Meeting Miscellany
Since the AGM is tonight it is not hard to guess which 3 letters are being used for this week’s blog
A Grade Challenge
One of the 7 letter words that contains AGM is ANAGRAM. Parodoxically, a word that doesn’t have an anagram. All the words below do have an anagram. Can you find them? Starting with an item on today's agenda:
A G E N D U M
G A M B L E R
H O M A G E S
R A M P I N G
M I L L A G E
B & C Grade Study List
There are 19 words which can me made with AGM plus another letter. They are divided into groups which add the same letter
AGM + A = AGMA and GAMA
Agma is a phonetic symbol representing the sound ‘NG’. Gama is a type of pasture grass in America. Both have some good hooks available. As well as AGMAS and GAMAS there are MAGMA, TAGMA, AGAMA and GAMAY
AGM + B = GAMB
The leg of a beast when shown in heraldry. No front hooks, but lots of back hooks. GAMBA, GAMBE, GAMBO and GAMBS
AGM + E = EGMA, GAME, MAGE and MEGA
The only unusual word is a Shakespearian term for an enigma. You can pluralise 3 of them, but not mega. Game takes 3 other back hooks as well for GAMED, GAMER and GAMEY. The other 3 words have one front hook each. REGMA, IMAGE and OMEGA
AGM + G = MAGG
A Scottish verb meaning to steal. Takes an S, but no unusual hooks
AGM + I = MAGI
A word we are all familiar with, especially at Christmas. It is the plural of MAGUS, the Latin word for a magician. The only hook is a C for MAGIC
AGM + L = GLAM
Used as a verb or an adjective to either be glamorous or to make glamorous. So GLAMMER, GLAMMEST, GLAMMED and GLAMMING are all good, but takes no hooks except an S
AGM + N = MANG
An archaic word meaning to speak or talk. Takes a lot of back hooks for MANGA, MANGE, MANGO, MANGS and MANGY
AGM + O = OGAM
An alphabet that was used in Ireland in the 6th century. An alternative spelling is OGHAM. Takes no hooks except an S.
AGM + P = GAMP
A large umbrella. No hooks except an S.
AGM + R = MARG and GRAM
A unit of mass and an abbreviation of margarine. Both can be pluralised with S. Other back hooks are GRAMA, GRAME, GRAMP and MARGE.
AGM + S = GAMS and MAGS
Gam is to visit socially between ships and mag is an alternative spelling of magg. The only hook is OGAMS.
AGM + U = GAUM
A Norse word meaning to smear or daub. GAUMS, GAUMED, GAUMING. Can also take a hook of Y for GAUMY. GAUMIER and GAUMIEST are common enough letters that I am sure I have played both those words as bingos.
AGM + Y = GAMY
Highly flavoured. Tasting like game. No hooks
Answers to A Grade Challenge
GUDEMAN
The master of a household. Plural GUDEMEN. Can also be spelled GOODMAN and GOODMEN
GAMBREL
A joint in the upper part of a horse’s hind leg, also called the hock. Can also be spelled as CAMBREL.
OHMAGES
Electrical resistance expressed in ohms
GRIPMAN
A cable car operator. Plural GRIPMEN
MEGILLA
A scroll containing a book of the Old Testament. Can also be spelled as MEGILLAH.
Odds and Ends
In a game between Mike Currie and Alexander the word DARBY was played. I happened to be finished and someone asked me if it was right. I said yes it must be because DARBIES is part of a common group of letters that is often played as a bingo. You can choose between ABIDERS, BRAISED, DARBIES, SEABIRD or SIDEBAR. However, I was completely wrong. It was surprising so I investigated thinking maybe it was DARBIE, but no, that was wrong too. It turns out that DARBIES is an alternative name for a pair of HANDCUFFS. Although you can certainly have one HANDCUFF there is no option for the singular of DARBIES.
I watched breakfast TV this week and there was an item about fundraising where the boy whose class had done the most fundraising said his class won because they brang in the most money. They brang in almost 3 times as much as anyone else. While everyone knows what he meant, don’t try playing BRANG at scrabble because even our generous dictionary does not allow it. But watch this space, because it wouldn’t surprise me to see it added in the next update as New Zealand slang
Happy Scrabbling Patrick