03.16.12 — Master Key

 

 

The Master Key by kuschelirmel

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Friday, March 16, 2012

Puzzle by Joel Fagliano / Edited by Will Shortz

A masterly last-Friday-of-winter crossword!

Nine- and ten-letter — ASIAN GAMES (27D. Quadrennial sporting event), BANANA SLUG (4D. U.C. Santa Cruz athlete), DAVE EGGERS (26D. “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” author), ELI MANNING (3D. M.V.P. of Super Bowls XLII and XLVI), MASTER KEY (53A. Super item?), PRICELESS (20A. Hilarious).

Seven- and eight-letter — ALPHABET (59A. It breaks the “I before E” rule), CAYENNE, CIA AGENT, COCA COLA, GAG GIFT, GANDALF (25. Balrog slayer, in fiction), HENNESSY, MILEAGE, OKAY OKAY (18A. “I get your point!”), SPACE JAM.

Five- and six-letter — ACACIA (9D. Whistling thorn, e.g.), AGAPE, A MINUS, ANEMIA, Per ANNUM, BRUNEI (5D. It borders the South China sea), DIRECT, EASEL, FORBES, HILARY Swank, HI MOM, HORSY, LENIN (22D. “Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism“ writer), LOOPS, MEANIE (48D. Bowser in the Super Mario series, e.g.), MESSES, NAÏVE, PETTY, PLEBE, POKING, RAMEN, SCORE, TECHY, THE BBC, TOKENS (46D. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight“ hitmakers, with “the“), WOMAN (19A. Many a first-time voter in 1920).

Short stuff — ABA, ACT, ADM, ALAS, “A LIE told often enough …“, CYS, EASE, EATS, ECOL, EGGS, FLEE, IONA, JOKE, LENS, Ernst MACH, MANE, MAYS, SINS, SPAN, STAG, THAN and THAW, TOE, TOIL, VAT, YEA.

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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. It operates under a royal charter; 7. 1996 movie starring Michael Jordan; 15. Swank in Hollywood; 16. Popular mixer; 17. Low 90s, say; 21. Bald person’s envy, maybe; 23. Born yesterday; 30. Errs; 32. Case worker’s org.?; 34. Stand for something; 35. Grind; 36. Expert with computers; 42. With 49-Across, figure skating practice; 43. Well-being; 44. Novelty shop purchase; 47. Dish often served with soy sauce or miso; 49. See 42-Across; 51. Neighborhood vandalism ammo; 57. Hardly close-mouthed; 60. Lack of vitality; 61. Many a role in the Jason Bourne films; 62. Frank; 63. Brandy brand; 64. Pigpens. — DOWN; 1. Springtime period; 2. Stadium shout-out; 6. Young and others; 7. Movie component; 8. Contacting via Facebook, in a way; 10. Ingredient in Buffalo wings; 11. Bionomics: Abbr.; 12. Part of a routine; 13. Interjection that comes from the Latin for “weary”; 14. Billy famous for infomercials; 20. Rite of passage participant, often; 24. Industrial container; 28. See-through object; 29. Fugitate; 30. Buck; 31. Liberal arts college 20 minutes north of Manhattan; 33. Charade; 37. Merry-go-round fixture, to a tot; 41. Sales rep’s reimbursement, maybe; 45. Big list maker; 50. Inconsequential; 52. 10-Down, e.g.; 53. Physicist Ernst who studied shock waves; 55. Range; 56. Common conjunction; 58. Chow; 60. Nelson, e.g.: Abbr.