A Riddle of Mine
up vote
26
down vote
favorite
I came up with this riddle a few years ago, and so far very few people have been able to solve it:
Think of a four-letter word (“_ _ _ _”) such that adding an A to the beginning (“a _ _ _ _”) changes the meaning but not the pronunciation. (It's a normal word that I guarantee anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard.)
If you answer, please use spoiler tags.
word wordplay english
edited Nov 18 at 21:09
Bass
26.6k465167
asked Nov 17 at 16:44
Dirge of Dreams
32514
add a comment |
up vote
26
down vote
favorite
I came up with this riddle a few years ago, and so far very few people have been able to solve it:
Think of a four-letter word (“_ _ _ _”) such that adding an A to the beginning (“a _ _ _ _”) changes the meaning but not the pronunciation. (It's a normal word that I guarantee anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard.)
If you answer, please use spoiler tags.
word wordplay english
edited Nov 18 at 21:09
Bass
26.6k465167
asked Nov 17 at 16:44
Dirge of Dreams
32514
2
Wow, this is a good first riddle. I'm gonna be racking my brains over this one.
– F1Krazy
Nov 17 at 16:48
1
After thinking for some time, I got the solution that is mentioned in the first answer puzzling.stackexchange.com/a/75380/44626 . I do not know whether a redundant answer is OK, so I just wrote this comment.
– neverMind9
Nov 18 at 19:10
add a comment |
up vote
26
down vote
favorite
up vote
26
down vote
favorite
I came up with this riddle a few years ago, and so far very few people have been able to solve it:
Think of a four-letter word (“_ _ _ _”) such that adding an A to the beginning (“a _ _ _ _”) changes the meaning but not the pronunciation. (It's a normal word that I guarantee anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard.)
If you answer, please use spoiler tags.
word wordplay english
edited Nov 18 at 21:09
Bass
26.6k465167
asked Nov 17 at 16:44
Dirge of Dreams
32514
I came up with this riddle a few years ago, and so far very few people have been able to solve it:
Think of a four-letter word (“_ _ _ _”) such that adding an A to the beginning (“a _ _ _ _”) changes the meaning but not the pronunciation. (It's a normal word that I guarantee anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard.)
If you answer, please use spoiler tags.
word wordplay english
word wordplay english
edited Nov 18 at 21:09
Bass
26.6k465167
asked Nov 17 at 16:44
Dirge of Dreams
32514
edited Nov 18 at 21:09
Bass
26.6k465167
asked Nov 17 at 16:44
Dirge of Dreams
32514
edited Nov 18 at 21:09
Bass
26.6k465167
edited Nov 18 at 21:09
Bass
26.6k465167
edited Nov 18 at 21:09
Bass
26.6k465167
26.6k465167
asked Nov 17 at 16:44
Dirge of Dreams
32514
asked Nov 17 at 16:44
Dirge of Dreams
32514
asked Nov 17 at 16:44
Dirge of Dreams
32514
32514
2
Wow, this is a good first riddle. I'm gonna be racking my brains over this one.
– F1Krazy
Nov 17 at 16:48
1
After thinking for some time, I got the solution that is mentioned in the first answer puzzling.stackexchange.com/a/75380/44626 . I do not know whether a redundant answer is OK, so I just wrote this comment.
– neverMind9
Nov 18 at 19:10
add a comment |
2
Wow, this is a good first riddle. I'm gonna be racking my brains over this one.
– F1Krazy
Nov 17 at 16:48
1
After thinking for some time, I got the solution that is mentioned in the first answer puzzling.stackexchange.com/a/75380/44626 . I do not know whether a redundant answer is OK, so I just wrote this comment.
– neverMind9
Nov 18 at 19:10
2
2
Wow, this is a good first riddle. I'm gonna be racking my brains over this one.
– F1Krazy
Nov 17 at 16:48
Wow, this is a good first riddle. I'm gonna be racking my brains over this one.
– F1Krazy
Nov 17 at 16:48
1
1
After thinking for some time, I got the solution that is mentioned in the first answer puzzling.stackexchange.com/a/75380/44626 . I do not know whether a redundant answer is OK, so I just wrote this comment.
