11
$\begingroup$

Entry into Fortnightly Topic Challenge #38: Reusing Information 1

This will also be my final Riley Riddle for a week or two because it is arriving near the end of the term and school is expecting some assessments...

Riddle me this:

My prefix is quick with but one ant alone,
Though it may start to slow down with all.

My suffix, above, has an alpha to own,
Though it will not head far with the fall.

My infix might yell with a notable tone,
Though remember not pets in its call.

As home to the third or a tool for a bone,
I will sing with the wind in a class to enthral!

What am I?

The bold letters in each paragraph give a clue to what the next paragraph is referring to, and all in the same way; the other clues are also similarly set out, even with multiple meanings, e.g.

"Yell" also refers to yellow and "sing" sounds like string.

The title is also a clue, but only has one clue in it; one clue for one song's title.
Altogether, this riddle reuses information!

Hint 1:

"Notable" also refers to notes and "class" sounds like brass.

Hint 2:

"Down" also refers to download and "alpha" sounds like far.

Hint 3:

iq = IQ.

Hint 4:

bl = bell.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
6
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Damn, no one's answering. I guess this riddle is too hard. Have u considered putting a bounty on this? $\endgroup$
    – Kevin L
    Commented Oct 2, 2018 at 3:16
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @KevinL oh woops. I forgot about this, with all the anagrams I've been doing. I will just keep adding hints and putting a bounty. I'll do $50$, and if nobody answers,I'll go to $100$. Some user should answer by then... but if they don't, I'll just keep doubling. Thanks for letting me know :P $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Commented Oct 2, 2018 at 6:45
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ No problem mate :D $\endgroup$
    – Kevin L
    Commented Oct 2, 2018 at 7:46
  • $\begingroup$ Are you looking for a song name? The answer is still a single word yes? $\endgroup$
    – Dorrulf
    Commented Dec 11, 2018 at 18:40
  • $\begingroup$ @Dorrulf yes, and it is not a song name ;) $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Commented Dec 12, 2018 at 2:08

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
7
$\begingroup$

I think I can finally see what the solution is here:

INSTRUMENT

My prefix is quick with but one ant alone,
Though it may start to slow down with all.

The prefix is INST. INST+ANT=INSTANT, with connotations of something being 'quick' ('in an instant'). However, INST+ALL=INSTALL, and an installation (e.g. a software download) may be a slower process.

My suffix, above, has an alpha to own,
Though it will not head far with the fall.

Bearing in mind the 'iq' reuse from the prefix clue, the suffix is MENT. Because if we place 'MENT' above/before 'ALPHA' and let fall (i.e. remove) 'PHA' (as a soundalike for 'far'), we get MENT+AL(-pha)=MENTAL, which has connections to 'IQ' and the head.

My infix might yell with a notable tone,
Though remember not pets in its call.

The infix is TRUM, because a TRUMPET might yell with a notable tone but we have to 'forget' (i.e. remove) 'PET'. The 'bl' from the suffix clue, when pronounced 'b-ell', connects with the bell of a trumpet, which is the name of the part where the sound comes out.

As home to the third or a tool for a bone,
I will sing with the wind in a class to enthral!

'into' and 'meet' from the infix clue purely signify that we need to put the parts together into one in order to meet the solution, which is INST+TRUM+MENT=INSTRUMENT.

A trumpet (our third clue above) is a musical instrument (as is a trombone), and instrument is also a synonym of 'tool'. The final line has connotations of playing music, possibly in an orchestra (sing, [wood]wind, class[ical]), as does the mention of 'song' in the title itself.

Phew, we got there in the end! Note, of course, that there may be further hidden 'information reuses' by the OP here, given the Fortnightly Topic Challenge theme when it was set (for example, they state in the question itself that 'notable' sounds like 'notes' - another connection to the theme - and that 'yell' conjures up the idea of 'yellow', the colour of the item used in the infix clue), but I hope you agree that my answer here has dug up a sufficient amount as to have led us to a satisfying answer at last!

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
0
$\begingroup$

Partial Answer:

My suffix, above, has an alpha to own,

has an 'L' far to 'O'?

Not sure...

@user477343 pls comment, thanks!

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ No, that's not it.... but you are kind of on the right track. I might have to give the prefix away for users to get the idea. I'll do that in a hint. Apologies for not commenting earlier! $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Commented Dec 12, 2018 at 2:09

Your Answer

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

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