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.

(In reply to re(2): More Laddergrams.... by Dej Mar)

I noted NARC is a probable comparison to NARK in my Oxford.

RANI and PERI I do recall from reading, but I thought 'Peri' was some kind of Arabian fairy, author dependent I suppose.

PLAT also has apparent references to a 'plate' and even a 'plait'.

KNAR - I guess that somehow has a similar derivation to "GNARL".

ANKH - I do dimly recall that once I checked Oxford.

PEIR - I thought that you had mistyped "PIER"

Many thanks for you contribution.

Posted by brianjn on 2010-06-15 06:37:54