Words with heavily repeated letters

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:40 pm

Another little word game teaser.

I know of three words in which one letter is repeated six times (there may be more than three of these words, I don't know).

See if you can get any of them. Without Googling obviously.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:45 pm

Hmmmmmmm....

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:47 pm

Tricky. I keep coming up with 5, but not 6.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:56 pm

Jon Corby wrote:Tricky. I keep coming up with 5, but not 6.

Yeah - and the repeated letter is always S.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:59 pm

There's definitely a Scrabble word with 6 S's in it. 7 if you count the plural, which is not-quite-unique-but-exceptionally-rare in being impossible to play using a standard Scrabble set. However, it is 13 letters long...

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:00 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:Tricky. I keep coming up with 5, but not 6.
Yeah - and the repeated letter is always S.

I thought of invisibility and divisibility a while ago, and it's only just occurred to me that indivisibility might be a word?

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:02 pm

Actually there's those stupid ones that they used to trot out on Catchword (with Paul Coia) like pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis and flauccinauccinihilipilification which have many repeated letters. What kind of boundaries are we talking here?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:18 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:There's definitely a Scrabble word with 6 S's in it. 7 if you count the plural, which is not-quite-unique-but-exceptionally-rare in being impossible to play using a standard Scrabble set. However, it is 13 letters long...

SENSELESSNESSES?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:47 pm

The complaints office of DOND probably has more than 6 repeated letters in it.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:27 pm

Jon was correct with INDIVISIBILITY (six Is)

As far as boundaries, no crazy medical words or anything.
The other two words are both words I have seen around before, but are definitely less common than INDIVISIBILITY. One is 14 letters long, the other is 16 letters long.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:28 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:Hmmmmmmm....

Would have been much better if you'd used six Ms

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:36 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Hmmmmmmm....
Would have been much better if you'd used six Ms

Actually, no. Your OP specified that one letter is repeated six times...

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:57 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Hmmmmmmm....
Would have been much better if you'd used six Ms
Actually, no. Your OP specified that one letter is repeated six times...

Sigh. I did wonder what the catch was going to turn out to be whilst I was typing that message.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:59 pm

TARAMASALATA

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:11 pm

Jon Corby wrote:Actually there's those stupid ones that they used to trot out on Catchword (with Paul Coia) like pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis and flauccinauccinihilipilification which have many repeated letters. What kind of boundaries are we talking here?

Had to know hot to spell that for my spelling competition!

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:26 pm

Paul Howe wrote:TARAMASALATA

It's usually got an O in the middle (instead of 3rd A), I have no idea if your alternate spelling is valid or not. Either way, good effort. But also not one of the ones I've got.

Derek Hazell · Post by **Derek Hazell** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:30 pm

Jon Corby wrote:(with Paul Coia)

He was the first voice on Channel 4, in the same way that Carol Vorderman wasn't the first woman on Channel 4.

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:34 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:TARAMASALATA
It's usually got an O in the middle (instead of 3rd A), I have no idea if your alternate spelling is valid or not. Either way, good effort. But also not one of the ones I've got.

Really? I've only ever come across it spelt entirely with A's. And some consonants, of course, before someone gets clever.

Is SUSURRUSSES allowed? I may have spelt it wrongly...

Derek Hazell · Post by **Derek Hazell** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:35 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:The complaints office of DOND probably has more than 6 repeated letters in it.

Haha, brilliant post!

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:22 pm

Neil Zussman wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:TARAMASALATA
It's usually got an O in the middle (instead of 3rd A), I have no idea if your alternate spelling is valid or not. Either way, good effort. But also not one of the ones I've got.
Really? I've only ever come across it spelt entirely with A's.

It's an O according to Wikipedia. Article does state the A-spelling is "sometimes found". Being a vegetarian, it's not a food stuff I know much about!

Neil Zussman wrote:Is SUSURRUSSES allowed? I may have spelt it wrongly...

Did your spelling it wrongly mean taking out the sixth S? How about SUSURRUSSSES?

(I had to re-read that about 10 times just to make sure I hadn't fucked up the S count and made a fool of myself!)

