v-e-i-l
VEIL means a piece of fabric worn to cover the face or head, or to conceal, disguise, or obscure something.
7
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
VEIL carries profound cultural and symbolic meaning across civilizations. As a noun, it refers to a piece of fine fabric worn especially by women to cover the head and face, or a length of fabric forming part of a headdress. It also means something that conceals, separates, or screens like a curtain.
As a verb, to veil means to cover with or as if with a veil, to conceal or disguise. Metaphorically, it represents the boundary between the known and unknown, the visible and invisible, the sacred and profane. From "veiled threats" to "lifting the veil of secrecy," the word permeates our language with notions of mystery and revelation.
In literature and poetry, veils symbolize transformation, hidden truths, and the thin boundaries between worlds. Whether in religious contexts, wedding traditions, or mourning customs, veils mark significant life transitions and sacred moments across diverse cultures.
"Veil" derives from Anglo-Norman French "veile," from Latin "vēlum" meaning "sail, curtain, covering." The Latin root connects to "velare" (to cover) and shares origins with "reveal" (re- + velare, literally "to uncover"). This nautical connection - sails being fabric that catches unseen wind - adds poetic depth to the word's evolution. By the 13th century, it specifically meant women's head coverings, while the metaphorical sense of concealment emerged in the 14th century.
•4-letter words like VEIL are versatile for creating multiple crosswords
•Knowing uncommon but valid words gives you a significant advantage in word games
•VEIL can often be extended with prefixes or suffixes for even more points
•The phrase "beyond the veil" originally referred to the Temple veil in Jerusalem, now means the afterlife
""I played VEIL on a triple word score and earned a huge number of points.""
""VEIL is one of those words that can really boost your score in word games.""
"The bride's antique veil had been worn by five generations of women in her family."
"Morning mist veiled the mountain peaks in an ethereal shroud of white."
Total base points: 7 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 2
Veils appear in Christianity (nun's habits, communion veils), Islam (hijab, niqab), Judaism (tichel, wedding veils), and Hinduism (ghoonghat). Each tradition imbues veiling with unique spiritual meanings of modesty, devotion, or divine separation.
Bridal veils trace back to ancient Rome, where they were flame-colored to ward off evil spirits. Today's white veils symbolize purity, with the lifting of the veil representing the transition into married life and the revelation of inner beauty.
Victorian mourning veils allowed widows to grieve privately in public, creating a portable sanctuary. The gradual lifting of mourning veils over time symbolized the journey from acute grief to remembrance.
From Oscar Wilde's "Salome" to modern interpretations, this dance represents the gradual revelation of truth or self. Each removed veil symbolizes shedding illusions to reach authentic understanding.
Philosopher John Rawls used this concept to design just societies. Behind this hypothetical veil, people don't know their social position, forcing fair decision-making.
In law, this separates a corporation's identity from its shareholders. "Piercing the corporate veil" means holding individuals personally liable for corporate actions.
In Celtic tradition, Samhain (Halloween) is when the veil between the living and dead is thinnest. This concept appears across cultures as boundaries between realities.
Diplomatic speech, poetry, and prophecy often use veiled language to convey meaning indirectly. This allows dangerous truths to be spoken safely or beauty to be suggested rather than stated.
Somerset Maugham's novel uses the veil as metaphor for self-deception. The title comes from Shelley's sonnet about lifting "the painted veil which those who live call Life."
From Bernini's "Veiled Truth" to contemporary installations, artists use veils to explore themes of revelation, modesty, and the boundary between seen and unseen.
Veils in Gothic fiction often signal mystery, hidden identity, or supernatural presence. The "woman in the veil" became a trope representing dangerous secrets or forbidden knowledge.
The V (4 points) makes VEIL worth 7 base points. Always prioritize placing V on double or triple letter scores. A well-positioned VEIL easily scores 15-20 points.
VEIL shares letters with EVIL, LIVE, and VILE - useful when you have these letters but limited board space. This flexibility makes V-E-I-L tiles valuable to keep.
VEIL extends to VEILS (+4), VEILED (+3), VEILING (+6), UNVEIL (+8). The -EIL ending creates opportunities for parallel plays with words like TEIL or SEIL.
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like VEIL