------------------
Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills? -- Job XV 7
------------------
Friday, December 4, 2009
Puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith, edited by Will Shortz
Two sets of three 15-letter across entries are the main feature of this antediluvian this-and-that Friday crossword -- AS OLD AS THE HILLS (1. Antediluvian); THREE COURSE MEAL (16. It’s served in parts); OUT OF ONE’S LEAGUE (17. Completely unqualified for competition) -- TRUMPED UP CHARGE (50. Framing need); WATERLOO STATION (55. Railway terminus with the Victory Arch); OPENED ONE’S HEART (56. Became emotionally receptive).
Additionally, there are two sets of down entries of length (ten/nine/eight-letter) -- LEGAL LIMIT (13. Ceiling one should stay under); LAUREATES (14. Wordsworth and Tennyson); SLEETIER (15. More like a cold shower?) -- CONSTITUTE (26. Make up); DEATH TRAP (29. Perilous place); STAGE TWO (32. The second part).
An interesting analysis of the puzzle’s construction is at The New York Times crossword blog Wordplay -- HERE.
Remaining across -- 18. Introduction to Impressionism?, NEO; 19. It’s light-sensitive, IRIS; 20. Pains, CARE; 21. “The young lambs RAN A pretty race”: Wordsworth; 22. Sgt. Follower, MAJ; 25. Stop, with “up”, LET; 26. Cashiers, CANS; 27. “The Accumulation of Capital” author Luxemburg, ROSA; 28. “Love Story” score composer, LAI; 29. “Get cracking!”, DO IT; 30. Singer of the 1940s blues hit “One Meat Ball”, JOSH WHITE; 32. and 33. Remitted, SENT MONEY; 34. Like Old Glory: Abbr., AMER; 35. They may be excited by dinner, TASTE BUDS; 37. Partner of 40-Across, 40. Partner of 37 Across, THIS and THAT; 38. Case builder: Abbr., ATT; 39. PASO Robles, Calif.; 41. 4 letters, GHI; 42. Suffix with real, IST; 43. They often come in packs, LIES; 44. Moten who played Bess in Broadway’s “Porgy and Bess”, ETTA; 46. “MAN’S Fate” (Andre Malraux novel); 47. Scholarship, e.g., AID.
Down -- 1. Rafts, A TON; 2. “Molly” title role player, 1999, SHUE; 3. “ … OR TO go?;4. One may be conceived on Veterans Day, LEO; 5. Challenging, DEFIANT; 6. Certain winter stash, ACORNS; 7. One of the Gandhis, SONIA; 8. Part of Shrovetide: Abbr., TUES; 9. Abbr. on a timecard, HRS; 10. What an au pair might take: Abbr., ESL; 11. Laugh syllable, HEE; 12. Big name in desktops, IMAC; 21. Singer with the 5x platinum album “Nick of Time,” 1989, RAITT; 22. Ancient law man, MOSES; 23. Wan, ASHY; 24. Jabber, JAW; 27. Concerto part, RONDO; 30. Competition among mail carriers?, JOUST; 31. Music to a comic’s ears, HAHAS; 33. Many corp. recruits, MBAS; 36. Dermal opening?, EPI; 37. Leader exiled in 1979, THE SHAH; 40. Dyes, TINCTS; 43. Judgment problem, LAPSE; 45. Music to a minister’s ears, AMEN; 46. Unstable particle, MUON; 47. Price number, ARIA; 48. Real-estate tycoon, Olenicoff, IGOR; 49. Bit of headway, DENT; 51. Grand PRE (Annapolis Valley community); 52. Antiquity, in antiquity, ELD; 53. End of a Fred Flintstone cry, DOO; 54. Put the dishes away, ATE.
------------------
For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.
No comments:
Post a Comment