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New York Times, Thursday, December 16, 2004

Author:
Mike Torch
Editor:
Will Shortz
21-Across : Informal conversation opener
TotalDebutLatest
1912/23/20039/1/2015
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
3373210
ScrabDebutFresh
1.5511042%
Michael Torch

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 72, Blocks: 34 Missing: {JXYZ} Spans: 1 This is puzzle # 4 for Mr. Torch. Thursday freshness: 51%
1
T
2
E
3
A
4
R
5
G
6
A
7
S
8
S
9
E
10
S
11
A
12
F
13
A
14
R
15
S
P
R
I
N
G
T
I
D
E
16
P
A
R
A
17
E
A
S
T
O
R
A
N
G
E
18
P
L
O
T
19
M
I
S
S
E
D
20
E
L
S
E
21
L
22
I
23
S
24
T
E
N
25
F
A
C
E
S
26
A
Q
U
A
S
27
A
28
I
29
R
30
B
A
L
L
31
S
U
M
P
32
A
S
N
E
A
R
33
A
34
M
35
S
36
T
I
M
E
37
O
F
T
H
E
S
E
38
A
S
O
N
39
S
T
E
40
T
R
I
O
D
E
41
E
S
T
A
42
R
43
E
T
O
R
T
S
44
C
R
E
E
P
45
A
46
R
G
U
S
47
G
H
O
S
T
S
48
B
O
A
R
49
B
50
O
51
W
52
T
I
E
53
A
M
M
O
54
O
N
E
O
V
E
55
R
56
P
57
A
58
R
59
S
E
E
P
60
W
I
N
T
E
R
P
A
R
K
61
H
O
S
E
62
E
N
T
E
R
S
I
N
T
O
© 2004, The New York Times12/16/4 ( No. 20,127 )
Across
1
Makes cry, in a way : TEARGASSES
11
Way off : AFAR
15
Swelling rush : SPRINGTIDE
16
Chute opener? : PARA
17
City next to Newark : EASTORANGE
18
Lead-up to a coup : PLOT
19
Failed at a shootout : MISSED
20
Additionally : ELSE
21
Informal conversation opener : LISTEN
25
Confronts : FACES
26
Water colors : AQUAS
27
Shot that's completely off the mark : AIRBALL
31
Water pit : SUMP
32
Comparatively close : ASNEAR
33
Some radio listings: Abbr. : AMS
36
1969 #3 hit ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme : TIMEOFTHESEASON
39
Sault ___ Marie : STE
40
Old TV part : TRIODE
41
This, in Toledo : ESTA
42
Comebacks : RETORTS
44
Progress little by little : CREEP
45
100-eyed giant of myth : ARGUS
47
Uncredited authors : GHOSTS
48
Big pig : BOAR
49
The Cat in the Hat had one : BOWTIE
53
It's loaded : AMMO
54
Bogey : ONEOVERPAR
59
Percolate : SEEP
60
Home of Rollins College : WINTERPARK
61
Gardener's need : HOSE
62
Starts, as an agreement : ENTERSINTO
Down
1
Literary inits. : TSE
2
Org. that conducts many studies : EPA
3
MGM motto starter : ARS
4
Becoming gradually slower, in music : RIT
5
Garden decorations : GNOMES
6
Smiling : AGRIN
7
Points on a line: Abbr. : STAS
8
Faults : SINS
9
Upper hand : EDGE
10
Tournament favorite : SEED
11
Fund-raising letter : APPEAL
12
First semester offerings : FALLCLASSES
13
Stopped lying : AROSE
14
Taxi posting : RATES
21
Holds up : LASTS
22
Cry of surrender : IQUIT
23
Quadrennial event : SUMMERGAMES
24
Cash register part : TAPE
25
It's figured according to the 14-Down : FARE
27
Moving : ASTIR
28
___ water : INHOT
29
Orchestra section : REEDS
30
Kind of coat : BASE
32
Retro hairdo : AFRO
34
Sacred song : MOTET
35
Goes postal : SNAPS
37
Baseball's Mel and others : OTTS
38
Planelike : AERO
43
Where the holm oak is native : EUROPE
44
It's said when lifting the arm : CHEERS
45
Disconcert : ABASH
46
Mercutio's friend : ROMEO
47
One who tithes : GIVER
49
Boxer Riddick : BOWE
50
"Come ___!" : ONIN
51
Hit the road : WENT
52
Lug : TOTE
55
Coll. in Troy, N.Y. : RPI
56
Give a thumbs down : PAN
57
Obsolete form of "to be" : ART
58
MGM rival, once : RKO

Answer summary:
3 unique to this puzzle, 1 debuted here and reused later, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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