‘s-moo-th!’ BY KYLE DOLAN

The Universal Crossword

ACROSS

1 Direction not used in US state names 5 Wild guess

9 Mind the ___ (subway station

warning)

12 Hieroglyphic snakes

13 Sparkly headwear

14 Pine branch hanger

15 Skin care product

17 “All finished”

18 Nay’s opposite

19 “Dancing Queen” group

20 Country side

22 “I’m open to questions!”

24 Spoke at greath length

25 The “O” of REO Speed Wagon 26 Skin care product

29 Super cool

31 Hole in the wall where you may pick

up a check?

32 “Aw, shucks”

33 Regarding

34 Argument’s foundation 35 Comparison connector

36 Radar gun measure: Abbr. 37 Victors’ shout

38 London : Underground :: Paris : ___ 39 Skin care product

41 Wood used for some decks

42 Float with the current

43 Improv-style word game 46 Compose music, say

48 Fingernail job, briefly

49 Do some darning

50 Races, as an engine 51 Supermarket section where you

won’t find this puzzle’s products 54 Kimono sashes

55 Super

56 Facebook’s parent company 57 Chum

58 Feel bad for

59 Sound akin to a tap on the shoulder DOWN

1 Low-stress course

2 Fire remnants

3 “We were just talking about you!” 4 Airport screening org.

5 Remain passive

6 “Cheerio!” 7 “We ___ the Champions” 8 Caribbean island that became a

republic in 2021

9 They’re given at bedtime

10 Gothic writer Rice

11 Fellow citizen

13 Big band instruments?

14 Largely obsolete storage format 16 Amusingly indecent

21 Dark gem

23 Voice above tenor

24 Bird associated with spring

26 ___ buddy (BFF)

27 Shakespearean king

28 Casino game with balls

29 First part of many e-mail addresses 30 Road trip game

31 Seek attention from, as a pet might 34 Strengthened

35 Bluish hue on a certain duck 37 Judge’s issuance

38 News shows and such, with “the” 40 Indelicate

41 That ’70s Show actress Roberts 43 “Will you ___ me?” 44 Pants supporters 45 React to heat, say 46 Something to harvest 47 Mcentire of country 48 Catcher’s catcher 52 Boxer/poet Muhammad 53 One causing trouble