Definition

A small, slender amphibian that often has bright colors, usually living on land but returning to water to breed.

Example

We saw a newt swimming in the pond during our hike.

Conversation

I saw a really cool newt in the garden yesterday.

No way! What did it look like?

It was bright orange with little spots.

That sounds amazing! I’ve never seen a newt in person.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'newt' originates from the Old English 'efeta', which referred to a type of lizard or amphibian. The term evolved through Middle English as 'newt' from 'an ewte', where 'an' is an indefinite article and 'ewte' is a variant of 'efeta'.

Memory Tip

Think of the Old English word 'efeta' for a type of lizard, which helps you remember that a newt is a small amphibian similar to a lizard.

Visually Confused Words