Rarely Used Word Meaning "Sadness" Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: Apr 28, 2025
Looking for the solution to the "Rarely-used word meaning sadness" crossword clue from the April 28, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've identified the exact 5-letter answer you need. To enhance your crossword solving experience, we've created interactive tools to assist you. You can use our gradual letter reveal feature, or browse through our carefully developed hints—including word pattern suggestions, similar clues sharing the same answer, or detailed descriptions to help your reasoning process. We've also streamlined navigation between related clues from the same puzzle. Ready to solve this vocabulary-themed challenge? Let's uncover the answer together!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The April 28, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Rarely-used word meaning 'sadness'" with the answer DOLOR. This clue cleverly points to an uncommon word in everyday English that expresses sorrow or grief. The term "dolor" has literary and historical significance but is seldom encountered in modern casual conversation, making it a challenging yet educational crossword answer.
Etymology and Usage
The word "dolor" derives from Latin, where it directly translates to "pain" or "grief." This term has been preserved in Romance languages such as Spanish and Portuguese, where it remains in common usage. In English, however, it has become primarily a literary or archaic term, appearing in classical poetry, older literature, and formal medical terminology. One of its most famous appearances is in the Latin phrase "dolor hic tibi proderit olim" (someday this pain will be useful to you), which has become a philosophical motto about the value of suffering. The term is also part of the well-known Latin expression "lacrimae rerum," which refers to the "tears of things" or the inherent sadness in the world. While rarely used in everyday English, "dolor" does persist in the medical term "sine dolore," meaning "without pain," and appears in some legal and ecclesiastical contexts. The word has influenced English terms like "dolorous" (meaning full of grief) and "condolence" (expressing sympathy in sorrow), which are more commonly encountered. In crossword puzzles, "dolor" occasionally appears as an answer, particularly when clued as a literary or archaic term for sadness or pain.
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When encountering clues that reference "rarely-used" or "archaic" words in the NYT Mini Crossword, consider terms that have historical or literary significance but aren't common in everyday language. In this case, the specification that the word means "sadness" narrows the possibilities to terms expressing grief or sorrow. The five-letter constraint points to words like "DOLOR," which fits both criteria perfectly. Crossword constructors often include such vocabulary challenges to test solvers' knowledge of English's rich linguistic heritage. When faced with similar clues, consider Latin or Greek roots that have influenced English but aren't widely used, or terms that might appear in Shakespeare or classical literature. Also look for words that may still be common in other languages but rare in English. Remember that while the NYT Mini is typically more approachable than the full-sized puzzle, it still occasionally includes vocabulary challenges that might require some etymological knowledge or literary awareness.
Related Crossword Answers
DOLOR
Clue: "Literary sorrow"
ANGST
Clue: "Deep anxiety or dread"
ENNUI
Clue: "Listless dissatisfaction"
PATHOS
Clue: "Quality evoking pity"
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