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:34 pm

I suppose FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION is being a bit cheaty (although if you redefine the problem as highest density rather than simply the total number that molests it a bit).

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:51 pm

Paul Howe wrote:TARAMASALATA

Damn you, Howe. Thought of this one straight away and hoped as I scrolled down that no one else would have! Will keep mulling it over though.

Edit: INHIBITIONIST has 5 I's. Toyed with sticking -IC on the end but I wasn't too sure.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:11 pm

Matt Morrison wrote: It's an O according to Wikipedia. Article does state the A-spelling is "sometimes found". Being a vegetarian, it's not a food stuff I know much about!

Did you edit it so your quiz wasn't discredited?

I've seen it spelt with 6 A's in an actual Greek restaurant in Greece, and Dinos who I think is a bona fide Greek thought so too, and Neil kind of looks like a Greek, so I'm sticking to my guns on this one.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:22 pm

Paul Howe wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote: It's an O according to Wikipedia. Article does state the A-spelling is "sometimes found". Being a vegetarian, it's not a food stuff I know much about!
Did you edit it so your quiz wasn't discredited? I've seen it spelt with 6 A's in an actual Greek restaurant in Greece, and Dinos who I think is a bona fide Greek thought so too, and Neil kind of looks like a Greek, so I'm sticking to my guns on this one.

Haha, no, no editing, I promise! As I said, I know nothing of the stuff.

How's this for a bit of research for you... 'taramasalata' gets 39,900 hits on Google, to 39,000 hits for 'taramosalata'.
BUT the top results for 'taramasalata' include Delia Smith Online, BBC Food, and UKTV Food. Top results for 'taramosalata' include Epicurean.com, RealGreekRecipes, Lerios.org and Plata.gr.

From that I can only surmise that the A-version must be a Westernised alternate, but it certainly seems very valid, so good spot regardless.
Still, it wasn't one of the ones I had listed (no doubt whoever composed the list of three I saw was deliberately trying to avoid the taramo/asalata issue!)

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:32 pm

Both Oxford (online) and Collins (on my shelf) spell it TARAMASALATA. The derivation is given in Collins as from 'tarama', modern Greek for cod's roe.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:59 am

Paul Howe wrote:Dinos who I think is a bona fide Greek thought so too.

Lol. My Greekness must be the cause of my penchant for goatdown

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:48 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:Dinos who I think is a bona fide Greek thought so too.
Lol. My Greekness must be the cause of my penchant for goatdown

What's Greek for bona fide?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:11 am

Phil Reynolds wrote:What's Greek for bona fide?

καλόπιστος?

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:28 am

No point dragging this on until it gets boring (some might argue it started boring), so more clues:

one is 14 letters long, features 6 Es: DE########ENCE
the other 16 letters long, features 6 Ns: NON########MENT

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:47 am

OH MY GOD THIS THREAD IS SO BORING

Edit: No wait, that's only 4 O's.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:49 am

Charlie Reams wrote:OH MY GOD THIS THREAD IS SO BORING

Edit: No wait, that's only 4 O's.

And 8 words. Utter fail.

Try: OHMYGODTHISTHREADISSOBOOORING

Adam Dexter · Post by **Adam Dexter** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:30 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:What's Greek for bona fide?
καλόπιστος?

Strangely, If you use a capital B, it comes out as Τα καλής πίστεως .
Any idea why?

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:04 pm

Adam Dexter wrote:Strangely, If you use a capital B, it comes out as Τα καλής πίστεως .
Any idea why?

Nope; it's all Latin to me.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:08 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:What's Greek for bona fide?
καλόπιστος?

Is that Ancient Greek or Modern? I make it καλις πιστεος.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:08 pm

Voodoo is a shorter word ofd that nature.

That was a bonus puzzle on Wheel of Fortune here once, and, needless to say, the contestant didn't get it.

Peter Mabey · Post by **Peter Mabey** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:22 pm

HOO-OO is the winner, proportionally

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:54 pm

DEGENERESCENCE (6 Es)
and NONANNOUNCEMENT (6 Ns) sits back and waits to be shouted at because "they're not real words you cunt"

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:19 pm

Interesting.

