What in the Name of God?

◆ · By DrTom · Published 2023-06-07T11:59:51.981Z

Meta Prompt

One of a very important group of seven is missing; what is it?

The title of this week's MEOW is what you very well may be saying to yourself! "(Insert Title Here) is he doing with another MEOW!"

At the risk of being proven to be quite incorrect, I'd put this at a level 1.5 to 2 max, nothing to count, nothing to infer, just something notable by its absence. I'm going to guess that there will be some Googling involved.

As usual there will be a solvers board and nudges on Friday should they be needed.

So, now, "here kitty, kitty, kitty..."

NUDGES

Nudge 1] The title pretty much tells you what you are looking for, and it not mild epithets

Nudge 2] I told you there was an important one of seven missing, so six must be in the grid

Nudge 3] Turns out they are in the grid and they are symmetrically

Nudge 4] Don't limit yourself to Gods of only one Nationality

THE REVEAL:

FRIGG =FRIDAY

MANI = MONDAY

MARS = TUESDAY

ODIN = WEDNESDAY

THOR = THURSDAY

SUNNA = SUNDAY

MISSING IS: SATURDAY or SATURN or LORDAG or VASKEDAGEN or LAUGARDAGR

For a full discussion and a graphic reveal go to: https://www.xword-muggles.com/viewtopic.php?p=132603#p132603

Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

hoover solved 2023-06-07T11:46:32.047Z
benchen71 solved 2023-06-07T11:52:31.947Z
Meg solved 2023-06-07T12:45:51.395Z
Ergcat solved 2023-06-07T12:46:12.445Z
Capn Rick solved 2023-06-07T12:50:15.910Z
rjy solved 2023-06-07T13:00:38.449Z
boharr solved 2023-06-07T13:44:56.355Z
Cindy Heisler solved 2023-06-07T13:57:19.452Z
Tom Wilson solved 2023-06-07T14:21:04.763Z
Hector solved 2023-06-07T14:24:49.890Z
Bird Lives solved 2023-06-07T14:40:40.580Z
whimsy solved 2023-06-07T14:56:00.274Z
MatthewL solved 2023-06-07T15:21:37.286Z
lbray53 solved 2023-06-07T16:01:57.446Z
I K Snamhcok solved 2023-06-07T16:05:13.008Z
Pair O Ducks solved 2023-06-07T16:06:39.747Z
woozy solved 2023-06-07T16:09:45.170Z
Carolyn solved 2023-06-07T16:37:56.101Z
ReB solved 2023-06-07T16:58:43.847Z
kurtalert solved 2023-06-07T17:01:43.047Z
JM solved 2023-06-07T17:19:23.237Z
DebbieC solved 2023-06-07T17:19:55.446Z
kymike solved 2023-06-07T17:23:47.319Z
KayW solved 2023-06-07T17:46:40.105Z
SirMrGuy solved 2023-06-07T18:05:56.113Z
markhr solved 2023-06-07T18:10:14.473Z
Dow Jones solved 2023-06-07T18:11:09.242Z
heidi solved 2023-06-07T18:40:01.517Z
Jaclyn solved 2023-06-07T18:44:42.538Z
Jeremy Smith solved 2023-06-07T19:24:02.850Z
emmie solved 2023-06-07T19:27:46.114Z
Laura M solved 2023-06-07T20:16:42.275Z
Bbaack solved 2023-06-07T20:46:40.963Z
Cindy Weatherman solved 2023-06-07T21:07:55.776Z
CPJohnson solved 2023-06-07T22:37:04.488Z
SJMcK solved 2023-06-07T22:37:18.337Z
Berto solved 2023-06-07T22:57:04.875Z
HeadinHome solved 2023-06-07T23:00:07.866Z
BarbaraK solved 2023-06-07T23:49:26.449Z
Gutman solved 2023-06-07T23:53:41.888Z
SeamusOL solved 2023-06-08T00:24:04.146Z
Tyrpmom solved 2023-06-08T04:37:32.913Z
clev solved 2023-06-08T04:56:48.848Z
ajk solved 2023-06-08T08:22:28.659Z
Alex Sisti solved 2023-06-08T12:53:12.150Z
Darrell solved 2023-06-08T16:02:45.552Z
DIS solved 2023-06-08T16:20:19.230Z
frostyjhammer solved 2023-06-08T17:47:20.426Z
Katiedid solved 2023-06-08T21:11:59.535Z
sw3aterCS solved 2023-06-09T17:06:05.009Z
Iopmueller solved 2023-06-09T20:09:26.895Z
Mr Tex solved 2023-06-09T22:25:28.020Z
Qmark solved 2023-06-11T13:26:27.133Z
edestlin solved 2023-06-11T15:10:38.304Z
Mikey G solved 2023-06-11T22:37:54.700Z
dooiemus solved 2023-06-13T13:44:20.823Z
Darth solved 2023-06-15T13:50:21.707Z
PuzNewbie solved 2023-06-20T03:51:21.741Z
Cate C solved 2023-06-23T18:32:26.119Z

