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"___, amas, amat ..." (Latin 101 conjugation) - NYT The Midi Clue

Across

  • The clue "___ Tuesday" is a wordplay reference to the well-known phrase "Taco Tuesday," a popular cultural term for enjoying tacos on Tuesdays. The blank suggests completing the phrase, and TACO is the perfect fit as it's closely associated with this weekly tradition.

  • The answer "STUB" fits because the torn-off part of a movie ticket (the ticket stub) is often kept as a memento or reminder of the experience. The clue directly refers to this common keepsake associated with attending a movie.

  • IDOL is the answer because Swifties, Taylor Swift's devoted fans, revere her as an icon and a role model. "Idol" refers to someone greatly admired or worshipped, perfectly capturing the way Swift's fans view her. The clue aptly links her status to this term.

  • The clue "Hourly compensation" refers to the payment someone earns based on the amount of time they work, typically measured per hour. The term "WAGE" is a common word used to describe this type of earnings, aligning perfectly with the definition in the clue.

  • COPYRIGHT is the legal protection given to creative works like books, music, and articles. In this puzzle, it's also a literal description of the down entry TEXT, which sits immediately to its right. The answer "goes both ways," working as both a standalone definition and a directional hint.

  • While M&M's are known for "melting in your mouth, not in your hand," extreme heat—like in a hot car—can cause them to MELT, literally. This pun-based answer connects humor and real-life scenarios.

  • On dating apps, to SWIPE LEFT is to reject someone's profile. Here it also describes the down answer STEAL, which appears immediately to its left in the grid. The phrase becomes a literal directional instruction, perfectly fitting the puzzle's "Going Both Ways" theme.

  • The clue "Meek" directly relates to a personality trait characterized by shyness or a lack of assertiveness. "Timid" fits perfectly as it describes someone who is cautious, reserved, or hesitant, which aligns with the definition of "meek." There’s no wordplay or alternate interpretation here.

  • The clue "What ___ you even talking about?!" is a colloquial spoken phrase. The blank is part of the sentence "What ARE you even talking about?!" where "ARE" is the necessary verb that completes the phrase grammatically. The quotation marks signal this phrase is conversational.

  • The answer is ELSA because Idina Menzel voices Elsa, the main character from Disney's Frozen (2013) and its sequel. Elsa is known for her powerful singing, including the iconic song "Let It Go," performed by Menzel. This makes ELSA a fitting solution for the clue.

  • The clue “Gold Card issuer, informally” refers to American Express, a company known for issuing the prestigious Gold Card. "Informally" signals a shortened version, making the answer "AMEX," which is a common abbreviation for American Express used in everyday language.

  • The clue "Totally agree!" is in quotes, signaling a spoken response. "Amen" is often used to express strong agreement or affirmation, particularly in religious contexts, but also conversationally, making it the perfect match for "Totally agree!".

  • The answer is MEET because in competitive swimming, events where swimmers compete against each other are referred to as "meets." It’s the general term for organized swimming competitions, making it the perfect match for the clue "Swimming competition."

  • "LATS" is short for latissimus dorsi, the large, flat muscles in your back that help with movements like pulling and lifting. The clue specifies "briefly," signaling an abbreviation, making "LATS" the correct and concise solution.

  • The clue "Quirky" suggests something unusual or eccentric. The word "odd" directly means strange or peculiar, which aligns perfectly with the clue's meaning. The brevity of the clue points to a straightforward synonym. Thus, ODD is the fitting solution for "Quirky."

Down

  • The answer "TIC" fits the clue "Behavioral quirk" because a tic is an involuntary, repetitive movement or sound, often considered a quirky or unusual behavior. It aligns well with the clue's straightforward description of a subtle or peculiar behavioral characteristic.

  • The clue "Kerfuffle" refers to a fuss, commotion, or noisy disturbance. "Ado" is a synonym for these terms, often used to describe unnecessary drama or excitement, making it the perfect answer for this straightforward clue.

  • Al Pacino's characters in both the movies "Heat" and "Serpico" work as police officers, which is colloquially referred to as "cop." In "Heat," he plays LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna; in "Serpico," he portrays Officer Frank Serpico, making "COP" the fitting answer.

  • The answer is OLYMPIANS because they are the athletes who compete in the Olympic Games, aiming to win gold medals. The term directly refers to participants in this major international competition, making "Gold medal seekers" a fitting description.

  • The answer "SWILL" refers to food scraps or refuse often fed to pigs. It's consistent with the clue, as "swill" typically means a liquid or semi-liquid mix of leftovers used as animal feed, particularly for pigs. This ties directly to the concept of "food for a pig."

  • The clue "Handled as a pair" suggests teamwork or switching tasks between two people. "TAGTEAMED" refers to the wrestling term where partners take turns in the ring, symbolizing joint effort or handling something together, perfectly aligning with the clue's meaning.

  • The clue "Cry of disgust" is in quotes, indicating the answer is a nonverbal expression or sound. "UGH" is a commonly used exclamation expressing annoyance, dislike, or disgust, making it the perfect fit for the clue. It directly matches the described emotional reaction.

  • The phrase "Put chips on the table" refers to gambling, where players place chips (representing money) as a wager. In this context, "BET" is the action of wagering or risking something in a game or situation, making it the perfect fit for the clue.

  • The solution "REED" fits because a reed is a thin piece of cane or synthetic material that vibrates to produce sound in woodwind instruments like the clarinet. It is an essential part of the instrument, making it a direct and accurate answer to the clue "Part of a clarinet."

