NYT Dictionary
WENCH
/wɛnt͡ʃ/NounVerbWENTSGrade 6
Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2025
Meaning
A girl or young woman, especially a buxom or lively one.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
The noun is derived from Middle English wench, wenche (“female baby; girl (especially unmarried); maiden, young woman; bondwoman; serving maid; beloved, sweetheart; concubine, mistress; harlot, prostitute”) [and other forms], a shortened form of Middle English wenchel (“girl; maiden; child”), from Old English wenċel, winċel (“child; servant; slave”), from Proto-Germanic *wankilą, from Proto-Germanic *wankijaną (“to sway; waver”). The English word is cognate with Old High German wenken (“to waver; to give way, yield”), wankōn (“to totter”). The verb is derived from the noun.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NB: All terms are usually pejorative unless stated otherwise.304alley catalleycatamoretteamoretamorosaarticleAthanasian wenchblowsabella
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle: