We build "Word Ladders" by changing one letter at a time at each step while maintaining the exact order of letters from the previous word, naturally at each step we have to form a proper word, until all letters of the initial word are changed:

B I G
B I T
B A T
C A T
Let us change the rules.
At every step only one letter may be changed.
Once changed you have to keep that letter.
All letters from the previous word must occupy a new position, in effect we create an anagram of those letters but with one replaced.

S P A N
P A N T
T R A P
R A T E
T I E R

Now, can you change PORE into a medicinal container and DRUM into summer confections that it might also contain? No letters of the original word are to be present in the final one.

Be prepared to offer of your own making too. Maybe add the thought to your Parlor Games list.

A slight variation to the parlor game may be to chain a word pair using the same governing rules:

SHOP TALK: SHOP POST TAPS PLAT TALK

ROSE PINK: ROSE ONES SINE INKS PINK

BEAR SKIN: BEAR RAKE KNAR RINK SKIN

BANK SHOT: BANK ANKH THAN HATS SHOT

POND SCUM: POND UPON OPUS CUSP SCUM

CAST IRON: CAST ARCS NARC RANI IRON

HAIR NETS: HAIR AIRS SEAR EAST NETS

Edited on June 15, 2010, 1:48 am

Posted by Dej Mar on 2010-06-10 03:17:22