The New York Times Crossword in Gothic

10.31.09 -- Quadrupuzzle VI

Saturday, October 31, 2009 -- Halloween

Puzzle by Robert H. Wolfe, edited by Will Shortz

Today's crossword is essentially four small puzzles joined in the center by a few letters. Divided by four big black "hammers", each quadrant needs to be solved separately. This is the sixth New York Times crossword of this type over the past two years -- See 12.01.07 -- Quadrupuzzle; 09.20.08 -- Quadrupuzzle III and 07.18.09 -- Quadrupuzzle V all with the same diagram. 12.22.07 -- Quadrupuzzle II a close variation; and the least claustrophobic, 10.17.08 -- Quadrupuzzle IV.

Puzzle 1 (Upper left) -- Across: 1. It’s usually good to stick to them, FACTS; 13. Escapee who fell to his death in the sea, ICARUS; 16. Fix, SCRAPE; 18. Good resting place?, HEAVEN; 20. Harbored, IN PORT; 22. Plus other things, ET ALIA; 24. One side of a leaf, RECTO; 26. Opposite of a surplus, DEARTH. Down: 1. Comparatively shady, FISHIER; 2. Spotlit, say, ACCENTED; 3. Shell, CARAPACE; 4. He played a governor in “Primary Colors”, TRAVOLTA; 5. Like the 2 in “x squared”, SUPERIOR; 14. Wagnerian heroine, SENTA.

Puzzle 2 (Upper right) -- Across: 6. Makes less offensive, DISARMS; 15. Spanning frameworks, GANTRIES; 17. Upstate New York town where I.B.M. was founded, ENDICOTT; 19. Cuts off, ISOLATES; 21. Less agitated, SERENER; 23. Brilliantly dressed cavalrymen, HUSSARS; 25. Aid in answering: Abbr., SASE. Down: 6. Frequent Degas subjects, DANSEUSES; 7. Supported: Var., INDORSED; 8. Subway station sights, STILES; 9. Secrets, ARCANA; 10. Tears may be brought to one’s eyes, RIOTER; 11. Curbside lineup, METERS; 12. They had adjustable noses, SSTS; 15. Companion abroad, GEISHA.

Puzzle 3 (Lower left) -- Across: 33. Things that turn up in gardens?, HOES; 37. They rise and fall periodically, EMPIRES; 42. Like the lion’s share, LARGEST; 44. Imbue with flavor, in a way, MARINATE; 46. Pneumatic power producer, AIR MOTOR; 48. Disdainful bunch, SNEERERS; 50. Earthly, TERRENE. Down: 25. Establishment with many horns, SHOE STORE; 27. Be imminent, THREATEN; 37. Unrequited lover of legend, ELAINE; 38. Graffitist, e.g., MARRER; 39. It may be under enamel, PRIMER; 40. Slight, IGNORE; 44. Yard supporter, MAST.

Puzzle 4 (Lower right) -- Across: 28. Johnny Depp title role, ED WOOD; 35 French following?, APRES; 41. Axial skeleton parts, STERNA; 43. Kind of view, AERIAL; 45. 1974 pop hit with Spanish lyrics, ERES TU; 47. Yet to hit the shelves, NOT OUT; 49. Biting writing, SATIRE; 51. Mustard family members, KALES. Down: 29. Tree of Southeastern swamplands, WATER OAK; 30. Johann Strauss work, OPERETTA; 31. Perfume ingredient, ORRIS OIL; 32. Change the essence of, DENATURE; 36. Pays tribute to, SALUTES; 41. Saint-SAENS (Fauré contemporary).

Go four it!

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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10.30.09 -- La Porte Étroite

La Porte Étroite

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Friday, October 30, 2009

Puzzle by David Levinson Wilk, edited by Will Shortz

Twelve 15-letter entries are the main feature of this end-of-the-long-week crossword:

ONE MOMENT IN TIME (17A. Whitney Houston hit recorded for the 1988 Summer Olympics);
DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO (24A. 1974 Rolling Stones hit);
THE SAHARA DESERT (31A. Home for an addax and dorcas gazelle);
DUPLEX APARTMENT (41A. Maisonette);
STRAIT IS THE GATE (48A. André Gide novel whose title comes from Matthew 7:14), La Porte Étroite;
SWIMSUIT EDITION (58A. Big newsstand seller for some magazines);
AREA OF EXPERTISE (3D. Bailiwick);
CHOCOLATE KISSES (5D. Sweet little things with points on them);
FIELD CAPACITIES (6D. Soil water saturation limits);
NATIONAL ANTHEM (8D. Country music);
GONE OVER THE LINE (9D. Taken things a bit too far);
THIRD GENERATION (11D. Like grandchildren).

