The solution to today’s Wordle puzzle (#487 — October 19, 2022) is quirk. A quirk is a kink or mannerism peculiar to something or someone, or at least that has been its most common usage context since the 17th century. Before then, the word quirk had other definitions, some of which are “flourishing penmanship,” “twists of fate,” or “witty turns of phrase” (via Merriam-Webster). In modern English, the word quirk also gets common usage as a verb that describes a facial expression involving a significant curve or arch, like a raised eyebrow or a crooked smile. As much as it has evolved, the origin of the word quirk is unknown.
It took five tries to figure out the answer today — we started guessing with the word clout, then followed up with the word swung, which didn’t yield much information to work with. But we did gather enough info after guessing the words brave and timid, after which the solution was apparent. WordleBot solved the puzzle in four guesses, and we hope you do even better. And if you’re a major Wordle buff, here are some similar puzzles you might also enjoy.
