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There once was a time when you could win the 

, now underway, by correctly spelling "initials." 

Last year, the co-champions won with "feuilleton" (the part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader, or a feature section) and "stichomythia" (dialogue especially of altercation or dispute delivered in alternating lines, as in classical Greek drama). 

Spelling bee officials confront racist reaction

While winning words from the early days of the bee were relatively straightforward and not so esoteric, these days contestants must pore over dictionaries and study Latin and Greek roots. 

, Simon Horobin, an English professor at the University of Oxford, wrote of the contrast:

But this all a good thing because it just means the contestants are getting smarter.

"The spellers themselves are becoming more talented and more knowledgeable about the words," said Valerie Miller, a spokesperson for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. "As they elevate their game, we have to elevate our game as well." 

Here's a look back at how the winning words at the spelling bee have evolved. See the 

A new spelling bee champ will be crowned Thursday night. (Follow along, word by word, 

Gladiolus: A plant with long, stiff leaves and brightly colored flowers 

Intelligible: Able to be understood; especially: clear enough to be heard, read, etc. 

Therapy: The treatment of physical or mental illnesses

Meticulosity: Strict attentiveness to what one is doing

Crustaceology: The branch of zoology dealing with crustaceans

Eudaemonic: Producing happiness: based on the idea of happiness as the proper end of conduct

Eczema: A skin disease that causes areas of the skin to become red, rough and itchy

Croissant: A type of roll that has a curved shape and that is usually eaten at breakfast

 Incisor: A tooth that has a sharp edge for biting : one of the four front teeth of the upper or lower jaw

Elucubrate: To work out or express by studious effort

Milieu: The physical or social setting in which people live or in which something happens or develops

Fibranne: A fabric made of spun-rayon yarn

Xanthosis: Yellow discoloration of the skin from abnormal causes; a virus disease of the strawberry plant characterized by crinkling and curling, yellowing and dwarfing of the leaves, and stunting of the entire plant

Demarche: A course of action: maneuver; a diplomatic or political initiative or maneuver; a petition or protest presented through diplomatic channels

) Succedaneum: One that succeeds to the place of another

Appoggiatura: An embellishing note or tone preceding an essential melodic note or tone and usually written as a note of smaller size

 Stromuhr: An instrument for measuring the flow of viscous substances. 

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Nancy Yang

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There once was a time you could win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, now underway, by correctly spelling "initials." Not anymore.

Winning words at the bee more D-I-F-F-I-C-U-L-T than ever

Go Deeper.

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