| Initial stage |
ONSET |
| Jousting pole |
LANCE |
| L.A. campus |
USC |
| Lake boat |
CANOE |
| Letters on Sputnik |
CCCP |
| Like a wet noodle |
LIMP |
| Lug around |
TOTE |
| Mai __ cocktail |
TAI |
| Main character of 20 Across |
EBENEZERSCROOGE |
| Major muddle |
SNAFU |
| Monica of tennis |
SELES |
| Musical talent |
EAR |
| North Korean leader |
KIM |
| Office errand runner |
AIDE |
| Officeholder, for short |
POL |
| Out-of-focus image |
BLUR |
| Period of history |
ERA |
| Plant science |
BOTANY |
| Poor-quality |
CHEESY |
| Prepared to be knighted |
KNELT |
| Pub servings |
ALES |
| Quartet in ''sassafras'' |
ESSES |
| Saudi Arabia neighbor |
OMAN |
| Say ''Boo!'' to, perhaps |
SCARE |
| See 37 Across |
DICKENS |
| Shirt-pressing tool |
IRON |
| Snakes like Cleopatra's |
ASPS |
| Some Mideast rulers |
EMIRS |
| Sounds from Santa |
HOHO |
| Spicy Asian cuisine |
THAI |
| Squashed circle |
OVAL |
| Tendons |
SINEWS |
| Tin or tungsten |
METAL |
| Trident-shaped Greek letters |
PSIS |
| Unknown auth |
ANON |
| Watches suspiciously |
EYES |
| Wife of Zeus |
HERA |
| With 40 Across, author of 20 Across |
CHARLES |
| __ yet (so far) |
ASOF |
