Quick Solution

This is a coding-decoding puzzle that uses a progressive shift cipher. First, we need to find the encoding rule from the example given, then reverse that rule to decode the target word.

1. Find the Encoding Pattern (FRIEND → GTLISJ)

Let's compare the alphabetical position of each letter in the original word and the coded word to find the pattern.

• F (6th letter) → G (7th letter) = Shifted by +1
• R (18th) → T (20th) = Shifted by +2
• I (9th) → L (12th) = Shifted by +3
• E (5th) → I (9th) = Shifted by +4
• N (14th) → S (19th) = Shifted by +5
• D (4th) → J (10th) = Shifted by +6

The rule is: to encode the Nth letter of a word, you shift its position in the alphabet forward by N places.

2. Decode the Word HWDVI

The question asks which word is coded *as* HWDVI, so we need to decode it. To decode, we apply the reverse rule: for the Nth letter of the coded word, we shift its position backward by N places.

• H (1st letter): H is the 8th letter. 8 - 1 = 7. The 7th letter is G.
• W (2nd letter): W is the 23rd letter. 23 - 2 = 21. The 21st letter is U.
• D (3rd letter): D is the 4th letter. 4 - 3 = 1. The 1st letter is A.
• V (4th letter): V is the 22nd letter. 22 - 4 = 18. The 18th letter is R.
• I (5th letter): I is the 9th letter. 9 - 5 = 4. The 4th letter is D.

Final Answer: The decoded word is GUARD.