THE NYT CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Easy way to ease pain 9 Doesn’t bother 15 About a third of South America 16 Election Day declaration 17 Tries to detect, as a substance in the body 18 Literally, “of nothing” 19 Part of some shortcuts 20 Its capital is Nuku‘alofa 22 “Dagnabbit!” 23 Bottom of the sea? 25 Single numbers 27 Trash holdera 28 “How curious …” 31 Final stage 34 Fan favorite 37 Patronize off-track betting, say 39 Blockbuster 2014 animated film 40 Typing center 41 Heat 45 Repeated collaborator with Bowie 46 Grasslands burrower 49 Supposed source of large footprints 50 The “00” of “.00” 53 V-shaped cut 56 In 57 The Beatles had their last one in 1966 59 2014 Facebook acquisition 61 Not leave at the end of the line 62 One of the superstates in “1984” 63 Panegyrizes 64 Instagram rival

DOWN

1 Republican politico George 2 ___ station 3 Wallops 4 Drug marketed as Retrovir 5 Use Instagram, e.g. 6 Thumbnail bio, e.g. 7 Threats to Daniel, in the Book of Daniel 8 Slow and dignified 9 Aid in keeping food fresh 10 Perfectly matched 11 Word with skin or ring 12 Outpost in science fiction 13 Subjects of babysitter negotiations 14 Portrayer of Warren Buffett in HBO’s “Too Big to Fail” 21 War-torn Mideast city 24 Setting 26 Smitten 29 Lint collector 30 End of a presidential address 32 Margaret Thatcher’s husband 33 Merrymaking 35 Question pundits discuss after a presidential debate 36 Certain voter ID 37 Intimate practice done at a distance 38 Beverage said to help with weight loss 39 “Friday I’m in Love” band, 1992 42 Warmed-over material 43 It’s perfect 44 Hold tight 47 “Never stop improving” sloganeer 48 ___ Hunt, protagonist in the “Mission: Impossible” films 51 Payment that many wait in line to make 52 “___ yourself” 54 Mexican quarters 55 Letters before a colon 58 Some shelter volunteers, briefly 60 Certain ink holder