NYT Dictionary
NERVE
/nɝv/NounVerbNUHRVGrade 9
Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2026
Meaning
A bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
Recorded since circa 1374 as Middle English nerve, from Medieval Latin nervus (“nerve”), from Latin nervus (“sinew”). Doublet of neuron and sinew. Verb sense 4 (“to get on (someone’s) nerves”) is chiefly a semantic loan from German nerven.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle: