NYT Dictionary

LYNX

/lɪŋks/
NounLINGKSGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2022

Meaning

Any of several medium-sized wild cats of the genus Lynx.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English lynx, linx, lenx, lynce, from Latin lynx, from Ancient Greek λύγξ (lúnx), from Proto-Hellenic *lúnks, from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“white; light; bright”), because of the cat's seemingly glowing eyes and ability to see in the dark. Doublet of onza and ounce. Displaced English los; Middle English lusk (“lynx”), from Old English lox (“lynx”) as the animal died out in Britain during the Middle Ages.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

catamountanimalantelopearmadillobatcatcheetahconstellationeagleelephant

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 2020, 2022.

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