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If you think I'm lanky now, I used to be even more sinewy.

They took away a part of me. Not wanting to lose more, I became an even bigger skinflint.

Then they cut out my right eye—what am I now? The unkindest cut of all.

I escaped, but found that while I'd once been swift, I'd lost a second. But I could still be an idol.

Alone, I searched for answers; I only found myself endlessly. It's enough to burn anyone up (a little).

Eventually I found something new, though the ferry ride cost me $1000. But what a wave!

I left the terminal behind. What I did next was very wrong; in my pride, I cannot even speak of it.

I'm afraid I lost my head. But at last I was no longer on the outside.

But forget about all that is behind me. I am with you now, at the end.

What was I at the start of my saga?
What significant changes did I endure?

Word set source: http://www.snopes.com/language/puzzlers/9letters.asp

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  • $\begingroup$ Sounds like a Pokémon's story... $\endgroup$ – boboquack Jan 16 '17 at 0:45
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You started out:

STRINGIER - "lanky"

Your changes were:

STINGIER - "took away a part of me" (-R), now "an even bigger skinflint"
STINGER - "cut out my right eye" (-I), now "unkindest cut"
SINGER - "lost a second" (-T), now "an idol"
SINGE - "endlessly" (-R), now can "burn ... a little"
SINE - "cost me $1000" (-G), now "a wave"
SIN - "left the terminal behind" (-E), now "did ... wrong"
IN - "lost my head" (-S), now "no longer ... outside"
I - "forget about all that is behind me" (-N), now "I am with you now, at the end"

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  • $\begingroup$ Nice job!ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ $\endgroup$ – Rubio♦ Jan 16 '17 at 1:21
  • $\begingroup$ I dont get a single line of your solution :D (I am not a native english speaker, but... Still.. Not a single line make any sense :D ) $\endgroup$ – Jan 'splite' K. Jan 16 '17 at 10:42
  • $\begingroup$ Why does "cost me $1000" maps to removing "G"? $\endgroup$ – justhalf Jan 17 '17 at 8:48
  • $\begingroup$ @justhalf - a G, derived from a Grand is (US?) slang for $1000. $\endgroup$ – Alconja Jan 17 '17 at 8:53

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