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

New York Times, Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Author:
Will Pfadenhauer
Editor:
Will Shortz
53-Across : Eccentric sort … or a "sport" where one might make the plays at 19-, 27- and 44-Across?
TotalDebut
111/22/2023
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0001000
ScrabbleFresh
1.6322%
Will Pfadenhauer

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 76, Blocks: 40 Missing: {JPQZ} Spans: 2 This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Pfadenhauer. Wednesday freshness: 32%
1
L
2
A
3
R
4
V
5
A
6
H
7
A
8
S
9
A
10
M
11
M
12
O
13
I
C
E
I
T
14
H
I
D
E
15
L
O
A
N
16
A
L
I
E
N
17
I
S
L
A
18
I
L
L
S
19
R
U
N
W
I
20
L
D
21
I
T
22
A
23
T
B
A
24
G
E
E
25
B
M
X
26
E
E
L
27
C
28
A
29
T
30
C
H
O
F
31
F
B
A
L
32
A
N
C
E
33
A
S
H
O
T
34
R
E
T
E
L
L
35
T
H
E
M
36
D
37
I
O
D
E
38
L
A
39
R
40
A
41
B
B
42
G
U
N
S
43
S
A
V
E
R
44
T
45
H
R
O
W
O
U
T
46
O
47
F
W
H
A
C
K
48
H
O
E
49
E
L
I
50
B
E
E
51
R
O
W
52
N
I
T
53
O
D
D
54
B
55
A
56
L
57
L
58
I
D
E
59
S
60
N
A
61
M
E
62
I
D
L
E
S
63
F
I
R
E
64
G
R
A
S
65
S
A
L
S
A
66
T
E
S
T
67
O
T
T
68
H
Y
A
T
T
© 2023, The New York Times11/22/23 ( No. 27,042 )
Across
1
Caterpillar, e.g. : LARVA
6
Owns : HAS
9
Paintballs and water balloons, at times : AMMO
13
Seal the win, so to speak : ICEIT
14
Tuck away : HIDE
15
Bank offering : LOAN
16
Xenomorph : ALIEN
17
Actress Fisher of "Wedding Crashers" : ISLA
18
Sorry situations : ILLS
19
Behave uncontrollably : RUNWILD
21
"Give ___ rest!" : ITA
23
Not yet determined: Abbr. : TBA
24
Exclamation of mild surprise : GEE
25
Kind of bikes for stunt riders : BMX
26
"You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an ___, Mr. Grinch" : EEL
27
Stagger with unexpected news, maybe : CATCHOFFBALANCE
33
Take ___ at (besmirch) : ASHOT
34
Share again, as a story : RETELL
35
Gender-neutral pronoun : THEM
36
Semiconductor device : DIODE
38
Croft of the "Tomb Raider" franchise : LARA
41
Toy shooters : BBGUNS
43
Word after life or time : SAVER
44
Cause to malfunction : THROWOUTOFWHACK
48
Gardener's tool : HOE
49
Manning of ESPN's "ManningCast" : ELI
50
Busyness representative? : BEE
51
Creation (and rhyme) of 48-Across : ROW
52
___ to pick : NIT
53
Eccentric sort … or a "sport" where one might make the plays at 19-, 27- and 44-Across? : ODDBALL
58
13th or 15th days, on the Roman calendar : IDES
60
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, for one : NAME
62
Sits and waits : IDLES
63
Drive : FIRE
64
Mardi ___ : GRAS
65
Dance with a series of spins : SALSA
66
The "T" of 57-Down : TEST
67
New York Giant known as "Master Melvin" : OTT
68
Big hotel chain : HYATT
Down
1
One spewing hogwash : LIAR
2
"Because freedom can't protect itself" org. : ACLU
3
Pull (in) : REIN
4
YouTube unit : VIEW
5
When Santa and the tooth fairy are most active : ATNIGHT
6
What's-___-face : HIS
7
Went off-script : ADLIBBED
8
Someone with an equal claim to your armrest, perhaps : SEATMATE
9
Wepner's 1975 opponent in the ring : ALI
10
Progressive rock? : MOLTENLAVA
11
Full-bodied red wine : MALBEC
12
Like Christmas lights after December 25, often : ONSALE
14
Digitally crisp, informally : HIDEF
20
Constellation whose mane and shoulders are known as "the Sickle" : LEO
22
Rod in a hot rod : AXLE
27
Edgar Allan Poe owned a black one, appropriately : CAT
28
Wood once used for hockey sticks : ASH
29
Team with a sausage race at every home game : THEBREWERS
30
Burger, fries and a drink at a special price, e.g. : COMBO
31
Poet who taught at Amherst College : FROST
32
God, in Islam : ALLAH
36
Learning app with an owl mascot : DUOLINGO
37
Walrus ivory is one traditional medium for it : INUITART
39
"Parks and ___" (NBC sitcom, to fans) : REC
40
Sanctuary against extinction : ARK
42
Singer Stefani : GWEN
43
Like krona coins : SWEDISH
44
Prudence with money : THRIFT
45
Article of cool-weather wear : HOODIE
46
Orchestral group pitched to C : OBOES
47
Stoked : FED
54
Candle-lighting occasion, in brief : BDAY
55
Penne ___ vodka : ALLA
56
In case : LEST
57
Exam for a future A.G. : LSAT
59
Solidify : SET
61
It might say "Welcome" : MAT

Answer summary:
4 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
79 ms