NYT Dictionary

LITHE

/laɪð/
AdjectiveVerbNounLEYETHGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Mild; calm.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English lithe, from Old English līþe (“gentle, mild”), from Proto-West Germanic *linþ(ī), from Proto-Germanic *linþaz, from Proto-Indo-European *lentos. Akin to Saterland Frisian lied (“thin, skinny, gaunt”), Danish, Dutch, and archaic German lind (“mild”). Some sources also list Latin lenis (“soft”) and/or Latin lentus (“supple”) as possible cognates.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

clementgentlemellowlithesomelissomeswackgauntgracilelanklean

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 9 recorded puzzles:

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