Category: Agnes Davidson

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Constructed by: Agnes Davidson & Zhouqin Burnikel
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: Headlines

Themed answers each comprise two words, both of which often HEAD the word “LINES”:

• 64A Newspaper’s attention-getters, and what both words in 17-, 25-, 38- and 54-Across can do : HEADLINES

• 17A Improper etiquette at a social gathering : PARTY FOUL (“party lines” & “foul lines”)
• 25A Aristocrat : BLUE BLOOD (“blue lines” & “bloodlines”)
• 38A Romantic outing : DATE NIGHT (“datelines” & “night lines”)
• 54A Biography : LIFE STORY (“lifelines” & “storylines”)

Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers

Bill’s time: 4m 42s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 “Antiques Roadshow” network : PBS

“Antiques Roadshow” is a very popular PBS TV show in which professional auctioneers appraise antiques brought to them by the general public. The American show is based on a long-running BBC production of the same name. In one episode of the American version of the show, four pieces of carved jade were presented for appraisal, and were given an estimated value of one million dollars!

12 People who are not prone to infatuations, informally : AROS

Someone described as aromantic (“aro”, for short) experiences little or no romantic attraction. The opposite of aromanticism is a alloromanticism.

15 Mown path : SWATH

Our word “swath” comes from the German “Schwad” meaning “a row of cut grass”.

23 Fat in tamale dough : LARD

A tamale is a traditional dish from Central America composed of a starchy dough that is steamed or boiled in a wrapper made from a corn husk or banana leaf. The dough is called masa, and can include many different ingredients including meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables. A hot tamale is a kind of tamale that originated in the Mississippi Delta. It is particularly spicy, and the masa is replaced with corn meal.

25 Aristocrat : BLUE BLOOD (“blue lines” & “bloodlines”)

An aristocracy is a state in which the power of government is placed in the hands of a privileged few. The term “aristocracy” ultimately comes from the Greek “aristos” meaning “excellent” and “kratos” meaning “rule”. In ancient Greece, aristocracy was compared favorably with a monarchy, the idea being that the best-qualified few would serve better than an individual who inherited power. More recently, particularly during the French Revolution, aristocracy has been compared unfavorably with democracy.

The idiomatic phrase “blue blood” applies to someone of noble descent. It is a translation of the Spanish “sangre azul”, which was applied to the royal family in Spain. The notion is that someone of noble birth does not have to work outdoors in the fields, and so has untanned skin. The veins showing in the skin had “blue blood”, whereas those veins were masked by the darker skin of the peasant classes.

In a game of hockey, the rink is divided into three zones: the defensive zone, the neutral zone and the offensive zone. The three zones are divided by two blue lines.

27 Actor Jeong : KEN

Ken Jeong is an actor from Detroit who is perhaps best known for playing the gangster Leslie Chow in the “The Hangover” series of films. Jeong isn’t only an actor; he has an M.D. degree and is a licensed physician in California.

30 __ de mer : MAL

Here are some French terms for some unpleasant conditions:

• Mal de tête (headache)
• Mal de mer (seasickness)
• Mal de pays (homesickness)

31 Korean automaker : KIA

Kia Motors is the second-largest manufacturer of cars in South Korea, behind Hyundai (and Hyundai is a part owner in Kia now). Kia was founded in 1944 as a manufacturer of bicycle parts, and did indeed produce Korea’s first domestic bicycle. The company’s original name was Kyungsung Precision Industry, with the Kia name introduced in 1952.

32 Jason’s ship, in Greek mythology : ARGO

In Greek mythology, Jason and the Argonauts set sail on the Argo from the city of Iolcos in search of the Golden Fleece. Jason’s vessel was called the “Argo” in honor of a man named Argus, who designed and constructed it with the help of the goddess Athena.

38 Romantic outing : DATE NIGHT (“datelines” & “night lines”)

A night line is a fishing line that is set overnight.

43 General on a Chinese menu : TSO

General Tso’s chicken is an American creation, and a dish often found on the menu of a Chinese restaurant. The name General Tso may be a reference to General Zuo Zongtang of the Qing Dynasty, but there is no clear link.

44 Ocean predator that sleeps with one eye open : ORCA

Killer whales are mammals, and they have to sleep while in seawater. They can shut down half of their brain to rest, while the other half stays awake to control breathing. This is necessary because, unlike humans, orcas have to make an active decision about when to breathe, when their blowholes are at the surface of the water. While one half of the brain stays awake, and controls breathing, the eye on the same side of the body stays open, looking out for danger.

48 Chum : PAL

A chum is a friend. The term “chum” originated in the late 1600s as an alternative spelling for “cham”. In turn, “cham” was a shortened form of “chambermate”, a roommate at university.

49 Faux __ : PAS

The term “faux pas” is French in origin, and translates literally as “false step” (or “false steps”, as the plural has the same spelling in French).

59 Actor Alda : ALAN

Even though actor Alan Alda is the son of fellow actor Robert Alda, both were born with the family name “D’Abruzzo”. Alan is a vocal advocate for science education. He is a founder of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, where he became a visiting professor. He also hosted the TV show “Scientific American Frontiers” for 14 years.

61 Pique, as interest : AROUSE

Our term “pique” meaning “fit of ill feeling” is a French word meaning “prick, sting, irritation”.

