The theme is revealed (well, not really) at 16A: With 55-Across, description of 23-, 36- and 44-Across (Italian/proverb).
And the proverb is...To trust is good / not to / trust is better.
I was definitely impressed by some of the fill, starting with the very first clue.
1A: "Thou art not lovelier than __,—no" (Millay sonnet start) (lilacs). F
or those who are interested, here's the rest of the sonnet.
13A: Cadillac model (DeVille)...not to be confused with Cruella de Vil.
or those who are interested, here's the rest of the sonnet.13A: Cadillac model (DeVille)...not to be confused with Cruella de Vil.
17A: Wither (atrophy).
30A: Hugh __, successor to Louis V as king of France (Capet). Didn't know that but got it from the crosses.
33A: Kind of cup (Dixie). I won't admit how long it took me to get that, but I just love the way it looks sitting there in the grid...you know, with an X right smack in the middle of it.
38A: Nabokov novel (Ada). I particularly like that it crosses with 31D: She dies with Radames (Aida).
41A: Sane (rational). That one eluded me, although I'll admit to trying to solve while watching game one. I am definitely a multitasker, but not when solving a Thursday puzzle is one of the tasks. For the record, I'm perfectly okay with the Rockies losing tonight.
59A: Corrida combatants (toreros). Ole!
4D: Exact proper divisor, in math (aliquot). That is such a cool word, but I had no idea such a word existed. If you'd like to know more about it (and it's okay to admit that you don't...I'm right there with you), you can read about it here.
8D: Incis
ed printing method (intaglio). This is another word that wouldn't come to mind while watching the game. I could see it in my head, but all that would come out was intarsia...a good lead-in to the Word of the Day (WOTD). Has anyone noticed how sporadic I've been with that? Anyway, the definition of intarsia: a style of decorative or pictorial inlay, esp. of the Italian Renaissance, involving a mosaic of wood pieces or, sometimes, ivory, metal, etc. That's intarsia to the left...it's a nicer picture than I found for intaglio.
ed printing method (intaglio). This is another word that wouldn't come to mind while watching the game. I could see it in my head, but all that would come out was intarsia...a good lead-in to the Word of the Day (WOTD). Has anyone noticed how sporadic I've been with that? Anyway, the definition of intarsia: a style of decorative or pictorial inlay, esp. of the Italian Renaissance, involving a mosaic of wood pieces or, sometimes, ivory, metal, etc. That's intarsia to the left...it's a nicer picture than I found for intaglio.10D: Bit of wishful thinking (pipe dream). Love it...and love that I got it with very little in place.
21D: Medicinal cardiac stimulant (digitalis). This is the third word that wouldn't come to mind. At the time, I had only the A in place. If I'm not mistaken, that comes from the foxglove plant. Yep...but the plant is poisonous to humans and animals and can be fatal. Read more here...before you eat any. Anyway, best answer in the puzzle.
43D: Titania's husband (Oberon). One of these days I'll remember that.
54D: Powell's co-star in "The Thin Man" (Loy). I hope my good friend, Robert, sees this...especially since it crosses with 58A: Green: Prefix (eco). Robert used to blog the New York Sun and has recently taken leave to work on his novel. Apparently one can make more money by publishing a novel than by authoring a blog day after day. If you're reading this, Robert, I miss you.
There's much more to chew on in the puzzle, but I'll leave that up to you. What did you think of it?
Here's the grid...
...and I'll see you tomorrow.
Linda G
9 comments:
I too didn't know CAPET & had to google it as well as (the) GILBERTS. Used the dictionary after the fact to check INTAGLIO & ALIQUOT.
You didn't mention JOUNCES; cool word :-)
I thought it was awfully easy for a Thursday. Either that or I have improved dramatically in just one week.
I had an easier time with this than I usually do on Thursdays too-not sure if I'm getting better or the puzzle is easier than the usual Thursday either but it's nice not to struggle so! My husband did help out supplying OBERON,the X in SIXTH (I kept wanting to make the last pope a saint!), and (I'm embarassed to say) JONAH since I had BOUNCES instead of Jounces. Yesterday we had sexism with BRAS and BVDS brought up- today I will bring up the stereotyping of the Italians with this Italian proverb TO TRUST IS GOOD NOT TO TRUST IS BETTER. With a name like luigi I feel obligated to mention this.
Well, I had trouble today. Never heard of the phrases in the top left corner. Nor had I heard of the words aliquot, jounces, or a few others. And I guess I'm too young or uneducated to know of Capet, Ada, Aida, Oberon, or the Gilberts. I have a better time on the Sunday than this one.
Actually, Linda, so far writing pays just as well as blogging.
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Thanks for thinking of me.
Love using your blog to cheat, I mean to guide, as I break into this crossword world. Thanks so much! I'm in the dailies, six weeks behind and just struggled FOREVER with 0913. You comment that it is a pangram. What is that?
A pangram is a puzzle that uses all 26 letters of the alphabet at least once, as in "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
I agree with Luigi; this didn't strike me as a particulaly difficult puzzle, though the CAPET/ALIQUOT crossing eluded me. The T was a lucky guess.
More accurately a pangram is a SENTENCE that contains every letter of the alphabet. A puzzle can only be holoalphabetic.
r.kane's definition of a pangram is correct. John is also correct, though...when referring to a puzzle, it's often called a pangram if all 26 letters are used.
Janet, feel free to comment at the post for the puzzle you're doing. I get an email letting me know when a comment's been posted.
Luigi, I didn't take offense at the Italian proverb because it's so often true ; )
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