The New York Times Crossword

NOTE: This puzzle has four different solutions. When you’re done, read the circled letters from top to bottom to find another one.

ACROSS

1 You might bid on it 5 First man, in Maori mythology

9 Lead to

14 Plant 15 Encumbrance 16 It makes il mondo go ‘round 17 Bathroom cabinet item

19 More than flirt with

20 Vegas machine with the best odds?

21 A head

22 “American ___” (Neil Gaiman novel that won the Hugo and Nebula) 23 Japanese electronics brand 24 Brain freeze cause 27 Product often advertising 99.99% effectiveness 31 “Headliner” of the first Warner Bros. short to win an Oscar

32 ___ Ren of “The Force Awakens” 33 Big 12 sch.

36 Makes a small, plaintive sound 37 K.C.-to-Detroit direction 38 Ad Council output, for short

39 Grp. that advertised in

“The Book of Mormon” playbills, surprisingly 40 Command after mistakenly pressing Ctrl+Z 42 Spicy kind of seasoning

44 It might help clear things up 47 Nocturnal marsupial

49 Event with Easter eggs

50 Runs

51 Behind

52 Where the cucumbers are not for eating

55 Play matchmaker for

57 Sound filler

59 Upper atmosphere 60 Little rascal 61 Damage

62 Authority 63 Federation formed in 1922, for short 64 Like many college film projects

DOWN

1 ___ Raducanu, 2021 U.S. Open winner

2 Kick hard

3 Who might be asked for a donation, in brief 4 “___ again …” 5 Illegally parked car, maybe

6 How some pet food is sold 7 Potent marijuana 8 Suffix with bull or bear

9 Cry of contempt 10 Citizenship test taker, perhaps

11 Get put away

12 Eat at

13 It may be perfect for writing

18 Job at a bank, say 23 Some sources of vitamin C

24 Ocular affliction 25 Wee

26 Emmy winner Aduba

27 Code inits.

28 How you might feel looking at the Northern Lights 29 Fit for a big writeup, say

30 “Right?!”

34 Closing activity 35 ___ interface 37 Biblical land near the kingdoms of Judah and Moab 38 Scotch flavorer 40 E.R. staffers 41 Brown. follower 42 Mess

43 Get more 45-Down 45 See 43-Down

46 Gets ready, as a cue stick

47 Fertile spots 48 Masterwork completed in 1499 51 Snack brand owned by PepsiCo 52 Holiday cookie shape

53 Sassy

54 Drove

56 Whiz

57 Nickname that’s an alphabet trio 58 “I’ve got it!”