DOUBLE DUTY CCCIII 

Fill in the blanks with words that will complete the word, partial word, or phrase beginning on the left and begin the word, partial word, or phrase ending on the right. The number of blanks indicates the number of letters in the missing word. 

1. SH _ _ _ BLE 

2. UPST _ _ _ NT 

3. UNS _ _ _ KIN

4. CAR _ _ _ REL 

5. TRI _ _ _ ERAN 

6. THW _ _ _ ICLE

7. PAGE _ _ _ ELOPE

8. OVER _ _ _ _ _ PILE

9. POWER _ _ _ _ POSITION

10. GRAND _ _ _ _ _ _ MIND 

 

HINTS:

First of the missing letters:

1. R

2. A

3. N

4. P

5. V

6. A

7. A

8. S

9. P

10. M 

 

Answers:

 

1. shRUBble

2. upstAGEnt

3. unsNAPkin

4. carPETrel

5. triVETeran

6. thwARTicle

7. pageANTelope  

8. overSTOCKpile

9. power POLE position

10. grand MASTERmind  

 

 

PAIRS AND SNARES XLII

The words in each group below can be confused. Can you give a simple definition of each one that shows the difference between them?

1. VICE - VISE

2. INAPT - INEPT

3. HOARD - HORDE

4. CITE - SITE - SIGHT 

5. TERRINE - TUREEN 

6. DETRACT - DISTRACT 

7. APOTHEM - APOTHEGM

8. ANECDOTE - ANTIDOTE

9. NUCLEAR FISSION - NUCLEAR FUSION 

Answers:

1. VICE - A bad habit / morally corrupt behavior

    VISE - A tool, usually attached to a work bench, with two jaws that can be tightened to firmly hold an object in place for work

 

2. INAPT - Unsuitable, inappropriate, or not fitting for a particular situation

    INEPT - Lacking skill, incompetent, or clumsy

 

3. HOARD - A large accumulated, often hidden, supply of goods (food, money, junk, etc.)

    HORDE - A large, often unruly, crowd of people or mass of animals 

 

4. CITE - To mention, quote, or refer to a source / To commend or penalize someone for an action (as to be cited for a traffic violation)

    SITE - A specific place, piece of land or location where something is, was, or will be situated

    SIGHT - Vision 

 

5. TERRINE -  A mixture of chopped meat, fish, or vegetable - often in a jellied mold

    TUREEN - A deep, covered dish for serving soup

 

6.  DETRACT - Diminish the value, quality, or reputation of something

     DISTRACT - Draw someone's attention or focus away from a task or subject 

 

7. APOTHEM - Geometry - A line segment from the center of a regular polygon perpendicular to the side

    APOTHEGM - A short, pithy saying / adage, aphorism

 

8. ANECDOTE - A short, personal, and often funny story - used to make a point or enliven conversation

   ANTIDOTE - Something, usually a medicine, that neutralizes, limits, or counteracts the harmful effects of a poison 

 

9. NUCLEAR FISSION - Splitting of a heavy nucleus (like uranium or plutonium) into smaller nuclei, releasing energy

   NUCLEAR FUSION - Combining of two light nuclei (like Hydrogen isotopes Deuterium and Tritium) to form a heavier nucleus (like Helium)

   Fission is used in nuclear power plants. Fusion powers the sun and other stars,  requires extremely high temperature, and releases much more energy than fission.  

    

 

Universal Crossword

May 1, 2026

Anthony Gisonda

 

The first four clues have something in common that is hinted at by the fifth clue. Can you determine what it is?

 

1. REDHEAD 

2. LIME GREEN

3. STAR SEARCH

4. FLASH FLOOD  

5. Brake indicator 

 

Answer to Clue 5:

TAILLIGHT

 

Answers to Clue 1-4:

 

The word LIGHT could follow (tail) the first syllable and second syllables of REDHEAD and the first and second words of the other three clues to make new words and phrases: 

 

1. RED LIGHT - HEADLIGHT

2. LIMELIGHT - GREEN LIGHT

3. STARLIGHT - SEARCH LIGHT

4. FLASHLIGHT - FLOOD LIGHT  

1. What do the following words have in common? 

CENT

USE

ZEN

 

2. The first three clues below have something in common that is hinted at the the fourth clue. Can you determine what it is?

 

NERVOUS SYSTEM

SURPLUS STORE 

MOBIUS STRIP 

It served in Viet Nam

 

HINT:

1. The same two letters will change each word to new one.

 

Answers:

 

1. Each word can be preceded by DO to make a new word:

 

DOCENT

DOUSE

DOZEN

 

2. The letter USS are exactly in the middle of each clue - leading to USS Midway - an aircraft carrier that was deployed in the Gulf of Tonkin in the Viet Nam War:

 

nervoUS System

surplUS Store     

mobiUS Strip  

 

Credit:

2: Luke Schreiber 

  

APT AND SURPRISING ANAGRAMS XX 

1. Anagram for EDITOR - telling what he/she might say

    _ _ - _ _  _ _

 

2. Anagram for MARRIAGE - to one who's living in a rough one

    _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ 

 

3. What you would least expect from a SENATOR.

     _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

4. A need that an ORATOR might feel 

    _ _    _ _ _ _

 

5. He MEASURED carefully and 

    _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ his measurements were correct 

 

6. The TELEGRAPH was a 

    _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ to people when it was invented in the 1830s

 

HINTS:
1. R _ - _ _  _ _

2. G _ _ _   A _ _ _ 

3. T _ _ _ _ _ _

4. T _  R _ _ _

5. M _ _ _  S _ _ _

6. G _ _ _ _   H _ _ _ 

 

Answers:

 

1. RE - DO IT

2. GRIM AREA

3. TREASON

4. TO ROAR

5. MADE SURE

6. GREAT HELP  

SYNONYM/ANAGRAM CCXXXIII

The two words on each line below can be anagrammed into one - beginning with the given letter. The meanings of the anagrams are given below the clues.   

1. RIP + DUST = D

2. LIP + BUSH = P

3. TAR + NICE = C

4. TOE + PULL = P

5. RAY + ITCH = C

6. USE + TRAP = P

7. ROT + CART = T 

8. OAR + HYMN = H 

9. JOB + NOTICE = O 

10. HELP + GREAT = T 

11. TAKE + CHOIR = A 

12. CHIN + AROMA = H 

 

Meanings of the anagrams:

1. Break up, as a meeting

2. Put into printed form

3. Positive

4. Make dirty, as air or water

5. Voluntary giving of help, food, money, etc.

6. Grassy field

7. Farm vehicle

8. Agreement

9. A deferring

10. System of communication

11. Vegetable

12. Musical instrument 

MISSING LINKS CCLXXIX

Each group below shares a Missing Link - that is, its members have something in common, obvious or not. For example, RIVERS, NOSES, & VIOLINS can all have BRIDGES.

1. Dog..........End..........Dry 

2. Ear..........Nose..........Lip 

3. Sin..........Use..........Gift

4. Five..........Issue..........Hold 

5. Short..........Tall..........Court 

6. Poor..........Voice..........Opera 

7. Small..........Shop..........Table

8. Note..........Crash..........Launch

9. Game..........Number..........String

10. Power..........Barber..........Fishing 

 

Answers:

 

1. Run

2. Kinds of rings

3. Kinds of taxes

4. Words that can be preceded by TAKE

5. Order

6. Box

7. Talk

8. Kinds of pads

9. Theory

10. Kinds of poles