The rare daily word game sweeping the globe. Find what's hidden in plain sight.
CATHODE
Definition of CATHODE
noun
An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows outwards (and thus, electrons flow inwards). It can have either a negative or a positive voltage with respect to anode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively).
Wiktionary · CC BY-SA
Where it comes from
From Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “down”) and ὁδός (hodós, “journey, way”), equivalent to Ancient Greek κάθοδος (káthodos, “way down, descent”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cath- (alternative form of cata-) + -ode.
Etymology via Wiktionary (CC BY-SA).
Word DNA
Line of descent
- Ancient Greek
- English
One recorded step before English.
Deepest traced root
3rd
of 59 source languages in OUTLIER
12.2%
of traced words share this origin (9,501)
branch · 12.2% of traced words
How it is built
Same root, CATHODE · 8 relatives in the game
OUTLIER scores every word on how unusual it is, and that number is not published. Working it out at the board is the game.
CATHODE in OUTLIER
Players have found it on 52 boards so far. 102 players have found it across Outlier's history.
It first turned up on Day 21, 10 June 2026. The most recent board was Day 155, 22 October 2026. Nobody has seen it on a board for 2 days.
First ever to find it
on Day 21, 10 June 2026 - before anyone else in Outlier's history. See the Pioneers
Built from these letters
CATHODE starts with C and ends with E. Sorted, its letters read ACDEHOT - the shape to hunt for when the grid is scrambled. No letter is used twice, which makes it an isogram.
Words that start CATHOD
Its neighbours in the OUTLIER dictionary - shortest first.
Also seen on Day 21
Could you have found CATHODE?
OUTLIER is a daily word game. One grid, the same grid for everybody, and the words nobody else spots are the ones that pay. This word was on Day 21 - and most players walked straight past it.
Play today's OUTLIER