Circles
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Puzzle by Lucas Gaviotis Whitestone, edited by Will Shortz
INNER (64A. Private … or a hint to the words spelled by the circled letters), along with PAPERBACKWRITER (17A. 1966 Beatles #1 hit) with “P E A C E” in circles; CHURCHHILLDOWNS (25A. Louisville landmark), “C H I L D” in circles; BEAMMEUPSCOTTY (42A. Command Kirk never really gave), “B E A U T Y” in circles; and CENTIGRADESCALE (56A. Standard degrees for scientists?), and “C I R C L E” in circles, are the interrelated entries featured in this Wednesday crossword.
COWBELL (9D. It may be heard in a herd) and SENEGAL (40D. Nation where Wolof and French are spoken) are the only other long entries, evoking a very rural scene on the Dark Continent.
Five- and six-letter entries include ACUTE, AROSE, AVATAR, BATCH, BATTLE, BRANCH, CREPE, ERRAND, EVOLVE, GLOSS, INAWE, ICEUP, MOVING, NAÏVE, NOWAY, POPUP, RAISE, SHADES, SPICE, STARCH, TENOR, WYATT, YESES (35A. “Oui“ and “si“).
The Fill: ALES, ARK, BYOB, CAL, DEER, ECHO, ELSE, EONS, HIC, HUR, INK, IOU, IVOR, JOEL, MAT and NAT, MAVS, MELT, OLE, ONCE, OPT, ORAL, ORCS, OTC, PAIN, PAPA and POPE, PECK (7D. Atticus Finch portrayer … or something finches do), PER, PITT, PJS, RIO, SCAN, SHU, SPED, SUER and SURE, TED, THUS, UNE, USES, VEIL, VENT, VLAD, YOU (34A. Thou, today).
26D. “HASTA” la vista, baby!”
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