I’m still not sure how to feel about it already being August. How did we already burn through seven months of 2023? What do we have to show for it? I know I was hoping to have progressed further in my fitness and weight-loss goals, but I am the master of one thing and one thing only: Self-sabotage. The moment I’m on a really good path, I dive into the thorns, hurl myself down the mountainside, race into a burning building. Figuratively speaking, of course.
Ah well, every day is a new day and there’s no time like the present. Indeed, I write this just before heading to the gym after a longer-than-healthy hiatus. Time to get strong. Fast. Hard rather than soft. Quick rather than slow. Tough rather than doughy. You can’t get these qualities type-type-typing away at a computer, alas.
It’s also Wordle Wednesday. Here’s your riddle:
There are twenty coins sitting on the table, ten are currently heads and tens are currently tails. You are sitting at the table with a blindfold and gloves on. You are able to feel where the coins are, but are unable to see or feel if they heads or tails. You must create two sets of coins. Each set must have the same number of heads and tails as the other group. You can only move or flip the coins, you are unable to determine their current state. How do you create two even groups of coins with the same number of heads and tails in each group?
I’ll post the answer tomorrow. Let’s do this Wordle!
How To Solve Today’s Wordle
The Hint: Phonetically similar to a long, thin loaf of French bread.
The Clue: This word has a double letter in it.
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See yesterday’s Wordle #773 right here.
Wordle Bot Analysis
I feel pretty good about these guesses today. I certainly don’t feel teary over getting it in three. That opening guess set the tone nicely, leaving me with just 27 remaining words. From here, debit got me another yellow and another green. It also reduced my options to just 4 words.
I only thought of one of those words before I guessed (sorry, begot just didn’t spring to mind!). Beget was, fortunately for me, the correct answer! Huzzah!
Today’s Score
I get 1 point for guessing in three and 1 point for beating the Bot who guessed in four, for a grand total of 2 points! Huzzah again!
Today’s Wordle Etymology
The word “beget” has its origins in Old English and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic language. Here’s a breakdown of its etymology:
- Old English: The word “beget” is derived from the Old English verb “begietan” (also spelled “begitan”), which meant “to get,” “to obtain,” or “to acquire.”
- Proto-Germanic: Going further back, the Old English “begietan” can be traced to the Proto-Germanic verb “*bigetan,” where the prefix “*bi-” meant “around” or “by” and “*getan” meant “to get” or “to obtain.”
- Proto-Indo-European: The Proto-Germanic “*getan” can be ultimately traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root “*ghedh-” (or “*gheh1-“), which conveyed the general idea of “to seize” or “to take hold of.”
Over time, the meaning of “beget” evolved to specifically refer to the act of procreation or producing offspring, as it does in modern English. In this context, “beget” means “to father” or “to sire” children. The broader sense of “to obtain” or “to acquire” has mostly fallen out of use in modern English, and the word now primarily pertains to the act of generation or parentage.
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 Erik
- 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 Erik
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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