ED Words: The Two-Letter Start That Became a Prefix
ED stands on its own as the abbreviation everyone knows, but as a word opener it produces a distinctive family. EDDY (a circular current), EDGE (a boundary or blade), EDICT (a formal decree), EDIT (to revise), EDUCE (to draw out), and EDUCATE share the ED- beginning without sharing a common root — each comes from a different Latin source. That randomness makes ED- words harder to predict in crosswords than prefix-driven families like UN- or RE-, but it also makes them more interesting to learn.
EDIBLE is the ED- word that shows up most in crosswords, usually clued as "fit to eat" or "safe to consume." EDIFICE (a large building) appears in architecture clues. EDGY has become crossword shorthand for "modern" or "avant-garde." EDICT gets clued as "official decree" or "papal order." For Scrabble players, ED itself scores 3 points — not much, but it's a handy two-letter play. EDGY scores 9 points and uses the Y tile effectively.
Tip: Don't confuse the ED- word beginning with the -ED suffix. They're completely different things. Words starting with ED- are their own roots, while -ED at the end marks past tense. If a crossword clue uses past tense, you want words ending in LY or past-tense forms. For ED- as a start, think nouns and adjectives. Check words starting with D for the broader D family, words ending in Y for EDDY and EDGY patterns, and words starting with R for RE- prefix words that sometimes get confused with ED- starts.
FAQ
What is the most common ED- word in crosswords?
EDIBLE, EDGE, EDICT, and EDEN (as in the garden) dominate. EDGE is particularly versatile — it can be clued as a noun ("cliff's brink"), verb ("inch forward"), or adjective base (EDGY = "cutting-edge"). EDEN appears as a proper noun but also as a general word for paradise. For other high-frequency crossword starters, see words ending in ING.
Is EDUCE a real word?
Yes, EDUCE means "to draw forth" or "to deduce" — it comes from Latin educere (to lead out). It's valid in Scrabble for 8 points and occasionally appears in harder crossword puzzles clued as "to elicit" or "to bring out." Its related form EDUCIBLE is also valid. For more rare but valid Latinate words, browse words starting with O.