(Inspired by two puzzles posted by Idle Thoughts earlier this year)
Work the puzzle and spoil the answer once you have it.
Using the clues, eliminate words one by one until only a few are left. Each clue will result in at least one word in each column being eliminated. The remaining words, correctly interpreted, are the solution to the puzzle.
Cross off any two words in the same column that can be anagrammed together to form the name of a former U.S. President (first and last names).
Cross off any word which can become the name of a common fruit if one letter is changed to a different letter.
Cross off any word that can become the name of a country if a single letter is added somewhere to the word.
Cross off any word that can become another common word if a “QU” doublet is added somewhere to the word.
Cross off any one syllable word that can become a common three syllable word if a single letter is added somewhere to the word.
Several of the remaining words in each column have something in common regarding an achievement. Cross off all of those words.
Cross off both words when any of the remaining words are anagrams of each other.
The final un-crossed off words can be read from top to bottom to reveal some others that recently were not crossed off. They are the answer to this puzzle.
This is a pretty big hint… but I’d have to say that while the achievement is best known in the United States, it is certainly not unknown abroad. Indeed, I can say for certain that the Queen of England is aware of the achievement.
It seems like a very good puzzle, but also very hard. You might think about posting a hint a couple times a day, like how many words are eliminated by one of the clues.
Cross off any two words in the same column that can be anagrammed together to form the name of a former U.S. President (first and last names):
HOGGING + STONEWARE = GEORGE WASHINGTON
RWANDA + HERRING = WARREN HARDING
GLANCED + REVOLVER = GROVER CLEVELAND 2. Cross off any word which can become the name of a common fruit if one letter is changed to a different letter:
PEACE - becomes PEACH
GRAPH - becomes GRAPE
GRANGE - becomes ORANGE
TIME - becomes LIME
APPLY - becomes APPLE
FIN - becomes FIG 3. Cross off any word that can become the name of a country if a single letter is added somewhere to the word:
BELIE - becomes BELIZE
HAD - becomes CHAD
TOGA - becomes TONGA
RAN - becomes IRAN
CHIN - becomes CHINA
CUB - becomes CUBA
TOO - becomes TOGO
MALT - becomes MALTA 4. Cross off any word that can become another common word if a “QU” doublet is added somewhere to the word:
ART - becomes QUART
AIL - becomes QUAIL
ALMS - becomes QUALMS
PIE - becomes PIQUE
SIRE - becomes SQUIRE
SEAL - becomes SQUEAL
ILL - becomes QUILL 5. Cross off any one syllable word that can become a common three syllable word if a single letter is added somewhere to the word:
RODE - becomes RODEO
CAME - beceomes CAMEO
SMILE - becomes SIMILE
IDES - becomes IDEAS 6. Several of the remaining words in each column have something in common regarding an achievement. Cross off all of those words:
[SPOILER]Kentucky Derby winners:
VAGRANT (1876)
SPOKANE (1889)
CHANT (1894)
AGILE (1905)
MERIDIAN (1911)
WORTH (1912)
REGRET (1915)
OMAHA (1935)
PENSIVE (1944)
ASSAULT (1946)
PONDER (1949)
DETERMINE (1954)
SWAPS (1955)
ORB (2013)
[/SPOILER]7. Cross off both words when any of the remaining words are anagrams of each other:
DISEASE - SEASIDE
GALLERY - LARGELY
PIRATES - TRAIPSE
GERANIUMS - MEASURING Note that this assumes that none of the anagrams were crossed off earlier, in which case the remaining word might be part of the solution.
New England Patriots - rather appropriate, considering that the NFL schedule will be announced this week and traditionally the Super Bowl champions play the first game (on Thursday of the first week)[/SPOILER]
Cross off any two words in the same column that can be anagrammed together to form the name of a former U.S. President (first and last names):
HOGGING + STONEWARE = GEORGE WASHINGTON
RWANDA + HERRING = WARREN HARDING
GLANCED + REVOLVER = GROVER CLEVELAND
LAMP + JOKES = JAMES POLK
MANTRA + HURRY = HARRY TRUMAN
RESEARCH + TRUTH = CHESTER ARTHUR
2. Cross off any word which can become the name of a common fruit if one letter is changed to a different letter:
PEACE - becomes PEACH
GRANGE - becomes ORANGE
GRAPH - becomes GRAPE
TIME - becomes LIME
APPLY - becomes APPLE
FIN - becomes FIG
MANGE - becomes MANGO
3. Cross off any word that can become the name of a country if a single letter is added somewhere to the word:
BELIE - becomes BELIZE
HAD - becomes CHAD
TOGA - becomes TONGA
SPIN - becomes SPAIN
RAN - becomes IRAN
CHIN - becomes CHINA
CUB - becomes CUBA
TOO - becomes TOGO
MALT - becomes MALTA
4. Cross off any word that can become another common word if a “QU” doublet is added somewhere to the word:
ART - becomes QUART
AIL - becomes QUAIL
ALMS - becomes QUALMS
PIE - becomes PIQUE
SIRE - becomes SQUIRE
SEAL - becomes SQUEAL
ILL - becomes QUILL
5. Cross off any one syllable word that can become a common three syllable word if a single letter is added somewhere to the word:
RODE - becomes RODEO
CAME - beceomes CAMEO
SMILE - becomes SIMILE
IDES - becomes IDEAS
6. Several of the remaining words in each column have something in common regarding an achievement. Cross off all of those words:
[SPOILER]Kentucky Derby winners:
VAGRANT (1876)
SPOKANE (1889)
CHANT (1894)
AGILE (1905)
MERIDIAN (1911)
WORTH (1912)
REGRET (1915)
OMAHA (1935)
PENSIVE (1944)
ASSAULT (1946)
PONDER (1949)
DETERMINE (1954)
SWAPS (1955)
ORB (2013)[/SPOILER]
7. Cross off both words when any of the remaining words are anagrams of each other:
DISEASE - SEASIDE
GALLERY - LARGELY
PIRATES - TRAIPSE
GERANIUMS - MEASURING
I have one word left over:
SAD, which is a one-syllable word, so I have a feeling it’s a Clue 5 word
I resisted the urge to post any more hints because I thought someone might just come through without help. Faith is rewarded! Awesome work on a very tough puzzle, That Don Guy.
[spoiler]
HM Queen Elizabeth II attended the Kentucky Derby in 2007. [/spoiler]
The OP said at least one word in each column would be eliminated by each clue. I got stuck on finding the fruit in column 2, and unless I missed it, it hasn’t been mentioned in any of the spoilers.
TonySinclair, you are absolutely right. I apologize. I had “DEMON” and replaced it with “ASSAULT” at the last minute. Grr… And I tried so hard to avoid errors. Rats.
No worries; it’s an excellent puzzle, among the best I’ve seen in a fairly long life of enjoying puzzles like this. And I no longer have enough hair to pull some out in frustration.
Got it! Clue 1 took a while to go thru the list of presidents. And 6 was the hardest. I never would have guessed it without googling a couple dozen combinations of the remaining words.
