NYT Dictionary

EDDY

/ˈɛd.i/
NounVerbED-dyed-dy · 2 syllablesGrade 12

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A current of air or water running back, or in an opposite direction to the main current.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *éti Proto-Germanic *idi- Proto-West Germanic *id- Old English ed- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ékʷeh₂ Proto-Germanic *ahwō Proto-West Germanic *ahu Old English ēa Old English edēa Middle English eddy English eddy From Middle English eddy, from Old English edēa, from ed- (“turning, back, reverse”) + ēa (“water”), equivalent to ed- + ea. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁é, and, consequently, cognate with Latin et. Related also to Danish ide (“eddy”), Swedish eda (“eddy”), Norwegian ida, ia, ea (“eddy”), Icelandic iða (“eddy”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

twistpurlwhirlpoolswirlwhirladoagitationbackflowbackwashbackwater

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 10 recorded puzzles:

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