NYT Dictionary

WAND

/wɑnd/
NounVerbWANDwand · 1 syllableGrade 1

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A hand-held narrow rod, usually used for pointing or instructing, or as a traditional emblem of authority.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wendʰ- Proto-Germanic *wanduz Old Norse vǫndrbor. Middle English wand English wand From Middle English wand, wond, from Old Norse vǫndr (“switch, twig”), from Proto-Germanic *wanduz (“rod”), from Proto-Indo-European *wendʰ- (“to turn, twist, wind, braid”). Cognate with Icelandic vendi (“wand”), Danish vånd (“wand, switch”), German Wand (“wall, septum”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 (wandus, “rod”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

staffrodsticktwigsceptersceptrevergebatonarmorybadge

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 5 recorded puzzles:

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