Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz
A very popular crossword gimmick is to insert an extra letter into several entries resulting in a second and goofy meaning, clued to suit the result, usually with a question mark.
In today‘s puzzle, removing the letter N from the interrelated entries of SNACKRACE (18A. Competitive noshers’ event?), SNORELOSER (23A. One cured of a sleep disorder?), SNIDELINE (35A. Sarcastic comment?), TURKEYSNUB (48A. Brushoff from the Ottomans?) and BABYSNITS (53A. Terrible-twos tantrums?) provides the more familiar sack race, sore loser, sideline (or snide lie), turkey sub and baby-sits.
Recent examples of the genre -- ID, 05.27.08; RT, 05.14.08; RR, 03.16.08; L on 12.16.07, and L again on 11.18.07. And now, on to the main bulk of today’s puzzle.
The odd-looking SISENOR (25D. Acapulco agreement) presides in the center of the puzzle, one among the seven seven-letter entries which include ETHANOL (2D. Biofuel option); ORATORY (3D. Speaker’s art); PLIABLE (39D. Easily bent); PRUDENT (42D. Sensible); RENEGES (41D. Goes back [on]); and SCALPED (11D. Like some tickets and Western pioneers).
CLERIC (21D. Church official) leads the six-letter entries of ASTUTE (46D. Discerning), DEEDED (34A. Transferred, as property); DIADEM (34D. Headgear fit for a queen); ENAMEL (8D. Tooth protector); LUCITE (45D. Clear plastic); RUSHEE (19D. Fraternity recruit); SLEAZY (35D. Disreputable); WINTRY (4D. Cold and raw); and ZIPLOC (37A. Glad rival in the kitchen).
Theda Bara, publicity still ca. 1916-17
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THEDA (6A. Film vixen Bara) and THETA (31A. Letter between eta and iota), along with the Shortzesque-clued TENSE (48D. On edge) and TESTY (64A. On edge), headline the five-letter entries of ATRIA (14A. Central courtyards) and ATTIC (20A. Room under the roof); ASTER (60A. Daisylike bloom); AUGER (57A. Hole-marking tool); 50A. AZTEC Empire, conquered by Cortes; CHANT (17A. “2, 4, 6, 8 -- who do we appreciate?,” e.g.); DÉCOR (9D. Remodeler’s planning); DUNES (15A. Sahara sights); ELLEN (44A. Newspaper columnist Goodman); MEOWS (1A. Requests for a saucer of milk, maybe); METED (52A. Doled (out); MOSUL (22A. Iraq’s second-largest city); REEDS (63A. Bassoonists’ buys); SATIE (5D. French composer Erik); STENO (61A. Low-tech office recorder); and YEAST (49D. Moonshine ingredient).
The fill: AERO, ARC, ATE, AWE, BOW, CRY, DYE, ELIA, EVIL, HUN, ILL, INON, IRIS, LEAK, LOAD, MAC, MAD, MOB, NEAT, OVID, OWL, RPM, ROY, SAD, SLY, SPAM, SRS, STS, TDS, TED, TENT, TORY, TSAR, WEE and ZEE.
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For today’s cartoon, 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
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Search information -- Across: 11. Woebegone; 16. Blubber; 26. Spam; 29. British Conservative; 30. Demonic; 32. Like some winks; 33. Pupil surrounder; 40. Shipshape; 41. LP speed; 45. Cargo; 46. Nautical leader?; 47. Kazan of Hollywood; 59. Round-faced flyer; 62. Pint-size. Down: 1. Apple on a desk; 6. Super Bowl stat; 7. Attila the ___; 10. Seeks assistance; 12. Rocket’s path; 13. Artificial color; 23. Parts of P.O. labels; 27. Wolfed down; 28. Loony; 31. Sherpa shelter; 33. Informed about; 36. Tap mishap; 37. Last of 26; 38. Indisposed; 43. Gangster group; 51. Romanov ruler; 53. What a violinist may take on stage in two different senses; 54. Amaze; 55. Brother of Jack and Bobby; 56. Most univ. applicants; 58. Pop artist Lichtenstein.
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