A work in progress, begun 24 July 2019

If you are a keen Scrabble player, you may already know that the 7 letters that produce most anagrams in English are AEINRST. They form the word “Retains”, and all of the following words, which are acceptable in the game of Scrabble here in the UK: Anestri, Antsier, Nastier, Ratines, Resiant, Retinas, Retsina, Stainer, Starnie and Stearin.

In addition, you can use the 7 letters in Retains (Retsina, Nastier, Antsier and so on) to form 8-letter words with 21 different letters of the alphabet (every letter except Q, V, X, Y and Z). I wrote about them in this piece in 2016, and listed the following examples of 8-letter words formed with “Retains +1 letter”: Artesian, Banister, Canister, Strained, Trainees, Fenitars, Granites, Hairnets, Inertias, Nartjies, Keratins, Latrines, Minarets, Trannies, Notaries, Painters, Retrains, Stainers, Nitrates, Urinates and Tinwares.

Every now and then I work out or discover a 9-letter word that can be made from “Retains + 2 letters”. For example, adding “G” and “L” allows you to create Gnarliest, Integrals, Reslating and Triangles. The aim of this piece is to create a full list of all 9-letter words that can be created from “Retains + 2 letters”. If such a list exists elsewhere on the web, I haven’t been able to find it. All of the words that follow are acceptable Scrabble words according to my “Franklin Scrabble Master” portable device, purchased around 2003.

9-letter words formed from Retains + 2 letters

AA: None [Artesian, 8 letters, is the longest that uses both “A”s]
AB: Abstainer, Rabatines
AC: Ascertain, Sectarian
AD: Dentarias, Raindates, Steradian
AE: Arseniate
AF: None [Fenitars, 8 letters, is the longest]
AG: None [Angriest, Granites, 8 letters are examples of the longest]
AH: Rhatanies
AI: None [Inertias, 8 letters, is the longest]
AJ: None [Naartjes, Nartjies, 8 letters, are the longest that use “J”]
AK: None [Keratins, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “K”]
AL: None [Latrines, Entrails, 8 letters are examples of the longest]
AM: Animaters, Marinates
AN: None [Entrains, Trannies, 8 letters, are the longest that use both “N”s]
AO: Aerations
AP: Septarian
AQ: None [Qintars, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “Q”]
AR: None [Restrains, Trainers, 8 letters are examples of the longest]
AS: Resinatas
AT: Reattains
AU: Estuarian
AV: None [Tavernas, Tsarevna, Variants, 8 letters are the longest that use “V”]
AW: None [Tinwares, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “W”]
AX: None [Ataxies, Xerasia, 7 letters, are the longest that use “X”]
AY: None [Sanitary, 8 letters, is the longest that uses Y]
AZ: Atrazines

BA: Abstainer, Rabatines
BB: None [Babiest, Stabber and several others, 7 letters, are the longest that use both “B”s]
BC: None [Cabinets, Carbines, 8 letters, are the longest that use “B” and “C”]
BD: None [Antbirds, Bandies and several others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “B” and “D”]
BE: None [Betaines, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “B” and the other “E”]
BF: None [Fibster, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “B” and “F”]
BG: Breasting
BH: None [Absinthe, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “B” and “H”]
BI: Brainiest
BJ: None [Basenji, Bejants, 7 letters, are the longest that use “B” and “J”]
BK: Brankiest
BL: None [Brantles, Instable and several others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “B” and “L”]
BM: Tribesman
BN: Bannister, Branniest
BO: Baritones, Obtainers
BP: Breastpin, Stepbairn
BQ: None [Qintars, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “Q”]
BR: None [Arbiters, Rarebits, 8 letters, are the longest that use “B” and the other “R”]
BS: Banisters
BT: None [Birettas, Bitterns, Tabinets, 8 letters, are the longest that use “B” and the other “T”]
BU: Braunites, Urbanites
BV: None [Vibrates, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “B” and “V”]
BW: Brawniest
BX: None [Baxters, Braxies, 7 letters, are the longest that use “B” and “X”]
BY: None [Bestiary, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “B” and “Y”]
BZ: None [Zebrinas, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “B” and “Z”]

