Wordy Wednesday 291: Touchword 14

WORDY WEDNESDAY #289

CRYPTICROSTIC 6 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
M. Sean Molley **
Tyler Hinman **
Adam Weaver **
Bryce Herdt **
Ryan Faley **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #290

PENT WORDS 58 (hint)

As of this writing, 5 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #291

TOUCHWORD 14

(click here for a PDF version)

In a crossword, words cross each other; in this puzzle, they merely touch. More specifically, every letter shares an edge with at least one identical letter either immediately above or immediately below. The top and bottom rows are considered adjacent. (You can think of it as a diagramless, cylindrical Share-A-Letter puzzle.)

Arrange the letters in the shaded spaces to form the final answer, an 8-letter word.

1  ____: Warriors of Rock: 2 wds. / Opponent
2  Carry a fetus / Early
3  Exam / ____ Up (2006 movie) / ____ cheese
4  Campsite sights / Non-permanent employee / ASAP
5  Flat representation of the elevation of an area: 2 wds. / Certain musical form
6  Real estate with separately-owned units, briefly / Suave / Board game related to pachisi
7  Nation that borders Cameroon and Libya / Certain piece of headwear / Escape
8  Click repeatedly, as someone’s teeth in cold weather / 1995 film about a pig / Impolite
9  A type of sculpture / Former car manufacturer that was headquartered in Trollhättan / ____ compactor
10 Austrian composer Johann / Doing some activity: 2 wds. / Clean
11 Swamp / Stay home for dinner, perhaps: 2 wds. / “____ My Hair” (Willow Smith song)
12 It might surround a castle / Up to ____ / Familial association
13 ____ or Die! (1988 video game) / Miner’s tool / One who won’t join a labor union
14 Saturday Night Live offering / A Great Lake / Automobile that carries passengers for a fare
15 The ____ Life of Zack & Cody / Like some questions

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* My dumbest puzzle in a while. I'm sorry.
* What's an 8-letter word for "Show whence the catchphrase, 'Good news, everyone!'"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, keep on living, and yappy solving!