Third generation photo, c. 1947

Five-letter -- ANSAE (62A. Looped handles); ARE SO (13D. Childish comeback); DYERS (65A. Some lock changers); EINES (53D. German indefinite article) and ERNES (67A. Kite relatives); FRANC (1A. It no longer circulates around the Seine); FT ORD (1D. Mil. Base until 1994); GOTTA (9A. Must, informally); OTHER (16A. One may be significant); NOONE (64A. “I’m Henry VIII, I am” singer); RONDO (D. Concerto component); SO SAD (48D. “A pity”); TAWNY (49D. Like a lion’s coat); TEMPO (12D. A musician might pick it up); TO ONE (52D. Odds’ end?); TORAH (14A. Rite reading for some 13-year olds).

Short stuff (all are of three letters each) -- CAL and CAN and CEN, DER, DIS, EDM, EEK, FIL and FIN, HAD and HAL, HER and HEX, HOU, INA and IND and INE and INN, LEA and LER, MAO and MAR, MEG, NAM, OAT and OTT, OER, OIS, OOX, PAS, RDA, RON, RPS, SAT, SSS, TAU, TDS, TEP, TNT, TOD and TOI and TOR, VIG (30A. Bookie’s charge, for short).

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues: Across: 6. Skate part; 15. ___ state; 20. Fat standard, say: Abbr.; 21. One of Steinbeck’s twins; 22. Salt additive?; 23. Turning meas.; 28. Thread: Fr.; 29. Long time: Abbr.; 37. Tic-tac-toe loser; 38. Im-ho-___, Boris Karloff’s role in “The Mummy”; 39. Celtic sea god; 40. Vote in une legislature; 45. Cartoonish cry; 46. Behind; 47. “___ Town Too” (1981 hit); 54. Kind of flakes; 55. Went nowhere; 56. Anthropomorphic film villain; 57. Parisian pronoun; 63. Teacher’s deg.; 66. Deflation indication. Down: 4. Site of many ‘60s tours; 7. Travel guide listing; 10. Diamond figure on a 2006 postage stamp; 18. He said “Learn from the masses, and then teach them”; 19. Like some candidates: Abbr.; 25. Slam; 26. Canto contraction; 27. French suffix with Quebec; 31. Death in Deutschland; 32. The Astros, on scoreboards; 33. Spell; 34. Austrian article; 35. “Bull Durham” director Shelton; 36. Charge stuff; 42. Green land; 43. Hearing aids, briefly; 44. Stewie’s sister on “Family Guy”; 50. Cross character; 51. Ate; 59. Nick, say; 60. Bears make them, in brief; 61. The Blue Jays, on scoreboards.

10.29.09 -- Ar′ō

Air offensive … descending shells explode during an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, January, 2009

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

Ar'ō, or close to it, is the pronunciation for the starts of ARROWSMITH (18A. Sinclair Lewis novel), AIR OFFENSIVE (26A. Series of sorties), EERO SAARINEN (46A. Gateway Arch designer) and AEROSOL CAN (57A. Bomb), the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

Other entries of length include ACTUARIES (3D. Insurance company employees); ALASTAIR (37D. Actor Sim who played Ebenezer Scrooge); CORONERS (6D. Ones examining bodies of evidence?); DIET SODA (35D. Tab, for one); GASOLINES (2D. Refinery products); GOING AWAY (31D. Kind of party); HOME TEAM (10D. They’re out standing in their field); LOVE SCENE (32D. What’s barely done in movies?); DATES BACK (54A. Has been around since, with “to”); SOUP SPOON (20A. Setting piece).

Sixes and sevens -- ASSIST (39A. Set on the court); BEAGLE (30A. Tricolor pooch); CASTLED (49A. Made a switch in a game); GRATE ON (24A. Rankle); INBORN (48D. Natural); LAGOON (23A. Venetian feature); ODD LOT (47D. It doesn’t end in 00); SLINGS (52A. Carriers of arms); SNAP OFF (5D. Suddenly break, as a twig); STOP-GO (4D. Like some traffic); TALENTS (43D. Biblical money units); WRONGS (8D. Betrays, say).

