The New York Times Crossword
Ben Zimmer is the language columnist for The Wall Street Journal, a contributing writer for The Atlantic and a former language columnist for The New York Times. Brendan Emmett Quigley is a professional crossword constructor. They met some 12 years ago when Brendan began contributing crosswords to the Visual Thesaurus, where Ben was the executive editor. The making of this puzzle — brainstorming the theme, filling the grid and writing the clues — was a full collaboration. Brendan has had many puzzles in The Times. This is Ben’s debut. — W.S.
ACROSS
1 Smashing 6 Wide-eyed in wonder 10 Woofer output 14 Casual vodka order 19 Bubbling 20 Pricey
21 Alma mater of Grant and Lee: Abbr.
22 Board-game piece
23 Dog’s order at a malt shop? 25 The “day” in “seize the day” 26 “Arrival” visitor 27 You can see right through it
28 Part of H.M.S. 29 “Game of Thrones” patriarch has difficulties? 32 Zora Neale Hurston’s “____ Eyes Were Watching God” 34 Stand-up comic Kondabolu
35 Drum heard in raga music 36 Creator of Christopher Robin 38 Beat out by a hair 40 Big name in ratings
44 Male sailors 45 Words of affirmation 47 Upscale 48 Android alternative 49 ____ Mahal 51 Kind of diet 53 Chest muscle, informally
54 The “S” of 48-Across 58 Advised a chess player to attack the king? 65 Spanish unit of time with a tilde 66 Yoda, to Luke 67 Shows as an encore presentation 68 A fingerprint can leave one
70 Cell no., say
71 Strips of weapons 72 Coming from two speakers 73 Frequent choice for maid of honor 75 Deg. for an aspiring attorney abroad
76 Part of Disney’s advertising budget?
78 How some pranks might go 82 Constellation with a palindromic name
83 Scat syllable for Sinatra
84 Hula loop 86 Academy Award winner for “Moonlight” and “Green Book” 87 Dr. Seuss character who becomes “King of the Mud” 91 Sushi condiment 95 Birds that can recognize themselves in mirrors 99 Beyond sad, or beyond happy 101 Some piercing
spots
102 Categorically
stated
103 Indubitably 105 Bellybutton fluff 106 Bordeaux wine
region
107 Decisively defeat a cabinet department? 111 Musical knack 112 Share on social
media
115 Like a zealous fan
base
116 School attended by 20 prime ministers
117 Feeling one gets
under anesthesia at the dentist? 120 Rat in
“Ratatouille” 121 Word before or
after run
122 Memo heading 123 Prize for a doc,
maybe
124 Stick a fork in 125 Weapon with a
bell guard 126 Loathsome
person
127 Indira Gandhi’s
father
DOWN
1 Comedian Mort 2 Instrument from the French for “high wood” 3 Bad shot by Dracula? 4 Affinity 5 Lacking originality 6 Follower 7 Prepare, with “up” 8 Symbol of sturdiness 9 ____ launcher 10 Close pals 11 “Yeah, right!” 12 Process, as ore 13 Language with only 14 native letters
14 He made his final cameo in “Avengers: Endgame” 15 Spilled one’s soul 16 ’30s migrant 17 Unwelcome look 18 Places to exchange dollars for quarters 24 Stand out from the crowd 30 Little bits of energy 31 Competitor of eBay
33 Tree that lines the
Central Park Mall 34 Debut single for both Jimi Hendrix and Patti Smith 36 Flaws and all 37 Shout for 44-Across
39 Put off for another day 41 Building caretakers 42 Higher-ups in a hierarchy
43 Part of a guitar 46 One on the road in “On the Road” 50 Maker of Instant Feathers and HiSpeed Tonic 52 Laura of “Marriage Story” 55 Does some broncobusting, e.g.
56 Accustom (to) 57 Broadband device 59 Loosen, in a way 60 Banned display of firepower, informally 61 Conductor Georg with 31 Grammys 62 Passed out in Vegas 63 Gambino crime family patriarch 64 Attractive but vacuous guy, in slang
68 Mary, Queen of Scots, e.g. 69 Prod
71 Prod 72 Philosopher Kierkegaard 73 “Salud!” cousin 74 Heed an army poster
76 “Will you allow me to demonstrate?” 77 Plane-ticket info 79 Comfy seating at a carnival? 80 Downwind, at sea 81 New England art inst.
85 “Mind. Blown.” 88 Shot served with salt and lime 89 Clean 90 Lexicographer Partridge 92 Singer Knowles with a 2016 No. 1 album
93 Ever so slightly 94 Perk from work 96 Tex who animated Bugs Bunny 97 Diploma equivalent, in brief 98 Make an engaging
offer?
100 British spy Christopher in 2016 news 104 Legally prohibit 107 Parisian equivalent to “molto” or “muy” 108 Increase, with
“up”
109 Stage prize since 1956 110 It distinguishes meaning in many East Asian languages 111 Fitch of Abercrombie & Fitch
113 Red carpet
interviewee 114 Traffic-sign word 118 Card-game call 119 Sun follower?