The 4 letter words with definitions, separated alphabetically.
Now updated for CSW24. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.
| aahs | (3rd.) AAH, to say AAH. |
| aals | (Pl.) AAL, an E. Indian shrub. |
| abac | A nomogram, a chart or diagram of scaled lines or curves used to assist in mathematical calculations > ABACS. |
| abas | (Pl.) ABA, a tightly-woven camel-hair fabric or tunic, worn by Arabs. |
| abba | (Aramaic) a Syriac or Coptic bishop > ABBAS. |
| abbe | (Fr.) a courtesy title given in France to every one vested with the ecclesiastical habit or dress > ABBES. |
| abbs | (Pl.) ABB, a kind of textile yarn. |
| abed | In bed. |
| aber | (Welsh) an estuary > ABERS. |
| abet | To incite by encouragement and support > ABETS, ABETTING, ABETTED. |
| abid | (Pt.) ABIDE, to stay, dwell. |
| able | Competent > ABLER, ABLEST; ABLY; (verb) to enable > ABLES, ABLING, ABLED. |
| ably | (Adv.) ABLE, competent. |
| abri | (Fr.) a bomb shelter > ABRIS. |
| abut | To be adjacent to and touching > ABUTS, ABUTTING, ABUTTED. |
| abye | To pay the penalty for > ABYES, ABYING, ABOUGHT (not ABYED*). Also ABY. |
| abys | (3rd.) ABY, to pay as a penalty. |
| acai | A berry found in the Brazilian rainforest, aka palm berry > ACAIS. |
| acca | (Aust. sl.) an academic > ACCAS. Also ACKER. |
| aced | (Pt.) ACE, to play a winning serve in tennis. |
| acer | (Lat.) a plant of the maple genus > ACERS. [L. acer, maple]. |
| aces | (3rd.) ACE, to play a winning serve in tennis. |
| ache | A persistent dull pain; (verb) to be the site of this > ACHES, ACHING, ACHED. |
| achy | Aching > ACHIER, ACHIEST. |
| acid | Sharp, sour > ACIDER, ACIDEST; ACIDLY; (noun) an acid substance > ACIDS. |
| acme | (Greek) a peak, summit > ACMES. |
| acne | A skin disease caused by inflammation of the sebaceous follicles, esp on the face, neck, and shoulders > ACNES, ACNED. |
| acre | A measure of land equivalent to 4840 sq yd > ACRES, ACRED. |
| acro | a skiing event in which a skier performs acrobatic moves to music > ACROS. |
| acta | (Lat.) official minutes of a proceeding. |
| acts | (3rd.) ACT, to do in a specified way. |
| acyl | (Denoting) carboxylic acid > ACYLS. |
| adaw | (Spenser) to daunt, subdue > ADAWS, ADAWING, ADAWED. |
| adds | (3rd.) ADD, to make an addition. |
| addy | An email address > ADDIES. |
| adit | A nearly horizontal shaft to the surface in a mine > ADITS. |
| ados | (Pl.) ADO, fuss. |
| adry | (Arch.) in a state of thirst or dryness. |
| adze | A cutting tool with an arched blade set at right angles to the handle; (verb) to shape with an adze > ADZES, ADZING, ADZED. |
| aeon | (Lat.) the largest division of geological time, composed of several ERAS > AEONS. Also EON. |
| aero | (Relating to) aircraft or aeronautics > AEROS. |
| aery | (Adj.) like air > AERIER, AERIEST; AERILY. (Noun) a bird of prey's nest > AERIES. Also AERIE, AIERY, EYRIE, EYRY, AYRIE. |
| aesc | (OE) an Old English rune used for AE > AESCES. |
| afar | (At) a great distance > AFARS. |
| affy | To trust; to assure on one's faith > AFFIES, AFFYING, AFFIED or (Spenser) AFFYDE. |
| afro | A hairstyle characterized by thick, bushy curls standing out from the head > AFROS. |
| agar | (Malay) a jelly prepared from seaweeds of various kinds > AGARS. |
| agas | (Pl.) AGA, a Turkish commander. |
| aged | Being of a certain age; old > AGEDLY. |
