E Type Jags

The play that inspired this week’s blog was against Merelyn. I put CURIE in a place where I could later play from the triple word score jagging an E in front of it to make ECURIE. I was hoping that if she had an E herself, she would not know the word, and fortunately that was correct. It was challenged on a later turn when I was able to take advantage of the set up. The learning list this week is a few 3, 4 and 5 letter words that you might not realise take an E type jag.

A Grade Challenge

Seven letter words for you to unscramble this week. But in keeping with this week's theme you will find that the answers can all have an E jagged in front of them to make an 8 letter word.

A C E O S T T

A L O P S S U

A E H O P R T

C E O P S T Y

E H O P R S U

B & C Grade Study List

E – BAYER

Someone who trades on eBay. Quite surprising since that is not allowed as a 4 letter word. Even more surprising is EBAYING is also allowed, but not any of the other verb forms

E – BOOK An electronic book

E – CHARD

The total quantity of water in the soil that is NOT available to plants. Who would have thought there was a word specifically for that?

E – DUCT That which is reasoned by analysis

E – MACS

Another one that is not allowed as a 4 letter word. It is a powerful computer editing tool called EMACSEN or EMACS for short.

E – NERVE To weaken

E – NORM A shortened form of ENORMOUS

E – PACT The difference between the lunar and solar year

E – PARCH

The ruler of an EPARCHY - an administrative subdivision of Ancient Greece

E – PATER A verb meaning to shock complacent people

E – REV The day before a Jewish special day

E – TAPE A halting place or a day’s march

E – TRIER A small ladder used by mountaineers

E – TUI A small case for holding needles

E – TWEE An alternative spelling of the needle case

Those might seem difficult words for a B and C Grade list. But look at the stem words without the E in front. Don’t they look like words you might occasionally play? Some words like REV are played in lots of games either by you or your opponent. Perhaps some like PARCH are played less often, but if you are undecided whether to play PORCH or PARCH maybe this is an extra factor to consider. All these words only take an E hook No other letters can be put in front of them.

Answers to A Grade Challenge

COSTATE

Costate means having ribs and ecostate means not having ribs.

SPOUSAL

Both spousal and espousal essentially mean the same thing. Either being married or a mutual promise of marriage.

PHORATE

Completely different words. Phorate is an insecticide whereas ephorate refers to the office of ephor which is one of the 5 judges chosen by the people of ancient Sparta.

COTYPES

Cotypes are a taxonomic type and ecotypes refer to ones that are adapted to a particular environment.

UPHROES

Uphroe and euphroe are different spellings of the same word. There are two different meanings. A long slat of wood or the cords by which an awning is held up.

Happy Scrabbling Patrick