NYT Dictionary

ARMY

/ˈɑɹ.mi/
NounAR-myar-my · 2 syllablesGrade 5

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

A large, highly organized military force, concerned mainly with ground (rather than air or naval) operations.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)rmos Proto-Italic *armosder. Latin arma Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin armō ▲ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Latin armātus Anglo-Norman armeebor. Middle English armee English army From (1386) Middle English armee, borrowed from Old French armee (cf. modern French armée), from Medieval Latin armāta (“armed force”), a noun taken from the past participle of Latin armāre (“to arm”), itself related to arma (“tools, arms”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- (“to join, fit together”). Doublet of armada. Displaced native Old English here and fierd.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

hosthereusakparraybattalionbatterybevybrigadebunch

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 9 recorded puzzles:

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