NYT Dictionary

MNEMONIC

/nəˈmɑnɪk/
AdjectiveNounmne-MON-icmne-mon-ic · 3 syllablesGrade 8

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2022

Meaning

Especially of a series of ideas, letters, words, etc.: intended to help in remembering.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

Borrowed from Late Latin mnemonicus or its etymon Ancient Greek μνημονῐκός (mnēmonĭkós, “pertaining to memory or remembrance, memorial”) + English -ic (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives). Mνημονῐκός (Mnēmonĭkós) is derived from μνήμων (mnḗmōn, “mindful, remembering”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives); while μνήμων (mnḗmōn) is from μνάομαι (mnáomai, “to be mindful, remember”) (from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to mind; to think”)) + -μων (-mōn, suffix forming adjectives and agent nouns). Cognates * French mnémonique (adjective) * German mnemonisch * Italian mnemonico * Portuguese mnemónica

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

anamnesticmemorialmnemonicalmnesticaide-mémoiremnemoniconmnemonicsmnemotechnicmnemotechnicalevocative

Antonyms

antimnemonic

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 2022.

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