Folks,
The correct definition of HAPTEN is #11, "a small molecule which, combined with a carrier such as a protein, can elicit the production of antibodies which bind to it." (Phrasings vary among dictionaries.) I was concerned that the similarity to Mike Shefler's #5, "the active portion(s) of a protein or enzyme molecule," might elicit a rash of votes for the pair, and more so when Judy Madnick's 5-11 vote came in barely ten minutes after the list went out, but that didn't happen; D3 is not an unreasonable number.
The next deal goes to Tim Bourne, whose carriage platform for footpeople got two votes and he also got two for his 5-11 combo, for a total of four. Runners-up and traditional "winnahs" are the aforementioned Mike Shefler and Dan Widdis, with three natural points each.
Complete results:
1. [Entomology] a fertile male termite. From Naylor, S. who voted 5, *11*. Voted for by: None. Score: 2.
2. to occur unexpectedly or without warning. From Lodge, T. who voted 4, 9. Voted for by: None. Score: 0.
3. a particular clamp used to fasten metal bands. From Embler, D. who voted 7, 8. Voted for by: Keating, P.; Abell, T. Score: 2.
4. [Obs.] happenstance; an occurrence not expected. From Shepherdson, N. who did not vote. Voted for by: Lodge, T. Score: 1.
5. the active portion(s) of a protein or enzyme molecule. From Shefler, M. who did not vote. Voted for by: Naylor, S.; Madnick, J.; Bourne, T. Score: 3.
6. having recently spawned and thus being less desirable as food. From Madnick, J. who voted 5, *11*. Voted for by: None. Score: 2.
7. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] a cow house, dairy house, or cow pasture. From Widdis, D. who voted 8, 9. Voted for by: Embler, D.; Keating, P.; Abell, T. Score: 3.
8. a narrow platform at the rear of a carriage on which a footman rode. From Bourne, T. who voted 5, *11*. Voted for by: Embler, D.; Widdis, D. Score: 4.
9. perhaps [hap ‘chance, luck, lot’ + -(te)n, probably after often, variant of oft] From Keating, P. who voted 3, 7. Voted for by: Lodge, T.; Widdis, D. Score: 2.
10. the person responsible as captain of a ship or boat not big enough to have a full captain. From Barrs, J. who knew the word and disqualified himself. Voted for by: None. Score: 0.
11. a small molecule which, combined with a carrier such as a protein, can elicit the production of antibodies which bind to it. From Dictionary which could not vote. Voted for by: Naylor, S.; Madnick, J.; Bourne, T. Score: D3.
No definition from Abell, T. who voted 3, 7. Voted for by: N/A. Score: 0.
As a table:
It's all yours, Tim!
Efrem