Originally posted by chess kid1
Name one 9-letter word, in which, when a letter is removed each time, forms another word.

Emissions

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
You can pull of the first and last letters easily enough, but what letter do you remove from mission?

emissions
missions
mission
missio - A release from service
And now I'm stuck as well.

Originally posted by XanthosNZ
emissions
missions
mission
missio - A release from service
And now I'm stuck as well.

Missi is a name, maybe not legal in this case.
Miss,
mis,
mi (do, re, mi)

Originally posted by sonhouse
Missi is a name, maybe not legal in this case.
Miss,
mis,
mi (do, re, mi)

If it isn't legal in scrabble it isn't legal here. So no Missi isn't allowed.

EDIT:
['beglitter', 'belitter', 'blitter', 'litter', 'liter', 'lier', 'lie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['externals', 'external', 'eternal', 'ternal', 'terna', 'tera', 'era', 'ra', 'a'] 9
['replaster', 'relaster', 'relater', 'elater', 'later', 'late', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['branchery', 'brancher', 'rancher', 'rancer', 'racer', 'race', 'ace', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['espantoon', 'spantoon', 'pantoon', 'panton', 'panto', 'pato', 'pat', 'at', 'a'] 9
['emendable', 'mendable', 'endable', 'enable', 'nable', 'able', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['shameable', 'shamable', 'shamble', 'hamble', 'amble', 'able', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['silverily', 'silverly', 'silvery', 'silver', 'siver', 'sier', 'sir', 'si', 'i'] 9
['treachery', 'teachery', 'teacher', 'teache', 'tache', 'ache', 'ace', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['uparching', 'parching', 'arching', 'aching', 'ching', 'hing', 'ing', 'in', 'i'] 9
['sparringly', 'sparingly', 'springly', 'springy', 'spring', 'sprig', 'prig', 'pig', 'pi', 'i'] 10
['scrabbler', 'scabbler', 'cabbler', 'cabler', 'abler', 'able', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['scrabbled', 'scrabble', 'scabble', 'cabble', 'cable', 'able', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['lacerated', 'lacerate', 'acerate', 'cerate', 'crate', 'rate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['scrappler', 'scrapler', 'scraper', 'scrape', 'crape', 'rape', 'ape', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['ecardinal', 'cardinal', 'carinal', 'carnal', 'canal', 'anal', 'aal', 'al', 'a'] 9
['pinnaclet', 'pinnacle', 'pinnace', 'pinnae', 'pinna', 'pina', 'pia', 'pa', 'a'] 9
['strangler', 'stranger', 'strange', 'strang', 'stang', 'tang', 'tag', 'ta', 'a'] 9
['estranger', 'stranger', 'strange', 'strang', 'stang', 'tang', 'tag', 'ta', 'a'] 9
['unpraised', 'unpraise', 'upraise', 'praise', 'raise', 'rise', 'rie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['schapping', 'chapping', 'chappin', 'chapin', 'chain', 'hain', 'hin', 'in', 'i'] 9
['strophaic', 'strophic', 'trophic', 'tropic', 'topic', 'topi', 'toi', 'ti', 'i'] 9
['casemated', 'casemate', 'caseate', 'casate', 'caste', 'cate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['untrailed', 'untailed', 'untiled', 'untile', 'utile', 'tile', 'tie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['tabularly', 'tabulary', 'tabular', 'tabula', 'taula', 'aula', 'ula', 'la', 'a'] 9
['amendable', 'mendable', 'endable', 'enable', 'nable', 'able', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['heathenry', 'heathery', 'heather', 'heater', 'hater', 'hate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['ampullary', 'ampullar', 'ampulla', 'amulla', 'mulla', 'ulla', 'ula', 'la', 'a'] 9
['concreate', 'cocreate', 'ocreate', 'create', 'crate', 'rate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['unstilled', 'untilled', 'untiled', 'untile', 'utile', 'tile', 'tie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['jatrophic', 'atrophic', 'trophic', 'tropic', 'topic', 'topi', 'toi', 'ti', 'i'] 9
['laureated', 'laureate', 'aureate', 'aurate', 'urate', 'rate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['strangles', 'strangle', 'strange', 'strang', 'stang', 'tang', 'tag', 'ta', 'a'] 9
['unstilted', 'untilted', 'untiled', 'untile', 'utile', 'tile', 'tie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['belittler', 'belitter', 'blitter', 'litter', 'liter', 'lier', 'lie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['spendable', 'sendable', 'endable', 'enable', 'nable', 'able', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['springlet', 'springle', 'pringle', 'ringle', 'ringe', 'rine', 'rie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['turntable', 'turnable', 'tunable', 'unable', 'nable', 'able', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['twitterly', 'twittery', 'tittery', 'titter', 'titer', 'tier', 'tie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['scrambler', 'scambler', 'scamler', 'scaler', 'scale', 'sale', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['picketeer', 'picketer', 'pickeer', 'picker', 'piker', 'pier', 'pir', 'pi', 'i'] 9
