PYRAMID SCHEME
by Mark L. Gottlieb
Solution: MACH ONE
On each level, changes to clue words are noted in brackets. The starred letters are used in the assembly of the answer, MACH ONE.
Level 1
-
GIZA ("geezer") [C → coot → moot → M]*
Level 2
-
GLEAN (angle) [M → modifed → codifed → C]
-
THE RING (fathering - fa) [S → siring → airing → A]*
Level 3
-
STEER (two meanings) [X → oxen → omen → M]
-
PECULIAR (peck - k + U + liar) [D → odd → OCD → C]*
-
SHELDON (s + held on) [I → waited → wasted → S]
Level 4
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MULTIPLY (mull - l + tip + Y) [T → tip → hip → H]*
-
ALADDIN (a + lad + din) [Y → boy → box → X]
-
NEGATES (oNE GATE Strangely) [G → gate → date → D]
-
HERMAN (R + he-man) [W → brawny → brainy → I]
Level 5
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SUEDE ("swayed") [R → overhearing → overheating → T]
-
VIENNESE (nine eves) [V → eves → eyes → Y]
-
STRESSED (desserts) [T → treats → greats → G]
-
UNRECEIVED (run + device + E) [S → lost → loot → O]*
-
FUNGO (gun for - r) [F → fielding → wielding → W]
Level 6
-
WEEKNIGHTS (wee + knights) [R → sirs → sins → N]*
-
FLAVORING (fling + a + v. + or) [B bearing fearing F]
-
PICARD (pic + bard - b) [S → losing → loving → V]
-
EMIRS (me + IRS) [F → flipping → slipping → S]
-
UNISEX (fiXES IN Up) [N → in → it → T]
-
CRUMBLED (C + rumbled) [P → cup → cur → R]
Level 7
-
YELLOWNESS (yell + owners - r + S) [fright → F]
-
FLASHIER (her fails) [herb → B]
-
AVENGE (scAVENGErs) [seven → S]
-
VAMPYRE (v + dam - d + pyre) [dame → E]*
-
ESTEEMS (e + S + meets) [pearl's → P]
-
WASHRAG (was + h + R + Ag) [trowel → R]
-
EAT CROW (tow race) [town → N]
Hexes
1 GAGGLE (gag + leg)
2 ZITHER (zit + her)
3 ALUMNI (Lumina)
4 HANDLE (Chandler - c,r)
5 TENNIS (sent in)
6 PRINCE ("prints")
7 MANNER ("manor")
8 SPITES (sprites - R)
9 NUMBER (two meanings)
10 CADDIE (cad + die)
11 FINKED (Fed + ink)
12 GO STAG (amigos - ami + gat)
13 GIVE IN (vein + GI)
14 ACHIER (I reach)
15 DEMISE (Demi's + E)
16 SUAVER (US + aver)
17 EXUDES (ex + used)
18 GROWTH (druG ordeR tO screW agenT smith)
19 VALUED (U + Val + Ed)
20 ALLEYS (galleys - g)
21 ENGAGE (eng + A + GE)
22 SECRET (Crete's)
23 SWAMPY (my wasp)
24 SHREWD (W + shred)
25 CRAVAT (arc + vat)
26 WORSEN (work - k + Sen.)
