Side-search is Lexifind's ability to find words that can be played on a game board or crossword puzzle to form additional words (known as "crosses") at right angles to their own orientation. This is important in Scrabble ®, Literati ™, Lexulous  and other word games for which it is advantageous to make multiple words during a single play. It also can be used to narrow down the list of words that might fit a space on a crossword puzzle.

Consider the following game board fragment:

When the horizontal word SERIF above was played, it formed two additional, vertical words: RAMP and IT. Side-search gives Lexifind the ability to find words, like SERIF in the diagram above, that can be played in the presence of pre-existing letters on adjacent rows, like the AMP and the T of that same diagram.

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