Ordinary Ordinals
It doesn't take a SIXTH SENSE to figure out this puzzle's theme.Today, Samuel presents an ordered list of ordinal numbers.
If you're not familiar with number nomenclature, cardinal numbers, such as One, Two, Three, indicate quantity. Ordinals, used in this puzzle, indicate position or rank but not quantity. Numbers such as single, double, and triple are called multipliers. Nominal numbers are used as a name - e.g. Number 42 [Jackie Robinson].
Enough of that. Let's get on with it.
15. Spendy flying option: FIRST CLASS.
23. Dating option not recommended by Madonna in "Express Yourself": SECOND BEST.
In case you forgot the song.
33. Topic to avoid, metaphorically: THIRD RAIL. The third rail is the electrified middle track used in mass transit systems and, like a topic to avoid, you don't touch it.
49. Imaginary barrier that might be broken by a stage actor: FOURTH WALL. The fourth wall is an imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience. The audience sees through this wall to observe the play/movie/show but the performers presumably can't. Breaking the fourth wall is when a performer acknowledges the existence of the audience.
59. Double date tagalong: FIFTH WHEEL. When not speaking of RVs (or trailers in general) pulled by a hitch in the bed of a pickup, fifth wheel means useless or superfluous -- such as a fifth wheel on a wagon [Moby Dick, 1851 (cite)].
Having beat the theme into submission, let's explore how Samuel filled the rest of the grid.
Across:
1. "Later, gang!": SEE YA. Caio.6. Winter ailment: FLU. I got my vaccine. You?
9. Chats online, briefly: IMS. Instant MessageS.
12. At a distance: APART.
13. Pull a pre-final all-nighter: CRAM.
14. Cabbage-based side: SLAW.
15. [See: Theme]
17. __ to self: NOTE.
18. Ga. airport code: ATL.
19. Arts and crafts, to a grammarian: NOUNS. Cute.
20. "Oppenheimer" or "Anora": MOVIE.
21. Corner chess piece: ROOK.
 |
| Chess Humor |
23. [See: Theme]
25. "Sheesh, what a day!": I'M BEAT.
27. St. Francis of __: ASSISI. Patron saint of animals and founder of the Franciscan order.
 |
| Statue at Xavier University |
28. Drips through slowly: SEEPS.
29. Picked up the tab: PAID.
32. Concert souvenir that may list tour stops: TEE.
33. [See: Theme]
37. LLC alternative: INC. Limited Liability Company / INCorporated.
40. Scrap: TOSS.
41. Peony part: PETAL.
45. Danish or Swedish: NORDIC.
48. Vietnamese sandwich: BANH MI.
 |
| There's no shortage of good Bahn Mi in Houston! |
49. [See: Theme]
53. The "D" of NYPD, for short: DEPT.
54. Start: ONSET.
55. Celebrity's hotel check-in name, perhaps: ALIAS. Checking into hotels, Sir Paul famously used the alias Paul Ramone. The alias was used by the punk band The Ramones as an homage.
57. Sandwich with three key components: BLT. Bacon, Lettuce, & Tomato.
58. Moreno with an EGOT: RITA.
 |
| Rita's Wikipedia page. |
59. [See: Theme]
61. Like many dorms: CO-ED.
62. Raison d'__: ETRE. French for "Reason to be."
63. Disparage: ABASE.
64. Finish: END.
65. Lingo suffix: ESE.
66. Some dessert wines: PORTS. Why is it called port? Here's what Quora says.
Down:
1. African expeditions: SAFARIS. On your Mac, take a virtual one with your Safari browser.2. Textbook example: EPITOME.
3. Piercing place: EARLOBE.
4. Soph and jr.: YRS. SECOND and THIRD years of high school or college.
5. Memo header abbr.: ATTN.
6. Swiss currency: FRANC. Sweden has not adopted the euro.
7. Rodeo ring?: LASSO.
8. Gap-filling sounds: UMS.
9. "What a wonderful gift!": I LOVE IT.
10. French painter Henri: MATISSE.
11. Honey bunny: SWEETIE.
13. Board game with weapons, suspects, and rooms: CLUE.
14. Supercilious types: SNOBS.
16. Price to pay: COST.
20. GPs, e.g.: MDS. General Practitioners / Medical Doctors.
22. Retained: KEPT.
24. Zip: NADA.
26. Volcanic residue: ASH.
29. Whiz: PRO.
30. Streaming annoyances: ADS.
31. Org. featured in the book "Many Unhappy Returns": IRS. Internal Revenue Service. The subtitle of the book is "One Man's Quest to Turn Around The Most Unpopular Organization in America." Apparently, it's non-fiction by IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti.
34. Bug bite symptom: ITCH.
35. Craft beer letters: IPA.
36. Extend credit: LEND.
37. Legally effective: IN FORCE.
38. Request from a diner concerned about bad breath: NO ONION. Took a second for this not to parse as NOON ION.
39. Like many baked goods: CRUSTED.
42. Jeremy Allen White series featuring the oft-repeated line "Yes, chef!": THE BEAR.
I've not seen it but heard it was good.
43. Most bountiful: AMPLEST. Ooof. Any port in a storm, I guess.
44. Children, slangily: LITTLES. Ooof again? Anyone refer to kids that way, ever?
46. Feeling of foreboding: DREAD.
47. Cousin in "The Addams Family": ITT.
 |
| Cousin Itt |
48. "Borrrring": BLAH.
50. Stays on hold: WAITS.
 |
| This American Life tracked down Cisco's hold music composer. |
51. Emmy winner Woodard: ALFRE.
 |
| Alfre's Wikipedia page |
52. Lo-cal label word: LITE.
56. Trade: SWAP.
59. Transaction charge: FEE.
60. "Euphoria" airer: HBO.
The Grid:
 |
| The Grid |
WOs: Loan -> LEND; EPITOMy [sic]
ESPs: ALFRE
Fav: I'll go with SNOB for the clue - supercilious is just a fun word.
There you have it folks. Were you in SEVENTH HEAVEN after finishing the grid? Did you think Samuel's offering was the EIGHT WONDER?
Me? I thank Samuel for the enjoyable puzzle and I hope y'all enjoyed the NINTH INNING wrap-up.
It's now up to you to provide the TENTH AMENDMENT.
Cheers, -T
