{{Orphan|date=September 2019}}
An '''alternade''' is a word in which its letters, taken alternatively in a strict sequence, and used in the same order as the original word, make up at least two other words. All letters must be used, but the smaller words are not necessarily of the same length. For example, a word with seven letters where every second letter is used will produce a four-letter word and a three-letter word.
In the majority of alternades, every second letter is used to make two smaller words, but in some cases, every third letter is used to make three smaller words. Theoretically, a very long word could use every fourth letter to make four smaller words; e.g., «partitioned» is an alternade for «pin», «ate», «rid», and «to».
The term '''binade''' is also used.<ref name=tax/>
The alternade was introduced by L'Allegro in the May 1917 ''Eastern Enigma'',<ref name=wws>[http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-7881760/Look-back-Column.html Word Ways]</ref> published in June 1917.<ref name=wbsw/>
Variants on the alternade include the '''rebade''' (a hybrid of a '''rebus''' and an alternade), and the '''subade'''.<ref name=wbsw/>
At least 4,800 alternades are known to exist.<ref name=wws/>
==Examples==
===Every second letter===
* '''ALGERIA''': makes '''AGRA''' and '''LEI'''.<ref name=wbsw>{{Cite web |url=http://www.puzzlers.org/guide/combine.html |title=Words Built From Smaller Words |access-date=2009-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124185157/http://puzzlers.org/guide/combine.html |archive-date=2009-01-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * '''ALTERNADE''' itself makes: '''ATRAE'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/atrae|title = Atrae|date = 18 October 2019}}</ref> and '''LEND''' * '''ALTERNATION''': makes '''A-TRAIN''' and '''LENTO''' * '''BOARD''': makes '''BAD''' and '''OR'''.<ref name=woodge>{{Cite web |url=http://www.woodge.com/language/lexicon.html |title=Woodge.com.lexicon |access-date=2009-02-23 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209101557/http://www.woodge.com/language/lexicon.html |archive-date=2013-02-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * '''CALLIOPE''': makes '''CLIP''' and '''ALOE'''.<ref name=Grambs>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PUYOAAAAQAAJ&dq=alternade+words+letters&pg=PA84 David Grambs, Literary Companion Dictionary]</ref> * '''CARPETWEED(S)''': makes '''CREWE(S)''' and '''APTED'''.<ref name=tax/> * '''CURTAINLESS''': makes '''CRANES''' and '''UTILS'''.<ref name=tax/> * '''PAINED''': makes '''PIE''' and '''AND'''.<ref name=woodge/> * '''SCHOOLED''': makes '''SHOE''' and '''COLD'''.<ref name=tax/><ref name=wbsw/> * '''SPALLATION(S)''': makes '''SALTO(S)''' and '''PLAIN'''.<ref name=tax>[http://www.questrel.com/records.html Taxonomy of Wordplay]</ref> * '''TRIENNIALLY''': makes '''TINILY''' and '''RENAL'''.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} (This was discovered by Dorse in 1949.<ref name=wws/> It has been claimed that ''triennially'' is the longest alternade,<ref>[http://www.faqs.org/faqs/puzzles/archive/language/part3/ rec.puzzles Archive (language), part 19 of 35]</ref> but other 11-letter examples exist where the resultant words are obscure.<ref name=tax/>) * '''TROUPE(S)''': makes '''TOP(S)''' and '''RUE'''.<ref name=woodge/> * '''TRUANCIES''': makes '''TUNIS''' and '''RACE'''.<ref name=Grambs/> * '''WAIST''': makes '''WIT''' and '''AS'''.<ref name=woodge/> * '''WAISTS''': makes '''WIT''' and '''ASS'''.
===Every third letter===
* '''LACERATED''': the 1st, 4th and 7th letters make '''LET'''; the 2nd, 5th and 8th letters make '''ARE'''; and the 3rd, 6th and 9th letters make '''CAD'''.<ref name=woodge/> * '''ABOMINATE''': the 1st, 4th, and 7th letters make '''AMA''', the 2nd, 5th, and 8th letters make '''BIT''', and the 3rd, 6th, and 9th letters make '''ONE'''.<ref name=zipwords>{{Cite web|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA518515097&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00437980&p=LitRC&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E97a7c3a9&aty=open-web-entry|title=ZIPWORDS--AKA ALTERNADES|date=Feb 6, 2026}}</ref> * '''SIMILARLY''': the 1st, 4th, and 7th letters make '''SIR''', the 2nd, 5th, and 8th letters make '''ILL''', and the 3rd, 6th, and 9th letters make '''MAY'''.<ref name=zipwords/> * '''MANIPULATORS''': the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th letters make '''MILO''', the 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th letters make '''APAR''', and the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th letters make '''NUTS'''.<ref name=zipwords/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Sources== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090124185157/http://puzzlers.org/guide/combine.html Words Built From Smaller Words] * [https://archive.today/20130209101557/http://www.woodge.com/language/lexicon.html Woodge.com.lexicon]
Category:Wordplay Category:Word games