Friday, April 4, 2008
Click here for abridged post in LARGE PRINT.
Puzzle by David Quarfoot, edited by Will Shortz
Initials take prevalence in this crossword puzzle with such fare as DNATURAL (16A. Accidental in the key of B or E); SUPERG (17A. Olympic even since 1988); ATT (18A. Call letters); SMORES (20A. Three-ingredient treats); FMAJOR (23A. Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony is in it); IRSAUDIT (53A. Dodger’s dread?); ATV (49A. Yamaha product, briefly); USSTEEL (15D. Largest tenant of Pittsburgh’s tallest skyscraper); JOHNQ (26D. 2002 Denzel Washington drama); VIPPASS (39D. It might get you backstage); AARP (47D. Powerful D.C. lobby); VTEN (51D. Powerful engine); and UPI (54D. News inits.), together with such shortenings as ESPO (10D. 1969 AND 1974 Hart Trophy winner, familiarly); INRE (12D. About); ALTHO (25D. Poetic conjunction); POPS (44D. Old man); and QUEENMUM (27A. Noted centenarian of 2000 familiarly). The latter had the same birthday as Roger Clemens, Barack Obama and me!
QUEENMUM holds court over a queue of Q’s in the puzzle, nine words beginning with the letter, including QUIETGAME (33Parent’s ruse to hush noisy kids); QUELL (35A. Silence); QTS (22A. Peck parts: Abbr.); QUILT (22D. It often gets down); QUEST (27D. Pursuit); QUINT (33D. Rare delivery); QUETZAL (35D. Guatemala’s national bird); and QUIZNOS (38D. “Mmmmm … Toasty!”); along with three crossing words containing the letter -- REHNQUIST (37A. Burger replacement), ELOQUENT (40A. One way to wax), and the aforementioned JOHNQ -- provoke one to note that Q is the initial of the author of the puzzle, especially since the Q’s are arranged flamboyantly in a diagonal row a little off-center of the diagram as a whole.
ADAMSALE (1A. Abstainer’s order) is after all just water; LIMETREE (14A. Linden); SAMSPADE (56A. Sleuth who “looked rather pleasantly like a blond satan”); and THESIREN (58A. Spellbinding “Batman” villainess played by Joan Collins) are the remaining eight-letter entries. Seven-letter entries include: STUDIOS (5D. Places to make racks); DRUMSET (9D. Band ensemble).
Six-letters: URSINE (15A. Like some cubs); KIOSKS (41A. Stands in line at an airport?); PIZAZZ (44A. Dash); ORIANA (52A. Title woman of a film that won the 1985 Camera d’Or); PATROL (55A. Do borderline work?); ARREAR (8D. Unfulfilled duty); and KISSME (41D. Pecking order?).
Five-letters: DEVIL (9A. Ranger rival); ROLOS (32A. Chocolate snacks); VITAL (39A. Key); SNIPS (57A. Small pieces); LEANN (7D. Rimes with “Blue”); FRERE (23D. Réunion reunion attendee); MOSEL (24D. German wine region); NGAIO (28D. Contemporary of Agatha and Erle); MASTS (29D. Pair from a deck, maybe); UMIAK (30D. Literally, “women’s boat”); MEALS (31D. Board); and SARAH (43D. Miles of film).
Four-letter fill includes ALDA, DINT, AMAT, VIER, EELS, LEGS, IRAN, ZITI, ADAR, GIST, TIDE, DENS, ESTH, ASIA, and GASP; three-letters IAN, ITT, SIP, UPI; and ,of course, none of two, but a Q as in...
Quaere!
-----------------
For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
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: 19. Retreats; 21. Producer/director ___ MacNaughton of Monty Python; 34. Job preceder: Abbr.; 36. Silk Road locale; 42. Member f an “ooky” sitcom family; 43. Take in tentatively; 48. Betray horror. Down: 1. Tynan player in “The Seduction of Joe Tynan”; 2. Force; 3. End of a loving trio; 4. Huddled (with); 8. Catch in pots; 11. Number between drei and funf; 13. Staying power; 45. Modern home of ancient Medes; 46. Feeding tubes; 48. Meat; 49. When the Feast of Lots is observed; 50. Periodic riser.
No comments:
Post a Comment