TGIF! It’s 2XP Friday which means if you play competitive Wordle (see rules below) you’ll get twice as many points for winning, and lose twice as many points for losing.
Today’s Wordle is a bit of a doozy also. I’m curious to see how tricky people found this one!
In any case, I have yesterday’s riddle and answer below, so we’ll do that and then move on to today’s Wordle.
Yesterday’s Riddle:
It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.
The Answer:
Darkness
Okay, let’s do this Wordle!
How To Solve Today’s Wordle
The Hint: Fast-growing trees found in South America.
The Clue: This word has a double letter.
The Answer:
.
.
.
Balsa!
Wordle Bot Analysis
My guessing game started out fairly strong today but fizzled a bit in the middle. Scare got me two yellow boxes and slashed the remaining solutions down to just 32. Unfortunately, despite guessing all new letters in my second guess—pouty—I still had eight words remaining. Many of these, so far as I could tell, started with ‘BA’ and I guessed basal though in retrospect it might have been smarter to guess basil instead. Luck was on my side, however, and I was left with just one—pretty obscure—word: balsa for the win!
Today’s Score: I get zero points for guessing in four and -1 for losing to the Bot who guessed in just three somehow. Since it’s 2XP Friday, that means I get -2 today. Lame!
Today’s Wordle Etymology
The word “balsa” has its origins in Spanish, where it refers to a type of wood known for its lightness and buoyancy. The term “balsa” ultimately derives from the Old Spanish word “balso,” which came from the Late Latin word “balsus.” “Balsus” originally meant “swollen” or “puffed up” and was later used to describe a raft or floating device made from light, buoyant wood.
The Latin word “balsus” itself likely came from a Gaulish or Celtic source, as evidenced by similar words in other Celtic languages. The Gaulish word “balisos” or “balsos” referred to a raft or a float, and it is believed to have influenced the development of the Spanish term “balsa.”
Over time, the word “balsa” spread beyond the Spanish language and became internationally recognized as the name for the lightweight wood used in various applications, including model building, construction, and flotation devices. Today, “balsa” is a commonly used term in English and several other languages to refer to both the wood and the products made from it.
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!
As always, I’d love it if you’d follow me here on this blog and subscribe to my YouTube channel and my Substack so you can stay up-to-date on all my TV, movie and video game reviews and coverage. Thanks!
Read the full article here