Comments

hoover 3s · 2023-06-07T11:59:51.981Z
Whew! I kept trying multiple spellings of TYR TIW TIU until I realized I was trying to plug in the wrong day. :facepalm: Nice one! I think my favorite clue was "Leaves for dinner."
Capn Rick 🤓8:21 · 2023-06-07T12:50:49.663Z
I caught on early to this one, DrTom. Great job!
Meg 4s · 2023-06-07T12:46:32.477Z
Loved the clues!!
Ergcat 16:41 · 2023-06-07T12:48:28.289Z
Clever! I had to think of “major group of seven” when “days of the week” came to mind. Having just got a quick lesson in Norse mythology from your grid/clues, I found out SATURDAY wasn’t named for a god!! Thank you for the lessons, Dr Tom!
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T13:17:37.310Z
  Well, the Romans named it for Saturn, a planet and a God, but the Norse for Saturday (VASKEDAGEN) probably is why Saturday was always talkeda bout as "bath night" because that literally means "washing day" or "hot water day". Unfortunately, although cleanliness we are told is next to godliness, that did not fit my theme
boharr 5s · 2023-06-07T13:45:53.245Z
Thanks, DrTom
Cindy Heisler 2s · 2023-06-07T14:00:26.802Z
Some great clues in this one. I learned something, since I was not all that familiar with Norse Gods. Thanks, Dr Tom!
Tom Wilson 10:18 · 2023-06-07T14:22:24.314Z
Several pre-caffeine false starts ... but I ultimately prevailed, by Jove. (Or maybe by Java.) Thank you, Dr. Tom!
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T16:01:10.223Z
  Cardinal rule in our house, no meta before coffee. Actually no speaking before coffee. Thank you for solving.
Hector 3s · 2023-06-07T14:30:46.675Z
Very good, now to clear my browsing history of "enameled drum majorettes"
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T15:59:39.976Z
  Why would you ever want to? Notwithstanding their hard exterior they very up front with you.
Bird Lives 3s · 2023-06-07T14:49:09.125Z
Yes, I had to Google and in the process doubled my knowledge of the Asgard old guard. (BTW, who is the Norse god of Canadian wildfires? I want to lodge a complaint.) Some great cluing, not unexpectedly, and everyone symmetrically placed. Bravo.
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T15:56:31.665Z
  Well that would be Logi. He moved to Canada after living in California (guess he was tired of being Logi Cal) but unfortunately when he adopted his Canadian name CanaLogi people mistook him for an Italian pastry and he got so mad he started a big forest fire, the rest of the story is kind of smoky. Thanks for solving (oh and be happy I did not go the Vulcanized route!!)
whimsy 15:56 · 2023-06-07T15:11:51.210Z
I wanted Loki first (in honor of that trickster DrTom!) because I found this:

"Some scholars have suggested that Laugardagr was actually named after Loki. “Loke,” being an Lokis Day abbreviation and later adaptation from the word “Lodurr” – suggesting that Laugardagr is also a name that is based upon a one of our gods. Important to note here, is that Loki is only the adaptation we have come to know, as the various tribes had various pronunciations of the same gods.

