The New York Times Crossword in Gothic

The NYT Crossword in Gothic Digest daily posts are now viewed in full at The New York Times Crossword in Gothic – HERE.

Due to time and space constrictions, the Digest version of The New York Times Crossword in Gothic has been discontinued -- all daily posts of the crossword are now viewed in full at The New York Times Crossword in Gothic.

11.24.09



Kevin Spacey in the film American Beauty, the ending

Tuesday, November 24, 2009


Puzzle by Victor Fleming and Bonnie L. Gentry, edited by Will Shortz


AT THE END OF THE DAY (19A. With 64-Across, everything considered), WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE (34A. With 43- and 48-Across, everything considered) and THE FINAL ANALYSIS (4D. After “in,” and with 44-Down, everything considered) comprise the interrelated group of this suave Tuesday crossword.


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For the complete post, go HERE.

11.23.09

Come Together

Monday, November 23, 2009
Puzzle by Ben Pall, edited by Will Shortz
BEATLES (38A. Group with the four circled members) and the circled members, JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE and RINGO contained within JOIN THE NAVY (3D. Head out to sea, say), POLE VAULTER (18A. Athlete trying to pass the bar?), AGENT ORANGE (59A. Toxic herbicide) and READING ROOM (26D. Library area) are the interrelated group of this terrific Monday crossword.
Wait, there’s more -- ABBEY ROAD (9A. With 46-Down, 1969 album by the 38-Across), 30A. “Nowhere MAN” (1966 hit), 48A. “Gonna TRY with a little help from my friends; 13D. “YER Blues (song on the White Album); 14A. Yoko ONO, RAVI (47A. Sitarist Shankar) and QUOTE (16A. “We’re more popular than Jesus now,” famously). What’s not to like?
A few more links -- PSYCHO (50A. Hitchcock film with a shower scene) and DAMAGED (52A. Injured); OSIRIS (25A. Egyptian god of death); TRIOS (45A. The Supremes and others).
Come Together!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.22.09 -- the Acrostic

Turkey

Sunday, November 22, 2009
ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz
To the purpose of toay's acrostic quotation, Meleager, King of Macedonia, brought the first turkeys into Greece. The Greeks named these birds after their prince Meleagrides. Sophocles, in one of his tragedies, introduces a chorus of turkeys bewailing the death of Meleager. Edgar Allan Poe makes sardonic note of the same in his Marginalia.
The quotation: I NEVER CAN HEAR AN ITALIAN OPERA WITHOUT FANCYING MYSELF AT ATHENS LISTENING TO THAT PARTICULAR TRAGEDY BY SOPHOCLES IN WHICH HE INTRODUCES A FULL CHORUS OF TURKEYS WHO SET ABOUT BEWAILING THE DEATH OF MELEAGER.
The author’s name and the title of the work: EDGAR ALLAN POE MARGINALIA
The defined words: A. EISENACH; B. DEFIANT; C. GOLD STAR; D. ATTICA; E. ROUGHISH; F. ASHTRAY; G. LIFEBOAT; H. LITHELY; I. AUTHENTIC; J. NEWFOUND; K. PURVIEW; L. OUTBACK; M. ENTELECHY; N. MENORAH; O. ANT BEAR; P. REWRITE; Q. GOALPOST; R. ISTHMUS; S. NEPHROLOGY; T. ANCHORITE; U. LANGUISH; V. IN EFFECT; W. ALWAYS.
Happy Thanksgiving!
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.22.09


