NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
April 5, 2020
Will Shortz

Each clue below has two parts. The answer to the first part is a word that starts with AB. Drop the AB to find the answer to the second part. For example, given EMBARRASS - VOLCANO OUTPUT, the answer words would be ABASH - ASH.

1. Leader of nuns - A former First Lady
2. On fire - Lie around
3. Flowers in spring - Weaving apparatus
4. Kidnap - Passage for air
5. Shorten - Chain of hills
6. Source of mother-of-pearl - By oneself
7. Religious act of forgiveness - Answer
8. Missing from class - Mailed
9. In another country - Highway
10. Avoid liquor - Laundry problem

Answers:

1. Abbess - Bess (Truman)
2. Ablaze - Laze
3. Abloom - Loom
4. Abduct - Duct
5. Abridge - Ridge
6. Abalone - Alone
7. Absolution - Solution
8. Absent - Sent
9. Abroad - Road
10. Abstain - Stain