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Puzzle by Ed Sessa, edited by Will Shortz
LOVE LETTERS (60A. Billets-doux … or 18-, 24-, 37- and 50-Across all together?) along with the letters L, O, V and E, self-defined within FIRST IN LINE (18A. Next up), HEART OF STONE (24A. What a compassionless person has), CENTER OF GRAVITY (37A. Balance point) and END OF MESSAGE (50A. [Read no further]) are the interrelated group of this pre-Valentine’s-Day Wednesday crossword. Oh sure, it’s not until this coming Sunday, but get it together! Here’s a start!
L, O, V & E have lots of company as the puzzle is holoalphabetic -- some of the contributors to the remaining alphabet are AVERAGE (28A. C, say), DRY HEAT (45A. Sauna feature) along with SPA (58A. Place that might feature a sauna), something I love so much I had one built in my garage, ROAD TEST (38D. Motor Trend job), SKIM OVER (9D. Scan).
Six-letter, ADRIFT (6D. Aimless), AMPERE (48D. French physicist André), 49D. BEARER of bad news, DULLER (10D. Not as bright), HELENE (46D. Curtis of cosmetics), MOLTEN (23A. Not yet hard), OCELOT (55A. Spotted cat), PODUNK (15A. Nowheresville), POISON (5D. Murder method in Christie’s “A Pocket Full of Rye”), SHORED (65A. Bolstered, with “up”, SPARES (4A. Alley pickups), TYPERS (68A. Some blood bank technicians).
Five -- ARGOT and ARGUS, EQUIP, EXILE, FATAH, FSTOP, GINZA, LASES, RUSTS, SWOON (32A. Theatrical faint), VALSE, ZELDA.
Short stuff -- ABEL, AIL, ALDA, ALES, AMEN, ASIS, AXE, COMA, DOJO, EDYS, ENOL, ENT, ERIQ, EVEL, FEZ, GATE, GYNT, JUNE, NONE, OMEN, ONIT, ONLY and OLAY, ONO and ONTO, SAD and SAP, SCAD, SDS, SIT, SPF, TANG, THY, TIL, TYNE, UFO, UNE and UNUM, UZI, WEIR, YALE.
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Remaining clues -- ACROSS: 1. Tasseled topper; 10. Martial arts school; 14. Fire truck item; 16. One for the money?; 17. Up to, for short; 20. Alan who played TV’s Hawkeye; 22. Host’s request; 27. Ibsen’s “Peer ___”; 35. Somme one; 36. Bummed out; 42. Be indisposed; 43. Plastic ___ Band; 44. Hits with a beam, as to remove a tattoo; 48. The good son; 59. “ER” actor La Salle; 63. Animal whose name has a silent initial; 64. Mass conclusion; 66. Six-Day War weapon; 67. Lock name; 69. Some ooze. DOWN: 1. Palestinian group; 2. Napoleon’s punishment; 3. Mrs. F. Scott Fitzgerald; 4 Coppertone rating: Abbr.; 7. Oxidizes; 8. Head doctor, for short?; 11. Taking care of business; 12. It’s “bustin’ out all over,” in song; 13. 1976 Gregory Peck film, with “The”; 19. Zero; 21. Specialized vocabulary; 25. Daly of “Judging Amy”; 26. Little bite; 29. Seller’s caveat; 30. Concert promoter’s figure; 31. Ice cream brand; 32. Whole lot; 33. Small dam; 34. No more than; 35. Subj. of a certain conspiracy theory; 39. Aware of; 40. Saloon selections; 41. French formal dance; 47. Organic compound; 51. Lens setting; 52. Jason’s shipbuilder, in myth; 53. Chichi shopping area in Tokyo; 54. Fit out; 55. Brand of facial moisturizer; 56. Result of a big hit, maybe; 57. Robbie’s daredevil dad; 61. Lord’s Prayer adjective; 62. Grp. Behind some ‘60s strikes.
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