The Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

INITIATION

Some of the clues’ answers are too short for their places in the diagram, and need initiation in the form of a letter added to the front. In these cases new words are formed in the diagram. When the diagram is filled, the added letters (taken column by column from left to right) will spell an apt phrase.4 Answers to clues include eight proper nouns and an uncommon word at ID.

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 108.

ACROSS

1. Jimmy’s successor dressed in elegant style, by habit

6. In comeback, the woman mostly takes roles as heartless ballerina types

10. Opera house retains one painter

12. Wood strand on the tongue

13. Spy hot chocolate sauce

14. South America embracing movie star

16. Rank low in speed

17. In Mexico, you and Theo set after our group

18. Country involved in prominent Nazi shipwreck?

20. Communicate piece of fundamental knowledge

22. Silver rod in instrument

24.Young lady eating piece of deepdish pie finally getting slimmer?

25.Lousiest sausage, according to hearsay

27.Interpret cricket tune in a new way

29. A Spanish gentleman is a handsome fellow

31. Canopies get stretched tight, you might say

33. Tear off price

34. Loaded Eric Heiden’s cargo

35. A yearning letter

36. Handles portions of grain

37. Expected to get a different desk

38. Biblical book deadening things?

DOWN

1. Tip was much better

2. Ring used in jump!

3. Car turns over repeatedly

4. Said, “Okay for takeoff“

5. First of sheep held in stationary enclosure

6. Skipping a step, start moving

7. Direction, for instance, in Spielberg movie

8. Write bit for small group

9. Do away with structure

11. Tag for a woman’s unit coming in range of colors

15.Sell out lengths of cloth

19. Went on drive with narration

20. Scottish actor carries expensive weapon (two words)

21. Delineates that guy’s behind and such

23. Skunks’ tracks going around wheel

24. Cake of gold back of door

26.Santa Claus loses time, getting slightly cut

28. String broken by fourth of violinists playing piece

29. Measure a rearing horse

30. Small and smooth

32. After “Initiation,” award mark

NOTE: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues, for a complete introduction to clue-solving, send an addressed, stamped envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.

Answers to

the December Puzzler

“BOXED SET“

a. P(ACT)S; TO(M)T-IT b. C(ALL-I)OPE c. PIT-I(AB[i]LENE-S)S d. US(A)BLE (anag. +a); FAT CAT (tact rev.) e. WELL (double def.); (gre)ENGAGE f. A CAD IAN; DU(PE)D g. RAYS (double def.); ELGAR (anag.) h. CUB(AN)S; G-RAINS i. S(CAN)S; D-RAM j. E(YES)IGHT k. A-SI(A)N; S(N)EER 1. MOLL-US-K; PfAR.M)A m. POP(U)LAR; SWAM (rev.) n. (se)CAUCUS o. CUTAW-A-Y p. TR(I-B)E(e); S-AND(A)-L r. RAB-ELA-IS (ale + bar rev.); DYES (homophone) t. O-LEA(N)DER u. LAMINA (rev.) v. TO-ECAP (pace rev.) W. ANT-HEM x. TESTED (set rev.); SU-TRA (rev.)