Monday, April 6, 2009 Puzzle by Dustin Foley, edited by Will Shortz MOON (68A. Its cycle is indicated by the starts of 20-, 32-, 40- and 55-Across), along with WAXING POETIC (20A. Speaking with lofty language), FULL DISCLOSURE (32A. Withholding nothing), WANING INTEREST (40A. What a fresh ad campaign helps combat) and NEW HAMPSHIRE (55A. Holder of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary) are the interrelated entries of this Monday crossword. Mid-size entries include ALIGNED (5D. Like celestial bodies exhibiting syzygy), 9D. Santo DOMINGO, ENIGMA (25A. Riddle), ERUPTED (43D. Blew, as a volcano), NINEVEH (41D. Ancient Assyrian capital) and SERENE (48A. Calm).
Five-letter -- ABACI (10D. Beaded counters); ABCTV (58A. “Dancing With the Stars” airer); ARTOO (53D. “Star Wars” droid); DAZED (9A. In a stupor); ENTER (49D. Key in); EPOXY (3D. Strong bond) and GLUES (26D. (3-Down and others); FLARE (32D. Airborne signal); LEAPT (6D. Pounced on); LEGAL (2D. Permissible); MAGOO (7D. Nearsighted Mr. of cartoons); MAGUS (19A. Bearer of gold, frankincense or 66-Across) along with MYRRH (66A. Gift brought to Bethlehem); MERIT (27D. Earn); MINEO (52D. Actor Sal of “Exodus”); OBAMA (16A. President sworn in on Lincoln’s Bible) and OMEGA (51D. “Phi, chi, psi” follower); RESIN (54D. Plant exudation); SABRE (50D. Buffalo hockey player); SPEWS (1D. Shoots, as lava); TUTEE (63A. One getting one-on-one instruction); ULNAR (33D. Like a bone from the elbow to the wrist).
Short stuff -- ABET, ALAI, ALE, ALMS, ATM, AXES, BOO, BUY, CTR, DAS, DESI, EGOS, ELLA, EMU, ENTS, ERA, EWES, GREW, HAUL, HELM, IAGO, IBIS, IRS, LEAD and LEAH, LEIS, LEOI, LEX, MAR, NULL, PEPE, RAPS, RAW, SAG, SCOT, SHOE, SLED, SLY, SON, SOUP, TEAL, UNTO, URGE, ZAG (11D. Zig‘s partner). .
Have a good week!
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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Iditarod vehicle; 5. Money for the poor; 14. Skunk ___ Le Pew; 15. Jacob’s wife; 17. They can be stroked or bruised; 18. “Othello” character who says “Who steals my purse steals trash”; 23. Cunning; 24. “Do ___ others …”; 29. Ginger ___ (Canada Dry product); 30. Droop; 31. ___ Luthor of “Superman”; 37. Jazz’s Fitzgerald; 38. October 31 shout; 39. Luau garlands; 45. History segment; 48. Auditor’s org.; 47. Like carrots that crunch; 50. Campbell’s product; 52. Damage; 61. Help in crime; 62. Tolkien creatures; 64. Egg on; 65. Sainted fifth-century pope; 67. Pbg, in chemistry. Down: 4. Arnaz of “I Love Lucy”; 8. What a cobbler works on; 12. Cousin of an ostrich; 13 Prosecutors, briefly; 21. ___ and void; 22. Blue-winged duck; 28. X and y, on a graph; 239. Jai ___; 30. Sean Connery, nationally speaking; 34. Bird seen in hieroglyphics; 35. Bush 43, to Bush 41; 36. Large amount; 37. Rams’ mates; 42. Sprouted; 44. Notorious B.I.G. releases; 56. Lug; 57. Captain’s place; 58. Dispenser of 20s; 59. Totally accept, as an idea; 60. Midpoint: Abbr.
Syzygy is the shortest English word containing three y's. It is also the second-longest common English word containing neither a, e, i, o, nor u, being tied with rhythm. (The longest common word with this characteristic is rhythms, although it is beaten handily by the archaic word twyndyllyngs.)
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