I start with nothing. If you remove 1, 2 or 3 of my characters then my meaning does not change. What 5-letter word am I?
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asked Jan 14, 2021 at 2:44
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1$\begingroup$ Closely related: A seven letter word - the meaning doesn't change if you remove letters (particularly my answer there) $\endgroup$– Rand al'ThorCommented Jan 14, 2021 at 14:18
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$\begingroup$ I'm voting to close this question under our "not fully defined" reason. There have been quite a number of answers which seem to fit the text of the question well, and none of them are the intended one. Therefore the puzzle is not well-defined enough to have a single, unarguable answer. $\endgroup$– bobbleCommented Jan 14, 2021 at 16:03
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1$\begingroup$ Please do not make edits that invalidates answers. $\endgroup$– risky mysteriesCommented Jan 14, 2021 at 21:47
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1$\begingroup$ Sorry for invalidating previous answers. But this was the only way I could keep the question open. $\endgroup$– Dmitry KamenetskyCommented Jan 14, 2021 at 22:00
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1$\begingroup$ @DmitryKamenetsky That's fair :) $\endgroup$– risky mysteriesCommented Jan 14, 2021 at 22:13
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6 Answers
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I propose:
EMPTY - it is nothing
Removing Y, it gives EMPT that sounds like EMPTY
Removing P, it gives EMT that sounds like EMPTY
Removing E, it gives MT that sounds like EMPTY
I guess if you removed all the characters, it'd also be EMPTY
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$\begingroup$ That's it you got it! Very well done! I got the idea from this video: youtube.com/watch?v=th4mkp6m4Ls $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 22:05
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Note: This answer was submitted prior to it being specified as a five-letter word.
I think the answer might simply be
NONE
Reasoning
NONE
NON, as a prefix, meaning "the absence of".
NO
O (definition 4)
answered Jan 14, 2021 at 11:04
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1$\begingroup$ I was about to post rot13(abjg, abg, ab, b), which is somewhat similar, but yours is a bit better. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 11:07
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$\begingroup$ Great answer! It is not my intended answer, but it works well. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 12:12
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1$\begingroup$ Note the recent edit made on the puzzle. You may want to give a disclaimer in your answer to avoid the risk of downvotes :) $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 21:53
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$\begingroup$ @riskymysteries Thanks, have edited. $\endgroup$– hexominoCommented Jan 14, 2021 at 22:00
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Note: This answer was submitted prior to it being specified as a five-letter word.
As an extra answer:
NOT ONE -> NO ONE -> NONE -> NON
All potential meanings of nothing.
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$\begingroup$ Nice answer, but not what I was looking for. Note you have two words here. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 7:15
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1$\begingroup$ agreed - I just thought it was too coincidental not to post :) $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 7:17
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$\begingroup$ Note the recent edit made on the puzzle. You may want to give a disclaimer in your answer to avoid the risk of downvotes :) $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 21:53
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Note: This answer was submitted prior to it being specified as a five-letter word.
0000
If you remove any number of characters it has the same meaning
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$\begingroup$ Ooh, this is a neat nugget! $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 14:47
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1$\begingroup$ But the question is tagged wordplay, not digit-play. $\endgroup$– smciCommented Jan 14, 2021 at 17:12
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1$\begingroup$ Note the recent edit made on the puzzle. You may want to give a disclaimer in your answer to avoid the risk of downvotes :) $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 21:54
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Note: This answer was submitted prior to it being specified as a five-letter word.
Could it be
Nothing?
Because
I start with nothing.
'Nothing' starts with nothing (as in prefix nothing)
If you remove 1, 2 or 3 of my characters then my meaning does not change.
I think it works in two ways. One could be actual characters (people). You are removing people from nothing, so it still is nothing.
But, on the other side of the coin, characters could mean letters of the word, so NOTHING with one letter taken away is NOTHIN', which sounds the same and really is the same word, 2 letters could be NOT'IN', and 3 letters could be NOT''N' (Thank you to Rand al'Thor).
Am I correct?
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$\begingroup$ Nice answer. Perhaps also rot13(Erzbir 3 pbhyq yrnir ABG V nf va "abg 1"?) :) $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 3:33
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$\begingroup$ Remoe3 could leave not I as in "not 1"? meaning (sorry don't know) $\endgroup$– StevoCommented Jan 14, 2021 at 3:39
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$\begingroup$ There is not even one..? As in nothing? I was just adding another reason for your answer. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 4:39
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$\begingroup$ Good answer, but not quite what I was looking for $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 7:14
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$\begingroup$ Note the recent edit made on the puzzle. You may want to give a disclaimer in your answer to avoid the risk of downvotes :) $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 21:54
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No - No yes
Neo - Means new, get rid of old
Gone - It's gone, nothing left
Goner - Something gone, nothing
It almost fits all the requirements, I stretched a bit with neo, though.
Another one is
No - Nothing
Non - Nonfiction means no fiction, it is the nothing prefix
None - Nothing left
Noone - No people
