The NYT Mini Crossword from July 18, 2025 came with an unusual grid with a few two-letter themed entries, which is a rare sight in crosswords. From that same puzzle, we’re helping you solve the clue “Dated feminine suffix” at 6A. The suffix we’re looking for is four letters long and it comes from French, where endings often change to distinguish between masculine and feminine forms. It can be a tricky one, though, since it’s not the only outdated feminine suffix you’ll come across in older or more traditional usages.
Dated Feminine Suffix NYT Mini Answer
ENNE is the answer to the “Dated feminine suffix” clue.
The suffix enne comes from French where it was traditionally added to masculine nouns to form their feminine versions. For example, comedian becomes comedienne, and Parisian becomes Parisienne. But you can’t just add enne onto any word. It follows certain linguistic patterns specific to French grammar.
That said, enne has fallen out of common use. Modern English tends to use the same form for both genders. You’ll still spot it in proper names like Vivienne, Julienne, or Lucienne, however. Another old French feminine suffix is esse, as seen in comte and comtesse for “count” and “countess.”
