Click here for LARGE PRINT.
Puzzle by Ken Bessette, edited by Will Shortz
MIDTERM (40A. Kind of exam, with a hint to the answers to the four starred clues); MISTERMAGOO (17A. *Myopic cartoon fellow); MONSTERMASH (65A. *Popular tune around Halloween); MASTERMIND (11D. *Plan hatcher); and METERMAIDS (30D. *Some ticket issuers) are the inter-related entries of this mid-month last-day-to-file-your-taxes Tuesday crossword puzzle.
Oh, I get it, TERM is in the middle of each of the four entries -- OK.
After that, there are two other long entries, MAGAZINE (8D. 16 or Seventeen) and DEEPENDS (41D. Diving board locales). Seven letter entries include one that I haven’t seen before, ZAMBEZI (26A. Victoria Falls River) -- then we get several more familiar entries, SKIWEAR (31A. Bots, gloves, mask, etc.); RUTGERS (49A. Home of the Scarlet Knights); GUMDROP (53A. Soft, colorful candy); and a few six-letter entries -- SAMEAS (6D. Just like); DIETED (33A. Took off excess pounds); SAUTÉS (51D Pan fries); SHOWME (10D. “Prove it!”) and TREMOR (50D. Richter scale blip).
We’ve a nice mix of a six-letter and five-letter entry with a classic Shortzesque double-clue, Former Disney chief Michael -- 47A. EISNER and 12D. OVITZ.
The clues for the five-letter entries are uniformly short -- ALOOF (1A. Like a cold fish); SEMIS (6A. Final Four games); Lash LARUE of old westerns (14A.); ABASH (15A. Bring shame to); WATTS (22A. Charlie of the Stones); ADMIT (28A. Fess up to); RADON (52A. Dangerous gas); ERASE (57A. Clear the blackboard); OLDIE (69A. “Golden” tune); CANED (70A. Gave a beating to); RESTS (72A. Chills out); ANTES (73A. Start-up costs, of sorts); PEPSI (13D. Soda selection); AWARE (27D. On top of things); KITER (32D. Passer of bad checks); DINGO (34D. Dog from Down Under); GEODE (53D. Crystal-lined rock); and URBAN (54D. Word before blight or sprawl).
The four-letter group includes ABAA, ADOS, AEON, ALMS, AMOK, ASIT, ASTA, DIAL, DRIP, DUDS, EAUX, EBAN, GENA, ISEE, KERN, LAIC, MIRO, OREO, ORSO, PHDS, RANT, SCOW, SLED. Three-letter, AVE, DAD, ENS, EXE, FEE, INA, IRE, ISO, MOP, NEE, OAT, OBI, OLE, RCA, RGT, and SIP.
----------------------
Click on image to enlarge.
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.
Across: 11. Item in a bucket; 16. Greeting at the Forum; 19. Drink from a snifter e.g.; 20. Garbage hauler; 21. Rowlands of “Gloria”; 24. Film terrier; 35. ___ huff; 36. One way to run; 39. Muesli morsel; 43. U2’s home: Abbr.; 46. Born, in France; 55. “___ Flux” (Charlize Theron film); 58. ___ de vie (brandies); 60. What icicles do; 68. June honoree; 71. U.S.N.A. grad: Abbr. Down: 1. Beggar’s cry; 2. Not of the clergy; 3. Approximately; 5. Agent’s take; 7. Israel’s Abba; 9. Prefix with bar; 18. Mil. Unit; 23. Simple rhyme scheme; 25. ___ cell research; 28. Big deals; 29. Call up; 37. Treat that’s sometimes dunked; 38. “Show Boat” composer; 42. Muralist Joan; 45. Clothes, informally; 56. Program file extension; 59. “ ___ stands …”; 61. Angry outburst; 62. “It makes sense to me”; 63. Advanced degs.; 66. Soccer stadium shout; 67. ___ Dome (Colts’ longtime home).
3 comments:
Donald, re the "double clue" being typically Shortzesque...have you seen that often? I don't remember it.
karmasartre
I believe the first time I labeled the double clue "Shortzesque" was August 25, 2007 -- since then (through search with the "word" Shortzesque)it has appeared more than 25 times, even though I did not make note every time -- 8/25, 8/31, 9/8, 10/04, 10/05, 10/30, 11/01, 11/29, 12/13, 12/27, 12/30, 12/31/07 and 1/3, 1/7, 1/12, 21/7, 3/24, 4/8, 4/9, 4/14/08.
donald
great movie clip. i'll have to check out gloria.
Post a Comment