| agee | (Scots) off the straight; ajar. Also AJEE. |
| agen | (Dial.) again. Also AGIN. |
| ager | One that ages > AGERS. |
| ages | (Pl.) AGE, a long time. |
| aggy | (adj) irritable and aggressive. |
| agha | (Turkish) a Turkish commander > AGHAS. Also AGA. |
| agin | (Dial.) again. Also AGEN. |
| agio | (Ital.) a premium paid on foreign currency exchange > AGIOS. [Ital. agio, ease, convenience]. |
| aglu | (Inuit) a breathing hole made in ice by a seal > AGLUS. Also AGLOO. |
| agly | (Scots) awry. Also AGLEE, AGLEY. |
| agma | (Greek) a phonetic symbol representing the sound ng > AGMAS. Also ENG. |
| agog | In a state of eager curiosity. |
| agon | The dramatic conflict between the chief characters in a literary work > AGONS or AGONES. |
| agro | a student of agricultural studies > AGROS. |
| ague | A malarial fever > AGUES. |
| ahed | (Pt.) AH, to say ah. |
| ahem | A sound expressing delicate interruption. No -S. |
| ahis | (Pl.) AHI, yellowfin tuna. |
| ahoy | Interjection used to hail another vessel. |
| aias | (Pl.) AIA, same as AYAH, Indian nursemaid. |
| aida | A finely-meshed cotton fabric used for cross-stitch embroidery > AIDAS. |
| aide | (Fr.) a confidential assistant to a person of senior rank > AIDES. |
| aids | (3rd.) AID, to help. |
| aiga | (Samoan) a large family, often spanning several generations > AIGAS. Also AINGA. |
| ails | (3rd.) AIL, to be amiss, be ill. |
| aims | (3rd.) AIM. |
| aine | (Fr.) elder, senior. |
| ains | (Pl.) AIN, a Hebrew letter. |
| airn | (Scots) iron; (verb) to iron > AIRNS, AIRNING, AIRNED. |
| airs | (3rd.) AIR, to make known publicly. |
| airt | (Scots) direction, quarter; (verb) to direct > AIRTS, AIRTING, AIRTED. |
| airy | Full of air, light > AIRIER, AIRIEST; AIRILY. |
| aits | (Pl.) AIT, small island. |
| aitu | In Polynesia, a demigod > AITUS. |
| ajar | Partly open. |
| ajee | (Scots) awry. Also AGEE. |
| ajis | (Pl.) AJI, a spicy pepper. |
| akas | (Pl.) AKA, a kind of New Zealand vine. |
| aked | (Pt.) AKE, to ache. |
| akee | (Kru) a small African sapindaceous tree, now common in the W. Indies; its edible fruit, often used in Caribbean cookery > AKEES. Also ACKEE. |
| akes | (3rd.) AKE, to ache. |
| akin | Related by blood. |
| alae | (Pl.) ALA, an outgrowth on a fruit. |
| alan | A large hunting dog > ALANS. Also ALANT, ALAND. |
| alap | (Sanskrit) in Indian music, the introductory section of a RAGA > ALAPS. Also ALAAP, ALAPA. |
| alar | Of or pertaining to the wing or shoulder. Also ALARY. |
| alas | An interjection expressing grief. |
| alay | (Obs.) to allay > ALAYS, ALAYING, ALAYED. Also ALEYE. |
| alba | A white substance found in the brain > ALBAS. |
| albe | (Arch.) albeit. Also ALBEE. |
| albs | (Pl.) ALB, a priest's long white vestment. |
| alco | (Aust. sl.) a heavy drinker or alcoholic > ALCOS. Also ALKO. |
| alec | A herring > ALECS. |
| alee | On the lee side. |
| alef | (Hebrew) the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet > ALEFS. Also ALEPH. |
| ales | (Pl.) ALE, a beer fermented in an open vessel using yeasts that rise to the top of the brew. |
| alew | (Spenser) halloo. |
| alfa | (Arabic) a N. African esparto grass > ALFAS. Also HALFA. |
| alga | (Lat.) a seaweed > ALGAE or ALGAS. |
| algo | (n) (short for) algorithm. |
| alif | (Arabic) an Arabic letter, corresponding to Greek ALEPH > ALIFS. |
