A New Year quiz: here are eight alphagrams, each containing an N and a Y.
Each one makes three words. What are they?
Some of the answers are a bit obscure but at least one or two in each set of three are everyday words.
ANSTY
INPSY
AELMNY
NOOPSY
ACENRTY
EGINPSY
AEGILNRY
AGILLNSY
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Here they are :
ANSTY |
ANTSY |
eager, excited [adj ANTSIER, ANTSIEST] |
NASTY |
ill-natured [adj NASTIER, NASTIEST, NASTILY] / something that is offensive [n NASTIES] |
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TANSY |
a perennial herb [n TANSIES] |
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INPSY |
PYINS |
PYIN, a protein compound contained in pus [n] |
SNIPY |
snipelike; frequented by snipe [adj SNIPIER, SNIPIEST] |
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SPINY |
having spines [adj SPINIER, SPINIEST] |
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AELMNY |
LAYMEN |
LAYMAN, a member of the laity [n] |
MEANLY |
MEAN, stingy; low [adv] |
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NAMELY |
that is to say [adv] |
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NOOPSY |
POYSON |
(obsolete) to poison [v -ED, -ING, -S] |
SNOOPY |
prying [adj SNOOPIER, SNOOPIEST, SNOOPILY] |
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SPOONY |
foolishly fond [adj SPOONIER, SPOONIEST, SPOONILY] / one who is foolishly fooled, also SPOONEY [n SPOONIES] |
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ACENRTY |
ENCRATY |
(Greek) self-control [n ENCRATIES] |
NECTARY |
a gland in a flower which produces sugary fluid (nectar) to attract insects [n NECTARIES] |
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TRANCEY |
(of music, etc.) creating a hypnotic effect [adj TRANCIER, TRANCIEST] |
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EGINPSY |
ESPYING |
ESPY, to catch sight of [v] |
PEYSING |
PEYSE, to weigh, also PEISE, PEASE, PEAZE, PEIZE, POYSE [v] |
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PIGSNEY |
(archaic) a term of endearment to a woman, also PIGSNIE, PIGSNY [n -S] |
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AEGILNRY |
LAYERING |
a method of plant propagation, also LAYERAGE [n -S] |
RELAYING |
RELAY, to put down new flooring [v] |
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YEARLING |
a horse of either sex during 1 January to 31 December following the year of its birth [n -S] |
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AGILLNSY |
SALLYING |
SALLY, to rush out suddenly [v] |
SIGNALLY |
SIGNAL, notable [adv] |
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SLANGILY |
SLANGY, full of slang [adv] |