– neverMind9
Nov 18 at 19:10
After thinking for some time, I got the solution that is mentioned in the first answer puzzling.stackexchange.com/a/75380/44626 . I do not know whether a redundant answer is OK, so I just wrote this comment.
– neverMind9
Nov 18 at 19:10
add a comment |
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
up vote
31
down vote
I'll go with
isle - an island - which is pronounced the same as aisle - a walkway.
answered Nov 17 at 17:12
Tom
28k297164
1
@Weckar Please don't put answers in the comments.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:14
3
@Orphevs In what way could Weckar E's comment be an answer?
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:17
3
@Rand al'Thor It contains the word(s) that Tom proposed as a solution. In the answer, these are hidden by a spoiler tag; in the comment, they're clearly visible and could spoil the fun for someone glancing over the site who still wants to solve the riddle for themselves.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:20
2
@Orphevs difficult to comment otherwise, is it not? Can't spoilertag in comments, afaik.
– Weckar E.
Nov 18 at 18:01
2
@WeckarE. You can use ROT13 to shift the letters of potential/partial answers in comments by 13 letters. rot13.com helps to encrypt or decrypt ROT13'd words/phrases.
– JR_M
Nov 18 at 21:59
|
show 7 more comments
up vote
9
down vote
Perhaps another couple of solutions are
Iran, which when you add an "a" becomes airan, which, according to Webster's Third New International unabridged, is pronounced the same as one possible pronunciation of Iran, but means a Turkish drink made from fermented milk
And
Erie (the city) and aerie which can also be pronounced the same, but means a nest.
However, these are
capitalized words, so perhaps they don't quite fit. And though middle school students probably know Erie and Iran, and maybe even aerie, it is doubtful they know airan.
answered Nov 17 at 17:26
SteveV
4,7301625
I'd argue that a "middle-school student" knows of either
– MaxB
Nov 18 at 9:48
2
Iran and ayran are pronounced differently (ihr-ahn vs aye-rahn). Also, it's ayran, not airan.
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:18
2
@Randal'Thor: Please don't quote solutions in comments without obfuscating them. :-)
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:32
1
@Randal'Thor It can be spelled with i, but I agree the pronunciation is different. For one, the milk product has stress on the first syllable, the country on the last.
– jafe
Nov 19 at 10:23
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Probably not this, but worth writing down:
Aron and Aaron are names, referring to different people but pronounced the same.
answered Nov 19 at 2:05
eedrah
650117
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
I'd go with Tom's answer, but would like to mention another possibility, which is
Ide - a freshwater fish.
Which of course yields
Aide
As the other word. Neither is one that would necessarily be known by everyone though.
edited Nov 19 at 7:29
Peregrine Rook
4,51221337
answered Nov 18 at 21:22
Gnudiff
2198
3
Your word is only three letters instead of four.
– ralphmerridew
Nov 19 at 2:36
@ralphmerridew dammit can't imagine how I made that mistake. You can of course use plural to make it four letters but that would be an even bigger stretch
– Gnudiff
Nov 19 at 6:23
1
(1) I don't recall ever hearing of your three-letter word, and I'm a college graduate with a fairly large vocabulary. The question says "anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard" of these words. (2) Also, do you claim that your two words are pronounced the same, as required by the question? None of the resources I found indicated that.
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:27
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
I believe this wasn't covered yet:
long (/lôNG,läNG/): distance/lasting.
along (/əˈlôNG,əˈläNG/): together/accompany.
and
rose (/rōz/): flower.
arose (/əˈrōz/): emerge.
Updated:
iris [aɪrɪs]: the round coloured part that surrounds the pupil of your eye.
airis [āīɾis]: oar, paddle (an instrument for rowing a boat).
answered Nov 19 at 10:14
Mukyuu
1799
3
I believe the condition that the pronunciation doesn't change after prepending a applies to the whole words ("????" and "A????"), not just the last four letters.
– humfuzz
Nov 19 at 10:29
I might've misinterpreted it then since it wasn't implicitly stated the "whole words" but "changes the meaning but not the pronunciation". So I assume it was only the original four letter.