| alit | (Pt.) ALIGHT, to come down from something. |
| alko | (Aust. sl.) a heavy drinker or alcoholic > ALKOS. Also ALCO. |
| alky | (Coll.) an alcoholic > ALKIES. Also ALKIE. |
| alls | (Pl.) ALL, the whole. |
| ally | To join by marriage, friendship, treaty etc > ALLIES, ALLYING, ALLIED. |
| alma | (Arabic) an Egyptian dancing-girl > ALMAS. Also ALMAH, ALME, ALMEH. |
| alme | (Arabic) an Egyptian dancing-girl > ALMES. Also ALMAH, ALMA, ALMEH. |
| alms | Relief given out of charity to the poor. |
| alod | An estate held in absolute ownership, without acknowledgement to a superior > ALODS. Also ALLOD, ALODIUM, ALLODIUM. |
| aloe | Any member of a mainly S African genus Aloe, consisting mostly of trees and shrubs of the lily family > ALOES, ALOED. |
| aloo | (Hindi) a potato > ALOOS. |
| alow | (Scots) ablaze. Also ALOWE. |
| alps | (Pl.) ALP, a mountain. |
| also | In addition. |
| alto | (Ital.) the highest adult male voice, with range above the tenor > ALTOS. |
| alts | (Pl.) ALT, a high tone; a halt or rest. |
| alum | A sulphate of ammonium and potassium, used as a mordant > ALUMS. |
| alus | (Pl.) ALU, a potato. |
| amah | (Port.) an Oriental nursemaid > AMAHS. Also AMA. |
| amas | (Pl.) AMA, an Oriental nurse. |
| ambo | An early Christian raised reading-desk or pulpit > AMBOS or AMBONES. |
| amen | So be it; (verb) to say amen > AMENS, AMENING, AMENED. |
| ames | (Pl.) AME, a soul. |
| amia | A freshwater fish, aka BOWFIN > AMIAS. |
| amid | A compound formed by the union of amidogen with an acid element or radical > AMIDS. Also AMIDE. |
| amie | (Fr.) a (female) friend > AMIES. |
| amin | A compound derived from ammonia > AMINS. Also AMINE, AMMINE. |
| amir | (Arabic) an Eastern ruler > AMIRS. Also AMEER, EMIR, EMEER. |
| amis | (Spenser) a strip of linen worn by priests round the shoulders > AMISES. Also AMICE, ALMUCE. |
| amla | An E. Indian tree, aka EMBLIC > AMLAS. |
| ammo | (Abbr.) ammunition > AMMOS. |
| amok | (Malay) in a murderous rage; frenzied; (noun) a murderous rage > AMOKS. Also AMUCK. |
| amps | (Pl.) AMP, an AMPERE, a unit of electrical current. |
| amus | (Pl.) AMU, a unit of mass. |
| amyl | A univalent radical > AMYLS. |
| anal | Relating to the anus > ANALLY. |
| anan | = ANON in sense of (to a person calling for attention) in a moment! coming! |
| anas | (Pl.) ANA. a collection of someone's table-talk. |
| ance | (Dial.) once. |
| ands | (Pl.) AND, the symbol ampersand. |
| anes | (Pl.) ANE, one. |
| anew | Afresh, again. |
| anga | (Sanskrit) a yoga practice > ANGAS. |
| anil | (Arabic) indigo, the plant or dye > ANILS. |
| anis | (Pl.) ANI, a tropical American bird. |
| ankh | (Arabic) an Egyptian symbol of life, resembling a looped cross, later adapted by Coptic Christians as their cross > ANKHS. |
| anna | (Hindi) a coppery Indian/Pakistani coin > ANNAS. |
| anno | (Lat.) in the year of the Christian era. |
| anns | (Pl.) ANN, in Scotland, payment to a parish minister's widow. |
| anoa | (Indonesian) a wild ox of the Celebes > ANOAS. |
| anon | At once; immediately. Also ANAN. |
| anow | (Milton) enough. Also ENOW. |
| ansa | (Lat.) part of Saturn's rings > ANSAE. |
| anta | 1. (Lat.) a square pilaster at either side of a doorway > ANTAE. 2. a tapir > ANTAS. |
| ante | To put a fixed stake in the pot > ANTES, ANTEING, ANTED or ANTEED. |
| anti | (Noun) one who is against > ANTIS. |
