NYT Dictionary

GROOM

/ɡɹum/
NounVerbGROOMgroom · 1 syllableGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2026

Meaning

A man who is about to marry.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

1604, short for bridegroom (“husband-to-be”), from Middle English brydgrome, alteration (with intrusive r) of earlier bridegome (“bridegroom”), from Old English brȳdguma (“bridegroom”), from brȳd (“bride”) + guma (“man, hero”). In Middle English, the second element was re-analyzed as or influenced by grom, grome (“attendant”). Guma derives from Proto-Germanic *gumô (“man, person”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰǵʰm̥mō; it is cognate to Icelandic gumi (cf. Icelandic brúðgumi) and Norwegian gume and, ultimately, human.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

bridegroomfettlerhorsekeeperostlersaismafooprimpstablemanstableboyhostler

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 4 recorded puzzles:

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