THE PUZZLE Word Nests

This puzzle is a pair of nested word squares. An example of a 3 X 3 word square would be:

DIG

ARE

BET

Consisting of six words-DIG. ARE. and BET reading across, and DAB. IRE. and GET reading down. Note that you could switch the acrosses with the downs and have another viable word square. The solution lor this puzzle will be a five-letter word square, which is to be entered in the diamond shapes, and a four-letter word square, which goes into the octagonal shapes enclosed by the diamonds. The numbered linkage words each have five letters, which will occupy (in some perhaps random order) the correspondingly numbered octagon and the four diamonds surrounding it. These linkage words will narrow the possibilities to a specific solution.



Instructions

The overall idea is to work on the 5 x 5 and 4×4 word squares first. One bit of assistance is that the sets of live- and four-letter word square answers will each be in alphabetical order. The five-letter linkage words are the glue that gives the solution its particular shape. Use them to eliminate lor suggest!) possibilities for word arrangements for the squares.

Each clue points to the answer in more than oneway. In addition to straightforward definitions, clues may also contain puns, plays on words, anagrams, or embedded spellings (e.g. “HOW IT ZERoes in distinguishes a cannon’”). Sometimes the answer may he constructed out of component parts fe.g. “American leader requires identification in gift”: I.D. inside PRESENT is PRESIDENT, the answer). The one paramount rule is that the clue sentence, with a little repuncluation. will tell exactly how to gel the answer.

Caution: The linkage words include one unusual article of apparel, an archaic poetic word, and a name form not found in dictionaries.

Send the completed puzzle tor reasonable facsimile I by April 10 to Word Nests. D Magazine, 1700Commerce St.. I8th Floor. Dallas, TX 75201. Include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. The first correct solution i? a random drawing will receive a white polo shirt embroidered with the D logo! A runner-up will receive a 12-month gift subscription to D Magazine. Winners and the completed puzzle will appear in the June issue. Log on to www.dmagazine.com <> each Monday for new helpful hints.