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The word "decimate" initially meant to reduce something by a factor of this - NYT The Mini Clue

Across

  • The answer "CHAT" refers to the constant flow of live comments displayed during a Twitch stream. "Rolling series" highlights the continuous and fast-paced appearance of messages in the chat window, making it an apt description for this interactive feature of Twitch streaming.

  • The phrase "Rome wasn’t built in a day" is a common proverb meaning great achievements take time. The clue directly references this saying, pointing to ROME, the city famously associated with gradual creation and enduring legacy, as the answer.

  • The answer is LEMON because yellow Skittles are flavored to represent lemon, which is a tart, citrus fruit commonly associated with the color yellow. The clue directly references the Skittles flavor, and LEMON is the standard flavor for the yellow variety in the candy mix.

  • The clue "Store window sign" refers to common signs displayed on store windows to convey their status. "OPEN" is the solution because it is a typical sign indicating that a store is currently welcoming customers, making it a direct and fitting answer to the clue.

  • The answer "BERG" is short for "iceberg," which is a large floating mass of ice that has broken off from a glacier or ice shelf and is drifting in the ocean. The clue directly describes the defining feature of an iceberg, making "BERG" the correct solution.

Down

  • The clue "Parisian pancake" hints the answer is a French term. CREPE, a thin pancake originating in France, fits perfectly. "Parisian" signals something French, aligning with "crepe," a quintessential French dish. This connection makes CREPE the accurate and logical solution.

  • The answer is HOMER because he is the ancient Greek poet traditionally credited with composing The Odyssey, an epic poem recounting the adventures of Odysseus. Recognized as one of the greatest literary works, it solidifies Homer as the creator of this enduring masterpiece.

  • The clue "Relax, you're ___ friends" suggests a comforting phrase implying togetherness or camaraderie. The word "AMONG" fits perfectly, as it conveys being part of a group. The complete phrase "Relax, you're among friends" reassures someone they are in a safe and friendly environment.

  • The word "decimate" originates from the Latin "decimare," meaning "to take a tenth." In ancient Rome, it referred to punishing one in ten soldiers in a mutinous group. Thus, the original meaning of "decimate" relates to reducing by a factor of TEN.

  • A "LOB" is a defensive tennis shot where the ball is hit high into the air, aiming to pass over the opponent, often when under pressure or to reset the rally. It effectively provides time to recover positioning on the court, aligning perfectly with the clue's description.

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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 3-letter answer to the The word "decimate" initially meant to reduce something by a factor of this clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.

The word "decimate" initially meant to reduce something by a factor of this Answer Explained

The answer is TEN.

This clue is more about word history than everyday usage. Today, decimate is commonly used to mean destroying a large part of something, but its original meaning was much more precise. The word comes from the Latin decimare, meaning "to take a tenth." In the Roman army, decimation was a harsh punishment in which one soldier out of every ten was executed after a mutiny or other serious offense. That's why the clue says initially meant; it's pointing you to the word's historical definition rather than its modern one. Knowing that background leads directly to TEN, making this a clever clue that rewards a bit of etymological trivia.

Now that you've cracked the 4D The word "decimate" initially meant to reduce something by a factor of this clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Mini Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry—we've got you covered. Explore more NYT Mini crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, Connections, or Strands.

Today’s NYT Mini Highlights

I just finished today's Monday NYT Mini, and it flew by. I barely paused anywhere. The only thing that threw me off for a moment was CHAT for "Rolling series of comments on a Twitch stream." I kept thinking it could've pointed to almost any social platform, so TWITCH felt a little more specific than I expected. The clue for TEN was probably the most interesting one. I'd never realized that "decimate" originally meant reducing something by a factor of ten. Aside from those two, everything else fell into place quickly, making for a very smooth and enjoyable start to the week.

Here’s what caught our attention today:

About NYT The Mini

NYT The Mini Crossword is a compact version of the New York Times Crossword puzzle. Usually 5 x 5, with larger grids on Saturdays, it offers mid-week equivalent difficulty clues with no progression over the week. It is accessible to anyone with or without a New York Times account. You can play it on nytimes.com/crosswords, The New York Times Games app (iOS and Android), and the Play tab of the New York Times News app. Games and All Access Subscribers can solve past Mini Crossword puzzles in the archive.

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Fill white squares with letters to form intersecting words or phrases by solving clues in Across and Down columns. Read our guide to NYT Mini Mastery to learn how to read the different types of clues.  Successfully completed puzzle triggers music and a congratulatory message.

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