What are ahead of their times? - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "What are ahead of their times?", is a fantastic example of the playful misdirection that makes crossword puzzles so engaging. At first glance, it seems to be asking about visionaries or futuristic inventions. However, the key to solving this lies in recognizing the wordplay at its heart.

Clue Analysis

The clue is a question, and the question mark at the end is a crucial signal for solvers. It often indicates that the clue is not to be taken literally. Let's break it down:

• "Ahead of": While this can mean "more advanced than," it can also simply mean "before" in a temporal sense.
• "Their times": This phrase typically refers to a historical era or period. But in crossword-land, "times" can be interpreted more concretely as specific days, events, or holidays.

By re-reading the clue with these alternative meanings, we get a new question: "What things come before special days?" This leads us directly to the concept of the evening or day preceding a holiday.

Thinking Approaches

1. Spot the Pun: The question mark is your best friend. When you see it, immediately start looking for double meanings. The phrase "ahead of their times" is a very common idiom, which makes it a perfect candidate for a pun.

2. Word Association:

   • Think of synonyms or alternative meanings for each part of the clue.
   • "Ahead of" -> before, preceding, prior to.
   • "Times" -> days, holidays, festivals, occasions.

3. Synthesize and Test: Combine the alternative meanings. "What comes before holidays?" The day before a holiday is its "eve." Since the clue uses the plural "are," the answer must also be plural.

4. Leverage Crossings: If you're stuck, getting even one letter from a crossing clue can unlock the puzzle. For a four-letter answer, seeing an 'E' at the beginning or an 'S' at the end might be enough to trigger the "Oh, eves!" moment.

Background Context

The word "eve" comes from the Old English word aefen, meaning "evening." In a liturgical context, many important feast days in Christianity traditionally began at sunset on the previous day, a practice known as a vigil. This is why we have Christmas Eve and All Hallows' Eve (Halloween). The concept has since expanded in secular culture to refer to the day or evening before any significant event, most notably New Year's Eve.

This clue is a classic of the genre, relying on a common phrase being twisted to have a literal, calendar-based meaning.

Conclusion

The brilliance of this clue is in its re-framing of a familiar idiom. It nudges the solver away from thinking about innovators and futurists and toward the simple calendar. The things that are literally "ahead of" (i.e., before) special "times" (holidays) are their EVES.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The clue is a play on words. Don't think about people or inventions.
2. Hint 2: Think about the calendar.
3. Hint 3: This refers to the day or night before a specific event or holiday.
4. Hint 4: Examples include Christmas ___, New Year's ___, and All Hallows' ___.