['stamineal', 'staminal', 'stamina', 'stamin', 'stain', 'tain', 'tin', 'in', 'i'] 9
['triangler', 'triangle', 'tringle', 'ringle', 'ringe', 'rine', 'rie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['abranchial', 'branchial', 'branchia', 'branchi', 'branch', 'ranch', 'rach', 'ach', 'ah', 'a'] 10
['shallowly', 'shallowy', 'sallowy', 'sallow', 'allow', 'alow', 'alo', 'al', 'a'] 9
['swindlery', 'swindler', 'swindle', 'sindle', 'sidle', 'idle', 'ide', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['springily', 'springly', 'springy', 'spring', 'sprig', 'prig', 'pig', 'pi', 'i'] 9
['untwilled', 'untilled', 'untiled', 'untile', 'utile', 'tile', 'tie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['tridental', 'triental', 'trental', 'rental', 'renal', 'real', 'rea', 'ea', 'a'] 9
['floriated', 'floriate', 'florate', 'lorate', 'orate', 'rate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['haughtily', 'haughtly', 'haughty', 'haught', 'aught', 'augh', 'auh', 'ah', 'a'] 9
['unparching', 'uparching', 'parching', 'arching', 'aching', 'ching', 'hing', 'ing', 'in', 'i'] 10
['remigrate', 'emigrate', 'migrate', 'mirate', 'irate', 'rate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['astringer', 'stringer', 'stinger', 'tinger', 'tiger', 'tier', 'tie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['teacherly', 'teachery', 'teacher', 'teache', 'tache', 'ache', 'ace', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['tricksily', 'trickily', 'trickly', 'tickly', 'ticky', 'tick', 'tic', 'ti', 'i'] 9
['coronaled', 'coronale', 'coronae', 'corona', 'coroa', 'cora', 'ora', 'ra', 'a'] 9
['pearlfish', 'pearlish', 'parlish', 'palish', 'alish', 'lish', 'lis', 'is', 'i'] 9
['branchiae', 'branchia', 'branchi', 'branch', 'ranch', 'rach', 'ach', 'ah', 'a'] 9
['branchial', 'branchia', 'branchi', 'branch', 'ranch', 'rach', 'ach', 'ah', 'a'] 9
['strapping', 'trapping', 'rapping', 'raping', 'aping', 'ping', 'ing', 'in', 'i'] 9
['camphoryl', 'camphory', 'camphor', 'campho', 'campo', 'camp', 'cap', 'ca', 'a'] 9
['ministrer', 'minister', 'minster', 'minter', 'miner', 'mine', 'min', 'in', 'i'] 9
['bannister', 'banister', 'baister', 'bister', 'biter', 'bite', 'bit', 'it', 'i'] 9
['triangled', 'triangle', 'tringle', 'ringle', 'ringe', 'rine', 'rie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['camphoroyl', 'camphoryl', 'camphory', 'camphor', 'campho', 'campo', 'camp', 'cap', 'ca', 'a'] 10
['separable', 'sparable', 'parable', 'parale', 'parle', 'pale', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['branchiate', 'branchiae', 'branchia', 'branchi', 'branch', 'ranch', 'rach', 'ach', 'ah', 'a'] 10
['coronated', 'coronate', 'coronae', 'corona', 'coroa', 'cora', 'ora', 'ra', 'a'] 9
['startling', 'starling', 'staring', 'string', 'sting', 'ting', 'ing', 'in', 'i'] 9
['teaseller', 'teaseler', 'teasler', 'teaser', 'easer', 'ease', 'ase', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['macerater', 'macerate', 'acerate', 'cerate', 'crate', 'rate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['sheathery', 'heathery', 'heather', 'heater', 'hater', 'hate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['spareable', 'sparable', 'parable', 'parale', 'parle', 'pale', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['strickler', 'stickler', 'tickler', 'ticker', 'ticer', 'tier', 'tie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['sparingly', 'springly', 'springy', 'spring', 'sprig', 'prig', 'pig', 'pi', 'i'] 9
['laminated', 'laminate', 'laminae', 'lamina', 'lamia', 'lama', 'ama', 'ma', 'a'] 9
['sparkling', 'sparling', 'sparing', 'spring', 'sprig', 'prig', 'pig', 'pi', 'i'] 9
['slightily', 'slightly', 'sightly', 'sighty', 'sight', 'sigh', 'sig', 'si', 'i'] 9
['expalpate', 'epalpate', 'palpate', 'palate', 'alate', 'late', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 9
['strippler', 'trippler', 'rippler', 'ripper', 'riper', 'rier', 'rie', 'ie', 'i'] 9
['abranchiate', 'branchiate', 'branchiae', 'branchia', 'branchi', 'branch', 'ranch', 'rach', 'ach', 'ah', 'a'] 11
["restraint's", 'restraints', 'restrains', 'retrains', 'retains', 'retain', 'retin', 'rein', 'rin', 'in', 'i'] 11
['emasculates', 'emasculate', 'masculate', 'maculate', 'maculae', 'macule', 'macle', 'acle', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 11
['emasculated', 'emasculate', 'masculate', 'maculate', 'maculae', 'macule', 'macle', 'acle', 'ale', 'ae', 'a'] 11
['compositing', 'composting', 'composing', 'compoing', 'comping', 'coping', 'oping', 'ping', 'ing', 'in', 'i'] 11
['preplanting', 'replanting', 'replating', 'relating', 'elating', 'eating', 'ating', 'ting', 'ing', 'in', 'i'] 11
['predeprived', 'prederived', 'prederive', 'predrive', 'redrive', 'redive', 'reive', 'rive', 'ive', 'ie', 'i'] 11
['sparklingly', 'sparkingly', 'sparingly', 'springly', 'springy', 'spring', 'sprig', 'prig', 'pig', 'pi', 'i'] 11
['reemigrated', 'remigrated', 'emigrated', 'migrated', 'migrate', 'mirate', 'irate', 'rate', 'ate', 'ae', 'a'] 11

