Word Sweep

A fun part of preparing for our family Christmas exchange is trying to figure out which game I might buy my parents or my brother and sister-in-law. I don't buy each one a board game every year. Nor do I receive one. But, I can't remember a year when at least one of us didn't receive a new game.

This year, I was intrigued by many, but I have finally purchased one. (More details on that later.) Another game that interested me, however, is Word Sweep. The idea? Read three definitions taken from the Merriam-Webster's dictionary. The players must identify the three consecutive (usually root) words from the dictionary that match the definitions. And, the game provides boxes of clues in 3 levels of difficulty.

Here are the puzzles from the sample card on the game web site:
1) a long upholstered seat usually with a back and arms
2) not hard, solid, or firm
3) a game like baseball played with a larger ball

The answers
1) sofa
2) soft
3) softball

This seemed like a lot of fun, so I thought I would list a few combinations here. Some simple and some a little more difficult. Feel free to submit your answers or guesses. If you like this sort of thing, you might want to consider Word Sweep for your family (if you don't already have it!) I'll post the answers in the comments section or a new post at the beginning of next week, but I'm sure they will be answered correctly before then.

First Sweep
To emit breath or vapor
To consume entirely
To submit (as a document) to a court or office in course of proceedings

Second Sweep
A theatrical art form using dancing, music and scenery to convey a story
A non-porous bag of tough light material filled with heated air or gas
A sheet of paper used to cast a secret vote

Third Sweep
An amorphous brittle brown and somewhat bitter substance obtained by heating sugar
A small weight
A company of travelers on a journey through the desert or hostile regions

Fourth Sweep
A sudden notable gain or profit
One who spoils the pleasures of others
An oven, furnace, or heated enclosure used for processing a substance by burning, firing or drying

Fifth Sweep
A work done with extraordinary skill
The printed matter in a newspaper including the title, ownership, date, etc.
A breed of very large powerful smooth coated dogs, often used as guard dogs

Sixth Sweep
A person through whom a deity is believed to speak
A berry with a yellowish to reddish rind and sweet edible pulp
A largely herbivorous arboreal anthropoid ape of Borneo and Sumatra with long sparse reddish brown hair

Seventh Sweep
To present an obstacle to
Tending to check bleeding
Smoothly though often superficially gracious and sophisticated

Eighth Sweep
To make possible, practical, or easy
To cover, inlay, or decorate with metal
To inflame with love

OK. Maybe these aren't difficult at all. But, maybe they will provide a little fun for your day. Mom, with your crossword puzzle skills, you should be great at these!