Meaning
An additive secondary colour midway between green and blue, evoked by wavelengths between ~490 and ~520 nm.
Etymology
Origin: Ancient Greek
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek κύανος (kúanos), a shade of blue variously described as similar to cornflower, copper carbonate, and lapis lazuli, Mycenaean Greek 𐀓𐀷𐀜 (ku-wa-no), possibly from Hittite [script needed] (kuwannan-, “a precious stone; copper; shade of blue”) - likely from Kuwanniya, all going back to kuwanna (woman), related to "queen" and γυνή. Compare modern Greek κυανός (kyanós), also used for cyan.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 19 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-08-13NACHLOY
- 2026-05-23ACDEINY
- 2026-01-01NATICLY
- 2025-12-26NAJDCEY
- 2025-11-09NAYRCIL
- 2025-09-01CAINTYE
- 2025-03-19CYATNIH
- 2025-01-24CYATONR
- 2024-10-25CAYTPIN
- 2024-08-12CYAMNID
- 2024-06-07ACPNHOY
- 2024-05-11ACNEDJY
+7 earlier appearances in the archive.