01.11.08 -- Dead

Friday, January 11, 2008

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Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz

This crossword is a list of unrelated entries with vague clues arranged around a central crossing of MORALHIGHGROUND (33A. What you take when you do the right thing) and PARADIGMSHIFT (15D Transition to a heliocentric model of the universe, e.g.).

Ten-letter entries: ONTHELOOSE (2D. Free); LISAKUDROW (3D. Ditsy waitress player on “Mad About You”); THUMBSDOWN (27D. Negative sign); SINEQUANON (28D. Requirement).

Nine-letter: TELEPATHY (6D. Exchange of thoughts?); ZINCOXIDE (31D. Sunburn preventer); OPERATIVE (14A. Sign); MALEMODEL (17A. GQ figure); THATSLIFE (51A. “Win some, lose some”); RELATEDTO (54A. Concerning).

Eight-letter: SYNAPSES (22A. They act on impulses); ZEROHOUR (42A. Decision time).

Seven-letter: TIREDOF (6A. Fed up with); AWESOME (56A. “Outta sight!”).

Six-letter: RAMSES (8D. Name of 11 ancient kings); SEESTO (40D. Minds).

Five-letter: SOLAR, KNIFE, ATSEA, SNORT, LUBED, GODEL, EAMES, BARBQ, AWGEE (46A. “Bummer”), SCONE, OHWOW (55A. “Outta sight!”), PENNS, SKATE, BREWS.

Four-letter: AFEW, DIDO, OVER, FELT, OMEN, SELL, HOAR, REAR (Moon unit?), ANDS, ATRA, WHEW, GALE, ACHE, ONEO, THAW, SERE, DAWS, ZITI, ONMY, ASOK, SACS, XING, ADAR.

Three-letter: REA, IRE, SYD, BUG, LEM (35A. Moon unit), SOP, EEK, TSA, NEW, SUB.

I declare this puzzle dead.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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1. Kind of year; 13. It can be scary to go under this; 16. How some ashes are scattered; 18. Détente; 19. Dried out; 20. Sound of contempt; 21. Indication of feigned fright; 24. Like smooth-running engines; 26. Black birds; 27. Airport uniform abbr.; 30. Mathematician famous for his incompleteness theorems; 31. Pasta choice; 32. One guarded in a soccer game; 36. Co-worker of Dilbert; 37. Start of the Boy Scout Oath; 38. Innovative chair designer; 39. Innovative; 40. Natural fluid containers; 41. Backyard Jul. 4 event; 44. Fill-in; 49. Shortened word on a yellow street sign; 50. It follows Shevat; 53. Historic capital of Scotland; 57. ____ Landing (Philadelphia area). Down: 1. Pass superficially (over); 4. Rough estimate; 5. “Guilty,” in a Latin legal phrase; 7. Burn up; 9. Some collars; 10. “White Flag” singer, 2003; 11. Recovered from; 12. Believed; 14. Sign; 19. Late rocker Barrett; 22. Auction; 23. Draft; 25. Nut cracker, perhaps; 229. They make connections; 30. Fed; 32. Really take off; 34. Winter coat?; 41. Drive nuts; 42. Some sisters; 43. ___ cat; 45. Practices zymurgy; 46. Toiletry brand introduced in 1977; 47. Nail-biter’s cry; 48. Loud outburst; 50. Long; 53. Bribe.