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Laborer in medieval times - NYT The Mini Clue
Across
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The answer is DIPS because salsa, hummus, and queso are all examples of foods typically served as accompaniments for dipping snacks like chips, bread, or vegetables. The plural form "DIPS" matches the "etc." in the clue, indicating multiple examples.
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PIERRE is the capital of South Dakota, pronounced “peer,” so it rhymes with 9-Across (“peer”), not 7-Across (“the air”). This differs from the French Pierre (“pee-AIR”). Technically, “Pierre/peer” is an identical rhyme (a type of homophone), not a perfect rhyme by poetry standards. But in crossword wordplay, where the focus is sound and a bit of punning, that looser sense of “rhyme” is what the clue leans on.
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The clue "What broadcasters are on" refers to the phrase often used to describe live broadcasting: being "on the air." This phrase implies being actively transmitting through radio, TV, or other media. Hence, the correct answer is THEAIR, as it directly connects to the idea of live broadcasting.
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The clue "Yes and no ..." suggests an ambiguous or uncertain response. "SORT OF" fits because it expresses partial agreement or equivocation—it’s neither a full "yes" nor a full "no." The ellipsis hints at this nuanced, informal phrase.
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The answer "PEER" fits "Societal equal" because a peer is someone of equal status, rank, or standing within a societal context, such as in age, class, or profession. The term directly reflects the idea of being on the same level in society, making it a perfect match.
Down
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The clue "John ___ (tractor company)" refers to the famous agricultural machinery company, John Deere. Founded in 1837, John Deere is renowned for manufacturing tractors and farming equipment. "John" here directly points to the company's full name, making "Deere" the logical and correct answer.
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The clue "Boiling mad" describes someone extremely angry or furious. "Irate" is a synonym for being very angry or enraged, capturing the "boiling" intensity of the emotion. This direct relationship between anger and being "irate" makes it the fitting answer.
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The phrase "Sorry, I have a ___ commitment" implies an existing obligation. The word "PRIOR" fits because it means something that precedes or comes before. In this context, it refers to a previously scheduled commitment, explaining why the speaker cannot engage in something new.
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The answer is SERF because, in medieval times, a serf was a laborer bound to the land they worked on, under the feudal system. They were obligated to serve a lord in exchange for protection and had limited freedom, making "laborer in medieval times" an accurate description.
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The clue "A touchdown is worth six: Abbr." refers to the six points awarded when a touchdown is scored in football. "Abbr." signals the answer is an abbreviation, so the correct answer is "PTS," short for "points." It succinctly matches the numerical score given for a touchdown.
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The answer is IHOP because it is a well-known breakfast chain famous for its pancakes and other breakfast items. It is typically open 24 hours, matching the clue. The full name, International House of Pancakes, aligns with its identity as a breakfast-focused restaurant chain.
Today’s Game Difficulty
Hard
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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 4-letter answer to the Laborer in medieval times clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Laborer in medieval times Answer Explained
The answer is SERF.
Medieval history terms show up often in puzzles. When I see “laborer in medieval times,” several roles pop up—page, squire, peasant. But SERF is the precise fit: a serf was a worker tied to the land under feudalism, not free but not enslaved either. This clue could trip up solvers who don’t recall the exact vocabulary, since “peasant” also sounds right but doesn’t fit the grid length. SERF is a crossword favorite because of its short length and distinctive letters. Once you connect the word with the feudal system, it becomes an easy entry for the puzzle.
Now that you've cracked the 4D Laborer in medieval times clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Mini Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry—we've got you covered. Explore more NYT Mini crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, Connections, or Strands.
Today’s NYT Mini Highlights
Today’s Sunday Mini, a 6×5 grid by Sam Ezersky (editor of Spelling Bee), stands out right away because of its unusual size. Sam often plays with grid shape and clue style, and here that compact layout makes every square count. What really defines this puzzle is the balance of difficulty: the Across clues feel especially thorny, often less direct than the short entries usually seen in Minis. That pushes solvers to lean on the Downs first, building the grid from vertical footholds before the Across answers snap into place. A tight, clever challenge in a small package. And worth noting: Sam also authored today’s Daily Crossword, a playful and tricky theme around Pig Latin, a fun double feature from the editor.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- U.S. state capital that rhymes with 9-Across (not 7-Across!)
- What broadcasters are on
- "Yes and no ..."
- Societal equal
- John ___ (tractor company)
- "Sorry, I have a ___ commitment"
- A touchdown is worth six: Abbr.
- Breakfast chain typically open 24 hours a day
About NYT The Mini
NYT The Mini Crossword is a compact version of the New York Times Crossword puzzle. Usually 5 x 5, with larger grids on Saturdays, it offers mid-week equivalent difficulty clues with no progression over the week. It is accessible to anyone with or without a New York Times account. You can play it on nytimes.com/crosswords, The New York Times Games app (iOS and Android), and the Play tab of the New York Times News app. Games and All Access Subscribers can solve past Mini Crossword puzzles in the archive.
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.
How to Play - Features and Tips
Fill white squares with letters to form intersecting words or phrases by solving clues in Across and Down columns. Read our guide to NYT Mini Mastery to learn how to read the different types of clues. Successfully completed puzzle triggers music and a congratulatory message.
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Arrow keys: Change direction within the same square, move in the direction of the arrow, jump back to the first blank in the word, or jump to the next clue.
- Spacebar: Clear the current square, advance, or toggle between Across and Down.
- Backspace (Delete on Macs): Remove words or a letter from a word.
- Tab key: Jump to the next clue.
- Shift + Tab keys: Jump to the previous clue.
- Escape: Enter Rebus mode.
- Pen and Pencil Modes. Switch between pen and pencil modes by selecting the respective icon. Letters in pen mode are black; in pencil mode, gray.
Letter Colors
Black: Default pen mode entries.
Gray: Pencil mode entries.
Blue: Confirmed letters with Check.
Mini Timer
Time your solving with the timer displayed above the puzzle. Pause/resume using the respective buttons. The timer restarts if the entire puzzle is cleared. Option to hide the timer in Puzzle settings.
In-game Help
- Reveal: Unveil correct letters for a square, answer, or the entire puzzle.
- Check: Verify correctness.
The answers you get using help are marked with a red triangle in the upper right-hand corner of the box while those confirmed with check become blue.
Leaderboards
It’s an additional social resource provided by NYT. You can add friends (up to 100 invitees) to track daily completion and compete.