NY Times Crossword
June 14, 2007
Donna Hoke

The same three letters, in the same, consecutive order will change each word below into a new one. The hint is very clever.

CON
TAN
PIES
SPAN
STING

HINTS:
Ingenuous, naive, innocent

HINT FOR THE HINT:
_ _ _ less

Answers:

The letters (word) ART can be inserted into each word to make a new one:

CARTON
TARTAN
PARTIES
SPARTAN
STARTING

(HINT - ARTLESS)