Josh Wardle, a New York-based software developer, first developed Wordle during coronavirus lockdown as a game “for me and my partner to enjoy.”
Released to the public in October 2021, the puzzle became an online sensation with thousands of fans across the world.
Wardle sold Wordle to The New York Times in January, for an undisclosed seven-figure fee, though the game remains free to play.
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Speaking to Newsweek. Dr. Erhan Aslan, associate professor of applied linguistics at Reading University in the U.K., argued the internet and social media were crucial to Wordle’s rapid ascent.
He said: “Word-based puzzles and games have been around for quite a while, and they are nothing new. What is different or new today is how and where people play games. Before the digital age, word puzzle games, particularly crossword puzzles would usually appear in newspapers and magazines.
“People would do them while waiting for the bus or train, in the toilet, or just to kill time. In today’s digital age, like many other things, many simple games like Wordle can be played online.
“I think that Wordle gains its popularity not only from its simple rules, but also from its virality on social media platforms as a result of people sharing/posting their scores to demonstrate a sense of accomplishment and validation.”
The answer to today’s puzzle will be revealed at the end of this article, so scroll down with caution if you want to work it out for yourself. To help you solve today’s Wordle, Newsweek has provided some hints and tips on the latest puzzle.
‘Wordle’ #517 Tips and Clues for Friday, November 18
Wordle players can use these five hints to solve puzzle #517.
Hint #1: There is only one vowel, which can function as a consonant in a different sentence structure.
Hint #2: The answer does not contain any repeated words.
Hint #3: Not a commonly used word, to put it mildly.
Hint #4: If you’re thinking about ancient civilizations, you’re in the right area.
Hint #5: The third letter is a vowel.
‘Wordle’ #517 Answer for Friday, November 18
The answer to today’s Wordle is “glyph.”
Ok, confession time. We didn’t get this one. In fact, we weren’t even sure what a glyph was until we looked it up. Did you get it? If so, you must be some sort of genius. But please don’t worry if not—this was one of the harder puzzles Wordle has thrown our way, and one of the beauties of the game is seeing if you can improve over time.
What Does ‘Glyph’ Mean?
The Cambridge University Dictionary defines glyph as “a picture or symbol that represents a word, used in some writing systems, such as the one used in Ancient Egypt.”
For example: “The two small dots preceding the fish glyph are a doubling sign.”
The next Wordle puzzle will be available at 7 p.m. ET, when the daily update occurs.