NY Times Crossword
November 8, 2017
Joel Fagliano and Sam Ezersky

In this puzzle the answer words are parsed according to a very clever pattern. Kudos if you can figure it out without looking at the hints below the answer words.

1. MARKINGS
2. PASSPORTS
3. APOSTATES
4. DIATRIBES

HINTS:
1. M = MIDAS
2. P = POLO
3. A = ARKANSAS
4. D = DAKOTA

Answers:

The first three letters in each answer word are the initial letters of three things in the category named by the remaining letters in the words:

1. MIDAS AGAMEMNON RICHARD - KINGS
2. POLO ARCHERY SOCCER - SPORTS
3. ARKANSAS PENNSYLVANIA OHIO - STATES
4. DAKOTA IROQUOIS ARAPAHO - TRIBES

Note: Other answers are possible. For example, ARKANSAS could also be ARIZONA.