments.

3. Ignoring an injury to his _ _ _ near the _ _ _ of the game, his playing and determination became the stuff of _ _ _ _ _ _ .

4. When you _ _ _ the damage
to _ _ _ car, you're going to _ _ _ _ _ _ .

5. The perfect _ _ _ of _ _ _ arrow before it hit the bullseye indicated her potential to become a world-class _ _ _ _ _ _ .

6. I _ _ _ _ to favor this leg and lean _ _ it a lot. I injured
a _ _ _ _ _ _ last month.

7. "Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the _ _ _ , " my Dad used to say as he read in his _ _ _ . He should know. He worked as a prison _ _ _ _ _ _ .

8. My _ _ _ and I will _ _ _ our best to find the lost dog despite the _ _ _ _ _ _ reward the owner has offered.

9. "I want to talk to him _ _ _ , and I want to talk to him right _ _ _ _ . But, as usual, he's _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to be found."

Answers:

1. know/ledge - knowledge

2. I'm/posing - imposing

3. leg/end - legend

4. see/the - seethe

5. arc/her - archer

6. tend/on - tendon

7. war/den - warden

8. pal/try - paltry

9. now/here - nowhere

THE SUM OF ITS PARTS III

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below  so that the first two words combine to make the third word.

Example:
The prime minister _ _ _ the meeting even though the _ _ _ _ was the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ official.
The prime minister RAN the meeting, even thought the KING was the RANKING official.

1. Before making your _ _ _ _ , be _ _ _ _ that is what you want. It can only be changed at the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the court.

2. He may not _ _ _ the race, but I know he'll _ _ _ his best - even on such a _ _ _ _ _ _ day.

3. We didn't _ _ _ and no one is punishing _ _ .
 It's just a _ _ _ _ _ infection!

4. The constant _ _ _ _ _ of the horses was _ _ _ _ _ _ the
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ farmers.

5. That little _ _ _ ! He _ _ _ _ again. And this time he _ _ _ _ _ _ _ that I was involved in his mischief.

6. Meet _ _ tonight _ _ the restaurant and we'll try the barbecued _ _ _ _ sampler.

7. She's from a large family; in fact, she's one _ _ / _ _ _. They shop here _ _ _ _ _ .

8. Toward the _ _ _ of his life, Van Gogh cut off his _ _ _ . Was he trying to _ _ _ _ _ _ himself to someone?

9. Being kosher, my _ _ _ _ _ won't eat _ _ animal he thinks is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

10. That little _ _ _ found an _ _ _ _ in his grandpa. They are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ devoted to each other.

Answers:

1. plea/sure - pleasure

2. win/try - wintry

3. sin/us - sinus

4. neigh/boring - neighboring

5. imp/lied - implied

6. me/at - meat

7. of/ten - often

8. end/ear - endear

9. uncle/an - unclean

10. tot/ally - totally

THE SUM OF ITS PARTS II

Fill the blanks in the sentences below so that the first two words combine to form the third word.

Example:
The prime minister _ _ _ the meeting even though the _ _ _ _ was the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ official.
The prime minister RAN the meeting, even though the KING was the RANKING official.

1. My dog will _ _ _ his tail if we put him _ _ the _ _ _ _ _.

2. "Going to _ _ _ in winter is just not safe, " said the father to his _ _ _ , "It's just a dangerous _ _ _ _ _ _ ."

3. Please _ _ _ that trash outside and get _ _ _ of it. It smells _ _ _ _ _ _ .

4. " _ _ honest," I told her. "I _ _ ," she answered, with

a _ _ _ _ in her eye.

5. Put the shopping _ _ _ _ back _ _ the truck, and the

_ _ _ _ _ _ of spare wheels too.

6. The _ _ _ was exposed to the radioactive _ _ _ , and then given its _ _ _ _ _ _ of food.

7. I'll leave the clothes in the _ _ _ to _ _ _ , while I shop for a few _ _ _ _ _ _ items.

8. Her hair fell onto the _ _ _ as each _ _ _ _ _ was cut, until there was a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of golden curls on the floor.

9. The girls _ _ _ together _ _ a circle making their

_ _ _ _ _ dresses.

Answers:

1. wag/on - wagon

2. sea/son - season

3. put/rid - putrid

4. Be/am - beam

5. cart/on - carton

6. rat/ion - ration

7. sun/dry - sundry

8. mat/tress - mattress

9. sat/in - satin

THE SUM OF ITS PARTS I

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below so that the first two words combine to make the third word.

Example:
The prime minister _ _ _  the meeting even though the _ _ _ _ was the _ _ _ _ _ _ _  official.
The prime minister RAN the meeting, even though the KING was the RANKING official.`

1. If she doesn't reduce the amount of _ _ _ in _ _ _ diet, she'll start to look like her overweight _ _ _ _ _ _.

2. If every _ _ _ would act his _ _ _ , most disagreements would be a lot easier to _ _ _ _ _ _ .

3. It's _ _ _ the rain but the _ _ _ that caused the weather alert _ _ _ _ _ _.

4. A cat's _ _ _ will never be a mouse's _ _ _ _ , no matter how _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the mouse is about it.

5. She told _ _ and we told _ _ _ that being an _ _ _ _ _ was easy - just showing people to their seats.

6. Even though he was a _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ , we were all relieved when he came to the _ _ _ _ _ _ after the huge wave swallowed him up.

7. She noticed an _ _ _ on the _ _ _ of her dress while singing the national _ _ _ _ _ _ .

8. There's _ / _ _ _ _ in our group now that he's gone, and we try to _ _ _ _ _ talking about him.

9. The tennis player's _ _ _ sat at the _ _ _ and composed
a _ _ _ _ _ _ .

10. The rock _ _ _ _ _ _ concealed a _ _ _ , but it would take a clever _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to get it out.

Answers:

1. fat/her - father

2. man/age - manage

3. not/ice - notice

4. ear/nest - earnest

5. us/her - usher

6. surf/ace - surface

7. ant/hem - anthem

8. a/void - avoid

9. son/net - sonnet

10. strata/gem - stratagem