c4countdown

Its always annoying when you know a word that ends in S that you assume to be a plural, but then you find out its not when you try and play what you thing is the singular of it in a game.

Such words include NOPALES, ATLANTES, BEESTINGS and COPPERAS.

Does anybody want to take on the challenge of compiling some sort of list?

I guess it would involve sifting through all words like GIANTESS and COPIOUS which clearly can't have the s taken off, so it could be incredibly tedious. Maybe if somebody used a computer programme to get the whole list of words of up to 9 letters with an s on the end which cant be taken off, we could split it into chunks and fish out the ones worth noting. Id be up for workign through a chunk.

Here's a shortlist of 746 candidates. I've eliminated most regular plurals, plus -NESS/-LESS/-OUS/-IS/-US words (and therefore we might have missed a few, but this should be enough to keep you amused for a while.)

ABDABS, ACHIMENES, ACKERS, ADENOIDS, ADIOS, ADMINISTRATRICES, AFTERPAINS, AFTERWARDS, AIRWAVES, ALAS, ALEWIVES, ALEXANDERS, ALIAS, ALMS, AMANUENSES, AMBONES, AMIDSHIPS, AMNIOCENTESES, ANABASES, ANACRUSES, ANALECTS, ANAMNESES, ANNATES, ANOPHELES, ANTITHESES, ANTITRADES, APICES, APODOSES, APONEUROSES, APOPHYSES, APOSIOPESES, APOTHEOSES, APPENDICES, APPETENCES, APROPOS, APSIDES, AQUAROBICS, ARRAS, ASBESTOS, ASCITES, ASPERGES, ASTRONAUTICS, ASTROPHYSICS, ATLANTES, ATLAS, AUROCHS, AVENS, AVGAS, AVIATRICES, AVIONICS, AVITAMINOSES, BABALAAS, BACKBLOCKS, BACKSTAIRS, BACKWOODS, BADDERLOCKS, BADLANDS, BANNS, BATHOS, BATTELS, BEDCLOTHES, BEESTINGS, BEEVES, BEJABBERS, BEJABERS, BELOWDECKS, BENTHOS, BETIMES, BIAS, BICEPS, BINDAAS, BINOCS, BIOACOUSTICS, BIOCOENOSES, BIOETHICS, BIOGAS, BIOMATHEMATICS, BIOMECHANICS, BIOPHYSICS, BIOSOLIDS, BIOSTATISTICS, BIOSYSTEMATICS, BITTS, BLUCHERS, BOEREWORS, BOLAS, BONKERS, BOONDOCKS, BOONIES, BOSSYBOOTS, BRANKS, BREADTHWAYS, BREEKS, BRISTOLS, BUCKYBALLS, BUMSTERS, BUTTERFINGERS, CACOETHES, CAHOOTS, CALAMARES, CALAMITES, CALCES, CALENDS, CALICES, CALYCES, CAMAS, CAMIKNICKERS, CANTHARIDES, CANVAS, CAPIAS, CARICES, CARIES, CARITAS, CARYOPSES, CASTANETS, CATACHRESES, CAUDICES, CENTAS, CENTREPINS, CEPHALOTHORACES, CERASTES, CERVICES, CHAMPERS, CHAOS, CHAPARAJOS, CHAPAREJOS, CHARAS, CHAUSSES, CHERVONETS, CHITTERLINGS, CHLAMYDOMONAS, CHLAMYS, CHLOROSES, CHROMODYNAMICS, CIRCS, CLAMDIGGERS, CLASPERS, COCCYGES, CODICES, COJONES, COLLYWOBBLES, COLORISERS, COMBINATORICS, COMEDONES, CONCOURS, CONGERIES, CONGRATS, CONTRETEMPS, COPPERAS, COREOPSES, CORNFLAKES, CORNROWS, CORPS, CORTICES, CORVES, COS, COSMOS, CRASES, CRENELLATIONS, CRIMINALISTICS, CRISES, CROSSBONES, CROSSTREES, CROSSWAYS, CRUCES, CRUDITES, CSARDAS, CULICES, CULOTTES, CYCLOPES, CYCLOPS, CZARDAS, DABBERLOCKS, DARBIES, DATACOMMS, DATACOMS, DEDANS, DEFINIENS, DEGAS, DEHORS, DERMATOMYCOSES, DERMATOPHYTOSES, DERMATOSES, DIABETES, DIAERESES, DIAKINESES, DIAPHYSES, DIATHESES, DICHLORVOS, DICKENS, DIDDUMS, DIEGESES, DOLDRUMS, DOLMADES, DOMINATRICES, DOWNSTAIRS, DRAWKNIVES, DREADLOCKS, DREGS, DROMOS, DRYAS, DRYLANDS, DUCES, DUXELLES, DWARVES, EARMUFFS, EAVES, ECCHYMOSES, EDGEWAYS, EIDOS, ELVES, EMBLEMENTS, EMPHASES, ENARTHROSES, ENDWAYS, ENTASES, ENTRAILS, ENTREMETS, ENTS, EPENTHESES, EPEXEGESES, EPHEMERIDES, EPIBENTHOS, EPIDIDYMIDES, EPIPHYSES, EQUES, EQUIPOLLENCIES, EQUITES, ERYSIPELAS, ESTOVERS, ETHNOLINGUISTICS, ETHOS, EXECUTRICES, EXEGESES, EXOPHTHALMOS, EXOSTOSES, EXPLANANS, EXPLICANS, EXTRADOS, EYAS, EYASSES, FACIES, FAECES, FAJITAS, FALSIES, FASCES, FAUCES, FELICITATIONS, FELLIES, FELLOES, FEOFFERS, FEZZES, FILS, FISHWIVES, FISTICUFFS, FIVESTONES, FLAMINES, FLESHPOTS, FLINDERS, FLYLEAVES, FOCUSSES, FOLKWAYS, FOLLES, FOMITES, FOOTLIGHTS, FORCEPS, FOREQUARTERS, FORNICES, FRACAS, FRIJOLES, FRONS, FYNBOS, GADZOOKS, GALLIGASKINS, GALLOWS, GAMADOELAS, GAS, GASSES, GASWORKS, GEAS, GENERATRICES, GEOPHYSICS, GEOPOLITICS, GIBLETS, GLANDERS, GLANS, GNASHERS, GOALWARDS, GOLDILOCKS, GOODWIVES, GOOSEBUMPS, GOUJONS, GRAMADOELAS, GRAVITAS, GUBBINS, GULES, HABDABS, HACHURES, HAEMODIALYSES, HALLUCES, HALVERS, HAMADRYAS, HANDKERCHIEVES, HARUSPICES, HEADSCARVES, HELICES, HEMIPENES, HENDIADYS, HEPATOPANCREAS, HINDQUARTERS, HIPPOCRAS, HOCUSSES, HOLS, HOMEOSES, HOMEOSTASES, HOMOEOSES, HOMOEOSTASES, HOOVES, HORNFELS, HOUSEWARES, HOUSEWIVES, HUSTINGS, HYDRAMNIOS, HYDROMECHANICS, HYPOPHYSES, HYPOSPADIAS, HYPOSTASES, HYPOTHESES, ICONOSTASES, ILIBERALISATIONS, IMPATIENS, INCUDES, INDICATRICES, INDICES, INFORMATICS, INNARDS, INTRADOS, ISOSCELES, JACKANAPES, JACKKNIVES, JANKERS, JEEPERS, JESSAMINES, JODHPURS, JONES, JOUGS, JUDAS, JUGGINS, KAIROS, KALENDS, KEFTEDES, KERATOSES, KERMES, KES, KIDSTAKES, KINESES, KINESICS, KNICKERS, KNICKS, KNIVES, KOUROS, KRANS, KUDOS, KYLIKES, LACHES, LAMPAS, LARYNGES, LATICES, LAWKS