Five -- ALEUT (Unalaska native, e.g.); A MITE (11D. Somewhat); CEASE (49D. Quit); ELISE (53A. Beethoven dedicatee); 13D. ETHAN Allen furniture; NOT IT (61A. Tag words); NORAS (27D. Charles and others); NOTRE (15A. First word of the Lord’s Prayer in French); SCOWS (5A. Punts, e.g.); SELES (40D. 1991 and 1992 U.S. Open champ); SIREN (51D. It may precede a storm); STAVE (19D. Hold off); STIRS (64A. Big ados); TETRA (22A. Exotic fish); VITRO (12D. Not natural, in a way, after “in”).

Short stuff -- ACTI, AFRO, AGAS, ALTA, APES, ARIS, AURA (26D. Goddess of breezes), EDEN, ESTO, ETNA, HAVE, IVE, KNIT, MOOD, NYET, OMIT, ONS, OTRO, OWEN, PACT, RANI (62A. “Doctor Who“ villainess, with “the“), REED, RIB, SEW, SOFA, SRA, SUED, TRE, UNI.

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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: 1. They’re akin to khans; 10. Maintain; 14. Joining of opposite sides; 16. Drop; 17. ___ perpetual (let it be everlasting); 28. Half of bi-; 29. Big do; 34. Wind element; 36. Title not acquired by Miss Spain?: Abbr.; 38. ___ ring; 42. Utah ski resort; 45. Mass ender?; 60. Went after; 62. “Doctor Who” villainess, with “the”; 63. Italian rumbler; 65. Putin input? Down: 1. Galoots; 7. Juan’s other; 9. Finish (up); 21. Coin “swallower”; 25. Trunk part; 33. First couple’s home; 41. III in modern Rome; 44. Fleischer and others; 55. Play start; 56. Work on a muffler, say; 58. Walk-___.

10.28.09 -- Silent K

Letter K -- DrunkenFist.com
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Puzzle by Mike Torch, edited by Will Shortz

Affixing a silent K to the fore of word beginning with the letter N to change the meaning of five phrases comprises the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword -- OLD KNICK (15A. Retired Big Apple basketball player?); KNEW TESTAMENT (21A. Was well-versed in a will?); LADY OF THE KNIGHT (38A. Guinevere, to Lancelot?); KNOT FOR PROFIT (48A. Macramé company’s goal?); KNIT PICK (64A. Select a sweater?).

Other mid-size entries -- ARREST (67A. Run in); CALL ME (63A. Theme song from “American Gigolo”); CICADAS (7A. Insects in swarms); COME LATE (60A. Miss the start, maybe); DEFERS (33D. Puts off); ETC ETC (19D. Blah, blah, blah); GOES INTO (17A. Expounds upon); HALTED (5D. Stopped); IDEATE (8D. Think up); INROAD (14A. Encroachment); NO WAIT (45D. “Uh, hold on! That’s wrong!”); OFF AIR (47D Like things said after cutting to a commercial); PITCHY (1A. Slightly sharp or flat, as a voice); SECANTS (66A. Trigonometric ratios); SKILLS (16A. What tests test); TIED UP (65A. Even).

Five -- ACT ON (12D. Follow, as advice); ASCOT (18A. English racing site); CLODS (8D. Think up); COLON (4D. List preceder); DINGE (11D. Griminess); FLIES (57A. Bloopers, e.g.); ILLER (53D. Less healthy); KICKS (48D. Fun); MERIT (24D. Earn); 49D. “NO ONE Is to Blame” (1986 hit); OSMIC (50D. Of element #76); ROTCS (51D. University mil. Programs); SKORT (13D. Woman’s golf wear); TILDE (54D. Type squiggle); TRESS (34A. Lock); TRICK (3D. What a king may win); USUAL (41A. Like some suspects); WYATT (30D. Jane of “Father Knows Best”).

Short stuff -- ANI, ATTN, BLUE, BREW, CAFÉ, CKS, CTA, DOC, EDU, EGO and ENO, EMUS, ERDA, ETA and ETE, GOR, INKS, IOS, KENO, LEWD, LPN, OGRE, OLAF, PEEK, PISA (1D. Torre Pendente city), RAS, SEPT, SHY, STS, TAN, TOYS, WHA, WOES, WOLF.

O.K.

