[Solution] Transformations – 5 February 2024

Solvers are given a number of transformations that can be applied to words to make new words. In given order, which is alphabetical by starting word, these are:

  • BEAD -> BEARD (Add an R after the third letter)
  • HAND -> H (Delete AND)
  • HEART -> EARTH (Move the first letter to the end)
  • JET <-> GIANT (Replace the singular form of an NFL team with the other NFL team from the same city)
  • LIONESS <-> LION (Change the gender of the word)
  • METAPOD -> CATERPIE (Revert the Pokemon to its unevolved form, or go back one in the pokedex)
  • PIG -> HAY (Caesar shift the word back eight letters)
  • TIMER -> TIGER (Replace M with a G)
  • WHO <-> OHM (Rotate the word 180 degrees)

Each of these transformations corresponds to an arrow with a specific symbol, which are used in the pathway through the center of the page to transform CHAMELEON to the final answer, as shown below:

  • CHAMELEON -> CHARMELEON (Add an R after the third letter)
  • CHARMELEON -> CHARMANDER (Revert the Pokemon to its unevolved form, or go back one in the pokedex)
  • CHARMANDER -> CHARMER (Delete AND)
  • CHARMER -> CHARGER (Replace M with a G)
  • CHARGER -> RAM (Replace the singular form of an NFL team with the other NFL team from the same city)
  • RAM -> EWE (Change the gender of the word)
  • EWE -> WOW (Caesar shift the word back eight letters)
  • WOW -> MOM (Rotate the word 180 degrees)
  • MOM -> DAD (Change the gender of the word)
  • DAD -> ADD (Move the first letter to the end)

The answer to the puzzle is ADD.