LETTER BANK XXXIX

NY Times Crossword

July, 2023

John Ewbank

 

In a letter bank, the letters of a shorter word (the bank) are used to make a longer word or phrase. All the letters of the shorter word must be used at least once, and may be repeated as necessary. No other letters are allowed. For example, IMPS is a letter bank for MISSISSIPPI, because only the letters I,M,P,S are used to spell MISSISSIPPI. In this puzzle, the longer phrases are given. Can you determine the shorter word whose letters are used to make up each of the phrases? HINT: The letter bank is a word of seven letters.

1. CATTLE CARS

2. SALT CELLAR

3. STEER CLEAR

4. ART CLASSES

HINT:

A

Answer:

 

SCARLET 

 

Explanation of hint:

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne must wear a scarlet letter A around her neck as a punishment for adultery.