# Pointless word games---anybody wanna play? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 27, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147 "2001-09-27T17:12:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/21 "2001-09-28T04:24:56Z")
My boyfriend, who is lounging around in bed behind me, has a few lame-o, obviously against-the-spirit-of-the-game suggestions. His first is fish and fish (s.). In this case, the (s.) is meant to be the standard dictionary abbreviation for “singular.” I claim that this is craven cheating. He also suggests “Sepharadim” and “Sepharadism,” “goyim” and “goyism.” Since both “sepharadism” and “goyism” didn’t exist until he thought them up for this game, I think that neither one of those is a valid solution. I feel the same way about something like “annulae” and “annulase.” If you were accepting words from another language, we could have “men” and “mens” (Latin for “mind.”) I don’t think that’s quite kosher, either. Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/22 "2001-09-28T04:30:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scribble \* > \*\*Does the “s” have to be added at the _end_ of the word? Or can it be added anywhere in the word? \*\* Good question. Can you think of a plural word that becomes singular by adding an “s” to the end? You can’t change any of the letters in the first word, like cactI to cactUs. ---
**Author:** ![BigGiantHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/23 "2001-09-28T04:44:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapswiller \* > \*\*Inchstrap! > > It’s uh…another word for “tape measure”…um, where I’m from. \*\* If you wanted to be a bit more mainstream, you could go with “watchspring.” The “add an S” one is stumping me, so here’s a new one: can you name a word for which the plural shares no letters in common with the singular? A hint: the plural referred to here is archaic, although technically correct. ---
**Author:** ![Seraphim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Seraphim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seraphim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/24 "2001-09-28T05:29:59Z")
I have loads of these stored in my lobes. Here’s some more: Give two words that begin and end with the letters UND. What words contains these sequences: WKW IOA HH OOO (hardest) What word becomes its antonym by reversing the 3rd and 4th letters? Give a word means one thing in one context and its direct opposite in another (note: there are several of these). What’s the longest one-word palidrome in the English language? Give a word with no singular form. ---
**Author:** ![Seraphim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Seraphim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seraphim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/25 "2001-09-28T05:57:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 23skidoo \* > Can you think of a plural word that becomes singular when you add an “s”? I can think of several: bras, princes, timelines. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/26 "2001-09-28T10:53:05Z")
**Give two words that begin and end with the letters UND.** Underground. Underwound??? **What words contains these sequences: WKW** awkward **HH** beachhead \*\*What word becomes its antonym by reversing the 3rd and 4th letters? \*\* unite **Give a word with no singular form.** water ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/27 "2001-09-28T11:27:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seraphim \* > \*\* > OOO (hardest) > \*\* how about “Oooooooooooooooh”? _d&r_ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/28 "2001-09-28T12:30:43Z")
**word with no singular form** - How about scissors? pants? pantaloons? If “water” would cut the mustard (which I don’t think it does), than pretty much any material noun will work…eg. snow, wood, steel, etc. **the other und-/-und word** Underfund. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/29 "2001-09-28T12:44:24Z")
IOA – radioactive OOO – mooooooo… ---
**Author:** ![walor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@walor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/walor)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/30 "2001-09-28T13:05:30Z")
Here’s a few. Words that contain: 6 x A plus six consonants 5 x E plus ten consonants 6 x I plus eight consonants 5 x O plus seven consonants 3 x U plus five consonants (H not allowed) Enjoy… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/31 "2001-09-28T13:09:43Z")
**Give a word means one thing in one context and its direct opposite in another (note: there are several of these).** I would suggest “raze” and “raise,” but that obviously only works in a speaking context. If you include slang, you can count “bad” and I’m sure a whole lotta other words. hint? Does the “ooo” word contain any hyphens, apostrophes, accents, umlauts or anything of the sort? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/32 "2001-09-28T13:46:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seraphim \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by 23skidoo \* > > Can you think of a plural word that becomes singular when you add an “s”? > > I can think of several: bras, princes, timelines. \*\* Huh? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/33 "2001-09-28T13:52:57Z")
**Munch** bras becomes brass princes becomes princess… Two different words, but the first is plural and the second is singular…AHHHH! ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/34 "2001-09-28T14:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seraphim \* > **Give a word means one thing in one context and its direct opposite in another (note: there are several of these).** Do phrases count? Like “That the last thing I want before I go to bed” could mean “I need to have that before I go to bed”, or “I don’t want that at all”. Also, “You can never water these plants too much” could mean “It’s impossible to add too much water” or “Don’t overwater these plants”. ---
**Author:** ![Seraphim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Seraphim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seraphim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/35 "2001-09-28T16:06:26Z")
\*Originally posted by walor \* Here’s a few. Words that contain: 6 x A plus six consonants **TARAMASALATA** 6 x I plus eight consonants **INDIVISIBILITY** And as for the “word means one thing in one context and its direct opposite in another” one, I’ll give an example: clip. As in to attach (clip to a board), and to sever (clip your hair). Now that I told you, you can’t use that one! ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/36 "2001-09-28T16:10:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seraphim \* > \*\*\*Originally posted by walor \* > And as for the “word means one thing in one context and its direct opposite in another” one, I’ll give an example: clip. As in to attach (clip to a board), and to sever (clip your hair). Now that I told you, you can’t use that one! \*\* Ooh! I thought of another! Cleave. Used in one sense, it means to separate, but in another sense, it means to join or attach. Thanks for the memory-jogger, **walor**! ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/37 "2001-09-28T16:11:12Z")
Oops. **Seraphim**. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/38 "2001-09-28T16:12:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pulykamell \* > **word with no singular form- > How about scissors? pants? pantaloons? > If “water” would cut the mustard (which I don’t think it does), than pretty much any material noun will work…eg. snow, wood, steel, etc.** How about kudos? ---
**Author:** ![Seraphim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Seraphim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seraphim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/39 "2001-09-28T16:16:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigDaddyD \* > \*\*I think it was easy because it’s well known. how about a word with 6 non-repeating consonants in a row? \*\* LENGTHSMAN (honest, it’s a real word–look it up on google) ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147/40 "2001-09-28T16:32:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seraphim \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by BigDaddyD \* > > \*\*I think it was easy because it’s well known. how about a word with 6 non-repeating consonants in a row? \*\* > > LENGTHSMAN (honest, it’s a real word–look it up on google) \*\* Use lengthsman in a sentance. I’m sure it’s a real word, it;s just that I’ve never heard it before. Watchspring works. How about a word that becomes shorter when you add two letters? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-word-games-anybody-wanna-play/84147.md?page=3)