Career
Brigitte Bardot, actress
Sunday, November 22, 2009
CAREER DAY SPEAKER SCHEDULE, Puzzle by Patrick Merrell, edited by Will Shortz
This Sunday’s interrelated group redefined career day speakers -- TICKET AGENT (23A. Career Day Speaker #1: Meter maid?); SOCIAL WORKER (28A. #2: Tea server?); DRIVING INSTRUCTOR (38A. #3: Golf pro?); BRANCH MANAGER (58A. #4: Tree surgeon?); FILE CLERK (70A. #5: Manicurist?); UNION OFFICIAL (82A. #6: Justice of the peace?); MARKETING DIRECTOR (103A. #7: Grocery store owner?); RECORD KEEPER (111A. #8: Disc jockey?); NOVEL WRITER (119A. Career of the parent who typed up the Career Day schedule?). Anecdote anyone?
Other entries of length include AGREES WITH, BROW-BEATS, TURNS RED, SABER SAW, SMOOTH OUT and TIDAL BASIN.
Seven-letter -- ACT FIVE; AGITATE; BAKLAVA; EXTORTS; PEN NAME; REMATCH; SI SENOR; SKEETER.
Six -- ANTONE; ARABLE; ASTROS; AVERSE; BARDOT (63A. Sex symbol once married to Vadim); EGESTS; 98A. ELAINE; GERBIL; GRUELS; IN SITU; IT’LL DO; KENOBI; LOOKIE; NACRES; SEA DOG; SEDANS; STACKS; SYSTEM; TACOMA.
Five -- ARCHI, ASIDE, AVIAN, BAMBI, EDSEL, ENARM, ERMAS, ESSEX, EYERS, HANOI, HERES, ILIAD, INAIR, INLET, IREST, LEDGE, MEESE, MISUSE, MOMMA, NECCO, ONELB, ONEND, ORGAN, RATSO, REINA, SMOKE, STERS, SYSTEM, TREVI, UTILE, YEARS.
Short stuff -- ALI, AKIN, ASOF, ATOP, BIT, CEE, CIRE, DENT, EAR, ECOL, EGOS, ESC, ENS and ESS, ERST, ESTS, ETTA, EVA and EVAN, FEAR, FISH, FRAY, GAT, HARM, HRS, IDEA, IES, IRAN, ISM, ISUP, KALE, KENS and KENT, KILO, LAFF, LAT, LAUD, LEA, LGA, LII and LIL, LIMB, MIC, MSG, NEDS, NHL, ORS, OSE, RBIS, RHEA, RITT, RNS, ROLO, RONA, RYNE, SCOW, SEER, SHE, SILO, TEAM, TEEN, THIS, TIA, TIFF, VET, WAY.
Career? Driving instructor!
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For today’s cartoon go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.21.09

Abyssinia

Image from Avatar, the film by James Cameron
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Puzzle by Gary J. Whitehead, edited by Will Shortz
The usual Saturday -- variety, mystery and sadistic duplicity.
For today's post, go HERE.

11.20.09

Rara Avis

Umbrella Bird -- Artist: K. Lilly
Friday, November 20, 2009
Puzzle by Alan Olschwang, edited by Will Shortz
A word is a word is a word…
For today's post, go HERE.



11.19.09


Thursday, November 19, 2009
Puzzle by Tyler Hinman and Jeremy Horwitz, edited by Will Shortz
Three film directors are linked in this entertaining Thursday crossword by way of their clues -- COSTA GAVRAS (17A. “Z” director, 1969), FRITZ LANG (32A. “M” director, 1931) and OLIVER STONE (51A. “W.” director, 2008). The remaining 23 letters of the alphabet are also present, the puzzle is holoalphabetic, which is neither here nor there but everywhere.
A few links -- IONESCO (13D. Le Rhinocéros” playwright Eugène); MOONLIT (12D. Like the forest in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”); STAR MAPS (44A Some Beverly Hills tourist purchases); ASSYRIANS (10D. Hearers of Jonah’s prophecy); APNEA (41A. Cause of an awakening); UOMO.
Lights, cameras, action… the trailers for Z, M and W.
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.18.09

JACK

19th-century cartoon of Jack Frost as a United States major-general during the American Civil War.
Wednesday,
November 18, 2009
Puzzle by Paula Gamache, edited by Will Shortz
Gardena jackpots ("Jacks to open" or simply "Jackpots") is a variation of poker with a single joker in the deck acting as a bug -- the game is named after the city of Gardena, California.
With that bit of obscurity (to the non-gambler, at least) in mind, this Tuesday crossword drums up the imaginary presence of JACK at the fore of the first word of four entries --
HAMMER THROW (17A. Olympic track-and-field event); FROST/NIXON (30A. Play and film about a noted 1977 series of interviews); CHEESECLOTH (36A. Loosely woven cotton fabric); RABBIT EARS (44A. Indoor dipole antenna, colloquially), tied with JACKS TO OPEN (60A. Five-card draw variation … or a hint to 17-, 30-, 36- and 44-Across) -- long way to go for a grunt or a chuckle.
A few more links -- ARMAGNAC (3D. Eau de vie from Gascony); BOY TOY (46D. Young stud); HIALEAH (2D. Historic racetrack site); ICHABOD (29D. Washington Irving’s Crane); 11D. MAALOX moment” (ad catchphrase); MODEL AS (25D. 1903-04 cars sold only in red); ARNEL (40A. Vintage synthetic fabric); PRELL (5D. Green shampoo brand); SAX and SEX.
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For today’s cartoons, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.17.09

