MIDTERM
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Puzzle by Ken Bessette, edited by Will Shortz
MIDTERM (40A. Kind of exam, with a hint to the answers to the four starred clues); MISTERMAGOO (17A. *Myopic cartoon fellow); MONSTERMASH (65A. *Popular tune around Halloween); MASTERMIND (11D. *Plan hatcher); and METERMAIDS (30D. *Some ticket issuers) are the inter-related entries of this mid-month last-day-to-file-your-taxes Tuesday crossword puzzle.
Oh, I get it, TERM is in the middle of each of the four entries -- OK.
After that, there are two other long entries, MAGAZINE (8D. 16 or Seventeen) and DEEPENDS (41D. Diving board locales). Seven letter entries include one that I haven’t seen before, ZAMBEZI (26A. Victoria Falls River) -- then we get several more familiar entries, SKIWEAR (31A. Bots, gloves, mask, etc.); RUTGERS (49A. Home of the Scarlet Knights); GUMDROP (53A. Soft, colorful candy); and a few six-letter entries -- SAMEAS (6D. Just like); DIETED (33A. Took off excess pounds); SAUTÉS (51D Pan fries); SHOWME (10D. “Prove it!”) and TREMOR (50D. Richter scale blip).
We’ve a nice mix of a six-letter and five-letter entry with a classic Shortzesque double-clue, Former Disney chief Michael -- 47A. EISNER and 12D. OVITZ.
The clues for the five-letter entries are uniformly short -- ALOOF (1A. Like a cold fish); SEMIS (6A. Final Four games); Lash LARUE of old westerns (14A.); ABASH (15A. Bring shame to); WATTS (22A. Charlie of the Stones); ADMIT (28A. Fess up to); RADON (52A. Dangerous gas); ERASE (57A. Clear the blackboard); OLDIE (69A. “Golden” tune); CANED (70A. Gave a beating to); RESTS (72A. Chills out); ANTES (73A. Start-up costs, of sorts); PEPSI (13D. Soda selection); AWARE (27D. On top of things); KITER (32D. Passer of bad checks); DINGO (34D. Dog from Down Under); GEODE (53D. Crystal-lined rock); and URBAN (54D. Word before blight or sprawl).
The four-letter group includes ABAA, ADOS, AEON, ALMS, AMOK, ASIT, ASTA, DIAL, DRIP, DUDS, EAUX, EBAN, GENA, ISEE, KERN, LAIC, MIRO, OREO, ORSO, PHDS, RANT, SCOW, SLED. Three-letter, AVE, DAD, ENS, EXE, FEE, INA, IRE, ISO, MOP, NEE, OAT, OBI, OLE, RCA, RGT, and SIP.
O. K., now -- file those taxes!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
