05.21.08 -- Make-up

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

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Puzzle by Dave Mackey, edited by Will Shortz

Make-up in the form of the inter-related entries of ROUGEETNOIR (17A. Solitaire card game); SHADOWBOXERS (24A. Pugs in gyms, at times); SOLIDFOUNDATION (37A. Good thing to build on); ATFIRSTBLUSH (50A. Initially) and LUXURYLINER (59A. Cunard fleet member), put on a good face on this smooth Wednesday crossword puzzle.

SHOWERGIFT (11D. Item from a registry, perhaps) and RELIEFMAPS (30D. They show altitude) ache to join the group -- indeed a little shower would provide relief from all that make-up. BRUSH (52D Toiletry kit item) and BRISTLE (48A. 52-Down part), could also join in, along with TRAIT (51D. Red hair or freckles), LIP (64A. Collagen target) and to top it off, WIG (4D. Go nuts, with “out”). What a FUSS (28D. Something to kick up); what an ADO (8D. Stir)!

FURIOSO (28A. Forcefully, in music) and LENTO (7D. Slowly, on a score) join a BLUR (48D. Astigmatic’s view) of long entries including NITWIT (1A. Birdbrain), CARHOP (10D. “American Graffiti” extra); ARMLET (47D. Decorative band); THETAS (6D. Certain sorority members); RUNYON (49D. “Guys and Dolls” is based on his writing); ENRICH (14A. Add value to); OAKTAG (66A. Poster stock); and NTESTS (69A. Big blasts, for short).

The five-letter group includes AIDER, AMBLE, DEEDS, ETATS, HAWED, MRMOM, ROPER, SOFTG, USEME. Four-letter, ANTS, ASIS, BEAT, BOND, EATS, EDDA, FATS, HOTL, INGE, INON, LAIC, NERO, OAST, ORGS, SIMI, TECH, TOSH, TRUE, USOC, WREN. Three-letter, AAH, ABO, AXE, BAA, ETS, GHI, HEN, HIE, HUH, ICE, IDI, IKE, LAT, ODE, ONE, RUN, SAD, SCI, TIO, TOT, UAE, and XTC.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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Across: 1. Of the flock, 1. Inferior, as excuses go; 15. Norse epic; 16. Step on it; 19. Sapphic work; 20. Wee hour; 21. Pre-K enrollee; 22. Spoke hesitatingly; 31. Busy cowpoke; 32. 1972 Bill Withers hit; 33. Brooder; 34. 4, on a phone; 42. Poli ___; 43. Response to a backrub; 44. Gentle opening?; 45. Quebec’s southern neighbors; 53. 1983 Keaton comedy; 54. Bank worry; 55. Blood-typing system; 58. Word repeated in the “Whiffenpoof Song” refrain; 65. Greasy spoon sign; 67. Saucer contents, in brief?; 68. Kind of support. Down: 1. “Quo Vadis” role; 2. Knowing, as something private; 3. Set straight; 5. It’s never in a neat order; 8. “Rise and Fall of ___ Amin” (1981 film); 12. Good Samaritan; 13. Knight’s list; 18. List-starting words; 23. Send packing; 24. ___ Valley, Calif.; 25. Worked a garden; 26. House ___; 27. Source of interest; 28. Something to kick up; 29. Summer Games org.; 33. “Come again?”; 35. Off-Broadway’s “___ Baltimore”; 36. “A Loss of Roses” playwright; 38. Dietary needs; 39. Drying kiln; 40. Tag sale proviso; 41. Peter of reggae; 46. Padre’s hermano; 50. Mosey along; 56. Ready for the sack; 57. A.A. and A.A.A., for two; 60. Mideast federation: Abbr.; 61. Band with the 1987 single “Dear God”; 62. Part of a G.P.S. reading: Abbr.; 63. Liked leader?