RINGO

Ringo Starr, detail from portrait by Al Hirschfeld

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 -- Leonid Meteor Shower

Puzzle by John Farmer, edited by Will Shortz

RINGO (52D. Rock star whose name is spelled out by the middle letters of 16-, 18-, 39-, 61- and 64-Across), DURAN DURAN (16A. With 2-Down, group with the only James Bond theme to hit #1), BLING BLING (18A. With 10-Down, flashy jewelry), TWINKLE TWINKLE (39A. With 25-Down, start of a nightime nursery rhyme), SUGAR SUGAR (61A. With 50-Down, #1 hit of 1969) and KNOCK KNOCK (65A. With 54-Down, intro to a joke) are the interrelated group of this stellar Tuesday crossword.

Tuesday links -- CUFFLINKS (42A. Dress shirt accessories); WIREPHOTO (34A. A.P transmission); FROMAGE (43D. French cheese); SPUMONI (57A. Italian ice cream treat); GITMO (24A. Cuban base in the news, in brief); OCULI (12A. Eyelike windows); RIGEL (46A. Bright double star in Orion); WIGAN (40D. City near Manchester); SKUA (53A. Arctic seabird); USA for Africa.

With a little help from his friends, here‘s RINGO!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.


11.16.09

...AND...

Monday,
November 16, 2009
Puzzle by James Mulhern and Ashton Anderson, edited by Will Shortz
COCK AND BULL (17A. Like a story that can’t be believed),
SHOCK AND AWE (27A. Military strategy during the 2003 invasion of Iraq), ROCK AND ROLL (45A. Subject of a 1950s “revolution”) and LOCK AND LOAD (61A. Prepare to use a rifle) are the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.
A few more links --
BLACKLIST (34D. Secretly ban from employment); NELSON (10D. Mandela of South Africa); 32A. JABBA the Hutt (“Star Wars” villain); YALTA (55A. 1945 conference site); ICBM (57D. Long-range weapon, for short).
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For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.15.09

Man of Many Words

Sunday,
November 15, 2009
MAN OF MANY WORDS, Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz
JOHNNY MERCER (Lyricist born 11/18/1909 who wrote the words to the 10 songs with asterisked clues) -- today’s crossword commemorates his 100th birthday.
Accompanied by the note “When this puzzle has been completed, connect the circled letters in order from A to N to get an appropriate image,” the puzzle, when completed vibrates with music, dominated by a roughly sketched treble clef, a music symbol with variations and an indicator of specific directions to the musician -- see
HERE.
For the BROADWAY MUSICAL (42D. Many a 115-Across collaboration) and beyond, Mercer wrote the lyrics for
ONE FOR MY BABY (21A. *Tony Parsons novel [1943 song]); TANGERINE (26A. *Mandarin variety [1942]); MOON RIVER (67A. *It flows into Ontario’s Georgian Bay [1961]); GREAT GUNS (108A. *Laurel and Hardy flick [1949]); JEEPERS CREEPERS (3D. *Omigosh!” [1938]); HAY RIDE (11D. *Rural jaunt [1945]); CHARADE (*Total sham [1963]); LAURA (48D. *Former first lady [1945]; EMILY (59D. *One of the Brontes [1964]); MATADOR (90D. *Toro’s target [1956]).
A few links across -- 15. Move from Los Angeles to New York, say, GO EAST; Robert of “The Sopranos”, ILER; 47. William OSLER, the Father of Modern Medicine; 51. Greek god of the north wind, BOREAS; 75. Girl Scout symbol, TREFOIL; 85. Curvy-horned animals, ELANDS; 98. Faux gold, ORMOLU; 114. Move from New York to Los Angeles, say, HEAD WEST.
Down: 1. Greek market, AGORA; 13. “Les Voyages Extraordinaires” writer, VERNE; 22. Vintage Ford, MODEL T; 58. Hungarian half sister?, ZSA; 76. “The Wizard OF ID; 7-Up, with “the” UNCOLA; Photographer Leibovitz, ANNIE; 106. Peace goddess, IRENE.
Johnny in season -- HERE!
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For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.14.09

Saturday Stroll

La Promenade, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1870

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

Four 15-letter across entries are the main feature of this Saturday crossword which sports an extra line across resulting in a 15x16 grid. Reportedly, four full-length entries, one atop another makes for a difficult puzzle to construct; however, equal difficulty for the solver doesn’t seem a result in this instance as the clues are fair, making for a leisurely stroll in the park. INCOME STATEMENT; MOON OVER PARADOR; ARRIVEDERCI ROMA; MANDARIN ORANGES.