| ants | (Pl.) ANT, a small industrious insect. |
| anus | (Lat.) the opening at the end of the alimentary canal by which undigested residues are excreted > ANUSES. [L. anus, ring]. |
| apay | (Arch.) to satisfy; to repay > APAYS, APAYING, APAID or APAYD. Also APPAY. |
| aped | (Pt.) APE, to imitate. |
| aper | One that apes > APERS. |
| apes | (3rd.) APE, to imitate. |
| apex | (Lat.) the summit or peak > APEXES or APICES. |
| apod | An animal without feet or ventral fins > APODS. Also APODE. |
| apos | (Pl.) APO, a type of protein. |
| apps | (Pl.) APP, short for application program. |
| apse | A rounded extension at the end of a building, especially at the east end of a church > APSES. |
| apso | (Tibetan) a Tibetan terrier > APSOS. |
| apts | (3rd.) APT, to fit, adapt. |
| aqua | (Lat.) water > AQUAE or AQUAS. |
| arak | (Arabic) a spirit made from TODDY > ARAKS. Also ARRACK. |
| arar | The SANDARAC tree > ARARS. [Moroccan name]. |
| arba | (Arabic) a heavy screened wagon used by Tatars and others > ARBAS. Also AROBA, ARABA. |
| arbs | (Pl.) ARB, an ARBITRAGEUR, one who makes profit by dealing on the stock exchange. |
| arch | Sly, mischievous > ARCHER, ARCHEST; ARCHLY; (verb) to bend > ARCHES, ARCHING, ARCHED. |
| arco | (Ital.) with the bow. |
| arcs | (Pl.) ARC, a type of curve. |
| ards | (Pl.) ARD, a primitive form of plough. |
| area | (Lat.) a particular tract of the earth's (or another planet's) surface; a region > AREAS or AREAE. |
| ared | (Spenser) pt. of AREAD, to counsel. Also AREDD. |
| areg | (Pl.) ERG, a Saharan area of shifting sands. |
| ares | (Pl.) ARE, 100 sq. metres. |
| aret | (Spenser) to entrust, commit > ARETS, ARETTING, ARETTED. |
| arew | (Obs.) in a row. Also AROW. |
| arfs | (Pl.) ARF, a barking sound. |
| argh | an interjection expressing pain or dismay. |
| aria | (Ital.) an elaborate melody for a single voice > ARIAS. |
| arid | Very dry > ARIDER, ARIDEST; ARIDLY. |
| arie | (pl) ARIA, an elaborate melody sung (typically in opera) by a single voice. |
| aril | An additional envelope, often fleshy, developed around the seed in certain plants (e.g. yew) > ARILS, ARILED. Also ARILLUS. |
| aris | (Cockney slang) arse > ARISES. [From Aristotle > bottle > bottle and glass]. |
| arks | (3rd.) ARK, to put in an ark. |
| arle | To give earnest-money > ARLES, ARLING, ARLED. |
| arms | (3rd.) ARM, to provide with weapons. |
| army | A large body of people armed for war and under military command > ARMIES. |
| arna | (Hindi) the Indian water-buffalo > ARNAS. |
| aros | (pl) ARO, a person who feels little or no romantic attraction to others. |
| arow | (Obs.) in a row. Also AREW. |
| arpa | A site concerned with internet infrastructure > ARPAS. |
| arse | (Sl.) the backside > ARSES; (verb) to bother with > ARSES, ARSING, ARSED. |
| arsy | (Sl.) aggressive, irritable or argumentative > ARSIER, ARSIEST. Also ARSEY. |
| arti | (Hindu) a ritual performed in homes and temples in which incense and light is offered to a deity > ARTIS. Also AARTI. |
| arts | (Pl.) ART, the creation of works of beauty. |
| arty | Artistic > ARTIER, ARTIEST; ARTILY; (noun) an arty person > ARTIES. |
| arum | A large-spathed plant, aka 'cuckoo-pint' or 'lords and ladies' > ARUMS. |
| arvo | (Aus. sl.) afternoon > ARVOS. |
| aryl | Any aromatic univalent hydrocarbon radical > ARYLS. |
| asar | (Pl.) AS, a kame or esker. |
