The Meaning of M

Masterminds

CARTS (0,3)             APRON (0,0)   
CHRIS (0,1)             CALLS (2,1)   
CREDO (2,1)             CLOUT (2,1)   
DAZED (0,3)             COLBY (1,1)   
DEITY (0,3)             COLIC (1,1)   
ERASE (3,0)             COLON (1,1)   
FATED (0,4)             COMFY (1,0)   
FOLLY (0,0)             COULD (2,1)   
MAGES (0,2)             EGYPT (0,1)   
MILKS (0,0)             FUDGE (0,2)   
MODEL (0,2)             GLOOM (1,0)   
REEDY (1,2)             HELIX (0,2)   
SNARE (2,1)             KNOTS (1,0)   
_(1)_ (5,0)             LYRIC (0,2)   
                        MELEE (1,1)   
                        MOUND (1,0)   
                        PASTA (0,1)   
                        PODGY (0,0)   
                        QUAIL (0,2)   
                        ROOMY (0,0)   
                        TUBBY (0,1)   
                        ZOEAS (1,1)   
                        _(2)_ (5,0)

Hmm, good idea!

APRON (*,*)             CARTS (*,*)                              
CALLS (*,*)             CHRIS (*,*)                    
CLOUT (*,*)             CREDO (*,*)                     
COLBY (*,*)             DAZED (*,*)                     
COLIC (*,*)             DEITY (*,*)                     
COLON (*,*)             ERASE (*,*)                     
COMFY (*,*)             FATED (*,*)      
COULD (*,*)             FOLLY (*,*)      
EGYPT (*,*)             MAGES (*,*)      
FUDGE (*,*)             MILKS (*,*)      
GLOOM (*,*)             MODEL (*,*)      
HELIX (*,*)             REEDY (*,*)      
KNOTS (*,*)             SNARE (*,*)      
LYRIC (*,*)             _(2)_ (5,0) (0,0)
MELEE (*,*)                
MOUND (*,*)                
PASTA (*,*)                
PODGY (*,*)                
QUAIL (*,*)                
ROOMY (*,*)                
TUBBY (*,*)                
ZOEAS (*,*)                
_(1)_ (5,0) (0,2)