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

New York Times, Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Author:
Troy Laedtke
Editor:
Will Shortz
7-Down : Shape of some curves
TotalDebut
110/3/2023
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0010000
ScrabbleFresh
1.5430%
Troy Laedtke

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 37 Missing: {QWXZ} This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Laedtke. Tuesday freshness: 58%
Jim Horne notes:

Note that, like in the game, starting with ASP, the gray snakes get longer each time they "eat" a black square.

1
S
2
T
3
O
4
O
5
D
6
M
7
E
8
H
9
V
10
M
11
A
12
M
A
U
D
E
13
V
E
S
T
14
I
15
G
I
A
L
16
E
L
T
O
N
17
I
N
S
T
R
U
C
T
S
18
A
L
F
R
E
19
S
C
O
20
P
I
C
T
21
R
E
I
22
B
O
A
R
23
S
24
S
C
O
25
R
26
E
27
S
R
T
28
A
29
D
R
A
T
30
S
31
I
R
A
S
32
D
33
N
A
34
H
A
N
35
S
36
I
M
P
37
O
38
N
39
E
S
O
C
40
K
41
R
E
T
42
R
A
I
N
43
G
E
M
44
D
A
N
45
A
46
A
L
A
47
R
I
P
48
S
49
N
O
R
50
S
K
51
G
52
O
53
D
54
S
55
E
L
E
N
56
A
57
B
A
M
B
58
A
59
N
E
T
60
R
A
S
61
P
62
M
A
Y
B
63
E
L
L
E
64
C
65
O
O
K
I
E
66
J
A
R
67
A
L
I
E
N
68
B
O
R
E
F
R
U
I
T
69
C
A
N
T
O
70
S
O
S
71
E
T
C
72
K
N
E
E
S
© 2023, The New York Times10/3/23 ( No. 26,992 )
Across
1
Gave up a seat, maybe : STOOD
6
Apathetic reaction : MEH
9
MTV prize whose trophy features an astronaut : VMA
12
Bea Arthur sitcom of the 1970s : MAUDE
13
Like the "legs" on a 48-Down : VESTIGIAL
16
John who sang "Crocodile Rock" : ELTON
17
Teaches : INSTRUCTS
18
In the open air, as a meal : ALFRESCO
20
Ancient Brit : PICT
21
Co-op that sells camping gear : REI
22
Wild pigs : BOARS
24
Number in the Gettysburg Address : SCORE
27
Mlle. : French :: ___ : Spanish : SRTA
29
Frustrated cries : DRATS
31
Nest eggs, in brief : IRAS
32
Crime lab evidence : DNA
34
Composer Zimmer who won Oscars for "The Lion King" and "Dune" : HANS
36
Little troublemaker : IMP
37
Frustrating find while folding laundry : ONESOCK
41
Brush up on old skills : RETRAIN
43
___ State (Idaho nickname) : GEM
44
"S.N.L." alum Carvey : DANA
46
Lead-in to mode : ALA
47
Sewing targets : RIPS
49
Native language in Oslo : NORSK
51
Mount Olympus figures : GODS
55
Justice Kagan : ELENA
57
"La ___" (1958 Ritchie Valens hit) : BAMBA
59
Take home : NET
60
Speak hoarsely : RASP
62
Motormouth ___ ("Hairspray" role for Queen Latifah) : MAYBELLE
64
Where sticky fingers might be caught : COOKIEJAR
67
Like 48-Downs, to Ireland : ALIEN
68
Eventually brought results : BOREFRUIT
69
Section of a long poem : CANTO
70
"Help!" : SOS
71
And so on : ETC
72
Places for patellas : KNEES
Down
1
Slings mud at, in a campaign : SMEARS
2
Like basketball players vis-à-vis jockeys, typically : TALLER
3
Ensemble : OUTFIT
4
Smelly smell : ODOR
5
Brightest light in Cygnus : DENEB
6
Hanukkah centerpiece : MENORAH
7
Shape of some curves : ESS
8
Letters before :// : HTTP
9
Roman goddess who is the equivalent of the Greek Nike : VICTORIA
10
Bit of yoga equipment : MAT
11
Ice Bucket Challenge cause, for short : ALS
13
Clergy member : VICAR
14
Bluish-purple flower : IRIS
15
Aldo of fashion : GUCCI
19
Common recyclable : SODACAN
23
Feature (in) : STAR
25
Malek of "Mr. Robot" : RAMI
26
Channel for armchair athletes : ESPN
28
Paid spots : ADS
30
Pass without notice : SNEAKBY
33
An aye for the eye? : NOD
35
Gateway to the West, on scoreboards : STL
37
Ugly beast : OGRE
38
Justice Gorsuch : NEIL
39
Rulers of the Aztecs and Incas : EMPERORS
40
Door handle : KNOB
42
Cleaning cloth : RAG
45
Language of ancient Syria : ARAMAIC
48
Creature that grows longer in a classic video game (also in this puzzle, when it "eats" a black square) : SNAKE
50
Like many appliances in modern homes : SMART
52
Where one might be represented by an avatar : ONLINE
53
Erase : DELETE
54
Transcription pros : STENOS
56
"In your dreams!" : ASIF
58
One way to be taken : ABACK
61
Parisian papa : PERE
63
Panache : ELAN
64
"Sunday Morning" airer : CBS
65
Away from work, for short : OOO
66
Stick (out) : JUT

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

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
76 ms