NYT Crossword · The New York Times
The Crossword Clues, Hints & Answers for September 16, 2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
By WordFinderZ Puzzle TeamLast updated How we make hints
This archive page covers the The Crossword from Friday, September 16, 2005. The daily crossword is the classic: a 15×15 grid on weekdays and a larger Sunday puzzle, with difficulty rising from a gentle Monday to a fiendish Saturday. Hints come first and the solution stays hidden until you ask for it.
Across clues & answers
- 15
- 17
- 19
- 21
- 23
- 28
- 34
- 59
Down clues & answers
- 13
- 30
- 39
- 48
Know someone stuck on this one? The link opens on the hints, not the answer.
Previous The Crossword answer
Thursday, September 15, 2005
across
- 1. Home free: SAFE
- 5. Condescend: STOOP
- 10. Beam intensely: LASE
- 14. Pristine plot: EDEN
- 15. Caste member, say: HINDU
- 16. Grimm opener: ONCE
- 17. In one's Sunday finest: ALLDRESSED
- 19. Stooge's laugh syllable: NYUK
- 20. Union demand: RAISE
- 21. Interrogate: GRILL
- 23. Rush-hour hour: SIX
- 24. Flamenco guitarist Carlos: MONTOYA
- 29. Antithesis: Abbr.: OPP
- 31. Like, with "to": COTTON
- 32. Swazi, e.g.: BANTU
- 34. Old paper section: ROTO
- 37. Carousing: WHOOPINGIT
- 39. Hank of Hollywood: AZARIA
- 41. Like just the draft of an e-mail: UNSENT
- 42. Violet variety: JOHNNYJUMP
- 46. A.A.A. and B.B.B., e.g.: ORGS
- 47. Biscotto flavoring: ANISE
- 48. Jamison of the N.B.A.: ANTAWN
- 50. In position: SET
- 51. Opt not to charge, perhaps: PAYCASH
- 53. Castigate: RIP
- 56. Sword parts: HILTS
- 58. Aria sung by Renato: ERITU
- 60. Burlesque show accessories: BOAS
- 61. What a vertigo sufferer may wonder: WHICHWAYIS
- 66. Neighbor of the radius: ULNA
- 67. Stomach: ABIDE
- 68. Radar unit?: MASH
- 69. Crane construction: NEST
- 70. In need of a muffler: NOISY
- 71. Something to stage: PLAY
down
- 1. Retail giant: SEARS
- 2. Two-time loser to Ike: ADLAI
- 3. Name of three popes: FELIX
- 4. Some linemen: ENDS
- 5. Any car, affectionately: SHE
- 6. Bard's contraction: TIS
- 7. Follower of add, slip or come: ONS
- 8. Horatian work: ODE
- 9. A little overweight: PUDGY
- 10. TV's Anderson: LONI
- 11. For even a minute more: ANYLONGER
- 12. Making a bust, maybe: SCULPTING
- 13. Cry in cartoons: EEK
- 18. Riviera's San ___: REMO
- 22. Follower of Meir and Shamir: RABIN
- 25. "Venice Preserved" dramatist Thomas: OTWAY
- 26. Greatest possible: NTH
- 27. Before-long connection: TOO
- 28. Inspiration for Lennon's "Woman": ONO
- 30. Tries to hole out: PUTTS
- 31. Toes' woes: CORNS
- 33. Williams of "Happy Days": ANSON
- 34. 15-Across rulers: RAJAS
- 35. Problem linked to CFC's: OZONEHOLE
- 36. Papeete's people: TAHITIANS
- 38. Cocoon residents: PUPAS
- 40. Fumble-fingered: INEPT
- 43. Cousin of a crow: JAY
- 44. Family member, for short: UNC
- 45. Training org.?: MTA
- 49. "That was close!': WHEW
- 52. Nile spanner: ASWAN
- 53. Coin of Qatar: RIYAL
- 54. "___ far far better thing ...": Dickens: ITISA
- 55. Far from reticent: PUSHY
- 57. D.A.-to-be's hurdle: LSAT
- 59. Alternative to stairs: RAMP
- 60. Hair style: BUN
- 62. "Deadwood" airer: HBO
- 63. Junior's junior: III
- 64. Parts of finan. portfolios: CDS
- 65. "What's the big idea?!": HEY
More daily puzzle hints
- WordleGuess the five-letter word in six triesGuide & tips
- ConnectionsSort 16 words into four hidden groupsGuide & tips
- StrandsFind the themed words hidden in a letter gridGuide & tips
- Spelling BeeMake words from seven letters around a center letterGuide & tips
- Mini CrosswordA bite-size crossword you can finish over coffeeGuide & tips
- Connections: Sports EditionConnections with a sports-only word poolGuide & tips
- Letter BoxedChain words around a square using all 12 lettersGuide & tips
- Midi CrosswordThe mid-size crossword between the Mini and the dailyGuide & tips
How the week is built
- Monday and Tuesday: straightforward definitions and familiar answers. These are the best days to learn.
- Wednesday: a step up, often with a playful theme.
- Thursday: the trick day, with rebus squares (several letters in one square) and answers that turn corners or skip squares.
- Friday and Saturday: themeless and tough, with sly clues and long open sections.
- Sunday: a bigger 21×21 grid with a theme, about as hard as a Wednesday or Thursday.
Crossword-solving habits worth building
- Learn the common fill. Short vowel-heavy words such as ERA, OREO, ALOE and ETNA appear constantly because they help constructors connect sections.
- Read clue signals. "?" means wordplay, "Abbr." means an abbreviation, "e.g." means an example of a category, and a foreign word in the clue hints at a foreign answer.
- Find the theme. The longest answers usually share a gimmick; the title (on Sundays) or a "revealer" clue explains it.
- Erase without fear. When crossings don't work, the wrong letter is usually in the answer you were most confident about.
- Use targeted help. Reveal one letter here, or try our crossword solver with a pattern like ?R?S?.
The Crossword FAQ
When is the next crossword released?
Weekday puzzles go live at 10 p.m. Eastern Time the night before; weekend puzzles are released earlier in the evening.
What is a rebus square?
A square that holds more than one letter. Sometimes it holds a whole word or a symbol. They are most common on Thursdays.
Which day is the hardest?
Saturday is generally the hardest, followed by Friday. Sunday is larger but closer to midweek difficulty.
Can I see past crossword answers?
Yes. Each date we have covered is in the crossword archive.