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New York Times, Friday, October 20, 2023

Author:
Jacob McDermott
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
31-Across : Setting for a battle in "Lawrence of Arabia"
TotalDebutLatest
98/27/20137/19/2024
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0031041
RebusCircleScrabDebutFresh
111.574262%
Jacob McDermott

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 70, Blocks: 30 Missing: {CJZ} This is puzzle # 6 for Mr. McDermott. Friday freshness: 27%
Jim Horne notes:

It's odd how crosswords eschew certain trigger words but embrace others like IDI and ENOLA GAY. 15-D is a funny twist on a phrase made famous because of a horrible tragedy.

1
A
2
S
3
I
4
S
5
A
6
T
7
R
8
I
9
A
10
S
11
P
12
A
13
R
14
M
O
T
E
15
L
R
O
O
M
S
16
A
H
M
E
17
P
L
E
X
I
G
L
A
S
S
18
F
O
I
L
19
M
O
M
20
B
U
E
N
O
21
B
E
N
D
Y
22
D
E
E
T
23
S
24
M
O
T
E
25
S
26
E
27
D
E
R
S
28
G
O
O
D
Y
B
29
A
30
G
31
A
Q
A
B
A
32
P
A
R
T
Y
F
O
U
L
33
M
U
R
A
L
34
E
R
R
35
D
I
O
D
E
36
S
A
N
T
A
37
B
A
B
Y
38
O
R
K
I
N
39
A
L
T
E
R
E
G
O
40
F
U
S
S
E
S
41
O
T
T
E
R
42
D
E
B
T
43
S
44
H
O
E
S
45
A
46
V
A
I
L
47
F
48
O
49
P
50
I
O
T
A
51
E
V
I
L
G
E
52
N
I
U
S
53
G
R
I
M
54
G
E
L
I
N
S
E
R
T
S
55
H
A
N
S
56
G
L
E
S
S
57
W
E
S
T
© 2023, The New York Times10/20/23 ( No. 27,009 )
Across
1
Stipulation that's more common in a seller's market : ASIS
5
Centers of some centers : ATRIA
10
Exchange words, in a way : SPAR
14
Stops along the way, say : MOTELROOMS
16
Lamenting words : AHME
17
It clearly divides people : PLEXIGLASS
18
Hat material for the paranoid : FOIL
19
Cry during an argument between siblings : MOM
20
OK, in Oaxaca : BUENO
21
Like an adjustable drinking straw : BENDY
22
Active ingredient in Off! : DEET
23
Struck down : SMOTE
25
Occasions to read the Haggadah : SEDERS
28
Gift for guests : GOODYBAG
31
Setting for a battle in "Lawrence of Arabia" : AQABA
32
Spilling a drink on someone or dancing on a host's sofa : PARTYFOUL
33
Banksy work : MURAL
34
Slip : ERR
35
A.C. converter : DIODE
36
Irreverent Christmas tune : SANTABABY
38
Big name in pest control : ORKIN
39
Second half? : ALTEREGO
40
Worries over small details : FUSSES
41
Cousin of a wolverine : OTTER
42
What red might indicate : DEBT
43
Spikes, for example : SHOES
45
Help : AVAIL
47
Preening sort : FOP
50
Particle : IOTA
51
One with bright and dark sides : EVILGENIUS
53
Godawful : GRIM
54
Sole supporters : GELINSERTS
55
___ Zimmer, Oscar-winning composer for "Dune" : HANS
56
Sharon who starred in "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill" : GLESS
57
Frontier direction during frontier times : WEST
Down
1
Distinction not used in the military : AMPM
2
Eschewing help : SOLO
3
Tabloid pair : ITEM
4
Undertone of Cole Porter's "Let's Do It" : SEX
5
Makes the case : ARGUES
6
Vacancy sign : TOLET
7
Bookbinding leather : ROAN
8
"My deepest apologies" : IMSOSORRY
9
Jerk : ASS
10
Adage for the risk-averse : SAFETYFIRST
11
D.I.Y. booster seats : PHONEBOOKS
12
In an atmosphere of : AMID
13
Have faith : RELY
15
Oh, the humanities! : LIBERALARTS
21
Some nudes : BODYDOUBLES
22
Testing grounds for aspiring politicians : DEBATETEAMS
24
Pithy remark : MOT
25
Central Asian savory pastry : SAMSA
26
___ rights : EQUAL
27
"Heck, yeah!" : DARNTOOTIN
28
Actress Greta of "Camille" : GARBO
29
___ Cornish, former co-host of "All Things Considered" : AUDIE
30
Dales : GLENS
32
Rocky road ingredient? : PEAGRAVEL
37
Stingy sort? : BEE
40
Pretends : FEIGNS
42
"Venus de Milo With Drawers" and "Lobster Telephone" : DALIS
43
Sound from the satisfied : SIGH
44
Dance in a ring : HORA
46
Nasty : VILE
47
Awesome, in modern slang : FIRE
48
Backup plans : OUTS
49
"Hey, you!" : PSST
51
Drive, with "on" : EGG
52
Misoneism, n.: Hatred of anything ___ : NEW

Answer summary:
4 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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