Middle Word answer for October 31, 2026

The answer is LEMON, the five-letter name of a yellow citrus fruit with sour juice. Its alphabetical position falls between JADE and MARSH: L comes after J and before M, so the opening letters already establish that it fits the supplied interval. The fruit clue helps identify the word, but meaning does not determine the order used by the puzzle.

Choose guesses inside the current bounds and replace the appropriate boundary after each result. The feedback concerns the number of dictionary entries separating a guess from the target, rather than the number of letters that differ or the similarity of their meanings. Once guesses narrow the interval to words beginning with L, compare their later letters from left to right. Checking the complete spelling prevents a plausible fruit name outside the interval from wasting a guess. October 31 is puzzle 139 when June 15, 2026 is counted as day one.