NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 6, 2018

calendar Dec 6, 2018 · 10 min read · spelling bee  ·
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Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 6, 2018
Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 6, 2018

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 6, 2018
Center LetterT
Outer Lettersa, f, i, l, r, y
# of Pangrams1 (Perfect: 1)
Total Words60 words
Total Points255 points
Genius Level179 points
Bingo?Yes

Table of Contents

As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!

  1. Spelling Bee Grid
  2. Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
  3. Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
  4. Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
  5. Today's Complete Solution
  6. Answer Definitions

If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 6, 2018

Spelling Bee Grid

The following table shows the standard Spelling Bee summary grid, which lists word lengths across the top and letters down the left-hand side. The cell where the word lengths and letters intersect displays the number of words in today's puzzle with the corresponding first letter and word length.

4</th><th>5</th><th>6</th><th>7</th><th>8Σ
A2411-8
F5632218
I1----1
L211--4
R2132-8
T893--20
Y--1--1
Σ2021125260

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.

A
AI×1
AL×2
AR×1
AT×4
F
FA×6
FI×3
FL×5
FR×4
I
IT×1
L
LA×2
LI×2
R
RA×7
RI×1
T
TA×11
TI×4
TR×5
Y
YT×1

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.

A
AIR×1
ALI×1
ALT×1
ART×1
ATI×1
ATR×2
ATT×1
F
FAR×1
FAT×5
FIA×1
FIF×1
FIT×1
FLA×2
FLI×3
FRA×3
FRI×1
I
ITT×1
L
LAI×1
LAR×1
LIF×1
LIL×1
R
RAF×1
RAR×1
RAT×5
RIF×1
T
TAF×1
TAI×1
TAL×3
TAR×5
TAT×1
TIA×1
TIF×1
TIL×2
TRA×3
TRI×2
Y
YTT×1

Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing)

The table below lists all of the solutions to today's puzzle, but they're concealed. You can click the plus button (+) to reveal additional letters, one-by-one.

Concealed definitions are provided as additional clues. You can toggle concealment of the definitions by clicking on the concealer bar or the text that appears when the definition is visible.

Pangrams are marked with a dagger symbol (†).

Word2L RefDefinition (click to reveal)
ai.....AI7The transportation of troops, civilians or supplies by air, especially in an emergency.
al..AL4simple past tense and past participle of alight
al...AL5A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
ar..AR4Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
at...AT5At an angle from the vertical or horizontal.
at...AT5plural of atrium
at....AT6Of or pertaining to an atrium, especially the atrium of the heart.
at...AT5An essential oil extracted from flowers.
fa..FA4To emit digestive gases from the anus; to flatulate.
fa...FA5Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny.
fa......FA8The state proceeding from destiny; invincible necessity, superior to, and independent of, free and rational control.
fa.....FA7In a fatal manner; lethally.
fa...FA5In a fat way; in the manner of a fat person.
fa...FA5derogatory term for an overweight person.
fi..FI4An arbitrary or authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree.
fi...FI5Half of a 'Benjamin?'
fi...FI5In a fit manner
fl..FL4Having no variations in height.
fl....FL6In a physically flat or level manner.
fl...FL5A sudden jerk; a quick throw or cast; a darting motion
fl....FL6Flirting, or seeming to flirt.
fl..FL4A fluttering or darting movement.
fr..... †FR7The condition quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally; weakness of resolution; liability to be deceived.
fr..FR4Shortened form of fraternity, college organization.
fr....FR6Resembling or characteristic of a college brotherhood member in behavior or appearance.
fr......FR8A form of omelette in which vegetables, cheese, etc., are mixed into the eggs and cooked together.
it..IT4Extremely small.
la...LA5People of a church who are not ordained clergy or clerics.
la....LA6A lasso.
li..LI4To raise or rise.
li..LI4To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
ra..RA4A flat-bottomed craft able to float and drift on water, used for transport or as a waterborne platform.
ra....RA6A measure of the scarcity of an object.
ra.....RA7A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
ra....RA6To give formal consent to; make officially valid, sign off on.
ra.....RA7Any of the large dark-colored deep-sea fish of the Macrouridae family of ray-finned fish.
ra....RA6That rattles.
ra...RA5Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent.
ri..RI4A chasm or fissure.
ta...TA5A soft, chewy candy made from boiled sugar, molasses, or corn syrup and butter.
ta..TA4The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus.
ta..TA4plural of talus
ta..TA4Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
ta...TA5Target sighted.
ta....TA6A system of government-imposed duties levied on imported or exported goods; a list of such duties, or the duties themselves.
ta...TA5To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
ta..TA4Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
ta....TA6A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
ta....TA6In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly.
ta...TA5worn and shabby; in poor condition.
ti...TI5The papal crown.
ti..TI4A small argument; a petty quarrel.
ti..TI4Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
ti..TI4To slope or incline (something); to slant.
tr...TR5To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).
tr...TR5An identifying characteristic, habit or trend.
tr..TR4A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
tr...TR5An opportunity to test something out; a test.
tr...TR5A rapid alternation between an indicated note and the one above it, in musical notation usually indicated with the letters tr written above the staff.
yt....YT6yttrium oxide

Today's Complete Solution

The words that follow are a complete listing of all acceptable words in today's New York Time Spelling Bee puzzle.

