petalridge.com
the website of
Derek Kannemeyer
PUZZLE PALACE
(A) Word Squares *
The blank square below is the template for a five by five word square puzzle. It's basically just a five word crossword. Simply write the answers to the five clues both horizontally and vertically. 1 Across has the same solution as 1 Down, 2 Across is the same word as 2 Down, and so on. Why not give the sample puzzle below it a try? Then read the the clickable introductory essay, and come back to try more puzzles!
1A/D where the winner finishes
2 A/D angry
3 A/D a radioactive gas, symbol Rn
4 A/D it's under the flesh of the plum
5 A/D principle or belief
Lifeline letter: R
150 Word Square Puzzles
The puzzle numbers (1-150) are randomized, to help prevent spoilers when a player consults the numbered solutions. The clickable titles indicate when each batch of five puzzles was posted, but they may now be played in any order.
Word Square Puzzle Solutions
(B) Addagrams
EXAMPLE
I’ll supply an initial letter and a target word of 8-13 letters: E MANNERIST. You’ll try to build an acceptable ladder from the former to the latter. For "acceptability" rules, click:
There may well be multiple possible solutions! E.g.: E; ME; MEN; AMEN; MEANT; STAMEN; SMARTEN; REMNANTS; MANNERIST, or E; ER; IRE; REIN; MINER; MARINE; RAIMENT; TRAINMEN; MANNERIST.
I’ll offer ONE possible solution per puzzle on the ADDAGRAMS SOLUTIONS page.
BATCH #1
1. A--> STAGGERING
2. B--> BLUEBIRDS
3. C--> SACREDNESS
4. D--> EVILDOERS
5. E--> THREESOMES BATCH #2
6. F-->FRONTIERS
7. G-->GROUNDLESS
8. H-->PARCHEESI
9. I-->SANDPIPER
10 J-->REJECTED BATCH #3
11. K-->BACKSTAGE
12. L-->SERIALISATION
13. M-->REMASTERING
14. N-->GLISTENING
15. O-->REVOLVERS
BATCH #4
16. P-->MISPLACED
17. Q-->EQUESTRIAN
["Q" is problematic. Let's permit the French "QUI" on round 3.]
18. R-->BLUNDERING
19. S-->SOUTHLANDS
20. T-->REINTRODUCES
BATCH #5
21. U-->PLEASURED BATCH #6 I,S bonus games
22. V-->DELIVERIES 27. I-->MOISTENED
23. W-->WEATHERED 28. I--> REDRESSING
24. X-->SIXTEENS 29. S-->DISHWATER
25. Y-->PARALYSES 30. S-->HEADWATERS
26. Z-->SONORIZED 31. S-->TRACHEITIS
32. S-->SUPERNALLY
solutions:
(C) Limerick Puzzles
A LIMERICKS RIDDLE:
Each stanza is missing a letter: the same letter
eight times for stanza 1, a different same letter
seven times in stanza 2, and so on. Together,
taken in sequence, the six missing letters spell
out a common word. (The solution is posted
at the LIGHT VERSE tab.)
Drop nine leers. The same one. But so
the new word’s a word: make though “though”;
call sore-bough “sore bough”;
he fish “rout” or “trou”;
what a he-deer does? “Does on a doe.”
(Eight more.) From the boss: “Call me Frida.
Our wife’s war? MAN UP, BO! Don’t heed her.
Man a bus man’s home late.
It’s a part, not a date!”
“Take a fling leap,” Bo wrote. “I’ve cc’d her.”
(Find seven.) You think it’s the heat
That dives us to cave what is sweet,
And flee what we dead?
But who’s “fee,” who is bed
And bon as, bon appétit, meat?
(Six missing. And more of a test.)
Still round for the fourth one? You’re best!
This one’s bout Fritz—
and why mostly he sits:
Fritz's got Friedreich’s taxi! (Impressed?)
(A fifth one. Five missing. Stay hot!)
All it took was one letter you got
from our aunt A—a U!—
and ow you’re one too!
My sister’s a sister?!? Say what?
(Just four now, to finish; of these: __’s)
(Not counting firs line ones like these __ , please!)
One each in line 2
And line 4. (Is his rue?
Or a lie, to confuse and to [jeez] ease?)
The entire limerick jigsaw sequence is linked at the button above. Part One is offered at the right, and the
solution (the unscrambled sequence, A-Z) is posted at the LIGHT VERSE tab.
A LIMERICK A-Z JIGSAW SUITE, part 1:
(Fix the limericks. Each line 1 must stay a line 1; each line 2 be a line 2; lines 3-4 remain 3-4; the line 5s continue as line 5s. I’ve left the D stanza intact, to get you started.)
I: A-F
A Decadent poet named Algy
In tones professorially showy,
Soul-kissed the Devil,
Then ditched him, mid-revel!
She got handed a Bible to plead with.
An underwear model called Bruce,
Was subject to fits of nostalgie—
“Is arcane heuristics!
Azoic phlogistics
He’d a yen for pre-eucharist burgers.
“The root of the problem,” said Chloe,
Who once, on the night of Walpurgis,
So fought the good fight—
Took the stand for what’s right—
A gander is good. But don’t goose.”
So biliously soul-dead is Don
He buys his own every con.
Downvote the whole ticket,
Tell his whole mob to stick it,
And the mob boss will still whine he won.
An admirer of Jesus called Edith,
Being proud of his well-toned caboose,
Beachcombing the shore
Of his Oceans of Yore,
Are condign but moot!” Good to knowy.
Oh who is as fickle as Fergus,
Whose vow was to go where He leadeth,
Had a “shoot the moon” rule:
“You can swoon. You can drool.
In search of laced foam, and lost algae.