– Mukyuu
Nov 19 at 10:31
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
What about
rise
arise
... must have 30 chars.
answered Nov 19 at 2:28
pxe
1
3
I don't think this works because of the condition: "adding an A to the beginning changes the meaning but not the pronunciation".
– Laurel
Nov 19 at 2:31
Welcome to Puzzling.SE!
– SteveV
Nov 19 at 2:42
Ah nevermind, I misread that part.
– pxe
Nov 19 at 2:59
add a comment |
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
31
down vote
I'll go with
isle - an island - which is pronounced the same as aisle - a walkway.
answered Nov 17 at 17:12
Tom
28k297164
1
@Weckar Please don't put answers in the comments.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:14
3
@Orphevs In what way could Weckar E's comment be an answer?
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:17
3
@Rand al'Thor It contains the word(s) that Tom proposed as a solution. In the answer, these are hidden by a spoiler tag; in the comment, they're clearly visible and could spoil the fun for someone glancing over the site who still wants to solve the riddle for themselves.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:20
2
@Orphevs difficult to comment otherwise, is it not? Can't spoilertag in comments, afaik.
– Weckar E.
Nov 18 at 18:01
2
@WeckarE. You can use ROT13 to shift the letters of potential/partial answers in comments by 13 letters. rot13.com helps to encrypt or decrypt ROT13'd words/phrases.
– JR_M
Nov 18 at 21:59
|
show 7 more comments
up vote
31
down vote
I'll go with
isle - an island - which is pronounced the same as aisle - a walkway.
answered Nov 17 at 17:12
Tom
28k297164
1
@Weckar Please don't put answers in the comments.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:14
3
@Orphevs In what way could Weckar E's comment be an answer?
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:17
3
@Rand al'Thor It contains the word(s) that Tom proposed as a solution. In the answer, these are hidden by a spoiler tag; in the comment, they're clearly visible and could spoil the fun for someone glancing over the site who still wants to solve the riddle for themselves.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:20
2
@Orphevs difficult to comment otherwise, is it not? Can't spoilertag in comments, afaik.
– Weckar E.
Nov 18 at 18:01
2
@WeckarE. You can use ROT13 to shift the letters of potential/partial answers in comments by 13 letters. rot13.com helps to encrypt or decrypt ROT13'd words/phrases.
– JR_M
Nov 18 at 21:59
|
show 7 more comments
up vote
31
down vote
up vote
31
down vote
I'll go with
isle - an island - which is pronounced the same as aisle - a walkway.
answered Nov 17 at 17:12
Tom
28k297164
I'll go with
isle - an island - which is pronounced the same as aisle - a walkway.
answered Nov 17 at 17:12
Tom
28k297164
answered Nov 17 at 17:12
Tom
28k297164
answered Nov 17 at 17:12
Tom
28k297164
answered Nov 17 at 17:12
Tom
28k297164
28k297164
1
@Weckar Please don't put answers in the comments.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:14
3
@Orphevs In what way could Weckar E's comment be an answer?
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:17
3
@Rand al'Thor It contains the word(s) that Tom proposed as a solution. In the answer, these are hidden by a spoiler tag; in the comment, they're clearly visible and could spoil the fun for someone glancing over the site who still wants to solve the riddle for themselves.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:20
2
@Orphevs difficult to comment otherwise, is it not? Can't spoilertag in comments, afaik.
– Weckar E.
Nov 18 at 18:01
2
@WeckarE. You can use ROT13 to shift the letters of potential/partial answers in comments by 13 letters. rot13.com helps to encrypt or decrypt ROT13'd words/phrases.
– JR_M
Nov 18 at 21:59
|
show 7 more comments
1
@Weckar Please don't put answers in the comments.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:14
3
@Orphevs In what way could Weckar E's comment be an answer?
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:17
3
@Rand al'Thor It contains the word(s) that Tom proposed as a solution. In the answer, these are hidden by a spoiler tag; in the comment, they're clearly visible and could spoil the fun for someone glancing over the site who still wants to solve the riddle for themselves.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:20
2
@Orphevs difficult to comment otherwise, is it not? Can't spoilertag in comments, afaik.