Originally posted by chess kid1
Name one 9-letter word, in which, when a letter is removed each time, forms another word.

stringier
remove one r, and the word becomes: stingier
remove one i, and the word becomes: stinger
remove the t, and the word becomes: singer
remove the other r, and the word becomes: singe
remove the g, and the word becomes: sine
remove the e, and the word becomes: sin
remove the s, and the word becomes: in
remove the n, and the word becomes: I

Originally posted by XanthosNZ
[b]continued:
['foraminated', 'foraminate', 'forminate', 'formiate', 'formate', 'format', 'forma', 'fora', 'ora', 'ra', 'a'] 11
['abranchiate', 'branchiate', 'branchiae', 'branchia', 'branchi', 'branch', 'ranch', 'rach', 'ach', 'ah', 'a'] 11
['carabiniere', 'carabinier', 'carabiner', 'carabine', 'arabine', 'arabin', 'arain', 'rain', 'ain', 'in', 'i'] 11
[ ...[text shortened]...

Found those all on your own, eh🙂

Originally posted by sonhouse
Found those all on your own, eh🙂

WOW! Good answers! I didn't expect that you guys would be so good at this riddle!

Originally posted by sonhouse
Found those all on your own, eh🙂

Take a dictionary. Remove all words that don't contain an I or an A (as only words containing those letters can have a 1 letter word in them). Now run an algorithm that picks a 9 letter word and then checks if any of the 8 letter words that it contains are in the dictionary. Now take any of those words that exist and check for 7 letter words it contains. Continue, stopping if at any point the word no longer contains an I or A.
Repeat for all 9 or longer letters in the dictionary.

Originally posted by XanthosNZ
Take a dictionary. Remove all words that don't contain an I or an A (as only words containing those letters can have a 1 letter word in them). Now run an algorithm that picks a 9 letter word and then checks if any of the 8 letter words that it contains are in the dictionary. Now take any of those words that exist and check for 7 letter words it contains. C ...[text shortened]... t the word no longer contains an I or A.
Repeat for all 9 or longer letters in the dictionary.

And that doesn't even count the older dictionaries. There are probably twice what your algo found!
Scanning them in would be a byitch though....