Deranged
◆ · By DrTom · Published 2024-07-24T11:30:50.997Z
Meta Prompt
The meta answer is a 6th member that might hold the deranged family members together
This is one of those delightful little puzzles (from a constructor standpoint) that comes to you, comes together quickly, has little if any problems with the fill and has a fun twist. Now whether the solvers will see it that way is another story!
I'd put this as a Calico and it should not give you any trouble, but of course if it does I am usually available for nudges even before the actual Friday "Nudge Day"
My Testers were meg and lbray53 who both did a superb job in helping me see some problems and giving me a better title.
Kitten
CALICO
Persian
Puma
Lion
NUDGES:
Nudge 1] I have stopped giving away "banner nudges", but this one was made before that. Look at the graphic; isn't it really the same person in just a slightly different "configuration"?
Nudge 2] The theme answers are, more or less, symmetric
Nudge 3] There are 5 theme answers, as the prompt suggests
Nudge 4] As for hints, I can give you the lightest concerning the first "member"
Reveal:
Five "family" members that have the same makeup but in a slightly different order (i.e. deranged):
PALEST
PLATES
PETALS
PASTEL
PLEATS
So what 6th member, with the same letters, might hold them together?
STAPLE
For a graphic representation of the solve, please go to:
Checking for previous play data...
1A
Award points
1
2
3
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5
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68
Across
- 1AAward points
- 5AConduit
- 9ACourse at the culinary institute
- 13AAirport guesses,often
- 14AIncreasingly uncommon type of 5A
- 15AWhat good models are made of
- 16ABusinesses
- 18APrologues to rewards
- 19AMont Blanc, for example
- 20ANeck pain
- 21AMost ashen
- 22AServes up
- 24AJustice administrator in Singapore
- 25AEnd of semester dread
- 27AThings that will steer you in the right direction
- 31ALoftiest grocery store?
- 34APotpourri pieces
- 36AEggs that are often weighed
- 37AComplain loudly
- 38AMan whose wife was a pillar of the community
- 39AChills and fever
- 40ATerrible Tolkien troll
- 41APunished or wasted
- 44AGoes bad
- 45APatella protector
- 47APay month to month
- 49AWhiny and miserable
- 50ALight shade in a painting
- 54ASkirt folds
- 57ASurrounding glow
- 59AWhat the Beatles said when John announced his second marriage
- 60AIRS threat
- 61AAlluring bit of music
- 63AIn an unfriendly manner
- 64AHow work gets done
- 65AAh, the famous crossword needle case
- 66A"Shall we"
- 67ANautical affirmations
- 68AFashionable
Down
- 1DGo over
- 2DDangerous test site
- 3DBuccaneers' home
- 4DSixth sense; Abbr.
- 5DSticky stuff dripping down a cone?
- 6DShe would be the apple of your eye
- 7DKeats, for one
- 8D"Star Trek" rank; Abbr.
- 9DStamped and sent
- 10D"Anything ___?"
- 11DRequests
- 12DStuck in the cellar
- 15DLasting impressions made by cowboys
- 17DTippy top
- 21DBunyan known for his feat
- 23DFreshman, probably
- 24DPockmark on the moon
- 26DStrain
- 28D"Cogito ___ sum"
- 29DDestroy in a game
- 30DGets
- 31DThe wrong way to run
- 32DItem that can be a buck an ear
- 33DDefinitely not a "come hither" spray
- 35DWhole lot
- 39DThese could be graphic or dark
- 41DLike an artist's smock
- 42DCall that can turn out lights
- 43DMake sad
- 46DElectronic messages
- 48DIndian bread
- 51DSomething you grin and bare?
- 52DBoredom
- 53DSpock's forté
- 54DBeach item, perhaps of a light color
- 55DClaire Boothe ___
- 56DCheck a puzzle for errors
- 57DBreezy
- 58DAdvocate
- 61DImpossible to ride type of horse.
- 62DDry, as wine