ANGARY

Meaning

The right of one belligerent (government) in a conflict to seize, use or destroy the property of another belligerent or neutral state, or the private citizens thereof, provided compensation is paid.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

From French angarie, from Late Latin angaria (“forced service”) from Ancient Greek ἀγγαρεία (angareía, “the office of a courier or messenger”), from ἄγγαρος (ángaros, “courier”), from Old Persian *𐎠𐎥𐎼𐎠 (*a-g-r-a /⁠*angarā⁠/, “missive, letter”), from Aramaic *𐡀𐡍‬𐡂𐡓‬𐡀 (*ʾn‬gr‬ʾ /⁠*ʾengarā⁠/), form of *𐡀𐡍‬𐡂𐡓‬𐡕𐡀 (*ʾn‬gr‬tʾ /⁠*ʾengartā⁠/), variant of 𐡀𐡂𐡓‬𐡕𐡀 (ʾgr‬tʾ /⁠ʾiggartā⁠/), 𐡀𐡍‬𐡂𐡓𐡕‬𐡀 (ʾn‬grt‬ʾ /⁠ʾengirtā⁠/, “missive, letter; contract”), from Akkadian 𒂊𒄈𒌅 (egirtu, “inscribed tablet; oracle of fate, ambiguous wording; contract, bound deal”), from 𒄃 (egēru, “to be difficult, to be twisted or locked together; to have a twisted tongue, to be unable to speak against an order”). See also Classical Syriac ܐܓܪܬܐ (ʾeggarṯā, “letter, document”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025.