That moment hits every
crossword solver
like a familiar bell: a
crossword clue
appears, seemingly straightforward, yet it instantly locks your mental gears. It’s not an obscure historical figure or a scientific term you’ve never heard of; it’s a phrase composed of everyday words, deceptively simple, and yet utterly perplexing. Today’s spotlight falls on just such a gem: “Hollow, of a sort.”
“Hollow, of a sort.” Read it again. Let the words sit. At first glance, your mind might jump to a simple synonym for “hollow.” A cavity, perhaps. A depression. An empty space. But then that insidious little tag, “of a sort,” winks back at you, a mischievous signal that the obvious answer is precisely
not
the one you’re looking for. This is where the true art of
crossword solving
begins, transforming a lexical search into an exercise in lateral thinking.
What does “hollow” truly encompass? It’s not just a physical void. Think about the many layers of meaning. A sound can be hollow – deep and echoing, lacking warmth. A victory can be hollow, won at too great a cost, leaving no true satisfaction. Promises can be hollow, devoid of sincerity or intent. A person might feel hollow, an emptiness residing where emotion or purpose should be. The richness of the English language ensures that even a single word can cast a long, winding shadow of interpretations, and a clever
puzzle clue
like this one revels in that semantic depth.
Now, factor in “of a sort.” This isn’t just a casual addendum. In the world of
daily crosswords
, such qualifiers are the breadcrumbs leading you away from the direct, dictionary definition and towards something more nuanced. It implies a category, a type, a resemblance, or perhaps even an indirect or figurative application of the preceding word. It’s not
the
hollow, but
a
hollow – or something
like
a hollow. This is the precise inflection point where many
crossword solutions
reveal themselves. Are we looking for something that
is
hollow but described in an unusual way? Something that
functions
like a hollow? Or a word that
contains
the idea of hollowness within its broader meaning?
This kind of
crossword clue
demands that we shed our initial assumptions. We can’t just reach for the first synonym that comes to mind. Instead, we have to consider the peripheral meanings, the idiomatic expressions, and even the subtle linguistic tricks that constructors often employ. Is it a wordplay clue, perhaps a homophone or an anagram that
sounds
or
looks
like “hollow”? Or is it a more sophisticated word that captures a very specific
kind
of emptiness or lack? The beauty of these brain teasers lies in their ability to make you dissect a common word into its constituent concepts, exploring its philosophical and practical implications.
When you encounter such a phrase in your regular
daily crossword
, the impulse is often to brute-force a solution. But the “of a sort” signals a need for a more delicate touch. It’s a pointer to a specific niche of meaning, a call for a word that embodies a particular brand of “hollowness” that isn’t immediately obvious. These are the
puzzle clues
that make you truly appreciate the craftsmanship behind a good grid. They don’t just test your vocabulary; they test your intuition, your ability to infer, and your willingness to play with language itself. Unlocking such a
crossword clue
brings a unique sense of satisfaction, a quiet triumph that goes beyond simply filling in a blank. It’s a reminder that even the simplest words hold layers of complexity, waiting for a perceptive solver to uncover them.
Available Answers:
ALCOVE.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 0913-25 NY Times Crossword 13 Sep 25, Saturday