NYT Dictionary

MONTH

/mʌnθ/
NounMUHNTHGrade 3

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

Meaning

A period into which a year is divided, historically based on the phases of the moon.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *meh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥sder. Proto-Germanic *mēnōþs Proto-West Germanic *mānōþ Old English mōnaþ Middle English mon(e)th English month From Middle English mon(e)th, from Old English mōnaþ, from Proto-West Germanic *mānōþ, from Proto-Germanic *mēnōþs (“month”), from Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s (“moon, month”), probably derived from *meh₁- (“measure”) with moon-cycles being used to measure time. Related to moon. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Mound (“month”), Dutch maand (“month”), German Low German Maand (“month”), German Monat (“month”), Danish måned (“month”), Swedish månad (“month”), Icelandic mánuður (“month”). Eclipsed non-native Old English calend (“month”), borrowed from Latin calendae.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

monthannumcenturydaydecadefortnighthourlustermillenniumminute

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 4 recorded puzzles:

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