Words starting with A, then A, then N, then C, ending in E
37 words fit this spine. They're all listed below. They start with A, end with E, and contain A then N then C in that order in between — not necessarily side by side.
Near misses
- aardvark doesn't fit: it starts with A but ends with K, not E.
- ablaze doesn't fit: it has the right ends but no N in the middle.
- accountable doesn't fit: it has every letter of AANCE but they don't appear in order inside it.
7-letter words
advance, askance
8-letter words
abeyance, abidance, acutance, adamance, affiance, alliance, ambiance
9-letter words
aberrance, abundance, allowance, ambulance, annoyance, appliance, arrogance, assonance, assurance, avalanche, avoidance
10-letter words
absorbance, acceptance, accordance, admittance, affirmance, allegiance, appearance, ascendance, assistance, attendance
11-letter words
absorptance, acquittance, ambivalence, attractance
12-letter words
acquaintance, agranulocyte, appurtenance
Where this pattern came from
Try today's puzzle
Every word above follows this rule — see if you can find them under a clock.
How the rule works