Did you know ANTARCTICA was originally pronounced with the first C silent? It's only recently the pronunciation has evolved to be more in line with the way the word is spelled, the aptly named "spelling pronunciation." Please enjoy this puzzle featuring several other English words that have undergone a similar linguistic evolution (plus some Antarctica-related clues).
Cool puzzle - this was a really neat way to interpret the theme! I had REC for REW and could not for the life of me figure out TOWNER - just stared and stared
That singer and activist who's pretty famous, but not so well-known that she should appear in crosswords all the time, and yet she does. You know the one I mean?
39A
"Bravo!"
40A
Calcium, lime, and rust removal brand (don't overthink it)
41A
Lair
42A
This is it for the Across clues
Verticali
1D
Apex predator found around Antarctica (and lots of other places)
2D
/kam/
3D
Choo-choo's sound
4D
Hoda Kotb or Rachael Ray, for example
5D
"Gosh!"
6D
"Make __" (command from Captain Picard)
7D
The Stargate, for one
8D
Pule or casu marzu
9D
Out-of-___
14D
Fall like a penguin onto its back
18D
24-Down, for one
20D
Like the verb to be (in many languages): Abbr.
22D
Type of ray
23D
Jack who was once stranded with Samantha Carter at a Stargate on what they thought was an ice planet but which turned out to be Antarctica
24D
Loud kitten
25D
King of the Fairies
29D
Ruby ___ (sci-fi icon in "The Fifth Element" played by Chris Tucker)
31D
Missouri River tribe
32D
/kɪl/
33D
Like Antarctica
36D
Dir. from very southern South America to the Falkland Islands