– Weckar E.
Nov 18 at 18:01
2
@WeckarE. You can use ROT13 to shift the letters of potential/partial answers in comments by 13 letters. rot13.com helps to encrypt or decrypt ROT13'd words/phrases.
– JR_M
Nov 18 at 21:59
1
1
@Weckar Please don't put answers in the comments.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:14
@Weckar Please don't put answers in the comments.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:14
3
3
@Orphevs In what way could Weckar E's comment be an answer?
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:17
@Orphevs In what way could Weckar E's comment be an answer?
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:17
3
3
@Rand al'Thor It contains the word(s) that Tom proposed as a solution. In the answer, these are hidden by a spoiler tag; in the comment, they're clearly visible and could spoil the fun for someone glancing over the site who still wants to solve the riddle for themselves.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:20
@Rand al'Thor It contains the word(s) that Tom proposed as a solution. In the answer, these are hidden by a spoiler tag; in the comment, they're clearly visible and could spoil the fun for someone glancing over the site who still wants to solve the riddle for themselves.
– Orphevs
Nov 18 at 17:20
2
2
@Orphevs difficult to comment otherwise, is it not? Can't spoilertag in comments, afaik.
– Weckar E.
Nov 18 at 18:01
@Orphevs difficult to comment otherwise, is it not? Can't spoilertag in comments, afaik.
– Weckar E.
Nov 18 at 18:01
2
2
@WeckarE. You can use ROT13 to shift the letters of potential/partial answers in comments by 13 letters. rot13.com helps to encrypt or decrypt ROT13'd words/phrases.
– JR_M
Nov 18 at 21:59
@WeckarE. You can use ROT13 to shift the letters of potential/partial answers in comments by 13 letters. rot13.com helps to encrypt or decrypt ROT13'd words/phrases.
– JR_M
Nov 18 at 21:59
|
show 7 more comments
up vote
9
down vote
Perhaps another couple of solutions are
Iran, which when you add an "a" becomes airan, which, according to Webster's Third New International unabridged, is pronounced the same as one possible pronunciation of Iran, but means a Turkish drink made from fermented milk
And
Erie (the city) and aerie which can also be pronounced the same, but means a nest.
However, these are
capitalized words, so perhaps they don't quite fit. And though middle school students probably know Erie and Iran, and maybe even aerie, it is doubtful they know airan.
answered Nov 17 at 17:26
SteveV
4,7301625
I'd argue that a "middle-school student" knows of either
– MaxB
Nov 18 at 9:48
2
Iran and ayran are pronounced differently (ihr-ahn vs aye-rahn). Also, it's ayran, not airan.
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:18
2
@Randal'Thor: Please don't quote solutions in comments without obfuscating them. :-)
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:32
1
@Randal'Thor It can be spelled with i, but I agree the pronunciation is different. For one, the milk product has stress on the first syllable, the country on the last.
– jafe
Nov 19 at 10:23
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
Perhaps another couple of solutions are
Iran, which when you add an "a" becomes airan, which, according to Webster's Third New International unabridged, is pronounced the same as one possible pronunciation of Iran, but means a Turkish drink made from fermented milk
And
Erie (the city) and aerie which can also be pronounced the same, but means a nest.
However, these are
capitalized words, so perhaps they don't quite fit. And though middle school students probably know Erie and Iran, and maybe even aerie, it is doubtful they know airan.
answered Nov 17 at 17:26
SteveV
4,7301625
I'd argue that a "middle-school student" knows of either
– MaxB
Nov 18 at 9:48
2
Iran and ayran are pronounced differently (ihr-ahn vs aye-rahn). Also, it's ayran, not airan.
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:18
2
@Randal'Thor: Please don't quote solutions in comments without obfuscating them. :-)
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:32
1
@Randal'Thor It can be spelled with i, but I agree the pronunciation is different. For one, the milk product has stress on the first syllable, the country on the last.
