03.20.13 — Alphabet Quartet

 

Spring Equinox at Stonehenge photo by Josh Gurner

 

An equinox occurs twice a year (around 20 March and 22 September), when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator. The term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, night and day are about equal length. ~ Wikipedia

 

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013 — Equinox

 

Puzzle by Raymond C. Young / Edited by Will Shortz

FOUR (25A. Minimum number of times each letter of the alphabet appears in this puzzle’s solution) appears to be the raison d'être of this Wednesday crossword.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Leave at the altar; 5. “___ Stop the Rain” (1970 hit); 10. “II” movies: Abbr.; 14. “Whoops!”; 15. Ganja smoker; 16. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day org.; 17. Canseco who wrote “Juiced”; 18. Sweepstakes mail-in; 19. Twix units; 20. Paper view?; 22. Step on, as a bug; 24. Fun house cries; 26. Tequila sources; 29. Upside-down-sleeping animal; 32. Candlelight event, perhaps; 33. Softens, as tone; 34. Hard-to-comb hair; 36. Dove soap shape; 37. Bandleader Kay; 38. Foreign Legion hat; 39. Pince-___; 40. Harsh cries; 41. Add to a film, as music; 42. Women with esposos; 44. Lee Ann who sang “I Hope You Dance”; 45. Likely to break out into fighting; 46. Half of dix; 47. Rihanna’s record label; 50. Yellow blooms; 54. Sch. That publishes the Daily Bruin; 55. Draw ___ on (aim at); 57. Having a tiff; 58. Looney Tunes animator ___ Freleng; 59. Way to get from point A to point B; 60. Tea brand owned by Starbucks; 61. Mess around (with); 62. Super Bowl played in 2005; 63. Picnic side dish. — DOWN: 1. Skater Starbuck; 2. Breakfast restaurant chain; 3. Mislay; 4. One to speak of?; 5. Creates, as havoc; 6. Pends; 7. Bone: Prefix; 8. Printer tray size: Abbr.; 9. Stops for a while in the course of a journey; 10. Many a commuter’s home; 11. Morales of “Jericho”; 12. N.F.L. divs.; 13. Cummerbund, e.g.; 21. Banana waste; 23. “Jeopardy!” response: Abbr.; 25. Clotho and sisters; 26. ___ lady (doorbell ringer); 27. “What ___?”; 28. Goggle-eyed; 29. Zodiac borders; 30. Amorphous creature; 31. Debate basis; 3. Sinatra standard; 35. Birth announcement color; 37. He wrote “Capital is dead labor”; 38. Orange fruits; 40. Posture-improving exercises; 41. Rum named for a Spanish literary hero; 43. Genre pioneered by Miles Davis; 44. Popular glass cleaner; 46. Cousin of a raccoon; 47. Keister; 48. Pantyhose shade; 49. Move like a hummingbird; 50. ___ d’esprit (witticisms); 51. Slanty type: Abbr.; 52. Co-star of Joel in “Cabaret”; 53. Pack in the overhead bin, say; 56. Be a pugilist.