Magic Rings
a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Whenever the letter O occurs in an answer, it acts magically on that word. One kind of ring makes an answer shrink or grow by one letter into a new word (as WORN could become WON or SWORN in the grid); another ring changes an answer into its homophone (as CORD could become CHORD or CORED); and the third, most powerful ring transforms an answer into an anagram (as ATOM could become MOAT). Two grid answers crossing on a ring will undergo the same spell. Answer lengths are withheld to make discovery of the rings more cryptic
Across
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1.
Railroad flanked by fuel pen
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6.
Check bit of sour cream
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10.
For French wine, good showing
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11.
Yours truly, with Howard and Harris, got things smoothed out
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12.
Pieces placed evenly in star Louvre collection
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13.
Some digital images misconstrued baptism
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14.
Southern Rwandan people passing pipe down (2 wds.)
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16.
Heavy coat altered result
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17.
Hype about a General Electric clip-on gadget
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19.
Mr. Clean spread around bagel supply in a bakery
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21.
Concerning cipher in Latin correspondence
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24.
Drills black underground deposits
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26.
Anger church with new role
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29.
Certain butterflies perched next to yours
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30.
Article deconstructed musical performance
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31.
Homer gripped by lower digit pang
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-
33.
Device for spraying a rug in convertible (2 wds.)
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34.
Longtime Cuban leader tossed right out
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35.
Hear about old sad story
Down
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1.
Comfort victim of a scam in speech
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2.
Push large garden tool
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3.
Keep tabs on love poetry, Shakespeare’s last
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4.
Country song the man transposed
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5.
Number one trend’s backing treason
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6.
Exercise place is returning (hyph.)
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7.
Audition for a part, mostly prepared
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8.
Bereft child playing on harp
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9.
Naked ape originated ordinary language
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14.
Streets having corroded conditions
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15.
Friends hosting New England discussion groups
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-
19.
Agreement Mongol ruler followed verbally
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20.
Blow up wrong general
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22.
German car company opening outside of school
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23.
Strapping underwear with Big Apple initials
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24.
Laser tag involving sleeping giant?
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25.
Dole out speech after the opening
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27.
Admitted everything wasn’t square?
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28.
Tavern fixture? Very true