Explanation: The 11-asterisked entries each have the first three letters of the month backward within them (i.e. INAJAM contains JAN, BEFAIR contains FEB, and so forth). Month abbreviations are hinted by MOS, and the backwardness of time-related entries is alluded to by the title. The one month whose abbreviation is missing is July's (fitting, as we're in that now, of course!). Its three-letter abbreviation is JUL, which when backward is LUJ. Perhaps the only common word at all, and therefore the only ten-letter word (I researched this!!), with the trigram LUJ is HALLELUJAH, the answer to the meta and a very fitting exclamation when you solve one!
I'll have to spin some later in honor of this! I'm listening to smooth jazz all the time. Brightens the mood of my day! Some faves include Mindi Abair, Dave Koz, and Peter White.
Qmark 2s · 2023-07-15T18:16:04.461Z
Another super meta, Mikey! Thanks!
I K Snamhcok 🤓15:32 · 2023-07-15T18:11:18.434Z
Loved it! Mikey, you’re helping to make my summer,
KayW 🤓9:38 · 2023-07-15T18:43:17.821Z
lol it took me three tries to speel it corektly in crosshare...
Whoa! Cool. Tricky landing. Can't tell you how long I thought. But... for the longest time I had forgotten PESKY in my scribbled notes so I thought I actual had ten themers. Once I realized I had 11....
Darth 18:50 · 2023-07-16T05:39:58.701Z
Loved it! Thanks, Mikey!
Cindy Heisler 1s · 2023-07-16T15:45:30.817Z
I spent forever trying to make something out of the letters of the months. This was a real head slapper for me! Thanks! Mikey.
MatthewL 🤓8:35 · 2023-07-16T18:56:21.797Z
Fun one. Thanks Mikey!
JHSeeman 2s · 2023-07-16T22:29:16.317Z
Really fun one. Thanks Mikey.
Laura M 🤓16:34 · 2023-07-16T23:38:38.943Z
Excellent!
Berto 🤓3:26 · 2023-07-17T04:00:19.304Z
Oh man. Talk about a Hail Mary. Finished watching Tour de France highlights, last two sips of port downed, and about to turn in for the night with another frustrating day of not knowing what to do with the missing July when I wrote down LUJ? at the top of the page and googled… et voilà! Or hallelujah even!!
Funny! Took me forever to find the Mx because I was stuck on going back in time for names of places (SHERPA = PERSIA, IGUANA = GUYANA) . Then I saw the three letter abbreviation and got started. Of course I was perplexed because there were 11 (I thought 10 initially) so whatever I tried to spell I was going to have to drop a letter...and then it hit me (1) shout of joy or completion (2) containing LUJ, not many in that category. Nice one Mike!
Joe 🤓10:05 · 2023-07-18T17:08:33.111Z
Sometimes they just come to you immediately (this one) and sometimes you need a sledgehammer to the head (the last one). Great job, as always!
Carolyn 3s · 2023-07-20T15:02:10.231Z
Needed that last push! Thanks
ReB 20s · 2023-07-20T18:51:30.748Z
Solved with help from your nudges. Nicely done once again.
whimsy 12:54 · 2023-07-21T01:25:14.454Z
Needed the last nudge -- just never thought in that direction. I should have been coming at it backwards! Was trying all sorts of other stuff with LUJ, including finding LEO (the July sign) backwards between AVEENO and ELATES. Oatmeal is so exciting!
Thanks, Mikey!
merlinnimue 12:26 · 2023-07-21T02:57:18.301Z
gg to all you smarties who figured it out on your own, i just couldnt get there without the nudges. i thought i had been getting the hang of puzzles as of late, so thanks for writing one to remind me of my true place