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Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.
Remaining clues -- Across: 19. “Das Rehingold” goddess; 20. Brit’s oath; 25. Sawbones; 26. Hot time in la cité; 27. Make in a cauldron; 31. R-rated, maybe; 42. Lunch site; 43. Kids’ stuff; 44. What you might get in a booth; 46. Roxy Music co-founder; 55. Cyclades island; 46. Sorrows. Down: 2. Prepares, as the presses; 9. Bank drafts: Abbr.; 10. “Gimme ___!” (repeated cry of a University of Mississippi cheerleader); 15. Meanie; 22. Woman-chaser; 23. Ltr. Routing aid; 27. ___-ray Disc; 28. Dorm heads, for short; 29. E-mail address ending; 32. “Huh?”; 35. Kind of boost; 36. Short; 37. Many figs. On stained-glass windows; 39. Norwegian king; 40. Numbers game; 52. Look through half-closed blinds, e.g.; 58. Aussie runners; 59. Number of dwarfs with Blanche Neige; 61. Theta preceder; 62. Hosp. staffer; 63. Windy City transportation org.

10.27.09 -- Rah! Rah! Sis-Boom-Bah!

Cheerleader Yelling Into Megaphone, Revere F. Wistehuff

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Puzzle by Chuck Deodene, edited by Will Shortz

CHEERLEADER (57A. Shouter of this puzzle’s circled sounds), RAH! RAH! SIS-BOOM-BAH! contained within the entries of TETRAHEDRON (17A. Solid with four triangular faces), RAHM EMANUEL (25A. Chief of staff in the Obama White House), GENESIS (35A. Start of the Bible), BOOMERS (37A. Post-W.W. II demographic, informally) and GRAND POOBAH (49A. High muck-a-muck) are the interrelated group of this cheerful Tuesday crossword.

Eight-letter entries include AUTO LOAN (3D. Help in buying a car), EXTEND TO (38D. Reach as far as), SAN MATEO (10D. Redwood City’s county), SUN DECKS (36D. Places for tanning).

Seven -- DEEP END (29D. Part of a pool for diving); ENIGMAS (22D. Riddles); LOW BALL (34D. Like an offer that’s under actual value); HARDEST (53A. Most difficult); ENIGMAS (22D. Riddles), HEADPIN (18D. First thing usually hit by a bowling ball); SOMEONE (21A. Unnamed person).

Six -- AGHAST (44D. Shocked); BARELY (13D. By a hair); 47D. Fernando BOTERO, painter of plump figures; DRAWER (45D. Bureau part); ITUNES (12D. Oneline music mart); MARLEY (46D. Jacob whose ghost appears to Scrooge); MORSEL (8D. Tiny bit to eat); RECOUP (11D. Win back, as losses).

Five -- ADMEN (44A. Commercial writers); AFORE (67A. Previously, in poetry); BLOOM (9D. Flower); HYENA (51D. Carrion consumer); IAMBS (6A. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” has five of these); INUIT (14A. Eskimo); 63A. John Lennon’s “Instant KARMA!”; NITRO (64A. Explosive); PEAKS (1A. Mountains); PSHAW (50D. “Nonsense!”); STAIR (5D. Series of steps between floors); SWOOP (66A. Bird of prey’s dip); VIOLA (15A. Instrument played with a bow); TIPSY (31A. Midway between sober and drunk).

Short stuff -- AID, AWL, AXES, BLOB and BOOB, CUR, DUEL, EMO (59D. Popular music style), EMS, ENE, ERR, ETA, HUES, IRAE, IVE, KIRK, LEG, LYNN, MEW, NAIF, OKIE, PEW, PIT, PUN, RAP (58D. Popular music style), REAM, RIB, ROE, SEE, SLO, SOW, SSTS, STAT, SWIG, SYL, TRY, WOOD, YORE.

Rah! Rah! Sis-boom-bah!

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.
Remaining clues -- Across: 11. “Spare” thing at a barbecue; 16. Gate guess: Abbr.; 19. Scoundrel; 20. Lone Star Stater’s northern neighbor; 23. Part of a word: Abbr.; 28. Alternative to an iron, in golf; 30. Sword fight, e.g.; 32 “Dies ___” (hymn); 33. Seat where people may sing 32-Across; 34. Knee’s place; 41. Bit of wordplay; 42. Boar’s mate; 43. X, y and z, in math; 47. 1958 sci-fi classic, with “The”; 48. Population fig., e.g.; 52. Lifesaving team, for short; 56. Cobbler’s tool; 62. “Didn’t I tell you?”. Down: 1. Quarry; 2. Suffix with propyl; 4. Captain for Spock and McCoy; 6. “___ been there”; 7. Reinforcements; 23. Big swallow; 24. Days of ___; 26. Colors; 27. Kitten’s plaint; 37. Idiot; 39. 500 sheets; 40. Old trans-Atlantic speedsters; 42. Driver’s caution to reduce speed; 55. Innocent.

