12.05.11 — NAT, NET, NIT, NOT, NUT and Sometimes NYT

Olga Preobrazhenskaya as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Nikolai Legat as Prince Coqueluche in the Grand pas de deux in an early production of The Nutcracker. Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, c. 1900

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Puzzle by Kenneth J. Berniker / Edited by Will Shortz

NAT, NET, NIT, NOT and NUT — the interrelated group of this nifty Monday crossword consists of NAT KING COLE (18A. “Ramblin’ Rose” singer, 1962), NET PROFITS (23A. Earnings after expenses), NITWITS (38A. Knuckleheads), NOT ON A DARE (49A. “Fuhgeddaboudit!”) and NUTCRACKERS (56A Christmastime productions).

Other — ACCUSED (10D. Charged with a crime), BIG APE (46A. Galoot), BOXCAR (46A. Part of a freight train), BRIDAL, CANALS, DEFACTO (42D. In reality), END-ALL, I’LL WAIT (26D. Sarcastic “Go ahead, keep talking”), LOOSE BALL (11D. It’s up for grabs on a court), PASSES, MANTRA, SPINAL TAP (34D. Mock rock band in a 1984 film).

Five-letter — AIMEE, AMANA, AMEND, “A NEST of robins in her hair“, ATLAS, BIZET, BOXCAR, CYRUS (22A. Founder of the Persian Empire),  EASEL, EDICTS, EMBED, ERNES, ETHAN, IRENE, JAPAN, LATEX, LORRE, MALLS, MAMIE, O’NEIL, PLATO, RAIDS, REBUT and REPOT, RODEO, RULED, SAMOA (55A. Pago Pago whereabouts), SCOOT.

Short stuff — AAH, ADS, AMA, AOL, ARI, DEAF, ELSA, EMI, ESL, FAST, IAGO, INK, JIB, KIA, LEA and LEDA, LLDS, LOL, MET, MOP, NAS, NEA and NEE, NPR, NYS, PEZ, RED, RNS, SERA, SPCA, STE, TROT, ULE.

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Triangular sail; 4. Mrs. Eisenhower; 9. Shopping centers; 14. Shipping magnate Onassis; 15. Change, as the Constitution; 16. Get a move on; 17. Candy that comes in a dispenser; 27. Song word repeated after “Que”; 30. Features of Venice; 31. Counter, as an argument; 32. Designer Schiaparelli; 35. Night school subj.; 36. Ultimate thing; 37. Beatles hairdo; 40. Shepherd’s locale; 41. Kind of gown or shower; 43. Response to a doctor’s request, perhaps; 44. Barristers’ degs.; 45. Sea eagles; 48. Unable to hear; 53. Material for a doctor’s glove; 55. Pago Pago whereabouts; 61. Commercials; 62. Philosopher who wrote the “Republic”; 63. Girl’s name meaning “loved”; 64. Maiden name preceder; 65. Move in a greenhouse, say; 66. Midnight visits to the refrigerator; 67. “You’ve got mail” co. — DOWN: 1. Land of the Rising Sun: 2. “Goodnight, ___” (#1 hit of 1950); 3. “Carmen” composer; 4. “Om,” e.g.; 5. Doctors’ org.; 6. Encountered; 7. Squid’s defense; 8. Despots’ decrees; 9. Roman Cath. Title; 12. Online “ha-ha”; 13. Sault ___ Marie; 19. Albany is its capital: Abbr.; 21. Pet adoption agcy.; 24. TV newsman Roger; 25. Quick; 28. Governed; 29. Rand McNally product; 31. E.R. personnel; 32. Surround firmly; 33. Peter of “Casablanca”; 36. One of filmdom’s Coen brothers; 38. “Illmatic” rapper; 39. “Othello” villain; 44. Mother of Castor and Pollux; 47. Get-out-of-class slips; 49. Teachers’ union, in brief; 50. Big kitchen appliance maker; 51. Cowboys’ jamboree; 52. Artist’s stand; 54. Gait between walk and canter; 56. “All Things Considered” airer; 57. Suffix with glob; 58. Sportage maker; 59. U.K. record label; 60. Crimson.