– jafe
Nov 19 at 10:23
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
up vote
9
down vote
Perhaps another couple of solutions are
Iran, which when you add an "a" becomes airan, which, according to Webster's Third New International unabridged, is pronounced the same as one possible pronunciation of Iran, but means a Turkish drink made from fermented milk
And
Erie (the city) and aerie which can also be pronounced the same, but means a nest.
However, these are
capitalized words, so perhaps they don't quite fit. And though middle school students probably know Erie and Iran, and maybe even aerie, it is doubtful they know airan.
answered Nov 17 at 17:26
SteveV
4,7301625
Perhaps another couple of solutions are
Iran, which when you add an "a" becomes airan, which, according to Webster's Third New International unabridged, is pronounced the same as one possible pronunciation of Iran, but means a Turkish drink made from fermented milk
And
Erie (the city) and aerie which can also be pronounced the same, but means a nest.
However, these are
capitalized words, so perhaps they don't quite fit. And though middle school students probably know Erie and Iran, and maybe even aerie, it is doubtful they know airan.
answered Nov 17 at 17:26
SteveV
4,7301625
edited Nov 19 at 8:42
answered Nov 17 at 17:26
SteveV
4,7301625
answered Nov 17 at 17:26
SteveV
4,7301625
answered Nov 17 at 17:26
SteveV
4,7301625
4,7301625
I'd argue that a "middle-school student" knows of either
– MaxB
Nov 18 at 9:48
2
Iran and ayran are pronounced differently (ihr-ahn vs aye-rahn). Also, it's ayran, not airan.
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:18
2
@Randal'Thor: Please don't quote solutions in comments without obfuscating them. :-)
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:32
1
@Randal'Thor It can be spelled with i, but I agree the pronunciation is different. For one, the milk product has stress on the first syllable, the country on the last.
– jafe
Nov 19 at 10:23
add a comment |
I'd argue that a "middle-school student" knows of either
– MaxB
Nov 18 at 9:48
2
Iran and ayran are pronounced differently (ihr-ahn vs aye-rahn). Also, it's ayran, not airan.
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:18
2
@Randal'Thor: Please don't quote solutions in comments without obfuscating them. :-)
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:32
1
@Randal'Thor It can be spelled with i, but I agree the pronunciation is different. For one, the milk product has stress on the first syllable, the country on the last.
– jafe
Nov 19 at 10:23
I'd argue that a "middle-school student" knows of either
– MaxB
Nov 18 at 9:48
I'd argue that a "middle-school student" knows of either
– MaxB
Nov 18 at 9:48
2
2
Iran and ayran are pronounced differently (ihr-ahn vs aye-rahn). Also, it's ayran, not airan.
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:18
Iran and ayran are pronounced differently (ihr-ahn vs aye-rahn). Also, it's ayran, not airan.
– Rand al'Thor
Nov 18 at 17:18
2
2
@Randal'Thor: Please don't quote solutions in comments without obfuscating them. :-)
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:32
@Randal'Thor: Please don't quote solutions in comments without obfuscating them. :-)
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:32
1
1
@Randal'Thor It can be spelled with i, but I agree the pronunciation is different. For one, the milk product has stress on the first syllable, the country on the last.
– jafe
Nov 19 at 10:23
@Randal'Thor It can be spelled with i, but I agree the pronunciation is different. For one, the milk product has stress on the first syllable, the country on the last.
– jafe
Nov 19 at 10:23
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Probably not this, but worth writing down:
Aron and Aaron are names, referring to different people but pronounced the same.
answered Nov 19 at 2:05
eedrah
650117
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Probably not this, but worth writing down:
Aron and Aaron are names, referring to different people but pronounced the same.
answered Nov 19 at 2:05
eedrah
650117
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Probably not this, but worth writing down:
Aron and Aaron are names, referring to different people but pronounced the same.
answered Nov 19 at 2:05
eedrah
650117
Probably not this, but worth writing down:
Aron and Aaron are names, referring to different people but pronounced the same.
answered Nov 19 at 2:05
eedrah
650117
answered Nov 19 at 2:05
eedrah
650117
answered Nov 19 at 2:05
eedrah
650117
answered Nov 19 at 2:05
eedrah
650117
650117
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
I'd go with Tom's answer, but would like to mention another possibility, which is
Ide - a freshwater fish.
