Theme: Use it or Lost it
23A: Start of quip: THE BRAIN IS NO
37A: Part 2 of quip: STRONGER THAN ITS
47A: End of quip: WEAKEST THINK
Well, it's a twist of Thomas L. Masson's quote: "No brain is stronger than its weakest think." And it appeared initially as "The brain is as strong as its weakest think".
Is THINK a noun here? I don't think I fully understand the grammatical structure of this quip.
I also don't understand the clue for HORN (24D: Plenty, for one?). Why?
Easy puzzle though, very doable.
Across:
5A: Actress Bernhardt: SARAH. Known as "The Divine Sarah". She was so famous that the Le Figaro newspapers declared in 1899 that "everyone was coming to Paris to see two profiles: that of the Eiffel Tower, and SARAH Bernhardt''. But I've never heard of her before.
18A: Rot-resistant wood: ALDER. It's also resistant to water damage and insect infestation.
19A: Muffin pans: TINS. Hmmm, muffins, want some?
22A: City on the Rhone delta: ARLES. Here is van Gogh's "Cafe Terrace at Night in ARLES".
27A: President after Polk: TAYLOR. He is the last elected Whig president. And ABRAM (59A: Pres. James __ Garfield). "Pres." should not be abbreviated.
30A: Cameo stone: ONYX. What's the difference between ONYX and agate?
32A: Ste. Jeanne __: D'ARC. Jeanne is French for Joan, I suppose?
46A: Double dealing: DECEIT
62A: Hide in the shadows: LURK. I like how it intersects SKULKS (44D: Moves about stealthily).
Down:
1D: Glob of paint: DAUB. Move your mouse here and see if you can create your own Pollock drip masterpiece.
3D: Write off?: DELE. I like this clue.
4D: University near Tempa: SAINT LEO. I got it from the across clues. Wikipedia says Desi Arnaz & Lee Marvin attended this university.
5D: Undercoat material: SEALER
10D: Numerical array: MATRIX. Not familiar with this math term.
11D: Seed cover: ARILS. What's the difference between ARIL and testa?
29D: Mongol's tent: YURT. Turkish origin. Literally "dwelling place". Too strong an orange color inside his YURT.
35D: Needle case: ETUI. Dictionary says ETUI is rooted in old French estuier, meaning "to guard".
40D: V formation: NECKLINE. Yes, indeed, "It may be plunging".
46D: Rheostat: DIMMER. What? DIMMER in 1890 already?
C.C.
23A: Start of quip: THE BRAIN IS NO
37A: Part 2 of quip: STRONGER THAN ITS
47A: End of quip: WEAKEST THINK
Well, it's a twist of Thomas L. Masson's quote: "No brain is stronger than its weakest think." And it appeared initially as "The brain is as strong as its weakest think".
Is THINK a noun here? I don't think I fully understand the grammatical structure of this quip.
I also don't understand the clue for HORN (24D: Plenty, for one?). Why?
Easy puzzle though, very doable.
Across:
5A: Actress Bernhardt: SARAH. Known as "The Divine Sarah". She was so famous that the Le Figaro newspapers declared in 1899 that "everyone was coming to Paris to see two profiles: that of the Eiffel Tower, and SARAH Bernhardt''. But I've never heard of her before.
18A: Rot-resistant wood: ALDER. It's also resistant to water damage and insect infestation.
19A: Muffin pans: TINS. Hmmm, muffins, want some?
22A: City on the Rhone delta: ARLES. Here is van Gogh's "Cafe Terrace at Night in ARLES".
27A: President after Polk: TAYLOR. He is the last elected Whig president. And ABRAM (59A: Pres. James __ Garfield). "Pres." should not be abbreviated.
30A: Cameo stone: ONYX. What's the difference between ONYX and agate?
32A: Ste. Jeanne __: D'ARC. Jeanne is French for Joan, I suppose?
46A: Double dealing: DECEIT
62A: Hide in the shadows: LURK. I like how it intersects SKULKS (44D: Moves about stealthily).
Down:
1D: Glob of paint: DAUB. Move your mouse here and see if you can create your own Pollock drip masterpiece.
3D: Write off?: DELE. I like this clue.
4D: University near Tempa: SAINT LEO. I got it from the across clues. Wikipedia says Desi Arnaz & Lee Marvin attended this university.
5D: Undercoat material: SEALER
10D: Numerical array: MATRIX. Not familiar with this math term.
11D: Seed cover: ARILS. What's the difference between ARIL and testa?
29D: Mongol's tent: YURT. Turkish origin. Literally "dwelling place". Too strong an orange color inside his YURT.
35D: Needle case: ETUI. Dictionary says ETUI is rooted in old French estuier, meaning "to guard".
40D: V formation: NECKLINE. Yes, indeed, "It may be plunging".
46D: Rheostat: DIMMER. What? DIMMER in 1890 already?
C.C.
