Thursday, September 5, 2024

Answers to yesterday's Bee

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The official answers for today's puzzle are:

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Number of Pangrams: 1

Maximum Puzzle Score: 91

Number of Answers: 29

Points Needed for Genius: 64

Genius requires between 10 and 26 words. You need at least a 6-letter word to reach genius. If you don't get the pangram, you need 83% of the total points to reach genius. If you get the pangram, you only need 65% of the remaining points to reach genius.

Other days with this pangram:

The button below will reveal a chart with the number of words by each letter. Red bars indicate that there is a pangram(s) starting with that letter.


How does this puzzle compare to other puzzles?

Today's score of 91 was in the 8th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this low was on August 20, 2024.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 29 possible answers rank it in the 24th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were fewer answers than this was on September 1, 2024.
The highest number of answers was 81 on June 8, 2019.
The lowest number of answers was 16 on March 27, 2023.

It takes a 6-letter word for genius.
The last time this happened was on September 3, 2024.

Today's puzzle has an average word length of 4.7.
For all Bees, the average word length has been 5.3.



Haven't I seen these letters before?

Hover over a letter to see its first and most recent appearance in the Bee!



Haven't I seen these words before?

The most common words in the Bee are:

  • noon 179
  • loll 172
  • toot 164
  • naan 159
  • nana 159
  • lilt 128
  • till 128
  • tilt 128
  • tint 120
  • mama 114
  • mamma 114
  • acacia 110
  • acai 110
  • nene 109
  • onto 106
  • toon 106
  • anal 105
  • boob 103
  • booboo 103
  • onion 103
  • anon 102
  • lull 101
  • lulu 101
  • olio 100
  • baba 98
  • papa 97
  • call 96
  • calla 96
  • poop 96
  • dodo 95
  • mitt 95
  • allay 94
  • ally 94
  • ratatat 94
  • tart 94
  • tartar 94
  • tatty 94
  • attar 93
  • cocci 92
  • tact 91
  • mono 90
  • moon 90
  • nanny 90
  • loon 89
  • radar 89
  • tattoo 89
  • tutu 89
  • epee 88
  • peep 88
  • array 87


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 90,092 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,228 unique words.
Below are the distributions of the lengths of these words.



Valid dictionary words not in today's official answers

You may be wondering why these words aren't here*:

  • aarrgh
  • aarrghh
  • argh
  • aurar
  • furfur
  • garth
  • gaur
  • grat
  • grugru
  • haar
  • haftara
  • haftarah
  • raff
  • ragg
  • ragga
  • rath
  • ruga
  • rugrat
  • ruth
  • tagrag
  • tahr
  • targa
  • tatar
  • thru
  • trug
  • tuatara
  • turr

*Because the New York Times considers them obscure or offensive.

aargh

interjection
  1. Expressing annoyance, dismay, embarrassment or frustration.

afar

adverb
  1. At, to, or from a great distance; far away.

agar

noun
  1. A gelatinous material obtained from red algae, especially Gracilaria species, used as a bacterial culture medium, in electrophoresis and as a food additive.
  2. A culture medium based on this material.

arhat

noun
  1. One who has attained enlightenment; a Buddhist saint.
  2. One of the stages of the ascetic's spiritual evolution, when all passions (anger, ego, deception, greed, attachment, hatred and ignorance) are destroyed; arhanta.

attar

noun
  1. An essential oil extracted from flowers.
  2. A perfume made from this oil.

augur

noun
  1. A diviner who foretells events by the behaviour of birds or other animals, or by signs derived from celestial phenomena, or unusual occurrences.
  2. An official who interpreted omens before the start of public events.
verb
  1. To foretell events; to exhibit signs of future events.
  2. To anticipate, to foretell, or to indicate a favorable or an unfavorable issue.

aura

noun
  1. Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something.
  2. An invisible force surrounding a living creature.
  3. Perceptual disturbance experienced by some migraine sufferers before a migraine headache.
  4. Telltale sensation experienced by some people with epilepsy before a seizure.

fart

noun
  1. An emission of digestive gases from the anus; a flatus.
  2. (impolite) An irritating person; a fool.
  3. (impolite, potentially offensive) (usually as "old fart") An elderly person; especially one perceived to hold old-fashioned views.
verb
  1. (impolite) To emit digestive gases from the anus; to flatulate.
  2. (usually as "fart around") To waste time with idle and inconsequential tasks; to go about one's activities in a lackadaisical manner; to be lazy or over-relaxed in one's manner or bearing.
  3. To emit (fumes, gases, etc.).

frag

noun
  1. A fragmentation grenade.
  2. A successful kill in a deathmatch game.
verb
  1. To deliberately kill (one's superior officer) with a fragmentation grenade.
  2. To hit with the explosion of a fragmentation grenade.
  3. To kill.

frat

noun
  1. Shortened form for fraternity, college organization. (Often used as a noun modifier.)

fraught

Etymology 1

noun
  1. The hire of a ship or boat to transport cargo.
  2. Money paid to hire a ship or boat to transport cargo; freight
  3. The transportation of goods, especially in a ship or boat.
  4. A ship's cargo, lading or freight.
  5. A load; a burden.
  6. Two bucketfuls (of water).

