NYT Dictionary

BURY

/ˈbeɹi/
VerbNounBUR-ybur-y · 2 syllablesGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2024

Meaning

To ritualistically inter in a grave or tomb.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *burgijaną Proto-West Germanic *burgijan Old English byrġan Middle English birien English bury Middle English birien, berien, from Old English byrġan, from Proto-West Germanic *burgijan, from Proto-Germanic *burgijaną (“to keep safe”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʰ- (“to defend, protect”). Cognate with Icelandic byrgja (“to cover, shut; to hold in”); West Frisian bergje (“to keep”), German bergen (“to save/rescue something”), Danish bjerge (“to save/rescue something or somebody”); also Eastern Lithuanian bir̃ginti (“to save, spare”), Russian бере́чь (beréčʹ, “to spare”), Ossetian ӕмбӕрзын (æmbærzyn, “to cover”). The spelling with ⟨u⟩ represents the pronunciation of the West Midland and Southern dialects, while the Modern English pronunciation with /ɛ/ is from the Kentish dialects. Compare typologically Russian хорони́ть (xoronítʹ) (akin to храни́ть (xranítʹ)), Polish chować.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

inurnentombinhumeinterimmerseswallowsinkforgetbaptizebosom

Antonyms

remember

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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