Erik Kain
Monday has arrived, accompanied by high wind warnings in my area. With gusts reaching 20 to 35 mph, trees sway, power lines tremble, and trash cans become potential victims of the strong breeze. Unfortunately, this dry and hot season offers no signs of rain, increasing the risk of wildfires. Let’s hope for some rainfall, dear Wordlers.
Perhaps a rain dance is in order?
When I crave rain, I turn to Leo Sayer’s “The Dancer.” There’s a YouTube video of one of his live performances where he wears clown makeup, which helped him overcome stage fright when he was younger. You’re welcome in advance for the recommendation:
Alright, let’s dive into today’s Wordle challenge!
Wordle Bot Analysis
Today’s performance was decent, although I’m kicking myself for my second guess. My initial, peculiar guess turned out to be a stroke of luck. I tried “gorey,” but the correct spelling is “gory.” Instead of starting from scratch, I thought, “Why not give ‘gores’ a shot?” and it worked! Surprisingly, I received a green box and two yellow boxes.
At this point, I realized my options were limited. Little did I know that only three choices remained: geese, guise, and guest. I hesitated between “guest” and “guise” for my second guess and unfortunately made the wrong choice. It was a coin toss! However, I redeemed myself with “guest” on my third guess, securing a victory!
Today’s Score
Despite my misstep in the second guess, I did fairly well today. I scored 1 point for guessing in three attempts and 0 points for tying with the bot. Not too shabby, indeed!
Today’s Wordle Etymology
The word “guest” traces its origins back to Old English, with its earliest recorded forms being “gæst” or “gast.” This Old English term derives from the Proto-Germanic word “*gastiz,” which encompassed both the meanings of “guest” and “stranger.” The Proto-Germanic term, in turn, can be linked to the Proto-Indo-European root “*gʰóstis,” which conveys the sense of “stranger” or “foreigner.”
Can you solve today’s phrase? Play Now
The etymological connections of “guest” can be observed in related terms across various Germanic languages. For instance, the word was “gast” in Old High German, “gestr” in Old Norse, and “gasts” in Gothic. These cognates highlight the shared linguistic heritage of different Germanic-speaking communities.
Over time, the meaning of “guest” has evolved to specifically refer to someone who is invited to stay or participate in an event, such as a gathering or a meal, and is treated with hospitality. However, the underlying notion of a “stranger” or an “outsider” still lingers in the word’s etymology.
Play Competitive Wordle Against Me!
I’ve been engaged in a cutthroat game of PvP Wordle against my nemesis, Wordle Bot. Now it’s your turn to challenge me! I can become your nemesis (and your helpful Wordle guide, of course). If you have a New York Times subscription, you can also compete against the Bot.
Here are the rules:
- 1 point for solving Wordle in 3 guesses.
- 2 points for solving it in 2 guesses.
- 3 points for solving it in 1 guess.
- 1 point for beating Erik.
- 0 points for solving it in 4 guesses.
- (-1) point for solving it in 5 guesses.
- (-2) points for solving it in 6 guesses.
- (-3) points for losing.
- (-1) point for losing to Erik.
Feel free to keep a running tally of your score or simply play day-to-day. I’d appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter or Facebook, dear Wordlers. Have a delightful day!
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