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:45 pm

Paul Howe wrote:Neil kind of looks like a Greek, so I'm sticking to my guns on this one.

What constitutes 'looking like a Greek?'

I probably have some Eastern European in me, but I'm not sure if it's Greek. I've been called worse though.

Matt Morrison wrote:
Neil Zussman wrote:Is SUSURRUSSES allowed? I may have spelt it wrongly...
Did your spelling it wrongly mean taking out the sixth S? How about SUSURRUSSSES?
(I had to re-read that about 10 times just to make sure I hadn't fucked up the S count and made a fool of myself!)

Further evidence that being able to count is totally irrelevant to whether you can do a maths degree

Jason Larsen wrote:Interesting.

Unlucky, that only has letters appearing a maximum of twice. There are quite a few letters that do appear twice in the word, however.

Paul Erdunast · Post by **Paul Erdunast** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:57 pm

"kalopistos" does sound right (Though I really am not sure given I only have an AS in Ancient Greek as yet), but the endings and the words seem right- pistos=trustworthy/reliable and kalos= fine, so putting them together should make something akin to bona fide.

There is a river in America called Chargoggagoggmanchaugagoggchaubunagungamaug, with 13 g's, but that is both a proper name and an amalgamation of 3 separate sentences. But it sounds good

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:07 pm

Neil Zussman wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:Neil kind of looks like a Greek, so I'm sticking to my guns on this one.
What constitutes 'looking like a Greek?' I probably have some Eastern European in me, but I'm not sure if it's Greek. I've been called worse though.

You look more like a Jew to me.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:09 pm

Peter Mabey wrote:HOO-OO is the winner, proportionally

A

Peter Mabey · Post by **Peter Mabey** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:19 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Peter Mabey wrote:HOO-OO is the winner, proportionally
A

AA

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:50 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:What's Greek for bona fide?
καλόπιστος?
Is that Ancient Greek or Modern? I make it καλις πιστεος.

I dunno which. I just typed bona fide into Google translate English -> Greek and that's what popped up. I don't know how you'd even say it as I can't read Greek. Yes you heard. I'm a fraud

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:02 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:
Neil Zussman wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:Neil kind of looks like a Greek, so I'm sticking to my guns on this one.
What constitutes 'looking like a Greek?' I probably have some Eastern European in me, but I'm not sure if it's Greek. I've been called worse though.
You look more like a Jew to me.

Funny that.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:12 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote: Is that Ancient Greek or Modern? I make it καλις πιστεος.

I dunno which. I just typed bona fide into Google translate English -> Greek and that's what popped up. I don't know how you'd even say it as I can't read Greek. Yes you heard. I'm a fraud

[/quote]
Oh, how disappointing. It's "kalis pisteos", fwiw.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:26 pm

Neil Zussman wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:You look more like a Jew to me.
Funny that.

Oh, are you actually a Jew? I suppose that is kinda funny then.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:36 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:I just typed bona fide into Google translate English -> Greek and that's what popped up.

Should you not have used Latin -> Greek?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:42 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:I just typed bona fide into Google translate English -> Greek and that's what popped up.
Should you not have used Latin -> Greek?

I tried that but strangely there was no Latin in the drop down list of languages.

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:43 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:
Neil Zussman wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:You look more like a Jew to me.
Funny that.
Oh, are you actually a Jew? I suppose that is kinda funny then.

Yes, I don't know why I was sarcastic really, there no way you could've known. As long as you didn't mean it in a derogatory way, it was a good observation.
I was the one person who voted Kosher in the 'What do you eat' poll.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:49 pm

Neil Zussman wrote:I was the one person who voted Kosher in the 'What do you eat' poll.

Get away.

Reminds me of possibly the most surreal conversation I've had so far this year, when you attempted to explain to me why buffalo mozzarella isn't kosher but ordinary mozzarella is. This was after watching you order a specific Box Pizza off the menu, the principal toppings of which were mozzarella and buffalo mozzarella - except that you asked for it without buffalo mozzarella and added a whole lot of extra toppings, so effectively it was just a custom pizza. (Disclaimer: It's entirely possible that I've misremembered these events in every significant detail, due to the amount of free beer I'd consumed over the preceding three hours.)

