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Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Puzzle by Randall J. Hartman, edited by Will Shortz
A palindrome is a word, phrase, number or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction (the adjustment of punctuation and spaces between words is generally permitted). The word "palindrome" was coined from Greek roots palin (πάλιν; "again") and dromos (δρóμος; "way, direction") by English writer Ben Jonson in the 17th century. Wikipedia
Four fifteen-letter palindromes that begin with city names are the main feature of this Tuesday crossword — SEVILLE EEL LIVES (17A. Spanish moray still exists), WARSAW NUN WAS RAW (26A. Polish sister showed her inexperience), RENO ROCK CORONER (43A. Silver State boogie band autopsy) and BOSTON DID NOT SOB (56A. Red Sox fans mourned tearlessly).
Other — ALIVE and AWAKE, ARES and ILIAD (12D. God in the 49-Across; 49A. Tale of Achilles), DROP OFF / MALLRAT (42D. Leave, as kids at school; 5D. Teen loiterer, possibly), SIC ‘EM (1A. Command to a Doberman), THE FAN (6D. Creepy 1981 Lauren Bacall film), UMIAK (29D. Eskimo boat).
Et cetera — ANISE, AWAIT, CINDER, CLINGS, CREDO, DRIVE, FATAL, FRAME, LANAI (19D. Maui neighbor), OCALA, RABIN, RAMEN, SHIPS, WAGER and WATER.
Short stuff — ABIT, ABLE, ALA and ARA and AREA, ARON and ORAN, ASIS, ATE, BASE, CAVE, CHIA, CRAB, DEER and DOE, ELI, GAMS, GEL, HICK, HIRER, IBIS, ICET, IDLE and ISLE, IRON, LARA, LODE, LOEW, LOFT, MINI, NOD, OOZE, OWNS, PRE, RAVI (11A. Jazz saxophonist Coltrane), REEK, ROAM, SEES, SHOE, SIZE, SNAP and SNIP, SONG (24A. “Both Sides Now,” for one), SOSA, TAR, TVPG, VIET.
Palindromes got a little workout in the NY Times Crossword of January 4th, accompanied in this blog on that occasion by "Weird Al" Yankovic.
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Puzzle available on the internet at
Remaining clues — 6. “American Idol” rating; 10. Crotchety sort; 14. Sunshine State city; 15. Place on the payroll; 16. “60 Minutes” correspondent Logan; 20. Broke bread; 21. Art gallery site, possibly; 22. Biscotti flavoring; 23. Wall-to-wall measure; 33. Watch for; 34. Bar opening?; 35. ___ carte; 36. W.W. II pinup features; 37. Fleet members; 39. Not much; 40. Barely manage, with “out”; 41. “Pet” that’s a plant; 42. Auto gear; 47. Stink to high heaven; 48. It’s pumped; 52. Pic; 53. Parseghian of the Fighting Irish; 60. On break, say; 61. Seep; 62. Deadly; 63. Gets the picture; 64. White-tailed ___; 65. Picture holder. — DOWN: 1. Member of the 600 home run club; 2. “Rhyme Pays” rapper; 3. Bat mobile “garage”; 4. Super Bowl-winning Manning; 5. Teen loiterer, possibly; 7. ___ Cong; 8. Start to fix?; 9. Salon stuff; 10. Holds tight; 13. Corner of a diamond; 18. MGM mogul Marcus; 23. Antique shop tag; 24. Sassy sort; 25. Has control over; 26. “Friendly” action; 27. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed; 28. Japanese noodle dish; 30. Israeli P.M. after Shamir; 31. Having a pulse; 32. Firefighting aid; 37. Wingtip or wedge; 38. Country bumpkin; 39. Elvis ___ Presley; 41. Doctrine; 44. Gives a speech; 45. Fireplace remnant; 46. Algerian port; 49. Sacred bird of ancient Egypt; 50. Gold streak; 51. Manhattan, for one; 52. Clothing tag information; 53. Terrier in “The Thin Man”; 54. Travel aimlessly; 55. Up to the task; 57. Go-ahead sign; 58. Female 64-Across; 59. La Brea goop.
