There are a number of what might be called “chaperoned words” in the English language. By this I mean words that typically do not appear unless they are alongside a specific word (where this companion word is not itself a chaperoned word).

Two examples would be “extenuating” and “ulterior,” which are almost always chaperoned by “circumstances” and “motive(s),” respectively.

Can you think of any other examples of chaperoned words? Can you find examples of chaperoned words without their typical companions? And is there a technical term for these words?