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The full solution to today’s crossword that appears in the New York Times
The full solution to today’s SYNDICATED New York Times crossword that appears in all other publications
CROSSWORD SETTER: Mark Diehl
THEME: None
COMPLETION TIME: 35m 35s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 4 … HOKEYNESS (JOKEYNESS), HEB (JEB), SMACK (SMACS), KNAP (SNAP)
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
ATMs are Automated Teller Machines, called “cashpoints” in back in Ireland. Well, as students we also called them “drink links”, for obvious reasons.
26. Future alums: Abbr. : SRS
An alumnus (plural … alumni) is a graduate or former student of a school or college. The female form is alumna (plural … alumnae). The word comes into English from Latin, in which alumnus means foster-son or pupil.
Allan Dwan was a very respected, Canadian-born movie director. He developed his reputation in Hollywood directing his fellow Canadian, movie star Mary Pickford, and her husband Douglas Fairbanks. His most successful film was the smash hit “Sands of Iwo Jima” starring John Wayne, released in 1949. Dwan directed his last film in 1961, and passed away in 1981, at the age of 96.
31. Corn-filled state : HOKEYNESS
Hokeyness, full of corny jokes perhaps. “Hokum” is theater slang originally, meaning “melodramatic, exaggerated acting”.
34. Mineral in the form of quartz or flint : SILEX
Silex is a ground stone, nowadays usually limited to finely ground and pure silica. Silex has proved to be very useful over the ages, for example being used as a road surface in Ancient Rome.
The railroad station located in what is now Enid, Oklahoma, back in 1889 was called Skeleton Station. An official who didn’t like the name changed it to Enid Station, using a character in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King”.
37. Common St. Tropez sight : YACHT
According to legend, the martyr Saint Torpes was beheaded in the city of Pisa in Italy during the reign of the Emperor Nero. His body was placed in a rotten boat, apparently with a rooster and a dog. The boat landed at the present-day location of St. Tropez, and Saint Torpes gave its name to the city that developed there.
40. About half of all dates : BEAUS
Deb is short for “débutante”, a French word meaning “female beginner”, a young lady making her “debut”. Traditionally the term was reserved for young women of aristocratic families who were newly introduced to society, and who were available for marriage. The male equivalent of a débutante is a “beau”, also a French word.
In the television sitcom “Bewitched”, Endora was Samantha’s mother, with both mother, daughter and indeed granddaughter having the magical powers accorded to witches. Endora was played flamboyantly by Agnes Moorehead.
46. ___ 21, Intl. Day of Peace : SEP
September 21 has been designated as the International Day of Peace since 2001, although the day itself was inaugurated in 1981 (then the third Tuesday of each September). There is a Peace Bell in the United Nations that rings out on each Peace Day, a gift from the Diet of Japan. The bell itself was cast from coins donated by children all over the world.
47. 4×4, e.g. : ATV
An all terrain vehicle.
57. Band whose self-titled 1982 album was #1 for nine weeks : ASIA
Asia was one of these “supergroups”, a band composed of musicians from other bands that have already achieved success. The Asia lineup included bandmembers from the groups Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Roxy Music and the Buggles among others.
58. Dramatic piano effects : GLISSANDOS
In music, a glissando (the plural of which is “glissandi”), is a “glide” from one pitch to another, a rapid “slide” through a series of consecutive notes. On a piano this can be accomplished by swiping a finger across the keys, and on a harp the effect is achieved with a similar action across the strings.
“Knapsack” is a Low German word for a bag with straps designed to be carried on the back. The word “knapsack” probably comes from the German verb “knappen” meaning “to eat”.
64. Cocktail attire : TEA DRESSES
A tea gown or tea dress was worn at home by women from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries. I guess it was appropriate attire for both tea and cocktails …
Down
1. They can be made with adobes : CASAS
Adobe has been around a long time, and has been used in dry climates all over the world. The original form of the word “adobe” dates back to Middle Egyptian times, about 2000 BC. The original “spelling” is dj-b-t, and translates as mud (sun-dried) brick.
Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and moved to Memphis, Tennessee with his family when he was 13-years-old. Once he had achieved fame, he purchased Graceland, the famous Memphis home that he used for himself and his family. I visited it some years ago, well worth the effort I’d say …
Tom Sawyer is of course a favorite character created by Mark Twain. He turns up in four of Twain’s books:
– “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”
– “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
– “Tom Sawyer Abroad”
– “Tom Sawyer, Detective”
But that’s not all, as he appears in at least three works that Twain left unfinished:
– “Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer Among the Indians” (a sequel to “Huckleberry Finn”)
– “Schoolhouse Hill”
– “Tom Sawyer’s Conspiracy” (a sequel to “Tom Sawyer, Detective”)
7. Company quota : TWO
Two’s company, three’s a crowd.
8. Confusedly : AMOK
The phrase “to run amok” has been around since the 1670s, and is derived from the Malay word for “attacking furiously”, “amuk”. The word “amok” was also used as a noun, to describe Malay natives who were “frenzied”. Given Malayan history, the natives probably had good reason for that frenzy …
11. Book that begins in Jerusalem : ACTS
The Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book of the New Testament.
21. Many academics, for short : PHDS
PhD is an abbreviation for “philosphiae doctor”, Latin for “teacher of philosophy”.
