Play the Clue Detective “Quintain” Game

One of the wonderful things about the English language is that short words can be found hiding in longer words, and often they bear no relation whatsoever.  It has given us an idea for a new Clue Detective word building game.  We have called it Quintain. 

What is a quintain?

You may be thinking this is a strange name, but you know, we are always on the lookout for new words at the Clue Detective, and we were delighted when we found this one.  It was perfect fit.

 A quintain is an object mounted on a post or attached to a movable crossbar mounted on a post, used as a target in the medieval sport of tilting/jousting.  Source: Dictionary.com.  

Playing this sort of word building game helps our vocabulary thinking, concentration and attention skills.  Best of all, anybody can do it.  You can start small, and the more you practise the more proficient you become.

These types of word games are not new, we are simply adapting and putting our own stamp on it.  A Quintain game merely consists of an interesting, multi-syllabic word to play with. Your challenge is to find as many words within the word, and see if you can hit the quintain/bullseye.   In reality the quintain is the knight’s protective shield, see above.

There are some basic rules:

• Each player takes a turn in selecting a sesquipedalian word (a long word with a large number of syllables) and a quintain (target number of words).  For example CINEMATOGRAPHY and 25.  You can make the quintain as easy or as challenging as you like.
• Gather your friends, paper and pencils
• Sit down and relax and set a timer for 10 minutes
• The player with the highest number of words wins.  But technically, everyone’s a winner because each person will have some different words to share, and that way everyone increases their vocabulary!
  
  Remember:
• Words have to have four letters or more
• No proper nouns
• No plurals

So put on your suit of armour, pick up your lance and challenge a friend to a game of Clue Detective Quintain!

We would love for you to share the words you have used.  Let us know, and we include them in a forthcoming codeword!

Good luck, and happy word building!

Send us your words!