62 Accent on “señor” : TILDE

The tilde diacritical mark (~) is very much associated with the Spanish language. We use the name “tilde” in English, taking that name from Spanish. Confusingly, the word “tilde” in Spanish is used more generally to mean “accent mark, diacritic”, of which a “~” is just one. What we call a “tilde” in English is usually referred to as a “virgulilla” or “tilde de la eñe” in Spanish.

Down

1 Dusting on deviled eggs : PAPRIKA

Deviled eggs are hard-boiled eggs that have been shelled and sliced in two. The egg’s yolk is mixed with primarily mayonnaise and mustard, and then spooned into the hard-boiled egg white. The eggs are then sprinkled with paprika and served cold. Some people make deviled eggs on Halloween, dropping an olive slice in the middle so that the whole thing resembles an eyeball! The term “deviled” has been used for zesty or spicy foods since the 1700s.

4 “ur hilarious!” : ROFL!

Rolling on floor laughing (ROFL)

5 Mattel game with 108 cards : UNO

The classic card game Uno now comes in several versions. Uno ColorAdd allows people with color blindness to play, and there is also a Braille version that allows blind and sighted friends to play together.

6 Light boat in a regatta : SCULL

A scull is a boat used for competitive rowing. The main hull of the boat is often referred to as a shell. Crew members who row the boat can be referred to as “oars”. And, a scull is also an oar mounted on the stern of a small boat. It’s all very confusing …

The word “regatta” is Venetian dialect and was originally used to describe boat races among the gondoliers of Venice on the Grand Canal back in the mid-1600s.

7 Balloon gas : HELIUM

Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and the element symbol “He”. Helium is a gas, and lighter than air. It is the second-most abundant element in the universe (after hydrogen). Helium was first detected in 1868 as an unknown yellow spectral line during a solar eclipse. As such, the gas was named for “Helios”, the Greek god of the Sun.

10 Singalong activity at a bar : KARAOKE

“Karate” is a Japanese word meaning “empty hand”, and the related word “karaoke” translates as “empty orchestra”.

11 Drug type banned by most pro sports : STEROID

Steroids are found commonly in nature, with familiar examples being cholesterol and testosterone. The controversial class of drugs called anabolic steroids (known informally as “‘roids” or simply “steroids”) are artificially produced chemicals designed to mimic the effect of the male sex hormone, testosterone. They are termed “anabolic” as they build up cellular tissue (particularly muscle) in a process called anabolism. Taking anabolic steroids can be termed “juicing”, and the aggressive behavior that can be a side-effect is known as “‘roid rage”.

16 Ibsen’s “__ Gabler” : HEDDA

“Hedda Gabler” is a play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen that was first published in 1890. The titular character is a woman who is trapped in a loveless marriage and struggling to find meaning in her life. The play was controversial when it was first produced due to its depiction of a strong-willed, independent woman who defies societal expectations and norms.

18 Himalayan bovines : YAKS

The English word “yak” is an Anglicized version of the Tibetan name for the male of the species. Yak milk is much prized in Tibetan culture. It is made into cheese and butter, and the butter is used to make a tea that is consumed in great volume by Tibetans. The butter is also used as a fuel in lamps, and during festivals the butter is even sculpted into religious icons.

35 Doc who treats sinusitis : ENT

Ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT)

The suffix “-itis” is used to denote inflammation, as in laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx), otitis (inflammation of the ear), tendinitis (inflammation of a tendon), tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) and sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses).

37 Exec concerned with data security : CTO

Chief technology officer (CTO)

41 Courtroom figure who says “All rise!” : BAILIFF

Here in the US, the term “bailiff” is sometimes applied to a peace officer who provides security in a court.

42 Cloverlike crop : ALFALFA

The forage crop known as alfalfa may take its name from the Arabic “al-fisfisa” meaning “fresh fodder”.

47 Political pardon : AMNESTY

A pardon is in effect a demonstration of pity and forgiveness for the crime. Amnesty is absolution while formally forgetting (“amnesty” is related to the term “amnesia”) that the crime took place. Further, a pardon can only be awarded to someone who has been convicted, whereas amnesty can be awarded to individuals who have not yet faced trial.

48 Student of Socrates : PLATO

The greatest work of the Greek philosopher Plato is said by most to be his treatise called “The Republic”. The work takes the form of a Socratic dialogue, meaning that it features Plato’s teacher Socrates in dialogue with others discussing the subject matter. Much of the text deals with justice and various forms of government.

56 Elle portrayer in “Legally Blonde” : REESE

“LEGALLY blonde” is a 2001 comedy film starring Reese Witherspoon as a girlish sorority president who heads to Harvard to earn a law degree. “LEGALLY blonde” was successful enough to warrant two sequels as well as a spin-off musical that played most successfully in London’s West End (for 974 performances).

58 Pageboy, for one : COIF

What we now know as the “pageboy” hairstyle was apparently one introduced and made famous by the fifties fetish model, Betty Page. Women’s magazines dissociated themselves from the connection with Ms. Page and sold the hairstyle to the public as one historically worn by English pageboys, hence the name. A pageboy hairstyle is sort of like a “long bob cut” I guess. But don’t listen to me; I get a “number one all over” at my local barber shop …

61 Genesis man : ADAM

The Book of Genesis is the first book in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Some of the main figures in the book are Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham. “Genesis” is a Greek word meaning “origin, creation”.