10.26.09 -- Extra! Extra!

Newsboy Extra, Joyce Images

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Monday, October 26, 2009

Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz

Four names rhyming with XFACTOR (36A. Mystery quality … or what 18- and 55-Across and 3- and 32-Down have?) -- FOX MULDER (18A. Dana Scully’s sci-fi partner), MAX YASGUR (55A. Owner of the farm where Woodstock took place), LEX LUTHOR (3D. “Superman” villain) and TEX RITTER (32D. Cowboy who sang the title song from “High Noon”). Is it a stretch to say that the call of a newsboy, EXTRA (31A. When repeated, bygone newsboy’s cry), echoed by XTERRA (36D. Nissan S.U.V.) give a playful ring to this Monday crossword -- the question is whether XFACTOR rhymes with the four proper names and/or where the reverberations of the bygone call of the newsboy begin or end -- soothsaying ghost in the city’s canyons of hard times and skyscrapers.

The news is that this is a good read, nay excellent, far above the usual Monday crossword -- contrasts and counterpoints abound, PERMIT ME (52A. “If I may … “) like an ALLEY CAT (20A. Prowling feline) on the, well, prowl… Nissan’s S.U.V. has a companion in the ALTIMA sedan, PUNK and POKE share their K, OSAGE and OSIERS resonate, ACHE and ACRE, OPAL and OPERA, PRO and PEROT, VENTI, VERSE and VIXEN, REGO and ROMA, SHOO and SHOT, alongside the thud of SOX (8D. “Red” or “White” baseball team) and MESS UP (44D. Goof) -- yes, the YANKEES are in the World Series this year!

Seven-letter entries include COVERED (47A. Having insurance); EAT INTO (42D. Take away from, as profits); FREEBIE (4D. Something for nothing); HAS BEEN (24A Washed-up person); ONE-EYED (40D. Like two jacks in a deck of cards); SALTBOX (10D. House style with a long pitched roof in back).

Six -- EASY ON (5D. Start of a billboard catchphrase meaning “close to the highway”), something I‘ve never heard of; ENMESH (46D. Tangle up [in]); HEAR OF (45A. Learn secondhand); LATIN I (25A. Course in which to conjugate “amo, amas, amat … “; NO MA’AM (9D. Courteous rejection to a woman); ULSTER (19D. Coat named for an Irish province).

Five -- AAHED (30D. Sighed with satisfaction); 27A. “We AIM TO please”; ALCOA (27D. It acquired Reynolds Metals in 2000); AS FAT (6D. Equally plump); AUDIE (11D. Actor Murphy of old westerns); CLIFF (21D. Steep drop-off); COMAS (47D. Unconscious states); CRÈME (12D. Middle of an Oreo); ENTRY (57A. Contest submission); HILTS (24D. Sword handles); HORDE (63A. Mob); KARAN (13D. Designer Donna); MAXES (17A. Completely uses up, as a credit card, with “out”); NEMEA (43A. Ancient Greek city with a mythical lion); OTHER (37D. None of the above, on a survey); ROLFE (1A. John of colonial Jamestown); STEER (60A. Have the wheel of a car); U-BOLT (23A. Letter-shaped threaded fastener); VENTI (50A. Large, at Starbucks); VERSE (50D. Esther 8:9 is the longest one in the Bible); VIXEN (49d. Reindeer teamed with Prancer).

Short stuff -- AGEE, ALIF, ASSN, AURA, EEL, EXGI, EYE, FALL, GRO, HOST, LAPP, MRED, SACK, SEND, URNS.

Extra! Extra!