Next to the answer word you'll see the two-letter reference (2L Ref) in parentheses. We added that 2L Ref for easier translation of the spoiler-avoidant language you see on the Spelling Bee Forum and Twitter. The 2L Ref signifies a word's two start letters followed by the total number of letters in the word.

  • airlift  (AI7)
  • alit  (AL4)
  • altar  (AL5)
  • arty  (AR4)
  • atilt  (AT5)
  • atria  (AT5)
  • atrial  (AT6)
  • attar  (AT5)
  • fart  (FA4)
  • fatal  (FA5)
  • fatality  (FA8)
  • fatally  (FA7)
  • fatly  (FA5)
  • fatty  (FA5)
  • fiat  (FI4)
  • fifty  (FI5)
  • fitly  (FI5)
  • flat  (FL4)
  • flatly  (FL6)
  • flirt  (FL5)
  • flirty  (FL6)
  • flit  (FL4)
  • frailty†  (FR7)
  • frat  (FR4)
  • fratty  (FR6)
  • frittata  (FR8)
  • itty  (IT4)
  • laity  (LA5)
  • lariat  (LA6)
  • lift  (LI4)
  • lilt  (LI4)
  • raft  (RA4)
  • rarity  (RA6)
  • ratatat  (RA7)
  • ratify  (RA6)
  • rattail  (RA7)
  • rattly  (RA6)
  • ratty  (RA5)
  • rift  (RI4)
  • taffy  (TA5)
  • tail  (TA4)
  • tali  (TA4)
  • tall  (TA4)
  • tally  (TA5)
  • tariff  (TA6)
  • tarry  (TA5)
  • tart  (TA4)
  • tartar  (TA6)
  • tartly  (TA6)
  • tatty  (TA5)
  • tiara  (TI5)
  • tiff  (TI4)
  • till  (TI4)
  • tilt  (TI4)
  • trail  (TR5)
  • trait  (TR5)
  • tray  (TR4)
  • trial  (TR5)
  • trill  (TR5)
  • yttria  (YT6)

Answer Definitions

  • airlift (noun): The transportation of troops, civilians or supplies by air, especially in an emergency.
  • alit (verb): simple past tense and past participle of alight
  • altar (noun): A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
  • arty (adjective): Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
  • atilt (adjective): At an angle from the vertical or horizontal.
  • atria (noun): plural of atrium
  • atrial (adjective): Of or pertaining to an atrium, especially the atrium of the heart.
  • attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
  • fart (verb): To emit digestive gases from the anus; to flatulate.
  • fatal (adjective): Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny.
  • fatality (noun): The state proceeding from destiny; invincible necessity, superior to, and independent of, free and rational control.
  • fatally (adverb): In a fatal manner; lethally.
  • fatly (adverb): In a fat way; in the manner of a fat person.
  • fatty (adjective): derogatory term for an overweight person.
  • fiat (noun): An arbitrary or authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree.
  • fifty (numeral): Half of a 'Benjamin?'
  • fitly (adverb): In a fit manner
  • flat (adjective): Having no variations in height.
  • flatly (adverb): In a physically flat or level manner.
  • flirt (noun): A sudden jerk; a quick throw or cast; a darting motion
  • flirty (adjective): Flirting, or seeming to flirt.
  • flit (noun): A fluttering or darting movement.
  • frailty† (noun): The condition quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally; weakness of resolution; liability to be deceived.
  • frat (noun): Shortened form of fraternity, college organization.
  • fratty (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a college brotherhood member in behavior or appearance.
  • frittata (noun): A form of omelette in which vegetables, cheese, etc., are mixed into the eggs and cooked together.
  • itty (adjective): Extremely small.
  • laity (noun): People of a church who are not ordained clergy or clerics.
  • lariat (noun): A lasso.
  • lift (verb): To raise or rise.
  • lilt (verb): To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
  • raft (noun): A flat-bottomed craft able to float and drift on water, used for transport or as a waterborne platform.
  • rarity (noun): A measure of the scarcity of an object.
  • ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
  • ratify (verb): To give formal consent to; make officially valid, sign off on.
  • rattail (noun): Any of the large dark-colored deep-sea fish of the Macrouridae family of ray-finned fish.
  • rattly (adjective): That rattles.
  • ratty (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent.
  • rift (noun): A chasm or fissure.
  • taffy (noun): A soft, chewy candy made from boiled sugar, molasses, or corn syrup and butter.
  • tail (noun): The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus.
  • tali (noun): plural of talus
  • tall (adjective): Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
  • tally (interjection): Target sighted.
  • tariff (noun): A system of government-imposed duties levied on imported or exported goods; a list of such duties, or the duties themselves.
  • tarry (verb): To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
  • tart (adjective): Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
  • tartar (noun): A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
  • tartly (adverb): In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly.
  • tatty (noun): worn and shabby; in poor condition.
  • tiara (noun): The papal crown.
  • tiff (noun): A small argument; a petty quarrel.
  • till (preposition): Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
  • tilt (verb): To slope or incline (something); to slant.
  • trail (verb): To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).
  • trait (noun): An identifying characteristic, habit or trend.
  • tray (noun): A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
  • trial (noun): An opportunity to test something out; a test.
  • trill (noun): A rapid alternation between an indicated note and the one above it, in musical notation usually indicated with the letters tr written above the staff.
  • yttria (noun): yttrium oxide