8
$\begingroup$

This is in the spirit of the What is a Word™/Phrase™ series started by JLee with a special brand of Phrase™ and Word™ puzzles.

If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it an Absolute Word™.
Use the examples below to find the rule.

Absolute Words™ Not Absolute Words™
WET DRY
MUNICIPALITY DISTRICT
ADVERTORIAL COMMERCIAL
HAND FOOT
NAUGHT ZERO
TRAINSPOTTING ECSTASY
CINEMATOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHER
GRASSHOPPER CRICKET
VOLLEYBALL BADMINTON
ITALIC BOLD
UNICORN DRAGON
EXCEPTION RULE
PERSPECTIVE VIEW
JOURNALIST CORRESPONDENT
ACHE PAIN
MATCH CONTEST
OUTGOING EXTROVERT
CATHEDRAL CHURCH

In case you want it in CSV:

Absolute Words™,Not Absolute Words™
WET,DRY  
MUNICIPALITY,DISTRICT  
ADVERTORIAL,COMMERCIAL  
HAND,FOOT  
NAUGHT,ZERO  
TRAINSPOTTING,ECSTASY  
CINEMATOGRAPHER,PHOTOGRAPHER
GRASSHOPPER,CRICKET
VOLLEYBALL,BADMINTON
ITALIC,BOLD
UNICORN,DRAGON
EXCEPTION,RULE
PERSPECTIVE,VIEW
JOURNALIST,CORRESPONDENT
ACHE,PAIN
MATCH,CONTEST
OUTGOING,EXTROVERT
CATHEDRAL,CHURCH

The puzzle relies on the series' inbuilt assumption, that each word can be tested for whether it is a Absolute Word™ without relying on the other words.

These are not the only examples of Absolute Words™, many more exist.

Hint:

Ordering the words in an obvious way (both alphabetical and by word length could prove helpful) might help you spot the rule.

Hint 2:

Think of "absolute" in a mathematical way.

$\endgroup$
0

1 Answer 1

6
$\begingroup$

A word is an Absolute Word if

its length equals the (absolute) distance apart in the alphabet of the letters at its ends.

(There was another word-property puzzle with a very similar answer: What is a Regular Word™?)

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ +1 for the right catch of the similar one. Still not sure how do you see puzzles :D $\endgroup$
    – Techidiot
    Nov 24, 2016 at 18:39
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Sorry for the duplicate. Turns out to be harder than I thought to come with something original.. $\endgroup$
    – Levieux
    Nov 24, 2016 at 23:11
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I wouldn't worry about it. There have been an awful lot of these and no one can be expected to have memorized them all. (And yours was a little different.) $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan
    Nov 24, 2016 at 23:14

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.