------------------

For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

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: 6. The first “A” in N.A.A.C.P.: Abbr.; 10. Bag; 14. “Tosca,” for one; 15. “Get out of here, fly!”; 16. Surrounding glow; 28. Dull pain; 29. Autumn; 35. Con’s opposite; 38. Snakelike fish; 39. H. Ross ___, candidate of 1992 and 1996; Party giver; 42. U.S. military vet; 51. Twigs for baskets; 58. Writer James; 59. Vases; 61. Transmit; 62. Jab between the ribs, say. Down: 1. Capital of Italia; 2. Milky white gem; 7. Photographed; 25. Northern Scandinavian; 26. Field unit; 33. ___ Park (Queens neighborhood); 34. A, in Arabic; 52. Play a practical joke on, slangily; 53. Talking horse of ‘60s TV; 54. Bronte’s Jane, 56. Miracle-___ (plant food.

10.25.09 -- Ghouls -- the Acrostic

Gravestone collaged with Ghoul, by dizzt

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Sunday, October 25, 2009

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emil Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s chilling acrostic draws its quotation from Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book -- “a tragic tale: a sleeping family, a talented murderer, and an adventurous toddler—orphaned, but not assassinated. Small and alone, by accident and luck he escapes the scene of the crime and climbs a grassy hill to safety. At the top of the hill the boy finds a fence, and on the other side, a dark, quiet place.”

The quotation: ONE GRAVE IN EVERY GRAVEYARD BELONGS TO THE GHOULS YOU WILL FIND IT WATERSTAINED AND BULGING WITH CRACKED STONE AND A FEELING OF ABANDONMENT IF THE GRAVE MAKES YOU WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT IS THE GHOUL-GATE

The author’s name and the title of the work: NEIL GAIMAN THE GRAVEYARD BOOK

The defined words: A. Potentially spooky shift of work (2 wds.), NIGHT WATCH; B. Malevolent sprite in Germanic lore, the subject of a Schubert piece, ERLKING; C. Seen without being present to the senses, IMAGINED; D. Main character in “The Vampire Chronicles”, LESTAT; E. Author of “The Fifth Head of Cerberus” (2 wds.), GENE WOLFE; F. Did as Dorian Gray did only in his portrait, AGED; G. Put into a final resting place, INHUMED; H. “Haystacks” artist, MONET; L. Where a ghost hunter may look, ATTIC; J. Weeping daughter of Tantalus, NIOBE; K. Son of Nyx (Night); twin of Hypnos (Sleep), THANATOS; L. Rear half of a centaur, HORSE; M. “ETERNITY is really long, especially near the end” (Woody Allen); N. “Stop haunting me!” (2 wds.), GO AWAY; O. One who returns from the tomb as a spirit, REVENANT; P. The depths of hell, or its angel, ABADDON; Q. Ones found near a corpse, VULTURES; R. What a malevolent person may cast (2 wds.), EVIL EYE; S. “YOUNG Frankenstein” (1974 film); T. “Horrible” homophone of Word Y., AWFUL; U. Motive in “The Cask of Amontillado”, REVENGE; V. Dark urge connected to Word K. (2 wds.), DEATH WISH; W Ominous goblin in the shape of a dog, BARGHEST; X. Man-eating she-monster of fairy tales, OGRESS; Y Carrion; rubbish, OFFAL; Z. Mischievous gremlin, KOBOLD.

Happy Halloween!

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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

10.25.09 -- Not a Clue

Sunday, October 25, 2009

WISHFUL THINKING, Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz

I’m not fond of quote puzzles, and this Sunday’s changes nothing -- MY GOAL IN LIFE IS TO BE A CLUE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE. I’VE NEVER TOLD ANYONE, BUT IT’S TRUE (23A. Start of a wish by 12-Across on 9/21/09), etc., along with PETER KING (112A. NBC football analyst/reporter and longtime writer) and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (94A. Magazine for which 112-Across writes).

BIGMOUTHS (3D. Windbags) and GET OVER IT (85D. “Stop your moping!”) are the other long entries, followed by six eight-letter answers -- ABBA EBAN (1A. “My People” writer); EPITOMES (66A. Paragons); ONE LITER (129 Soda bottle size); OXYMORON (74A. Hell’s Angels, e.g.); ROID RAGE (19A. Violent behavior due to excessive use of banned athletic substances); TEST RIDE (126A. Take for a spin).

Seven-letter -- CADETTE (13D. Middle-school Girl Scout); DEFINER (10D. Noah Webster, for one); EQUATES (14D. Draws a parallel between); FATTEST (36A. Like the best wallets?); I LOST IT (97D. Lame excuse for missing homework); 73A. ISIDORE, the Laborer, patron saint of farmers; LOVABLE (98D. Endearing); PUNKERS (95D. Some Warped Tour attendees); SAID I DO (9D. Got hitched); SAVANNA (104A. Tropical grassland); SCARIER (94D. More hairy); TOOLBOX (67A. Garage container).

