Wordy Wednesday 493: Hex Pathfinder 30 & Wordy Wednesday 494: Framelinks 15

WORDY WEDNESDAY #491
CRYPTICROSTIC 17 (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:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cole Kendall **
James Haddad **
Karen Spencer **
Michael Lebowitz **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman **
Jason Boomer **
jmwddspc **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #492
TOUCHWORD 25 (hint)

As of this writing, 15 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!

LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH = DOUBLE WORDY WEDNESDAYS!
WORDY WEDNESDAY #493
HEX PATHFINDER 30
(click here for a PDF version)

In this puzzle, each answer starts in the correspondingly numbered hexagon and winds through the grid, starting in the indicated direction. When you have finished, every letter will be used in exactly two entries.

Rearrange the letters in the shaded spaces to get the final answer, a 7-letter word.

1E German cake (5)

2W Ideal occupation for one who wants to rock the house? (10)

3W Informal talk (4)

4SE Fantasy novel series written by George R. R. Martin (17, 6 wds.)

5W “Slow Ride” band (6)

6SE “Don’t take any wooden ____” (7)

7E Concept (4)

8E Wry (6)

9SE Fridge compartment for vegetables (13, 2 wds.)

10SW Pirate’s prosthetic (6, 2 wds.)

11E Flowers you might give when you want to be remembered (12, hyph.)

12SW American Revolutionary War encampment site (11, 2 wds.)

13SW Mercury ____ (1998 movie) (6)

14SE Shout (4)

15NE Prevent (5)

16SW Grand (8)

17NE “Bananaphone” performer (5)

18NW Page from a book (4)

19E Hiding place for a proverbial ace (6)

20W Common power strip feature (14, 2 wds.)

21W Uncommon (4)

22SW Certain primate (6)

23SW Adam Sandler’s costar in 50 First Dates (2004) (13, 2 wds.)

24NE Jockey’s need (4)

25NW American frontiersman Daniel (5)

26SE Jockey’s need (5)

27E The Importance of Being ____ (7)

28NW Makes livid (7)

29NE Role for Jaleel White (10, 2 wds.)

30E One who’s doomed (5)

31SW Former U.S. Attorney General Janet (4)

32W One of the gifts the wise men gave Jesus (5)

WORDY WEDNESDAY #494
FRAMELINKS 15
(click here for a PDF version)

Fill in the empty squares in the diagram with the given letters to form words.

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

A A A A A A A A A   B   E E E E E E E E E E   H H   I I I I I   L L   M M M M   N N N   O O   P P   R R R R R R

S S S S   T T T T T T T T T   U U   V   Y Y Y

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 5-letter word for "United States ____ Academy (Annapolis institute)"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Wordy Wednesday 492: Touchword 25

WORDY WEDNESDAY #490
PENT WORDS 98 (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:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
Cole Kendall **
James Haddad **
Joe Bernard **
Karen Spencer **
Michael Lebowitz **
Stephen Potter *
Tyler Hinman **
John Bulten **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #491
CRYPTICROSTIC 17 (hint)

As of this writing, 13 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 #492
TOUCHWORD 25
(click here for a PDF version)

In a crossword, words cross each other; in this puzzle, they merely touch. More specifically, all answers read across, and 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.

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

1 Dish for serving soup, perhaps / “I wasn’t born ____!”

2 Filmed audition: 2 wds. / Zeal

3 Medieval copyist / A shade of blue / Fur trader John Jacob ____

4 Garment for an Indian woman / ____ the Clock (game show) / Smash Mouth song featured in Shrek: 2 wds.

5 Oceanic / Ring-shaped coral reef / At a distance

6 Dimwit / Lightweight water vessel / Saltwater ____

7 Rabat resident / Scare stiff

8 1968 hit for Steppenwolf: 3 wds.

9 Zodiac archer / Assistant

10 Canonized person / Mathematical donuts / Functional

11 Deluges / Multiplication ____

12 Least common / Jazz trumpeter Louis

13 Smoke detector: 2 wds. / Loose Malay garment

14 Pertaining to financial matters / Scent / One attending a party alone

15 A region of Italy / A city in Italy / Item for stiffening a shirt collar

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 13-letter, 2-word answer for "Adam Sandler’s costar in 50 First Dates (2004)"?
* A Framelinks!

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Patron Puzzles for Philanthropy: 10x10x10 Crosswords III

This update to the Patron Puzzles for Philanthropy initiative is to announce the 10x10x10 Crosswords III pack. A sequel to 10x10x10 Crosswords and 10x10x10 Crosswords II, this contains 10 10x10 mini-crosswords for the price of US$2.50, comprised of 3 themed puzzles, 2 themeless puzzles, 3 vwllss puzzles (in which all vowels are removed from the answers before entering them; there are no Y's, and each puzzle comes with an easier version with full answer enumerations and a harder version without them), and 2 Something Different puzzles (in which literally any combination of words is allowed to be an entry). Each puzzle comes in PUZ form (for electronic solving) and PDF form (for printing), and solutions (including full answers to the vwllss puzzles, with vowels added back in) are all available as well.

