09.17.11 — Down to Earth

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

Four 15-letter across answers are featured in this down-to-earth Saturday crossword — ALIEN ABDUCTIONS (14A. Cause for some spatial relationships) with EERIE at 41-Across, VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (17A. Debut at the 1979 Frankfurt Auto Show), PAID A STEEP PRICE (57A. Suffered serious consequences) and INVESTMENT TEAMS (60A. Groups aiming for good returns).

Two ten-letter answers, TILE SETTER (3D. One spending a long time in the bathroom?) and TORRENTIAL (29D. Coming down hard), are next in length, followed by ten of seven letters — the redundant acronym phrase CNN NEWS (16D. It’s shown on TV monitors at many airports), CUTLASS, EXEMPTS, FERRULE (42A. Tool handle strengthener), FULLEST, INSECTS (5D. What swallows swallow), RE-ENTER, SCENTED, SEX CELL (44A. Member of a very early union?), ST JUDES (9D. Memphis hospital, familiarly).

Mid-size — AGERS, ATLAS, AWAKE, AWHILE, CASTE, CLAWS, CURSE, DC AREA, EDGER, ERUPT, ETAIL, Sarte’s “Les Jeux Sont FAITS”, HATES, NUDIST (20A. One with nothing to hide), ORATES, PATTI, RAIDER, RONDO, ROWEL (31D. Spur part), SHEAF, SOLES, SPEED, STRAP and TIED ON.

Short stuff — ACME, A LOT, ANTS (12D. Some marching bands), APIA, ATE and ETE, DECI, DRAW, DUE, EASE, ESTS, HIVE, IDS, LENS, LIS (34D. Tulipe relative), MBAS, MED student, MESS, ONES, OTO, PAVE, PLUM, PSAT, REIN, REO (59D. Locomobile competitor), ROTI (11D. Indian flatbread), SOCK, TAM, TEK, TMI (58D. “I think you overshared,” briefly), WANG.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Singer/songwriter Scialfa; 9. Banjo accessory; 18. It can heat up Roquefort; 19. Smooth; 21. Wallop; 23. Last movement of a sonata; 25. Like bath beads, typically; 28. Show one’s stamped hand, perhaps; 32. Can’t take a bit; 33. Bear essentials?; 35. Relatives of the Iowa; 36. They’re in the vicinity: Abbr.; 38. Box office need; 39. Got things down; 40. Damn; 46. Titan after whom one of the oceans is named; 48. Silver checker; 49. Some time; 52. Choice job; 54. Lid around a loch; 61. Smoking and heavy drinking; 62. Security demands; 63. They go with uppers. — DOWN: 1. Surface; 2. Over and over; 4. Drug in a sci-fi novel series; 6. Suits often hold them; 7. Landscaping aid; 8. Like some balances; 10. Like sashes; 12. Some marching bands; 13. Math is part of it: Abbr.; 15. Benefiting from Vivarin; 22. Tips, often; 24. Is a spellbinder; 25. Bundle of a sort; 26. 51-Down division; 27. Alexandria is in it; 30. Net sales; 37. Maximum; 38. Numerical prefix; 40. Pirate’s appurtenance; 41. Grandfathers, e.g.; 43. Speakeasy scourge; 45. Blow; 47. “The primary factor in a successful attack,” per Lord Mountbatten; 49. Capital near Faleolo International Airport; 50. “The Joy Luck Club” director, 1993; 51. Busy place; 53. Magnifier; 55. Lofty place; 56. Hoarder’s problem.