Monday, December 21, 2009 -- Winter Solstice
Puzzle by Sarah Keller, edited by Will Shortz
M + A, E, I, O & U + D forms the interrelated group of this Monday crossword -- MAD MAGAZINE (17A. Humor publication since 1952), MED STUDENTS (25A. Docs-to-be), MID-AIR REFUELING (38A. Tricky operation for extending a plane’s flight), MODEL TRAINS (46A. Lionel products) and MUD-SLINGING (57A. Dirty campaign tactic).
Other entries of length include HEAD-TO-TOE (32A. All-encompassing), PRETTIEST (41A. Causing the most wolf whistles), RESOLES (21D. Fixes, as a shoe) and SPATTER (29D. Splash, as grease).
Six-letter -- AISLES (44A. Brides’ walkways), ARMIES (20A. What generals command), AUNTIE (54A. Mame on Broadway), CHOSEN (28A. Selected), DEAR ME (5D. “Goodness gracious!”) and IS INTO (45D. Really digs).
Five -- 63A. Win by A NOSE; ARNIE (14A. Golfer Palmer, informally; 50D. “Moi, AUSSI” (“Me, too”: Fr.); BOATS (6A. Vessels at marinas); BRAID (6D. Cornrow, e.g.); CAN IT (66A. “That’s enough out of you!”); CHAIR (23D. Committee leader); DOGES (48D. Venetian rules of old); EGEST (37D. Spew out); EXIST (12D. Be); 13D. State on the Rio Grande); HORDE (24D. Mob); INLET (51D. Cove); JASON (11D. Leader of the Argonauts, in myth); MORSE (46D. Samuel with a code); ODIUM (47D. Hatred) incidentally crossing ODOR; ON END (67A. Nonstop) and ON RED (36D. When right turns are often allowed); OOZES (7D. Falls through the cracks?); RADON (49D. Dangerous gas); ROALD (1A. Willy Wonka creator Dahl); ROLES (15A. Parts to play); SCAMP (22D. Rascal); TALIA (64A. Actress Shire of “Rocky”) and TITLE (35D. Bibliographical datum).
Short stuff -- AARP, AFT, AND (3D +), AXE, DATE, EGAN, EES, EDT, EMS, ETRE, GAD, GMEN, HRE, ILE, ITAL, JET, LIMA, MAC, NIN, ORA, ODOR, RAM and RAS, RIG, RITT, ROSA, SCH, SIX, SSE and SUE, TAT, TEN (9D. The number at left + 1), UNA, URDU (26D. Language derived from Hindustani).
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Remaining clues -- Across: 11. Boeing 737, e.g.; 16. Firefighter’s tool; 19. Many a first grader’s age; 21. Parks of civil rights fame; 22. Educ. Institution; 30. Dorm overseers, for short; 31. Seniors’ org.; 42. To be, to Henri; 43. Tit for ___; 52. N.Y.C. summer hrs.; 56. Fix, as a fight; 62. Take to court; 65. Ambulance letters. Down: 1. Computer capacity, for short; 2. “ … man ___ mouse?”; 4. Peru’s largest city; 10. NNW’s opposite; 18. F.B.I. operatives; 27. 7/20/69, for one; 32. Charlemagne’s domain: Abbr.; 33. Some tech grads; 34. Sternward; 39. Venetian’s lang.; 40. Film director Martin; 44. Dead set against; 55. Former New York cardinal Edward; 57. Big ___ (Golden Arches offering); 58. 39-Down article; 59. ___-de-France; 60. Anais ___, “Delta of Venus” author; 61. Travel aimlessly, with “about”.
2 comments:
this was fun. the mad, med, etc. jumped out pretty quickly but i got hung up on headtotoe (32 across), thinking about "total" or "intoto," neither of which worked, of course.
In the interests of accuracy, let me point out that Will Shortz too frequently makes the mistake of associating Charlemagne with the Holy Roman Empire or HRE, as he did for a Crossword appearing on Monday 21 2009, but which I saw on 25 January 2010 in my daily newspaper (go to 32 down). Charlemagne, who used the term "emperor", died 814, and it was not until 1157 that Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa adopted "Holy Empire" as the name of his realm. The title Holy Roman Empire did not appear until 1254. Shortz has argued that some dictionaries allow Charlemagne as HRE. Most people abandon the dictionary defense in their freshman or sophomore years.
John Klassen
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