It does recurse through all 8-letter combos, but short-circuits at each level if the combination so far cannot be derived from the dictionary supplied. 

        next unless exists $tree->{ $_ };

[download]

If the letter combination for your 'eehnortw' existed in the dictionary, it would be found very quickly: 

[17:25:23.81] C:\test>type hdb.dict
exactest
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
ten
torewhen

[17:25:47.91] C:\test>1056884-calc hdb.dict
0.00380706787109375

[5] eehnortw : torewhen three one two ten
[1] aceesttx : exactest

[download]

Comment out the short-circuit and it will consider all 8-letter possibilities .. and run more slowly.

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

In reply to Re^3: Challenge: 8 Letters, Most Words (2of12int.txt in 20^H^H 10 secs; Pure Perl) by BrowserUk
in thread Challenge: 8 Letters, Most Words by Limbic~Region

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