NYT Dictionary

EYELID

/ˈaɪ.lɪd/
NounEYE-lideye-lid · 2 syllablesGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2022, 2023, 2024

Meaning

A thin skin membrane that covers and moves over an eye.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English eyelidd, eye-led, eiȝelid, eghe-lydd, yȝe-lydd, ehlid, yhelidd, from an unrecorded Old English *ēaghlid (“eyelid”), from Proto-West Germanic *augahlid (“eyelid”), equivalent to eye + lid. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Oogenlid (“eyelid”), West Frisian eachlid (“eyelid”), Dutch ooglid (“eyelid”), German Low German Ooglidd (“eyelid”), German Augenlid (“eyelid”). Generally superseded non-native Middle English palpebre (“eyelid”), borrowed from Latin palpebra (“eyelid”) (see Modern English palpebra).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

blepharonpalpebralideyeeyeballirislensopticorbpeepers

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

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