NYT Dictionary

ENCLITIC

/ɪnˈklɪtɪk/
NounAdjectiveEN-clit-icen-clit-ic · 3 syllablesAdvanced/Professional

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A clitic that joins with the preceding word phonetically, graphically, or both.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

From Late Latin encliticus, from Ancient Greek ἐγκλιτικός (enklitikós, “inclined towards”), from ἐγκλίνειν (enklínein, “lean on”), from ἐν (en, “upon”) + κλίνειν (klínein, “to lean, incline”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

affixaffixationappendixcodacodicilcommentaryconjugationcuttingdeclensionderivation

NYT Puzzle Appearances

No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026.

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.