CA: Ascertain, Sectarian
CB: None [Cabinets, Carbines, 8 letters, are the longest that use “B” and “C”]
CC: None [Accents, Creatic and several others, 7 letters, are the longest that use both “C”s]
CD: Dicentras, Rancidest
CE: Centiares, Cisternae, Creatines, Encraties, Iterances, Nectaries
CF: None [Cantrefs, Fanciers and several others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “C” and “F”]
CG: Caterings, Citranges, Recasting
CH: Chantries, Snatchier
CI: None [Citrines, Inciters and others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “C” and the other “I”]
CJ: None [Injects, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “C” and “J”]
CK: Crankiest
CL: Clarinets, Larcenist
CM: Miscreant
CN: None [Ancients, Canniest, Crannies, 8 letters, are the longest that use “C” and the other “N”]
CO: Actioners, Anoretics, Creations, Narcotise, Reactions
CP: None [Cantrips, Crapiest, Practise and others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “C” and the “P”]
CQ: None [Qintars, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “Q”]
CR: None [Erratics, 8 letters, is the only one that uses “C” and the other “R”]
CS: Canisters, Scenarist
CT: Interacts
CU: Securitan, Truancies
CV: Navicerts
CW: None [Twicers, Twiscar, Wincers, 7 letters, are the longest that use “C” and “W”]
CX: None [Xerantic, 8 letters, is the longest]
CY: Insectary
CZ: None [Craziest, 8 letters, is the longest]

DA: Dentarias, Raindates, Steradian
DB: BD: None [Antbirds, Bandies and several others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “B” and “D”]
DC: Dicentras, Rancidest
DD: None [Dandiest, 8 letters, is the longest that uses both “D”s]
DE: Dentaries, Detainers
DF: None [Friandes and Indrafts, 8 letters, are the longest that use “D” and “F”]
DG: Astringed, Deratings, Gradients, Treadings
DH: Interdash, Tarnished
DI: None [Adiniti, Daintier, Disinter and several others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “D” and the other “I”]
DJ: None [Jerids, 6 letters, is the longest that uses “D” and “J”]
DK: None [Stinkard and Straiked, 8 letters, are the longest that use “D” and “D”]
DL: None [Dilaters, Lardiest and several others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “D” and “L”]
DM: None [Mardiest, Readmits and several others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “D” and “M”]
DN: None [Insnared, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “D” and the other “N”]
DO: Derations, Notarised, Ordinates
DP: Dipterans
DQ: None [Qindars, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “D” and “Q”]
DR: Instarred
DS: Tardiness
DT: Transited
DU: Daturines, Indurates
DV: None [Deviants, Invaders and Sandiver, 8 letters, are the longest that use “D” and “M”]
DW: None [Tawdries, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “D” and “W”]
DX: None [Dextrans, Dextrins, 8 letters, are the longest that use “D” and “X”]
DY: None [Desyatin, Synedria, 8 letters, are the longest that use “D” and “Y”]
DZ: None [Zanders, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “D” and “Z”]
EA: Arseniate
EB: None [Betaines, 8 letters, is the longest that uses the second “E” and “B”]
EC: Centiares, Cisternae, Creatines, Encraties, Iterances, Nectaries
ED: Dentaries, Detainers
EE: None [Eateries, Eternise, Serenate, Teensier, 8 letters, are the longest that use all three “E”s]
EF: None [Fastener, Fenestra, Ferniest, 8 letters, are the longest that use both “E”s and “F”]
EG: Reseating, Stingaree
EH: Atherines
EI: Erinites, Niteries
EJ: None [Serjeant, 8 letters, is the longest that uses both “E”s and “J”]
EK: Ankerites, Kreatines
EL: Elaterins, Entailers, Treenails
EM: None [Emirates, Matinees, Reamiest and others, 8 letters, are the longest that use both “E”s and “M”]
EN: Tanneries
EO: None [Etaerios, Resonate, Rosinate, Serotine, 8 letters, are the longest that use both “E”s and “O”]
EP: Aperients, Episterna, Pistareen, Sparteine
EQ: None [Qintars, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “Q”]
ER: Retainers, Ternaries
ES: Arsenites, Resinates, Stearines
ET: Reinstate
EU: Estuarine
EV: Invertase
EW: None [Sweatier, Taweries, 8 letters, are the longest that use both “E”s and “W”]
EX: None [Intersex, 8 letters, is the longest that uses both “E”s and “X”]
EY: None [Eyestrain, 8 letters, is the longest that uses both “E”s and “Y”]
EZ: None [Zestier, 7 letters, is the longest that uses both “E”s and “Z”]

