While it may have been released to the public as early as October 2021, Word‘s popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
The word-based puzzle became an online sensation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stuck at home due to lockdown restrictions, people became addicted to problem solving from Wordle daily challenge, share their wins on social media and attract even more players. However, Word The intention was never to take over the world.
Josh Wardle made it as a gift for his crossword-loving girlfriend, Palek Shah. The Brooklyn-based software engineer developed the game based on a prototype he had experimented with but ultimately abandoned in 2013. After showing the new and improved version to his friends and family, he realized that other puzzle nerds might enjoy it. Word, so he uploaded it to the internet.
In November 2021, the mobile game only had 91 users, but by January 2022 that number had risen to 2 million. The New York Times was so impressed that it bought the game for a seven-figure sum.
Since the takeover of the Internet, Word has done what few viral sensations have been able to do: it has remained popular – and is still the publication’s most played puzzle.
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The puzzle challenges players to guess a five-letter word within six tries and is guided by a color-coded tile system to let them know if they are on the right track. A green tile means the letter is correct; while yellow indicates that the letter appears in the word, but is in the wrong place; and a gray tile means the letter is not in the word at all.
What states Word what is special is the simplicity and accessibility. With a minimalist interface and simple gameplay, it appeals to casual gamers and word lovers alike. The short play sessions make it perfect for a quick mental workout during a coffee break or for relaxing while scrolling through social media.
Newsweek has put together five clues to help you solve today’s problems Word puzzle. The answer will be revealed further down, so scroll carefully.
‘Wordle’ #1,279, Directions for Thursday, December 19
Tip #1: Today’s answer is a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Tip #2: There are no repeated letters.
Tip #3: It contains only one vowel.
Tip #4: Synonyms include ‘deviate’ and ‘wander’.
Tip #5: The word starts and ends with a consonant.
‘Wordle’ #1,279, Reply for Thursday, December 19
The answer to today’s question Word is ‘lost’.
According to Merriam-Webster, the noun is defined as “a pet that wanders or is lost” and the verb is “to stray from companionship, restraint, or proper boundaries.” The adjective is defined as ‘to have strayed or escaped from a proper or intended place’.
Congratulations if you found the answer! But don’t worry if that’s not the case. Word will be updated every day at midnight in your local time zone, at which time the next puzzle will become available. Newsweek returns with a new round of hints and tips for each new game.
In the meantime, you could give it a try Connections-another popular game from The New York Timesfor what Newsweek also provides daily tips.
