05.21.08

Make-up

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Puzzle by Dave Mackey, edited by Will Shortz
Make-up in the form of the inter-related entries of ROUGEETNOIR (17A. Solitaire card game); SHADOWBOXERS (24A. Pugs in gyms, at times); SOLIDFOUNDATION (37A. Good thing to build on); ATFIRSTBLUSH (50A. Initially) and LUXURYLINER (59A. Cunard fleet member), put on a good face on this smooth Wednesday crossword puzzle.
SHOWERGIFT (11D. Item from a registry, perhaps) and RELIEFMAPS
(30D. They show altitude) ache to join the group -- indeed a little shower would provide relief from all that make-up. BRUSH (52D Toiletry kit item) and BRISTLE (48A. 52-Down part), could also join in, along with TRAIT (51D. Red hair or freckles), LIP (64A. Collagen target) and to top it off, WIG (4D. Go nuts, with “out”). What a FUSS (28D. Something to kick up); what an ADO (8D. Stir)!
FURIOSO (28A. Forcefully, in music) and LENTO (7D. Slowly, on a score) join a BLUR (48D. Astigmatic’s view) of long entries including NITWIT (1A. Birdbrain),
CARHOP (10D. “American Graffiti” extra); ARMLET (47D. Decorative band); THETAS (6D. Certain sorority members); RUNYON (49D. “Guys and Dolls” is based on his writing); ENRICH (14A. Add value to); OAKTAG (66A. Poster stock); and NTESTS (69A. Big blasts, for short).
The five-letter group includes AIDER, AMBLE, DEEDS, ETATS, HAWED,
MRMOM, ROPER, SOFTG, USEME. Four-letter, ANTS, ASIS, BEAT, BOND, EATS, EDDA, FATS, HOTL, INGE, INON, LAIC, NERO, OAST, ORGS, SIMI, TECH, TOSH, TRUE, USOC, WREN. Three-letter, AAH, ABO, AXE, BAA, ETS, GHI, HEN, HIE, HUH, ICE, IDI, IKE, LAT, ODE, ONE, RUN, SAD, SCI, TIO, TOT, UAE, and XTC.
For today's cartoons, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.