  • The clue "Pilfer" directly means to take something without permission, often in a sneaky or small-scale manner. This is synonymous with "STEAL," as both words involve unlawfully taking something that doesn’t belong to you. Thus, "STEAL" is the perfect match for the clue.

  • The answer is WILMA because Wilma Flintstone is a key character in "The Flintstones" animated series. She is Fred Flintstone's wife and is easily recognized by her distinctive orange hair, making her the perfect match for the clue.

  • The clue "Nothing for me, thanks" implies a polite way of expressing that you're already satisfied or not interested. "I’m set" is a common phrase used in such situations, meaning “I’m fine” or "I need nothing further." Written straightforwardly as IMSET, it fits perfectly.

  • In Capture the Flag, teammates who are caught are often held in a "jail." Rescuing them involves tagging them to release them, or setting them "free." The past tense "rescued" matches the past tense answer, "FREED." Hence, "FREED" fits the clue.

  • The clue "Contents of an article" straightforwardly refers to the written material within an article. An article consists of its text—the main body of words conveying its message or content. Thus, "TEXT" perfectly matches the clue as what an article contains.

  • The clue references the conjugation of the Latin verb "amare," meaning "to love." "Amo," the first-person singular form, means "I love." This fits the conjugation sequence: "Amo (I love), amas (you love), amat (he/she/it loves)" learned in basic Latin courses.

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Solving today’s NYT Midi Puzzle and stuck on the 3-letter answer to the "___, amas, amat ..." (Latin 101 conjugation) clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or if this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.

"___, amas, amat ..." (Latin 101 conjugation) Answer Explained

The answer is AMO.

AMO is the first word in one of the most recognizable Latin conjugations: amo, amas, amat — "I love, you love, he or she loves." For many students, it's among the very first verb forms they memorize in an introductory Latin class, which is why the clue mentions "Latin 101." The ellipsis signals that the rest of the familiar sequence follows. Even solvers who haven't studied Latin often recognize this trio from its frequent appearance in crosswords. It's a classic educational reference that rewards a bit of schoolroom memory rather than obscure vocabulary.

Now that you've cracked the 22D "___, amas, amat ..." (Latin 101 conjugation) clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Midi Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry, we've got you covered. Explore more NYT The Midi crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, NYT The Mini puzzle, Connections, or Strands.

Today’s NYT Midi Highlights

Ian Livengood's Going Both Ways was one of those Midi puzzles where the title didn't fully click until I reached the downs. I filled in COPYRIGHT and SWIPE LEFT as ordinary across answers at first, but the "apt description of" wording made me curious. The reveal was satisfying once I noticed that COPYRIGHT literally describes the down answer TEXT on its right, while SWIPE LEFT points to STEAL on its left. The theme works in both directions, exactly as the title promises. I especially liked that the gimmick was simple enough to spot in hindsight but hidden well during the solve. Outside the theme, clues like OLYMPIANS, TAGTEAMED, and I'M SET kept the grid moving at a nice pace. It's a clean, elegant Tuesday with a clever spatial twist that lands neatly once everything is in place.

Here’s what caught our attention today:

About The Midi

The Midi is a daily crossword puzzle designed to sit between the quick satisfaction of The Mini and the depth of the full Daily Crossword. It offers a compact but more layered solving experience, giving players a new step in the New York Times Games lineup.

While officially launched as a daily puzzle in February 2026, the concept was tested earlier through special puzzle packs and more recently in newsletter editions. Those experiments helped shape what is now a permanent daily feature available exclusively online through the New York Times Games app and website.

Format and Structure

Most Midi puzzles use a 9×9 grid (larger than The Mini but smaller than the traditional crossword), allowing for richer wordplay and themed construction without requiring a long solving session. Toward the end of the week, grids may expand up to 11×11, and occasionally the puzzle appears in non-square formats, with different numbers of rows and columns.

Unlike The Mini, every Midi includes a title, offering a subtle hint at the puzzle’s theme or solving trick. These titles add an extra layer of discovery while keeping the experience approachable.

A Digital-First Puzzle

The Midi is built specifically for digital play. It does not appear in print, and it is available through the New York Times app and website only for subscribers.

Designing the puzzle for screens allows for occasional visual effects and interactive moments that enhance the solving experience in ways print cannot. Even with these innovations, the philosophy remains consistent: puzzles are still handcrafted by human constructors and editors, preserving the editorial voice and thoughtful construction that define New York Times Games.

Editorial Approach

The Midi is edited by Ian Livengood, who also oversees Pips. He creates about three Midi puzzles each week while collaborating with a rotating group of approximately fifteen contributors whose submissions are carefully edited before publication.

This editorial model mirrors the structure used across The New York Times crosswords, where dedicated editors maintain quality and style (like Will Shortz for The Daily and Joel Fagliano for The Mini).

New Rules and Creative Flexibility

The Midi introduces several notable changes to traditional crossword conventions, like:

  • Each puzzle features a title. Before, only Sunday NYT puzzles had a title. In Midi, this is meant to give a clue about the theme without needing a distinct clue to play the role of a theme revealer.
  • Grids may occasionally break from square symmetry, which is something also happening in the Mini, especially those made by Sam Ezersky.
  • Two-letter answers are allowed - this is a feature borrowed from cryptic puzzles, allowing Scrabble (and NYT Crossplay) fans to bank on their skills.

Daily Availability

Puzzles are accessible the evening before the publish date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles: 10 p.m. EST the previous day. Sunday puzzles: 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.

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