Welcome back to another edition of Wordle Wednesday my dearest Wordlers and puzzle-solvers! Every Wednesday we spice up our Wordling with an extra puzzle, riddle or problem to solve. The last couple of these have been very, very challenging, so today I’m easing off the gas a bit and doing something a wee bit easier.
Let it be known: I am a merciful man, and if I were the king of the world and dictator of the universe, I’d be downright magnanimous. Gregarious even!
But enough about me! Let’s do a riddle!
Today’s Riddle: I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?
I’ll post the answer here on this blog in tomorrow’s Wordle guide. In the meantime, if you have the answer hit me up on Twitter or Facebook.
Okay, Wordle time!
How To Solve Today’s Wordle
The Hint: TLC does not want this.
The Clue: This Wordle has far more consonants than vowels.
.
.
.
See yesterday’s Wordle #787 right here.
Wordle Bot Analysis
As I’ve said in the past, guessing on the first guess or two is mostly luck. Getting the answer in three is a testament of skill. Or maybe I’m just telling myself that since it took me three guesses today!
In any case, mouse was a pretty solid opening guess. It has a lot of vowels which is always nice. Today it was very lucky, leaving me with just 36 possible words to choose from. I went with crazy because I still felt like I didn’t have enough letters to start rearranging yellow boxes. I nearly guessed sugar but I thought better of it and went with a guess so crazy it might just work.
This slashed my remaining options down to just 1, which I figured out pretty much right away: scrub.
And now I’ll have that damn song stuck in my head all day.
Today’s Score
Just 1 point today for guessing in three. Since Wordle Bot also guessed in three I don’t get an extra point. That’s okay! Still in the green! Huzzah!
Today’s Wordle Etymology
The word “scrub” has an interesting etymology that traces its origins back to the Old English language. Here’s a brief overview:
- Old English: The word “scrub” can be traced back to the Old English word “scrob,” which meant a shrub or a stunted tree. In Old English, it referred to a small, low, or stunted plant that grew in less fertile or rocky areas.
- Middle English: The term evolved into “scrobb,” “schrob,” or “schrobbe” in Middle English, still retaining its general meaning of a stunted or low-growing plant.
- Verb Usage: Over time, the word’s usage extended to a verb form, “scrub,” which meant to clean something by rubbing it hard. This usage likely came from the action of vigorously rubbing or cleaning surfaces, similar to how one might treat a tough, low-growing plant.
- Nautical Usage: In a nautical context, the term “scrub” came to refer to the action of cleaning a ship’s deck or hull thoroughly, often involving a lot of physical effort. This usage likely draws a parallel between the vigorous cleaning action and the original meaning of scrub as a stunted plant that requires extra effort to clear.
- Figurative Usage: Over time, “scrub” has also been used metaphorically to describe individuals who are perceived as being of lower status, lacking skill, or generally unimpressive. This use likely draws on the idea of something being low or stunted, much like the original meaning of the word.
In modern usage, “scrub” can refer to various things, including plants, cleaning actions, and even people. Its etymology reflects a journey from describing stunted vegetation to describing vigorous cleaning and beyond.
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.
I’d love it if you gave me a follow on Twitter or Facebook dearest Wordlers. Have a lovely day!
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Read the full article here
