FOR GEARHEADS ONLY
by Mike Selinker
Solution: CERECLOTH
In each set of gears, one gear is replaced with a five- or seven-letter palindromic sequence to make a new word or phrase.
COONS | CITATIONS |
OVATION | RESERVATION |
PEACH | PEACE PIPE |
CAWED | CORNROWED |
TEXTS | TENEMENTS |
OREAD | BANANA BREAD |
LEVERED | LILY-LIVERED |
STOOGE | STONEHENGE |
STROM | STOREROOM |
REMORAS | REMORSELESS |
STORIES | REPERTORIES |
INFER | INTERPRETER |
EMBROIL | EMBROIDERED |
SIMOUS | SYNONYMOUS |
POSSES | POSITIVITIES |
MALIK | MALIGNING |
SUPERB | SUPERSEDES |
PARADED | PARALLELLED |
MICROBUS | MICROBREWERS |
BREAKING | BREATHTAKING |
AKINS | ASSASSINS |
BILLING | BEST-SELLING |
OKIES | OKINAWANS |
BUSTER | BETA-TESTER |
CROSSING | CROSS-INDEXED |
PRONG | PLAY ALONG |
PARED | PREFERRED |
FEELER | POTATO PEELER |
CORDATE | CORROBORATE |
ELEGIA | PARAPLEGIA |
MAGNUS | MAGNETITES |
RUSHY | RUSTICITY |
The middle letters of each palindromic sequence spell:
A SIN MAY HELP PROVIDE WHAT WAXY FABRIC?
The sin is SLOTH, and exchanging the S for a palindromic sequence makes CERECLOTH.