Other entries of length include CORNED BEEF; LA PROMENADE (28D. Renoir at the Getty); PRAIRIE DOG; YOU PASSED IT.

Mid-size -- ALOE VERAS; CELLULAR; GET ACROSS; LEONID; MARNER; MATERIALS; MESSROOM; UNMOVABLE.

Five -- ANTES; AZTEC; ELVES; ENTER; GNOME; IMAMS; I QUIT; MAIZE; MIMES; MOTES; MUSEE; NEALE; NORAH; ORIEL; OTRAS; PEEL; SABLE; SO FAR; TAINT; T-BILL; ZEBRA.

Short stuff -- ACED, AIDE, AMEX and APEX, ANTZ, BAT, DEFS and DELS, ELL, ENOS, ERN, FATS, FRO, GARR, IDEE, IGO, IMP, JOSE, KIEV, LET, MAJ, MAMA, MOLE, NOSE, ONME, ORNO, QUE, RES, SAT, SHE, SKID (49D. A screech may accompany it), SPAN, TREN, UTES, WACO, WINS, YEAR.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.


11.13.09

OH ME!

OH ME (53D. Worrier’s words), Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893
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Friday,
November 13, 2009
Puzzle by Dana Motley, edited by Will Shortz
For today’s post, go
HERE.

11.12.09

Diamond

Thursday,
November 12, 2009
Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz
A [DIAMOND] IS FOREVER (36A. Classic marketing tagline) and [DIAMOND] LIL (37D. Mae West role), [DIAMOND] JIM BRADY (1A. Tycoon who was reputedly the first person in New York City to own an automobile) and [DIAMOND] RING (1D. Union symbol?), [DIAMOND]HEAD (10A. Hawaiian landmark) and [DIAMOND]BACKS (10D. Chase Field team), NEIL [DIAMOND] (67”Heartlight” singer, 1982) and BLACK [DIAMOND] (44D. Symbol for a difficult ski run), BASEBALL [DIAMOND] (68A. Home setting) and HOPE [DIAMOND] (54D. Subject of a renowned curse) comprise the interrelated group of this gem of a Thursday crossword.
Thursday links --
ARTERIOLE (66A. Small blood vessel); TURBOPROP (62A. Commuter aircraft, maybe); MELTED (4D. Like the Wicked Witch of the West at the end of “The Wizard of Oz”); SPELLS (50A. Kisses may break them); AXELS (18A. Tricky jumps); RECTO (32A. Chapter’s starting point, usually); WHELK (65A. Marine snail); CFOS (33D. Inc. article subjects), COS (33D. Inc. article subjects).
A kiss may be grand but it won't pay the rental /On your humble flat, or help you at the automat /Men grow cold as girls grow old /And we all lose our charms in the end /But square cut or pear shaped /These rocks don't lose their shape /Diamonds are a girl's best friend!
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For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.11.09

Letter Count


Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 -- Veterans Day
Puzzle by Kelsey Blakley, edited by Will Shortz
ONE TWO THREE FOUR (39A. Start of a count … or the letter frequencies in 17-, 30-, 46- and 64-Across), BEER BREWER (17A. User of barley malt), I DID INDEED (30A. Emphatic boast of responsibility), TO THE TEETH (46A. One way to be armed) and
ROTO ROOTER (64A. “And away go troubles …” company) are the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.
Wednesday links --
RAMPAGE (58A. Go nuts), RAMROD (10D. Musketeer’s need), RANDI (45A. “Amazing” debunker of the paranormal), RAVI (18D. Raga player Shankar).
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For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.10.09

Angstless

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld, edited by Will Shortz

The starts of 17-, 23-, 36-, 45- and 57-Across, TAKE, THE, MONEY, AND and RUN, along with WOODY and ALLEN (61A. With 63-Across, name associated with the starts of 17-, 23-, 36-, 45- and 57-Across), e.g., TAKE PLACE (17A. Happen), THE SOPRANOS (23A. First cable series to win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama), MONEY LAUNDERING (36A. Process involving illegal drug profits, say), AND I LOVE HER (45A. Flip side of the Beatles’ “If I Fell”) and RUN SCARED (57A. Retreat in fear) are the interrelated group of this angstless Tuesday crossword. For the trailer of 1969 Take the Money and Run, go HERE.