, LAZYBONES, LEASTWAYS, LENGTHWAYS, LENS, LENTIGINES, LEPTOKURTOSES, LEPTOMENINGES, LES, LIAS, LIPIDOSES, LIPOIDOSES, LISSES, LITAS, LITOTES, LITURGICS, LOAVES, LONGWAYS, LOPPERS, LUES, MAAS, MACADAMIZES, MADRAS, MALAPROPOS, MANTELSHELVES, MANTLESHELVES, MATERFAMILIAS, MATHEMATICS, MATRESFAMILIAS, MATTINS, MEASLES, MEBOS, MECHATRONICS, MECONOPSES, MEIOSES, MENINGES, MENSERVANTS, MENSES, MERINESSES, MESHUGAAS, MESOKURTOSES, METAMATHEMATICS, METASTASES, METATHESES, METEMPSYCHOSES, METHINKS, MICROPHYSICS, MICROSPECIES, MIDWIVES, MILLEFLEURS, MINISERIES, MITOSES, MOLASSES, MOLETRONICS, MONEYBAGS, MONIES, MONKEYSHINES, MONOPTEROS, MONS, MOONCALVES, MUCRONES, MUGGINS, MUMPS, MUNCHIES, MUNIMENTS, MURICES, MUSTACHIOS, MYCOSES, MYTHOS, NACHAS, NACHES, NADS, NAOS, NARES, NATES, NEMESES, NEOCORTICES, NEOTROPICS, NEUROBICS, NEUROHYPOPHYSES, NEUROSES, NEUTROPHILS, NIGHTCLOTHES, NINEPINS, NIVAS, NONPLUSSES, NOUGHTIES, NOWADAYS, NUMBLES, OASES, OBLIETJIES, OBSEQUIES, OECONOMICS, OFFSCOURINGS, OFTENTIMES, OMPHALOS, OODLES, OOPS, OPISTHOTONOS, OPPONENS, OROPHARYNGES, ORTHOSES, ORTS, OS, OUBAAS, OUENS, OUROBOROS, OURSELVES, OUTGAS, OUTSKIRTS, OVERTROUSERS, OVOTESTES, PADKOS, PAMPAS, PAMPELMOES, PANCREAS, PANTALETTES, PANTIES, PAPERKNIVES, PARABASES, PARACENTESES, PARADOS, PARAGENESES, PARAPHYSES, PARENTHESES, PATAPHYSICS, PATERFAMILIAS, PATHOS, PATRESFAMILIAS, PEDES, PELVES, PENATES, PENKNIVES, PEPLOS, PERHAPS, PERIAPSES, PERIODONTICS, PERIPHRASES, PES, PETROPHYSICS, PHARMACEUTICS, PHAROS, PHARYNGES, PHIZZES, PHOLAS, PHOTOTAXES, PHRAGMITES, PHYSIATRICS, PILLIWINKS, PITHOS, PLAUDITS, PLEXIGLAS, PLIERS, PLUSSES, POCKETKNIVES, POLLICES, POLYUNSATURATES, PONS, PONTIFICES, POTJIEKOS, POUNCERS, PREGGERS, PRINTWORKS, PROBOSCES, PROBOSCIDES, PROCONSOLSHIPS, PROFERENS, PROFERENTES, PROGNOSES, PROLEPSES, PRONAOS, PROSTHESES, PROSTHODONTICS, PROTASES, PROTHESES, PROTOCERATOPS, PROXEMICS, PSEUDOMONAS, PSEUDORABIES, PSOAS, PSYCHONEUROSES, PSYCHOPHYSICS, PSYCHOPOMPOS, PUDDYSTICKS, QUADRICEPS, QUIZZES, RACHIDES, RADICES, RADIONICS, RAMBURAS, RAMSONS, RATLINES, RECTRICES, REHOLSTERS, REMIGES, RENOSTERBOS, RENVERS, REREDOS, REVERS, RHENOSTERBOS, RHINOCEROS, RICKETS, RILLETTES, RINGHALS, RINKHALS, ROMPERS, ROOIBOS, ROOIGRAS, ROOVES, SALOPETTES, SAROS, SASSAFRAS, SAWBONES, SCABIES, SCABLANDS, SCARVES, SCHNAPPS, SCHOOLDAYS, SCOLICES, SECATEURS, SELVES, SENTIENCIES, SEPS, SERIES, SHAIKHDOMS, SHAYKHDOMS, SHELDRAKES, SHELLACKS, SHENANIGANS, SIDEWAYS, SIEMENS, SKIAGRAPHS, SKUNKWORKS, SLYBOOTS, SMALLGOODS, SMITHEREENS, SMITHERS, SOAPSUDS, SOBERSIDES, SOLMISATES, SOROSES, SPADICES, SPAEWIVES, SPARAGMOS, SPONDULICKS, SPRINGHAAS, SQUITTERS, SQUIZZES, STAPES, STEENBRAS, STEMMATICS, STERNSHEETS, STERNWARDS, STEUPS, STIPITES, STOVIES, STRANDWOLVES, STYLOPS, SUBSPECIES, SUBTROPICS, SUDS, SUNDROPS, SUNGLASSES, SUPERFICIES, SUPERHELICES, SUPERSPECIES, SWEATPANTS, SYLLEPSES, SYMBIOSES, SYMPHYSES, SYNARTHROSES, SYNCHONDROSES, SYNDESMOSES, SYNECTICS, SYNERESES, SYNGAS, SYNOPSES, SYNOSTOSES, SYNTHESES, TAGETES, TALIPES, TARRAS, TATTERS, TECTONOPHYSICS, TECTRICES, TELECOMMS, TELESALES, TELOS, TEMENOS, TENNIES, TERES, TESTATRICES, TESTUDINES, THEIRSELVES, THEMSELVES, THOLOS, THORACES, THROES, TINSNIPS, TMESES, TOILETRIES, TORTRICES, TOTSIENS, TOURNEDOS, TRACKPANTS, TRACTRICES, TRANS, TRAVERS, TREWS, TRICEPS, TRICERATOPS, TRIPOS, TROLLIES, TSIMMES, TSORES, TURPS, TURVES, TWEEZERS, TWINKLETOES, TYMPANITES, TZIMMES, UMBONES, UNDERCLOTHES, UNDERCRACKERS, UNDERLIVES, UNDERPANTS, UNDERSHORTS, UNDERSTAIRS, UNDERTHINGS, UNGUES, UPAS, URBS, URINALYSES, UROBOROS, VANITAS, VARICES, VAS, VASCULITIDES, VEGGES, VENETIANS, VERGLAS, VERTICES, VICTRICES, VIDEOGRAPHICS, VITTLES, VIVERS, VOETSTOOTS, VORTICES, WALKIES, WAS, WATERWORKS, WEEJUNS, WELS, WEREWOLVES, WHARVES, WHEREABOUTS, WHEREAS, WIDDERSHINS, WIDTHWAYS, WISSES, WITBLITS, WITHERSHINS, WIVES, WIZZES, WOLVES, WORRYGUTS, WORS, YELLOWLEGS, YESSES, YIKES, YOICKS, YONKS, YOURSELVES, YUSSES, ZOONOSES, ZOUAVES, ZOUNDS.

Nice one, I'll try and sort them out into piles sorted by length.

Will try and sort them into a more palatable form and maybe get a wiki page out of it. But when i have the time.

JackHurst wrote:Nice one, I'll try and sort them out into piles sorted by length.

Will try and sort them into a more palatable form and maybe get a wiki page out of it. But when i have the time.

I wouldn't bother sorting by length, although it might be useful to split the 10+ words into a separate section.

Aside from splitting the 10+ off, something tells me the best way to sort them, if at all, would be suffixes.

Alternatively you could split them into regular plurals with no singular (BEESTINGS), irregular plurals (NOPALES) and words which might be confused for plurals (BICEPS).

JackHurst wrote:Nice one

Yeah, sick.