23. Choice word? : EENY
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,
Catch the tiger/monkey/baby by the toe.
If it hollers/screams let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, you are it!
There’s a happiness in Dreamsville, Ohio
Even money couldn’t buy
All that’s missing down in Dreamsville
Is you and I
I know that Speedy Gonzales wears a red kerchief, but an Ascot?
An Ascot tie is that horrible looking (I think!) wide tie that narrows at the neck, only really worn at weddings these days. It takes its name from the Royal Ascot horse race, a day when punters still turn up in formal wear at Ascot race course in England.
31. N.T. book : HEB
The Epistle to the Hebrews is a book in the New Testament, with an unknown author.
32. Run of TV’s “My So-Called Life” : ONE SEASON
“My So-Called Life” is described as a “teen drama”. Nope, not for me …
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the heaviest players ever to have played in the NBA (weighing in at around 325 pounds). Yep, he’s a big guy … 7 foot 1 inch. He is also the oldest player active in the NBA today, pushing 40 years old.
46. X : SMACK
X is often used to designate a kiss in a letter say, or in a text message. A kiss is a “smack” on the lips.
51. West African currency : LEONE
The leone is the currency of Sierra Leone. It was introduced in 1964 to replace the British West African pound. The move was a practical one, as the Leone is a decimal currency and replaces the old British system of pounds, shillings and pence.
The name “zebra” comes from an old Portuguese word “zevra” meaning “wild ass”. Studies of zebra embryos show that zebras are basically black in color, with white stripes that develop with growth. Before this finding, it was believed they were white, with black stripes.
55. Alcopop brand : ZIMA
Zima is a clear, alcoholic beverage, about the same strength as beer. It is sold in beer bottles but is marketed as “not” a beer. It has a lemon-lime flavor, and is referred to as an alcopop, a portmanteau word from “alcohol” and “pop”.
59. The Old ___ : SOD
Or as we ex-pat Irish would say, the Auld Sod …
60. Old atlas letters : SSR
The former Soviet Union was created in 1922, not long after the Russian Revolution of 1917 that overthrew the Tsar. The new Soviet Union was roughly equivalent geographically to the old Russian Empire, and was made up of fifteen Soviet Socialist Republics.
For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Food that makes a crunch : CRISPY TACO
11. Means to ease withdrawals : ATMS
15. Some Navy personnel : AIRCREWMEN
16. Eats : CHOW
17. Potential offices : SPARE ROOMS
18. Cry with a swelled chest : TADA
19. Things sometimes seen on shoulders : AUTOS
20. Stay current (with) : KEEP STEP
22. Took the place of : SPELLED
25. Final : NTH
26. Future alums: Abbr. : SRS
27. Not just check out : LEER AT
29. Allan who directed “Sands of Iwo Jima” : DWAN
31. Corn-filled state : HOKEYNESS
34. Mineral in the form of quartz or flint : SILEX
36. South-central U.S. city named for a woman in English literature : ENID
37. Common St. Tropez sight : YACHT
39. Jade : TIRE
40. About half of all dates : BEAUS
42. Actress who played Endora on TV’s “Bewitched” : MOOREHEAD
44. New varsity team member, maybe: Abbr. : SOPH
45. Provokes : STEAMS
46. ___ 21, Intl. Day of Peace : SEP
47. 4×4, e.g. : ATV
49. Icing tool : SPATULA
53. Operations are performed in it : MATH QUIZ
56. Barbers shave them : NAPES
57. Band whose self-titled 1982 album was #1 for nine weeks : ASIA
58. Dramatic piano effects : GLISSANDOS
61. Dot-___ : COMS
62. “I’ll be finished in a minute” : ALMOST DONE
63. Sack starter : KNAP
64. Cocktail attire : TEA DRESSES
Down
1. They can be made with adobes : CASAS
2. Shred : RIP UP
3. Provoked : IRATE
4. Moved to the top, perhaps : SCROLLED UP
5. A boulevard in Memphis is named for him : PRESLEY
6. Saw attachment? : YER
7. Company quota : TWO
8. Confusedly : AMOK
9. Things that may be worn by someone sleeping with the fishes : CEMENT SHOES
10. Earliest stage : ONSET
11. Book that begins in Jerusalem : ACTS
12. “Not so!” : THAT’S A LIE
13. Nowadays, with “the” : MODERN ERA
14. Pulls the switch? : SWAPS
21. Many academics, for short : PHDS
23. Choice word? : EENY
24. Ohio town where “there’s a happiness” in an old Glenn Miller song : DREAMSVILLE
28. Red wear for Speedy Gonzales : ASCOT
30. Holds off : WITHSTANDS
31. N.T. book : HEB
32. Run of TV’s “My So-Called Life” : ONE SEASON
33. Korean-made sedan since 2001 : KIA OPTIMA
35. Struck : XED
38. Piehole : TRAP
41. Nickname for a noted L.S.U. grad : SHAQ
43. Issue : EMANATE
46. X : SMACK
48. Draw a little at a time? : TUG AT
50. Common prom coifs : UPDOS
51. West African currency : LEONE
52. Zebra kin : ASSES
54. Door fixture : HASP
55. Alcopop brand : ZIMA
59. The Old ___ : SOD
60. Old atlas letters : SSR