NYT Dictionary

ASSESS

/əˈses/
Verbas-SESSas-sess · 2 syllablesGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2026

Meaning

To determine, estimate or judge the value of; to evaluate; to estimate.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *sed- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *sedéh₁yeti Proto-Italic *sedēō Latin sedeō Latin assideō Latin assessus Medieval Latin assessareder. Old French assesserbor. Middle English assessen English assess From Middle English assessen, from Old French assesser, from Medieval Latin assessare, originally the frequentative of Latin assessus, past participle of assidēre, from ad (“to, towards, at”) + sedeō (“sit; settle down”). Cognate with Spanish asentar (“to settle”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

esteemratevalueappraiseappriseapprizeassessevaluatejudgeprice

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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