As some of you, my devoted Cake Eater readers may vaguely remember, we're big fans of the Financial Times around here. I don't bother with the paper most of the week, but on Saturdays, well, you can't keep me away from it. As the wise RP once wrote, "I heart the weekend section." I wholeheartedly agree. The FT's weekend section is quite wonderful and when I'm done reading it, I do try to give the polymath---it's a crossword with a weird name---a good whack every week, but usually I don't have too much luck.
This week, however, I'm four away from finishing the damn thing--a first---and I need your help, my devoted Cake Eater readers to do so.
If you know any of these throw the answers in the comments. The numbers in parentheses are how many letters are in each word. I'll also list out what letters I do have in each word, too.
28 Across: Department of northern France, created in 1790 and abolished in 1968. (5-2-4)
S_ _ _E_T_I_E
31 Across: Symbiosis (9)
M_ _ _A_I_M
10 Down: In Ancient Greece a male citizen from 18-20 years of age. (6)
_P_E_E
(I think it's some sort of variant of 'Spartan' but I can't figure it out for the life of me!)
18 Down:A name applied by German students to anyone not connected to the university (9)
P_I_ _ _ _ _R
I thank you in advance, my devoted Cake Eater brain trust. I'm sure you have the answers hiding in the recesses of your brain. Please share, so I can retire this puzzle.
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who helped me fill in the pieces of the puzzle! IT'S FINISHED! Woohoo! I'm so excited! And, yes, I realize it's pretty silly to be excited at finishing a crossword puzzle, but, hey, my life is actually pretty boring so maybe you should give me this one, ok?
Posted by Kathy at March 13, 2006 01:46 PM | TrackBack31 across is "mutualism".
(I need to ponder the rest a moment...)
Posted by: Rex Ferric at March 13, 2006 03:30 PM28 Across is Seine Et Oise I think. It's been a while since I did my history. Good luck and let us know the answers, that greek one is killing me.
Posted by: silk at March 13, 2006 04:05 PM10 Down is "ephebe"
Posted by: John at March 13, 2006 04:07 PMI'm pretty sure that 18 down is some variant of "Philister":
"The word Philister (Luther's translation) was taken up in German student slang, supposedly first in Jena in the late 17th century, as a dismissive term for the townspeople (compare the British university slang, 'townies,')"
do you have the number of spaces correct?
Posted by: John at March 14, 2006 07:38 AMThat's exactly what it is, John. I should have put down an 'r' instead of that last 's.' I goofed.
thanks!
Posted by: Kathy at March 14, 2006 08:47 AMAnyone up for Scrabble?
Posted by: Bob at March 14, 2006 10:11 AMOMG!
I'm duly impressed (even more that I already was) with YOU and your readership!
Kudos!
Posted by: Chrissy at March 14, 2006 12:23 PMWow, that was cool, Kathy. And thanks for the shout out, which was awfully kind.
Posted by: RP at March 14, 2006 03:45 PM