OPEN

Meaning

Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Adjective from Middle English open, from Old English open (“open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opan, from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”), from Proto-Indo-European *upo (“up from under, over”). Cognates * Scots apen (“open”) * Saterland Frisian eepen (“open”) * West Frisian iepen (“open”) * Cimbrian offe (“open”) * Dutch open (“open”) * German offen (“open”) * Vilamovian ufa, uffa (“open”) * Yiddish אָפֿן (ofn, “open”) * Danish åben (“open”) * Icelandic opinn (“open”) * Norwegian Bokmål åpen (“open”) * Norwegian Nynorsk open (“open”) * Swedish öppen (“open”) Compare also Latin supinus (“on one's back, supine”), Albanian hap (“to open”). Related to up. Verb from Middle English openen, from Old English openian (“to open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opanōn, from Proto-Germanic *upanōną (“to raise; lift; open”), from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”, adjective). Cognate with Saterland Frisian eepenje (“to open”), West Frisian iepenje (“to open”), Dutch openen (“to open”), German öffnen (“to open”), Danish åbne (“to open”), Swedish öppna (“to open”), Norwegian Bokmål åpne (“to open”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Icelandic opna (“to open”). Related to English up. Noun from Middle English open (“an aperture or opening”), from the verb. In the sports sense, however, a shortening of “open competition”.

Synonyms & Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 18 recorded puzzles:

• 2026-09-16PDEINOW
• 2026-04-25OENIHLP
• 2025-12-25NEPIHOX
• 2025-11-03NDXUOEP
• 2025-10-05NEGOPTY
• 2025-08-15NETOLPU
• 2025-05-25NPAOEBL
• 2024-10-04PAOHENY
• 2024-08-20PXEOIHN
• 2023-12-26OTAPNEH
• 2023-11-29ODENPUX
• 2023-08-18OEPIHNX

+6 earlier appearances in the archive.