NYT Dictionary

HALVE

/hɑːv/
VerbHAVGrade 3

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

To reduce to half the original amount.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English halven, helven, from Old English hilfan, helfan, *hielfan (“to halve, divide in two”), from Proto-West Germanic *halbijan, from Proto-Germanic *halbijaną (“to halve”), from Proto-Germanic *halbaz (“half”). Cognate with Middle Dutch halven (“to halve”), Middle High German halben, helben (“to halve”). Compare also West Frisian helte (“to halve”), Dutch halveren (“to halve”), German Low German halberen (“to halve”), German halbieren (“to halve”), Danish halvere (“to halve”), Swedish halvera (“to halve”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

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NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 4 recorded puzzles:

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