11.01.07 -- Synonymously Yours

Diane Arbus, zonder titel, ca. 1970, Collectie Groninger Museum

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Thursday, November 1, 2007

Click here for LARGE PRINT.

Puzzle by Larry Shearer, edited by Will Shortz

Dear Reader:

The clues for this crossword puzzle are intended to be printed in a single list, combining Across and Down, ultimately resulting in sixteen entries of eight synonymous pairs sharing eight clues and their numbers.

1. AVOW and AVER (Maintain); 5. AMEND and ALTER (Fiddle with); 10. GAWK and GAPE (Rubberneck); 25. DUO and DYAD (Pair); 26. EVADE and ELUDE (Dodge); 31. VIM and VERVE (Gusto); 53. APOGEE and ACME (It‘s all downhill from here); and 57. RUPTURED and RENT (Tore). The clue for 53 is the only non-synonymesque clue, but they are all Shortzesque and a sheer delight!

The electronic version detracts quite a bit from the clever gimmick, listing both Across and Down, with the clue for the number written in the Across column, and with a dash (-) after the Down clue's number to indicate that something's afoot. The notepad states: “The clues in the print version of this puzzle appear in a single list, combining Across and Down. Where two answers share a number, they also share a clue." The newspaper itself displays that same paragraph loud and clear as a lead-in note above the puzzle.

A previous version of the single-clue-list puzzle appeared in The New York Times August 23, 2007. At that time, this web log discussed the electronic vs. newspaper listings. See HERE.

The clues du jour (blank lines appear here with their entry instead):

1. Maintain; 2. In VIVO (form of research); 3. Concert halls; 4. They’re unlikely to work; 5. Fiddle with; 6. Goofed (around); 7. Quod ERAT faciendum; 8. Negative connector; 9. Spy supply; 10. Rubberneck; 11. Composition of the Spanish Main; 12. Hit the road; 13. Florida KEYS; 14. Part of Caesar’s boast; 15. LEROI Soleil (Louis XIV); 16. “The Night of the Hunter” screenwriter; 17. First name in daredevilry; 18. Some Romanovs; 19. Runtish; 20. Motor Trend job; 21. Prohibition agents; 22. Legends; 23. Author Jaffe; 24. 2002 Literature Nobelist IMRE Kertesz; 25. Pair; 26. Dodge; 27. Sun protection; 28. All bark ANDNO bite; 29. Start of a phrase meaning “always”; 30. “Sounds like APLAN!”; 31. Gusto; 32. Put to rest; 33. Changers of 34-Across; 34. See 33-Down; 35. Cartoon character with feminine wiles; 36. Annual parade site; 37. Death jokes and such; 38. Stamp letters; 39. MALDE mer; 40. Lover of Tess in “Tess of the D’Urbevilles”; 41. Part of the Constitution after the Preamble: Abbr.; 42. N.F.L. coach who was undefeated in 1972; 43. Relative of a cod; 44. Like tennis balls and dinners; 45. Wicked witch’s home in “The Wizard of Oz”; 46. Ranch closing?; 47. Bowl; 48. Comic, e.g.; 49. N.F.L. placekicker David; 50. Fast-food franchise that started in S. Salt Lake, Ut.; 51. Squoosh; 52. Impersonator’s work; 53. It’s all downhill from here; 54. Gene group; 55. “I goofed”; 56. Delight; 57. Tore; 58. Don Juan; 59. Old Testament book; 60. Cry made with a handshake; 62. Nippy; 62. Benny Goodman’s “THESE Foolish Things”; 63. Savage; 64. Challenge for Theseus, in myth; 65. Be a gloomy Gus; 66. Radio part; 67. Pod holder; 68. Something ELSE (a wow); 69. Door; 70. Unexaggerated.

Synonymously Yours,

DONALD

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For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle solution above is by the author of this blog and does not guarantee accuracy. If you find errors or omissions, you are more than welcome to make note of same in the Comments section of this post -- any corrections found necessary will be executed promptly upon verification.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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