# Followup on words that spell other words backwards

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-on-words-that-spell-other-words-backwards/920>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [May 5, 1999, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-on-words-that-spell-other-words-backwards/920 "1999-05-05T04:05:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 1999, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-on-words-that-spell-other-words-backwards/920/1 "1999-05-05T04:05:00Z")

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Songbird described the difference between a palindrome and an anagram right, I think, but there’s a more specific term than anagram to describe a word, such as sung, that backwards spells a different word. Lewis Carroll way back when invented the term “semordilap” to describe type of wordplay. It’s got a pretty self-explanatory etymology.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 1999, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-on-words-that-spell-other-words-backwards/920/2 "1999-05-14T04:18:00Z")

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Of course a word which spells another word when written backwards is a ‘margana’. A palidrome is isomorphic to a semordilap.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 1999, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-on-words-that-spell-other-words-backwards/920/3 "1999-05-14T15:31:00Z")

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Ah, the word that spells another word backwards is:

drowrehtona

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 1999, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-on-words-that-spell-other-words-backwards/920/4 "1999-05-17T21:01:00Z")

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Ah-ha!

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 1999, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-on-words-that-spell-other-words-backwards/920/5 "1999-06-01T02:23:00Z")

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[http://www.wildcowpublishing.com/paranormal/reverse.html](http://www.wildcowpublishing.com/paranormal/reverse.html)

This URL will take you to a reverse text generator where you can enter any text you like and get the backwards version in return.  
You haven’t LIVED until you’ve found satanic messages in your own writings!

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 1999, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-on-words-that-spell-other-words-backwards/920/6 "1999-06-08T02:42:00Z")

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HAH! Mexi that is the biggest hoot! Now I can flip flop syrupy birth day card greetings to find out what my friends and family really think about me…

Thanks for the address.