There are puzzles, and then there are
puzzles
. Today’s grid, friends, falls squarely into the latter category. From the very first pass, you could feel it humming with a subtle complexity, a quiet promise of something more than just clever wordplay. And then, you hit the central reveal, that pivotal
crossword clue
: “Made twice as great, and what can be found in the answers to the starred clues.”
Now, if you’re anything like me, a cryptic
crossword clue
like that immediately sets off alarm bells (the good kind!) in your solving brain. It’s not just a definition; it’s an instruction, a meta-challenge, a promise of a deeper layer to unpeel. My pen hovered, my mind raced, knowing that the journey to unravel this particular
crossword clue
would be as rewarding as the solution itself.
The initial approach to such a meta-clue is always to focus on the individual components. First, tackle the starred entries. Each one, a mini-mystery in its own right, presented a delightful challenge. One by one, their letters unfurled across the grid. You get one, then another, and another, and the patterns start to whisper. It’s that beautiful process where the seemingly disparate pieces of a crossword puzzle begin to coalesce, hinting at a grander design.
And that’s where the magic truly began with this grid. As the solutions to the starred clues emerged, a distinct commonality began to crystallize. It wasn’t immediately obvious with the first two, perhaps, but by the third or fourth, a theme, a specific
type
of word, an intrinsic characteristic, started to shout from the pages. Each entry, when examined closely, contained an element that resonated perfectly with the “Made twice as great” part of our master
crossword clue
.
It’s the kind of brilliant construction that reminds you why we devote hours to these grids. It’s not just about filling squares; it’s about the intellectual dance, the deduction, the sudden flash of insight that connects all the dots. The constructors, in this instance, have woven a masterful tapestry, where the very essence of “doubling” or “enhancement” isn’t just implied, but structurally embedded within the themed answers.
The journey to understanding this theme involved a close reading, a patient observation of how each themed
crossword clue
and its answer interacted. It’s a testament to how a single, carefully crafted phrase can unlock an entire grid’s genius. And when that final piece clicked into place, when the full implication of “Made twice as great” revealed itself through the aggregated properties of those starred entries, it was a truly satisfying moment.
So, for those of you who have just begun to wrestle with this grid, or for those who are still pondering that central
crossword clue
, take a moment to savor the process. Look closely at those starred answers. What do they share? What fundamental principle links them to the idea of being “twice as great”? The answer isn’t just a word; it’s a concept, brilliantly executed, that ties the entire puzzle together.
This particular
crossword clue
isn’t just a challenge; it’s an invitation to explore the cleverness hidden within the grid. Happy solving, and may your “aha!” moments be plentiful as you decode the doubled brilliance of today’s puzzle.
Available Answers:
REDOUBLED.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Wednesday’s Daily By Gerry Wildenberg / Ed. Patti Varol