05.25.11 — Circled Letters



John Milton pictured above in a painting likely dating
to the late 1630s, in Christ’s College, Cambridge

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Puzzle by Jeff Dubner / Edited by Will Shortz

Hmmph!

Circled letters, ABBA, ABBA, CDE, CDE, along with ITALIAN SONNET (2D. With 49-Down, its form follows the pattern of the circled letters) constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword. The circled letters are found within CABBAGE PATCH KID (17A. Adoptable doll of the ‘80s), SABBATH BLESSING (27A. Friday night ritual, in Judaism), EN BANC DECISIONS (45A. Some Court of Appeals work) and MANIC DEPRESSION (57A. “An Unquiet Mind” subject”).

Yeah, that’s it!

Other — ABSENTS, ANTIOCH (44D. Ancient capital of Syria), COMPING, CYCLES, DIDN’T GO, IN A DAZE, LETS AT (26A. Sics on), LABAMBA, MAKES IT, NEOCONS, OHIOANS, OSCARS, PASSEL (50A. Whole lot), REPOMAN (38D. Car tower, maybe), RIMINI (23A. Adriatic seaport), RUDDIGORE (34A. Gilbert and Sullivan’s follow-up to “The Mikado”), SEEM TO.

Five-letter — AFLAC, BRINE, HI DAD, LIE ON, Boolean LOGIC, LOONEY, NIGHT, NOSED, ODE TO, OIL UP, OUNCE, OUTIE, STARE.

Short stuff — AHI, ALA, ALES, ANT, ASSN, ASTI, AZT, CANI, DCCL, DRED, DUO, ERIE, FOPS, GAIT, HITS, IBAR, IRON, ISEE, LENO, LOAN, METS, MOD and MODE, NAAN and NANU, NES, OPIE, ORCA, PEA, PIN, RIA, ROSE, SON, SUI generis, TSO, URB.

An example of the Italian rhyming scheme:

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide,
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide;
"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask; but Patience to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

On His Blindness by John Milton

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Prepare for a bodybuilding competition; 6. Company with a spokes duck; 11. Like Carnaby Street fashions; 14. Prefight psych job; 15. Bats; 16. Yellowfin tuna; 20. Taking after; 21. Part of N.A.A.C.P.: Abbr.; 22. Rest atop; 23. Adriatic seaport; 31. Bread from a tandoor; 32. A monopoly token; 33. General on Chinese menus; 38. Narrow inlet; 41. Tot’s plea; 42. Predator of seals; 50. Whole lot; 51. Appear that way; 52. Start of a number of Keats titles; 53. How it’s done; 56. Corsage part; 57. “An Unquiet Mind” subject; 61. Drug taken in “Rent”; 62. Certain navel; 63. Gold measure; 64. Duck Hunt gaming console, briefly; 65. Searched (around); 66. Dracula’s time. DOWN: 1. Annual Kodak Theatre events, with “the”; 3. Biopic about Richie Valens; 4. Metro area; 5. Stew morsel; 6. Publican’s stock; 7. Dandies; 8. Shylock’s offering; 9. Cookout pest; 10. Spring/summer/fall/winter and others; 11. Reach the big time; 12. Buckeyes; 13. Stayed put; 18. Trot or canteer; 19. Top 10, e.g.; 24. Support beam; 25. When repeated, Mork’s sign-off; 26. TV monologist; 28. Gridder’s on-air greeting, maybe; 29. Pickler’s need; 35. Three-quarters of M; 36. Got promoted; 37. Canal of song; 39. Out to lunch; 40. Removes (oneself); 43. Giving for free; 46. Source of bubbly; 47. Ex-lib, perhaps; 48. “So it is”; 53. Willie Mays’s last team; 54. Andy’s TV son; 55. Scott in 1857 news; 58. Tango team; 59. Holy Trinity part.

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