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:51 pm

Neil Zussman wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:Oh, are you actually a Jew? I suppose that is kinda funny then.
Yes, I don't know why I was sarcastic really, there no way you could've known.

Well, unless he was paying attention during our aforementioned conversation about mozzarella, as he was standing about a foot away at the time...

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:53 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Should you not have used Latin -> Greek?
I tried that but strangely there was no Latin in the drop down list of languages.

Hey, get off my back (something the ancient Greeks were always saying to each other apparently).

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:59 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Neil Zussman wrote:I was the one person who voted Kosher in the 'What do you eat' poll.
Get away.

I just wanted to set your mind at ease, just in case you were wondering.

It was entirely possible that I didn't vote in that poll and someone else did.

Phil Reynolds wrote:Reminds me of possibly the most surreal conversation I've had so far this year, when you attempted to explain to me why buffalo mozzarella isn't kosher but ordinary mozzarella is. This was after watching you order a specific Box Pizza off the menu, the principal toppings of which were mozzarella and buffalo mozzarella - except that you asked for it without buffalo mozzarella and added a whole lot of extra toppings, so effectively it was just a custom pizza. (Disclaimer: It's entirely possible that I've misremembered these events in every significant detail, due to the amount of free beer I'd consumed over the preceding three hours.)

That's pretty much as I recall it, although my memory is also fallible. Did I give a coherent answer in the end?
Funnily enough, that is probably not in the top ten 'Most Surreal Conversations I've Had This Year.' 'Twas an awesome evening though.

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Neil Zussman wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:Oh, are you actually a Jew? I suppose that is kinda funny then.
Yes, I don't know why I was sarcastic really, there no way you could've known.
Well, unless he was paying attention during our aforementioned conversation about mozzarella, as he was standing about a foot away at the time...

How can any man pay attention to another conversation when he has a Box Pizza in his hands, just waiting to be eaten!

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:01 am

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Neil Zussman wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:Oh, are you actually a Jew? I suppose that is kinda funny then.
Yes, I don't know why I was sarcastic really, there no way you could've known.
Well, unless he was paying attention during our aforementioned conversation about mozzarella, as he was standing about a foot away at the time...

With eyesight like mine I can get away with being oblivious to anything beyond the end of my nose. This is a helpful excuse for when I'm a bit inebriated.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:05 am

Neil, that's an interesting observation. But, seeing as how you were octochamp #2 of Series 60, it's no nder you knew that.

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:06 am

Michael Wallace wrote:With eyesight like mine I can get away with being oblivious to anything beyond the end of my nose. This is a helpful excuse for when I'm a bit inebriated.

Are your aural senses not enhanced then, a la Daredevil?

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:08 am

Jason Larsen wrote:Neil, that's an interesting observation. But, seeing as how you were octochamp #2 of Series 60, it's no nder you knew that.

Would you care to elaborate? I have made several incredible observations in this thread, and I am unsure to which of them you are referring.

Also, I think I was the first Octochamp, wasn't I? That's my one claim to fame, don't take it away from me!

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:12 am

Neil Zussman wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Reminds me of possibly the most surreal conversation I've had so far this year, when you attempted to explain to me why buffalo mozzarella isn't kosher but ordinary mozzarella is.
Did I give a coherent answer in the end?

You may or may not have answered coherently, but I certainly wasn't listening coherently so the point is moot.

Neil Zussman wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:unless he was paying attention during our aforementioned conversation about mozzarella, as he was standing about a foot away at the time...
How can any man pay attention to another conversation when he has a Box Pizza in his hands, just waiting to be eaten!

I think our pizzas hadn't been brought out to us at that point, but now that I think about it Raccoon's attention was probably focused exclusively on the mobile phone pressed to his eyeball.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:14 am

Neil, I found it interesting that the word interesting has only one letter appearing twice at the most.

And I got my statitistics wrong! That's what happens when you get an eternal break from Countdown!