NYT Dictionary

WEAN

/ˈwiːn/
VerbNounWEANwean · 1 syllableGrade 5

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

To cease giving breast milk to an offspring; to accustom and reconcile (a child or young animal) to a want or deprivation of mother's milk; to take from the breast or udder.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English wenen, from Old English wenian (“to accustom; habituate; train; prepare; make fit”), from Proto-West Germanic *wannjan, from Proto-Germanic *wanjaną (“to make wont; accustom”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to strive for; wish; love”). Cognate with Dutch wennen, German gewöhnen, Danish vænne, Swedish vänja, Icelandic venja. Related via PIE to wone, wont, and wonder, and perhaps win.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

ablactatealienalienateconvincecuredisunitedivorceestrangepersuadeblunt

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 6 recorded puzzles:

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