| asci | (Pl.) ASCUS, a spore sac. |
| asea | At sea. |
| ashy | Resembling ash > ASHIER, ASHIEST. |
| asks | (3rd.) ASK, to make a request of. |
| asps | (Pl.) ASP, a venomous snake. |
| atap | (Malay) the NIPA palm > ATAPS. [Malay atap, roof, thatch]. Also ATTAP. |
| ates | (Pl.) ATE, reckless ambition. |
| atma | (Sanskrit) the individual soul > ATMAS. Also ATMAN. |
| atoc | (Peruvian) a species of skunk > ATOCS. Also ATOK. |
| atok | (Peruvian) a species of skunk > ATOKS. Also ATOC. |
| atom | The smallest particle in an element which can take part in a chemical reaction > ATOMS. |
| atop | On top of. |
| atua | (Maori) a spirit or demon > ATUAS. |
| auas | (Pl.) AUA, the yellow-eyed mullet. |
| aufs | (Pl.) AUF, an elf's child. |
| augh | an interjection expressing despair or frustration. |
| auks | (Pl.) AUK, a northern sea bird. |
| aula | (Lat.) a hall > AULAS. |
| auld | (Scots) old > AULDER, AULDEST. |
| aune | (Fr.) an ell; a French measure of cloth > AUNES. |
| aunt | A father's or mother's sister, or an uncle's wife > AUNTS. |
| aura | (Lat.) a supposed subtle emanation from living things > AURAE or AURAS. |
| auto | (Verb) to travel by car > AUTOS, AUTOING, AUTOED. |
| aval | Pertaining to a grandparent. |
| avas | (Pl.) AVA, a narcotic drink prepared from Polynesian plant. |
| avel | (Hebrew) a mourner esp during the first seven days after a death > AVELS. Also OVEL. |
| aver | To declare positively > AVERS, AVERRING, AVERRED. |
| aves | (Pl.) AVE, a prayer to the Virgin Mary. |
| avid | Eager > AVIDER, AVIDEST; AVIDLY. |
| avis | (pl) AVI, an avatar used in social media or online gaming. |
| avos | (Pl.) AVO, a monetary unit of Macao. |
| avow | To declare, to maintain > AVOWS, AVOWING, AVOWED. |
| away | (Noun) an away match > AWAYS. |
| awdl | (Welsh) a Welsh ode > AWDLS. |
| awed | (Pt.) AWE, to strike with AWE. |
| awee | Awhile. |
| awes | (3rd.) AWE, to strike with AWE. |
| awfy | (Scots) awfully, extremely. |
| awks | (Pl.) AWK, a computer language used for data-pprocessing. |
| awls | (Pl.) AWL, a tool for boring holes. |
| awns | (Pl.) AWN, the beard of barley. |
| awny | Having awns; bearded > AWNIER, AWNIEST. |
| awol | An absentee without leave > AWOLS. |
| awry | Twisted to one side; crooked; amiss. |
| axal | Of the axis. Also AXIAL, AXILE. |
| axed | (Pt.) AXE, to strike with an axe. |
| axel | In figure-skating, a jump from one skate to the other > AXELS. |
| axes | (Pl.) AXE, a tool for cutting or chopping. |
| axil | The upper angle formed where the leaf meets the stem > AXILS. |
| axis | 1. (Lat.) the imaginary straight line about which a body such as the earth rotates > AXES, AXISED. 2. the white-spotted deer of India > AXISES. |
| axle | The pin or rod in the nave of a wheel on or by means of which the wheel turns > AXLES, AXLED. |
| axon | (Greek) a nerve fibre > AXONS. [Gk. axon, axis]. Also AXONE. |
| ayah | (Hindi) an Indian nursemaid > AYAHS. Also AIA. |
| ayes | (Pl.) AYE, a vote in the affirmative. |
| ayin | (Hebrew) a Hebrew letter > AYINS. Also AIN. |
| ayre | (Obs.) = AIR, esp. in sense of tune > AYRES. |
| ayus | (Pl.) AYU, a small edible Japanese fish. |
| azan | (Arabic) the Muslim call to prayer, made five times a day by a MUEZZIN > AZANS. Also ADHAN. |
| azon | A radio-controlled aerial bomb > AZONS. |
| azym | Unleavened bread; Passover cake > AZYMS. Also AZYME. |