This clue is a classic example of what we call crosswordese, which are words that appear often in crossword puzzles but are rarely used in written and oral communication. 36D. This is a tough clue because it’s fairly vague,

The New York Times enraged cruciverbalists (a 15-letter word for people who enjoy solving crossword puzzles) everywhere after the grid published in its Sunday magazine editions simply didn't line up.

Across eight-plus decades and down to the present day, RENO keeps appearing in the New York Times crossword. Here's why it's so commonly used.

Solvers, first take note of this unusual grid. Its center portrays a “C” made of black squares, surrounded by as perfect a circle as you can make within the constraints of a grid; it touches three black squares on its sides (in the 5th and 17th columns), and the two span entries at 32- and 99-Across.