12.09.08 -- Clue

Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Puzzle by C. W. Stewart, edited by Will Shortz
CLUE (51D. Game associated with the starts of 17-, 23-, 32-, 40-, 47- and 54-Across); PLUM PUDDING (17a. Traditional Christmas dessert); SCARLETT TANAGER (23A. Red bird with black wings and tail); WHITE SALE (32A. Traditional January event); GREEN MILE (40A. 1999 Tom Hanks film, with “The”); MUSTARD PLASTER (47A. Home remedy for skin irritations); PEACOCK BLUE (54A. Shade close to azure) are the interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword.
Mid-size entries -- ARYANS (1A. Indo-Europeans); BRACKET (43D. Shelf support); ELECTS (46D. Chooses); ENGRAVE (10D. Carve on, as a monument); ERMINE (46A. Fur for a stole); LADIES (29A. Word that can precede or follow “first”); NIPPLES (5D. Parts of baby bottles); NOTEPAD (42D. Steno’s staple); PEORIA (14A. Largest city on the Illinois River); SAUTES (6D. Browns, as meat); STREET (66A. Area between curbs); TERESA (63A. Mother of Calcutta).
Five-letter -- ADOBE (25D. Sun-dried brick); ALTER (12D. Take in or let out); ANISE (27D. Ouzo flavoring); AWAIT (34D. Mark time);
ATOMS (31A. They can be split or charged); BEARD (43A. Simple disguise); CATER (24D. Provide party food); CONTE (51A. Medieval tale); DACHA (49D. Russian villa); 7D. “Say that thou DIDST forsake me …”: Shak.; 36D. East ENDER (certain Londoner); ERASE (38A. Take marks off); LORNE (35D. Michaels of “S.N.L.”); MAIZE (11D. Indian corn); MOOSE (47D. Bullwinkle, e.g.); RAZES (21A. Bulldozes); SLANG (23D. “Language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands and goes to work,” per Carl Sandburg); UNBAR (48D. Open, as a gate); WRIER (32D. More twisted, as humor).
Short stuff -- ACT, AGES, ALE and ALEC, ANI, APP,
ARCH, ARM, BRR, DAT, DATA and DATE, EAT, EER, EMS, EMMA, ERA, ERST, HAL, INON, ITT, LEE, LOB, MAP, NATE and NAVE, NEB, PETS, PLO, PTAS, REL, RIM, ROME, TON, USA, WON, YOU.
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Xword search information -- Across: 7. Hot night out perhaps; 11. Prospector’s aid; 15. Privy to; 16. Stein filler; 19. Conglomerate whose N.Y.S.E. symbol is the same as the company’s name; 20. Elhi grps.; 30. Congregational area; 37. Lincoln’s home: Abbr.; 39. Took gold; 45. See 62-Across; 52. Baldwin of “30 Rock”; 53. Smashable tennis shot; 61. Team ___; 62. ___ of Constantine (landmark in 45-Across); 64. At any time, to a bard; 65. Spreadsheet fill. Down: 1. “Killer” PC program; 2. Theist’s subj.; 3. Whom “Uncle Sam wants”; 4. Get ready for war; 8. Singer Di-Franco; 9. Cargo unit; 13. Strokes … or ones stroked; 18. “Can’t Help Lovin’ ___ Man”; 22. A long, long time; 26. Lens holder; 28. ___ the Great of children’s books; 38. Jane Austen novel; 41. Lead-in to while; 44. Dorothy’s aunt and others; 50. Grp. Once led by Arafat; 55. All alternative; 56. Deed; 57. December exclamation; 58. Actress Remick; 59. Function; 60. Partake of.

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