Six -- ADELIE, AQUINO, AZO DYE, CEDRIC, DUNCES, DUNLOP, ENTERS, HOLMES, HOOVES, PACINO (Actor who said “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse), however, it’s BRANDO‘s line, SVELTE, UP-TIME, VASTER, YEOMEN.

Five -- ADLER, AETNA, ARBOR, ARMEY, ARSON, ASKEW, A-TEST, BOYLE, END UP, ETUDE, EWERS, GEESE, GIZMO, IN-OUT, NALDI, OXEYE, OY VEY, RILLS, SAPOR, SASHA, SEDAN, SEGUE, SHEER, SIGIL, SEVEN, TONAL.

Short stuff -- ADO and APU, AGE and AGIN, AIDE, ALEE and ALY, ANO, ANTS, ASH, ASOF, AYES, BAL, BAUM, COPE, DATS, DESI, DINA, EAR and ERA, ELM and ELY, ELSA and ELSE, EON, EST, ETH and ETCH, ETD and ETE, GAG, GHIJ, IAS, IDLE, ITOO, JETE, KNIT, LEY, MELC, MPH, NENA and NINA, NLER, NOVA, NSA, OMNI, ORT and TORT, OTTO, PAVE, RIEN, RIO, SCUM, SDAK (9A. Its motto is “Under God, the people rule”: Abbr.), SHOE, SOI and SOIL, SOLO, STL, TRI, TSE, USE, UTES, YEOH.

Be careful what you wish for...

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.

Remaining clues -- Across: 13. ___ Errol, main character in “Little Lord Fauntleroy”; 20. Humana competitor; 22. Time’s 1986 Woman of the Year; 26. Big name in tires; 26. ___ bark beetle (pest); 27. Nita of silents; 34. Actress Merrill; 40. Lucy’s guy; 42. Big wheels; 47 [Yuck … that’s awful!]; 50. Parliament output?; 51. Toward the quiet side; 52. It seemingly never ends; 53. Page, e.g.; 54. Malia’s sister in the White House; 63. Table scrap; 65. Oxford, e.g.; 76. Aside from that; 79. Prince ___ Kahan, third husband of Rita Hayworth; 84. Transition; 88. Words of agreement; 89. Musical sense; 90. Not in operation; 92. Christmas hours in N.Y.C.; 93. Law, in Lima; 101. Refuse; 102. What can one do?; 107. Astronomer’s sighting; 109. Monotaur feet; 114 Flavor; 117. Sudan neighbor: Abbr.; 118. Kind of penguin; 124. More massive; 125. Magical symbol; 127. Infiltrates, say; 128. Ballet jump. Down: 1. Dick who was once House majority leader; 2. Danny who directed “Slumdog Millionaire”; 4. Whirl; 5. Long, long time; 6. ___ Harbour (Miami suburb); 7. Sayin’ no to; 8. ‘99 Luftballons” pop group; 11. “I already ___”; 12. Pullover, e.g.; 15. Boneheads; 16. Streamlets; 17. Kind of tray; 18. Hack it; 21. Starting with; 24. Obama’s honorary deg. From Notre Dame; 29. Creator of Oz; 31. Dashboard stat; 32. L’heure di’ ___” (2008 Juliette Binoche film); 33. Historic ship whose real name was Santa Clara; 35 Cockeyed; 38. Nickname of the Spice Girls’ Sporty Spice; 39. Porcelain containers, maybe; 41. Poem with the lines “Nobody’ll dare / Say to me, / Eat in the kitchen”; 43. “___ in ice”; 44. Hush-hush org.; 45. Michelle of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”; 46. Memo intro; 47. Contraption; 48. Freud disciple Alfred; 49. Canada ___; 53. Chemical coloring; 55. Famous deerstalker wearer; 56. Shady spot; 58. “___ though”; 59. John Elway, for the Broncos; 60. Printer resolution meas.; 61. Piazza del Miracoli town; 62. Monthly expenditures: Abbr.; 64. Battery, e.g.; 67. Like most music; 68. It has ray flowers; 69. “Sheesh!”; 70. Losing tic-tac-toe combo; 72. Bridge expert Culbertson; 75. Member of the Brew Crew, e.g.; 77. Dirty; 78. Land, eventually; 81. “___ all!” (“Fini!”); 82. Hot topic in insurance; 83. ___ Schneider, villainess in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”; 86. Capitalize on; 87. Flight board fig.; 91. Impress permanently; 96. Big name in hotels; 99. 2016 Olympics locale; 100. It’s got mayo; 101. Thin; 104. Alternative to a wagon; 105. Secret event of ‘45; 106. Harvesters, e.g.; 108. “Much ___ About Nothing” (“The Simpsons’ episode); 110. Practice piece; 111. Like some stockings; 112. Asphalt, e.g.; 113. Run of letters; 115. Germany’s ___ von Bismarck; 116. Nothing, in Nantes; 120. Subject of many lies; 121. K’unt Fu-___ (Confucius); 122. The Gateway to the West: Abbr.; 123. Prefix with valent.

