12
$\begingroup$

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 a Mutated Word™.
Use the examples below to find the rule.

Mutated Words™ Not Mutated Words™
BRASH CALM
CROWN TIARA
DINNER LUNCH
FEEL SENSE
LADDER STAIR
SEAT STOOL
SUPPER BREAKFAST
THINK REACT
WHOSE WHOM

In case you want it in CSV:

Mutated Words™,Not Mutated Words™
BRASH,CALM
CROWN,TIARA
DINNER,LUNCH
FEEL,SENSE
LADDER,STAIR
SEAT,STOOL
SUPPER,BREAKFAST
THINK,REACT
WHOSE,WHOM

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

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

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ That chair is bugging me $\endgroup$
    – DrnglVrgs
    Jan 26, 2017 at 19:56
  • $\begingroup$ Actually, now that I look at it, chair is a mutated word. I will update. $\endgroup$
    – APrough
    Jan 26, 2017 at 20:39
  • $\begingroup$ Is stool a mutated word also? $\endgroup$
    – DrnglVrgs
    Jan 26, 2017 at 23:30

3 Answers 3

11
$\begingroup$

My guess would be that

a mutated word is a word that is created by combining 2 other words with some cross over (specifically the second word starts with the second last letter of the first word)

Explanations:

BRA and RASH --> BRASH
CROW and OWN --> CROWN
DIN and INNER --> DINNER
FEE and EEL --> FEEL
LAD and ADDER --> LADDER
SEA and EAT --> SEAT
SUP and UPPER --> SUPPER
THIN and INK --> THINK
WHO and HOSE --> WHOSE

Similarly a non mutated word is any word that doesn't fit that condition

Ex. BREAKFAST --> BREAK and FAST do not cross over

$\endgroup$
2
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ @MikeQ AIR also works for that though. Either way, it fits for all the ones in the actual question $\endgroup$
    – Written
    Jan 26, 2017 at 21:03
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah, basically any two words that share two letters. So, CHAIR IS CHAI and AIR. Your explanation of the "second last letter" was spot on. $\endgroup$
    – APrough
    Jan 27, 2017 at 17:44
3
$\begingroup$

Can be reduced letter by letter to a single letter word leaving an (albeit archaic or obscure) word at each stage.

E.g. brash->rash->ash->as->a think->hink->ink->in->I

But obviously not the answer: whom->who->ho->o stool->tool->too->to->o

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ How do you do that with FEEL? (Also, welcome to Puzzling!) $\endgroup$
    – Deusovi
    Jan 27, 2017 at 3:10
  • $\begingroup$ @Deusovi Feel-eel-el-e where el is a unit of measurement and E is the 3rd degree of the C-major scale $\endgroup$
    – boboquack
    Jan 27, 2017 at 3:14
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah, doesn't work with both sets of answers, but I like this reasoning. Would probably make a great "What is a Word" puzzle down the road once people forget about it. $\endgroup$
    – APrough
    Jan 27, 2017 at 18:10
1
$\begingroup$

A Mutated Word™ is a word that:

remain a word after removing the first letter

Example:

BRASH -> RASH
CROWN -> ROWN
DINNER -> INNER

Not Mutated:

CALM -> ALM
TIARA -> IARA

$\endgroup$
2
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ Stool -> tool. That one doesn't work $\endgroup$
    – Nik
    Jan 26, 2017 at 22:21
  • $\begingroup$ And Calm -> Alm works. But Whom -> Hom,Think -> Hink, and Crown -> Rown do not. $\endgroup$
    – APrough
    Jan 27, 2017 at 18:12

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.