NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 11, 2019
Game Summary
| Center Letter | H |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, c, e, m, n, t |
| # of Pangrams | 4 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 64 words |
| Total Points | 344 points |
| Genius Level | 241 points |
| Bingo? | Yes |
Table of Contents
As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!
- Spelling Bee Grid
- Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
- Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
- Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
- Today's Complete Solution
- Answer Definitions
If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).
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>8</th><th>9</th><th>10</th><th>11 | Σ | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 7 |
| C | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 9 |
| E | 2 | - | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | 2 | 8 |
| H | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | 13 |
| M | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | 1 | - | - | 8 |
| N | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| T | 7 | 7 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 17 | Σ | 17 | 19 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 64 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AC×1 AH×1 AN×2 AT×3 |
|---|---|
| C | CA×4 CH×5 |
| E | EA×1 EN×4 ET×3 |
| H | HA×6 HE×7 |
| M | MA×6 ME×2 |
| N | NA×1 NE×1 |
| T | TA×1 TE×5 TH×11 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ACH×1 AHE×1 ANA×1 ANT×1 ATT×3 |
|---|---|
| C | CAC×2 CAT×2 CHA×3 CHE×2 |
| E | EAC×1 ENC×2 ENH×2 ETC×2 ETH×1 |
| H | HAM×1 HAT×5 HEA×3 HEN×4 |
| M | MAC×1 MAH×1 MAN×1 MAT×3 MET×2 |
| N | NAT×1 NEA×1 |
| T | TAC×1 TEA×1 TEC×1 TEE×2 TEN×1 THA×4 THE×7 |
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 (†).
| Word | 2L Ref | Definition (click to reveal) |
|---|---|---|
| ac.. | AC4 | To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed. |
| ah.. | AH4 | the sound of a quiet cough or of clearing one's throat |
| an...... | AN8 | A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, often accompanied by excommunication; something denounced as accursed. |
| an.... | AN6 | Antiphon. |
| at.... | AT6 | To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively). |
| at..... | AT7 | Alternative form of attaché |
| at........ † | AT10 | The act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching. |
| ca... | CA5 | A store of things that may be required in the future, which can be retrieved rapidly, protected or hidden in some way. |
| ca.... | CA6 | A seal, as of a letter. |
| ca... | CA5 | The act of seizing or capturing. |
| ca....... † | CA9 | Any structure or land feature which catches and holds water; the collection of such water. |
| ch.... | CH6 | An opportunity or possibility. |
| ch... | CH5 | To sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music. |
| ch.. | CH4 | To be engaged in informal conversation. |
| ch... | CH5 | To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation. |
| ch..... | CH7 | A distinctive member (Acinonyx jubatus) of the cat family, slightly smaller than the leopard, but with proportionately longer limbs and a smaller head. It is native to Africa and also credited with being the fastest terrestrial animal. |
| ea.. | EA4 | All; every; qualifying a singular noun, indicating all examples of the thing so named seen as individual or separate items (compare every). |
| en..... | EN7 | To attract and delight, to charm. |
| en......... † | EN11 | The act of enchanting or the feeling of being enchanted. |
| en..... | EN7 | To lift, raise up. |
| en......... † | EN11 | An improvement or supplement that tends to increase a sense of esteem. |
| et.. | ET4 | To cut into a surface with an acid or other corrosive substance in order to make a pattern. Best known as a technique for creating printing plates, but also used for decoration on metal, and, in modern industry, to make circuit boards. |
| et..... | ET7 | An acid or corrosive chemical used in etching. |
| et.... | ET6 | An aliphatic hydrocarbon, C2H6, gaseous at normal temperatures and pressures, being a constituent of natural gas. |
