# Today's NYT crossword: How can FIEND possibly be the correct answer to DEVOTEE? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 6, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162 "2020-06-06T17:39:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/41 "2020-06-09T16:18:49Z")
TEC got me, too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that, even in the crosswords. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/42 "2020-06-09T17:57:35Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > TEC got me, too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that, even in the crosswords. For what it’s worth, I’ve seen Batman’s adventures get referred to in that manner, because _“in the 983rd issue of Detective Comics”_ is clunkier than _“TEC 983”_. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/43 "2020-06-11T11:06:25Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > It’s a grave filled with etuis, nards and a host of Essenes, like the tomb of an ancient pharaoh… This cracked me up. I remember ‘essenes’ (aesthetic priests, maybe?) and ‘etui’ (an ornament of some sort) but ‘nards’ doesn’t ring a bell. I recall being appalled at brand names being allowed when the new guy took over, and to this day it chafes a little. I know it’s silly, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/44 "2020-06-11T11:58:36Z")
An etui is a sewing case. And even with as much as my mom sews, I’ve still never encountered the word outside of a crossword puzzle. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/45 "2020-06-11T12:41:00Z")
Note: if you’re about to do today’s NYT puzzle (Thursday June 11, 2020) on an electronic device, be forewarned that as Thursday puzzles often are, there’s a “gimmick” - but one that has a hint/indicator you’ll need to read the puzzle description to get, because it’s only visually indicated in the _print_ version. “ **About this puzzle** : In the print version of this puzzle, each of the five squares in 20-Across and each of the seven squares in 22-Across contains a slash mark.” I mean you don’t NEED that description to solve it; I managed to solve today’s puzzle without reading it, but I lost about 5 minutes off of my solve time figuring out “these particular squares must be doubling letters, but why?” and then realizing after filling in a number of them what that doubling represented wrt to the clues, when in fact the description would have told me that from the get-go. The gimmick is pretty clever and fun, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/46 "2020-06-11T13:26:59Z")
robardin, I liked it a lot too. Very clever I was surprised that Rex Parker and his fanboys crapped all over it. Tough cranky crowd I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/47 "2020-06-11T14:30:17Z")
I’ve seen TEC a number of times and have an odd memory for those sorts of things. The best puzzle in recent memory had clues that had no real world answers. Things like “What is Asberzhistanazi the capital of?” The answer was something like “How the hell should I know?” An amusing puzzle. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/48 "2020-06-11T14:45:21Z")
I also saw one once where the big theme answers were all crossword-ese, but clued in reverse. Like, the clue for 18-across was “OREO”, and the answer was “oft-separated cookie”, or some such. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/49 "2020-06-11T15:03:10Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Note: if you’re about to do today’s NYT puzzle (Thursday June 11, 2020) on an electronic device, be forewarned that as Thursday puzzles often are, there’s a “gimmick” - but one that has a hint/indicator you’ll need to read the puzzle description to get, because it’s only visually indicated in the _print_ version. > > “ **About this puzzle** : In the print version of this puzzle, each of the five squares in 20-Across and each of the seven squares in 22-Across contains a slash mark.” > > I mean you don’t NEED that description to solve it; I managed to solve today’s puzzle without reading it, but I lost about 5 minutes off of my solve time figuring out “these particular squares must be doubling letters, but why?” and then realizing after filling in a number of them what that doubling represented wrt to the clues, when in fact the description would have told me that from the get-go. > > The gimmick is pretty clever and fun, IMHO. I enjoyed it as well, and when I did the crossword on my desktop, the note showed up right away so I was aware of it, and what I guessed the gimmick to be based on that note ended up being the gimmick employed, so it actually did help in the solve. I did technically finish with an error, though – I spelled DJ Casey’s last name with the wrong first letter, and the across clue didn’t help me out, as that one makes sense being spelled with the alternate letter (I’m just not trying to give the answer away), so I couldn’t find my error when I checked the puzzle and had to rely on the menu option to show which square(s) were incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/50 "2020-06-11T15:04:22Z")
> [@K364](#): > > robardin, I liked it a lot too. Very clever > > I was surprised that Rex Parker and his fanboys crapped all over it. Tough cranky crowd I guess. Yeah, that’s why I can only take Rex in limited doses. His reviews are very cranky. I like it better when Clare or one of his occasional contributors show up and break the cantankerous tone of Rex’s reviews. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/51 "2020-06-11T15:16:16Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Note: if you’re about to do today’s NYT puzzle (Thursday June 11, 2020) on an electronic device, be forewarned that as Thursday puzzles often are, there’s a “gimmick” - but one that has a hint/indicator you’ll need to read the puzzle description to get, because it’s only visually indicated in the _print_ version. > > “ **About this puzzle** : In the print version of this puzzle, each of the five squares in 20-Across and each of the seven squares in 22-Across contains a slash mark.” > > I mean you don’t NEED that description to solve it; I managed to solve today’s puzzle without reading it, but I lost about 5 minutes off of my solve time figuring out “these particular squares must be doubling letters, but why?” and then realizing after filling in a number of them what that doubling represented wrt to the clues, when in fact the description would have told me that from the get-go. > > The gimmick is pretty clever and fun, IMHO. Thursday is my least favorite day of the NYT puzzle week, as I often find it fidgety on my iPad, so I was glad of the warning (I usually forget to click the info button). Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/52 "2020-06-11T15:27:51Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Thursday is my least favorite day of the NYT puzzle week, as I often find it fidgety on my iPad, so I was glad of the warning (I usually forget to click the info button). Thanks. Yeah, if I had done it on the iPad, I would have missed the note, as I almost never hit the “note” menu item. Luckily, I did it on the desktop where, as I mentioned, it shows up before you click “OK” to start the puzzle. Thursday is my favorite day, as I like the extra element of puzzle solving it usually introduces. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/53 "2020-06-11T16:20:54Z")
It would have been so cool to include “Comme d’habitude” and “Paul Anka” I’ll have to start constructing my own crosswords :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/54 "2020-07-23T17:33:37Z")
Bad clue! It was “gentle gait.” Theanswer was “trot”. Obviously this constructor is not an equestrian. Or maybe just not an equestrian who has mostly ridden quarter horses. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/55 "2020-07-24T14:57:28Z")
A trot is gentler than a gallop, is it not? ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/56 "2020-07-25T18:47:58Z")
A gallop is like being in a rocking chair. A trot is like being in a rocking chair that’s rocking over a broomstick. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/57 "2020-07-25T22:53:51Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Bad clue! It was “gentle gait.” Theanswer was “trot”. Obviously this constructor is not an equestrian. Or maybe just not an equestrian who has mostly ridden quarter horses. So many better options, like ‘fox or turkey’ or ‘former Red Sox player NIxon.’ ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162/58 "2020-07-26T03:49:51Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@robardin](#): > > > > Today had two one letter intersections of names I didn’t know and I had to guess letter by likely letter until I got it right. The one I filled in crosswise that I didn’t get even after filling it in was TEC for “Shamus”. I know that to be some old 1930s era or something slang for a cop, but TEC? Is that even more obscure slang for de-TEC-tive? > > I see TEC a lot in crossword puzzles. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in the wild. Back when I used to read the letter columns in the back of superhero comic booka, _Detective Comics_ was often referred to by the contracted form _'Tec_. Like, “That happened back in _'Tec_ No. 473.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-nyt-crossword-how-can-fiend-possibly-be-the-correct-answer-to-devotee/855162.md?page=2)