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Thursday, April 8, 2010
Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz
LEWIS CARROLL (44A. Writer who was the source of all the words with asterisked clues in this puzzle), BRILLIG (1A. *4:00 in the afternoon), GIMBLE (8A. *To make holes), GYRE (19A. *To go round and round), BANDERSNATCH (24A. *Fearsome, swift-moving creature with snapping jaws), WABE (52A. *Grass plot around a sundial), SLITHY (64A. *Lithe and slimy) and BEAMISH (65A. *Smiling radiantly) are the interrelated group of this insane Thursday crossword. See glossary in Wikipedia. There are a few more Carroll references — 10D. MAD Hatter, CAKE (47D. Wonderland food for Alice) and CRY (29D. “Curiouser and curiouser!,” e.g.).
If one is too familiar with Alice in Wonderland and/or Through the Looking-Glass, the unfamiliar could be any of the following— ARAPAHO (59A. Some buffalo hunters of old), LAHORE (5D. Pakistan’s so-called “Garden of Mughals”), LINEAR A (14A. Form of writing of ancient Crete), MYSORE (38A. Indian tourist city), REALIA (46D. Objects employed to show everyday life), SULTANA (61A. Variety of grape) — and for good measure, IGNORAMUS (31A. Chucklehead).
In the event that the answer is too ordinary, an obfuscating clue is provided — B-GIRL (11D. Old-time floozie), CHASER (23D. Beer, sometimes), DIE OUT (35A. Emulate the dodo), DOODLE (27D. Drawing in a margin, maybe), IRONER (6D. Person whose work is decreasing?), JAILED (54A. Put away), LISBON (40D. Departure point for explorer Vasco da Gama), YARD SALES (39A. Means of unloading?).
Other — ADJURE (45D. Urge formally), ALCOHOL (16A. It comes in fifths), AURAL and URAL (48D. Not visual, 33D. Kazakh river), CHATS (47D. Online discussions), EDGED (13D. Beaten out), FORAGED (15A. Sought food), FRY PAN (15D. Browner), KHAKI (49D. Uniform coloring), LENYA (12D. “From Russia With Love” actress Lotte), ORIENTS (63A. Positions oneself), RECAP and CLAD (21A. Wrap up, 23A. Wrapped up), SEASON (18A. Add zest to), SNIDE (50A. A bit nasty), TAKES ON (62A. Confronts).
Short stuff — AHOY (53D. Stern cry?), ARIA, BLAS, BODY, CLAD, DASH, ENTS, ESNE, ETAL, GAL, GANG (19D. Sharks, e.g.), GOER, HUH, INCA, IRAE, ITEM, LANI, LEOS, MOTO, NEER, OREO, PET, RILE, RYE (20A. Catcher’s spot?), SCI, SELL, SOB, TAW, TOM, USE, WASH (52D. Wadi).
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`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
JABBERWOCKY — Lewis Carroll (from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)
Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.
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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 30. It’s 71% cookie, 29% crème; 43. Unnamed others, briefly; 51. “Say what?”. DOWN: 1. Lesage hero Gil ___; 2. Make stew?; 3. Certain ancient mummy; 4. Affectionate, fiery types, supposedly; 7. Miss; 8. Church annex?; 9. ___ caelestes (divine wrath: Lat.); 22. Long-running CBS hit; 24. Vintner’s concern; 25. “O patria mia,” e.g.; 26. Opposite of always; 28. Waits in music; 32. Mysterious Mr.; 34. Bears do it; 36. Take advantage of; 37. Playing marble; 41. Feudal laborer; 42. It goes after poli and before fi; 55. Detail; 58. Lawyer/civil-rights activist Guinier; 57. Tolkien creatures; 58. Tach’s location; 60. Dear; 61. [I’m hearbroken].
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