This is an extension of Two times three equals five.

Form words length of 2n-1 (n ≥ 3) such that, each (2n-1) letter word is the result of two n-letter words, the final letter of the first being the initial one of the second word. (It may be observed that, rip & pen → ripen is a valid example when n = 3.)

What is the largest value of n for which this is possible?

*** Proper nouns, acronyms, abbreviations, hyphens or spaces are not allowed.

Letting n = 9, I found two 2n-1 letter words. The second n-length word of the first 17-letter word was found in an unabridged English dictionary, thus would be considered a rare word.

transcendentalism - (noun) the state of being transcendental
   transcend - (verb) go beyond
   dentalism - (noun) the quality of being formed by the aid 
                      of the teeth
and
transcendentality - (noun) the quality of being transcendent
                      or superior
   transcend - (verb) go beyond
   dentality - (noun) [phonetics] in pronunciation, the quality
                     given to spoken words by the use of teeth


After Charlie's following post which included the finding of a different 2n-1 word where n=9, I found a third (rather a fourth) word. Listed are Charlie's and the recently discovered word with definitions:
architectonically - (adjective) of or pertaining to construction
                      or architecture
   architect - (noun) someone who creates plans to be used in
                      making something
   tonically - (adverb) (pharmacology) so as to improve and
                     strengthen the functioning of the body or increase
                     the feeling of wellbeing

underproportioned - (adjective) of inadequate or inferior
                     proportions; small; poor
   underprop - (verb) to prop from beneath; to put a prop
                     under; to support; to uphold
   portioned - (verb) gave out or alloted

Edited on September 26, 2012, 5:09 am

Posted by Dej Mar on 2012-09-25 13:46:55