Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring—and certainly not the mouse, I found dead in my backyard, though it was actually a rat. And I don’t think it was killed by a snake or a cat.
I had just let the dogs out when I found the poor guy, so I raced back inside with a twinkle in my eye, to find some receptacle to scoop up the body, before it became a snack for one of the doggies.
When I returned the rat corpse was not there—Bruno the puppy had taken it with care, to the other side of the yard where I hurried at once, hollering “Bruno, drop it, you ridiculous dunce!”
I could go on, but I’m already stretching my limits as a rhymer. It’s Christmas Eve! And despite finding a dead rat out back, I’m in a jolly old mood thanks to my incredible luck with today’s Wordle . . .
If you’re looking for movies or shows to watch this fine, winter weekend check out my streaming guide. I also published my big list of the very best Christmas movies. What are your favorite holiday films?
Wordle time, baby!
How To Solve Today’s Word
The Hint: This amazing word sounds sweet.
The Clue: This word ends with a vowel.
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See yesterday’s Wordle #917 right here.
Wordle Bot Analysis
After each Wordle I solve I head over to the Wordle Bot homepage to see how my guessing game was.
Oh my, what luck! What luck that the New York Times placed a themed word in today’s slot. It makes me wonder if tomorrow, on Christmas itself, we’ll get an even more holiday-appropriate Wordle. I had come up with a short list of possible guesses for today and tomorrow based on words associated with Christmas and Christianity, including:
- Grace
- Angel
- Jolly
- Holly
- Merry
- Santa
- Carol
- Feast
Others, like Jesus, I figured wouldn’t work. Some, like gifts, were plural which I try to avoid since they can’t be the answer.
I didn’t like joll, holly, merry or Santa because of the double letters. The rest were good, and I decided to go in order. So grace today, angel tomorrow and save carol and feast for next year (though feast would probably be better on Thanksgiving).
Imagine my surprise and delight when my first word ended up being the right one! Huzzah and Merry Christmas! (The only other time I’ve gotten a Wordle in one guess was on April 1st of this year, which is April Fool’s Day. I guessed “March” and it was right).
Today’s Competitive Wordle Score
Wordle Bot took three guesses this time, because Bots don’t have any sense of thematic guessing. That means I get 3 points for guessing in one and 1 point for beating the Bot. Four points! Joy to the world!
Today’s Wordle Etymology
The word “grace” has a rich etymological history, tracing its roots back to Latin and even earlier languages. Here’s a brief overview:
- Latin Origin: The word “grace” comes from the Latin word “gratia,” which means favor, charm, or thanks. This Latin term is derived from “gratus,” meaning pleasing or thankful.
- Old French Influence: The term entered the English language through Old French during the Middle Ages. In Old French, the word was “grâce,” which also meant favor, mercy, or grace.
- Ancient Greek Connection: The Latin “gratia” was influenced by the Ancient Greek word “charis,” which also means grace, kindness, or life. This connection reflects a broader cultural exchange between the Roman and Greek civilizations.
- Historical Development: Over time, in English, the term evolved to include a wide range of meanings, such as elegance, a pleasing quality, goodwill, and the theological concept of divine favor.
This journey from ancient languages to modern English reflects the complex pathways of language evolution, where words adapt and change meaning over time, influenced by cultural and linguistic exchanges.
Play Competitive Wordle Against Me!
I’ve been playing a cutthroat game of PvP Wordle against my nemesis Wordle But. Now you should play against me! I can be your nemesis! (And your helpful Wordle guide, of course). You can also play against the Bot if you have a New York Times subscription.
Here are the rules:
- 1 point for getting the Wordle in 3 guesses.
- 2 points for getting it in 2 guesses.
- 3 points for getting it in 1 guess.
- 1 point for beating me
- 0 points for getting it in 4 guesses.
- -1 point for getting it in 5 guesses.
- -2 points for getting it in 6 guesses.
- -3 points for losing.
- -1 point for losing to me
You can either keep a running tally of your score if that’s your jam or just play day-to-day if you prefer.
Read the full article here
