I Don’t Drink, But Still Hate The D.T.’s
I have a theory that the letters D and T don’t go together particularly well. You may think that I am being very picky and that there are far worse combinations, and you would be right. W and U for instance are not a good match. But just looking at letters you would normally welcome on to your rack they go together less well than other combinations. That is because there are few words which had DT or TD next to each other in sequence whereas D and R go together as a combination in words like DRAIN and GARDEN. Similarly R and T combine in words like TRAIN and BARTER
The D.T.’s is a common term for Delirium Tremens. A withdrawal syndrome occurring in people who have developed a physiological dependence on alcohol, characterized by tremors, visual hallucinations and autonomic instability. I don’t have tremors when I get D and T on my rack, but I do try to avoid them. Here is some statistical evidence to back up my case:
If you keep R & T there are 4725 sevens you might be able to play at your next turn
If you keep N & R there are 4231 sevens
If you keep N & T there are 3712 sevens
If you keep L & R there are 3524 sevens
If you keep D & R there are 3489 sevens
If you keep L & N there are 3143 sevens
If you keep L & T there are 3053 sevens
If you keep D & N there are 2865 sevens
If you keep D & L there are 2526 sevens
If you keep D & T there are 1995 sevens
You may say that 1995 is still a lot of words, but scrabble is a game of probabilities and it makes sense to give yourself as much chance to be lucky as you can.
So instead of an initial quiz this week I am devoting this whole blog to a list which will help you deal with the D.T’s. You will already know DEAREST, SAINTED and ARIDEST and would have found one of the multiple other anagrams anyway. This is a slightly different list. These are the 57 words which contain the letters DRST and have no other anagram:
DASTARD A coward
ADRATES The price at which businesses pay to advertise
DAFTARS Military rooms for orderlies in india
DAYSTAR The planet Venus when visible just before sunrise
BUSTARD A bird of the crane family
DRASTIC This can be either an adjective or a noun, so DRASTICS is good
COSTARD A large round apple
CUSTARD A mixture of milk and eggs
DOTARDS People who dote
STRAFED Attacked with machine gun fire from an airplane
RADGEST Most radge, which is Scottish for angry or lustful
SMARTED Caused pain
STRAYED Wandered
DUSTRAG A rag used for dusting
DIARIST Someone who keeps a diary
INDARTS To dart in. (Also ENDARTS, but that has other anagrams)
ASTROID A geometrical figure with four cusps
DISPART An archaic term for splitting into two
RITARDS Musical passages with a gradual slowing of the tempo
SATYRID A brownish butterfly
STRANDS Leaves in an unfavourable situation
TOWARDS In the direction of
UPDARTS To dart upwards
BEDREST Confinement to bed for health reasons
BURSTED Broke open violently
DISTURB Interrupt
CRESTED Reached a peak
DOCTORS Treats medically
DROSTDY A type of South African house
PRESTED Loaned
DEXTERS Cattle from a small Irish breed
DYESTER Someone who dyes cloth
FRISTED Postponed
TRUDGES Walked tiredly
SKIRTED Passed along the border
WRISTED Passed the puck along the ice before shooting at Ice Hockey
STROKED Rubbed gently
STORMED Blew violently
ROOSTED Prepared for sleep by perching
SPURTED Gushed forth
RUSTRED Pierce with a rustre (A lozenge with a circular opening)
TRYSTED Had an appointment with
SUTURED United by sewing
RESTUDY To study again. (You should restudy this list tomorrow!)
HOTRODS Cars that have been converted to increase speed
DROUTHS Droughts
NITRIDS Compounds of nitrogen
DISTRIX The splitting of hair ends
STRIDOR A harsh shrill sound
DISTORT To twist or bend out of shape
DISRUPT Throw into confusion
RUDISTS Cone-shaped extinct molluscs
DRYLOTS Enclosures for livestock
STRONDS An archaic word for strands or beaches
ROTUNDS Rounds
STROUDS North American Indian blanket
I am hoping there are some interesting words there to add to your vocabulary.
Happy Scrabbling
Patrick