NYT Dictionary
LAYWOMAN
/ˈleɪ.ˌwʌmən/NounLAY-wom-anlay-wom-an · 3 syllablesAdvanced/Professional
Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019
Meaning
A woman who is a layperson, one who has not taken a religious oath (such as becoming a nun).
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Etymology tree English lay Proto-Germanic *wībą Proto-West Germanic *wīb Old English wīf Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Old English wīfmann Middle English woman Middle English -woman English -woman English laywoman From lay + -woman.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
brothercatechumenchurchmancommunicantsecularsister
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2019.