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To load (a ship, cargo etc.).
  2. To form the cargo of a vessel.
adjective
  1. (of a cargo-carrier) Laden.
  2. (with with) Loaded up or charged with; accompanied by; entailing.
  3. (with with) Furnished, equipped.
  4. Distressed or causing distress, for example through complexity.

frug

noun
  1. (usually preceded by definite article) A dance derived from the twist, popular in the 1960s.
verb
  1. To perform this dance.

graft

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit.
  2. A branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot.
  3. A portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty.
verb
  1. To insert (a graft) in a branch or stem of another tree; to propagate by insertion in another stock; also, to insert a graft upon.
  2. To insert scions (grafts) from one tree, or kind of tree, etc., into another; to practice grafting.
  3. To implant a portion of (living flesh or akin) in a lesion so as to form an organic union.
  4. To join (one thing) to another as if by grafting, so as to bring about a close union.
  5. To cover, as a ring bolt, block strap, splicing, etc., with a weaving of small cord or rope-yarns.
  6. To form a graft polymer

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A ditch, a canal.
  2. The depth of the blade of a digging tool such as a spade or shovel.
  3. A narrow spade used in digging drainage trenches.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. Corruption in official life.
  2. Illicit profit by corrupt means, especially in public life.
  3. A criminal’s special branch of practice.
  4. A con job.
  5. A cut of the take (money).
  6. A bribe, especially on an ongoing basis.
  7. Work; labor
  8. A job or trade.
  9. Effort needed for doing hard work.
verb
  1. To work.
  2. To obtain illegal gain from bribery or similar corrupt practices.

gruff

verb
  1. To speak gruffly.
adjective
  1. Having a rough, surly, and harsh demeanor and nature.
  2. Hoarse-voiced.

guar

noun
  1. An annual legume (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), used as a food for cattle and humans.

guru

noun
  1. A Hindu or Sikh spiritual teacher.
  2. (sometimes humorous) An influential advisor or mentor.

hart

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A male deer, especially the male of the red deer after his fifth year.
  2. A red deer or one of related species.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally thought to be the seat of emotion.
  2. Emotions, kindness, moral effort, or spirit in general.
  3. The seat of the affections or sensibilities, collectively or separately, as love, hate, joy, grief, courage, etc.; rarely, the seat of the understanding or will; usually in a good sense; personality.
  4. Courage; courageous purpose; spirit.
  5. Vigorous and efficient activity; power of fertile production; condition of the soil, whether good or bad.
  6. A term of affectionate or kindly and familiar address.
  7. Personality, disposition.
  8. A wight or being.
  9. A conventional shape or symbol used to represent the heart, love, or emotion: ♥ or sometimes <3.
  10. A playing card of the suit hearts featuring one or more heart-shaped symbols.
  11. The twenty-fourth Lenormand card.
  12. The centre, essence, or core.

hurrah

noun
  1. A cheer; a cry of hurrah!.
verb
  1. To give a hurrah (to somebody).
interjection
  1. Expressing approval, appreciation, or happiness.

hurt

noun
  1. An emotional or psychological humiliation or bad experience.
  2. A bodily injury causing pain; a wound or bruise.
  3. Injury; damage; detriment; harm
  4. A roundel azure (blue circular spot).
  5. A band on a trip-hammer helve, bearing the trunnions.
  6. A husk.
verb
  1. To be painful.
  2. To cause (a creature) physical pain and/or injury.
  3. To cause (somebody) emotional pain.
  4. To undermine, impede, or damage.
adjective
  1. Wounded, physically injured.
  2. Pained.

raft

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A flat-bottomed craft able to float and drift on water, used for transport or as a waterborne platform.
  2. (by extension) Any flattish thing, usually wooden, used in a similar fashion.
  3. A thick crowd of seabirds or sea mammals, particularly a group of penguins when in the water.
  4. A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. which obstructs navigation in a river.
  5. (when ordering food) A slice of toast.
  6. A square array of sensors forming part of a large telescope.
verb
  1. To convey on a raft.
  2. To make into a raft.
  3. To travel by raft.
  4. To dock (toolbars, etc.) so that they share horizontal or vertical space.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A large (but unspecified) number, a lot.

