This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

New York Times, Saturday, August 19, 2023

Author:
David P. Williams
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
51-Across : Minimal
TotalDebutLatest
58/19/20239/7/2024
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0000014
ScrabDebutFresh
1.571490%
David P. Williams

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 66, Blocks: 36 Missing: {JQZ} This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Williams. Saturday freshness: 65%
Jeff Chen notes:
Debuting with a 66-word themeless containing a gaping-wide middle? HELL YEAH, hardly PROSAIC, no need to MOLLYCODDLE David! GILD THE ... read more
1
S
2
P
3
L
4
I
5
F
6
F
7
S
8
C
9
R
10
I
11
M
12
S
13
P
R
O
S
A
I
14
C
15
L
O
O
N
I
E
16
H
E
L
L
Y
E
A
17
H
18
I
N
N
A
T
E
19
E
M
C
E
E
20
B
O
21
C
C
E
22
H
O
T
23
R
I
A
S
24
C
A
B
L
E
25
P
U
S
H
26
E
X
T
27
G
A
R
B
O
28
E
E
R
I
E
29
M
O
N
E
Y
S
30
A
V
E
R
S
31
G
I
L
D
T
H
E
L
I
L
Y
32
M
O
L
L
Y
C
O
D
D
L
E
33
S
A
T
A
Y
34
A
R
L
E
S
35
M
36
D
37
S
38
T
R
O
N
39
A
R
S
O
N
40
M
E
E
K
41
A
C
T
42
V
I
D
E
O
43
F
A
N
C
Y
44
T
O
O
45
B
A
D
46
S
P
47
R
A
Y
T
A
N
48
U
N
W
I
S
E
49
S
I
D
E
E
Y
E
50
S
I
N
G
E
S
51
M
E
R
E
S
T
© 2023, The New York Times8/19/23 ( No. 26,947 )
Across
1
"Excuse me while I light my ___" (Bob Marley lyric) : SPLIFF
7
Theater backers? : SCRIMS
13
Ho-hum : PROSAIC
15
11-sided coin, informally : LOONIE
16
"Damn right!" : HELLYEAH
18
Not learned : INNATE
19
Word shortened from a three-word phrase that can be further shortened by dropping its first, fourth and fifth letters : EMCEE
20
Ball game : BOCCE
22
Very much in : HOT
23
Narragansett Bay and New York Harbor, for two : RIAS
24
Broadcast alternative : CABLE
25
Labor demand? : PUSH
26
Numbers after a no. : EXT
27
"The Swedish Sphinx" : GARBO
28
Uncanny : EERIE
29
Coupons, e.g. : MONEYSAVERS
31
Embellish something unnecessarily : GILDTHELILY
32
33
Asian appetizer : SATAY
34
Locale of van Gogh's "The Bedroom" paintings : ARLES
35
Ones calling the shots, in brief? : MDS
38
Ending with cyclo- : TRON
39
Harsh lighting? : ARSON
40
Acquiescent : MEEK
41
Routine : ACT
42
Component of a Zoom call : VIDEO
43
Dig, say : FANCY
44
"Tough cookies" : TOOBAD
46
Bronze finish, maybe : SPRAYTAN
48
Foolish : UNWISE
49
Skeptical look : SIDEEYE
50
Takes a little hair off, perhaps : SINGES
51
Minimal : MEREST
Down
1
Basketball, e.g. : SPHERE
2
Get ready, as concrete : PREMIX
3
Meme creature : LOLCAT
4
Key chain : ISLES
5
She played Bonnie in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" : FAYE
6
Giant syllable : FIE
7
Common golf mistake : SLICE
8
It might receive scoops : CONE
9
The anchorman in "Anchorman" : RON
10
Rushed : INAHURRY
11
Cell division : MITOSIS
12
Boil : SEETHE
14
Permit required of old jazz musicians : CABARETCARD
17
Preoccupations : HOBBYHORSES
21
They come full circle : CLOSEDLOOPS
24
Risk for people with braces : CANDY
25
Key's partner : PEELE
27
Word after good or by : GOLLY
28
Weariness, vice and want, in Voltaire's "Candide" : EVILS
29
Where most of the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci are stored : MILAN
30
___ Ehrenreich, Han Solo's portrayer in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" : ALDEN
31
"Knock yourself out!" : GOTOTOWN
32
1909 Nobelist for contributions to the invention of radio : MARCONI
33
Level : STATUS
35
One getting schooled : MENTEE
36
Goes radioactive? : DECAYS
37
N.S.A. surveillance program that shares its name with an entity in the "Terminator" movies : SKYNET
39
Seconds : AIDES
40
Supposed subject of Taylor Swift's "Dear John" : MAYER
42
Potter's product : VASE
43
Fall behind in the end : FADE
45
Popular : BIG
47
Swish miss? : RIM

Answer summary:
3 unique to this puzzle.

Found bugs or have suggestions? Please let us know.

Like this puzzle? Please share this page on social media to help spread the word about XWord Info. Thanks!

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2024, Jim Horne
96 ms