I doubt anyone but Sam Ezersky knows why certain words are accepted but others aren’t. For example, catarrh is a medical term and is equally as obscure as cardial. He hates nautical terms too. Luff is a common enough word for anyone who sails, but it’s never been acceptable. Alee on the other hand is just fine. I also can’t think of a single reason that gimme is an acceptable word, but it is. I have learned to just roll with it because no one at NYT is going to respond to emails about what should be accepted in Spelling Bee. I’m pretty sure the intent of the game is to drive word nerds insane - that’s why I still play every morning.
Luff has been accepted 6 times since February of last year. Alee has never been accepted.
Yeah, missing alee has always annoyed me, because it’s so common in the crossword.
Oops, scratch that - reverse it. There are so many examples of what is accepted versus what isn’t that I confuse them (and still try both of them when they arise).
And as far as I can remember, it’s not been accepted either. I’ve tried it a number of times.
You gone insane yet?
Just about every morning.
It [catarrh] was disallowed once in 2018 and has been accepted 12 times since then.
On a different topic, I’ve learned that there was a day in 2021 with no 4-letter words!
I must be thinking of some other word, then.
Yes, I was disappointed by that.
Other disappointments were today’s NIXIE , apparently Sam doesn’t like Germanic water spirits, and yesterday, CARACAL, which is not that rare an animal.
Today they took GNOMON (the pointer on a sundial) for the first time ever. I have tried it many times without success, and don’t know why I thought it might work today, but finally it did.
Thanks for confirming my memory. I tried it (and really needed the points) but didn’t expect to work
I never would have thought to even try that. I got Genius today but it took some effort. I checked the spoiler because I am done for the day.
I try it every time just out of annoyance, and was surprised today. Now I’m interested in what happens the next time it’s available.
I’m still annoyed with yesterday’s NONART
He’s not fond of NORN, either.
Natural QB today. That’s four in the last six days. I think I’m getting the hang of this game.
That’s what I came in to say. It’s been disallowed 16 times before this, but it’s finally in! It’s just been bloody-mindedness that has kept me trying it over the years.
Could anyone tell me why today’s puzzle is accepting MEATHEAD but not MEATHEADED? Is there an actual reason for it? Or is it just more Spelling Bee fuckery?
Remember to spoiler the current puzzle.
Edit: Nevermind - I forgot that E was the center letter today