NYT Dictionary

GIDDY

/ˈɡɪd.i/
AdjectiveNounVerbGID-dygid-dy · 2 syllablesGrade 5

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Feeling a sense of spinning in the head, causing a perception of unsteadiness and being about to fall down; dizzy.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

The adjective is derived from Middle English gidi, gedy, gydy (“demonically controlled or possessed; crazy, insane; foolish, idiotic, ridiculous, unwise; unsure; (rare) dizzy, shaky; (rare) of an animal: crazed, out of control; a fool”) [and other forms], from Old English gidiġ, gydiġ (“possessed by a demon or spirit, insane, mad”), from Proto-West Germanic *gudīg (“ghostly, spirited”, literally “possessed by a god or spirit”), from *god (“god”) + *-ig, *-g (suffix forming adjectives with the senses of being, doing, or having). Thus the word's elements correspond to god + -y (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’, forming adjectives). The noun and the verb are derived from the adjective.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

fuzzyfuzzy-headedfuzzy-mindedlight-headedrattleheadedshooglyvertiginatewestywoozyvertiginous

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles:

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