From Alberta to Ontario One Letter at a Time Quiz

Answer: Ablate

By dropping the 'r' and anagramming, we get the word, 'ablate'.

The word dates from 15th century English, 'mechanical removal of something harmful from the body.' It came from Latin, 'ablationem', meaning 'a taking away'.

Answer: Bleat

By dropping an 'a' and anagramming, we get the word, 'bleat'.

The word comes from the Middle English 'bleten', from Old English 'blætan', from West Germanic 'bhle', of imitative origin.

Answer: Beta

By dropping the 'l' and anagramming, we get the word, 'beta'.

It comes from Greek and before that from the Hebrew/Phoenician, 'beth' meaning 'house'. As it is the second letter of the Greek alphabet, it has come to designate the second of anything, such as a beta male or beta testing.

Answer: Tea

By dropping the 'b' and anagramming, we get the word, 'tea'.

The word "tea" originates from the Chinese character 茶. The word entered English in approximately 1650 and was spelled as tay, tee, or tey, and pronounced to rhyme with 'day' at the time.

Answer: At

By dropping the 'e' and anagramming, we get the word, 'at'.

The word comes from the the Old English 'aet' meaning 'at, near, by, toward', and is derived from the Proto-Germanic, 'at'.

Answer: Ant

By adding an 'n' and anagramming, we get the word, 'ant'.

The word comes from the 15th century shortening of the Middle English, 'ampte', from Old English æmette, meaning 'ant', from West Germanic 'emaitjon' meaning, 'off, away' + 'cut'. Thus the insect's name is, etymologically, "the biter-off."

Answer: Tarn

By adding an 'r' and anagramming, we get the word, 'tarn'.

A tarn is a small mountain lake. It comes from the Old Norse 'tjörn', meaning, 'small mountain lake with no visible feeders'. It came to English in the 14th century, from 'terne' meaning, 'small lake, pool, or pond'.

Answer: Train

By adding an 'i' and anagramming, we get the word, 'train'.

The word, 'train' comes from Latin, 'trahere', meaning 'pull, draw'. It moved into Old French, 'trainer', 'to pull, drag, draw' and then into Middle English, train'. The word originally meant 'a trailing part of a robe', and a 'retinue'. The latter giving rise to the notion of a 'line of travelling people or vehicles'.

Answer: Ration

By adding an 'o' and anagramming, we get the word, 'ration'.

The word comes from Latin, 'ratiōn' meaning, 'calculation, reckoning, or reason'. It entered English via French in the 16th century meaning 'a fixed, calculated allowance of food, particularly in military contexts'.

Answer: Ontario

By adding another 'o' and anagramming, we get the final word, 'Ontario'.

It comes from an Iroquoian word, possibly, 'kanadario'' or 'Ontarí:io'
meaning 'beautiful lake' or 'sparkling water', referring to Lake Ontario. The word was first used in 1641 to describe the land around the Great Lakes and then came to mean the province itself.