FA: None [Fenitars, 8 letters, is the longest]
FB: [Fibster, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “F” and “B”]
FC: None [Cantrefs, Fanciers and several others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and “C”]
FD: None [Friandes and Indrafts, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and “D”]
FE: None [Fastener, Fenestra, Ferniest, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and both “E”s]
FF: None [Affines, Niffers and others, 7 letters, are the longest that use both “F”s]
FG: Afterings
FH: None [Fathers, Shafter, Shifter, 7 letters, are the longest that use “F” and H]
FI: None [Fainites, Faintier, Ratifies, Sniftier, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and the other “I”]
FJ: None [Nartjies, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “J”]
FK: None [Ratfinks, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “F” and “K”]
FL: None [Flairest, Frailest, Inflates, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and “L”]
FM: None [Manifest, Raftsmen, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and “M”]
FN: None [Infantes, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “F” and the other “N”]
FO: None [Farinose, Seafront, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and “O”]
FP: None [Firepans, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “F” and “P”]
FQ: None [Qintars, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “Q”]
FR: None [Fratries, Refrains, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and the other “R”]
FS: None [Fairness, Sanserif, Serafins, Snifters, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and the other “S”]
FT: None [Faintest, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “F” and the other “T”]
FU: Unfairest
FV: None [Favest, Fivers, 6 letters, are the longest that uses “F” and “V”]
FW: None [Wastrife, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “F” and “W”]
FX: None [Tranfix, Xerafins, 8 letters, are the longest that use “F” and “X”]
FY: None [Fainty, Feisty, Ratify and more, 6 letters, are  the longest that use “F” and “Y”]
FZ: Franziest

GA: None [Angriest, Granites, 8 letters are examples of the longest]
GB: Breasting
GC: Caterings, Citranges, Recasting
GD: Astringed, Deratings, Gradients, Treadings
GE: Reseating, Stingaree
GF: Afterings
GG: Restaging
GH: Ingathers
GI: Giantries, Grainiest, Granitise, Seriating
GJ: None [Jesting, 7 letters, is the longest that contains “G” and “J”]
GK: Retakings, Streaking
GL: Gnarliest, Integrals, Reslating, Triangles
GM: Emigrants
GN: Gannister
GO: Orangiest
GP: Repasting, Taperings, Trapesing
GQ: None
GR: Arresting, Astringer, Serrating
GS: Asserting, Astringes, Ganisters
GT: Asterting, Restating, Treatings
GU: Gauntries, Signature
GV: Vintagers
GW: Wastering, Waterings
GX: None [Taxings, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “J” and “X”]
GY: Estraying
GZ: None [Agnizes, Agrizes, Gaziest, 7 letters, are the longest that use “G” and “Z”]

HA: Rhatanies
HB: None [Absinthe, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “B” and “H”]
HC: Chantries, Snatchier
HD: Interdash, Tarnished
HE: Atherines
HF: None [Fathers, Shafter, Shifter, 7 letters, are the longest that use “F” and H]
HG: Ingathers
HH: None [Hearths, Hithers, Harshen and others, 7 letters, are the longest that use both “H”s]
HI: None [Hairiest, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “H” and the other “I”]
HJ: None [Hejiras, 7 letters, is the longest that uses “H” and “J”]
HK:  None [Rethinks, Thankers, Thinkers, 8 letters, are the longest that use “H” and “J”]
HL: None [Enthrals, Inthrals, Inhalers, 8 letters, are the longest that use “H” and “L”]
HM: Mishanter
HN: None [Thinners, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “H” and the other “N”]
HO: None [Hoariest, Horniest, Trahison, 8 letters, are the longest that use “H” and “O”]
HP: Perianths
HQ: None
HR: Tarnisher
HS: Sharniest, Starshine, Tarnishes
HT: None [Hesitant, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “H” and the other “T”]
HU: None [Haunters, Thesauri, Unearths and others, 8 letters, are the longest that use “H” and “U”]
HV: None [Enravish, Vanisher, 8 letters, are the longest that use “H” and “V”]
HW: Tarwhines
HX: None [Narthex, Rhexis, 7 letters, are the longest that use “H” and “X”]
HY: None [Hysteria, Rhytinas, 8 letters, are the longest that use “H” and “Y”]
HZ: None [Zitherns, 8 letters, is the longest that uses “H” and “Z”]

[to be continued]