Tuesday links -- EDIE (40A. Falco of 23-Across [e.g. THE SOPRANOS]) and TONY (23D. Lead role on 23-Across), SATURN (9D. Second-largest planet in the solar system) and MOON (33A. Titan, to 9-Down); WOMEN’S LIB (11D. 1960s movement rejecting traditional gender roles); ARDEN (51D. Elizabeth of cosmetics); HESSE (44A. “Steppenwolf” author); LEROY (37D. Jim Croce’s “bad, bad” Brown); SNAPE (6D. Potions professor at Hogwarts).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.


11.09.09

Going Down

Monday,
November 9, 2009
Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz
COUGH
DROP (18A. Throat soother), NIGHTFALL (23A Time just after sunset), KITCHEN SINK (36A. Where dishes may pile up), SKINNY DIP (51A. Go in without a suit) and THINK TANK (57A. Problem-solving research institute) are the interrelated group of this friendly Monday crossword.
Monday links -- GIRL TALK (11D. Chitchat at a sweet sixteen sleepover) and KING-SIZE (36D. Really big, as a mattress), AFRICAN (21D. From Niger or Nigeria), ATHENS (1D. Parthenon’s site), ANTSY (35D. Restless), KANGA (52D. Roo’s mom in “Winnie-the-Pooh”), MILNE (63A. “Winnie-the-Pooh” writer), TSARS (53A. Rulers until 1917), OOZE (61A. Slime).
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For today’s cartoons, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

11.08.09

ANTSY

Sunday, November 8, 2009

COLONIZATION, Puzzle by Robert W. Harris, edited by Will Shortz

In this sparsely hymenoptera-populated crossword titled Colonization, ANT is added to hem-line, base ten, plain dealer, pry bar, GI bill, madam I am Adam, ped xing and web page to produce ANTHEM LINE (23A. “O say can you see” or “Thru the perilous fight!?), BASE TENANT (25A. Resident of a military installation?), PLANTAIN DEALER (40A. Tropical fruit seller?), PANTRY BAR (61A. Place to get drunk in the kitchen?), GIANT BILL (67A. What overuse of a credit card might result in?), MADAM I’M ADAMANT (84A Gentleman’s intransigent reply?), PEDANT XING (105A. Where nitpickers walk on a street?) and WEB PAGEANT (108A. Online beauty contest?). Yes, that’s really it -- except for the two lost ANTs contained in TYRANT and ANTSY.

Eight-letter entries -- ACADEMIA; APERITIF; BEARDING; CASSETTE; END PAPER; GENERATE; OIL SHIPS; RATTIEST; RELISTED; SENTINE.

Seven -- AIR FARE; APPAREL; ARTISAN; CESURAS; CRONIES; DISOWNS; FORESEE; INUTILE; LIBELEE; LONG RUN; PLATTED; MADEIRA; NERDIER; RADIOED.

Six -- ALIGNS; ANGELA; ANODAL ; ARTERY; CONTRA; ENTRÉE; ESTOPS; GRAPES; LENORE; PHASER; PRUNED; REHEAR; RENTAL; ROMERO; SECOND; SEREST; STRAIN; STRONG; TREATS.

Five -- ABAFT, ACMES, ADAGE, ANTSY, ARETE, AWRAP, BATES, CAMEL (20A. Brand with a pyramid on the package); CARLY, COACH, ERASE, GRAIN, INFOR, 57A. Poet Federico Garcia LORCA; NIXON, NSYNC (112A. Group with the 2002 hit “Girlfriend”); PILAF, SALTS, SNEER and SNOOD (59A. Hair net); SOLES, STASH, SUPRA, USHER.

Four -- ADIN, AIME, ALER, ANDS and ANDY, ARIE, BEAD, BENE, DALE, EARN, ECRU, EERO, EGOS, ELAN, ELOI, ESTA, FEAR, INON, IRMA, LENA, LIES, LINT, LPNS, NABS, NEE, ONES, OPIE, OREO, RASP and SAPS, RONA, SEAT and SUET, SRTA, ZAPS and ZEBU.

Three -- AEC, ALA, AMI and AMO, ASET, AWS, BYA, DEI, DIG and DIS, EIN, GIN, HIP, LED, LPS, LON, NEB, OOP, SAM, SSE, STE, USN and TAN, an anagram of the occasional wandering ANT…

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

For the complete post, go HERE.