As a reminder, this is a charity initiative. Please e-mail me (glmathgrantATgmailDOTcom) a copy of your charitable receipt to my local food bank, the Food Bank of West Central Texas, to receive this puzzle pack. (It must be a new donation, dated no earlier than one day before you email me.) Click here for a list of all of the puzzle packs in this initiative. Happy solving!

Wordy Wednesday 491: Crypticrostic 17

WORDY WEDNESDAY #489
FRAMELINKS 14 (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:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
Cole Kendall **
James Haddad **
Karen Spencer **
Michael Lebowitz *
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman *
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #490
PENT WORDS 98 (hint)

As of this writing, 13 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 #491
CRYPTICROSTIC 17
(click here for a PDF version)
(click here for rules)

The answer is 9 letters.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Bailed out California governor Newsom possessing ecstasy __ __ __ __    __ __

                                                         35 19 14 11    23 04

Configuration for floor covering __ __ __ __ __ __

                                 29 13 02 30 36 27

Destroys Western star Allen, reportedly __ __ __ __ __ __

                                        08 16 06 32 05 22

Labor group eliminates first sign of toe swelling __ __ __ __ __

                                                  03 26 31 28 10

Polish sacred site lacks religious leader __ __ __ __ __

                                          18 33 09 07 21

Princess of Wales and Mr. Beatty had supper __ __ __ __ __

                                            24 17 37 15 01

Sacrilegious elements cause anger __ __ __ __

                                  20 34 12 25

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 15-letter, 3-word answer for "1968 hit for Steppenwolf"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Wordy Wednesday 490: Pent Words 98

WORDY WEDNESDAY #487
PATHFINDER 30 (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:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
James Haddad **
Joe Bernard **
Karen Spencer **
M. Sean Molley **
Michael Lebowitz **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman *
Kevin Orfield **
Mary Maynard *
Patrick Jordan *
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #488
FEED THE FOXES (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 a hint. Here's a list of people who solved it:
M. Sean Molley **
Michael Lebowitz *
Randy Rogers **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman *
Jason Boomer **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #489
FRAMELINKS 14 (hint)

As of this writing, 12 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 #490
PENT WORDS 98
(click here for a PDF version)

In this puzzle, you must divide the grid into pentominoes (regions containing five cells each), and write a letter in each cell. The rows, reading from left to right, will contain the words hinted at by the Across clues. The letters in the pentominoes, in reading order (left to right starting with the top row), will form the words hinted at by the Pentominoes clues; these clues are presented in no particular order. (In the example, the rows spell PLANT, SHARE, and BITES, and the pentominoes spell the words PLANS, TREES, and HABIT.) Use the ACROSS answers to determine where the pentominoes are.

ACROSS (two answers per row):

1 One-armed ____ (slot machine) / “Mickey” singer Basil

2 Radiant with warmth / Jeremy of The Lion King

3 Word before “coat” or “warfare” / ____ Ant (cartoon superhero)

4 Word of agreement, perhaps / It’s between the toes and the ankle

5 Skin with a knife / Attack from low-flying aircraft

6 “Taxation is ____” / Exact genetic copy

7 Minnesota port / Church projection

8 Mental picture / Unit of radioactivity

9 “____ and Ivory” (Paul McCartney/Stevie Wonder duet) / Like the flavor of many toothpastes

10 ____ shark (shark species named after a folkloric creature) / Minor dent

PENTOMINOES:

* HALF OF THE FINAL ANSWER

* THE OTHER HALF OF THE FINAL ANSWER

* San ____, CA

* Certain bulb

* One convicted of murder, for example

* Machine for hoisting

* Spine-chilling

* Carrot relative

* A tropical fish

* The county seat of Florida’s Hillsborough County

* ____ as a bat

* “I bless the ____ down in Africa. . .” (Toto lyric)

* Word of agreement, perhaps

* Making a knot

* Anguish

* Change to a reading of zero, as an odometer

* Cowboy’s leggings

* Certain woodwind

* ____ the Yard (2007 dance drama film)

* Trite

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* A Crypticrostic!

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Wordy Wednesday 489: Framelinks 14

WORDY WEDNESDAY #486
SECTION SIX 48 (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:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
James Haddad **
Joe Bernard **
Karen Spencer **
Michael Lebowitz **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman *
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #487
PATHFINDER 30 (hint)

As of this writing, 13 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 #488
FEED THE FOXES (hint)

As of this writing, 8 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's a hint. 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 #489
FRAMELINKS 14
(click here for a PDF version)

Fill in the empty squares in the diagram with the given letters to form words.

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

A A A A A A   B   C C C   E E E E E E E E E E   G   H H   I I I I I   K   L L L   M M   N N N   O O O O O O   P P

R R R R R R   S S S   T T T T T T T T T T T T   U U U   Y

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 5-letter word for "'I bless the ____ down in Africa. . .' (Toto lyric)"?
* Patron Puzzle #99, which will be delivered on August 8, 2022, exclusively to Patreon supporters at the Super Fan level and up ($5 or more per month), is a Meandering Word Search.

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!