One hundred years ago, nine newspapers got together to sponsor a spelling competition for middle school students at the national level. While the words and the spellers have changed, the National Spelling Bee celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 31. This year’s winner, Faizan Zaki, is from Allen, TX and took second place last year. This year’s winning word? Eclaircissement, which means “to clear up something obscure” or “enlightenment”.
Some of the winning words in the past were perhaps easier to spell. Can you match the winning word with its definition?
| A. Gladiolus (1925) B. Shalloon (1971) C. Insouciant (1951) D. Euonym (1997) E. Odontalgia (1986) F. Semaphore (1946) G. Abseil (2024) | 1. An apt name for something 2. To rappel up a rock wall 3. A perennial flower related to iris 4. Indifferent, or showing lack of concern 5. A type of wool fabric 6. A toothache 7. A type of communication using flags |
(Answers: a: 4, b:2, c:5, d:1, e:6, f:7, g:2)
According to Scripps, the longtime sponsor of the National Spelling Bee, the term “spelling bee” dates to roughly 1875. However, spelling contests probably date to about the time the US was founded, which coincides with the publication of the first English language dictionaries. While it celebrates 100 years of the National Spelling Bee, this year’s contest is only the 97th competition. The spelling bee was called off during World War II in 1943, 1944 and 1945, and also in 2020 during COVID.
The National Spelling Been has been subject to a number of firsts. In 1936, Akron, OH native MacNolia Cox became the first Black spelling bee finalist, making her way to the final five in 1936. Her success paved the way for future champions of color, with 30 of the past 36 coming from India. While most spelling bees have only one winner, 2019’s contest resulted in many more, the first time more than a single winner was declared. After three tie-breaking rounds in which each speller correctly spelled their words, eight winners were given the title of co-champion. The ninth-place winner was considered the runner-up that year.
How good is your spelling? One of the best ways to become an effective speller is to know the histories and origins of words. The Oxford English Dictionary is the premier source for a task of this sort. A better understanding of the long and tangled history of the English language can also be helpful. If you are spelling competitively, it also helps if the person before you spelled their word incorrectly – in which case you are 13% more likely to spell it right. But if you have other questions about spelling, feel free to ask us! iueref@iu.edu.