NYT Dictionary

IMMORTAL

/ɪˈmɔɹtəl/
AdjectiveNounim-MOR-talim-mor-tal · 3 syllablesGrade 9

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

Meaning

Not susceptible to death; living forever; never dying.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Latin immortālis, from prefix im- (“not”) (from in-) + mortālis (“mortal”) (from mors (“death”), combining form mort- + adjectival suffix -alis), equivalent to im- + mortal. Displaced native undeadly, from Old English undēadlīċ. The term referring to the Persian soldiers was a Calque of Ancient Greek ἀθάνατος (athánatos). One suggestion claimed that "Immortals" were named by the ancient Greeks because wounded soldiers were quickly replaced, while another claimed that it was because Greek informants confused Old Persian *anauša- (“immortal, without death”) with Old Persian *anūšiya- (“companion, royal bodyguard”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

immortwizarddeathlesseverlastingundeadlyundyingdeitydivinitygodaggrandized

Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle, including a pangram:

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