However, Laugardagr was gradually replaced by the Latin, “dies Saturni.” By 450 A.D. the continental Anglican tribes were using this term suggesting that Saturday may not be named after the Roman god Saturn, but instead after the Celtic god “Sæter(n)e.”

Thanks for the educational and fun puzzle!
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T15:50:31.426Z
  Well continuing on this mythic journey, another name for Saturday is LORDAG, which "sounds" a lot like LAUDARDAGR. All these varying paths to names was why I made the "Han Solo" comment.
MatthewL 🤓11:19 · 2023-06-07T15:24:48.819Z
Very clever, Tom! Was convinced it was just a missing Norse god (like Loki), but finally caught on to the days of the week angle. Should've known it wouldn't be quite that straightforward. As usual, love the cluing, especially 22A. Thanks!
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T19:37:52.611Z
  Straightforward, me, the Loki of the Meta world...not likely!
I K Snamhcok 1s · 2023-06-07T16:05:34.374Z
Fun! Thanks, Good Doctor!
woozy 16:52 · 2023-06-07T16:11:01.782Z
Tough grid. But simple and straightforward meta.

No googling necessary. But lots of guessing and checking.
Carolyn 3s · 2023-06-07T16:41:05.994Z
Very interesting! I tried Laugardagr first and then went to Saturn. Thanks for the midweek fun!
ReB 4s · 2023-06-07T17:12:25.966Z
Knowing something about the origins of the days of the week, I was able to quickly catch on when I started seeing the appropriate gods popping up in the grid. Mars was the Romance outlier (as in Marti/martes), but I expect that was because you couldn't find a 4-letter variant of Tyr. But surely the real reason you only listed six because you wanted to give it a rest (regarding the seventh).
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T19:35:42.036Z
  Well yes, Mars was a Roman as it turns out, and of course the source of the French MARDI (for Tuesday). But that was not the only Roman that crept in because SATURN (or SATURDAY) was also an acceptable answer, included along with the Norse named Gods for the day. If only TYR had spelled it TYRE it would have been a good year....groan!
kymike 3s · 2023-06-07T17:24:38.385Z
Pure Lunacy!
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T19:36:03.827Z
  Are you shining me on?
KayW 🤓7:35 · 2023-06-07T17:51:23.950Z
Nice one, Dr Tom. Thanks! I saw an earlier version of this one and it still took me a second to grok it. At least I solved it faster the second time around.
markhr 🤓4:14 · 2023-06-07T19:11:52.791Z
Nice one, Dr. Tom. Have a nice relaxing Odinsdagr. Try to keep things Loki.
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-07T19:37:03.748Z
  We might have to change this to the MEOO?
Laura M 🤓21:49 · 2023-06-07T20:18:11.497Z
Took me a while (and some Googling) but I got there! Nice one!
HeadinHome 8:43 · 2023-06-07T23:03:51.551Z
So - where is Tir/Tyr/Thyr? Is Two an alternate spelling?

I had BAG for SACK forever, so had to reveal to see what in the name of dog was going on. Oh. BED. So, not ENAMELLEG?? ( :