Which of course yields
Aide
As the other word. Neither is one that would necessarily be known by everyone though.
edited Nov 19 at 7:29
Peregrine Rook
4,51221337
answered Nov 18 at 21:22
Gnudiff
2198
3
Your word is only three letters instead of four.
– ralphmerridew
Nov 19 at 2:36
@ralphmerridew dammit can't imagine how I made that mistake. You can of course use plural to make it four letters but that would be an even bigger stretch
– Gnudiff
Nov 19 at 6:23
1
(1) I don't recall ever hearing of your three-letter word, and I'm a college graduate with a fairly large vocabulary. The question says "anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard" of these words. (2) Also, do you claim that your two words are pronounced the same, as required by the question? None of the resources I found indicated that.
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:27
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
I'd go with Tom's answer, but would like to mention another possibility, which is
Ide - a freshwater fish.
Which of course yields
Aide
As the other word. Neither is one that would necessarily be known by everyone though.
edited Nov 19 at 7:29
Peregrine Rook
4,51221337
answered Nov 18 at 21:22
Gnudiff
2198
3
Your word is only three letters instead of four.
– ralphmerridew
Nov 19 at 2:36
@ralphmerridew dammit can't imagine how I made that mistake. You can of course use plural to make it four letters but that would be an even bigger stretch
– Gnudiff
Nov 19 at 6:23
1
(1) I don't recall ever hearing of your three-letter word, and I'm a college graduate with a fairly large vocabulary. The question says "anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard" of these words. (2) Also, do you claim that your two words are pronounced the same, as required by the question? None of the resources I found indicated that.
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:27
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I'd go with Tom's answer, but would like to mention another possibility, which is
Ide - a freshwater fish.
Which of course yields
Aide
As the other word. Neither is one that would necessarily be known by everyone though.
edited Nov 19 at 7:29
Peregrine Rook
4,51221337
answered Nov 18 at 21:22
Gnudiff
2198
I'd go with Tom's answer, but would like to mention another possibility, which is
Ide - a freshwater fish.
Which of course yields
Aide
As the other word. Neither is one that would necessarily be known by everyone though.
edited Nov 19 at 7:29
Peregrine Rook
4,51221337
answered Nov 18 at 21:22
Gnudiff
2198
edited Nov 19 at 7:29
Peregrine Rook
4,51221337
edited Nov 19 at 7:29
Peregrine Rook
4,51221337
edited Nov 19 at 7:29
Peregrine Rook
4,51221337
4,51221337
answered Nov 18 at 21:22
Gnudiff
2198
answered Nov 18 at 21:22
Gnudiff
2198
answered Nov 18 at 21:22
Gnudiff
2198
2198
3
Your word is only three letters instead of four.
– ralphmerridew
Nov 19 at 2:36
@ralphmerridew dammit can't imagine how I made that mistake. You can of course use plural to make it four letters but that would be an even bigger stretch
– Gnudiff
Nov 19 at 6:23
1
(1) I don't recall ever hearing of your three-letter word, and I'm a college graduate with a fairly large vocabulary. The question says "anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard" of these words. (2) Also, do you claim that your two words are pronounced the same, as required by the question? None of the resources I found indicated that.
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:27
add a comment |
3
Your word is only three letters instead of four.
– ralphmerridew
Nov 19 at 2:36
@ralphmerridew dammit can't imagine how I made that mistake. You can of course use plural to make it four letters but that would be an even bigger stretch
– Gnudiff
Nov 19 at 6:23
1
(1) I don't recall ever hearing of your three-letter word, and I'm a college graduate with a fairly large vocabulary. The question says "anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard" of these words. (2) Also, do you claim that your two words are pronounced the same, as required by the question? None of the resources I found indicated that.
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:27
3
3
Your word is only three letters instead of four.
– ralphmerridew
Nov 19 at 2:36
Your word is only three letters instead of four.
