Subtraction Clues
There are many words that can have one or more letters removed so as to form new words.
There are many words that can have one or more letters removed so as to form new words. For example:
PARSON - P = ARSON
NOTHING - H = NOTING
AVERSE - E = AVERS
A basic subtraction clue will have a definition of the solution, a definition of the word to be operated on, and an indication that one or more letters are to be removed. A number of cryptic devices are employed to indicate subtraction or deletion of letters from a word.
Here are three clues using the examples above:
Crime is the result when clergyman loses his head (5)
Observing naught, losing heart (6)
Declares a piece of poetry is unfinished (5)
Among the ways of indicating that an initial letter is to be subtracted you will encounter: beheaded, not started, first off.
For the subtraction of the middle letter or letters: heartless, hollow.
For the subtraction of a final letter: incomplete, endless, not fully.
For the subtraction of initial and final letters: without limits, lacking wings.
Next: Complex Clues
