Good grief, it’s almost 2024 and I’m really not sure how to feel about that. 2023 has slipped by too fast! Am I even prepared to start writing 2024 on documents or will I keep writing 2023 for weeks? I do like the round number factor, I have to admit. And I like that it’s a leap year.
On the other hand, it was just about four years ago that the pandemic started. In January of 2020 I got very sick. I had a terrible respiratory illness with a dreadful, wheezing cough that lasted for something like six weeks, eventually forcing me to do the unthinkable and actually go to a doctor. But this was pre-COVID-19 by just long enough that nobody (including myself) considered that it might be that. I don’t think it was based on my location and the timeline, but I do know that it did a real number on me long-term. My respiratory capacity has never quite recovered.
So that was four years ago, and my how the world has changed. What a turbulent time that was—a time I’d really rather forget. It’s almost time to usher in a new year. Let’s hope it’s better than 2020 was. And since it’s an election year, let’s hope it was better than 2016 as well.
On that note, my favorite ode to a new year, and to hope, and to this feeling I think a lot of his carry with us year to year. Now the days go by so fast. This is a nice cover of The Counting Crows’ A Long December by Matt Stell:
Alright, let’s Wordle.
How To Solve Today’s Word
The Hint: A crucial number when it comes to defeating ferocious bunny rabbits with spiritually superior hand grenades.
The Clue: This word has a double letter in it.
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See yesterday’s Wordle #923 right here.
Wordle Bot Analysis
After each Wordle I solve I head over to the Wordle Bot homepage to see how my guessing game was.
Well four ain’t bad! Though guessing today’s word in three would have been **chef’s kiss** I suppose guessing in four is ironic. Gotta love that irony.
My opener, shale, was quite excellent, but not quite excellent enough to get me to the answer in time. I followed up shale with my opening guess from yesterday, chore, and while it cut the number down to 2, that still left me facing a coin toss. (Wordle Bot says inert would have been more efficient here). I tossed the coin and it landed like a bad penny. Rhyme, alas, was incorrect.
Three, as it happens, is the magic number.
Today’s Competitive Wordle Score
I get 0 points for guessing in four and -1 for losing to Wordle Bot, who got it in three.
Today’s Wordle Etymology
The word “three” has a fascinating etymology that traces back through several stages of linguistic evolution. It originates from the Old English word “þrīe” for masculine and neuter forms and “þrēo” for feminine, which comes from Proto-Germanic “*þrijiz” (masculine and neuter) and “*þrejes” (feminine).
These Proto-Germanic terms, in turn, derive from the Proto-Indo-European root “*trei-“, which means ‘three’. This root is the source of similar words in many other Indo-European languages, such as Latin “tres”, Greek “treis”, and Sanskrit “trayas”.
Thus, the word “three” is an excellent example of how languages evolve over time, retaining a core meaning while adapting in form and pronunciation.
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.