raga

noun
  1. Any of various melodic forms used in Indian classical music, or a piece of music composed in such a form.
  2. Passion, love, lust.

ragtag

adjective
  1. Unkempt, shabby, or in a state of disrepair.
  2. Very diverse; having irregular and dissimilar components.

ratatat

noun
  1. A swiftly repeated knocking sound.

ruff

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A circular frill or ruffle on a garment, especially a starched, fluted frill at the neck in Elizabethan and Jacobean England (1560s–1620s).
  2. Anything formed with plaits or flutings like a frill.
  3. Senses relating to animals.
  4. A collar on a shaft or other piece to prevent endwise motion.
  5. An exhibition of haughtiness or pride.
  6. Tumultuous or wanton conduct or procedure.
verb
  1. To shape (fabric, etc.) into a ruff; to adorn (a garment, etc.) with a ruff.
  2. Of a falcon, hawk, etc.: to hit (the prey) without fixing or grabbing hold of it.
  3. To ruffle; to disorder.
  4. Of a bird: to ruffle its feathers.
  5. To boast, to brag.
  6. To speak in a loud and domineering manner; to bluster, to swagger.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Arripis georgianus, a fish found in cool waters off the southern coast of Australia; the Australian herring or tommy ruff.
  2. A bottom-dwelling carnivorous fish of the family Sparidae found in temperate and tropical waters; a porgy or sea bream.
noun
  1. Gymnocephalus cernua, a small Eurasian freshwater fish.
  2. Other species in the same genus.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. An instance of ruffing, or an opportunity to ruff, when unable to follow suit.
  2. A game similar to whist and its predecessor.
verb
  1. To play a trump card to a trick when unable to follow suit (that is, to play a card of the same suit as the previous or leading card).
  2. Especially in the form ruff out: to defeat (a card, etc.) by ruffing, thus establishing the master card in the suit led.

Etymology 4

noun
  1. A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruffle.
verb
  1. To beat a ruff or ruffle, as on a drum.
  2. Of a drum, etc.: to have a ruff or ruffle beaten on it.
interjection
  1. The bark of a dog; arf, woof.

Etymology 5

adjective
  1. Not smooth; uneven.
  2. Approximate; hasty or careless; not finished.
  3. Turbulent.
  4. Difficult; trying.
  5. Crude; unrefined
  6. Violent; not careful or subtle
  7. Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating.
  8. Not polished; uncut; said of a gem.
  9. Harsh-tasting.
  10. Somewhat ill; sick
  11. Unwell due to alcohol; hungover

tart

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
  2. (of wine) high or too high in acidity.
  3. Sharp; keen; severe.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, containing jelly or conserve; a sort of fruit pie.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A prostitute.
  2. By extension, any woman with loose sexual morals.
verb
  1. To practice prostitution
  2. To practice promiscuous sex
  3. To dress garishly, ostentatiously, whorishly, or sluttily

tartar

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate - a source of cream of tartar.
  2. A hard yellow deposit on the teeth.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A fearsome or angrily violent person.

truth

noun
  1. True facts, genuine depiction or statements of reality.
  2. Conformity to fact or reality; correctness, accuracy.
  3. The state or quality of being true to someone or something.
  4. Faithfulness, fidelity.
  5. A pledge of loyalty or faith.
  6. Conformity to rule; exactness; close correspondence with an example, mood, model, etc.
  7. That which is real, in a deeper sense; spiritual or ‘genuine’ reality.
  8. Something acknowledged to be true; a true statement or axiom.
  9. Topness; the property of a truth quark.
verb
  1. To assert as true; to declare; to speak truthfully.
  2. To make exact; to correct for inaccuracy.
  3. To tell the truth.

turf

noun
  1. A layer of earth covered with grass; sod.
  2. A piece of such a layer cut from the soil. May be used as sod to make a lawn, dried for peat, stacked to form earthen structures, etc.
  3. A sod of peat used as fuel.
  4. The territory claimed by a person, gang, etc. as their own.
  5. (with "the") A racetrack; or the sport of racing horses.
verb
  1. To cover with turf; to create a lawn by laying turfs.
  2. (Ultimate Frisbee) To throw a frisbee well short of its intended target, usually causing it to hit the ground within 10 yards of its release.
  3. To fire from a job or dismiss from a task.
  4. To cancel a project or product.
  5. To expel, eject, or throw out; to turf out.
  6. To transfer or attempt to transfer (a patient or case); to eschew or avoid responsibility for.

ragu

noun
  1. An Italian pasta sauce containing ground meat cooked with sautéed vegetables in tomato sauce or some other kind of liquid.