Definitely had to google the 4 Norse gods I recognized and happened upon a website that discussed the days of the week. Interesting!
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-08T02:13:10.536Z
  They are not all Norse. Since Tir/Tyr/Thyr is not really a clueable word (if he'd have only spelled it TYRE) I went Roman with MARS the god of war (and namesake of MARDI, or Tuesday). Similarly I accepted SATURN or SATURDAY as well as LORTAG and VASKEDAGEN. The back and forth between Gods and the different way they spell their names is why I suspected problems...seems I was right. Thanks for spending the week with this puzzle!
Berto 🤓6:56 · 2023-06-08T01:48:32.741Z
I tried Loki first, but then went with plain old Saturday. Ironic typo in 20ac given the puzzle title?! Meow. Thanks for a fun one DrTom!
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-08T02:14:29.869Z
  Yes, and had you not mentioned it I never woud have seen it. Corrected and yes, die certainly is a tip to the DAY part. Good catch!! Thanks for solving
Tyrpmom 2s · 2023-06-08T04:42:50.350Z
Another fun one. Thanks.
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-08T12:06:27.504Z
  Thank you and thanks for solving.
ajk 9:52 · 2023-06-08T08:24:00.995Z
Got the mechanism while filling the grid, but had to walk out the door before I had time to actually track down which one was missing. Very aprapos, given that I'm hanging out above the arctic circle in Norway this week :)
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-08T12:06:00.760Z
  Bringing additional meaning to the phrase, Muggle travel in interesting circles. Dress warm!
Qmark 3s · 2023-06-11T13:33:07.229Z
Didn't get your puzzle until today, but no nudges used. Like many at first I thought it might be a missing Norse deity (like Loki) but of course there are tons of those to choose from... Reconsidering the "seven" put me on the right track...and some googling reminded me of the origins of the names for the days. Thanks for the lesson, the clever cluing, and the meta, Dr Tom!
- DrTom constructor · 2023-06-11T20:11:30.019Z
  Glad you enjoyed my week attempt at a Meta! Thanks for solving

Play today's daily mini crossword

Absinthe flavor

Across

1A
Absinthe flavor
6A
Have a bawl
9A
Annoy
14A
Person trying to fill a hole
15A
Park in NYC
16A
1940's-60's world leader with a snazzy jacket
17A
Put on a hard exterior
19A
Balder's Mom
20A
Norse deity known for mooning people
21A
Stick out of a boat
22A
Malicious donkey
23A
Indonesian outrigger canoes
25A
George that lost America
26A
Halftime performer wielding a baton
31A
Sonoran sayonara
33A
Often, though not always, a partner of wisdom
34A
He made war not candy
35A
Dress (up), quaintly
36A
Noah's quota
39A
Keep quiet
41A
Sass
42A
Valhalla bigwig
44A
Stun
46A
Grave lament
48A
King Lear, as opposed to Julius Caesar, for example
52A
Name for chess pieces
53A
Cast out
54A
The pros
57A
Preserve
58A
Character known for his "Avenging" hammer
62A
Norse sibling, and antithesis, to 20A
63A
Soften the blow
65A
Roswell autopsy victim
66A
Most distal digit
67A
Be part of the cast of
68A
Party nights
69A
Name changing title: Abbr.
70A
Bas-relief medium

Down

1D
"Beg pardon ..."
2D
Smallest of the Columbus fleet
3D
Persia, now
4D
Long haul trucker
5D
Poetic before
6D
Peaceful greeting in Dubai
7D
Kept tabs on
8D
Sack
9D
Biased
10D
Travel allowance
11D
Group without a Sunni disposition?
12D
Units of work
13D
Harbor workhorses
18D
Weaver you saw coming at you?
22D
Flora and fauna
24D
Oxidize
26D
"Eat!"
27D
Cork dance
28D
Fish stories
29D
Subj. that goes off on tangents
30D
Catch a glimpse of
31D
Particle
32D
Birdbrain
37D
Batman's alter ego Bruce
38D
Hedwig to Harry
40D
Hair-styling choices
43D
Party favorite
45D
Someone who can change 43D's status
47D
Leaves for dinner
49D
Cop/Pop cars
50D
Playing marbles
51D
The "B" of N.B.
54D
Amer. flyboys
55D
Whimper and whine
56D
Not the state to be in if you are making a sweater
59D
Bowlers
60D
A man notable for his ups and downs
61D
Jean or Janet (French or American)
63D
CAD machine in Montreal
64D
Old Paint?