NYT Dictionary

MARAUD

/məˈɹɔd/
Verbma-RAUDma-raud · 2 syllablesGrade 7

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025

Meaning

To move about in roving fashion looking for plunder; to loiter.

Etymology

Origin: French

From French marauder, derivative of maraud (“rogue, vagabond”), from Middle French maraud (“rascal”), from Old French *marault (“beggar, vagabond”), from marir, marrir (“to trouble, stray, lose ones way, be lost”), from Frankish *marʀijan (“to neglect, hinder”), from Proto-Germanic *marzijaną (“to neglect, hinder, spoil”), from Proto-Indo-European *mers- (“to trouble, confuse, ignore, forget”), + Old French suffix -ault, -aud. Cognate with Old High German marrjan, marren (“to obstruct, hinder”), Old Saxon merrian (“to hinder, waste”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌶𐌾𐌰𐌽 (marzjan, “to offend”). Related to mar.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

forayraiddepredatedespoilfleeceforagefreebootgutharassharry

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles:

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