10.24.09 -- Turn, Turn, Turn and Tina Turner!

Tina Turner performing live in 2008

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Saturday, October 24, 2009

Puzzle by Paul Gamache, edited by Will Shortz

This Saturday crossword is fairly straightforward with general clues and answers, turning up more than a few personages:

Across: 1. High-definition storage medium, BLURAY DISC; 11. With 28-Across, like some traffic, STOP AND GO; 15. Singer born Anna Mae Bullock, TINA TURNER; 16. Ranchero’s hand, MANO; 17. “Baby Hold On” hitmaker, 1978, EDDIE MONEY; 18. Item of the past, EXES; 19. Situation before many a game is won, ADIN; 20. Cookie flavoring, ANISE; 21. Word before thou, WILT; 22. Cabinet chief between Smith and Thornburgh, MEESE; 24. ENTRE-Deux-Mers (Bordeaux wine appellation); 26. Glass top, RIM; 27. It spawned the Weather Underground Org., SDS; 30. Singer Aguilera, self-referentially, XTINA; 32. Alternatives to iPhones, TREOS; 33. “The Practice” and “Boston Legal” Emmy winner, SPADER; 34. French Revolution radical, JACOBIN; 37. Wild, BERSERK; 38. Gadget for a grease monkey, OIL GUN; 39. Big dos, FETES; 40. Like some shoulders, BROAD; 41. Triumphant cries, TADAS; 42. It may thicken the plot, SOD; 45. Some Amazon.com orders, CDS; 46. Calvin Klein offering, SCENT; 48. Her alter ego is Princess Adora, SHE-RA; 50. Contents of some deposits, ORES; 52. Foundation strengthener, REBAR; 54. “Life of Pi” author YANN Martel; 55. Real joker, RIOT; 56. Dupe’s exclamation, I’VE BEEN HAD; 58. Fear, to François, PEUR; 59. Time to pull a product, SELL-BY DATE; 60. Out-of-commission cruisers, SSTS; 61. “Turn! Turn! Turn!” songwriter PETE SEEGER.

Down: 1. Sub squads, B-TEAMS; 2. Like 57-Downs, LIDDED; 3. Brief briefs?, UNDIES; 4. Farmers’ needs, RAINS; 5. Got fed up?, ATE; 6. Where César Chávez was born, YUMA; 7. Talked and talked and talked, DRONED ON; 8. They have tops and bottoms, INNINGS; 9. Minds, SEES TO; 10. Old yeller?, CRYER; 11. Old World duck, SMEW; 12 It begins where a person hails from, TAXI RIDE; 13. Routine delivery, ONE-LINER; 14. Prepare for delivery, POSTMARK; 23. iPod attachments, EARBUDS; 25. Station skipper, EXPRESS; 29. Prussian prohibition, NEIN; 31. Soviet agency created from Rosta, TASS; 32. Cover of the Colosseum?, TOGA; 33. SET A goal; 34. Creation of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, JOB CORPS; 35. Hangs up after agitating?, AIR-DRIES; 36. Bargain hunter’s bonanza, CLOSE-OUT; 37. Stand where you lie BED TABLE; 39. Alternator driver, FAN BELT; 41. Nonhuman baby sitter?, TEEVEE; 42. Ugly Dungeons & Dragons figure, SEA HAG; 43. Busy, ORNATE; 44. Irish, DANDER; 47. Like new ones, CRISP; 49. Chrissie of the Pretenders, HYNDE; 51. Navigation rtes, STRS; 53. Lee side, REBS; 57. It has a ball, EYE.

One good turn deserves another -- HERE or HERE.

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games