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LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Title: “It’s a Start”
Instructions: This week’s contest answer is an 11-letter word.
Answer: PRELIMINARY
Tough Week 3. First insight, pretty easy: each of the six theme entries contains a shortened form of a longer word:
GIMME A SEC(OND)
TUX(EDO) RENTAL
WHAT’S UP, DOC(TOR)
TEEN(AGER) MOVIES
RICH(ARD) EISEN
CONDO(MINIUM) FEES
Second insight, far tougher: Add a letter to each of those leftover parts to get a word that satisfies the clue for the other entry on the theme entry’s row. So we have:
(P)OND = [Enclosed body of water] for BASIN at 17-A
(R)EDO = [Give a makeover to] for ALTER at 26-A
TOR(E) = [Went very quickly] for SPED at 29-A
(L)AGER = [Stein contents] for BEER at 44-A
AR(I)D = [Parched] for BAKED at 48-A
MINI(M)UM = [Lowest acceptable amount] for LEAST at 62-A
Those added letters spell PRELIM, which extends to the needed 11-word as PRELIMINARY (which is indeed a start).
pgw says:
This one’s fab
And pannonica writes:
Because prelim is legit.
I really wanted the (short form of the) contest answer to have an N in it so I could use the line SOUNDSLEGIT/CON, but the crossword gods did not permit it and one does not question their decisions.
This week’s winner, whose name was chosen at random from the 214 correct entries received, is Giovana Zavaglia of Chicago, Ill. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, Giovana will also receive a signed copy of my book Pint-Size Crosswords.
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a 5-letter word.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.