– ralphmerridew
Nov 19 at 2:36
@ralphmerridew dammit can't imagine how I made that mistake. You can of course use plural to make it four letters but that would be an even bigger stretch
– Gnudiff
Nov 19 at 6:23
@ralphmerridew dammit can't imagine how I made that mistake. You can of course use plural to make it four letters but that would be an even bigger stretch
– Gnudiff
Nov 19 at 6:23
1
1
(1) I don't recall ever hearing of your three-letter word, and I'm a college graduate with a fairly large vocabulary. The question says "anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard" of these words. (2) Also, do you claim that your two words are pronounced the same, as required by the question? None of the resources I found indicated that.
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:27
(1) I don't recall ever hearing of your three-letter word, and I'm a college graduate with a fairly large vocabulary. The question says "anyone with at least a middle-school education will have heard" of these words. (2) Also, do you claim that your two words are pronounced the same, as required by the question? None of the resources I found indicated that.
– Peregrine Rook
Nov 19 at 7:27
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
I believe this wasn't covered yet:
long (/lôNG,läNG/): distance/lasting.
along (/əˈlôNG,əˈläNG/): together/accompany.
and
rose (/rōz/): flower.
arose (/əˈrōz/): emerge.
Updated:
iris [aɪrɪs]: the round coloured part that surrounds the pupil of your eye.
airis [āīɾis]: oar, paddle (an instrument for rowing a boat).
answered Nov 19 at 10:14
Mukyuu
1799
3
I believe the condition that the pronunciation doesn't change after prepending a applies to the whole words ("????" and "A????"), not just the last four letters.
– humfuzz
Nov 19 at 10:29
I might've misinterpreted it then since it wasn't implicitly stated the "whole words" but "changes the meaning but not the pronunciation". So I assume it was only the original four letter.
– Mukyuu
Nov 19 at 10:31
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
I believe this wasn't covered yet:
long (/lôNG,läNG/): distance/lasting.
along (/əˈlôNG,əˈläNG/): together/accompany.
and
rose (/rōz/): flower.
arose (/əˈrōz/): emerge.
Updated:
iris [aɪrɪs]: the round coloured part that surrounds the pupil of your eye.
airis [āīɾis]: oar, paddle (an instrument for rowing a boat).
answered Nov 19 at 10:14
Mukyuu
1799
3
I believe the condition that the pronunciation doesn't change after prepending a applies to the whole words ("????" and "A????"), not just the last four letters.
– humfuzz
Nov 19 at 10:29
I might've misinterpreted it then since it wasn't implicitly stated the "whole words" but "changes the meaning but not the pronunciation". So I assume it was only the original four letter.
– Mukyuu
Nov 19 at 10:31
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I believe this wasn't covered yet:
long (/lôNG,läNG/): distance/lasting.
along (/əˈlôNG,əˈläNG/): together/accompany.
and
rose (/rōz/): flower.
arose (/əˈrōz/): emerge.
Updated:
iris [aɪrɪs]: the round coloured part that surrounds the pupil of your eye.
airis [āīɾis]: oar, paddle (an instrument for rowing a boat).
answered Nov 19 at 10:14
Mukyuu
1799
I believe this wasn't covered yet:
long (/lôNG,läNG/): distance/lasting.
along (/əˈlôNG,əˈläNG/): together/accompany.
and
rose (/rōz/): flower.
arose (/əˈrōz/): emerge.
Updated:
iris [aɪrɪs]: the round coloured part that surrounds the pupil of your eye.
airis [āīɾis]: oar, paddle (an instrument for rowing a boat).
answered Nov 19 at 10:14
Mukyuu
1799
edited Nov 19 at 11:02
answered Nov 19 at 10:14
Mukyuu
1799
answered Nov 19 at 10:14
Mukyuu
1799
answered Nov 19 at 10:14
Mukyuu
1799
1799
3
I believe the condition that the pronunciation doesn't change after prepending a applies to the whole words ("????" and "A????"), not just the last four letters.
– humfuzz
Nov 19 at 10:29
I might've misinterpreted it then since it wasn't implicitly stated the "whole words" but "changes the meaning but not the pronunciation". So I assume it was only the original four letter.
