Author: Scott Hogan and Katie Hale Editor: Will Shortz Across Favors ASKS Slathered in sauce, in restaurant-speak WET Letters on security camera footage CCTV Big flings HEAVES “Pet” you wouldn’t take to the vet CHIA Cosecant’s reciprocal SINE Cookie with its name on it OREO One of four on a diamond UMPIRE I visited the cardiologist, who…

Author: Rebecca Goldstein and Rafael Musa Editor: Will Shortz Across ___ Jean Covey, protagonist of Jenny Han’s “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” LARA Has a grate voice? RASPS Perfume named after a pop star RIRI In time EVENTUALLY [I’m right here, you know] AHEM Period before sunset with ideal lighting for photography GOLDENHOUR…

Author: Larry Snyder Editor: Will Shortz Across Formal affirmative YESMAAM Home of the prehistoric Ggantija temples MALTA Absolute drivel UTTERROT Longtime TV news colleague of Pelley, Cooper and Whitaker STAHL Queso, e.g. CHEESEDIP Prestigious award established after its founder purportedly read his premature obituary NOBEL One in a hundred CENT Whoops, e.g. YELLS Whence the…

Author: Dan Schoenholz Editor: Will Shortz Across Hot topping for a cone? LAVA Practical joke JAPE Tricky billiard shot MASSE Way off AFAR Ensconced in AMID Asian dog breed AKITA *Ensign NOPARKING Rich sources of beta carotene KALES Joint DOOBIE One of millions in New Zealand EWE Migration pattern? VEE Lose one’s shirt, say STRIP…

Author: Jeffrey Martinovic Editor: Will Shortz Across Something a student may cut CLASS Doesn’t bother LETSBE Team V.I.P.s, in brief GMS Author of “The Eagle and the Fox” and “The Fox and the Lion” AESOP Where to watch the Lightning and Hurricanes ARENAS Porridge grain OAT Region that spans about 8% of the earth’s land…

Author: Robert S. Gard Editor: Will Shortz Across Mail inits. since 1971 USPS ___-Carlton (hotel chain) RITZ Lettuce or cabbage MOOLA Small recess NOOK Drill (into) BORE Hero of Narnia in C. S. Lewis novels ASLAN Evidence of a day at the beach BIKINITAN In a deadpan manner DRILY Spleen IRE Middle of a classic…

Author: Adam Wagner Editor: Will Shortz Across Suggest without saying IMPLY “Up, up and ___!” AWAY Six years, for a U.S. senator TERM Birds that go “HONK!” GEESE Any of 116 in Japan’s Inazawa Grand Bowl, the world’s largest bowling alley LANE Major work of art OPUS *Beat by a little, as in joke telling…

Author: Sid Sivakumar Editor: Will Shortz Across Mess hall patrons, in brief GIS Theater backdrop SCRIM Stressful work? POEM Disorganized stack HEAP Home screen array APPS Port container CARAFE Clean hands, so to speak INNOCENCE Spill (over) SLOP Strict sales limit, informally ONEPER Slow-cooked entrees POTROASTS Boos-y drink? HATERADE Olympic gymnast Raisman ALY Charge (with)…

Author: Spencer Leach and Jem Burch Editor: Will Shortz Across Headache helper ADVIL Tot’s scratches BOOBOOS Palate cleanser in a multicourse French meal SORBET Source of a foul odor when wool is washed LANOLIN Going after the big bucks, say INHEAT Creature catcher in gaming POKEBALL Position with security STEADYGIG N.B.A. team that shares an…

Across Deciding contest RUNOFF Musical whose preshow warning about cellphone use says that knights “may drag you onstage and impale you” SPAMALOT God on a mission? APOLLO Cry after a windfall WERERICH Louisiana ___, religion with West African roots VOODOO Bit of gear for gliding ICESKATE Personal struggles personified INNERDEMONS ___ Carter, most-recorded jazz bassist…