12.09.09 -- Out of Order

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Puzzle by Peter Collins, edited by Will Shortz

NEW WORLD ORDER (38A. Shake-up in the global balance of power … and a hint to the circled letters), along with SWORD LILY (17A. Gladiolus), BLOWDRYERS (23A. They’re usually aimed at heads), FEEL DROWSY (53A. Need a nap) and FIELD WORK (63A. It’s done outside a lab) containing anagrams of WORLD comprise the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other entries of length include EXTERIOR (39D. Like some paint), LUCKIER (58A. Doing better at the casino, say), OMELETTE (11D. Dish that may be prepared in a special pan), ORAL LAW (24D. Unwritten rules) and PINESOL (20A. Spic and Span competitor).

Six-letter -- ADDS ON (21D. Builds an extension), ANIONS (50D. Negatively charged particles), AXILLA (6D. Armpit), EDWINA (2D Currie who wrote “A Parliamentary Affair”), HARKED (52D. Listened, poetically), HASPED (1D. Latched, in a way), ISLETS (48D Keys), LIONEL (3D. Train company founded in 1900), MORAYS (10D. Some eels), NO HARM (34D. Something a doctor should do), O’LEARY (46D. Famed Chicago livestock owner).

Five -- ADIEU (14A. “Farewell Francois!), ADORE (65A. Idolize), BRIAR (61A. Kind of patch), DALES (28A. Areas between hills), DARES (54D. Challenges), HELMS (1A. Pilots), LANCE (67A. Renaissance faire sight), 68A. “The Bells of St. MARY’S”, SMOCK (9A. Lab wear), STAPH (49A. Health menace, briefly), STARR (9D. M.V.P. of the first two Super Bowls), TOMEI (16A. Oscar-winning Marisa), VISED (70A. Gripped on a bench).

Short stuff -- AGE, ALAI, ALSO, ARAL, ARID, ART, BAM, CEN, CDLV, DET, DIF and DIX, EDY, ENE, EWW, FAY, GEL, INTO, IRE, KIT, KWAI, LOB, MERE, NEE, NIA, NINE, ORES, RDA, REAM, RELO, ROAR, SAP, SHEL, SOWS, STOA, SUDS (5D. Some cold ones) and TAP (37A. Beer may be on it), WILD, WON, XED, YES.

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Remaining clues -- Across: 6. Biographical info; 15. Marked, on a ballot; 21. Asia’s ___ Sea; 22. Rome-to-Belgrade dir.; 31. Like Death Valley; 32. Ancient Greek portico; 33. Captured; 35. Furthermore; 37. Beer may be on it; 42. New Jersey’s Fort ___; 43. Author Silverstein; 44. Originally; 45. Digging; 47. Jai ___; 56. Actress Peeples; 57. Copier unit; 66. School department; 69. “You got it!”. Down: 4. Piddling; 5. Some cold ones; 7. Solidify; 8. Joseph ___, who lent his name to some ice cream; 12. 1900-99, e.g.: Abbr.; 13. Do-it-yourselfer’s purchase; 18. It’s a long shot, usually; 25. Wacky; 26. Jet engine’s output; 27. Spring run; 29. “How disgusting!”; 30. Scatters seeds; 36. Tram loads; 38. Roger Maris, for the Yankees; 40. Move, to a real-estate broker; 41. The Pistons, on a scoreboard; 42 “What’s the ___?!; 55. Actor Brynner; 59. Year the Vandals sacked Rome; 60. River in a 1957 film; 61 Impact sound; 62. Vitamin no.; 63. Former baseball commissioner Vincent; 64. Tick off.