| ha.... | HA6 | Hooked at the end. |
| ha... | HA5 | A horizontal door in a floor or ceiling. |
| ha..... | HA7 | A small, light axe with a short handle; a tomahawk. |
| ha.. | HA4 | An object of hatred. |
| ha.. | HA4 | third-person singular simple present indicative form of have |
| ha... | HA5 | The fundamental form of yoga that focuses on asanas |
| he.. | HE4 | Thermal energy. |
| he... | HE5 | A tract of level uncultivated land with sandy soil and scrubby vegetation; heathland. |
| he..... | HE7 | Not adhering to Christian religion (though usually excluding the Jews); pagan. |
| he... | HE5 | from here, from this place, away |
| he...... | HE8 | A loyal and trusted follower or subordinate. |
| he...... | HE8 | plural of henchman |
| he... | HE5 | A shrub, Lawsonia inermis, having fragrant reddish flowers |
| ma..... | MA7 | A sword-like tool used for cutting large plants with a chopping motion, or as a weapon. The blade is usually 50 to 65 centimeters long, and up to three millimeters thick. |
| ma..... | MA7 | An epithet granted in India and Tibet to people thought to have great knowledge and love of humanity |
| ma....... | MA9 | Alternative spelling of Manhattan (“cocktail”). |
| ma... | MA5 | A competitive sporting event such as a boxing meet, a baseball game, or a cricket match. |
| ma.... | MA6 | A type of powdered green tea, traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies. |
| ma.. | MA4 | Clipping of mathematics. |
| me.. | ME4 | Methamphetamine, especially in the form of the crystalline hydrochloride. |
| me..... | ME7 | The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a constituent of natural gas, and one of the most abundant greenhouse gases. |
| na... | NA5 | Naturally; of course. |
| ne... | NE5 | Beneath. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Clipping of tachometer. |
| te... | TE5 | To pass on knowledge to. |
| te.. | TE4 | Technology. |
| te... | TE5 | plural of tooth |
| te.... | TE6 | To grow teeth. |
| te... | TE5 | The ordinal numeral form of ten; next in order after that which is ninth. |
| th.. | TH4 | Used in comparisons, to introduce the basis of comparison. |
| th... | TH5 | A rank of nobility in pre-Norman England, roughly equivalent to baron. |
| th.. | TH4 | Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement. |
| th.... | TH6 | Straw, rushes, or similar, used for making or covering the roofs of buildings, or of stacks of hay or grain. |
| th.. | TH4 | Objective and reflexive case of thou. |
| th.. | TH4 | Those ones. Used as the direct object of a verb. |
| th... | TH5 | A subject or theme. |
| th... | TH5 | A subject, now especially of a talk or an artistic piece; a topic. |
| th.. | TH4 | At that time. |
| th.... | TH6 | From there, from that place or from that time. |
| th... | TH5 | The eighth letter of the Modern Greek alphabet, ninth in Old Greek: Θ, θ. |
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.
- ache (AC4)
- ahem (AH4)
- anathema (AN8)
- anthem (AN6)
- attach (AT6)
- attache (AT7)
- attachment† (AT10)
- cache (CA5)
- cachet (CA6)
- catch (CA5)
- catchment† (CA9)
- chance (CH6)
- chant (CH5)
- chat (CH4)
- cheat (CH5)
- cheetah (CH7)
- each (EA4)
- enchant (EN7)
- enchantment† (EN11)
- enhance (EN7)
- enhancement† (EN11)
- etch (ET4)
- etchant (ET7)
- ethane (ET6)
- hamate (HA6)
- hatch (HA5)
- hatchet (HA7)
- hate (HA4)
- hath (HA4)
- hatha (HA5)
- heat (HE4)
- heath (HE5)
- heathen (HE7)
- hence (HE5)
- henchman (HE8)
- henchmen (HE8)
- henna (HE5)
- machete (MA7)
- mahatma (MA7)
- manhattan (MA9)
- match (MA5)
- matcha (MA6)
- math (MA4)
- meth (ME4)
- methane (ME7)
- natch (NA5)
- neath (NE5)
- tach (TA4)
- teach (TE5)
- tech (TE4)
- teeth (TE5)
- teethe (TE6)
- tenth (TE5)
- than (TH4)
- thane (TH5)
- that (TH4)
- thatch (TH6)
- thee (TH4)
- them (TH4)
- thema (TH5)
- theme (TH5)
- then (TH4)
- thence (TH6)
- theta (TH5)
Answer Definitions
- ache (verb): To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed.
- ahem (interjection): the sound of a quiet cough or of clearing one's throat
- anathema (noun): A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, often accompanied by excommunication; something denounced as accursed.
- anthem (noun): Antiphon.