– Mukyuu
Nov 19 at 10:31
add a comment |
3
I believe the condition that the pronunciation doesn't change after prepending a applies to the whole words ("????" and "A????"), not just the last four letters.
– humfuzz
Nov 19 at 10:29
I might've misinterpreted it then since it wasn't implicitly stated the "whole words" but "changes the meaning but not the pronunciation". So I assume it was only the original four letter.
– Mukyuu
Nov 19 at 10:31
3
3
I believe the condition that the pronunciation doesn't change after prepending a applies to the whole words ("????" and "A????"), not just the last four letters.
– humfuzz
Nov 19 at 10:29
I believe the condition that the pronunciation doesn't change after prepending a applies to the whole words ("????" and "A????"), not just the last four letters.
– humfuzz
Nov 19 at 10:29
I might've misinterpreted it then since it wasn't implicitly stated the "whole words" but "changes the meaning but not the pronunciation". So I assume it was only the original four letter.
– Mukyuu
Nov 19 at 10:31
I might've misinterpreted it then since it wasn't implicitly stated the "whole words" but "changes the meaning but not the pronunciation". So I assume it was only the original four letter.
– Mukyuu
Nov 19 at 10:31
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
What about
rise
arise
... must have 30 chars.
answered Nov 19 at 2:28
pxe
1
3
I don't think this works because of the condition: "adding an A to the beginning changes the meaning but not the pronunciation".
– Laurel
Nov 19 at 2:31
Welcome to Puzzling.SE!
– SteveV
Nov 19 at 2:42
Ah nevermind, I misread that part.
– pxe
Nov 19 at 2:59
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
What about
rise
arise
... must have 30 chars.
answered Nov 19 at 2:28
pxe
1
3
I don't think this works because of the condition: "adding an A to the beginning changes the meaning but not the pronunciation".
– Laurel
Nov 19 at 2:31
Welcome to Puzzling.SE!
– SteveV
Nov 19 at 2:42
Ah nevermind, I misread that part.
– pxe
Nov 19 at 2:59
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
What about
rise
arise
... must have 30 chars.
answered Nov 19 at 2:28
pxe
1
What about
rise
arise
... must have 30 chars.
answered Nov 19 at 2:28
pxe
1
answered Nov 19 at 2:28
pxe
1
answered Nov 19 at 2:28
pxe
1
answered Nov 19 at 2:28
pxe
1
1
3
I don't think this works because of the condition: "adding an A to the beginning changes the meaning but not the pronunciation".
– Laurel
Nov 19 at 2:31
Welcome to Puzzling.SE!
– SteveV
Nov 19 at 2:42
Ah nevermind, I misread that part.
– pxe
Nov 19 at 2:59
add a comment |
3
I don't think this works because of the condition: "adding an A to the beginning changes the meaning but not the pronunciation".
– Laurel
Nov 19 at 2:31
Welcome to Puzzling.SE!
– SteveV
Nov 19 at 2:42
Ah nevermind, I misread that part.
– pxe
Nov 19 at 2:59
3
3
I don't think this works because of the condition: "adding an A to the beginning changes the meaning but not the pronunciation".
– Laurel
Nov 19 at 2:31
I don't think this works because of the condition: "adding an A to the beginning changes the meaning but not the pronunciation".
– Laurel
Nov 19 at 2:31
Welcome to Puzzling.SE!
– SteveV
Nov 19 at 2:42
Welcome to Puzzling.SE!
– SteveV
Nov 19 at 2:42
Ah nevermind, I misread that part.
– pxe
Nov 19 at 2:59
Ah nevermind, I misread that part.
– pxe
Nov 19 at 2:59
add a comment |
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2
Wow, this is a good first riddle. I'm gonna be racking my brains over this one.
– F1Krazy
Nov 17 at 16:48
1
After thinking for some time, I got the solution that is mentioned in the first answer puzzling.stackexchange.com/a/75380/44626 . I do not know whether a redundant answer is OK, so I just wrote this comment.
– neverMind9
Nov 18 at 19:10