NYT Dictionary

HANDY

/ˈhæn.di/
AdjectiveNounHAN-dyhan-dy · 2 syllablesGrade 6

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

Meaning

Easy to use, useful.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English handy, hondi (attested in personal names), alteration of earlier hendi (“handy, skillful”), from Old English *hendiġ (“skillful”) (attested in listhendiġ (“skilled in art”)), from Proto-West Germanic *handīg, *handag, *handug, from Proto-Germanic *handugaz (“handy, skillful, nimble”), from *handuz (“hand”), equivalent to hand + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian jäntich (“handy”), Middle Low German handich (“skillful, apt”), Middle High German handec, hendec (“manual, hand-held”), Old Norse hǫndugr (“efficient”), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐌲𐍃 (handugs, “wise, clever”). Akin to Dutch handig (“handy”), Norwegian hendig (“handy”), Swedish händig (“handy”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

at handon handto handcraftywristyaccessibleadaptableadeptadjacentadroit

Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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