- attach (verb): To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively).
- attache (noun): Alternative form of attaché
- attachment† (noun): The act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching.
- cache (noun): A store of things that may be required in the future, which can be retrieved rapidly, protected or hidden in some way.
- cachet (noun): A seal, as of a letter.
- catch (noun): The act of seizing or capturing.
- catchment† (noun): Any structure or land feature which catches and holds water; the collection of such water.
- chance (noun): An opportunity or possibility.
- chant (verb): To sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music.
- chat (verb): To be engaged in informal conversation.
- cheat (verb): To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation.
- cheetah (noun): A distinctive member (Acinonyx jubatus) of the cat family, slightly smaller than the leopard, but with proportionately longer limbs and a smaller head. It is native to Africa and also credited with being the fastest terrestrial animal.
- each (determiner): All; every; qualifying a singular noun, indicating all examples of the thing so named seen as individual or separate items (compare every).
- enchant (verb): To attract and delight, to charm.
- enchantment† (noun): The act of enchanting or the feeling of being enchanted.
- enhance (verb): To lift, raise up.
- enhancement† (noun): An improvement or supplement that tends to increase a sense of esteem.
- etch (verb): To cut into a surface with an acid or other corrosive substance in order to make a pattern. Best known as a technique for creating printing plates, but also used for decoration on metal, and, in modern industry, to make circuit boards.
- etchant (noun): An acid or corrosive chemical used in etching.
- ethane (noun): An aliphatic hydrocarbon, C2H6, gaseous at normal temperatures and pressures, being a constituent of natural gas.
- hamate (adjective): Hooked at the end.
- hatch (noun): A horizontal door in a floor or ceiling.
- hatchet (noun): A small, light axe with a short handle; a tomahawk.
- hate (noun): An object of hatred.
- hath (verb): third-person singular simple present indicative form of have
- hatha (noun): The fundamental form of yoga that focuses on asanas
- heat (noun): Thermal energy.
- heath (noun): A tract of level uncultivated land with sandy soil and scrubby vegetation; heathland.
- heathen (adjective): Not adhering to Christian religion (though usually excluding the Jews); pagan.
- hence (adverb): from here, from this place, away
- henchman (noun): A loyal and trusted follower or subordinate.
- henchmen (noun): plural of henchman
- henna (noun): A shrub, Lawsonia inermis, having fragrant reddish flowers
- machete (noun): A sword-like tool used for cutting large plants with a chopping motion, or as a weapon. The blade is usually 50 to 65 centimeters long, and up to three millimeters thick.
- mahatma (noun): An epithet granted in India and Tibet to people thought to have great knowledge and love of humanity
- manhattan (noun): Alternative spelling of Manhattan (“cocktail”).
- match (noun): A competitive sporting event such as a boxing meet, a baseball game, or a cricket match.
- matcha (noun): A type of powdered green tea, traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies.
- math (noun): Clipping of mathematics.
- meth (noun): Methamphetamine, especially in the form of the crystalline hydrochloride.
- methane (noun): The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a constituent of natural gas, and one of the most abundant greenhouse gases.
- natch (adverb): Naturally; of course.
- neath (preposition): Beneath.
- tach (noun): Clipping of tachometer.
- teach (verb): To pass on knowledge to.
- tech (noun): Technology.
- teeth (noun): plural of tooth
- teethe (verb): To grow teeth.
- tenth (adjective): The ordinal numeral form of ten; next in order after that which is ninth.
- than (conjunction): Used in comparisons, to introduce the basis of comparison.
- thane (noun): A rank of nobility in pre-Norman England, roughly equivalent to baron.
- that (conjunction): Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement.
- thatch (noun): Straw, rushes, or similar, used for making or covering the roofs of buildings, or of stacks of hay or grain.
- thee (pronoun): Objective and reflexive case of thou.
- them (pronoun): Those ones. Used as the direct object of a verb.
- thema (noun): A subject or theme.
- theme (noun): A subject, now especially of a talk or an artistic piece; a topic.
- then (adverb): At that time.
- thence (adverb): From there, from that place or from that time.
- theta (noun): The eighth letter of the Modern Greek alphabet, ninth in Old Greek: Θ, θ.